08/09

Wallingford News - 51st Edition August 2009

Editor’s Note: Please send news, ads and items of interest by 8/24 to townclerk@wallingfordvt.com.

Support the Wallingford Newsletter with an ad in the Wallingford News. Rates are $50 for a business card size ad and $75 for a double ad. Your ad will run for 12 issues. For more information, call the Town Clerk's Office at 446-2336. Or, do you have a used car, boat or services to sell? A one-month ad, 25 words or less is $5. Is there anything you’d like added to this monthly newsletter? Let us know. Issues of the newsletter can be mailed to you if you provide us with the self-addressed stamped envelopes (with 61¢ postage on each). The newsletter is also on the Web at www.wallingfordvt.com.

Seller: Thomas & Kimberly Phillips, land-Parker Road, E. Wallingford , Buyer: Daniel Mcavoy, Sales price: $120,000, Assessed value: $173,200.

{Please note that these meeting minutes are a brief summary and are not the final approved version.}

Selectboard

07/20/09 . Present: B. Brooks, F. Bruce, J. Gilman, C. Angel, and J. Crowley

Discussion regarding the water drainage from the (former) Csizmesia’s along the backyards on Meacham Street was discussed.

The Selectboard accepted land from the Wallingford Historical Society of 107 South Main Street (.15 acre).

An extended warranty was purchased for the 2008 Ford Truck. Heating oil pricing was locked in at $2.245.

The Wallingford Fire District #1 budget totals $143,165.9 compared to $77,059 last year. Residents in District 1 and 3 will be billed $.10 per $1,000 (up to $.05 last year).

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission discussed the rewrites of the zoning applications. Once the draft changes have been made it will be emailed to all board members for review.

The survey will not be ready for Wallingford Day. The main purpose of the survey is to get input from residents especially on controversial issues.

If the current Town Plan is adopted “as is”, it will still need review to ensure informational references are correct.

The Conservation Commission has offered to assist with any necessary changes needed for the Natural Resource section of the Town Plan. They would also like to participate in the survey.

Conservation Commission

06/29/09 . Present: T. Chila, C. Macleod, S. Pytlik, D. Scranton , R. Nimtz, P. Upton, A. Miller, D. Klock, and K. Royar

The WCC met with members of the Recreation Committee earlier regarding planning for the reclamation of “the pit”.

The WCC suggests that the name of “the pit” be changed to “Stone Meadow”. The proposed name change is derived from the original donors of the property whose name was Stone.

Joyce B. printed 200 copies of the walking brochure. The various distribution sites were reviewed.

Kim has access to a couple of kiosks. They may be erected at the pit and/or at the library.

Town Plan/Planning Commission: Tim sent an email to John West offering our help at Wallingford Day in distributing questionnaires. Shannon will offer help to the Planning Commission on the natural resources section of the town plan.

Anne Tally will lead a discussion of the book “Low Carbon Diet to Lose 5,000 Pounds” on July 16^th.

Bob Murphy from Efficiency Vermont will hold a talk during the 2^nd week of September. Ken Welch is also interested in partici pat ing on the Energy Committee and would provide valuable expertise regarding the availability of energy subsidies and grants. The Regional Planning Commission’s Energy Committee will meet July 21^st.

Ralph will talk to Rutland Audubon to see if they are interested in co-sponsoring a talk with Bernard Heinrich.

Prudential Committee

It was agreed that the office would look into getting the Fire District a credit card for emergency use.

Scott gave her a copy of how big the blow off valve should be and explained it should only be a trickle of water coming out. The Committee removed the sewer charge as the property was empty.

Alicia Sharp gave an update on delinquent bills. She has spoken with John West about what needs to be done to shut off water on people who have a high delinquency and those letters are being done. The reminder letters have been mailed out to customers.

Maureen explained that she has not applied for any credit cards because they are all asking for personal information. Scott said he would look at a few and see what he could find.

Prebuying fuel from Patten Oil was reviewed. The Committee agreed not to prebuy fuel this year. Dennis will check with Johnson Fuel and bring some information to the next meeting.

The new proposed contract for lodge rentals was reviewed. Some suggestions and additions were made and approval will be done at the next meeting.

The status of the fire contract with the Town was mentioned and the Committee is willing to sign one but they’re waiting on Bill Brooks to bring it forward.

Dennis brought in information from Johnson Energy about their prepay prices. The Committee decided not to buy ahead. Dennis also discussed getting a donated diesel tank for the fire department so they do not have to go anywhere to get it.

The new lodge contract was accepted. The 2010 prices will be added to the next agenda for discussion.

The board made the decision to not pursue getting a credit card at this time as we would have to put down someone’s personal information on the application.

Mark Breznick sent a note stating that they had a valve that needs to be replaced at the sewer plant, which requires a small excavator to dig it up. He sent in an estimate for the total cost of between $1,050-$1,200.

Mark also sent a note that during the recent Safety Audit, it was suggested that signs be posted at the sewer plant about unauthorized entry. This would cover any liability in case someone got hurt. The Committee gave approval to purchase signs for approximately $230.

The Committee approved adjusting Carol McKeen’s last billing to the sewer portion because of a water leak in her house.

06/18/09 . Present: C. Watts, D. Klock, P. Rondinone, C. Piotrowski, and K. Fredette

The board discussed and approved a tax anticipat ion note for $300,000, which was reduced from $400,000.

Wendy Savery of the Wallingford Day Care Preschool noted that she anticipates 7 students for next year. The board inquired about changing the cutoff date for enrollment and she stated that if the cutoff was mobbed to December 31, then approximately 3 more children would be eligible. Wendy noted that she had the capacity for 10. The board noted it will address the cutoff date at the next meeting. The Board approved the agreement with Wallingford Day Care Preschool and authorize the chair to sign for the board. The motion passed unanimously.

The board agreed that it would meet July 2 and August 6. It was noted that should a second meeting in the months of July and August be warranted, then the board will convene as necessary. Principal Jason Morse reported that Gary will attend the meeting to discuss the estimates received for sidewalk repair. Several requests for use of building, field trips and special events were reported. Paw Print will be sent home on June 18^th and other communication has been placed in the WES Board mailbox. Glendenning LLC was awarded the repair of the sidewalk and curb for $29,648.75.

Ken Fredette referred board members to recent news articles about consolidating schools and closing buildings.

Interested Parties In The Little Red School House. The Wallingford School Board will be discussing the future disposition of the Little Red School House in South Wallingford at its meetings on:

The School Board invites interested parties to attend one of these meetings and provide input. The School Board meets in the Music Room at the Elementary School.

Planning Commission - Prepares a municipal plan, prepares and administers bylaws, and undertakes studies and make recommendations on matters of land development, urban renewal, transportation, economic and social development, etc. This is a volunteer position.

Recreation Committee - Is responsible for designing, overseeing and supporting recreation programs and services to fill the recreational needs of the community. This is a volunteer position.

Tree Warden - To act as overseer of public trees, organizing and implementing tree planting, maintenance and protection programs. Three major areas are: to remove trees that cannot be saved; salvage those that can be saved; and implement a tree preservation program for the Town. There is a small stipend for this position based on each duty performed.

Send letter of interest to the Wallingford Selectboard, 75 School Street , Wallingford , VT 05773 .

Many thanks to all who contributed their time and effort to make the Senior tag sale on Wallingford Fun Day a huge success. It was great to see so many old friends and make some new ones.

Foot and blood pressure clinic on Wednesday, August 5th at 10:30 a.m. at the Wallingford House.

Remember Senior lunch every Monday at Noon at the Rotary. Contact Linda Weightman at 446-2301.

Plans are in the works for the Seniors August trip. Watch the Library and Town Hall bulletin boards for details or contact Peggy Rice at 446-6050.

A Traveleque DVD of tour and views of May VPR trip to the Gardens of England on Monday, August 10^th at 1:30 p.m. at the Gilbert Hart Library . All are welcome. Questions and discussion following.

The Gilbert Hart Library – Read the August 2009 News by Linda Reeves , Director

Summer is finally here, isn’t it!?? It’s a great time to bring the kids to the library and partici pat e in the children’s programs. We have 2 great programs planned for the month of August.

On August 5, Kevin and Michael Cange (Wallingford Day Care Mikey) will help the children build, decorate, and fly their own balsa wood airplane. The program is targeted for children between the ages of 5-12. Program starts at 10:30 .

On August 19, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) will present a Raptor Encounter program. This program starts at 10:30 . All welcome!!

AND don’t forget every Wednesday morning at 10:30 , we have the children’s story hour presented by the Wallingford Day Care folks. Call the library at 446-2685 for more information or if you have questions.

Book, audio, and movie sale is still going strong. Thanks to all of you for your generous donations and all the weeding I am doing to make way for automation! Stop by and take a look at the nice selection of materials we have for sale. Take more than 1 item, and we’ll make you a deal!!!! Money for the sale will be used for library automation. Also, stop by and check out our FREE TABLE!!

The Library also has other freebies for library pat rons: the Vermont State Parks “Check out the Parks” pass and the Echo Pass. Call the Library for more information.

You might also be interested in the online photo contest sponsored by the Vermont National Parks Service and filmmaker Ken Burns. Ken Burns’ latest PBS documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, will premiere as a six-night special in September on Vermont Public Television (VPT). In conjunction with the premier, VPT and its community partners are sponsoring a statewide community campaign, Our Shared Heritage: Vermont Parks & Public Lands. This campaign is designed to raise awareness of and partici pat ion in Vermont ’s parks and public lands. If you have ever visited one of Vermont ’s parks or public lands (and most of us have), you undoubtedly have terrific photos that captured these moments. You are invited to share your memories with others by entering Our Shared Heritage: Vermont Parks & Public Lands photo contest. Winners of the contest will receive a DVD copy of the Ken Burns series and winning photos will be featured on VPT’s website. The contest is open to all ages. Contest deadline is Friday, August 14, 2009 . For more information visit www.vpt.org or stop by the library for a brochure.

Guns Across the Loxahatchee: an Archaeohistorical
Investigation of Seminole War Sites in Florida Richard Procyk

Also Met Along the Way: More Short Stories
About People in Vermont Cornelius Hogan

Book Review: In 29 short stories, author Cornelius Hogan has captured the essence of some of Vermont 's political figures, local farmers, people in business and people who have worked in Vermont 's correctional system. The stories in Also Met Along the Way: More Short Stories about People in Vermont are told in general chronological order from the early 70's to today. Together, the episodes add up to a portrait that captures a special spirit of Vermonters of many different backgrounds and experiences. Anyone who enjoys Vermont will appreciate these stories.

Library Hours
M – closed
Tu, Thu, Fri – 10:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Wed – 10:00 – 8 p.m.
Sat – 9:00 – noon
Su – closed

No comments are necessary regarding the “summer” weather so far this season—we are still waiting! We did have a nice day for Wallingford Day, when rain had been predicted, so that was a plus.

We do thank you for contributing so generously to our book and tag sale that day. We had a continual flow of customers from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Many items donated were in mint condition, and seemed to come right off the shelf of some gift shop. I suppose we didn’t price things high enough, but in difficult economic times, we were trying to respond to that fact. I hope you enjoyed the bargains you got!

And to those who were looking for chocolate, you’ll have to wait until December 5!

In August, we have Whist parties on August 7 and 21, 7 p.m. , at the Library. If you have questions, please contact Carol Pratt at 446-2843.

The Friends will meet in regular session on August 12 at 2 p.m. The principal business of this meeting will be to finalize plans for the Heritage Dinner in October. Many suggestions have come in for the menu which will use recipes made famous in the community by the likes of Lena Davenport, Thelma Perry, and their younger counterparts. It may end up being a smorgasbord as some dishes will be hard to eliminate.

Also at this meeting, Betty Emery will share the list of book discussion choices from Talking About Books, which is our source for discussion books. She also has a list of paperbacks she is hoping to receive from us to round out what Talking About Books can offer. There will be some recompense for our donations. The first book discussion of the season will be on September 16 at 7 p.m. The book is about Abraham Lincoln and has been available at the library all summer. Pick up your copy soon!

On August 19, we will have our annual pot luck picnic at Sue Thayer’s house. We will be meeting at the library at 10 a.m. and will carpool to her home and garden on Centerville Road, East Wallingford . Don’t forget to bring a dish to share. This invitation is open to all members and friends.

Coming Events for the Maple Valley Grange #318 on Route 7 in South Wallingford ……

Every Tuesday from 6-9 p.m. Line Dancing. $5 per person. Snack bar available. Beginners & experienced.

The Chipman Lodge 52 FAM holds meetings on the second Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Lodge.

Suicide Survivors Support Group meetings for those who have lost a loved one or friend through suicide are held at the Maple Leaf Clinic, 167 North Main Street , Wallingford , 446-3577 on the third Tuesday of each month.

Lunch, Love & Laughter
Come join us for lunch at the Wallingford Congregational Church on South Main Street every Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Last year’s event was such a tremendous success with so many wonderful items on display from paintings to quilts and hooked rugs that we’re repeating it this year with a little twist.

Besides photos, paintings, quilts, rugs, jewelry, and baskets, we’re asking collectors to bring a few pieces from their collections to display. We have lined up someone who collects colorful Quimper pottery from

France

and are looking for others with small collections that they would like to display.

What: Photos, paintings, prints, quilts, jewelry, rugs, pottery, and baskets

For more information, contact: Diane Cooney (446-2514), Chris Bannerman (446-3560), Marlene Dawson (446-2904), or Joyce Barbieri (446-2336)

Wallingford Neighborhood Watch
If you’d like to receive emails under the Wallingford “ Neighborhood Watch ” system, send an email to townadmin@wallingfordvt.com and keep updated on vandalism, thefts, etc. in Wallingford and surrounding towns.

Vermont Arts Council
All of Wallingford is invited to partici pat e in the Vermont Arts Council’s ongoing statewide community arts project called Art Fits Vermont. Join 60,000 others throughout the state, who will have their work displayed in the July 11^th Puzzle Palooza in Burlington where the goal is to make the world’s largest puzzle (check out www.vermontartscouncil.org for more information). We’re hoping to have a display at the Gilbert Hart Library to be on exhibit in the fall so stop in to pick up your paper puzzle now if you haven’t gotten it already. We’re encouraged to use media of our choice and any imaginative materials to create a piece of art which will be returned to us. Some families are planning on a group activity while kids are visiting over the summer and there seems to be enough for all. Puzzles should be returned to the library by September 1^st, which will come along much too quickly, so start thinking and get started soon.

Dedication Ceremony – Ralph H. Pickett Veterans Memorial Park

After the Memorial Day parade and services at the cemetery, the parade marched north on Main Street to Ralph H. Pickett Veterans Memorial Park where the Dedication Ceremony was held by The American Legion Post #52. After an opening prayer given by Chaplin Kevin Cressy, Donald F. Emery, Commander, gave the Dedication Address and Past Commander Gerald Roberts laid the Memorial Wreath. The Park was attractively adorned with two small shrubs donated by Post Service Officer Paul Brown and Garden Time of Rutland.

Surprise 100^th Birthday Celebration
100^th birthday celebration for Thelma Perry will be held on Saturday, August 8^th from 1-4 p.m. at the Paul Harris Rotary Building on North Main Street in Wallingford.

Fuel Assistance For Seniors
For older Vermonters who are concerned about paying their heating bills this winter, it might be time to consider applying for help through the Vermont Home Heating Fuel Assistance Program. To qualify, the gross monthly income limit for people over the age of 60 is $1,379 for a household of one and $2,018 for two. Savings cannot exceed $10,000 for either. Homeowners, renters and those living in heated rentals can qualify.

To receive the maximum fuel benefit by November, it's important to apply by the August 31 deadline. Those applying before the second deadline of November 30 will receive a full benefit in January. After that deadline, the benefit will arrive later and be a reduced amount. To obtain an application, or to discuss the program, call the Senior HelpLine 802-786-5991, 1-800-642-5119, or the Office of Home Heating Fuel Assistance 1-800-479-6151. The Senior HelpLine is a free service of the Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging, serving Rutland and Bennington counties since 1974; web site www.svcoa.org. ; email seniorhelpline@svcoa.org.

Donohue Family, Along with Supporters Reach Goal!
On Saturday, July 11, Lisa , Myles & Dr. Joe Donohue partici pat ed in the 28th Annual Prouty Memorial Bike Ride & Challenge Walk.

Personally, "Team Donohue" met their goal and raised $2,500.00 to support cancer research and pat ient services at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center . So far, this year's event has raised over $1.9 million.

Monies raised support world-class researchers who have promising ideas and no other source of funding; such as: pursuing new frontiers like nanotechnology and tumor immunology, and innovative clinical trials that inform of pat ient treatments from all over the world. It will also bolster, among other things; state-of-the-art equipment, as well as, important pat ient services such as reiki, massage, the writing-for-healing program, support groups and the pat ient library.

Lisa and Myles tackled the 10K wooded trek in style (and mud), while Dr. Joe completed the 100-mile bike ride in 5 hours, 50 minutes & 26 seconds!

We would like to extend a special thanks to all who have supported us with thoughts, prayers and monetary donations.

East Wallingford Baptist Church
We would like to extend a warm welcome to a new family residing in East Wallingford . The Kelsey’s recently moved into the area, having relocated here from Binghamton , NY . Brad Kelsey is the new pastor of East Wallingford Baptist Church located at the intersection of Routes 140 and 155. He is a graduate of Baptist Bible Seminary in Clarks Summit, PA and is currently in the process of reappointing as a chaplain with the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Both he and his wife, Priscilla, are having a great time getting to know the people and the area, as well as their new five-month-old daughter, Elizabeth. They look forward to what lies ahead for them and hope to be of service to the community. Welcome!

Mt. Holly Bazaar
90^th annual Mt. Holly Community Guild Bazaar, Saturday, August 1^st from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mt. Holly School . Quilts and other quality handcrafted items, antiques and attic treasures, baked goods, coffee and doughnuts, a raffle and more! For more information, call Clarise Dana at 259-2422.