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https://coolidgefoundation.org/events/4th-of-july-celebration-at-the-notch/

JOIN US ON SATURDAY JULY 1ST FROM 11AM TO 3PM

FOR TEA AND GOODIES. WE HAVE LOTS OF NEW ITEMS IN THE TEA ROOM.

OUR ADDRESS IS: 224 HOWLAND FARM ROAD. MOUNT HOLLY VT HOWLAND FARM ROAD IS LOCATED OFF 155

It’s almost time for our first in-person book group in many months.

We will be meeting at the Tyson Library at 6:30 pm on June 28th.

The book is Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

As I am writing on Monday morning, the sun is still shining, but the forecast tells of thunder storms heading our way. I have already gone for a walk, so perhaps an afternoon of indoor projects will be on my agenda for the rest of the day!

I understand there was a fire call over the weekend. A permit had been obtained from Fire Warden, Joe Rebideau (802) 672-5148, but the person handling the burn left to get lunch. Fortunately, the fire did not get out of control, but permits are issued with the clear understanding that they not be left unattended!

We couldn’t have asked for any better weather for the Strawberry Festival last week – mild temps, dry, and very few bugs! Park staff counted 475 people, which is similar to the figures I recall when the school was doing the event back in the 80s. Thanks to all who helped and  participated and to Angela Kissell for sharing her pictures.

I think people were anxious to return to this annual event, to share stories and hugs, and to support these community groups. Just one example of how these funds are spent, Tyson Ladies Aid gives two scholarships every year to high school seniors. This year they went to Norah Harper who graduated from WUHS and Brodie Massey from Green Mtn HS.

It is hard to believe that June in winding down. Area students are happily pursuing summer activities, tourists are flocking here, and many exciting events are taking place around our area. I have previously mentioned many activities happening at the Coolidge Historic Site, so hopefully the weather will cooperate and these interesting programs can go forward without a hitch.

Tysons Ladies Aid serving up strawberries!

Willow and Terry Bascom helping things run smoothly

Steve Radonis with Joe Ribideau’s grandchildren

Adam Boyce and Sue Hunt

Julia Baldwin & folks enjoying kids activities

Tyson Ladies Aid

Plymouth Notch, Vt. – President Calvin Coolidge is the only U.S. President to be born on Independence Day. This year, to commemorate the Fourth of July, the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch will host a day of festivities and events from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

“Plymouth Notch on the Fourth of July is the perfect place to experience history where it actually happened,” says State Historic Preservation Officer Laura V. Trieschmann. “We invite everyone to explore the home where Calvin Coolidge was born, the homestead where he grew up, and the village that influenced this Vermonter to seek office as President of the United States.”

Start the day in the Union Christian Church at 9:00 a.m. for a reading of the Declaration of Independence with the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation. At 11:30 members of the Coolidge family will judge the “Grace Coolidge’s Icebox Cookie Baking Competition” on the porch of the Cilley General Store.

The Vermont National Guard will lead the procession to the cemetery for the laying of a wreath at the president’s grave at 12:00 p.m. Immediately following, enjoy a slice of President Coolidge’s birthday cake, wave an American flag, and listen to an old-time string band. In the afternoon explore the historic village, see cheesemaking in John Coolidge’s 1890 factory by Plymouth Artisan Cheese, and watch The Coolidge Cup, a national invitational speech and debate tournament sponsored by the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.The public and media are welcome.

New to this year’s July 4^th festivities is the Icebox Cookie Baking Competition. Members of the public are invited to bake and bring a dozen cookies using First Lady Grace Coolidge’s cookie recipe (find the recipe below) to be tasted and judged by members of the Coolidge family.

“On his birthday, Calvin Coolidge enjoyed homemade treats lovingly baked by his mother Victoria, a family housekeeper, and later First Lady Grace. There is no better way to honor Coolidge’s birthday today, 151 years later, than with a recipe that was familiar to him,” says Rejoice Scherry, the site’s administrator.

Visitors to the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site can explore the new exhibit, “Coolidge’s Contemporaries: The Ascension of Early 20th Century World Leaders.” This special exhibit compares President Coolidge’s unorthodox but humble oath of office to the ascension ceremonies of other influential leaders from across the globe. For more information on the State Historic Sites and events visit their website.

Grace Coolidge’s Icebox Cookies 

1 cup butter or shortening

2 cups brown sugar

3 ½ cups flour

1 Tsp. baking soda

½ Tsp Salt

1 cup chopped nuts

2 eggs, well beaten 

Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugar. Sift flour, soda, and salt 3 times. Add nuts, add eggs, and flour. Mix all thoroughly and pack into mold (long narrow bread pan) and let stand overnight. Do not grease the mold or baking pan. Next day, unmold and slice very thin. Bake for 10 minutes.  

To enter the baking contest please send an email of interest to the site administrator atrejoice.scherry@vermont.gov.

News From the NotchJune 23rd, 2023

Congratulations to this year’s Coolidge Scholarship graduates: Alison Xin, Katherine Sylvester, Joshua Kim, and Matthew Muellner. Alison Xin will soon start working for the National Institute of Health after undergraduate work at Harvard. Katherine Sylvester will return home to the Washington, D.C. area where she will begin a new position at Capital One. Meantime, Matthew Muellner will soon return to his home state to begin studies at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. Both Katherine and Matthew recently finished their undergraduate studies at Yale. Joshua Kim is continuing research projects in artificial intelligence and neuroscience he began as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. “When I think of the scholarship, I think of a community of mentors and friends who I really respect and enjoy,” said Josh Kim. “Our shared values and our shared experiences as a part of the Coolidge community make me feel like Coolidge is a group of people who I can really lean on.”The Scholars program “had a profound impact on my life,” Matt Muellner said. “The mentors, friends, and ideas that have been provided to me over the past several years have helped me develop as a student, a man, and an American.”All who have supported the Coolidge Scholars and Senators program can take pride in this year’s class of scholar graduates, the third class. Each of them contributed to the early years of the Coolidge Scholars program, from cleaning the Coolidge grave site to assisting at events and welcoming their successor awardees. Alison, Katherine, Josh, and Matt will always have a place in the Coolidge community.People Calvin Knows Former Coolidge intern Trevor MacKay and 2021/2022 Coolidge Cup champion debater Patrick McDonald have both been named Hertog Political Studies Fellows for the class of 2023. While an intern, Trevor worked on a new anthology of New Deal criticism, New Deal Rebels, edited by Coolidge Chair Amity Shlaes and published by the American Institute for Economic Research. Coolidge Senator Alex Hu (2017) was also named a Hertog Security Studies fellow for the class of 2023.Vermont Magazine recently featured long-time Coolidge supporter Lyman Orton’s impressive collection of Vermont art. More than 200 works from Lyman’s collection will feature at a new joint exhibition, For the Love of Vermont: the Lyman Orton Collection, which will open soon at the Bennington Museum and the Southern Vermont Arts Center. Click here to read the latest edition of Vermont Magazine.Coolidge Senator Malaina Kapoor (2019) coauthored Defiant Dreams, with Afghan author Sola Mahfouz. Defiant Dreams, recently published by Penguin Random House, tells the story of Sola’s clandestine education in Taliban-ruled Kandahar. Click here to learn more.Coolidge Fund trustee Christopher DeMuth published an article in The Wall Street Journal on the critical role of the legislative branch in American democracy. Click here to read the article. Friends of Coolidge sure get around. Longtime supporter Murry Stegelmann recently stopped off in Berlin; in the picture, Murry stands before the Brandenburg Gate, opened after the fall of the Berlin Wall.The Fourth of July at the NotchJoin us at the Notch on the Fourth of July for a day of family-friendly events. The Fourth marks a double holiday in Plymouth. Both Calvin Coolidge and the United States were born on that auspicious date. The Coolidge Foundation will celebrate with a public reading of the Declaration of Independence in the Union Christian Church at 9 AM.The Coolidge Foundation is also organizing a memorial procession in concert with the State of Vermont. We will gather outside the Cilley Store (general store) at noon before processing from the village green to the Plymouth graveyard. The Vermont National Guard will lead the march, with speeches at the gravesite to follow.Later that afternoon, the Foundation will host the championship round of the Coolidge Cup Speech and Debate Tournament. This year, so many students are coming that Coolidge will be increasing the number of student buses from two to three. The students will debate whether President Coolidge deserves to be ranked among the ten greatest American presidents or to stay at his current lower ranking in most polls (a recent C-SPAN poll of historians placed President Coolidge at 24).The Coolidge Cup is open to the public, and the Foundation invites you to sign up as a citizen judge. No prior debate experience is needed. We provide all the training to make you comfortable on the morning of each day of the tournament. To learn more and register to judge, click here.Love Coolidge arcana? Coolidge author J.R. Greene will also be at the Notch on the Fourth to sign copies of his Coolidge books Calvin Coolidge in 100 Objects and Calvin Coolidge’s Plymouth Vermont. Click here to learn more about the Fourth at the Notch.Celebrate the Centennial with CalvinAs Coolidge fans know, it was on August 2, 1923 when word came to Vice President Calvin Coolidge—who was visiting his boyhood home in Plymouth Notch, Vermont—that President Warren Harding had suddenly passed away. Coolidge’s own father administered the Oath of Office in the family’s sitting room at 2:47 AM the next morning. This kerosene-lit inauguration, unique in American history, remains emblematic of the common-sense Vermont values that guided Coolidge as America’s thirtieth president.The Coolidge Foundation invites you to celebrate the Coolidge Centennial at a series of events to be held August 2-5, 2023 in Plymouth Notch. We are planning a week of celebrations surrounding the anniversary of President Coolidge’s homestead inauguration, including a 100th Anniversary Gala on the night of August 2, a 2:47 AM reenactment of the homestead inauguration on August 3, and several reprise reenactments throughout the week. Visit our centennial webpage to learn more about August events and purchase your tickets to the Inauguration Gala today. Coolidge Calendar July 2-4: Coolidge Cup Speech and Debate National Championship July 4: Coolidge Birthday Celebration August 2-5: Coolidge Centennial Celebration in Plymouth Notch

6/20/23

Well, I just returned from a week in ME and we had some of the same dreary weather as down here. This week looks good, however, especially tomorrow (6/21) for the Annual Strawberry Festival. I was part of the Tyson Ladies Aid group cutting up strawberries this evening and they were big and juicy! I hope that many of you will join the festivities from 5 – 7:30 at Camp Plymouth State Park – fun for the whole family, plus free admission to our lovely park during those hours.

BBQ hot dogs and burgers cooked by Emergency Service, a variety of salads, and luscious strawberry shortcake with ice cream by Tyson Ladies Aid. Music throughout the evening by Adam Boyce and Sue Hunt, plus children’s activities. Tyson Church will run a 50/50 raffle. What a wonderful way to spend a summer evening that also provides funds for emergency services, scholarships, and other community needs. In addition, you are able to chat with neighbors and friends. How perfect!

Please note that the bear population seems to be quite robust around our area this year. They seem to be constantly roaming about my yard and others have reported the same. The picture below shows the rear end of a bear contemplating jumping off Bob and Kathy Lynds’ deck.

News release from the Notch.  On the Fourth of July, Celebrate the Births of our Great Nation and our 30th President. Calvin Coolidge is the only U.S. President to be born on Independence Day. This year, to commemorate July 4th, the President Calvin Coolidge Coolidge State Historic Site in Plymouth Notch will host a day of festivities and events for the public from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.  

Start the day in the Union Christian Church at 9:00 a.m. for a reading of the Declaration of Independence with the Coolidge Foundation. At 11:30 the Coolidge Family will judge the “Grace Coolidge’s Icebox Cookie Baking Competition” on the porch of the Cilley General Store. The National Guard will kick off a parade to the cemetery for the laying of a wreath at the President’s Grave at 12:00 p.m. Immediately following, enjoy a slice of President Coolidge’s birthday cake, wave an American flag, and listen to an old-time string band. In the afternoon explore the historic village, see cheesemaking in John Coolidge’s 1890 factory by Plymouth Artisan Cheese, and watch The Coolidge Cup, a national invitational speech and debate tournament sponsored by the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation. The public and media are welcome. 

New to this year’s July 4th festivities is the Icebox Cookie Baking Competition. Members of the public are invited to bake and bring a dozen cookies using First Lady Grace Coolidge’s cookie recipe to be tasted and judged by members of the Coolidge family.  

“On his birthday, Calvin Coolidge enjoyed homemade treats lovingly baked by his mother Victoria, a childhood housekeeper, and later First Lady Grace. What better way to honor Coolidge’s birthday today, 151 years later, than with a recipe that was familiar to him?,” says Rejoice Scherry, site administrator. 

Visitors to the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site can explore the new exhibit, “Coolidge’s Contemporaries: The Ascension of Early 20th Century World Leaders.” This special exhibit compares President Coolidge’s unorthodox but humble oath of office to the ascension ceremonies of other influential leaders from across the globe. For more information on the State Historic Sites and events visit their website. 

Town of Plymouth, Vermont Select Board –

Regular Meeting Monday, June 19, 2023 @ 6:00 PM Community Center Meeting Room Agenda

Topic: Plymouth Select Board Meeting

Time: June 19, 2023 06:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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1. Call to Order and Introduction of Those Present:
2. Consideration of Any Changes, Additions or Removals to Agenda:
3. Approve Meeting Minutes:
   a. May 15, 2023 Regular Meeting
4. Review and Possibly Approve Policy Changes:
   a. Cash Receipts & Returned Check Policy
   b. Reserve Fund Balance Policy
   c. Facility Use Policy
5. Review and Approve NEMRC Bulk Time Purchase Agreement:
6. Discussion on Traffic Ordinance:
7. Discussion on Phone System:
8. Highway Department Report:
9. Short-Term Rental Discussion, if People Have Questions:
10. Mail and Warrants:
11. Other Business:
12. Possible Executive Session:
13. Adjourn:

Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

6/12/23

Strange weather these days. I have been at baseball games when the sky has suddenly opened up and drenched us! After my grandson Owen’s 6th grade graduation in Ludlow on Friday, the ride around town on the fire truck started out dry, but became soggy at the end. It still seems like my garden is a bit dry, however.

It wasn’t too long after I arrived home the other evening, when I noticed that the motion light on the garage had come on again. I imagine it is the same bear that has been nosing around my yard. He started up the deck to my back door, but scampered away when I opened the inside door. I had hoped to take his picture.

According to Tiffany at Camp Plymouth State Park, attendance has been down, but hopefully it will pick up as school lets out & the weather cooperates. Tyson Library is open most mornings from 10-noon. Free passes or reduced price ones are available there. I will try to obtain the exact places where they can be used.

There will be a Select Board meeting on 6/19 and I imagine that Angela will put out the agenda as soon as it is determined. Please note that effective 6/12 appointments will be needed to access land records from the town office. You may call 802-672-3655 or email clerk@plymouthvt.org to arrange a Monday or Thursday appointment.

I am out of the loop with our students these days. I do recognize Damon Rogers, Ursula and Fred DePaul’s grandson and Norah Harper, daughter of Beth and Cliff Harper. Congrats to all.

Some of these birthdays have passed, but best wishes in any case. Sue Poirier (6/4),
Theresa Steward (6/14), BetteAnne Sailer, and me (6/14) and Gwen Groff (6/25).

I just learned that this Sat, 6/10 and Sun, 6/11 are free admission days to VT State Parks for day use and state-owned historic sites.  Saturday is also Free Fishing day for both residents and non-residents, allowing fishing without a license.

President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site Announces Its Summer Concert Series

Opening concert to feature piano students from Vermont and New Hampshire.

Plymouth, Vt. – The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site is hosting four free summer concerts as a part of the ever-popular Grace Coolidge Musicales series and the 18^th Annual Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival. Regional and internationally renowned musical acts will feature classical, folk, jazz, and blues music.

“We are kicking off our concerts by honoring First Lady Grace Coolidge’s passions for teaching and music by inviting piano students from the region to take the stage,” said Rejoice Scherry, Historic Sites Regional Administrator. “We hope to encourage blossoming talents by providing students with a unique opportunity to walk in the shoes of Rachmaninoff.” Grace Coolidge’s piano at the Coolidge Museum and Education Center was once famously played by the Russian virtuoso and will be featured in all the musicales. 

The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site concert dates for 2023 are:

• Sunday, June 18^th at 2:00 p.m, Grace Coolidge Musicale #1 featuring student musicians,
• Sunday, August 20^th at 2:00 p.m, Grace Coolidge Musicale #2 featuring Abby Charbeneau and Susan Cobb playing four-handed piano repertoire,
• Saturday, September 2^nd & Sunday, September 3^rd, Plymouth Folk and Blues Festival,
• Sunday, September 24^th at 2:00 p.m, Grace Coolidge Musical #3 featuring Elizabeth Borowsky, piano and Cecylia Barczyk, cello.

“We are excited to provide a variety of wonderful music programs that promise to entertain and inspire, whether you are a devoted classical or blues music fan or simply seeking an evening of fun for the whole family,” said Vermont State Historic Preservation Officer Laura V. Trieschmann. “Music is one of the many ways to explore our Vermont state historic sites, experiencing the music loved by Calvin and Grace Coolidge.”

The Grace Coolidge Musicales are free thanks to the support of the Alma Gibbs Donchian Foundation. The Plymouth Folk and Blues concert, organized by Jay Ottaway, is free and donations of food for the Vermont Food Bank are appreciated. ThePresident Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site is open Tuesday – Sunday through Oct. 22, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  For more information on the Vermont State Historic Sites and the 2023 events schedule visit their website. 

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About the Division for Historic Preservation
The Vermont State Historic Sites are owned and operated by the Division for Historic Preservation, which is part of the Department of Housing and Community Development.  The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) works to support vibrant and resilient communities, promote safe and affordable housing for all, protect the state’s historic resources, and improve the quality of life for Vermonters.

Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

6/4/23

Well, the balmy days of last week have disappeared for the time-being, replaced this weekend by chilly and damp weather. The rain was needed, but layered clothing was necessary in order to be comfortable!

Please make note that the Town Office will be closed on 6/7 and 6/8, while the move to the Annex takes place.

The regular 6/5 Select Board meeting to discuss road name changes has been cancelled, but according to the website, there will be an informal gathering. The next regular SB meeting will be 6/19.

The Plymouth Farmers Market began for the season on 6/4 and will continue on Sundays, rain or shine from 3 – 6 PM until October. There is no vendor fee, so bring your goods and/or come to shop and socialize.  Contact Lauren at (802) 417-6895‬.

An interesting event will be taking place on 6/10 at 7 PM at Bethany Mennonite Church in Bridgewater, when John and Wendy Hiers will be showing pictures and talking about their trip to Antarctica.  Light snacks and time to chat will follow. All are welcome.

The annual Plymouth Strawberry Festival will take place at Camp Plymouth State Park on Wed, 6/21 from 5 – 7:30 PM. Admission to the park is free at that time. Plymouth Emergency Services will be serving up burgers and many community members will be preparing salads. Tyson Ladies Aid will dish up their famous strawberry shortcake. Wonderful that Adam Boyce and Sue Hunt will again be providing music. You can also participate in the Tyson Community Church 50/50 raffle. Plan to attend!