Please Practice Snowy Weather Safety! Margo’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 01/22/2015 by tbascom

1/18/15

I am watching the freezing rain as I write the column on Sunday.  Several of us were meeting after church to discuss the book, Sensible Shoes, when Tom came in to inform us of the rapidly deteriorating road conditions.  By the time we packed up, just navigating the walk from the church to our cars was precarious.

After being home only a short time, we heard the chatter about an accident on Rte 100 just north of the Town Building, requiring a flatbed to remove a vehicle.  Shortly thereafter another report of an accident on Rte 100, near the Bridgewater/Plymouth line.  Airbags had been deployed, although it didn’t appear that there were serious injuries.

I am not sure why that particular section of Rte 100 is so dangerous, but it does seem that accidents occur there frequently during inclement weather, so please keep that in mind.  It sounded like 2 members of the Sheriff’s Dept were assisting at the scenes & at least one member of our First Response Team responded to both accidents.

I believe that our First Response Team is down in numbers, so thanks to those who are willing to serve, even though they are stretched so thin.  There was another medical call in the evening on Sunday & all three of these calls were answered by the same responder.  It is such an important service, perhaps there are others in town who might want to obtain the needed training & lend a hand.

On another safety note, I was pleased to see that helmet safety was brought to the fore at Okemo this weekend by their celebration of PHAT Day — Protect your Head at All Times — It was a collaboration with National Safety Month on the slopes. PHAT is a nonprofit organization that encourages & promotes the use of a helmet for all sports that come with the risk of a serious head injury.  Something to keep in mind for young & not-so-young alike.

We are looking forward to having Laurence Jeffery as our 11:00 AM speaker at the Reach Out Luncheon on Thurs, 1/22.  He will bring some pictures of the Echo Lake Inn in earlier days.  The menu is hot dogs, mac & cheese, & coleslaw, plus some yummy dessert.

By the way, if you have something to be included in the Town Report, please get it to Town Clerk, Sandie Small, ASAP because the material needs to go to the printer next week!

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Next Selection for Plymouth Reading Group

Posted on 01/20/2015 by Betsy Tonkin

PLYMOUTH READING GROUP

WHEN: Thursday February 12th

6:30 – 8:00 PM

WHERE: Community Center (School) 

     Discussion:   Flush by Virginia Woolf 

The book called Flush: A Biography, by Virginia Woolf, is somewhat out of her normal genre, but should provide interesting discussion. It is an historical fiction of sorts recounting a biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning through the eyes of her spaniel, Flush. Given the date of publication (1933), the author and the subject, it certainly should generate a lively debate. Plus, it is short! I was able to find it online for free. Hopefully you will not have difficulty getting a copy…perhaps through inter library loan?

For information: call Betsy @ 672-3179 or

email @ tbone6547@aol.com

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Town Clerk/Treasurer Position Open: Petition Deadline Jan. 26

Posted on 01/17/2015 by The Plymouth Press

From the Plymouth Selectboard

The Town of Plymouth has a vacancy for the position of Town Clerk/Treasurer.   This position is to be effective March 3, 2015. The Selectboard has appointed a temporary Town Clerk/Treasure to serve until that date, when a Town Clerk/Treasurer will be elected by Town vote to serve the remaining two years that remained on the former Town Clerk/Treasurer term.

If you would like to be considered for said position, please stop by the Town Office to file a petition of interest. The deadline for submitting said petition is January 26, 2015.

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Reach-Out Luncheon on the 4th Thursday This Month: Margo’s January, 2015 Plymouth Report

Posted on 01/14/2015 by tbascom
potluck-etiquette           Nice to have it a bit warmer as I write my column this Monday morning.  It is definitely still winter, with snow falling at a steady clip.  The ice will be covered up, so watch your step!  I am wearing my cleats just to get from the house to the garage these days.
          What a nice surprise to hear that DJ, that lost yellow lab, has been found, ten days after being spooked by the Killington New Year’s Eve fireworks.  I must admit that I do worry about the animals when fireworks are set off – domestic & wild ones.
          At the Tyson Ladies Aid meeting last Thursday we inducted another new member – welcome to Betty Spear!  As usual the meeting was lively and we discussed plans for the coming year, including the Good Friday Bake Sale on April 3rd and the annual Bazaar in August.  Thank-you notes were read for the plants and goodie baskets given out in December.
          Just a reminder that the Reach Out Luncheon (jointly sponsored by Tyson Church and Tyson Ladies Aid), usually held on the 3rd Thursday of the month, will be 1/22 because there are 5 Thursdays in Jan.  Laurence Jeffery from the Echo Lake Inn will be our speaker and will give us some history of the Inn.  We are hoping that daughter Lauren will be able to bring Bill Jarvi that day, since he apparently bussed tables there in his youth.  Daughter Kristen brought Bill to the Café at Delight last Friday, where Joan Day and I visited with him.  He looks great and was quite chipper.
          Members of Tyson Church will be doing a service at the Gill Terrace Apartments in Ludlow this Thursday at 1:00 PM.  They like to sing hymns, so if anyone would like to join us, please let me know.  We are still exploring options for an organ for the church, which is turning out to be a complicated endeavor.  Singing will not cease, however!
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New Time for Book Club Meeting: Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report, 1/08/15

Posted on 01/08/2015 by tbascom

reading-clubI was fighting a cold last week and didn’t report, but I hope that everyone enjoyed welcoming in 2015.   Here in Tyson we lost power about 11:00 PM on New Years Eve, but it was back on by 11:40 in case folks wanted to see the ball drop.  I think it may have been in Wisconsin that we saw on the news they drop a wedge of cheese……

Lots of people were around our area for the Holiday weeks.  At times it was difficult even to find a parking place at Shaw’s in Ludlow, much less navigate the store.  I was checked out one day by a nice young man from Burlington.  Apparently they brought in staff from other places to handle the vacation crowds!

The weather has certainly been a mixed bag lately.  We even decided to cancel church last Sunday, since many people were hesitant to venture out.  Thanks to Rob Bishop sanding our driveway, it is not been treacherous, despite the freezing rain.  It certainly has kept our usual group from snowshoeing, instead we have been keeping our winter cleats handy.

The Book Club will be trying a different time for the upcoming meeting, Wed, 1/14 at noon at the Schoolhouse Community Center, so bring a lunch.  The book for this time is Sparta and I admit to struggling with it.  Even if you haven’t read it, feel free to join the discussion about a soldier returning to civilian life after deployment to Iraq.

I imagine that folks have learned that there has been a change of personnel at the Town Office.  Sandie Small has been appointed by the Selectmen as Town Clerk to fill the vacancy.  Best wishes to Barbara Stone in her new endeavors.

Nice to know that Dorothy Pingree is back in Plymouth after extended time in rehab – welcome home!  The only January birthday I have listed is Cindy Vosburgh on 1/20, but I am sure there must be others.  Anyway, best wishes, Cindy.

By the way, just to clarify a recently asked question, the Doug Marrone who opted out of his contract with the Buffalo Bills, but then interviewed with the Jets, is no relation.

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Community Candlelight Service: Plymouth Report

Posted on 12/18/2014 by tbascom

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard.

Well, how about that storm last week!  Folks seemed to be out of power for varying amounts of time – a couple of hours here in Tyson, but a couple of days or more in other parts of town.  I hope that the electricity has now been restored to everyone.  I had not done my usual preparation of filling a couple of buckets of water & making sure to have batteries, but we are now up to speed for the winter!

If you see Carol Coyne on 12/17, be sure to wish her a Happy Birthday.  I am sure there are more congratulations in order, so please let me know about these occasions for celebration.

I imagine that we already know there are some pretty talented folks in our community.  One of them is author Jon Clinch.  He came to the Reach Out Luncheon quite some time ago & read from his book, Finn.  I understand that it might become a movie.  John recently said he would possibly be interested to meeting with our Book Group if we read & discuss one of his books.

Jon’s latest effort, Belzoni Dreams of Egypt, was serialized over the last six months, but it is available now in both paperback & electronic editions.  It is about real-life explorer & circus performer, Giovanni Battista Belzoni, known for pillaging the Valley of the Kings in the early 19th century.  Check out all his books on his website!

Get ready to celebrate the Season with the Community Candlelight Service at Tyson Church on Sunday, 12/21 at 7:00 PM.  All are welcome to join us to sing carols & hear the beloved Christmas story via a wonderfully illustrated book to be read to the children & all of us who are young at heart!  Refreshment will follow, so come greet your friends & neighbors.

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Selectboard Taking Town Clerk Applications, Resumes

Posted on 12/16/2014 by tbascom

NOTICE

 Please  be advised that the Selectboard of the Town of Plymouth is requesting a letter of application and resume for the position of Town Clerk. Said position is to begin January 5, 2015.

All letters and resumes must be submitted by 3:30 pm on Tuesday, December 23, 2014, to the Selectboard by delivering said letter and resume to any of the following at the locations listed:

  • Assistant Clerk or Town Clerk, at the Town Hall front office
  • Russ Tonkin
  • Ralph Michael, Michael Engineering, Ludlow
  • Larry Lynds, at the Town Garage

Signed,

        Ralph Michael, Chair
        Larry Lynds
        Russ Tonkin

 

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Photos from Recent Plymouth Events

Posted on 12/16/2014 by tbascom

With all of the weather-related problems (that is, because I was without power most of the week), I did not get Margo’s Plymouth Report from last week posted. It was, of course, in the Standard. But here are some nice photos of the Coolidge Holiday Open House and the lighting of the Memory Tree that, I believe, were meant to go with the report. I think they’re too good not to post. Please enjoy them!

Thanks to Sue Poirier for these from the Memory Tree lighting:

Pam Bruno, Sally Scarp & Sandie Small - Tyson Ladies Aid elves serving at Wilder House

Al Poirier at the lighting of the Plymouth Memory Tree

Pam Bruno, Sally Scarp & Sandie Small - Tyson Ladies Aid elves serving at Wilder House

Pam Bruno, Sally Scarp & Sandie Small – Tyson Ladies Aid elves serving at Wilder House

Pam Bruno, Sally Scarp & Sandie Small

Sally Scarp, Carol Coyne, Betty Aubin

Sue Poirier and Sally Markwell

Sue Poirier and Sally Markwell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to Elsa Gilbertson for these from the Coolidge Open House:

Gesine Bullock-Prado

Gesine Bullock-Prado

Shirley Billings and Cathy Lee looking at Gesine’s book

Shirley Billings and Cathy Lee looking at Gesine’s book

Cilley Store in the background, Fred DePaul with his horses & sleigh

Cilley Store in the background, Fred DePaul with his horses & sleigh

 

 

 

 

 

Now, if only I can get my phone service back, all will be right in my world. (I hope your snow-power-phone-TV-internet issues are resolving themselves, too!)

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Update from State Rep Alison Clarkson

Posted on 12/02/2014 by tbascom

FROM: Alison Clarkson
DATE: 17 November 2014

Many thanks to the voters in Plymouth, Reading and Woodstock for re-electing me to be your State Representative in the Vermont Legislature. I am honored to have this job and deeply appreciate the opportunity to serve our community.

Over the last 3 months, I’ve visited 1,887 homes in an attempt to touch base with as many constituents as possible. Thank you for welcoming me and sharing your concerns. ‘Door to door’ campaigning gives you the opportunity to know me better and gives me a real sense of the people I represent, where and how they live. I enjoyed seeing old and meeting new friends in each town I serve and celebrating some of the high moments in each community from Plymouth’s Strawberry Festival to Reading’s Fourth of July celebration and Woodstock’s Chili Cook Off.

Many issues surfaced during my ‘door to door’ conversations with you – education cost, quality and funding/property tax, Vermont’s Health Connect/Exchange and health care reform efforts, high-speed internet access, affordable housing, drug related crime and drug addictions, labeling of food, speed on our highways, rumble stripes, environmental protection and economic development. I will approach these challenging issues better informed as a result of your input.

I extend enormous gratitude to my dedicated and talented ‘kitchen cabinet’, to the 36 people who drove or walked with me ‘door to door’, to those kind enough to ‘host’ a lawn sign, to those who helped with mailings, to those generous donors who financed my 2014 campaign, and to my family: Oliver, Ward and William for their patience, fortitude, and good humor during campaign season. Thanks also to the Vermont Standard, for its local campaign coverage, for its lively letters and columns, and for the honor of its endorsement.

Alison Clarkson
Vermont State Representative
Plymouth, Reading & Woodstock

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Plymouth Remembrances Past and Upcoming: Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 11/27/2014 by tbascom

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard.

Julia FlasterWell, congratulations to Jen & Jay Flaster & big sister Josie on the 11/14 arrival of Julia Rose, who weighed 5 lbs 12.7oz & was 19.5 inches in length. They brought their new little bundle home on Jen’s birthday, 11/16.

We had a large crowd at the Reach Out Luncheon. About 50 folks came for a marvelous turkey dinner with all of the trimmings. I will have more next week & some pictures. Thanks to everyone who cooked, served, & attended!

I understand that 11/20 was the birthday of a very special Tyson Ladies Aid member, actually our youngest member – Julia Baldwin who just turned eight. Belated Happy Birthday wishes & many blessings for a wonderful year.

Someone a little older had a birthday on 11/22 – none other than Steve Heilner, so congratulations & by the time this comes out in the paper, that luscious chocolate cake will undoubtedly be gone!

Just a quick reminder about the Coolidge Holiday Open House coming up from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday, 12/6. I will follow-up with more details next week, but just remember that some of the same ladies who cooked for the Reach Out Luncheon will be making food to be served at Wilder House that day!

Please note the Tyson Church Service of Remembrance at 4:00 PM on 12/7, which is a time when we gather & light candles to fondly remember loved ones no longer with us. It is a short, but meaningful service & anyone may attend.

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