Monday, October 28, 2013

 

News to Know October 29th


BERLIN NEWS TO KNOW October 29, 2013
*
This communication is put together and distributed on a volunteer basis by resident Corinne Stridsberg simply in an effort to share information and build community, it is not from the town of Berlin.

Please share this with you Berlin friends and neighbors.  If you're not already receiving this news by email, send an email to request this to corinnestridsberg@gmail.com
*
Check out the Berlin, Vermont Community News page on facebook to find bits of current news:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berlin-Vermont/205922199452224

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Included below please find:

AUTO RACING NEWS AND INTERVIEWS
CITRUS FUNDRAISER
U-32 PRESENTS: LES MISERABLES, NOVEMBER 7-9
WATER SUPPLY PROJECT MEETING 10/30/13 AT SCHOOL
11TH ANNUAL BERLIN FALL SCHOLASTIC CHESS TOURNAMENT
ANNUAL HARVEST LUNCHEON
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR AT SCHOOL AND ON-LINE
KID WATCH RAFFLE AT BERLIN ELEMENTARY
NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WELCOMED
PUBLIC SAFETY CONSOLIDATION: BERLIN BOARD NOT READY TO LEAP
FROM BERLIN FRONT PORCH FORUM
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AUTO RACING NEWS AND INTERVIEWS

Auto racing fans - check out Victory Lane Radio Network (http://www.victorylaneradio.com) on Monday nights or by podcast. Our son, Michael, is the co-host.

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CITRUS FUNDRAISER

U-32 Music Dept. Citrus Fundraiser is going on now through November 8th. Order oranges or grapefruits for yourself or maybe combine an order with a friend, neighbor, or coworker. If you know a student in the program be sure to order directly through them... but you can also place an order on line. Please note there is an additional charge to have it delivered right to you as opposed to picking it up either up at U-32 or potentially making arrangements with the student if you live nearby. https://www.floridaindianrivergroves.com/orderFundraising_ns11.asp?OrgId=834899

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U-32 PRESENTS: LES MISERABLES, NOVEMBER 7-9

Performed entirely by students, the musical, Les Miserables School Edition will have performances on Nov. 7th, 8th, 9th at 7pm and also Nov 9th at 2pm.

To get your tickets, email sverchereau@u32.org with number of tickets wanted and time/date of show
OR
Call (802) 229 0321 x5561 and leave a message with number of tickets wanted and time/date of show
OR
Visit the Box Office 10/29 & 11/5, 5-7 PM ; 10/31 & 11/7 , 8-9 AM.

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WATER SUPPLY PROJECT MEETING 10/30/13 AT SCHOOL

At 6pm on October 30th there will be a Water Supply Project Update to the Berlin Select Board at Berlin Elementary School.  This is a special meeting at which Ottercreek Engineering will give an update on the water project, and a discussion of project plans and connections to the system.  

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11TH ANNUAL BERLIN FALL SCHOLASTIC CHESS TOURNAMENT

On Saturday, November 9th, Berlin Elementary will host the 11th Annual Berlin Fall Scholastic Chess Tournament.  The event is open to chess players of all abilities from grades K through 12.  The focus is on fun and sportsmanship.  Registration opens at 9AM, with the first round starting at 10AM.  For full details and registration information, please visit http://vtchess.info or contact Mike Stridsberg at Mike@vtchess.info.

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ANNUAL HARVEST LUNCHEON

Berlin Elementary School welcomes families and the greater community to their Annual Harvest Luncheon on Wednesday, November 13th. Feel free to bring the whole family and/or guests. The Berlin Foodservice program is honored to accommodate... you and your family. Please inquire by calling Greg Mathews 223-2796 ext 119 for more information. Times and menu can be found on the school website http://berlinschool.org/attachments/article/61/Harvest%20Luncheon%20Reg%20(2).doc. $5 per adult guest and $2.75 for child guests.

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SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR AT SCHOOL AND ON-LINE

Book Fair dates at Berlin Elementary School are November 8th - 15th.  Shopping hours are 6pm - 8pm on Friday, November 8th and 10am - 4pm on Saturday, November 9th.  Shoppers may also come in from 8am - 4pm Monday through Friday, November 11th - 15th.  Perhaps you'll want to visit the Book Fair during the Harvest Luncheon.  Another option is to visit the Book Fair on-line at http://bookfairs.scholastic.com/homepage/berlinelementaryschool2.  Remember, all purchases benefit Berlin Elementary School.

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KID WATCH RAFFLE AT BERLIN ELEMENTARY

Kid Watch is the before and after school program for students at Berlin Elementary School.  They are holding a benefit raffle with tickets just $1.00 each or $5.00 for six tickets.  The drawing will be held on November 19th.

The raffle includes the following prizes: battery operated blood pressure machine; Fresh Tracks gift certificate; matted unframed print; crocheted afghan; woven placemats and mug rugs (setting for six); four movie tickets, each with one small popcorn and soda (good for Capitol or Paramount Theater); Pampered Chef denim apron; locally made jewelry; and Simply Subs 18" sub.  Tickets can be purchased through Kid Watch staff.

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NEW SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WELCOMED

The Berlin School community would like to thank Kimberly Boyd for her service on the Berlin School Board through October this year.  Her work supporting our students and staff is much appreciated.  We would like to welcome Carl Parton as a new Board member, replacing Kimberly until Town Meeting in March.  Welcome Carl!

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PUBLIC SAFETY CONSOLIDATION: BERLIN BOARD NOT READY TO LEAP

Pub 10/23/13 Times Argus by David Delcore

   BERLIN — The Select Board was openly skeptical this week as it heard a proposal to let voters decide whether their community should be part of a plan to consolidate emergency services in central Vermont.
   Though no decisions were made and no doors were closed, a majority of the town’s five-member board more than hinted that they hadn’t heard enough to support a Town Meeting Day ballot measure that could advance plans for a single, autonomous public safety authority as part of a joint venture with Barre, Barre Town and Montpelier.
   Monday night’s meeting in
Berlin represented the launch of a public push to persuade leaders in all four communities to give their voters a voice in whether an idea that has been the subject of a four-year taxpayer-funded study is worth taking to the next level.
   A committee of appointed representatives from all four communities is requesting concurrent votes on a proposed charter that could provide a framework for governing and financing a shared police, fire and ambulance department, complete with its own emergency dispatch center.
   According to committee member Patti Lewis, the idea should allow for operational efficiency in areas like scheduling, while eliminating sometimes redundant and always expensive equipment purchases. It would also, she argued, make it easier to train, recruit and retain quality emergency personnel and to provide coordinated round-the-clock coverage to the proposed four-town service area.
   “We think that working together will be much more efficient. It’s going to contain costs, and it’s going to provide better service,” said Lewis, a
Berlin lawmaker who has served on the committee since its inception.
   Given the dearth of detail seized on by some board members Monday night, Lewis acknowledged the proposed March vote represented something of a leap of faith. However, she and others on the committee stressed it was a logical and, if need be, reversible next step in a process they believe is worthy of consideration by voters.
   “We truly feel that it’s in the best interest of central
Vermont to go forward with this,” Lewis said.
   Committee members Alan Weiss and Tom Golonka — both members of the Montpelier City Council — agreed.
   “This is an excellent opportunity for four communities to get together and work together,” Weiss said.
   According to Golonka, the committee has focused on evaluating the potential for enhanced service while containing cost increases associated with operating separate departments.
   “We weren’t really looking at this from a perspective of slashing costs or cutting costs,” he said. “We were looking to create something we thought could be sustainable, could be defendable, could be fair and could help us all in the next 10 (to) 20 years.”
   That said, Golonka maintained the committee has taken the project as far as it comfortably can and believed voters in all four communities should be given the opportunity to decide whether to pursue the concept further.
   “We know it’s not going to be an easy sell, but we think the time is right because we see every town having problems containing costs,” he said.
   If the committee was looking for a commitment Monday night, it left empty-handed.
   Selectman Ture Nelson said he would need more specifics before agreeing to ask
Berlin voters to approve the proposed charter.
   “I totally agree with the regionalization concept,” Nelson said. “(But) I’m just not seeing enough in this proposal to support it. … All I see is that costs are going up (for
Berlin) and we’re going to get one seat on the (seven-member) board for sure.”
   In addition to his concern that
Berlin would pay a premium for what he feared would be token representation, Nelson questioned whether Berlin voters are interested in the services it would provide. He cited their repeated refusal to appropriate additional money the local Volunteer Fire Department requested to provide round-the-clock service as evidence townspeople are satisfied with the status quo.
   “That’s a sign to me that the residents of
Berlin are not ready to take that step,” he said.
   Selectman Pete Kelley said he had concerns about a proposed alliance that would pair
Berlin and Barre Town with two full-service cities.
   “I’d be a bit hesitant to throw
Berlin into the pot with Montpelier and Barre,” he said.
   Kelley rejected the contention that
Berlin is struggling to cover the nearly $1 million a year it currently spends on emergency services.
   “I am not so sure that bolting ourselves to these … bigger … towns (is) in
Berlin’s best interest,” he said.
   Selectman Jeremy Hansen said he was troubled by the committee’s suggestion that operational questions with financial implications should be deferred until after the proposed charter is approved.
   “I’m not completely convinced by the … ‘ready, fire, aim’ approach that we have here,” he said, expressing reservations about a plan to leave the specifics to a yet-to-be-appointed board.
   “That’s a big bite of sandwich to take at once,” he said.
   George Malek, who has helped facilitate the committee’s work in his capacity as a leader of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, disagreed.
   According to Malek, the committee has answered a threshold question involving the viability of the proposed public safety authority but has steered clear of decisions about how to integrate the mix of full-time, part-time and all-volunteer emergency service departments that exist in the four towns.
   “What you’re asking us to do needs to be done, but it needs to be done by the people who are empowered to actually put it in place,” Malek said. “That’s the next step.”
   david.delcore @timesargus.com 

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FROM BERLIN FRONT PORCH FORUM

Below are several recent postings... there have been many more about a variety of topics, looking for services, garage sales, meeting announcement, events, etc.

Membership is free - to join go to visit http://frontporchforum.com

PETROLEUM AND BERLIN POND

(Front Porch Forum - posted 10/25/13)

Jeremy Hansen • Selectboard Member, Berlin
As you may or may not know, there is a petition to the State to restrict petroleum products and ice shanties on Berlin Pond. There is a public meeting scheduled for November 7th at
6PM at the Elementary School.

We will be discussing this issue at the next Selectboard meeting. One of my colleagues at Norwich University is environmental engineer Tara Kulkarni, who is a water contamination expert. While Tara can't make it to the meeting, she has agreed to answer questions that folks have and provide me with a statement to read on her behalf at the meeting.

If you have any questions that you'd like Tara to answer, please send them to me at hansen.selectboard@gmail.com and I will pass them along to her.

Thanks!
Jeremy

 

 

News to Know October 11th


BERLIN NEWS TO KNOW October 11, 2013
*
This communication is put together and distributed on a volunteer basis by resident Corinne Stridsberg simply in an effort to share information and build community, it is not from the town of Berlin.

Please share this with you Berlin friends and neighbors.  If you're not already receiving this news by email, send an email to request this to corinnestridsberg@gmail.com
*
Check out the Berlin, Vermont Community News page on facebook to find bits of current news:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berlin-Vermont/205922199452224

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Included below please find:

ELLIE'S FARM MARKET - NO PUMPKIN SHOW
PHIL SCOTT'S 9TH ANNUAL WHEELS FOR WARMTH TIRE SALE
BERLIN MALL TAX BREAK DEBATED BUT OK'D
KELLY SERVICES HAS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
FROM BERLIN FRONT PORCH FORUM

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ELLIE'S FARM MARKET - NO PUMPKIN SHOW

From Ellie's Farm Market:

A decision has been reached...
We will not be doing the "Great Green Mountain Pumpkin Show"
We hope you will re-post to your friends so the word will get out faster.
Thank YOU for all the memories!

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Ellie's Farm Market & Gift Shop & Cider Mill continues to be a great place to stop to get vegetables, pumpkins, a variety of apples, plants, flowers, cider, seeds, gifts, etc.  If you're on facebook be sure to "like" them  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ellies-Farm-Market-Gift-Shop-Cider-Mill/134592046591819

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PHIL SCOTT'S 9TH ANNUAL WHEELS FOR WARMTH TIRE SALE

Help your neighbors - you tires are needed!  Snow tires from a previous vehicle or old tires taking up space in your garage.  Tire drop off and inspection at DuBois Construction, 46 Three Mile Bridge Road, Montpelier on Thursday, Oct. 24th and Friday, Oct. 25th, 3pm to 7pm.  See this link for additional locations: http://www.wheelsforwarmth.com  Tires will also be accepted Sat, Oct 26th 7am - 1pm at DuBois Construction only.  Car/truck tires (only) will be accepted at no charge for resale, if they meet inspection criteria (see website)  All tires are accepted for recycling at a charge of $4/tire.

TIRE SALE - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26TH 7am - 1pm at DuBois Construction on Three Mile Bridge Road in Montpelier.

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BERLIN MALL TAX BREAK DEBATED BUT OK'D

Pub. 10/9/13 Times Argus by David Delcore

   BERLIN — Owners of the Berlin Mall will receive a significant property tax break associated with the planned expansion of the mall to accommodate a bigger Wal-Mart.
   This week the Select Board approved a five-year tax stabilization agreement with the limited liability corporation that acquired the mall in 2010 and has been pursuing expansion of its largest anchor store for nearly two years.
   According to Town Administrator Jeff Schulz, Berlin Mall LLC had hoped to start work on the yearlong project late last month but held off in hopes of gaining the tax break. The town’s stabilization policy, which voters approved in 2011, forbids awarding agreements after construction is underway.
   Representatives of the mall formally applied for a five-year stabilization agreement Sept. 24. Even though some of the required material — most notably a written estimate of construction costs — hasn’t been submitted, the board approved the request Monday night.
   Board member Roberta Haskin, who was sitting in for absent Chairman Brad Towne, had to cast the decisive vote when the dissent of Jeremy Hansen left the board one vote shy of the three required to pass a measure. The final tally was 3-1.
   Hansen questioned the wisdom of asking taxpayers to subsidize private development in cases where it appears clear the development would occur anyway.
   “Incentivizing something that’s already in the pipeline seems a bit odd,” Hansen said.
   Hansen expressed concerns about a plan to add the value of the improvements to the mall’s $13.7 million assessment in annual 20 percent increments over the life of the five-year agreement.
   “The rest of the taxpayers of the town are picking up the tab for this graduated introduction of this value to the grand list,” he said.
   Yes, and no, according to Schulz, who said that while taxpayers wouldn’t reap the full benefit of an anticipated increase in the mall’s taxable value immediately, the proposed agreement wouldn’t “cost” them any more.
   The mall’s lawyer, Charles Storrow, said the two men were essentially saying the same thing in different ways.
   “With the tax stabilization agreement the other taxpayers in the town won’t benefit as much as they otherwise would, but they’re not going to pay more taxes as a result,” Storrow said.
   For Hansen the issue was less about the value of tax stabilization as an economic development tool and more about using it in circumstances where luring a project to town did not depend on it.
   According to Schulz, that issue was debated at the 2011 town meeting during which voters agreed to let the Select Board grant private developers tax breaks in hopes of encouraging investment and luring jobs to town.
   “The idea was there may be situations where tax stabilization may be enough of an incentive … to get someone to do a project where they might not have,” Schulz said.
   Hansen didn’t dispute the point but said: “I’m skeptical that this is one of those situations.”
   Given the heavy investment in permits and design, Schulz said Hansen was probably right.
   “I think these folks clearly would have done this project if the (stabilization) program did not exist,” he said.
   Selectman Ture Nelson said he didn’t believe what the mall’s owners would or wouldn’t do without stabilization should be a consideration.
   “That does not negate the fact that this (stabilization) program does exist and they meet all the requirements,” he said.
   Resident Bob Wernecke, who serves as chairman of the town’s Development Review Board, said the Select Board’s decision could influence other potential investors.
   “Once you pass a law and you start basically denying everybody, it’s a nonexistent law,” he said, noting voters did approve of tax stabilization when asked.
   Hansen countered: “Voters voted to have the mechanism in place, not to say: ‘Approve everything that comes across your desk.” He emphasized that he did not dispute the value of tax stabilization but said he believed it should be used strategically.
   So far it has been used sparingly, and the committee that suggested it and is supposed to have a role in reviewing applications is now defunct, according to Schulz. The town has received only one application that was in hand before the policy was adopted. That application by Vermont Mutual Insurance Co. was approved.
   Several large projects, including Panera Bread and CVS Pharmacy, haven’t sought stabilization before starting construction, though both projects arguably would have met the criteria in the policy.
   Storrow said he was confident a project that Wal-Mart officials have estimated will cost $8.8 million — excluding plans for repaving, refining and re-landscaping the parking lot — met the qualifications. Though Wal-Mart has indicated it expects the expanded store that will include a supermarket will create up to 80 jobs, Storrow told board members they could count on the conservative estimate of 50 new jobs that was used during the Act 250 land-use review process. Either way, he said,
Berlin would benefit.
   “The project will be beneficial to the town and will create enhanced economic vitality,” he predicted.
   Select Board member Pete Kelly said he was comfortable with incrementally increasing the mall’s assessment until it is finally taxed at full value after the improvements.
   “Ten, 20, 40, 60 percent a year is better than nothing,” he said.
   Though Hansen assumed an $8.8 million investment would translate into an $8.8 million increase in the grand list, Schulz said Wednesday that based on his conversations with the town’s assessor, the addition might reasonably add about $1.9 million to the mall’s assessed value.
   Assuming that number is in the ballpark, the mall’s assessment under the stabilization agreement would increase by about $380,000 a year over five years.
   The proposed 18,700-square-foot addition, coupled with plans to expand the Wal-Mart store into 7,500 square feet of existing retail space, would increase the size of the store from just over 67,000 square feet to more than 93,500 square feet.
   Construction is expected to start almost immediately, and the added area should be open next fall.
   david.delcore @timesargus.com

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KELLY SERVICES HAS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Good Afternoon, 

Your receiving this email because you have reached out to Kelly Services in the past for employment opportunities.  I don’t know if you are available and are looking for work at this time or know someone who is but we need your help to spread the word that we have many open positions with our customers in Vermont

Perhaps one of the below listed opportunities is just what you have been looking for or you know someone who needs employment that should reach out to us, please feel free to pass along this message.

Most of our positions that we have right now are full time long term, some are temporary to hire opportunities and some are part-time opportunities both long and short term. 

The below open positions are located in the following areas; Montpelier, Rutland, Barre, Burlington, Morrisville, White River Junction, Middlebury, Williamstown and Waterbury.

* Administrative Assistant positions; attention to detail, experience in Microsoft Word and Excel
* Call Center/Customer service representatives; outbound and or inbound
* Payroll Clerks; Microsoft proficient and ADP experience would be helpful
* Human Resource Specialists; payroll and office management
* Assembly, production workers and machine operators
*  Shipping and Receiving; fork lift experience a plus
*  Electronic Assemblers

To learn more about these employment opportunities send me an email of intent along with your resume to marie.young@kellyservices.com and remember to pass along these opportunities to your family friends!

I look forward to hearing from you.

Be well,

Marie Young - Staffing Supervisor


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FROM BERLIN FRONT PORCH FORUM

Below are several recent postings... there have been many more about a variety of topics, looking for services, garage sales, meeting announcement, events, etc.

Membership is free - to join go to visit http://frontporchforum.com

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Berlin Elementary Sports Programs Discussion Oct. 14 (FPF #216 10/9/13)
Chris Dodge – Berlin Elementary School Principal, Berlin
Event starts October 14 at 6:15 PM

With the upcoming end of the soccer season, Berlin Elementary School Athletic Director Travis Paquet will step down from his position. At their meeting on Monday, October 14th, beginning at 6:15 p.m., in the school's library, the Berlin School Board encourages public comment about the future structure of sports at the school. Should the school continue with the current structure? Should more community-based options be considered? The Board welcomes and encourages your input at this meeting.

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Website: Energy Options Explained  (FPF #215 10/8/13)
Andrea Chandler • Crosstown Road
Posted to: Berlin

I want to pass along a website that I, as Berlin's Energy Coordinator, was made aware of and have found personally helpful. It's a reference source for the general public which helps a home-owner make informed decisions regarding anything to do with energy. It's authored by Vermont energy auditors and is called Energy Options Explained and can be found at http://energyoptionsexplained.com.

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Vendor/Craft Fair Oct. 12 (FPF #214 10/6/13)
Sherry Anthony • Us Rte 302
Posted to: Berlin
Categories: Events
Event: Oct 12, 2013, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Please join us on October 12th at the Berlin Elementary School for a Vendor/Craft Fair. Will be held in the gym, 9 to 2. There will be a raffle being held..so do not forget to get your ticket there. Uncle Mike's Deli will be there to provide food, local crafters and vendor will there. Bring your family and come.

Any questions please call 622-0328

 

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

 

News to Know October 9, 2013


BERLIN NEWS TO KNOW October 9, 2013
*
This communication is put together and distributed on a volunteer basis by resident Corinne Stridsberg simply in an effort to share information and build community, it is not from the town of Berlin.

Please share this with you Berlin friends and neighbors.  If you're not already receiving this news by email, send an email to request this to corinnestridsberg@gmail.com
*
Check out the Berlin, Vermont Community News page on facebook to find bits of current news:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berlin-Vermont/205922199452224

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Included below please find:

KID/FAMILY  ACTIVITIES
BERLIN BOARD TAPS MORETOWN MAN AS AIDE TO ADMINISTRATOR
U-32 PARENT GROUP MEETING
PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER DOCUMENTS AND DIGITAL PHOTOS
NORTHFIELD SAVINGS BANK PLANS MOVE TO BERLIN

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KID/FAMILY  ACTIVITIES
Don't forget there are two great resources for finding activities for kids / families:
http://www.kidsvt.com
http://www.findandgoseek.net

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BERLIN BOARD TAPS MORETOWN MAN AS AIDE TO ADMINISTRATOR
pub. 9/25/13 Times Argus by David Delcore
   BERLIN — The Select Board filled another vacancy at the municipal office building this week when they agreed to hire a Moretown man to serve as the part-time assistant to Town Administrator Jeff Schulz.
   Following a brief executive session late Monday afternoon, board members agreed to offer the job to Tom Badowski.
   Badowski has worked in the solid waste field, including serving as general manager of the Moretown Landfill.
   Badowski’s hiring comes on the heels of the board’s recent decision to appoint
Berlin resident Diane Isabelle to fill the vacant town treasurer’s position.
   Schulz has been working without an assistant for several months and the treasurer’s position had been vacant since July.


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U-32 PARENT GROUP MEETING
Parents and guardians of both middle school and high school students are invited to the first Parent Group meeting of this school year. Please join us for an informal meeting from 6:30—7:30 p.m. on October 10 in the U-32 library reference room to meet and chat with Principal, Keith Gerritt, and Assistant Principals, Kevin Downey and Jody
Emerson.   Great opportunity to meet Kevin who joined the U-32 Community last year and Jody who just joined this year along with parents from the other towns.

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PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER DOCUMENTS AND DIGITAL PHOTOS
To protect your computer files, documents, digital photos, music, etc. consider backing them up to "the cloud".  One company that offers this service is "Carbonite" (http://www.carbonite.com).  For $59.99 per year you can get their basic service for one computer which after an initial back-up, continues to back-up your system on a daily basis.  Note that for a business it costs at least $229.99 but does include unlimited computers.  I'm told that "Mozy" is a popular company that offers this same service and there are other good ones such as "SOS Online" and I-Drive".  I believe they all cost about the same amount.

We've been using this service through "Carbonite" for the last few years and feel a bit better that if anything happened to the computer (whether stolen,  damaged/destroyed by flood, fire, leaking pipes or whatever the case may be), we will be able to regain access to what we had stored on the computer.  Now we need to spend more time scanning the photos that aren't digital and other documents to have them on "the cloud" also.  We all know how important insurance is and I consider this insurance for some of those non-replaceable items.
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NORTHFIELD SAVINGS BANK PLANS MOVE TO BERLIN
Pub. 10/7/13 Times Argus by David Delcore
   BERLIN — Northfield Savings Bank has claimed credit for plans to construct a 20,000-square-foot office building across Stewart Road from the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce.
   According to bank officials, the proposed two-story facility, which was recently discussed by sewer commissioners in
Berlin, would house the bank’s administrative and support personnel — a headquarters that, for the first time since the bank was founded in 1867, would not be in Northfield.
   The decision to build a new operations center at the four-way intersection of Paine Turnpike North and Stewart and Fisher roads in Berlin capped an “extensive study” that bank officials said evaluated the potential for an extensive renovation of the buildings that have housed its Northfield headquarters since 1883.
   Based on the results of a needs assessment and an engineering and architectural analysis of the
Northfield facility, officials concluded that the cost of major renovations would exceed that of new construction. They also said that even an upgraded building could not accommodate potential future expansion.
   Unable to find a cost-effective location for a new operations center in
Northfield, bank officials settled on the Berlin site after a search that evaluated property as far away as Waterbury.
   The
Berlin site’s proximity to Interstate 89 as well as the main bank in Northfield and branches in Barre and Montpelier, factored into the decision. Currently, the bank’s information technology operations are divided between Northfield and Barre and would be united under one roof when the operations center is built.
   According to bank officials, 55 to 60 employees will be relocated from
Northfield to Berlin once the project is complete, though they said construction of the center will not result in any personnel changes. The bank also plans to “maintain a significant banking presence in downtown Northfield,” they said.
  
Berlin’s Development Review Board will soon be asked to consider NSB’s permit request. Barring any unanticipated problems, construction of the building and 85-space parking area will begin next spring.
   The building, which will require the demolition of an existing structure, extensive site work and a sewer upgrade, should be ready for occupancy in early 2015.
   Banking services at the proposed operations center would be limited to a drive-up automatic teller machine. The facility would house administrative staff and support personnel for the locally owned bank that got its start — not to mention its name — in
Northfield nearly 150 years ago and now has 13 branches statewide.
   According to officials, targeted improvements — most aimed at enhancing customer access and service — to the main bank in
Northfield will begin in mid-2015 after the move to the operations center is complete. The interior and mechanical systems of the bank in Northfield will be renovated and modernized, the parking area will be improved, and new landscaping is planned.
david.delcore @timesargus.com


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