Tyson Congregational Church Announces Prayer Services

Posted on 02/13/2012 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

From Margo Marrone

Our Sunday morning Worship service on 2/19 will be a hymn-sing with a mini sermon; a time of praise & rejoicing before we begin our Lenten journey. Our Ash Wednesday service will take place at 6:00 PM on 2/22 & will begin our time of drawing closer to Jesus, as he draws closer to Jerusalem & the Cross. All are welcome to explore the Bible with us & how it applies to our daily lives. Tyson Church is located on the Ludlow/Plymouth border, across from the Echo Lake Inn, just off Rte 100. Call Minister Margo Marrone at 228-5114 or tmmarrone@tds.net for more information & to share prayer requests.

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Bethany Birches Family Fun on Sunday – Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 02/10/2012 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

2/6/12

I noticed that several ice fishing derby’s have been cancelled around the state due to unsafe ice conditions. Such strange weather! There was one solitary ice house on Echo Lake the other night when I came home. I remember years when there were 15 or more out there. I heard recently that we have our own ground hog in VT – Pudding Hill Pete in Lyndonville. I believe he saw his shadow, so we can expect 6 more weeks of winter!

I understand that Betsy & Russ Tonkin just returned from a two week volunteer trip to Anse-La-Raye, St Lucia through Global Volunteers, where they worked with children & young families to help improve nutrition & health. Betsy made house calls with the Roving Care Givers to families without money to send their children to school or those with at-risk newborns. Russ worked through the town Health Clinic providing health education to students from preschool to high school. Not only did they provide a service while meeting a number of caring & interesting folks, but they said the nice weather was an added benefit!

Karen Evans & I just put yaktrax on our boots & walked up the Patch Brook Road, which is closed in the winter. It is protected from the wind there & some of the ice formations along the stream were just beautiful. I can’t believe that there were car tracks, however, since it is all ice & a vehicle could easily slip off the road into the water below. Some folks seem to like to take risks!

Last minute alert… Don’t miss the Family Fun Day on Sunday – Feb 12th from 12:30 PM – 4 PM at Bethany Birches Camp & it’s free! The whole family can enjoy an afternoon of tubing, broomball, indoor crafts & games, & snow painting. Try exploring some of their100 acres on your cross-country skis/snowshoes or bring your skates & use the ice rink. Make new friends while you enjoy plenty of hot drinks & snacks! Check it out on line at http://www.bethanybirches.org/wintercamp/winter-family-fun-days

Also, consider Lynx Camp at BBC, where Christ-centered activities will take place Feb 24 – 26 for 5th- 8th graders. Activities will include the 2nd annual snowball Olympics, tubing down the 1/5 mile tubing run, broomball & a variety of indoor games & crafts for those who prefer to stay warm indoors! Register online at http://www.bethanybirches.org/wintercamp/lynx

A slightly different kind of entertainment will be happening at the Coolidge Museum & Education Center on Sunday, 2/19 at 2:00 PM. An illustrated talk entitled “Ink & Oil: Calvin Coolidge’s Political Cartoon Legacy & Beyond”. Open to the public, Stephen Bissette will be the presenter at this free presentation featuring political cartoons from the Coolidge era. Donations are most welcome. Call 672-3389 for more information.

Congratulations to Michael Clarke, the newly elected president of the Historical Society & thanks to Betsy Tonkin for continuing as Secretary/Treasurer. The group plans to exhibit at the History Expo in June, where the theme is Vermont & the Civil War. Anyone with stories or memorabilia connecting Plymouth to that era is encouraged to contact the Historical Society. There will be a drop box for people willing to share their pictures, videos or stories of Irene, which will be a focus for the coming year. The next meeting will be March 11th, 3 PM, at Spike’s Place.

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Town of Plymouth Town Plan Public Hearing Notice: Feb. 24 at 7PM

Posted on 02/10/2012 by The Plymouth Press

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

~TOWN OF PLYMOUTH~

Notice is hereby given by the Plymouth Planning Commission of a Public Hearing to be

held Friday, February, 24 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Plymouth Town Office, 68 Town

Office Road, Plymouth, Vermont for the purpose of hearing comments on the proposed

Plymouth Town Plan. The Town Plan covers all lands within the Town.

A copy of the proposed Plymouth Town Plan, the associated maps, and the Planning

Commission report on the proposed Plan, are available for review at the Plymouth Town

Clerk’s Office during normal business hours.

Outlined below is a list of section headings of the proposed Town Plan:

I. INTRODUCTION

II. LAND USE

III. TRANSPORTATION

IV. UTILITY AND FACILITY PLAN

V. TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES

VI. NATURAL, SCENIC, AND HISTORIC RESOURCES

VII. EDUCATION

VIII. ENERGY

IX. HOUSING

X. ADJACENT MUNICIPALITIES AND THE REGION

XI. IMPLEMENTATION

Wendell Beckman, Chair

Plymouth Planning Commission

January 23, 2012

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 02/03/2012 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

1/30/12

Some of our folks are busy with sports during this winter season. I see that Christy Harris is participating on the Nordic Ski Team this year, while Holli Olsen is on the Alpine team. Tara Metcalf is working hard with the Girls Ice Hockey team, with head coach Jeff Salier & assistant coach (her dad!) Steve Metcalf.

I understand that I missed Chris Lynds’ birthday on 1/28, so belated best wishes! Please feel free to let me know about special dates & I will include them in the column. A reminder about the Historical Society Meeting on Sunday, 2/5 at Spikes Place on 100A at 3:00 PM. It will be a planning meeting, but it should certainly end in time for the Super Bowl!

Tyson Ladies Aid is meeting this Thursday (2/2) & Julia Baldwin & I are hosting. We are preparing soup, salad & dessert. This is a community-minded group of women, including several folks from Tyson church, but it is a separate organization. We sponsor the Tyson Library, provide scholarships to graduating seniors, & help folks in many different ways. We meet at 11:30 downstairs at the church (enter through the door off the Echo Lake Inn parking lot). If you are interested in working with our lively group to help with these local projects, think about joining us!

How exciting that Emily Dupont will be wearing her new Pointe dancing shoes for the first time this week during her ballet lessons at the VT Center for Dance Education in Rutland! Ian Dupont is looking forward to Feb vacation when WUMS will be going on a field trip down to DC. Julie gets to go, too!

On Sunday morning Tom & I joined a couple that I married last August & had a nice breakfast at the Echo Lake Inn. I had a delicious omelet & Tom, of course had pancakes. Breakfast ends by 9:00 & you should call ahead (228-8602).

I have learned from Michelle Stinson that the “Irene’s Wake” CD & DVD commemorating the 2011 Flood will soon be released. More than twenty area musicians have recorded original “Irene” songs at Mount Hollywood Studio in Belmont. LPCTV staff has been busy editing photos & videos, planning to release the $20 package next month, with proceeds being split between the Vermont Flood Relief Fund & non-profit public access LPCTV.

Mark your calendars for Friday, February 17th at the Ludlow Town Hall Auditorium: Gypsy Reel, The Pleasants, the Salt Ash Serenaders, along with members of the Mount Holly Folk Club and special guests will be performing from 7:00 – 8:30. On Saturday, February 18th at the Outback Nightclub in Ludlow Rick Redington and the Luv will be performing along with Dank & the Funkstix. Music start around 9:00. Admission is $10. For more information, go to www.lpctv.org, or call 802-228-8808.

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Presentation on the Art of Politics at Coolidge Education Center Feb. 19

Posted on 01/27/2012 by The Plymouth Press

From Diane Kemble

The Coolidge Foundation is sponsoring an interesting talk on Feb. 19, the beginning of President’s Week. We hope to see many of our Plymouth neighbors there.

Presentation on the Art of Politics
Ink & Oil: Calvin Coolidge’s Political Cartoon Legacy and Beyond
February 19, 2012
2:00 p.m.
President Calvin Coolidge Museum and Education Center
3780 Route 100 A, Plymouth, VT
http://www.calvin-coolidge.org

Understand the art of politics and scandal through political cartoons.  An illustrated talk, “Ink & Oil: Calvin Coolidge’s Political Cartoon Legacy and Beyond”, will be hosted on Sunday, February 19 at 2:00 pm by the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation in the beautiful new President Calvin Coolidge Museum and Education Center in Plymouth, VT.

The speaker, Stephen R. Bissette, is from the Center for Cartoon Studies and has won many industry awards during his quarter-century in comics as a writer, editor, publisher, and cartoonist. He will take us from the start of Calvin Coolidge’s political career in Massachusetts and through his presidency, showing how editorial cartoons archived the public’s perceptions of Coolidge as a man, a politician, and a reluctant celebrity.

We’ll see how President Coolidge was portrayed in contemporary political cartoons and trace aspects of the notorious Teapot Dome oil and political scandal, the role of oil magnate Harry Sinclair in that debacle, and how Sinclair’s company, Sinclair Oil, adopted cartoon images of dinosaurs to distance itself from scandal. The Coolidge Museum and Education Center is located at 3780 Route 100A in Plymouth. The presentation is free but donations are welcome.

For information Contact Calvin Coolidge Memorial Foundation: 802-672-3389

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 01/27/2012 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

1/22/12

What crazy weather – one minute it is bitter cold, than it warms up & we are greeted by sleet & freezing rain. Slippery out there – do be careful! I had to scrounge around for sand to make the basement entrance to the church safe for the Reach Out Luncheon the other day. Our speaker was Michelle Stinson from LPCTV & her talk was very informative. Since we have DISH, I was not very familiar with public access television & thought it was unavailable to me. But, guess what! You can get the programs at their website – www.lpctv.org.

I really enjoyed watching several of the archived videos. Michelle told us that they will gladly teach folks how to use their equipment to record an event, then they will air it. She also said it is easy to learn! They are very eager to receive footage documenting the devastation from Irene, so if you have any, get in touch with them. They provide a wonderful service to the community, so let’s remember that they depend upon grants & contributions to help with their operating expenses.

We have some amazingly dedicated Emergency Services personnel, who braved the frigid weather for an ice/cold water rescue drill on Lake Pauline this past Sunday. It was a joint effort, including 7 from Plymouth & 9 from Ludlow to learn how to use each other’s gear & coordinate rescue should a need ever arise on one of our many lakes & ponds. It would be great if they never have to respond to such a situation, but it is nice to know they are prepared!

I also wanted to get the word out about a 6 wk reading & discussion series, HEALTHY PEOPLE, HEALTHY PLANET, under the auspices of Catamount Earth Institute. I believe there is a series currently happening in Woodstock, but we are trying to see if 8 to 12 people might want to meet at Tyson Church, starting in March. There is no fee for the program, but the book costs $15. We are considering holding it on Tues evenings, from either 6-7:30 or 6:30-8:00! The session themes are: Redefining Health, Eating Well, Cleaning House, Building Healthy Communities, Curing Consumption, Healthy Planet-Healthy People. If you are interested, let me know & I will send you more information!

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 01/20/2012 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

Editor’s Note: Our apologies for the delayed posting of this submission

1/16/12

So, it is finally looking & feeling like winter! I know a number of people who will be able to return to work now that the snow has arrived. Not sure if it brought many folks up for this long weekend, but the parking lot at the Echo Lake Inn looked full when we came past on Sat evening!

We were returning from the Emergency Services spaghetti supper, which actually went quite well, despite the many other events that were taking place in the area. I attended the 90th birthday party at the Bridgewater Grange in honor of Clara Hoisington, which was very nice, then ventured over to the dinner. Always nice to have a chance to chat with community folks! Thanks to everyone who prepared food, those who served & cleaned up, & of course those who came & supported the cause, while enjoying the meal.

Some of the same EMS personnel took part in a CPR training on Sunday, taught by Sue Poirier. Lunch consisted of leftovers – you guessed it – spaghetti & meatballs! Of course, there were lots of yummy desserts on hand, too.

The monthly Reach Out Luncheon downstairs at Tyson Church will take place this Thurs, 1/19 at 11:00. We are hoping that Michelle Stinson will be able to join us to talk about LPCTV. The menu will be Shepherd’s Pie, salad, & dessert, so consider joining us!

By the way, Bethany Birches Camp is running a great season of winter camps, including tubing, skating & broomball on the rink. As usual, there will be great food, indoor games, singing, scavenger hunts; all with stories about God and what it means to follow Jesus.

The 1st session, Bobcat, will run from 1/ 20-22, for 3rd – 6th graders. The theme for the weekend is “Firsts”. Marcia Bender will lead times of singing while Lee Moore from Randolph will be on hand to share at “stovesides“.

Lynx Camp for 5th -8th graders will be 2/24-26. Along with traditional BBC winter favorites, they will be having the 2nd annual BBC snow ball Olympics! Benjemine will be back to cook along with other staff from summer 2011. The focus will be examining winter storms & how God provides for us during the storms of life.

Be sure to consider attending Family Fun Day: Feb 12th from 12 – 4pm. The whole family can enjoy an afternoon of tubing, broomball, cooperative games, hot chocolate, & snacks. For more information on any or all of these activities or to make reservations, you can call 672-5220.

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 01/16/2012 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

1/9/12

The recent saga of Plymouth should most certainly be documented, but there is quite a bit of history in our small town. Be part of learning more about it by attending the first meeting of the year of the Plymouth Historical Society, to be held on Sunday, Feb. 5th at 3:00 at Spike’s Snowmobile Center on Route 100A. Discussion will include planning upcoming activities & considering a new slate of officers. I understand that Melissa Lynds, who did an outstanding job, has decided to step down as president. Everyone is glad that she still plans to stay involved!

There is mixed news from Tyson Church this week. The generous contributions received at the Candlelight Service brought in $500 for the fuel assistance fund at Black River Good Neighbor Services. On a sad note, however, Carleton Harlow passed away suddenly on 1/6 from complications following surgery. The Memorial service will take place on Sat, 1/14 at 11:30 at the church. The luncheon, organized by Tyson Ladies Aid, will be held at the home of Ann & Doug Rose.

There seem to be a number of events taking place during the approaching holiday weekend, but please consider putting the Emergency Services spaghetti dinner at the Town Building on your calendar for Sat evening – 5:00 – 8:00 PM!

It may not be necessary, but in light of that horrible fire in CT recently, just wanted to remind folks on behalf our Emergency Services personnel, to please dispose of ashes properly. Paper bags are not a safe receptacle & leaving them on a wooden deck is asking for trouble, even where it appears that the embers are out.

I recall the story of a friend of mine years back. A spark from her fireplace hit an overstuffed chair when they moved the screen to add a log to the fire. They poured a considerable amount of water on the chair, but she was still nervous & insisted that the chair be place outside in the driveway, away from the house. In the morning, only ashes remained!

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First Meeting of the Plymouth Historical Society in 2012

Posted on 01/13/2012 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

From Betsy Tonkin, Secretary, Plymouth Historical Society

It’s a new year!

Plymouth residents shared memories during the 250th anniversary celebration of Plymouth's founding.

2011 was a year that will be etched in the memories of us all. Plymouth celebrated its 250th anniversary, which two months later was followed by the ravages of Tropical Storm Irene. Fortunately, the Historical Society building and its contents escaped any damage, but road conditions and limited access prohibited fall programming and open hours. Given the historical events of 2011, it is hoped that in the coming year, the society can document both the birthday commemoration and the calamity that befell our town by compiling oral and written histories, photos and videos. It will be a huge project but one that history compels us to complete.

Please consider joining the Historical Society for 2012. Join as a single member ($5), family ($10), contributor ($25), sustainer ($50) or any other amount. Checks made out to the Plymouth Historical Society may be sent to:

Plymouth Vermont Historical Society
68 Town Office Road
Plymouth, VT 05056

Five Corners Cemetery Tour with the Plymouth Historical Society

Please inlcude your name, address, email address and phone number (optional). If desired, you can pick up a membership card at the post office or let us know (672-3179) if you want a card sent to your home. Memberships are tax deductible and run Jan. to Jan. Your participation will help maintain and preserve our valuable assets and create a perpetual living memory of Tropical Storm Irene and the 250th anniversary celebration. Programs of interest to Plymouth residents as well as visitors are also on the agenda for 2012.

Our first meeting of the year will be Sunday, Feb. 5th at 3:00. It will be held at Spike’s Snowmobile Center on Route 100A. At that time we will discuss the coming years’s activities and consider a new slate of officers. Much to everyone’s disappointment, Melissa Lynds has decided to step down as president but will stay involved in the Historical Society. She has done an amazing job in developing community outreach programming, upgrading the interior of the building and its display of artifacts and significantly increasing membership and income. THANK YOU , MELISSA!!! If anyone is interested in submitting his/her name to place on the ballot for president (or co-presidents??), please speak to Melissa before the meeting (672-3547 or email: erl_booty@vermontel.net). Our members are a dedicated, hard working and responsive group.

We look forward to seeing many of you at the meeting Feb. 5th and hope all of you will support the Plymouth Historical Society with your membership.

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Margo Marrone’s Plymouth Report

Posted on 01/06/2012 by Plymouth Press Contributing Writer

Republished with permission from The Vermont Standard

1/2/12

Happy New Year to one & all! What crazy weather we are having these days. Just returned from a walk & noticed a fair amount of black ice – glad I wore my YakTrax. Do be careful.

I have just learned that Okemo is participating in the Ski VT program, which is offering a beginner package for $29 during the month of January for new skiers/riders age 7 & older. It includes a day pass, rental equipment & lesson. In order to take advantage of this program, you need to call 802-223-2439 in advance. I believe that Killington is also part of this program!

Congratulations to BettyAnn & Bob Hayward of Dublin Road who are excited that they now have a granddaughter. Grace Ann Kelley was born 12/28 at 11:15 AM, weighing 9 lb 10 oz & 19 1/2 inches long. She joins Diana & Mark’s 15 month old, son Calvin.

Life is full of transitions. Ellen Steward has recently taken another fall & is now residing in Brookside Health & Rehab at 1200 Christian Street White River Junction, VT 05001, in case you want to send her a card. Also, I learned that Arnold Sailer passed away on 12/21. I understand that he actually lived for quite some time in Bridgewater & was a Selectman there. Burial will take place in the spring.

Mark your calendars for Sat, 1/14 between 5:00 & 8:00PM for a Spaghetti Dinner at the Town Building sponsored by Emergency Services!

Nice to know that the Salt Ash Inn is back in business! Rooms only, but for $59/night during mid-week, that is quite a deal. Al said they were full for the Christmas week & you can book on-line at www.saltashinnvt.com. The restaurant is not open & liquor is not being served. Al is a bit miffed that the Liquor Board wanted to charge him to replace the safe drinking signs that were destroyed in the flood, since they told him he is still responsible for his guests…..

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