Thursday, May 30, 2013
News to Know May 30th
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Sent by Corinne Stridsberg and also posted at: http://socialenergy.blogspot.com
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If you're not already receiving this news by email, send an email to request this to corinnestridsberg@gmail.com
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Check out the Berlin , Vermont
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If you're heading out to do some fishing or visit state parks on June 8th, don't forget to check out Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge (details reposted below) and take photos of your adventures to use toward the state park admission incentive program!
Included below please find:
BLACKFLY FESTIVAL IN ADAMANT
VENTURE VERMONT
PLANT SALE AT RUMNEY
CLOTHING SWAP
MESSAGE FROM KELLOGG-HUBBARD LIBRARY IN MONTPELIER
ALDRICH LIBRARY IN BARRE
BROWN LIBRARY IN NORTHFIELD
SUMMER READING PROGRAMS
FROM BERLIN FRONT PORCH FORUM
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BLACKFLY FESTIVAL IN ADAMANT
Saturday, June 1st will be the 11th Annual Blackfly Festival at the Adamant Co-op at 1313 Haggett Road (In Montpelier take Main Street and go out County Road and left on Haggett Road) The fun starts at 10am. There will be music, food and other fun activities including a parade at 2pm . Check out all the details at: http://www.blackflyfestival.org/
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For full list of activities visit http://www.vermontdays.com
June 8 & 9: FREE entry into all Vermont State Park
June 8 & 9:FREE entry to Vermont Historic Sites all weekend.
June 8 & 9:
June 8 only: FREE Admission to Vermont History Museum Montpelier
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VENTURE VERMONT
Earth Day and School Vacation week seem like a wonderful time to start in on the Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge 2013. When you reach 250 points, you win free day entry into VT State Parks for the rest of the 2013 season and for the entire 2014 season and aVIP
Earth Day and School Vacation week seem like a wonderful time to start in on the Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge 2013. When you reach 250 points, you win free day entry into VT State Parks for the rest of the 2013 season and for the entire 2014 season and a
***PLANT SALE
Spring Fair & plant sale at Rumney Elem. School 10am - 2pm
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CLOTHING SWAP
Mama Says (http://mamasaysvermont.org) is hosting a clothing swap! In support of guilt free shopping, they are taking gently used or new clothes (like those impulse buys or clothes your kids grew out of before they could wear them!) for their swap to be held on Saturday, June 29th at the Unitarian Church Main Street in Montpelier . They are taking women's, men's, and children's clothing.
Collecting: Clothes are being collected at the Montpelier Farmer's Market on Saturday, June 1st and at the parent meet-up on June 3rd at Kellogg-Hubbard Library. If you can't make either of those, or need more time to go through your closets, you can leave clothes throughout the month of June on the porch of 19 Liberty Street , look for the smiley face on the telephone pole. You name and the number of clothes you are dropping off need to be given. Please be sure that the clothes are clean, free of rips, tears or stains, and are generally in good, wearable condition.
Swapping: On Saturday, June 29th door will open for the Mama Says boutique at 10am . For those of you who have dropped off clothes, please take the same amount of clothes that you had dropped off.
Adults please donate $1 at the door to cover the costs of running the swap. If you were not able to drop any clothes off or if you'd like to swap more than you dropped, we will charge $2 per adult item and $1 per children's item.
If you can't make the drop or the swap, and would still like to participate or need an excuse to gut your closets, we have a consignment account with Women and Children First in Barre. Feel free to donate clothes there at any time, our number is M45 and we will receive 30% commission of the sale which will go to supporting our doula scholarships, community building, and our basic organizational costs.
If you are interested in volunteering for the swap, please be in touch. Email Courtney at courtneystout2012@gmail.com. You will be given two items for your time! Happy swapping! http://www.mamasaysvermont.org. Read about and WIN Vermont products! http://www.tryvermontfirst.com http://www.facebook.com/tryvermontfirst
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MESSAGE FROM KELLOGG-HUBBARD LIBRARY IN MONTPELIER
This message is posted on the Kellogg-Hubbard Library website:
"Residents of Berlin
On Town Meeting Day March 5, 2013 the citizens of Berlin voted not to support Kellogg-Hubbard Library's financial request for budget year 2013-2014. Because of this vote Berlin residents will now be required to pay an annual membership fee in order to borrow library materials as of July 1, 2013 . The 2013-2014 rates are as follows: Adult (ages 16-64) $40.00; Senior (age 65 or over) $35.00
There is no longer a family or couple's card. Each patron, if he or she is part of a group account must have the card in hand to check out materials. (A parent or guardian may check out items for children under the age of 16 on their card, unless they choose to purchase an additional card for their child.) If you are the card holder and don't have the card with you, it is understood that records may be discussed and may be within hearing of other parties."
Information about the services available at Kellogg-Hubbard can be found on their website http://www.kellogghubbard.org/ and they also have a facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kellogg-Hubbard-Library/192628716604
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I did call and clarify about a "group account" and was told that a couple/kids can share a card as long as the one wanting to check out materials has the card with them. If you are the card holder, you're also expected to have the card with you when you sign out materials.
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ALDRICH LIBRARY IN BARRE
In Barre there is the Aldrich Library, where it is a $12.00 annual fee for a full year - this is for an individual. Children through eighth grade register in the Junior's Room; parents' signature needed. Note: If you have children not yet in high school they can be on the parent's / guardian's card but high school age students need their own card. Information about their services can be found on their website http://www.aldrich.lib.vt.us and on their facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aldrich-Public-Library/114690118581827?fref=ts
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BROWN LIBRARY IN NORTHFIELD
In Northfield there is the Brown Library, where it is a $24 annual fee for a family library card. Information about their services can be found on their website http://www.brownpubliclibrary.org and on their facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Brown-Public-Library/113904045307594?fref=ts
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Museum and State Park passes are available at all the libraries to borrow for a discounted or sometimes free admission (details were in the April 26th News to Know)
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SUMMER READING PROGRAMS
Scholastic books: http://www.scholastic.com/ups/campaigns/src-2013
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Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/summer-reading/379003570/
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Local libraries in Vermont have "Dig Into Reading" for kids. Check the details at your local library - usually this program includes one or more fun special events.
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There are lots of fun activities to go along with the books your kids are reading. If you do a Google search for "Pinterest summer library reading program" several pages of fun activities will come up for you to explore.
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If you're aware of other summer reading incentive programs please let me know.
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FROM BERLIN
Below are just two postings... there have been many more
Membership is free - to join go to visit http://frontporchforum.com
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250th Anniversary of Berlin
NORBERT RHINERSON - SCOTT HILL ROAD
The township of Berlin June 8, 1763 , to Rev. Chauncey Graham and sixty-three associates by Benning Went-worth, governor of the Province of New Hampshire Montpelier
The first Proprietors' meeting of record was held at Arlington , Vermont May 17, 1785 , and the town was organized and the first town meeting held at Berlin March 31, 1791 . Around these three dates-1763, 1785 and 1791 is described in Mary Greene Nyes' "History of Berlin 1763 - 1820."
There will be an open house at the Berlin Historical Society at Town Hall between the hours of 1 to 4 PM on June 8 at which time you cam find our more about the founding of our Town. For those who might like a collectible we will have specially cancelled cached (With two Berlin Scenes) envelope for sale.
UVM Master Gardener and Master Composter Plant Sale
MICHELLE CHAMPOUX - CROSSTOWN ROAD
SATURDAY, June 8th, 9:00 -noon UVM EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER and MASTER COMPOSTER PLANT SALE. !!!!! NEW LOCATION this year!!!!! Vermont College of Fine Arts Gym/College Street , Montpelier
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
News to Know May 22nd
Sent by Corinne Stridsberg and also posted at: http://socialenergy.blogspot.com
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If you're not already receiving this news by email, send an email to request this to corinnestridsberg@gmail.com
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Check out the
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NOTE:I'd like to have a News to Know be just about food that is produced locally here in Berlin - what do you offer, or buy from, folks here in Berlin? Some of these products may be found at the Farmer's Market (does everybody know which vendors are
Included below please find:
PANERA BREAD EXPANDS IN REGION, MORE EATERIES PLANNED
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This event will be held at the Congregational Church Parish Hall on
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***CATE
Final day of Cate Farm Seedling sale - May 26th
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PANERA BREAD EXPANDS IN REGION,
MORE EATERIES PLANNED
Pub 5/21/13 Times Argus by Joyce
L. CarrollPanera Bread (NASDAQ:
“Business has been good . . . We’re beginning to see a lot of regulars, which we love,” said Travis Williams, general manager of the
Meanwhile, Berlin-area residents can look forward to a Panera Bread opening this month in the
The stores in
Between the recent opening of the
“We began looking [in the area] over three years ago. Our plan has always been to open these cafés as soon as we can get the permitting,” said district manager David Almond. “[Regarding] the
Almond pointed to Panera’s annual recognition of breast-cancer awareness in October with the sale of pink ribbon bagels. The company is a partner with Feeding America; donates leftover baked goods to charity; and supports Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a camp in South Hero for children with cancer.
Panera takes pride in being ahead of the curve with regard to healthier dining, said Almond. Calorie counts were publicly available long before the federal government mandated access to the information. The use of free-range chicken and local ingredients further exemplify its conscientious effort to support the farm-to-table movement. Aside from baked goods, the café chain features a variety of sandwiches and soups.
Panera Bread was founded in 1981 and has since opened 1,652 cafés in 44 states.
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***Pub. 5/22/13 Times Argus by David Delcore
BERLIN — The Select Board is considering letting the town’s police and volunteer fire departments charge an escalating fee for responding to calls that turn out to be nothing.
In a move designed to recover the expenses of dealing with what they described as an inordinate number of false alarms, Fire Chief Miles Silk Jr. and Police Chief Bill Wolfe both urged the board to enact an ordinance similar to those in some surrounding communities.
If approved as presented to the board at its Monday night meeting, the ordinance would create a mechanism for both departments to recoup costs associated with alarms that go off when they shouldn’t.
Silk told the board that volunteer firefighters respond to hundreds of false alarms a year. The proposed ordinance, he said, could begin to take some of the financial sting out of an all-too-familiar sequence of events that begins when an alarm sounds.
“We have a lot of commercial fire alarms … and we’re burning a lot of fuel every time we run out to these,” Silk said.
Wolfe echoed that, suggesting the proposed ordinance would help offset the expense of responding to security alarms at commercial establishments.
“As much as we welcome the commercial segment in
Under the proposed ordinance, businesses would be entitled to two false alarms per calendar year — one between January and July and the other from July to December. A second alarm during either of those six-month spans would trigger a $100 fee, and any subsequent alarm in that same time frame would cost $200 each.
By way of example Silk said there were more than 30 alarm activations at the
According to Silk, that money would be both billed and collected by the chiefs of both departments.
At least with respect to the Volunteer Fire Department that arrangement would funnel the new revenue away from the general fund and directly to the autonomous department that incurred the expense.
The town would have no role in collecting or accounting for that money, and the Select Board’s only responsibility under the proposed ordinance would be to entertain appeals and consider requests for waivers.
Though the Volunteer Fire Department is partly subsidized with local tax dollars, it is an independent organization, unlike the Police Department. For the past two years the volunteer firefighters have tried but failed to persuade voters to appropriate an additional $180,000 to the department to allow round-the-clock staffing at the Four Corners Station.
Silk said some central
Town Administrator Jeff Schulz said that will first require scheduling a public hearing on the proposed ordinance — something the board agreed to consider at its next meeting.
The proposed ordinance includes a couple of other requirements and allows for a fine of up to $500 for violating any of them. Failure to pay the proposed “service fee” within 30 days would be a violation.
Silk said one advantage of the proposed ordinance is that it could prompt property owners to take better care of their alarm systems to avoid fees. Town-owned properties and the Volunteer Fire Department would be exempt from the ordinance, he said.
david.delcore @timesargus.com
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***Friday, May 17, 2013
News to Know May 17th
Sent by Corinne Stridsberg and also posted at: http://socialenergy.blogspot.com
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If you're not already receiving this news by email, send an email to request this to corinnestridsberg@gmail.com
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Check out the
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NOTE:
I'd like to have a News to Know be just about food that is
produced locally here in Berlin - what do you offer, or buy from, folks here in
Berlin? Some of these products may be found at the
Farmer's Market (does everybody know which vendors are
There are lots of Berlin
Included below please find:
OPEN BARN DAY ! MAY 19TH
AT PEASE FARM STABLE IN MIDDLESEX
THE 251 CLUB OF
SECONDHAND SHOPPING GUIDES
GEAR SWAP AT
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***OPEN BARN
Sunday, May 19th
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***We're HIRING again, part-time! Spread the word to folks that might be interested!
Outreach/Media Assistant
Desktop publishing of newsletters, flyers, brochures; website design and maintenance; local and social media submissions; regional outreach; a-v equipment oversight. Qualifications: relevant experience, advanced computer literacy, efficiency, reliability, interest in working with diverse populations and equipment at Senior Center. 16 early evening hours. Apply by June 5th with resume, letter, and contact info for 3 references. Email only to jclar@montpelier-vt.org.
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***THE 251 CLUB OF
Are you a member yet of the 251 Club? "Since 1954, an organization of
There are no forms to complete and you need not have visited all 251 towns and cities to become a member. Upon joining you will receive a
http://www.vt251.com
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***The summer will begin soon - check out the Fairs & Festivals listing and mark those calendars! http://www.fairsandfestivals.net/states/VT
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***The North Branch Nature Center out on Elm Street just past the pool always has lots of great activities going on so be sure to visit their website and look at the event calendar. There are a variety of summer camps although some have already filled. On their website you can also find trail maps to help explore the area around their center and continuing over to
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BirdFest2013 at NBNC Saturday, June 1,
Fee: $10 adults, free for kids!
Join us for our second annual birds & birding festival! For a detailed schedule of events, vist the BirdFest website http://www.northbranchnaturecenter.org/birdfest.html
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***SECONDHAND SHOPPING GUIDES
Seven Days has a nice guide to secondhand shops in Northwestern and
http://www.7dvt.com/secondhand-shopping-guide
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This second guide has stores listed by town: http://www.thrifthappy.com/vermont.html
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***GEAR SWAP AT
Save BIG on gently used baby furniture, strollers, carriers, books, toys and more during our annual Gear Swap! If you have stuff that you'd like to sell, you can receive 100% of the resale price in store credit or 80% of the price in cash. Register to be a consigner online and drop off your gear at our store between June 5th-7th. This is a fantastic event and a great way to add life to some great gear.
Acceptable Items:
Activity mats, backpacks, bassinets, bike trailers & seats, bookcases, booster seats for table, bouncers, changing pads, changing stations, changing tables, cradles, diaper bags, dressers, doorway jumpers, exersaucers, front packs, gates, gliders, high chairs, mattresses, moses baskets, pack 'n plays & play yards, rockers (adult & toddler), room décor (lamps, wall hangings, clothing trees), strollers, student desks, swings (infant), table and chair sets, toddler beds, toy boxes, outdoor toys (swings, slides, sandboxes), ride on toys (trikes, scooters, wagons, toboggans), push toys (strollers, carts), twin beds, wooden step stools.
We Cannot Accept:
Bathtubs, bedding, books, bottles, breast pumps, car seats, clothing, cribs, diaper pails, monitors, potty seats, shoes, indoor toys.
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Tuesday, May 14, 2013
News to Know May 14th
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If you're not already receiving this news by email, send an email to request this to corinnestridsberg@gmail.com
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Check out the Berlin , Vermont
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Included below please find:
SUPREME COURT DECISION CHANGED THE BALANCE OF CONTROL OVER BERLIN
GLEANING VEGETABLES AT DOG RIVER FARM
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM “CERT ” BASIC TRAINING
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS SUMMER CAMPS AND TRIPS
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: AREA DEVELOPERS SHARE THEIR CENTRAL VERMONT VISION
FROM BERLIN
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On the http://www.berlinvt.org website there is a wonderful photo of the new fencing up at the Berlin Veterans Memorial. The Berlin Historical Society paid for the fencing and the road crew put it up. It looks awesome!
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Route 12 Berlin Montpelier CSA options at Dog River Farm caught your eye as it did mine, I thought I'd mention some further details. This option is the debit card that you can purchase for $250 but is loaded with $300 worth of credit (that's 20% more you have to spend!) and then you can pick and choose what you purchase there at the farm stand. The card can be reloaded in $100 increments. They grow a full line of produce all season and the stand is open June through Thanksgiving.
Thanks George for making it easier to support our local farmers!
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Note there was a recent article about Howard Coffin's new book in the Montpelier
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Wednesday, May 22 at 7pm at the Congregational Church Parish Hall at 188 Scott Hill Road in Berlin Vermont author and Civil War historian Howard Coffin will speak on the Civil War and its effect on Vermonters. Free and open to the public. Potluck at 6pm (call Cheryl 223-5306, the Potluck Coordinator if you plan to attend the potluck).
Information on this event and more about the Historical Society can be found at:
http://www.berlinvt.org/Berlin%20Historical%20Society.htm
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SUPREME COURT DECISION CHANGED THE BALANCE OF CONTROL OVER BERLIN
I missed an article in the Montpelier Bridge
http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2013/03/supreme-court-decision-changed-the-balance-of-control-over-berlin-pond/
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Also some facts about Berlin Pond -
http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2013/03/berlin-pond-at-a-glance/
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GLEANING VEGETABLES AT DOG RIVER FARM
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COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM “CERT ” BASIC TRAINING
A Volunteer Opportunity to the the Central Vermont CERT . June 1st and 2nd - CERT Basic Course.
Location: Barre City Alumni Hall 7:30am-4pm both days
The local Citizen’s Corps CERT is looking for enthusiastic neighbors who are interested and willing to become a volunteer and receive training in:
Disaster Preparedness
Disaster Medical Operations
Disaster Fire Suppression
Disaster Psychology
Light Search & Rescue Operations
Traffic Control
Incident Command System
Disaster Animal Rescue
Contact: Julie Benedict Assistant CE RT Leader for more information 802-431.5701or email julie.benedict@state.vt.us
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COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS SUMMER CAMPS AND TRIPS
Community Connections has just finalized their exciting summer camps for incoming 5th-12th graders, from kayaking and mountain biking, to art sampler and backpacking, canoeing, steeps and deeps, tennis, claymation, farm fresh camp, digital arts, storybook illustration and more! The full flyer is online at http://www.communityconnections.us/ProgramInfo/pdf/cc_teen.pdf
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Also there are 8 weeks of summer camps for elementary aged children. Look for that flyer at:
http://www.communityconnections.us/ProgramInfo/PDF/elementary2013.pdf
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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: AREA DEVELOPERS SHARE THEIR CENTRAL VERMONT VISION
Pub. 5/13/13 Times Argus by Art Edelstein
Developers working in central Vermont Chittenden County
“Central Vermont is in a position where we can more than compete with any other area,” says Thomas Lauzon, Barre City Vermont
According to Lauzon, centralVermont Chittenden County
Due to what he sees as “an aging population here,” and the region “exporting our talent as business continues to expand to theBurlington Berlin
Fred Connor with Connor Brothers Construction inMontpelier
“We are going to have jobs in downtown Barre and our vision is to grow jobs,” says Mark Nicholson, who is developing the Blanchard Block in Barre with John Benoit. “We feel if we provide high end office space we will attract new companies to Barre.”
“The company vision is to be able to create more sustainable places for living and jobs so we can expand the economy of Montpelier and make it healthier for business and everyone who lives here,” says Jesse Jacobs with Montpelier Property Management.
“We look at development as it pertains to the community. We are responsive to community needs, and our focus is in Barre,” says Eileen Peltier with the Central Vermont Community Land Trust, which builds or rehabilitates housing for affordable rentals and is a nonprofit organization.
Since 2011 Lauzon’s company has developed the Aldrich Block and47-59 N. Main Street
Recently at the company-owned21 Metro Way Vermont
Considered a leader in local development, Lauzon says his vision for Barre is “to improve our grand list. Over the past 25 years we have lagged behindMontpelier Vermont Burlington Barre City
Jacobs says his company rarely builds but is not averse to that strategy. “We mostly take historic properties and reappropriate or rehab the spaces so they fit with contemporary uses.”
Currently MPM owns 20 properties, mostly inMontpelier
The company works to maintain and update buildings and “to bring good strong businesses and employers into the area as a key to its strategy.
Fecteau Homes builds condominiums and commercial buildings. It is in the permitting process for a 54-unit multi-family development inOverlook Drive Berlin
It has a 20-unit condo development, The Hideaway, inBerlin Partridge Road Country Way Fecteau Circle
Also pending is an age 55 and over apartment complex onOverlook Drive Vermont
He sees his development work creating construction jobs for the short term, and also supporting commercial businesses on theBarre-Montpelier Road
For Connor Brothers, “Location, vehicle and pedestrian availability, public transportation availability, and for some high traffic count” are essentials to development. For others, offered Fred Connor, “A downtown location is critical.” Connor cited two examples inMontpelier Masonic Center Central Vermont Medical Center Montpelier Health Center 575 Stonecutters Way
“It is getting harder to find good location sites,” he added.
“Our building is attractive,” says Nicholson, who is new to development. “If you envision starting your company in a new place, with a park nearby and parking, then we envision there will be no finer place to move your company.”
The exterior of the Blanchard Block will retain the historic look of 1904 but inside “the guts are going to be fully modernized.”
For the future, he projects, “As opportunities arise we are looking at other renovations with a similar concept to theBlanchard Building
CVCLT has Ladd Hall inWaterbury
Soon to be completed in south Barre is a 20-bed facility for individuals coming out of corrections with substance abuse issues. The rehabilitation cost is $1 million. In pre-development inBarre City
Peltier sees the next five years with “significant development in Barre and also inBradford with a 46-unit assisted living facility.”
Financing for these projects, she explained, is through “multiple layers of federal and state and private funding. CVCLT uses the low-income housing tax credit, or LIHTC, as the primary source of its capital. This financial device gives tax credits to individuals who provide capital for low income housing.”
“
According to Lauzon, central
Due to what he sees as “an aging population here,” and the region “exporting our talent as business continues to expand to the
Fred Connor with Connor Brothers Construction in
“We are going to have jobs in downtown Barre and our vision is to grow jobs,” says Mark Nicholson, who is developing the Blanchard Block in Barre with John Benoit. “We feel if we provide high end office space we will attract new companies to Barre.”
“The company vision is to be able to create more sustainable places for living and jobs so we can expand the economy of Montpelier and make it healthier for business and everyone who lives here,” says Jesse Jacobs with Montpelier Property Management.
“We look at development as it pertains to the community. We are responsive to community needs, and our focus is in Barre,” says Eileen Peltier with the Central Vermont Community Land Trust, which builds or rehabilitates housing for affordable rentals and is a nonprofit organization.
Since 2011 Lauzon’s company has developed the Aldrich Block and
Recently at the company-owned
Considered a leader in local development, Lauzon says his vision for Barre is “to improve our grand list. Over the past 25 years we have lagged behind
Jacobs says his company rarely builds but is not averse to that strategy. “We mostly take historic properties and reappropriate or rehab the spaces so they fit with contemporary uses.”
Currently MPM owns 20 properties, mostly in
The company works to maintain and update buildings and “to bring good strong businesses and employers into the area as a key to its strategy.
Fecteau Homes builds condominiums and commercial buildings. It is in the permitting process for a 54-unit multi-family development in
It has a 20-unit condo development, The Hideaway, in
Also pending is an age 55 and over apartment complex on
He sees his development work creating construction jobs for the short term, and also supporting commercial businesses on the
For Connor Brothers, “Location, vehicle and pedestrian availability, public transportation availability, and for some high traffic count” are essentials to development. For others, offered Fred Connor, “A downtown location is critical.” Connor cited two examples in
“It is getting harder to find good location sites,” he added.
“Our building is attractive,” says Nicholson, who is new to development. “If you envision starting your company in a new place, with a park nearby and parking, then we envision there will be no finer place to move your company.”
The exterior of the Blanchard Block will retain the historic look of 1904 but inside “the guts are going to be fully modernized.”
For the future, he projects, “As opportunities arise we are looking at other renovations with a similar concept to the
CVCLT has Ladd Hall in
Soon to be completed in south Barre is a 20-bed facility for individuals coming out of corrections with substance abuse issues. The rehabilitation cost is $1 million. In pre-development in
Peltier sees the next five years with “significant development in Barre and also in
Financing for these projects, she explained, is through “multiple layers of federal and state and private funding. CVCLT uses the low-income housing tax credit, or LIHTC, as the primary source of its capital. This financial device gives tax credits to individuals who provide capital for low income housing.”
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Pub 5/10/13 Times Argus by Gayle Hanson
Because of a plan put in place more than a decade ago, several
“The brief history in a nutshell is that the city’s water comes from Berlin Pond and the transmission goes down the hill into
“We’ve kind of gone back and forth with the state around this,” said Todd Law, chief of the city’s Public Works Department, who said the initial recipients of the untreated water were using it for agricultural purposes. “But we’re hoping that we’re going to have a solution soon.”
Law said those users don’t have any complaints for the time being.
The best solution, according to Law, and the one most easily accomplished, is to move the three remaining raw water users to the
According to Law, the city has worked with the residents receiving the untreated water and has gone so far as to start drawing up plans to create an expensive mini treatment plant that would serve the remaining customers. Law said the fire department uses the water only to fill its tankers and another customer has already dug a well.
“Right now, the users have their own filters and ultraviolet lights to treat the water, and everything has been satisfactory,” he added. That said, Law was dismayed when it looked as though it might cost up to $100,000 to create a system that would serve less than a handful of customers.
The state has given the city until August 2014 to set things right with its remaining raw water customers.
According to the compliance schedule,
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In the meantime, Law said he’ll move forward to have a plan in place to address the problem.
“We’ve been in the process of getting something ready,” he said. “We’d be happy to turn these customers over to
gayle.hanson @timesargus.com
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Pub. 5/10/13 Times Argus by David Delcore
There is no guarantee that the $5.5 million system will ever be built, but after pouring $175,000 into the project — not counting $106,000 spent acquiring the land where three wells have since been drilled — board members unanimously agreed to take the next step.
Spurred by fear that favorable financing needed to make the water system affordable to a yet-to-be-identified list of users could dry up, the board approved a contract with Otter Creek Engineering to complete the design. The Middlebury firm has been working on the project since 2007.
The board’s only alternative would have been to drop a project that is perhaps a summer’s worth of work away from being put out to bid, according to Mark Youngstrom, of Otter Creek Engineering.
It has taken time, money and more than a little luck, but Youngstrom told the board that if all goes well the water system could be under construction by this time next year.
“The next step in my opinion is to go after the funding full speed,” he said.
According to Youngstrom, that will require completing the final design while actively recruiting residential and commercial customers who own property in the targeted service area.
“There are going to be three things happening at once over the next three months,” he said, suggesting the town will have to make some threshold policy decisions that could create an incentive for people to commit to hooking on.
With three fully permitted bedrock wells, and more than enough land to accommodate the proposed construction of a 400,000 water storage tank and a pump station off Scott Hill Road, the board narrowly secured voter approval in February of a bond issue that could finance construction of the water system. Last month board members learned the project meets income eligibility guidelines for favorable federal financing despite underwhelming response to a survey required by the Rural Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
That ruling kept the project alive and prompted Tom Willard, longtime chairman of the town’s water supply committee, to urge the board to press ahead with the project while federal money is available.
“It’s important to get going and get some of the funding tied up,” he said.
Still, there are questions, not the least of which is how much water will cost. Willard’s committee has consistently said it is critical to limit the annual cost of water to $500 to $600 per equalized residential user. However, Selectman Pete Kelley lamented that, despite the favorable bond vote and the nod from the USDA, the town was no closer to being able to definitively pitch the system to customers.
“Are we at the chicken-and-egg stage again, where we don’t really know what to tell our users?” he asked.
Not quite, according to Youngstrom.
“We’re at the stage where we need to start educating the (potential) users,” the engineer said, kicking off a brief back-and-forth with Kelley.
“With an uncertain number, though, at this point?” Kelley asked.
“With an estimate,” Youngstrom replied. “We’re very up front with that.”
According to Youngstrom, the design work that the board approved will allow him to come up with a better estimate on construction costs while working on the precise terms of the financing arrangement. The reality, he said, is if the system can’t be constructed and deliver water in the price range the committee is looking for: “It’s not going to happen.”
Youngstrom outlined a multistep process for recruiting users that would involve face-to-face meetings with high-volume customers, like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont and direct mailings to residential users. That communication, he said, would be ongoing as estimates are refined and cost projections come into sharper focus.
If all goes well, Youngstrom said, the town will have commitments from prospective users and the financing agency in time to put the project out to bid this fall. He said that time frame would enable the selected contractor to stockpile materials over the winter and be ready to start construction next spring.
“That’s what we’ll shoot for,” Youngstrom said, conceding there are no guarantees and the town’s investment in the final design represented the latest “leap of faith” when it comes to the project.
“It’s either going to happen now or never going to happen,” he said.
According to Willard, one lingering loose end that could derail the project involves the town’s need to acquire the privately owned Berlin Water System. He said the committee is anxious for the town to execute an option agreement for the water system, which is owned by Dean Hedges and serves an area along the
“I think we need to move on that,” Willard said, noting there have been no discussions about the price.
Youngstrom suggested negotiating an option that would give the town clear title to the existing water system while preserving the right to back out if, for some reason, the proposed municipal system doesn’t get built.
Board members briefly discussed the risk to the town, noting they had previously borrowed $175,000 for preliminary engineering, as well as drilling and testing the wells. If the system isn’t built, that no-interest loan would have to start being repaid in 2015. If it is, it would be rolled into the bond cost.
Youngstrom said the same rules would apply to the $202,000 for the final design. The work, he said, would be initially paid for through a no-interest five-year loan from the state that wouldn’t come due for five years.
“There’s no out-of-pocket cost right now,” he said, explaining that, like the earlier loan, it would become part of the project cost if the system is built.
Given the amount of money that has already been invested in the project, board members agreed that was an acceptable risk. They cited the potential upside of creating a reliable and affordable source of drinking water in an area that is ripe for development but saddled with contaminated groundwater.
david.delcore @timesargus.com
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FROM BERLIN
Below is just one posting... there have been many more
Fundraiser by
Angela Shambaugh – Chase Rd
Our daughter, Phoebe, is heading off to Isreal this summer to work with a non-profit there. As part of the position, she is raising money for the organization. If you might consider contributing, please read on.
Angela and Nat Shambaugh
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Hi,
I'm graduating University of Chicago this June, where I spent much of my four years in the library reading history books and studying Arabic, or outside playing frisbee. Right after graduation, before going off into the real world, I will be heading toIsrael Middle East .
Angela and Nat Shambaugh
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Hi,
I'm graduating University of Chicago this June, where I spent much of my four years in the library reading history books and studying Arabic, or outside playing frisbee. Right after graduation, before going off into the real world, I will be heading to
The organization I'm working with, Ultimate Peace, is a non-profit that works with kids and teens in Israel Palestine
Ultimate is a team sport which is ideally structured to facilitate the relationships and communal understanding which are so important in conflict regions. The games are self-regulated and governed by the "Spirit of the Game," which emphasizes discussion, mediation, and consensus to solve problems and relieve tensions both on and off the field.
The organization strives to:
* Create opportunities for youth from disparate backgrounds to play and learn Ultimate together
* Organize teams of expert players and coaches to teach and serve as role models for youth
* Focus on skill-building, relationship building, team building, and community building
* Engage parents, coaches, teachers, and the business community in all we do
* Develop capacity in local communities to ensure sustainability.
* check out the website: www.ultimatepeace.org
* Organize teams of expert players and coaches to teach and serve as role models for youth
* Focus on skill-building, relationship building, team building, and community building
* Engage parents, coaches, teachers, and the business community in all we do
* Develop capacity in local communities to ensure sustainability.
* check out the website: www.ultimatepeace.org
I was drawn to Ultimate Peace as a combination of a sincere academic and personal interest in the region, its history, and its people, and a passion for ultimate. My academic background is in history and Middle Eastern studies, and the Ultimate Peace approach of humanizing and integrating opposing factions of the fractured society is an interesting and seemingly effective project. I think ultimate, with its focus on teamwork and personal skills, and particularly fair play, self-regulation, and spirit of the game, is an ideal medium for this delicate situation, and the youth and community level focus seems to help foster the cross-boundary relationships that the region will desperately need in the years to come.
In order to participate in the project, I need to raise at least $1500 (which does not include the price of my airfare). I hope to cover a significant portion of this amount by selling frisbees as a fundraiser. I'm selling these for $10. If you're interested in a disc, please email me at phoebe.shambaugh@gmail.com there is a waiting period on orders, so I expect the discs to arrive around the beginning of June.
I have also set up an online donation page, https://www.youcaring.com/nonprofits/phoebe-to-israel-for-ultimate-peace/55890, for those people who wouldn't use a frisbee. Any amount you'd like to give would be fantastic.
Thanks for your help!
Phoebe
The frisbees themselves are an official Ultimate version, so the appropriate weight and size for game use. The design for the Frisbee can be seen on the Berlin , Vermont
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