Tuesday, January 06, 2015

 

News to Know December 3, 2014

BERLIN NEWS TO KNOW  December 3, 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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NOTES: 

MEETINGS TONIGHT & NEXT WEEK REGARDING BUDGETS - SEE BELOW

One last reminder about the River of Light Lantern Parade in Waterbury on Saturday, December 6th at 5pm sharp.  Details and photos here: https://ariveroflightinwaterbury.wordpress.com/

You don't have to have a facebook account to access the Berlin, Vermont facebook page, it's a great resource and not all the information makes it to the News to Know:   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berlin-Vermont/205922199452224

Below you will find:
GOOD NEWS
BERLIN CONSERVATION MEETING
WCSU BUDGET TO BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION 12/3/14
U-32 PUBLIC BUDGET FORUM WED.  12/3/14 
BERLIN MONTESSORI SCHOOL SERVING UP STONE SOUP
BERLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUDGET DRAFT 2 - LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INPUT
BERLIN BUSINESS / PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG US ROUTE 302:
U-32 COMMUNITY SUBSTANCE AWARENESS TRAINING
VT-ALERT - FREE SIGN-UP FOR WARNINGS AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION
LOCAL EMERGENCY SITUATION NOTIFICATIONS
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GOOD NEWS
Looking for some good news? There are places that focus on just that!! http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
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BERLIN CONSERVATION MEETING
Berlin Conservation Commission Meeting, Wednesday Dec. 3, 5:30 PM, Berlin Town Office.  Agenda: Crosstown Road culvert beaver deterrent and CV Memorial Civic Center funding request
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WCSU BUDGET TO BE PRESENTED FOR ADOPTION 12/3/14
Washington Central Supervisory Union: Budget Draft #2 - The Executive Committee has determined that this budget will be presented to the Full Board for adoption on the December 3.http://wcsuonline.org/images/stories/WCSU%20budget%20draft%202.pdf
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U-32 PUBLIC BUDGET FORUM WED.  12/3/14 
Greetings from your U-32 School Board of Directors. In November we mourned the tragic loss of a student, senior Joey Laquerre of
East Montpelier. Our sympathies and best wishes go out to Joey’s loved ones.
The Board has revised the school’s weapons policies so that no knives are allowed in our school; there is no longer an exception for knives with smaller blades. This should provide needed clarity and help our school be safe for everyone.
Also, this month we held our first forum to discuss the 2015-16 school budget. About a dozen attendees heard about our first draft budget which limits expenses to approximately 2% increase over the current year. Unfortunately we are facing a reduction of an estimated 19 tuition-paying students (coming from beyond our five towns) and associated revenue, forcing us to have to consider additional cost reductions. Drafts of all school budgets are posted at www.wcsuonline.org.
We know that property tax rates are a major concern and we want to hear from you about priorities as we shape our school budget. The next budget forum will be
7:00pm December 3rd at U-32. You are welcome to join us at 6:00 that night for a Supervisory Union full board meeting where there will be consideration of the SU budget and early results from an efficiency audit being conducted to identify opportunities to save money across our six schools.
Happy Thanksgiving from the U-32 Board!
Adrienne Magida vtmagida@aol.com
U-32 School Board Chair
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U-32 Budget Draft 1:  http://wcsuonline.org/images/stories/u32%20draft%201.pdf
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BERLIN MONTESSORI SCHOOL SERVING UP STONE SOUP
   The Montessori School of Central Vermont observed what’s become a Thanksgiving tradition of serving “stone soup.”
   The folk story of stone soup tells of hungry travelers who come to a village. No one in the village is willing to share food with the strangers. The travelers respond by telling the villagers they will teach them how to make soup out of stones. One by one, villagers make an offering to the soup of various ingredients until a feast is born.
   At the Montessori school in
Berlin, the kids acted out the story, each bringing in an ingredient and making their own soup, biscuits and flower arrangements.
School Administrator Lana Bodach-Turner said the lesson is that when everyone contributes even just a little, something bigger can be created.
   http://www.mscvt.org/
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BERLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUDGET DRAFT 2 - LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY INPUT
It's a busy time of year.  The second draft of the school budget which will be voted on at Town Meeting will be reviewed at the School Board Meeting at Berlin Elementary School on Monday, December 8th at 6:15pm.  This meeting will be a community budget forum with hopes that folks will turn out to hear this second draft of the budget be presented and then offer input.  Please take time from your busy schedule to attend. 
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BES Budget Draft 1: http://wcsuonline.org/images/stories/Berlin%20draft%201.pdf
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Of note, the next time the Berlin Elementary School Board meets is on Wednesday, December 3rd as part of the Full Board Meeting at U-32 and following that the Berlin Board will meet regarding their Work Plan.
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Draft minutes from November:
http://berlinschool.org/images/SB%20Draft%20Minutes%2011-10-14.pdf
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School Board Member Contact information:
http://berlinschool.org/index.php?option=com_contact&view=category&catid=40&Itemid=81
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BERLIN BUSINESS / PROPERTY OWNERS ALONG US ROUTE 302:
Berlin business/property owners along Rte 302 are invited to attend a meeting with the Berlin Economic Development Committee (BEDC) on Wednesday, December 10th from 8:00AM to 10:00 AM at the CV Chamber of Commerce. Invitations are going out Thursday, December 4th to these business/property owners, but the meeting is open to all business/property owners in Town.  The purpose of the meeting is three-fold: To present the current status of the proposed bike path along US Route 302 with presentations from Jon Kaplan, VTrans, and Bob Wernecke, Berlin.  Steve Gladczuk from Central VT Regional Planning will also be on hand to talk about the Central VT Bike Path.  Second, the BEDC will update property/business owners on what is going on in Town from an economic development standpoint, and third, the BEDC would like to hear from attendees what their issues and concerns are and how the Town might be able to make things easier for them to succeed and potentially grow.  Reservations strongly encouraged by calling Pat McDonald, Chair of the BEDC at 802-371-7080 and Dana Hadley, Town Administrator at 802-552-8801.  Coffee and Danish will be served.
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U-32 COMMUNITY SUBSTANCE AWARENESS TRAINING
Parent Group meeting Thursday, December 11th at 6:30pm -  this month the meeting is  part of a series of sessions U-32 is holding about healthy decision-making around alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) for middle school students.  Debby Haskins will be working with groups of students during the day and then holding this evening session that parents and the public are welcome to attend.  As incentive to encourage evening attendance, a drawing will be held for attendees, with a $25 gas card being offered by Central Vermont New Directions Coalition, and a $25 gift card to Bear Pond Books proved by U-32.
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About the presenter: Debby Haskins has a Master's in Counseling and is licensed as an Alcohol & Drug Abuse Counselor with 23 years of experience.  Currently, she is the Executive Director of the Association of Student Assistance Professionals of Vermont (ASAP of Vermont) and Manages 92 school Student Assistance Programs.  She is a trainer and consultant for the Center for Health and Learning and teaches online courses at UVM and throughout Vermont in the field of Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs.  She serves on various committees at the state level and has a private practice in Central Vermont.  Her passion is working with adolescents and their families in breaking the cycle of addition.  Her years of experience as a coach, parent, and teacher guarantee an interesting, informative, lively, and experiential presentation.
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VT-ALERT - FREE SIGN-UP FOR WARNINGS AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Are you signed up for VT-Alert?  By doing so you can receive warnings and emergency information via the web, your cell phone, email and other technologies.  Signing up for VT Alert is free.  Your information is protected and never shared with any one else.  You can modify what type of information you receive or unsubscribe at any time.  It is a tool to provide you with critical information when you may need it most. If you are not able to sign up on line at vtalert.gov, you can call the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security in Waterbury.  Their number is 800-347-0488.
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LOCAL EMERGENCY SITUATION NOTIFICATIONS
The Berlin Emergency Management Team has an email group to better keep you informed on emergency situations and dangers facing the town. To join this list click on 
http://groups.google.com/group/berlin-emergency-management/and click on “Join group” blue button. 

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