Tuesday, May 27, 2014

 

News to Know May 27, 2014

BERLIN NEWS TO KNOW  May 27, 2014
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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 your Berlin friends and neighbors.  If you're not already receiving this news directly by email, send an email to request this to corinnestridsberg@gmail.com.
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Check out the Berlin, Vermont Community News page on facebook to find bits of current news, some not included here:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berlin-Vermont/205922199452224

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Below you will find:
BERLIN ELEMENTARY CONCERT MAY 29TH
THE HUNGRY HEART SHOWING JUNE 5TH
PTNA END OF YEAR PICNIC AT BERLIN ELEMENTARY
6TH GRADE GRADUATION
PWNIE EXPRESS
A NEW GLEANING INITIATIVE TO BRING MORE LOCAL PRODUCE TO THOSE IN NEED
COMMENTS FROM NEW SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR
SELLERS NEEDED FOR TAILGATE STYLE COMMUNITY YARDSALE
LAWMAKERS QUESTION NEW HOSPITAL'S COST
BERLIN POND - SEVERAL ITEMS INCLUDING HEARING TONIGHT
BERLIN TAX BILLING TIMELINE HITS SNAG
FREE PRET ADOPTIONS - TWO DAYS ONLY
FROM BERLIN FRONT PORCH FORUM
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BERLIN ELEMENTARY CONCERT MAY 29TH
Thursday, May 29th is the final Berlin Elementary School Concert of the year at 6:30pm.
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THE HUNGRY HEART SHOWING JUNE 5TH
Thursday, June 5th the film, The Hungry Heart will be at Berlin Elementary School beginning at 6:30pm.  This event is free and open to the public.  This film takes a look at the hidden world of prescription drug addiction in Vermont.
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PTNA END OF YEAR PICNIC AT BERLIN ELEMENTARY
Wednesday, June 11th is the PTNA End of Year Picnic
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6TH GRADE GRADUATION
Wednesday, June 18th 6th graders will graduate at 6pm at the Berlin Elementary School
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PWNIE EXPRESS
Check out the story on Pwnie Express, a Berlin company that started three years ago. They have a devise used to find security breaches for businesses.  They employ nine people, have 1,500 customers, and are projected to do $2 million in business this year. 
http://www.wcax.com/story/22109372/mivt-high-tech-startup-finds-home-in-central-vt
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A NEW GLEANING INITIATIVE TO BRING MORE LOCAL PRODUCE TO THOSE IN NEED
The Bridge 5/15/14  Berlin resident Allison Levin talks about gleaning.
http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2014/05/a-new-gleaning-initiative-to-bring-more-local-produce-to-those-in-need/
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COMMENTS FROM NEW SCHOOL BOARD DIRECTOR
   First of all, I want to say thank you to the Berlin voters who elected me to the school board. It is an honor to serve and I take this responsibility very seriously. It has been a steep learning curve and a very busy first few months on the board. We have hired a new principal, met with most of the BES staff, and attended to various personnel, facility, budget and policy issues for the school. With 4 out of 5 members being new to the board, we are still learning a lot about each other and the vision each of us has for the future of our school. We all definitely have one thing in common—to ensure that every Berlin child has access to a high quality education and is given a strong foundation upon which he or she can build a successful and fulfilled life.
   The Board is continuously discussing its core values and vision for the school. The board will be asking for your attendance at upcoming meetings seeking your input about the future of the school. We want to know what you believe is most important for our children to learn. Please consider attending one of our regularly scheduled meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6:15 at the school. You can also see what the board has been up to by viewing agendas and minutes on the school web page here under the “About” tab:  http://www.berlinschool.org/
   I will be posting more frequently to help keep our community more informed about our school. Please note that these views are my own and that I am not authorized to speak for the entire board.
   Berlin has a great school and many highly dedicated and talented educators doing wonderful things for our children every day. We want to build on those successes by encouraging more involvement in the school by our Berlin parents and neighbors, making BES an even more special place for our children to learn. I look forward to hearing from you or seeing you at a future meeting.
Chris Winters, Berlin School Board Member 
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SELLERS NEEDED FOR TAILGATE STYLE COMMUNITY YARDSALE
This will take place in the VSECU parking lot on Rt 302 in Berlin onSaturday, June 7th. It's $15 a car to reserve a two-spot space. Space is limited so please reserve early. There will also be a bake sale, ice cream and cotton candy for sale, and a gift basket raffle that day. To reserve a spot please call 552-0613 or email us at FriendsofVermontDogs@gmail.com. This is a fund raising event for an all-volunteer non-profit dedicated to providing fences and dog houses for dogs who are chained outside 24/7.

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LAWMAKERS QUESTION NEW HOSPITAL'S COST
Pub. 5/26/14 by Dave Gram  Associated Press
   BERLIN, Vt. — Some lawmakers have been questioning the costs of Vermont’s new state psychiatric hospital.
   The direct-care, staff-to-patient ratio at the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin will be nearly twice that of the now-closed Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury, said Representative Anne Donahue.
   The old hospital lost its federal certification and funding about eight years before flooding from Tropical Storm Irene forced it to close in 2011.
   The new facility’s first-year operating budget is about $19 million. That’s less than the $22 million spent at the Waterbury hospital the year before it closed, but that facility was more than double the size.
   Jeff Rothenberg, the hospital’s chief executive, said the staffing levels are needed to provide top-notch psychiatric care. It is set to open in July.
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BERLIN POND - SEVERAL ITEMS
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BERLIN POND PUBLIC HEARING
A public hearing on the petition to ban all recreation on Berlin Pond will be held May 27th at the Berlin Elementary school from 6-8pm
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EDITORIAL: Open Letter from Rep. Warren Kitzmiller to Friends and Constituents
http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2014/05/editorial-open-letter-from-rep-warren-kitzmiller-to-friends-and-constituents/
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Berlin Officials Oppose Banning Recreation from Berlin Pond; Seek to Reclaim Land Rights
http://www.montpelierbridge.com/2014/05/berlin-officials-oppose-banning-recreation-from-berlin-pond-seek-to-reclaim-land-rights/
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Letter to Editor 5/22/14

Risking Berlin Pond
   It’s appalling that in the 21st century we still have to struggle to protect our water quality, but that is happening right now, right here. Two years ago, a court case opened Berlin Pond, Montpelier’s only water supply source, to human recreation, ending 100 years of protection. The governor and the secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources want to keep it open, bowing to the demands for access by boaters and fishermen.
   This raises huge questions: What research has ANR done to establish that human recreation will not impact the quality of Montpelier’s drinking water? What resources will it provide for such research? What is its plan for follow-up monitoring of the water quality? Will ANR provide funding for the costly upgrades of our water treatment plant that will be required if our water supply is contaminated by petrochemicals, human pathogens or excessive turbidity? These questions must be answered, and research from other water districts that have prohibited all recreation on their water sources must be addressed, before human recreation on Berlin Pond can continue. That’s the only responsible path ANR can take.
   Clean water is the most critical requirement for life. Recreation is allowed on many other water bodies besides Berlin Pond. The human requirement for clean water trumps the right of people for recreation in that one specific place.
   The group Citizens to Protect Berlin Pond has petitioned ANR to prohibit human use on the pond again. ANR is holding a public hearing on this petition May 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Berlin Elementary School. Please attend the hearing and lend your voice to those who are advocating for keeping Montpelier’s water free from human pollution. Write/call ANR and insist that it keep Montpelier’s water source clean. Public comment will be accepted until June 3.
   Page Guertin, Montpelier
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BERLIN TAX BILLING TIMELINE HITS SNAG
Pub. 5/23/14 Times Argus by David Delcore 
   BERLIN — The company hired in February to handle assessing duties for the town will miss a key deadline that could cause a domino effect with this year’s tax bills.
   Town Administrator Jeff Schulz told the Select Board this week that representatives of Vermont Appraisal Company have been working diligently, but won’t wrap up work on this year’s grand list by June 4 as required by state law.
   The company, Schulz said, is asking the town to request a 60-day extension from the state, while hoping the work will be completed in an extra 30 days.
   It better be.
   Acting on Schulz’s recommendation, the board agreed to ask for a 30-day extension instead.
   “Folks are going to have to step it up,” Schulz said, suggesting a 30-day delay, while inconvenient, was not unprecedented. Extending the deadline by 60 days could create cash-flow problems for the town, which can’t set the tax rate or print and mail bills until after the grand list is lodged.
   Typically, the board sets the tax rate in early July after the grand list is lodged in June and a 14-day grievance period is completed. The grand list is the assessed value of all taxable property in town.
   This year — as has occasionally happened in the past — the process will likely be delayed by up to 30 days.
   If all goes well, Schulz said, the grand list will be lodged in early July and, once grievances are heard the board, they could be in a position to set the tax rate in the third week of July. Bills would then be printed and mailed — forcing an adjustment to the first of four voter-approved tax installments.
   The first quarterly installment is due on Aug. 15, though property owners will have 30 days from the date the bills are mailed to make their first payment.
   Based on the time-frame currently being contemplated, Schulz said the first installment would likely be due some time near the end of August, if not in early September. The delay would have no effect on the three remaining tax due dates — Nov. 15 this year, and Feb. 15 and May 15 in 2015.
   In other business this week, the board opened, but did not act on, bids for a new dump truck, dump body and plow, and received a brief update on an ongoing attempt to recruit users for a municipal water system.
   The board went into executive session to discuss a number of zoning violations — most involving junk yards — where the town either has or will take legal action, according to Schulz. Also discussed during the closed door meeting was an easement for the sewer force main on Fisher Road that will serve the office building Northfield Savings Bank plans to build on nearby Paine Turnpike. Schulz said resolving an issue with the easement would likely require some negotiation.
david.delcore@timesargus.com
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 FREE PET ADOPTIONS - TWO DAYS ONLY
Free Pet Adoptions May 31 & June 1st at many locations in Vermont including the Central Vermont Humane Society from 10am - 5pm, check out the details here:http://cvhumane.com/news/maddies-fund-free-pet-adoption-days/
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FROM BERLIN FRONT PORCH FORUM
Below are some recent posts .... there have been many more about a variety of topics, looking for services, garage sales, meeting announcements, events, etc.  Membership is free - to join go to: http://frontporchforum.com
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CMVC Express Care is Now Open - FPF #353 5/22/14

Hionis Hanson, Central Vermont Medical Center • Fisher Rd 
Posted to: Berlin, Middlesex
Here are some facts about CVMC's Express Care Clinic:
CVMC Express Care 
1311 Barre-Montpelier Road (next to Burger King) 
Berlin, VT 
802-371-4239 

Open every day and every night 365 days a year 
Hours are 12 noon to 8:00 p.m. 
No appointment is needed 
All insurances will be accepted all Vermonters will be welcome 
Lower cost than an ED visit 
On-site Lab and Xray available. 
For adults and children with minor illnesses or injuries 
Flu Fever NauseaSore Throats CoughsColds--- Infections Earaches Broken Bones Bites Cuts Burns Rashes Sprains Most Non Life-Threatening Conditions
CVMC will staff our clinic with many of the same providers our community currently knows and respects
The CVMC Emergency Department at the Hospital remains open 24/7 every day of the year and remains the place to go for life-threatening conditions
If you have a primary care provider and it's during their regular business hours, we would still ask that you contact them first before going to the Express Care Clinic. They may have an opening for you that same day.
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Seeking Teen for Lawn Mowing & Weedwhacking - FPF #352 5/21/14

Annika Green • Rowell Hill Road 
Posted to: Berlin
Berlin Teens - Looking for Extra Money This Summer?... I would love to find a responsible young adult to mow my lawn once a week and do some weedwhacking this summer. If you are interested, please call 249-5606.
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Childcare Available - FPF #352 5/21/14

Kimberly Boyd• Jones Brook Rd 
Posted to: Berlin
I have been providing childcare for young children for the past 16+ years and I am looking to provide care for a few school aged children this summer. I have a 12 year old daughter, 9 year old son and 7 year old son all of whom love to entertain younger children. I provide many fun and structured activities and even provide the occasional field trip from time to time. If you are looking for care for your school aged child (3+) this summer, please feel free to give me a call at 229-9517 or reply to this post.. I'd love to talk to you about the quality of care I can provide you and your child.
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Selecting & Planting a Tree w/ Dave Wilcox - FPF #351 5/20/14

Michelle Champoux • Crosstown Road 
Posted to: Berlin
Event: May 27, 2014, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Tuesday, May 27 6:00-7:30 pm 
Kellogg Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier 
Selecting & Planting a Tree w/ Dave Wilcox, State Lands Forester
A well-selected and well-planted tree is an investment that provides years of enjoyment. Whether you are seeking a tree for shade, privacy, beauty, or all of the above, Dave Wilcox will describe the method for selecting the right tree for the right place. He will then guide us through the steps for planting a tree to ensure a long, healthy life.
This program is sponsored by the Central Vermont Extension Master Gardeners, the Montpelier Tree Board and the Kellogg Hubbard Library. It is free and open to the public and eligible for EMG education hours.No registration required.
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Birdfest at North Branch Nature Center - Middlesex FPF 5/26/14

CHIP DARMSTADT – MCCULLOUGH HILL RD
The fields and riverside of the North Branch Nature Center are alive with American Redstarts, Yellow Warblers and Indigo Buntings, all tuning up their singing voices to greet visitors for BirdFest this Saturday, May 31st!
BirdFest features a fun-filled line up of walks, talks, workshops, and activities for the whole family. The fun starts at 7am with an early morning bird walk and a bird banding demonstration at 8am. By 9am, the festivities will be fully underway with live hawks and owls, bird carving demos, and a talk by biologist John Buck on the recovery of Bald Eagles in Vermont. There’s plenty to do for the kids including games, arts & crafts, storytelling, and a giant bald eagle nest that they can help build.

BirdFest will run from 7am to 1:30pm and is free for children and $10 for adults. For more info contact the Nature Center at 229-6206 or visit www.NorthBranchNatureCenter.org/birdfest.html for a complete schedule. The North Branch Nature Center is located at 713 Elm Street (route 12) two miles north of downtown Montpelier.

# posted by Corinne's blog of Berlin and area happenings @ 4:23 AM
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