|
The Fletcher Community Newsletter |
| The Resource for Town, School, and Community News and Events May 2003 |
Please join us from Tuesday, April 29 through Friday, May 2 in the school library for the spring Book Fair. Books will be sold between 7:30-8:10 a.m. and 3:00-4:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday. On Thursday night (May 1) from 6:30-8:00 p.m., students can bring an older adult or friend and buy books! This is a great time to pick up special gifts for birthdays and holidays. The teachers of Fletcher Elementary have started wish lists if you would like to make book donations to a school classroom. The proceeds of the Book Fair benefit the Friends of Fletcher Elementary (FOFE) and will buy more books for the library. For more information, contact Mary Campbell or Stephanie Chase at 849-6251.
The spring Welcome Infant Gathering will be held on Saturday, May 3 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the Fletcher Elementary School Gym. Babies 15 months old and younger are welcome to attend with their families. Refreshments will be served, age appropriate toys and equipment will be available, and a special Success by Six tote bag will be offered to eligible babies. Come mingle with your child's future classmates! For more information, call Lara Weis at 849-9890.
Green Up Day - May 3
By Deb Lynch, Green Up Day Coordinator
Green Up Day is Saturday, May 3. Green Up bags will be available at the Town Office and at the Fletcher General Store if you'd like to clean up your roadsides. Green Up bags will be picked up on Friday afternoon May 2 by the Town Road Crew. Please let them know if you have bags on your road by calling the garage at 849-6178 or the town office at 849-6616.
Regular Green Up "festivities" will take place at the Town Garage on May 3 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is no charge for scrap metal, but there is a small charge for other items - tires $2; large tires $4; stoves $5; sofas $5; chairs $2.50; pickup loads $10-$12; bagged garbage $2.50. Dave Flanders will be on hand to collect your used oil as well. If you have questions or would like to volunteer to help, please call Deb at 849-6870 or the Town Office at 849-6616.
Do A Little Dance!
Friday Nights in May at FUMH
By Ed Brannagan
The Fletcher Union Meeting House Association (FUMHA) is sponsoring dance classes every Friday night in May (9, 16, 23 & 30) beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Meeting House. Instructor Ryneta Arnold from Johnson will help you learn a few Latin, Ballroom, and Swing dances to dazzle your friends. No partner is needed, but you are welcome to bring one. You can come one night or every night. The cost is still being determined, but is likely to be $5-7 per person per night. We'll hold a dance party after the lesson on the 30th. For more information, contact Ed Brannagan at 343-1065 or Ryneta Arnold at 635-7417. Keep those Friday nights open and bring your friends along!
BMC Spring Sale - May 3
By Bruce Webb
The annual spring sale on Saturday, May 3 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at the Fletcher Union Meeting House. Sales tables include food, plants, books, candy, crafts, white elephant, and a huge rummage sale. Soup and sandwich lunch will be served throughout the day, along with coffee, doughnuts, and homemade pie. The sale benefits the Binghamville Methodist Church. For information or to donate items, contact Charles Tinker or Dennis Geddy at 849-2120.
There is a new, locking glass display cabinet in the Fletcher School lobby. The funds for this were given by the 6th grade class of 2001. Thanks!
Little League Plant Sale - May 17
The Fairfax, Fletcher, Westford Little League is holding its annual plant sale fundraiser. If you would like to advance order your garden and flower plants, please call your local Little League player or Brenda Potter (840-9837 evenings or weekends) to find out where to pick up an order form. The plants you order must be picked up on May 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the J&L Field on the corner of Rt. 104 and 128 in Fairfax. Any plants not picked up will be sold. Please help support the Fairfax, Fletcher, Westford Little League!
News, Alerts, and Weekly Legislative
Reports
By Jon Bondy
When I became a Selectman, I automatically started receiving publications from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT). There are a variety of publications, including "News," "Alerts," and "Weekly Legislative Reports." The Weekly Legislative Reports provide lots of detailed information and analysis about current legislative activities. While the VLCT does not provide this information to regular citizens (don't ask me why: it's not secret!), it is available on-line to any of you who have internet access and are interested. Here are the URLs, if you'd like to check them out. News: http://www.vlct.org/news.cfm; Alerts: http://www.vlct.org/alerts.cfm; and Weekly Legislative Reports: http://www.vlct.org/legreports.cfm. For those of you who prefer reading the printed page, we will start collecting some of these publications in the Town Clerk's office, for your inspection at your convenience. Just come in and ask for the VLCT reports.
6th Grade Bottle Drive - May 18
The 6th grade class at Fletcher Elementary is continuing its effort to raise funds for its class trip. On Sunday, May 18, the class will host a bottle drive. The students (with parents) will be going door-to-door to pick up bottles that you might donate. If you don't plan to be home that day, you can put your bottles outside on your driveway in the morning. Please put them in a box or bag to keep the wind from blowing them around. Someone will stop by to pick them up.
Metcalf Pond Aerial Photos
By Skip Taylor
My wife Mary and I are part time summer residents at Metcalf Pond. A couple years ago at a Vermont Craft Show, I asked Robert Lyons, who does spectacular aerial photographs of the Vermont landscape, if he would do photos of Metcalf Pond. Well, he has, and two of them are for sale. They can be previewed on his website which is as follows: (Robertlyonsphotography.com ). Click on "Image Gallery" and select "North Central Vermont." They are available in 4 or 5 sizes. I am not selling them and don't get a commission, but Fletcher residents might be interested, so I thought I'd pass this along.
Join us for playgroup on the following Thursdays from 1:30-2:45 p.m. at the Fletcher Elementary School.
Please call Kris Irish with questions at 849-9352.
Quality of Life Donations
By Meredith Roberts R.N., Fletcher School
The American Red Cross is collecting quality of life items for our U.S. Troups to help bring a touch of home to deployed U.S. forces. If you would like to donate items, the following items are welcome:
People hold differing views of the efficacy and wisdom of U.S. military action. Sending quality of life items may help to decrease the powerlessness felt by young children and is not intended to condone any viewpoint. Items can be brought to the Fletcher Elementary School.
The Thief Among Us
By H. Carlton Ferguson, Fletcher Health Officer
There is a thief among us who is putting his family, friends, and neighbors at serious risk. Drivers for Fire and Rescue depend on E-911 road signs. Dispatchers guide the drivers by using E-911 road signs. The green and white E-911 Fire and Rescue signs that have been stolen in Fletcher are: NOBLE ROAD, REYNOLDS ROAD, BOOZAN HILL ROAD, TAYLOR ROAD, POND ROAD, WRIGHT ROAD, RUGG ROAD, and CHILDREN AT PLAY.
If a citizen, a student, or a college administrator knows the whereabouts of these signs please call the Town of Fletcher office at 849-6616 or the Vermont State Police at 524-5993. If you need a profile of the thief, it is probably someone who is likely to need rescue to cut him out of a car after he tries to tap a maple tree at 60 miles an hour.
GMO Debate - Agribusiness
Technology vs. Nature?
By Alan Plumb
The April Fletcher Newsletter contains an interesting article titled, "GMO Debate - Science or Suspicion." The author correctly "questions the tactics of any group that pits one segment of agriculture against another." That is exactly what Monsanto and other big agribusinesses are doing to traditional and organic farmers. Some GE (Genetically Engineered) crops readily cross-pollinate with crops grown by those who do not want GE crops.
The article calls for informed debate. Absolutely! Impartial studies should be conducted and informed decisions made before GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) are released into the environment. Once these new genes cross pollinate into the conventional seed bank, it is difficult, if not impossible, to recall them. People worldwide are concerned with the unregulated endorsement and introduction of GMOs in the U.S. There is a revolving door between agribusiness and federal regulators (USDA and FDA). USDA Secretary Bennemen comes from Monsanto's legal department.
It is not the benefits of GE that concern GMO opponents; it is the unintended consequences. Much environmental degradation is a result of technological "advances" primarily motivated by desire for maximum profit. A major difference between organic and high-tech agriculture is the relationship with nature. Organic farmers attempt to work with and strengthen natural processes and forces with practices like crop rotation and compost application. High-tech agriculture attempts to control, even destroy, natural processes with the use of pesticides - poisons which kill a targeted weed, insect or other "pest" and often have unintended consequences. DDT and Agent Orange are a couple of the better known products created by agribusiness.
If GMOs are so beneficial, why the reluctance to label GE sees and resulting produce? Why the legal contracts that transfer potential GE liability to the farmer? The problem faced by smaller farmers is not the inability to grow crops, but the lack of a market that offers a reasonable return for the commodities they produce - more supply and demand. GE technology will not increase the demand for the resulting produce, but it will likely increase the supply of produce.
Retirement Party for Joe Jutras, Road Foreman
Thursday, May 1, 2003 from 1-3 p.m. at the Fletcher Town Office
Everyone come and wish our Road Foreman a great retirement! Refreshments will be served. Let's show Joe how much we have appreciated his services for the past 9 years.
March 10, 2003 (Approved):
March 17, 2003 (Approved):
March 24, 2003 (Approved):
Town Office News
By Elaine Sweet and Gloria Brunette
I can't believe it…..SPRING HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!!!! Yippy!! I don't know about you but I'm ready to see green grass and flowers, oh yeah, and lots of warm weather!
If you haven't registered your dog with the Town you MUST do it now! Vermont Law states that you must license your dog on or before April 1st with the Town Clerk. You will need a current rabies certificate (good for 2 years). The fees are $7.00 for spayed/neutered and $13.00 for all who aren't! ANYONE with a dog/dogs that are 6 months old or more, MUST register them with the Town Clerk.
Reminder: The office is open Monday - Thursday, 9AM- 3:30 PM and Monday evenings 6:30-8:30PM. CLOSED on Fridays. The office will be closed on May 26th for Memorial Day.
Happy Spring!
Newsletter Poll … Highlighting Fletcher
Businesses and Services
By Bonnie Waninger, Newsletter Editor
During the past year, several residents have asked me to highlight businesses and services in Fletcher in the newsletter. Some times, this request if from a business; other times, it has come from a resident seeking a type of service. Because the newsletter is supported by your local tax dollars, I would like your opinion on whether or not we should provide this service through the newsletter.
Due to space limitations, no more than three businesses or service providers per month could be listed in the newsletter. This means we'd have to have a blind drawing each month to determine who is listed. Folks would need to be patient until their business/service is drawn for inclusion. The other option would be to allow businesses or service providers to pay for advertisements in the newsletter, with the proceeds going to the town to offset the cost of the newsletter. Businesses do have the opportunity to advertise in the Fletcher phone book, which is published by the Fletcher Elementary 6th Grade Class every few years. The phone book is used as a fundraiser.
The Select Board has provided some input. They liked the idea of highlighting businesses, but were uncertain how to handle certain requests. For instance, if a local resident is a real estate agent with a real estate agency, but the agency does not have an office in Fletcher, should this resident's service be highlighted for free? Ultimately, it's your tax dollars. How would you like to address these requests?
Do you think that the Fletcher Newsletter should include information about
businesses and service providers?
No
Yes
If we highlight local business and service providers in the Fletcher newsletter, should we: (please choose one only)
If we list everyone for free, which businesses or services should be eligible for listing? (choose all that apply)
Additional comments and suggestions: __________________________________________________________________
Please mail your completed poll to: Bonnie Waninger, 791 Shaw Road, Cambridge,
VT 05478. Thank you for your input. I'll let you know what the poll results
are in a future newsletter.
Get the word out about your events and activities through the Fletcher Community Newsletter. The next deadline for submissions is Friday, May 9. Events and articles can be sent to Bonnie Waninger, 791 Shaw Road, Cambridge, VT 05444, Fax & Phone: 849-9869 (press "start" for fax), or E-mail: redpoll@sover.net.
| 1 & 2 | Book Fair 7:30-8:10 am & 3-4 p.m. | Elementary School Library |
| 1 | Book Fair Family Night 6:30-8:00 p.m. | Elementary School Library |
| 1, 15, 29 | Fletcher Community Playgroup 1:15-2:45 p.m. | Elementary School Gym |
| 2 | Green Up Roadside Pickup | Call town garage or town hall to schedule |
| 3 | Green Up Day 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Town Garage |
| 3 | BMC Spring Sale 9:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Fletcher Union Meeting House |
| 3 | Welcome Infant Gathering 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Elementary School Gym |
| 3 | Waldo & Woodhead 7:00 p.m. | Cambridge Elementary School |
| 3, 17, 31 | Recycling and trash drop-off 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. | Town Garage |
| 4, 11, 18, 25 | Adult Basketball (Over 40) 9:00 a.m. | Elementary School Gym |
| 5, 12, 18, 26 | Adult Basketball (All ages) 7:00 p.m. | Elementary School Gym |
| 5, 19 | Select Board meeting 7:00 p.m. | Town Office |
9, 16, 23, 30 |
Dance Class 7:00 p.m. | Fletcher Union Meeting House |
10 |
Cambridge Book Group "Heart and Blood" 3:00-5:00 p.m. | Varnum Memorial Library, Jeffersonville |
| 16 | Articles due for June newsletter | |
| 16 | Firefly Production presents "Accidental Death of an Anarchists" 7:00 p.m. | Waterville Town Hall |
17 |
Little League Plant Sale Pickup 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | J&L Field, Fairfax |
| 18 | 6th Grade Bottle Drive | Leave bottles out on your driveway for pickup |
| 26 | Memorial Day Holiday | No school; Town Office closed |