Tuesday, December 04, 2007

 

December happenings and Crosstown Road work delayed

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!

Candy Cane Making - Candy Cane making employs all the senses. It is a time honored tradition which celebrates the wonder of the holiday season. Chocolatiers at Laughing Moon Chocolates boil, pull, turn, roll, and twist these special Candy Canes into works of art which are both beautiful and delicious. This fun, family oriented event is free and open to the public each Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Demonstrations begin at 2 o’clock in the afternoon on the following dates: November 24th & 25th, December 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 22nd & 23rd . Space is limited so get there early.
Times: Saturdays and Sundays at 2 o’clock Location: Laughing Moon Chocolates in Stowe
Admission: Free Website: www.laughingmoonchocolates.com More Info: 253-9591
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PTNA Fundraiser - A reminder that it's possible to order from Genevieve's on line all year long and have the items shipped directly to you. If you were missing their tasty treats in this years catalog, those are available on-line, we simply chose the non food catalogue. I'm told December 12th is the cut off to order and receive by the holidays.

Internet Orders and Direct Shipment to “Out-of-Town” Supporters-
Log on to www.genevieves.com. Enter our school account number: 5355, child’s name, teacher and grade details on the “my account information” page.
Internet orders will be accepted through May 2008 and our school will receive the profit.
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The health booklet which was sent home last week has a "25 point bonus" for Campbell Soup Labels which the PTNA can use if you clip it and send it back!
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December 7 (Friday) - report cards will be sent home with the elementary students (U-32 ones went home on Friday November 30.
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December 11 (Tues) - is the next Facilities meeting at 5:30pm. If you would like to be part of this committee working on the next stage of improvements to our school building, please attend!
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December 11 & 12 (Tues & Wed) - Berlin Elem is looking for volunteers to help with the Holiday Bazaar & Gifts for Giving
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December 14th (Friday) is an early release day for Berlin Elementary School. Students will be released at 1pm. Both Community Connections and KidWatch are offering programs as follows:
Community Connections has an afternoon playing in the snow, having hot chocolate and a warm snack, making soap, playing games and then traveling by car to First in Fitness to swim in the pool planned. Cost is $15. Pick up will be at First in Fitness at 5:30pm.
KidWatch is planning an afternoon for the kids to play with their friends and do some special crafts. Cost is $10 for the first child and $7.50 for each sibling. Pick up is at 4:30pm

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December 18th (Tuesday) THE SNOWMAIDEN will be performed by the No Strings Marionette Co. I think the performance will be at 1:30pm - please call the school to verify that if you're planning on joining us.
The Snowmaiden - Nineteen exquisitely hand crafted marionettes are featured in one of Russia's most beloved folk tales. As Father Frost spreads Winter throughout the land, he comes across a most amazing sight. A perfect little maiden sculpted entirely of snow! Mother Spring breathes life into the figure, making dreams come true for a childless couple who embrace the Snowmaiden with a love as deep and wide as Old Mother Russia herself. Can love sustain this child of winter as the seasons change? This kind and gentle hour long performance is appropriate for audiences of all ages.
We have enjoyed other performances by No Strings, for more info visit: http://www.nostringsvt.com/main.html
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December 21 (Friday) - last day of school until after the holidays. School will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 2nd.
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Have you considered running for a seat on the school board? To do this, pick up a petition from the Town Clerk. You should get about 24 signatures from Berlin residents who are on the voters checklist in order to have you added to the ballot. People who sign your petition are not agreeing to vote for you in March, they are simply getting you on the ballot. The seats up for election are currently held by Linda Couture (3 yr term), Michael Stridsberg (2 yr term) & Jonathan Goddard (2 years of 3 yr term). Not all of them are running again and even if somebody is, it's always better to have two people running for a seat giving those voting a choice. Petitions are due in January so don't delay. There is also a Berlin seat on the U-32 board looking for candidates.
The next Berlin School Board meeting is Dec 17th at 6:15pm - the community is always welcome to attend. Agendas and minutes can be found on the school website http://www.berlinschool.org
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First Night Montpelier http://www.mdca.org/
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Indoor Farmers Market in Montpelier the first Saturday of each month through the winter up at Vermont College.
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The town website has lots of interesting information available: http://www.berlinvt.org
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Crosstown Road work suspended until next spring
December 3, 2007 By David Delcore Times Argus Staff
BERLIN – The arrival of wintry weather has killed any hope of reopening Crosstown Road before the end of the year, according to Town Administrator Jeff Schulz.

Schulz said the selectboard has reluctantly agreed to postpone work on the once-popular shortcut until next spring. The Class 3 road has been closed since March when two long linear cracks were discovered in its dirt surface.

Schulz said this week's vote was based on concerns raised by the town's contractor regarding the impact of cold weather and frost on achieving "full compaction and long-term stability of the road."

The contractor, E.E. Packard, advised the board that he could not guarantee he would be able to meet the specifications for compaction and that further work through the winter would require a signed waiver of liability – a condition Schulz said the selectboard was not willing to meet. As a result, Crosstown Road will remain closed to through traffic until further notice.

According to Schulz, the stabilization project is nearly 50 percent complete. The concrete leveling pad is in place and the area stabilized. He said the site will be fully secured with fencing and additional warning signs will be posted until work resumes next spring. The Town anticipates that the contractor will resume work in May and the "mechanically stabilized earth wall should be finished by mid-June.

Meanwhile, the board has implemented an immediate freeze on discretionary spending until it secures the additional funds, currently estimated to be $150,000, from within the town's existing budget. The discovery of additional ledge after work started this fall resulted in unanticipated and substantial extra costs for additional design, engineering and construction work.

Work on the project had to be temporarily halted while the town and its engineers and contractor worked toward a solution to the problem. This delay contributed to the board's inability to reach its longstanding goal of completing the project and reopening the road by the end of this year.

"This was a very difficult and disappointing decision for the board," said Chairwoman Patricia McDonald. "Our goal had always been to have this project completed by year-end because we realize the importance of the road to the region and the impact its closing would have on our residents and neighbors."

McDonald said the board will be working with local and regional police, fire, rescue and other emergency personnel to develop plans to ensure the delivery of public safety services for Berlin residents in West Berlin and along the Route 12 corridor. 2The board is also asking for the public's cooperation in remaining away from the construction site until the road is reopened.

More detailed information will be provided when the board meets tonight at 7 p.m. at the municipal offices.

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