Springfield Garden Club Hosts 27Th Festival of Trees
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE 58 PAID POSTAL CUSTOMER FREE Years RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER PERMIT #2 N. HAVERHILL, NH ECRWSSEDDMECRWSS Happy Thanksgiving! Holiday Happenings on Pages 8A - 10A Your Local Community Newspaper NOVEMBER 27, 2019 | WWW.VERMONTJOURNAL.COM VOLUME 58, ISSUE 26 Springfield Garden Club hosts 27th Festival of Trees BY JO ROBBINS opportunity to celebrate the bow-adorned candleholders, to your community. The Shopper holidays in style. and evergreen baskets and cen- Of the many services the For 26 years, this organization terpieces created by the Garden Garden Club provides, Vatne SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – As has devoted its time and efforts Club members. said there are monthly guest many as 200 people attended to the community through its New member Katherine lecturers from educational or- the Springfield Garden Club’s multiple projects and has given Parker moved to Springfield a ganizations like Osher Lifelong annual Festival of Trees “Win- more than $200,000 back into year ago from Oklahoma and Learning Institute and garden ter Wonderland” fundraiser Springfield through activities, said she is proud and happy therapy in the summer months Friday, Nov. 22 at the Great scholarships, and services. Fri- to be a part of an organization for adult day care seniors. Hall at 100 River St. This may day night’s event did not disap- that is so giving and is “just a These are only a handful of be considered the event of the point the many people who at- nice group of people.” She was the many ways in which the season with an opportunity for tend this festival on an annual especially impressed with the Garden Club provides for its folks to dress in their formal basis. club’s creation of small floral own community. It has given best and enjoy the food, music Sandy MacGillivray, a co- bouquets that are placed on the scholarships to graduating provided by a jazz ensemble, chair of the festival, along with trays for the appreciative re- high school seniors or college and the incredible decorations Barb Riotte, the club’s treasur- cipients of the Meals on Wheels students pursuing the fields of all while giving back in a big er, collected tickets and wel- program once every month. horticulture, forestry, or envi- way to the Garden Club to help comed folks at the Pearl Street Karen Vatne, the club’s pho- ronmental studies and worked support its many projects. entrance of the hall. They di- Barb Riotte (left) and Sandy MacGillivray (right) at Festival of Trees. tographer since 2016, said the with younger students to teach The Great Hall was stun- rected guests to vote for their PHOTO BY JO ROBBINS club is always looking for new them how to plant a garden. ning with the trees and lights, favorite tree among the 10 on members, as the institutional The Garden Club also over- the men in black tie, and the display, lavishly decorated by derful kickoff to the holidays, tained donated items and ser- memory of the organization sees the plantings throughout women in stylish dresses. It was local organizations such as Cla- but more than that it is the sole vices offered by many area com- will retire with its oldest mem- the town including the town’s as good as it gets for a formal remont Savings Bank, Spring- means of support for all of the panies and larger items such as bers. She said you don’t have gardens at the Iron Bridge and event. Not only was it well at- field High School’s Community programs the club provides to artwork, a 65-inch homemade to be a grower or have a back- the Blue Star Memorial, gar- tended, but one club member Outreach Group, and Kelley the community throughout the quilt, a necklace, home heating ground in horticulture; you dens that make Springfield said the Garden Club orga- Sales and Services to name a year. oil, gym memberships, golf dis- just need to join as either a full such a lovely place to reside nized the event like a well-oiled few. MacGillivray said the festi- There was a silent auction counts, and ski lift tickets. For member or as a support mem- and offers a colorful welcome machine. Clearly, this was an val is a major event and a won- and a raffle of baskets that con- sale were handmade wreathes, ber and be willing to give back to visitors just passing through. “Let’s Take Action” forum for the future of Rockingham BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. – On This first step in the “Let’s reation. Forums will take place mont leaders to help support the to the advancement of Vermont “Let’s Take Action: Rock- Dec. 4, all members of the Rock- Take Action” process will be a at the American Legion, Rock- work of the new task forces with communities. In the past 20 ingham Community Visit” is ingham community are invited series of community forums to ingham Free Library, and the technical and financial resourc- years, they have worked with funded with support from the to kick off “Let’s Take Action,” discuss assets, challenges, and Moose Family Center. es as they create action plans to over 70 communities through- Vermont Community Founda- a community process to engage opportunities for action within At 6 p.m., everyone is invit- move their priorities forward. out Vermont to bring residents tion and the Northern Borders all residents of Rockingham, nine focus forums being held ed to a free community dinner Rockingham Municipal Man- together through their facili- Regional Commission. Bellows Falls, and Saxtons River throughout the day. Everyone at the Moose Family Center. ager Wendy Harrison invites all tated and structured process to VCRD will bring with them in setting direction for a vibrant, is invited to join in Dec. 4 to Childcare will be provided at to participate. “I am looking for- share ideas and move toward a visiting team of more than 20 prosperous, and dynamic fu- share your ideas in forums on the library during the forums. ward to hearing all of the ideas common solutions. Vermont state, federal, business, ture. This process is a practical, nine different topics, chosen Door-to-door transportation is from the community. Please VCRD community and policy nonprofit, and philanthropic pragmatic, and facilitated way by a steering committee rep- available to forums by request. join us – everyone is welcome manager Jenna Koloski says, leaders to listen to and reflect on for residents to actively partici- resenting people from varied Call 888-869-6287 by Dec. 2 to to share your ideas for our com- “VCRD is excited about work- the challenges and opportunities pate in reviewing challenges and occupations and parts of town, reserve a ride. munity’s future! This is a great ing with Rockingham residents for action that residents identify. opportunities facing the com- including tourism and lodging; Step two of “Let’s Take Action” opportunity to develop a vision to set and advance priorities for The visiting team members will munity, identify top priorities transportation; attracting and will be a community meeting in and chart a path forward to- the future. We believe strongly include Ben Doyle, USDA Rural for action, and develop concrete supporting young people; edu- January when all residents will gether.” in the power of local leadership Development; Kevin Wiberg, action plans. This will also be an cation: from early childhood to be invited to champion action The process is produced by and in engaging the full voice of Vermont Community Founda- opportunity to bring both tech- workforce; building redevelop- ideas, set priorities, and have the VCRD, who was invited to the the community in setting direc- tion; Lindsey Kurrle, Secretary nical and financial resources to ment; arts and entertainment; option to sign up for task forces community by the Rockingham tion forward. Everyone in the of the Agency of Commerce and Rockingham to move priorities economic revitalization and in- to take on each priority initia- Selectboard and Bellows Falls community is invited to share Community Development; Aly forward. frastructure; housing; and rec- tive. VCRD will return in Feb- Trustees, in partnership with the their ideas, and we’re eager to Richards, CEO of Let’s Grow ruary for step three, “Let’s Take Vermont Community Founda- help connect to support and re- Kids; Xusana Davis, Vermont Action Resource Day,” with a tion. VCRD is a nonprofit, non- sources to help the community visiting resource team of Ver- partisan organization dedicated move forward.” See ACTION on Page 2A Redevelopment of historic Woolson Block SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – On modern infrastructure that at- The transitional program will Vermont incentives of $34,000 Nov. 13, 2019, affordable hous- tracts and retains younger peo- provide a structured environ- were also provided. ing owners and developers, ple to our beautiful downtown ment for at-risk youth so that “Redeveloping this historic Springfield Housing Authority, where they can live safely and they’re able to develop the skills building will be challenging,” and Housing Vermont joined affordably,” said Bill Morlock, and habits they need to live in- said Housing Vermont Presi- local elected officials, funders, the executive director of the dependently. dent Nancy Owens. “However, and project participants to Springfield Housing Authority. Funding totaling more than it offers several important com- celebrate the start of redevel- “Both the housing and com- $8.6 million from several pri- munity benefits including cre- opment of the Woolson Block mercial spaces will contribute vate and public sources was ating much-needed affordable building. Renovations will re- directly to Springfield’s con- raised to finance the total rede- housing and boosting the vital- turn this historic property to its tinued economic revitalization velopment costs.