|
The Fletcher Community Newsletter |
| The Resource for Town, School, and Community News and Events - July 2003 |
Help celebrate our 10th year hosting the Northern Vermont Artist Association's Annual June Juried Exhibition. From June 8 - July 6, the exhibit showcases "10 Years of NVAA Prize Winners." The gallery is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 180 Main Street, Jeffersonville, (802) 644-5100.
Changes to the Binghamville
Intersection
Public Discussion - June 30
The Fletcher Select Board will hold an open public forum on Monday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Clerk's Office. (We may re-locate to the Grange if attendance warrants it.) We'll be discussing some possible alternatives to make the 4-way intersection at Binghamville Center as safe as possible for all who travel through it.
The Board is considering turning the intersection into either a 3-way or 4-way stop. We've discussed the possibilities at length and have reviewed the site with a state engineer. Now we need to know what YOU -- the residents and the people who use the intersection every day -- think we ought to do.
The session is intended as a discussion of ideas and opinions only, and no decisions made and/or votes taken are binding. If you feel strongly about the future of this intersection, please join us.
The Lamoille Lodge No. 6 is hosting a Chicken BBQ catered by Wetherbee's. The meal includes potato salad, coleslaw, rolls, beverage, and dessert. Ticket prices are $7.50 for adults and $3.50 for children 12 and under. The event will take place at the Baptist Building on Main Street in Fairfax, starting at 5:00 p.m., on Saturday, June 28. Music will be provided for Foothills Fogies. For information, call 849-6313.
The Fairfax Community Library is thrilled to present a concert performed by the 40th Army Band on Monday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. in Fairfax. This is an exciting community event that promises to provide wonderful musical entertainment for the whole family. Bring your chair or blanket to the lawn in front of the BFA Middle School to enjoy this free program. Rain location is the BFA Elementary Gym. Don't miss this special event!
FOFE says "Thanks!"
By Mary Campbell
FOFE would like to thank all the volunteers who contributed time, effort, sweat, and sheer fun to the Fun Fest on June 7. We had a spectacular obstacle course, kissed pigs, purpled hair, and buzzed cuts. Special thanks to the organizers- Heather Blair, Kelly Cummings, Crystal Cunningham, and Laura Peatman - who all put in way more hours than they had time for.
Church Supper Season Has Begun!
Don't miss the Binghamville Methodist Church hot dish suppers on the third Thursday of the month. Seating begins at 5:00 p.m. and continues until all are served. Take out plates are available if you don't have time to socialize. Dates and menus are:
FFWLL Plant Sale
By Brenda Potter, Plant Sale Coordinator
I would like to thank all of the people that volunteered and helped out on plant sale day and on Friday evening to help unload the truck. We had great weather and all but 16 people picked up their plants. Now, if we can just figure out what to do about the frost risk overnight. I would also like to thank everyone that bought plants this year, the event was a big success and will go a long way toward replacing the backstops on the fields and getting more new equipment for the kids next year. Thanks Again!
Current Use Update
By Deb Lynch and Carlton Ferguson
The Legislature has amended the Use Value Appraisal program so that farm buildings owned by farmers enrolled in the state current use program will be 100% exempt from property taxes, beginning with tax bills sent out this year. Previously, farm buildings were taxed at 30% of fair market value. Farm buildings include barns, silos, sugarhouses, and sheds, all of which have to be used as part of a farming operation and must be owned by a "farmer." A farmer gets 50% or more of his or her gross annual income from "farming," as defined by the IRS. For those of you that have farm buildings already enrolled in the program, the change has already been made. There is still time for anyone who wants to benefit from the program if you apply to the state by September 1, although they will not be eligible for the higher exemption until next year. (Excerpted from "Vermont Property Owners Report," June-July 2003.)
Success by Six is a state-funded program that allocates money to each town to provide learning opportunities for children aged birth through six and their parents. Our local group, called the Fletcher Early Childhood Initiatives Team, is responsible for organizing the town playgroup, Gymboree on the Go, and in past years visitors such as The Traveling Storyteller, Gymagery, Jon Gailmore, & Kindermusik. In past years, we have also held storytimes and provided daycares with weekly storyboxes. At the end of the school year, we also team up with FOFE for the Fletcher Family Festival. Although we are given money to run these programs, they can't happen without dedicated adults to run them. We need more team members!!! The following Success by Six Openings are for the 2003-2004 school year:
Liaison: Duties include facilitating local team quarterly meetings, attending monthly county-wide meetings, budgeting & expenditure of local funds, promotion of local activities as well as grant writing & planning. This position has a stipend. If interested please call Pam Farmer at 849-2995.
Playgroup Set-up: Someone interested in helping out with set up of the twice-monthly playgroup starting in September. This position has a small stipend. If interested please call Kris Irish at 849-9350.
Local Team Members: Someone interested in attending quarterly meetings and providing input on activities happening at the local level for children ages birth through age 6. Our next meeting will be in the fall. If interested please call Pam Farmer at 849-2995.
FOFE Would Like to See Some Auction!!!
The Silent Auctions/Live Auctions of the past have been fun, bargain-filled events, and with items for bid like a lobster bake for two, a cord of wood, 12 months of fresh baked bread, overnight childcare, a Bash Badge, fertilizer - it is no wonder they are so much fun! This summer, a team of FOFErs will be collecting donations and would love to hear from you. Think about anything you have around home that you would like to donate, businesses we can call for donations, crafts, baked goods, or juggling lessons to donate! Our goal is to have all items donated by September, for an auction in October. The proceeds would benefit FOFE's fundraising efforts for more events like Circus Smirkus, and the FOFE FUN FEST. If you are interested in donating a service, craft, gift certificate, baked good, etc., please contact Mary Campbell at 849-6555 or maryc@sover.net.
The Fletcher 6th grade class of 2003 would like to thank the community, family, and friends for all their support and contributions toward their trip to Plymouth and Boston, MA. The trip was a great success and a wonderful conclusion to their experience at Fletcher Elementary. Thank you!
North Country ATV Association
By Claire Willette
The North Country ATV Association, Inc. (NCAA) had a meeting on June 6, 2003. The meetings are held the first Friday of each month, 7:00pm at the Abbey Restaurant in Sheldon. Landowner, members, or anyone interested may attend. Our next meeting will be held on July 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Abbey Restaurant due to the Independence Day holiday.
The Club just attended the Enosburg Dairy Days Parade and had a member showing of about 40 people and 25 ATV's, as well as a truck pulling a float with children and children's ATV's on board.
There were two bills in the Legislature, H.4 and H.177 which did not make it through the session, one of which was changing the definition of an ATV. ATV's were defined as "motor vehicles" which require directional, inspection, etc. However, the Legislature changed the definition of an ATV through the Transportation Bill. It has been written to say: "All-terrain vehicle" or "ATV" means any non-highway recreational vehicle, except snowmobiles, when used for cross-country travel on trails or on any one of the following or a combination thereof; land, water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland and natural terrain. An all-terrain vehicle operated on a public highway shall be considered a motor vehicle only for the purposes of those offenses listed in subdivision 2502(a)(5) of this title and as provided in section 1201 of this title.
The other big issue at the meeting was Landowner Trail Liability Insurance. Clubs around the State have been waiting patiently for VASA (Vermont ATV Sportsman's Association) to secure an insurance carrier to handle the policy. Until that is complete, trails have been temporarily closed. Roads with participating Towns are open, however, please call the Town Clerk of any Town you think allows ATV's to confirm the roads are open.
Please feel free to attend any of our meetings to get updates on ATVing in
Franklin County. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Club
President Andrew King at 868-9909, Secretary Claire Willette at 849-6729, or
visit our website at www.ncaa-inc.com.
The Cambridge Arts Council will present several concerts this summer at the Cambridge Elementary Gazebo (behind the Cambridge Elementary School) in Jeffersonville.
Sunday, June 29, 4-6 p.m. - Yankee Chank - Traditional dance music from southwest Louisiana (Cajun & Zydeco). Rain site: Cambridge El. School Auditorium. The event is FREE - please bring a donation for the local food shelf. Call at Ron 644-6632 for more information.
Saturday, July 19, 7-9 p.m. - Patti Casey has earned her spot on the Vermont folk and bluegrass scene through sheer talent and hard work. The rest to f the folk world is beginning to take notice of this charming New Englander with the Patsy Cline-ish touch. A Vermonter with strong Irish roots and a prolific songwriter, Patti has perfected her own New England flavored bluegrass style, one that shine equally with welcome familiar bluegrass sound and undeniable originality. Rain site is the Cambridge Elementary School Gym.
Legislative Notes
By Senator Don Collins
My first session as one of your Senators was very rewarding. There is much to learn as a new member of the legislature, and I was very fortunate to have the support and advice of many of the senior Senators. William Doyle, who was one of my professors at Johnson State College, has served in the Senate for more than 25 years and was one of my supporters throughout the session. Senator Richard Mazza from Colchester serves as Chair of the Senate's Transportation Committee, and he was very helpful as I learned the issues with this assignment.
One of my first memories of this session was being one of two Senators, who leads the members of the Senate into the House Chamber whenever the two legislative bodies join together. Our first meeting was for the official election of the Governor and Lt. Governor and I was one of four Senators selected to be a "ballot clerk." Other positive memories include reporting bills on the floor of the Senate, testifying before other Senate and House committees on educational issues and meeting with constituents, who were visiting the State House.
My committee work was very gratifying, since there were a number of transportation issues of importance to Northwestern Vermont. The paving of highways, replacement of bridges and funding of the town highway programs were high priorities; much time was also spent discussing Vermont's public transportation system, airports, railroads, and local enhancement projects. Our education committee focused on changes to Act 60, the impact of the federal legislation, known as No Child Left Behind, early childhood education initiatives, emergency preparedness plans for all schools, the benefits of school lunch and breakfast programs, as well as scholarships for members of Vermont's National Guard units and any surviving children of military personnel, who give their lives for our country.
It was a fantastic five months, and I am honored to represent the citizens of Fletcher. Please feel free to contact me at 868-7975 to discuss issues or schedule a time for me to meet with your group to review the legislative process or recently passed legislation.
Unsound Buildings
By Carlton Ferguson, Fletcher Health Officer
Please tear them down. It is impossible to tell when a building with a leaking roof, rotten floors, and broken beams will come down. If nothing else, board them up. Such buildings attract young children.
Septic Systems Tips
By Carlton Ferguson, Fletcher Health Officer
These are observations by the Town of Fletcher Health Officer. They are provided so citizens can have some background on the subject. Official information on the subject may be obtained from the State.
If only the kitchen sink, dish washer, toilets, and wash basins are hitched to the septic tank, the system will work for decades without pumping. The material has time to decompose, rot, and decay. When the tank is pumped it will have mostly liquid and very little solids. Emptying hot tubs, tubs, showers, and clothes washers into the system, compromises the system. The system is a flooded system so whatever goes in an equal amount must leave; this shortens the time for the material to rot, decay, or decompose. The material in the tank will sink to the bottom and collect. The tank will need pumping on a regular basis - possibly every 2 or 3 years.
Leaving the water running to keep pipes from freezing and draining flooded basements into the septic tank will totally compromise the system. The tank will probably need pumping every year.
Grease floats, and with time, it can plug the tank and the leach field.
Modern leach lines have small holes. Emptying mop water, clothes washer lint, and dryer lint into the toilet will plug these small holes. Most man made fibers will not decompose in a septic tank.
Last but not least, if you have a pump system or a siphon system, stand on the septic tank when the pump tank or siphon tank unloads. If you hear or feel water bubbling through under you, raw material is going out to the leach field and will plug the pipes. Check the air vent for obstruction.
Town Office News
By Elaine Sweet and Gloria Brunette
Hi everyone. YEAH…warm weather is finally here…I think! A lot of you have been calling to ask about the new tax bills, and I have to tell you that the State has to send us a form on how to set the State and Local Tax Liability for the School Tax Rate. Last year, they sent it by June 24th, so if that is true again this year the Select Board will be able to set the tax rate on June 30th and the bills will be out shortly after that date. The discount period will still be July 31st at 4%. September 30th is the due in full date. Please feel free to give me a call if you have questions on this.
Reminder: The office is open Monday - Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday evenings 6:30-8:30 p.m., and CLOSED on Fridays. Happy Gardening!
PS…A big Thank you to Debbie Lynch for the flowers in the buckets at the Town Office…they look awesome!
April 28, 2003 (Approved):
May 5, 2003 (Approved):
May 19, 2003 (Approved):
April 17, 2003 (Approved):
Mail box 911 numbers stand for the distance from the beginning of that road. Each unit is 5.28 feet, so 1000 equals a mile; 250 equals a quarter mile; and 3500 is 3.5 miles.
| 8-July 6 | No. VT Artist Association's Annual Juried Exhibition | 10 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Bryan Memorial Gallery, Jeffersonville |
| 28 | Recycling and trash drop-off | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Town Garage |
| 28 | Chicken BBQ & Music | Beginning at 5:00 p.m., Baptist Building, Fairfax |
| 29 | Adult Basketball (Over 40) | 9:00 a.m., Elementary School Gym |
| 29 | CAC presents "Yankee Chank" | 4:00-6:00 p.m., Jeffersonville Gazebo, Cambridge Elementary School |
| 30 | Adult Basketball (All ages) | 7:00 p.m., Elementary School Gym |
| 30 | Binghamville Intersection Public Meeting and Select Board meeting | 7:00 p.m., Town Office |
| 30 | Army Band Concert | 7:00 p.m., BFA Middle School |
| 4 | Independence Day Holiday | Town Office Closed |
| 6,13,20,27 | Adult Basketball (Over 40) | 9:00 a.m., Elementary School Gym |
| 7,14,21,28 | Adult Basketball (All ages) | 7:00 p.m., Elementary School Gym |
| 7, 21 | Select Board meeting | 7:00 p.m., Town Office |
| 11 | Newsletter articles due | |
| 11 | No. Country ATV Association meeting | 7:00 p.m., Abbey Restaurant, Sheldon |
| 12, 26 | Recycling and trash drop-off | 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Town Garage |
| 17 | Church Supper | Beginning at 5:00 p.m., Binghamville Methodist Church |
| 19 | CAC presents Patti Casey | 7:00-9:00 p.m., Jeffersonville Gazebo, Cambridge Elementary School |