The General Federation of Women’s Clubs of VT still has scholarship available for VT women who have been homemakers, but have lost their means of support through separation or divorce due to death, disability or long-term unemployment of their spouse.
Applications, including a specific education or training plan need to be submitted by 3/15. Information is available through Midge Tucker by calling 672-3086 or via email at midgetucker@gmail.com. These scholarships range from $500 to $1500.
The Echo Lake Inn will remain open through 3/21 this year. Call 228-8602 for dinner reservations.
The Inn At Water’s Edge will be open through Easter weekend & having their Thurs (Italian) & Fri night dinner specials. Reach them at 228-8143 for more info!
Reprinted by permission of the Vermont Standard
3/9/15
Karen Evans’ photo of Bruno Broza’s Snowman
Some melting going on, but we still have plenty of snow. I understand that skiing is still good. Karen and I had another fun day snowshoeing on Sunday – this time at the Notch. Bruno Broza built a terrific snowman. I think that last, slightly wet snow made all the difference in constructing it.
WUHS has been doing great things on the snow. Our own Holli Olsen helped the Alpine Team win the State Championship – way to go! I also noticed that Cedar Allen made the Honor Roll at BRHS. I wish I had more information about what our students are doing, so let me know!
I have heard that the Snow Camps at Bethany Birches Camp have been lots of fun. If you haven’t been keeping up with the progress of the new pavilion, you can check it out at bethanybirches.org/paviprogress.
It was so nice to have such a pleasant Town Meeting last week. There were not that many in attendance, but there were good questions & understandable answers. I enjoyed re-connecting with Matt Harootunian, who is back in town. His girlfriend Lauren Skaskiw is planning to have childcare available at the Schoolhouse Community Center this summer. She is a licensed Early Childhood Educator, who is currently teaching Preschool. She is hoping to provide care for up to 6 youngsters, ages 2 to 12 for a fee of $6.00/ hour, starting in mid-June. She may be reached at 802 855 7566 or email: lskaskiw@gmail.com
Tyson Ladies Aid is already planning their famous Good Friday Bake Sale on 4/3 from 9:00 to noon at the Shaw’s plaza in Ludlow. Ann Rose (whose birthday is 3/19, by the way) makes amazing pecan pies, but there are plenty of good bakers, so there will be a huge variety of goodies from which to choose!
This month for the Reach Out luncheon on 3/19, for which Ladies Aid & Tyson Church team up, we will serve chicken/broccoli casserole, rice, and yummy dessert. At 11:00, Tom Gianola, the new owner of the Echo Lake Inn will be our speaker, so come get to know him! The luncheon is free, in the Community Room downstairs at Tyson Church and open to everyone.
The weeks of Lent are moving along quickly. Our service on 3/15 will explore the question posed by Reuben Job, what does doing good look like in our divided, hostile and wounded world? Just advance notice that Palm Sunday is 3/29 and our Maundy Thursday dinner and service will be 3/19. Our Easter Resurrection Service with our well-known flower-covered Cross will be at 10:30 AM on 4/5/15. All are welcome.
From The Plymouth Press
Attendance was low Monday night at this year’s Town Meeting. The usual crowd was likely deterred by the slippery roads and the lack of major issues this year. The budget was passed uneventfully, a change from several of the past years.
Russ Tonkin presented an overview of the budget and changes to it from past years. For the first time in several years, there will be no carryover funds to offset the taxes needed to be raised. The selectboard decided it would be better to have working capital on hand rather than take out loans to cover payments to contractors as the town waits for FEMA reimbursements for projects. The selectboard does expect the FEMA payments to come this year, but the timing might not match up with when bills will be owed. Unfortunately this does mean the tax rate will increase to cover the budget, even though the proposed budget was lower than last year’s budget.
Some pointed to the possibility of a town wide reassessment to help keep taxes low due to lower property values. Tonkin and others countered that even if property values were reassessed, the budget wouldn’t change and the taxes the town needed to raise would remain the same. This solution would only raise the effective tax rate more, they explained. The tax rate will amount to less than $.50 per $1,000 or under $500 per $100,000 in assessed value. The education tax, which is more than $1 per $1000 in assessed value, makes up the bulk of voters’ tax bills.
State Rep Alison Clarkson was on hand to talk about the issues on the forefront in Montpelier. Many in the room demanded reform of the education funding process, which has become so burdensome to Plymouth residents, among other issues raised.
On Tuesday, 133 Plymouth voters participated. In the only contested race, Russ Tonkin received 70 votes to be re-elected versus Andy Crossman who received 59 votes. Thanks to all who made the effort to go to the polls and to Town Meeting this year.
Printed with permission of The Vermont Standard.
3/1/15
It was wonderful to have so much sunshine this past week. I have actually been following it around myt house as it filtered through the windows, doing my exercises and journal-writing in its glow!
More snowshoeing on Sunday with Karen Evans and June Capron, although it was not the same kind of day as the previous Sunday. As long as we have all of this snow, it seems we should take advantage of it and find a way to enjoy this relentless winter!
In case folks have not heard, there will be a gathering on Sunday, 3/15 at the Echo Lake Inn to wish Laurence Jeffery well. It will take place at 2:00 PM and everyone who wants to visit with Laurence is welcome to attend. He has hosted countless special events for many of us, so this will be a time to let him know how much he is appreciated!
Sorry this is short and sweet this week – send me some news. Don’t forget to set your clock ahead this coming Saturday!
If you are a legal voter in Plymouth Town, don’t forget our Annual Town Meeting will take place next Monday, March 2, 2015. The Meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Building. Matters that do not require voting by Australian Ballot will be voted upon at that meeting.
Voting on Town officers and any other matters to be voted on by Australian Ballot will take place the next day. The Municipal Building will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the purpose of receiving your vote.
Legal voters of Plymouth Town should have already received a copy of the Annual Report, which covers the July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014 fiscal year, along with a proposed budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2015-June 30, 2016.
If you have not received a copy of the Annual Report, you can stop by the Municipal Building during regular Town Clerk hours to pick up a copy.
Hi,
My name is Pat Schulz. I have a cabin on Lynds Hill Rd. My husband, son, and I drove into our driveway and we had a very pleasant surprise. One of our apple trees was covered with very heart warming colorful hearts.
I do not know who planted them on my apple trees or why, but I do want to thank whoever is responsible. They are very heart warming. I do appreciate them. I have seen them in other yards, I did not know they were gifted. I never expected to find them on my apple trees.
A very pleasant surprise.
Thank you,
Pat Schulz
Reprinted with permission of The Vermont Standard.
After another 8 inches of snow on Sat night, wasn’t it a most delightful warm & sunny day on Sunday! I hope that everyone was able to get outdoors to enjoy some kind of fun activity. The snowshoe saga continues….. Karen Evans, Linda Hastings, & I trekked up Patch Brook Rd, made easily travelable by snowmobiles that had passed that way earlier. We will explore the other side of Plymouth next week. Let me know if you would like to join us!
I learn that Bea Wheeler broke her leg last week. John said It is anticipated that she will be at the Gill by the time this article comes out, where she will need extensive physical therapy. Kathy Lynds visited her in Springfield Hospital & brought her flowers from Tyson Ladies Aid.
One of our most charming former Plymouth residents, Ellen Steward, passed away last week. Her service was held at the Davis Chapel in Springfield this past Saturday. Although she had attended Tyson Church for quite some time prior to going into assisted care, she & Orville had been members of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church for many years, so Father Peter conducted the service. Although we get to see grand-daugher, Rebecca & great-granddaughter Theresa sometimes, it was nice to visit with other grandchildren, Elizabeth, as well as William & his wife, Kelly.
Just a note that we will be considering these questions when I am preaching during Lent:
All are welcome to attend our 10:30 Sunday morning Worship at Tyson Church.
Not a great deal of local news this week. Karen & I went snowshoeing across the road from Camp Plymouth State Park to the Vista Trail, then followed along the brook, even crossing it at one point. If you are looking for a lovely spot out of the wind, that’s the place to go! A number of snow-covered trees are bent over the trail to form intriguing archways & you can see & hear water running in the stream in places. Although alone on Sunday afternoon, the trail was well tamped down, evidence of many others passing that way over the weekend.
How about those Pats! I spent the first half chatting with Cheryl Bishop while Tom & Wayne were downstairs watching on their huge screen TV. After the half-time show, we were all glued to the set in our respective locations. Yes, I do like football & even know a bit about the game – what an exhilarating finish!
Grandson, Landon, spent part of Saturday with us & I actually arranged a play date with Jan Staires & granddaughter, Rose. Although not two yet & not really into multiparty play, they eyed each other & for the most part shared toys. Fun to watch the socialization process!
There actually is one piece of news here in Tyson. Laurence has sold the Echo Lake Inn to Tom Gianola, who actually has roots in VT, although living in the state of Washington for the past 15 years. Son Michael is at UVM, daughter Christin is pondering grad school, but will be here to lend a helping hand for the time-being. Daughter Jessica remains in Washington.
Our dear friend, Laurence, who has been such a wonderful part of the community, will stay here until March to help with the transition. We will miss him greatly & wish him well. It seems like the staff will remain in place. Tom says he is not planning any big changes.
A reminder from our !st Response Team. Make sure that your 911 number is clearly visible so that you can be easily located. It is best to use a land-line when making in a 911 call, not a cell phone. Please be sure that renters have this information, too.
So, I am watching the snow fall this Monday morning – at least 6 inches & it is only noon with the storm to continue throughout the day. Well, it is winter in VT……
Where the Road Ends: Route 100 south of Plymouth Union after Tropical Storm Irene
The Plymouth Vermont Historical Society has received a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation to explore through visual media: How Catastrophe Reconnected a Town: The Story of Tropical Storm Irene in Plymouth, Vermont.
The Plymouth Vermont Historical Society recently received a $2500 grant from The Vermont Community Foundation’s Small and Inspiring grant program. The grant will help further the Historical Society’s mission to document and preserve historical events related to Plymouth, and to instill a sense of pride within the town through its connection with history.
“The degree of devastation in Plymouth as a result of Tropical Storm Irene was unexpected and heart wrenching,” admitted Tonkin, Secretary/Treasurer of the organization. “If we can produce a video that demonstrates how the response to tragedy can overcome the barriers of topography and demographics and honor and celebrate resiliency and commitment to others, our town will be more vibrant, better connected, and hopefully more civically engaged.”
Tonkin continued, “involving Plymouth students, local enterprises, resources from neighboring towns, and community volunteers in the project should awaken a deeper ‘sense of place’ in the town we call home.”
Through its Small and Inspiring grants program, tTe Vermont Community Foundation hopes to help foster the spark and hope that keeps Vermonters healthy and happy by finding and supporting projects in every town in Vermont where a small grant can make a big difference.
For more information about the grant and the scope of the project, please contact Betsy (672-3179).
If you have photographs or video that you took during the flood, immediately after the flood, showing the recovery in process, or showing areas of town after recovery was completed that you are willing to share, please contact Betsy or Terry Bascom (672-5390), who is copying and archiving images and video for the project.
