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7/29/24

As we approach the end of the month I am beginning to wonder where the summer has gone! It does not appear that there is a regular Select Board meeting this evening, but please be aware that the major party primary is coming up on 8/13.

I heard an interesting animal story yesterday that provides another reason to be mindful of feeding the creatures with whom we share our beautiful world. Apparently someone was putting out food for a woodchuck – in case it was not getting enough by ravaging neighbor’s gardens. One day she heard noises coming from the kitchen and found a bear had entered through the back door and was rummaging through the her cabinets!

Sorry for the late notice. There will be a Village Harmony concert on Monday, July 29 at 7:00pm at the Bridgewater Grange Hall. They will be singing songs from Caucasus Georgia, the Balkans, and Corsica, American shape-note songs, and traditional Yiddish songs. Admission if by donation at the door.

7/21/24

I know we are all rather tired of the heat and humidity, but I headed south several days this week and believe me, we have nothing about which to complain! Nice to have it a bit more comfortable this weekend. As I am writing this on Sunday evening I am hearing some fireworks in the neighborhood. I have to admit that I worry about the animals.

Bears are definitely roaming freely through our area. I have been told about sightings of moms with two and even three cubs. I had not seen any deer in my yard in ages, but this morning there was a mom and two fawns. Happy to say they were on the other side of my driveway and seem to have left my hostas alone. I couldn’t resist take this picture of a grouse family crossing Dublin Rd. Actually there were several adults and many little ones, but they actually moved fairly quickly, so this is all I captured with my phone.

At the 7/15 Select Board Meeting, Elaine Pauley’s resignation from the Town Treasurer position was noted. She has been an integral part of our Town Office staff over the years, picking up the pieces and competently holding things together. She certainly deserves to move into retirement. For a time, in order to assure a smooth transition, she will be helping Cherry Nicoll who has been appointed to take her place. Cherry has been assisting with FEMA paperwork and is well acquainted with our town.

I feel very fortunate to have friends and family who give me a hand with many projects that are beyond me as I am aging. There are a myriad of tasks that those of us who are older and even some younger individuals need help to accomplish. One that has come to my attention recently is the stacking of wood. Please let me know if there is anyone who would be willing to provide such aid at a reasonable rate.

Town of Plymouth, Vermont Select Board – Regular Meeting Monday, July 15, 2024 @ 6:00 PM Municipal Building Meeting Room Agenda

Topic: Plymouth Select Board Meeting
Time: July 15, 2024 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
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1. Call to Order:
2. Consideration of Any Changes, Additions or Removals to Agenda:
3. Approve Meeting Minutes:
   a. June 17, 2024 Regular Meeting
4. Citizen Comments:
5. Elaine Pauley resignation / Cherry Nicoll Appointment – Treasurer:
6. Review and Approval of Childcare Contribution Law Expense:
7. Approval of Municipal Tax Rate and Local Tax Agreement Rate:
8. Volunteer Recreation Director Position:
9. Board to Approve Errors & Omissions:
10. RIVERS Project – FEMA Funding:
11. Discussion on Techimpact:
12. Other Business:
13. Sign Warrants and Review Mail:
14. Next Select Board Meeting Date:
    a. August 19, 2024 Regular Meeting
15. Possible Executive Session:
16. Adjourn:

7/14/24

Heat, heat & more heat, plus humidity. So lovely when a coolish breeze passes by, however! We were so fortunate to have avoided the flooding north of us. So sorry for their destruction.

In the end of June, I attended a meeting sponsored by Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission. TRORC is participating the Resilience Initiative for Vermont Empowerment and Recovery (RIVER). This project is gathering potential flood mitigation ideas, with the goal of developing a list of potential projects that can be funded through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Plymouth will be participating in the conversation and hopefully can benefit.

I don’t seem to have much news today. Please check out the town website for the 7/15 Select Board agenda.

Amazingly, I just came across some writing that I did 20 years ago, so I decided to share it with you:

Oh, to let go of striving & to simply be

Too much thinking – judging – planning

Makes me so weary

Then suddenly the sun filters in

Casting a shadow on the floor

The leaves of my hanging plant

Are springing up & down

Jolted by a hungry hummingbird

With fast fluttering wings

Extracting the nectar

Ah, a moment of respite

Amid the chaos

7/8/24

So strange to have this persistent hot and humid weather. The rain on Saturday brought some relief. Finding a place to cool off in the water seems to be on everyone’s mind!

Don’t forget the book discussion at Fletcher Memorial Library in Ludlow of the Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown on 7/10 at 6PM

Birthday wishes for Cindy Summer (7/5). Betty Stear (7/21), Carolyn Scott (7/31)

The graveside service for Jack Sailer will take place at the Notch cemetery on 7/13 at 1PM, with a reception at the Town Building afterward.

Come enjoy two wonderful free programs at the Historic Site brought to my attention by Administrator, Rejoice Sherry.  Friday, 7/19, will be Silent Film Night with Harold Lloyd’s 1923 action-packed silent film Safety Last at the Wilder Barn at 7 PM. Bring a lawn chair and come early to picnic on the grounds or purchase concessions in the Cilley General Store. This event will be held rain or shine and admission to this after-hours event is free.

On 7/21 at 2 PM, you can enjoy the Grace Coolidge Musicale, featuring Abigail Charbeneau and Jennie O’Brien. Mrs. Coolidge was an educator at the Clarke School for the Deaf in Northampton, MA and had a strong appreciation for music. Similarly, Jennie shares her own passion for music as a teacher of voice, theatre arts, vocal ensembles, and independent living skills at Perkins School for the Blind. Abi has been a long-time favorite sharing her music here often. Admission to the concert is free and a light reception will follow. Funding for this performance is provided by the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation.

The Town of Plymouth has an opening for a Town employee in its Highway Department.
This is a full-time, year-round position.  Duties will include snow plowing, sanding and salting roads, road construction, maintenance and other related duties.  Applicant must hold a valid VT CDL and have experience operating a dump truck with a plow and sander.

Competitive salary as well as a great municipal benefit package to include health & dental insurance, retirement plan, paid holidays, and paid vacation.  Overtime is required in the winter for storm events and compensation is 1.5 times the hourly rate.

Please submit a completed application to the Plymouth Town Clerk’s Office at 68 Town Office Road, Plymouth, Vermont 05056 or email clerk@plymouthvt.org.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The Town of Plymouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Source VT Digger & The Valley News

All Plymouth Town Offices will be closed on Thursday, July 4th in Observance of Independence Day. Have a happy & safe holiday.

The Plymouth Schoolhouse is a busy place!

We have opened up a second classroom and are looking for a toddler teacher to join the team for the upcoming school year. The right individual will have a background in childcare and college credits in Early Childhood Classes. Must be first aid/ CPR certified. This could be a part or full time position. The program serves infants and children up to 10 years old. It is located in the former Plymouth Elementary School in Plymouth, VT.

We value creativity, kindness and community, and helping childen find the wonder in the world around them. We look forward to welcoming a new person to the staff, so we can continue to best serve our surrounding communities with providing high quality childcare in a small setting.

If you are interested in visiting the program and learning about the opportunity, please contact Lauren Skaskiw at 802-417-6895 or email: plymouthschoolhouse@gmail.com

7/1/24

It seemed like many visitors headed into our area over the weekend to enjoy spending time and take advantage of the upcoming holiday week. It was so nice to see the open doors at Shaws in Ludlow and welcome back many familiar faces!  The showers of Saturday have made vegetation flourish and Sunday’s cooler temps and reduced humidity provided a lovely day.

The bears are still making their presence known in the neighborhood, now even ravishing hummingbird feeders.  From what I hear, Ludlow has its share of maundering bears, too. Friends in Pomfret told me about a bear getting into their vehicles. Doors left open on both their car and truck with muddy prints inside. These amazing creatures seem to be able to open doors with ease!

On a different nature note, a junco has taken up residence in one of my hanging plants. It flies out in a panic when I water it, but hovers close by, making a clicking noise. When I saw her fly away this morning, I used a step stool to peer in and saw tiny open mouths waiting to be fed.  It guess it is a safe nursery!

I received an inquiry about the funding that allowed the food at the Strawberry Festival to be free. As Emergency Management Director for Ludlow, Plymouth Town Clerk, Angela Kissel learned about and applied for a grant for a post-flood celebration that was utilized to cover the food costs.The various organizations had donation jars so they will still be able to provide needed community services.

July 4th events from the website:  The Coolidge Foundation is proud to partner with the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation to host all of these exciting events at the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site

9:00 AM: Declaration of Independence Reading – Union Christian Church

9:30 AM: Octo-Final Round, Coolidge Cup Debates – Throughout the Site

10:00 AM: Grace Coolidge and the First Ladies: A Discussion with Diana Carlin and 

                 Jennifer Coolidge Harville – Union Christian Church

11:00 AM: Quarter-Final Round, Coolidge Cup Debates – Throughout the Site

12:00 PM: Procession and Wreath-Laying Ceremony – Gather at Village Green

1:00 PM: President Coolidge Birthday Cupcakes – Picnic Area

1:30 PM: Address from President Coolidge (portrayed by Tracy Messer) – Cilley Store 

               Porch

2:30 PM: Semifinal Round, Coolidge Cup Debates – Visitors Center & Church

4:00 PM: Coolidge Cup Championship Round – Under the Big Tent

5:00 PM: Coolidge Cup Awards Ceremony – Under the Big Tent

Throughout the day: There will be tours of the Historic Site, wagon rides, sheep

shearing, children’s games, and more. The Plymouth Cheese Factory will also be open.