October 21, 2009
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE Since 1889 75 Cents HaHardwick ◆ Greensborord ◆ Craftsburyw ◆ Wickolcott ◆ Walden ◆ Stannard Gazette ◆ Woodbury ◆ Calais ◆ Cabot ◆ Marshfield Wednesday, October 21, 2009 Volume 120, Number 41 Groups Request Removal Of Town Meeting Appropriation Petitions by Tommy Gardner petitions year in and year out was tives of four such organizations — brought up at Town Meeting. The HARDWICK — A debate from the unduly onerous, while others main- the aforementioned Agency on Ag- board did not take action, calling 2009 Town Meeting has been re- tained organizations should expend ing; AWARE; Hardwick Senior Citi- the letter and oral testimony a “first vived more than eight months later: the energy if they want the money. zens; and Greensboro Nursing consideration.” should organizations requesting This past March, there were 15 Home. Resident Sybil Messier spoke appropriations be required to file a groups asking taxpayers for a total “[T]he many hours needed to for AWARE, saying she could not petition each year in order to have of roughly $32,000, from a low of collect these signatures for these recall being turned down by any their request included on the meet- $250 for the Northeast Kingdom petitions is very burdensome,” the registered voters in the past when ing warning? Adult Education and Literacy Pro- letter stated. “These volunteer she came around with her petition At the end of the March 3 Town gram to a high of $4,500 for the hours are much more valuable to requesting an appropriation for the Meeting, in the often busy period Area Agency on Aging for North- help nonprofits accomplish their agency. Still, she said, she preferred set aside for “other non binding busi- eastern Vermont. goals.” not to have to spend time gathering ness,” some residents argued that At last week’s Select Board Representatives from three of signatures. requiring volunteers to try to get 5 meeting, Town Manager Rob Lewis those groups were present to ask “We’re asking people to sign, percent of registered voters to sign shared a letter from representa- the board to revisit the issue See GROUPS, Page Five Zero Percent Bonds Sought For School Renovations; Vote Needed by June Pichel Cook the board outlined its proposal to $1.2 million over traditional 20-year Craftsbury is penalized for its spend- CRAFTSBURY — The long arm take advantage of the 0 percent bonds at regular interest rates. She ing levels, which are above the state- of the federal American Recovery bonds, which will, if obtained, be explained, if the bonds were not allowed thresholds. and Reinvestment Act may reach paid back over 15 years. Board chair available, the board will seek tradi- The project includes a heating out to Craftsbury and provide a fund- Julie Marckres said the bonds are tional municipal bonding to com- system, replacement windows, ex- ing source to renovate Craftsbury on a first come, first served basis. plete the project. terior insulation and clapboards, Academy and Annex. The School Applications are due on Nov. 13, Costs from the payback on the plumbing, ADA handicap accessi- Board is seeking 0 percent Qualified and can be submitted after the town school construction bonds may be bility, fire suppression sprinkler School Construction Bonds through has approved the bond issue. deducted from the cost per-equal- system, and drainage work. The the ARRA for the proposed Projects are limited to ized pupil formulas set by the state, building envelope will be reinsulated $3,000,000 renovation project. $3,000,000. If the 0 percent bonds which will help lower Craftsbury’s with new forms of insulation to im In a letter to the community, are obtained, the savings would be per-equalized pupil costs. See BONDS, Page Five Venture Center Construction Pushed Back; Spring Start Eyed by Tommy Gardner — has all of its $3.1 million in funds isfy governmental requirements. three months isn’t going to impact HARDWICK — With freezing in place, $2 million of which is fed- Now, the hoped-for May opening is us too terribly.” temperatures becoming common, eral money. It will still be built in not realistic. Federal money brings with it Sterling Squash time appears to have run out for the Hardwick Industrial Park, but a Brian Norder, projects director federal guidelines, which means Jon Kreindel, left, and Nick Hermes, center, along with nine other Sterling College students those hoping to break ground on the construction start date remains elu- for VFVC, is not worrying himself more paperwork in a state that al- and Elena Gustavson of The Center for an Agricultural Economy, picked seven 400 foot rows new Vermont Food Venture Center sive. with deadlines; with $3 million in ready has rigid requirements re- of baby butternut squash Oct. 13 at High Mowing gardens in Wolcott. The students were part before winter, after officials ran into Projected start dates have been the bank, he said it is more impor- garding development. The latest of an all college work day. The squash will be used for the Pies For People project. one final environmental hurdle. pushed back steadily over the year, tant to make sure the project is done setback came when the federal gov- (photo by Vanessa Fournier) The 14,000 food business incu- from June to Labor Day to mid- right, if not swiftly. ernment asked for reassurance that bator — overseen by the non-profit November, as the council (with some “It is what it is,” Norder said. the venture center would not be built organization Economic Develop- help from U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy) “In the big picture scope, setting within a 100-year floodplain, and ment Council of Northern Vermont See VENTURE, Page Seven Squash For People’s Pies struggled to secure funds and sat- (the project) back another two or by June Pichel Cook Sterling College and University of “We are trying to highlight the WOLCOTT — Picking their way Vermont students and generous do- need that a lot of organizations have, ATV Trail Use Sparks Objections down seven 400-foot rows of butter- nations of ingredients from farmers not only at this time of the year but nut squash and harvesting 15 to 20 and producers, the pulp will be baked throughout the year,” Gustavson HARDWICK — For the second weigh in on ways to resolve the the proposed Nov. 15 date, because tougher time navigating the trail if squash every few feet was the task into pies and made into soup, said. “We are contributing soup to time in a month, David Patten ap- issue. So they took a field trip with the ground is already starting to get it were not for his regular improve- volunteers faced last week when Gustavson said. the Food Shelf and freezing it to proached the Select Board seeking Town Manager Rob Lewis to check cold, and he alleges off-roaders will ments. harvesting the bounty from the High Last year, Gustavson was on hold it over until spring.” resolution over the issue of four- out the trail. But last week, two leave a mark all winter if not shut Chapin alleged the ATV riders Mowing Seeds’ fields in North the “baking” end as kitchen man- Reaching out to local produc- wheel drive vehicles tearing up the members were absent and there- down. and snowmobilers are not the ones Wolcott. Eleven Sterling College stu- ager at Sterling College. She will be ers and farmers for help and dona- portion of Buffalo Mountain Trail fore, again, no action was taken. “If they start putting ruts in causing the most damage. Four- dents took on the squash harvesting involved differently this year but tions of ingredients is one of the where he lives. And once again, the Since Buffalo Mountain Trail right now, they’re going to freeze,” wheel drive passenger vehicles and for the Pies for People Project with hopes “to be baking at Sterling,” too. tasks, according to Gustavson, but board was not prepared to take ac- issues were on the agenda, board Patten said. motorcycles are being driven up gusto, energy, and enthusiasm. “Last year, the project took on a there is also need for volunteers’ tion. chair Marcus Brown allowed Patten Alleging he spends a sizable Buffalo Mountain, sometimes with The project, a brainchild last momentum of its own,” she said. donating time to make deliveries The first time Patten appeared and neighbor Meryl Chapin to voice portion of his weekends smoothing messy consequences, he said. year of High Mowing president Tom “We are trying to get things packed and provide trucking. before the board, new members Shari their opinions briefly. out the trail with a rake after riders Sometimes they get up there Stearns, is being coordinated by and ready to go by Nov. 16.” “We would love to have a hand- Cornish and Kathy Hemmens were Patten said he would like the leave ruts, Patten spoke of the irony and can’t get back down. According Elena Gustavson, education and Plans are to distribute the soup and ful of volunteers to help in the not familiar enough with the trail to town to close the trail earlier than that riders would have a much See TRAIL, Page Five outreach and coordinator at the Cen- pies to different organizations. Among kitchen and to help with distribu- ter for an Agricultural Economy. these are the Hardwick Food Shelf, tion,” she said. The harvested squash went to Craftsbury Community Care Center, Interested persons should con- Pete’s Greens in Craftsbury where Community Dinners in Craftsbury and tact Gustavson at 472-5840 or e- the seeds will be extracted; the pulp, Hardwick, and the Early Childhood mail her at center@hardwick cooked and frozen.