The Maple Corner Net Newsletter is
now being published 2 times a month, usually on the 2nd and 16th, depending
on how much info I get, and how busy I am. You can easily contact me with news,
comments, criticism, or compliments, by just replying to this email. This Newsletter
now has 435 subcribers.
Please Note: If you change your email adress, you will need to re-subscribe.
You can do this directly at www.maplecorner.net.
I erase all undeliverable addresses after each issue. To help prevent spam filters
from blocking delivery, it is a good idea to enter my sending address in your
email whitelist, if you have such a thing.
To search & read archives of past newsletters, see:
http://www.songseek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?f=list&l=maplecor
or www.maplecorner.net
Address Change: I am eliminating some of my email addresses, including steveg@songseek.com
, which some of you may have in your address books. To find out my new email,
go to www.songseek.com and click on the
"contact me by email" link. There will be a form there which you can
use to email me. I will reply with a working email. - Steve Gallagher
Another quick note: People subscribed to this newsletter with comcast.net or
sover.net addrresses consistently have trouble receiving it. If possible, subscribe
with a different address. If you are having trouble, you can contact me for
other ideas. If you miss a newsletter, don't forget that you can read the archives
online (see link above). - Steve
Contents:
- Come to a Cinco de Mayo Party! (on the 4th of May)
- My Notes & Occasional Comments: Calais Selectboard
meeting, Monday, March 31, 08, by Peter Harvey
- Dot Naylor's Unadulterated Selectboard Meeting Notes 03/31/2008
-
Home Cooking Recipe Swap
- Adamant Co-op Meeting
- Winooski River Sojourn--June 3rd to June 8th
- electric lawn mower for sale
-
Want Beef?
- belly dance classes at the Community Center
- Photography Exhibit at Capitol Grounds, Montpelier
Reminders and Updates:
- Memorial Service for Paul Montore
- Sixth Annual Adamant Blackfly Festival Parade
- Important Calais Web Links
- Community Quote of the Week
Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2008 3:58 PM
Subject: Come to a Cinco de Mayo Party! (on the 4th of May)
Come to a Cinco de Mayo Party! (on the 4th of May):
We'll be serving HOMEMADE tamales (vegetarian option available) made by the
MCCC Program Committee. YOU bring a Mexican (or Mexican-ish) dish to share.
When: 6 p.m., Sunday, May 4. Where: Maple Corner Community Center. Questions?
Contact Marialisa at 223 -8921 or MarialisaC@gmail.com .
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 3:23 PM
Subject: My Notes & Occasional Comments: Calais
Selectboard meeting, Monday, March 31, 08, by Peter Harvey
Calais Selectboard meeting, Monday, March 31, 08, members present
(clockwise): Paul Hannan (chair), Anne Winchester, Denise Wheeler (by phone).
Cy Lamberton and John Brabant were absent. Rose Pelchuck, the Board's paid meeting
secretary, took the official minutes. There were 3 people in the audience tonight:
Ruth & Bill Porter, Dot Naylor, and myself.
MY OPENING COMMENTS: I welcome "Dot Naylor's Unadulterated Notes." With
two of us writing about each Selectboard meeting, you should gain a better understanding
of what goes on at the meetings. Almost 25 years ago I asked Noam Chomsky what
sources I could trust for worthy information? It was obviously a question that
he had been asked a lot of times. He shot back: "None! Read everything and decide
for yourself." My question was naive, full of the hope that someone else would
do the tough work for me. About that time, I was also taking a night school class
where the instructor told us that when reading an article we should know about
the author, and try to understand the slant that the article had been written
from. I am certainly not so perfect as to claim being unbiased. I try to be fair
and enlightening, but everyone is better off if you don't take my word for it
and find out for your self.
In the interest of full disclosure of the facts, I am here including the full
text of my resignation letter from the Planning Commission that I neglected to
write about in my last notes and Dot picked up on. To be clear, I have never been
a member of the Selectboard and feel my present position, of watcher and commentator,
is the best place for me to be. At the same time I want to underline that anyone
always very welcome and always listened to at any Selectboard meeting. I strongly
recommend interest and attendance. You can and do make a difference!
I thought most of us at that meeting got a good laugh out of what Paul called
my "Freudian slip." I think I have only missed two meetings in the almost five
years I have been writing "my notes." I have gotten to be a fixture at these meetings.
My letter, in full, follows.
"My term on the Calais Selectboard expires now. Although I have enjoyed this opportunity
to become more involved in the Town, I have served long enough and am looking
forward to moving on. I will not ask to be reappointed to the Calais Planning
Commission."
I resigned from the Planning Commission because I've been on it for 17 years and
want to move on. I have to say that it has been a great education in many ways,
learning how the town works, to understanding how to participate in our local
meetings. At that same meeting I told the Selectboard that I will also be resigning
from the Calais Historic Preservation Commission when we wrap up the current project,
the rewrite of the Historic District Guidelines.
Denise attended tonight's meeting by phone from home where she was laid up with
a bad back. Denise told Paul that she OKed it with the Secretary of State's Office.
Paul phoned her several times (the first time lasted almost 20 minutes) to include
her in the discussion and the votes. It was awkward, because without a speaker
phone, it mostly sidelined Anne who found "it's hard to have a meeting like this."
Juggling the phone required a sense of humor and a light agenda.
My understanding is that a board does not need a quorum to meet, but it does need
a quorum to make decisions, that is, to vote. Three members of a five member board
constitute a quorum.
MINUTES: The Board put off approving the minutes to the next meeting.
APPOINTMENTS: Over several votes, the Board filled all but two appointments tonight.
There is still one opening on the Planning Commission and one opening on the Historic
Preservation Commission.
Reappointed: Design Review Board - Ruth Porter; Alternate to the DRB - Steve Duke;
Planning Commission - Jack Russell & Rich Quelch; Conservation Commission
- Wilson Hughes; Design Advisory Board - Syver Rogstad; Historic Preservation
Commission - John McCullough & Susan Weber; Town Service Officer - Marianne
Miller; Town Health Officer - Muriel Bushway; Pound Keeper - Fred Bushway; First
Constable - Fred Bushway; Second Constable - Wilson Hughes; Inspector of Lumber
- Greg Pelchuck; Tree Warden - Peter Condaxis; Emergency Plan Coordinator - Toby
Talbot; Weigher of Coal - Mike Garand; E-911 Coordinator - John McCullough; Delegate
to Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission - Rhonda Shippee; Alternate Delegate
to Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission - Rick DeWolfe; Representative
to Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District - Bill Powell.
Newly Appointed: Planning Commission - Paul Olsen (to my term); Conservation Commission
- Peter Condaxis (to Rowan Jacobson's term).
LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWAL: The Board approved renewing the Adamant Co-op beer &
wine license, 3 to 0.
EMFD INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: Rose reported to the Board that the Fire Department
had met with Attorney Paul Guiles and the process is moving forward.
VARIOUS BRIEF UPDATES:
Tax Mapping status and commercial use: Paul reported that Eva is reviewing the
printed version of the final draft, coordinating the ID numbers. He also said
that a woman, apparently representing an out of state business, has been asking
our contractor if the work is done yet. There was a short discussion about public
information and what the Board can or can not do about requests for electronic
copies of public information. Public information has always been public, but often
not easily accessible. If it now only takes a few key strokes to collate massive
amounts of information, instead of hours or days in each town Clerk's Office;
that creates major opportunities for people to make money from that public information,
and erodes our privacy, without those companies ever having to set foot in Vermont.
Merged with information gleaned from other sources, companies can learn a lot
about individuals and sell that information or use it themselves. It is a seemingly
endlessly expanding industry. It creates another Pandora's box that the Board
is wary of, but may not be able to do much about at this time. Dot suggested that
the degree to which the Town does the work for these companies, ie. interconnecting
the data, might be a way of dealing with the problem. Paul said the discussion
will continue at the next meeting.
TOWN HALL REPAIRS - The porch roof over the lower, side door was found on the
board walk last week, blocking the doorway. Paul had Kenny Miller move it away
from the door, but Kenny said he wouldn't work on it until the roof high above
it was clear of snow. It seemed to have been knocked off by heavy snow sliding
off the metal roof above, or may have just fallen off because of "rotting wood
and short nails" or both. There was a short discussion about repairs because the
Town Hall is in the Historic District. Repairs are allowed without permit in the
Historic District, but alterations require a permit from the DRB. When asked by
Paul, Dot said she thought that posts could be added to hold up the porch roof
without going through the DRB.
SCRIBNER - CHAPIN RD. SUBDIVISION ROAD UPGRADE: The Board is trying to collect
the $3,000 for work it has already done on the road, as agreed upon by the contractor
when the major subdivision permit was granted. Paul reported that he had asked
Attorney Joe McLean to review his letter to Chad Scribner's attorney. The Board
reviewed the current draft of the letter and authorized Paul to confer with Attorney
McLean before sending it to Chad Scribner's attorney.
OTHER BUSINESS:
ADAMANT CO-OP TAX STABILZATION: The Town had voted at Town Meeting (Article 20)
to not charge the Adamant Co-op taxes for up to 10 years. Anne has prepared a
draft agreement using a similar agreement from the Town of Windsor, VT. Tonight
the Board authorized Anne to have it reviewed by an attorney.
MAX GRAY BRIDGE INSPECTION: AOT has sent the Board the results of the bridge inspection
done on Dec. 20, 07. Paul will make copies and pass it on to Don Singleton Jr.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION: The Board asked me (I am the current chair)
to query the HPC about who will stay on it after the rewrite of the guidelines
is done and what projects the HPC will take on next.
ANCIENT ROADS: Paul gave a brief status report of the next step to be done by
CART (Calais Ancient Roads Team).
McCULLOUGH GRAVEL PIT: The Board voted (3 to 0) to file to "enter an appearance"
in the Act 250 application to extend the gravel pit. Anne made the motion, seconded
by Denise. This is a procedural step that would leave the door open, if in the
future the Board wanted to participate in the hearing.
HIGHWAY PLAN: Anne volunteered to check with Road Commissioner Don Singleton about
filing the yearly Highway Plan with AOT, describing the work to be done in the
coming year. The Board had a short discussion about what they might do to make
the Max Grey Road / Rt. 14 intersection safer.
ZONING VIOLATIONS, ETC: there was no executive session this evening.
The Board adjourned at 8:34. Winter schedule: the Board will be meeting at the
Calais Elementary School for the winter. The next scheduled meeting of the Board
will be 7:00 PM, Monday, April 14, 2008. Agendas are posted at the Calais Town
Clerk's Office, the 3 stores in town, and the East Calais Post Office. Only items
posted on the agenda are voted on at any meeting. Those wishing to bring items
before the Board should contact Chairman Paul Hannan at 223-5528. Agenda items
for the next meeting need to be received by 6 PM, the Wednesday before that meeting.
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008
Subject: [Fwd: Naylor's Unadulterated Notes 03/31/2008]
Dot Naylor’s Unadulterated Notes
Calais Selectboard Action
Monday March 31, 2008
SelectBoard members present: Paul Hannan, and Anne Winchester
and Denise Wheeler by telephone.
Also attending were five members of the public, including myself.
1. Call to order – assess agenda time allotments
At some minutes after 7:00 PM Paul Hannan called the meeting to order.
2. Review and approve Selectboard minutes for 3/10/08
Due to the truncated form of the meeting the 03/10/2008 minutes were tabled
until the next meeting.
3. Review of road commissioner’s orders and approval of town invoices
Review of the orders occurs throughout the meeting and then are signed by at
least three members.
Paul and Ann will sign them tonight and then Denise will stop in at the Town
Office to sign them.
4. Appointments & Liaisons
Again, due to the truncated form of the meeting the board decided to only make
appointments to positions which were uncontested. So all openings on the various
boards and commissions and stand alone positions were re-appointed or filled
with new faces except for one opening that remains on the Planning Commission.
A motion was made by Denise (via phone) and seconded by Ann to seat the following
citizens to their corresponding positions – the motion passed 3-0.
All appointments were made as per listings in the most recent Town Report except
for the following new ones.
Paul Ohlson was appointed to the vacancy on the Planning Commission by resignation
of Peter Harvey – this appointment will run for 4 years to 2012.
There is still a vacancy on the Planning Commission due to the resignation
of Diane Konrady – this appointment would run to 2011. Comment: The PC will
be an interesting body as Calais struggles with how it wants to look in the
next 50 years. Please consider applying for this position.
Peter Condaxis was appointed to the Conservation Commission to fill the vacancy
created by the resignation of Rowan Jacobson and the appointment runs for 4
years to 2012.
Wayne Whitelock did not wish to be reappointed to the Historic Preservation
Commission leaving an unfilled vacancy there.
A general discussion as to the purpose of the Historic Preservation Commission
ensued. It apparently was formed in order to obtain a federal grant to study
our historic district. That study is complete. Besides a record of the all buildings
there-in there is also a set of guidelines. Please see an April Calais calendar
of events to know when that report will be presented at a public meeting – or
two.
5. Response to Scribner letter – draft (Paul)
Paul had redrafted a letter requesting that Silvertree LLC, owners of the property
at the end of Chapin Road that got DRB approval for a 5 lot subdivision in 2006,
pay the town the $3000 they agreed to pay for the up-grade of Chapin Road to
16’ wide. He advised that he had consulted with the town’s zoning attorney,
Joe Mclean. A motion was made and seconded to send the letter as written or
with any additions or corrections proposed by McLean. Motion passed 3-0.
6. EMFD Interlocal agreement
Rose advised that the E.M. Fire Department had consulted with their attorney,
Paul Giuliani, regarding the agreement who suggested some changes. Once ENFD
adopts the final document it will go back to Paul Guiliani, then to ENFD and
finally to both East Montpelier and Calais SelectBoards for their approval.
7. Liquor license renewal – Adamant Coop
A motion was made by Denise (via phone) and seconded by Ann to approve the
liquor license renewal for the Adamant Co-op. Motion passed 3-0.
8. Various brief updates:
- Tax Mapping status and commercial use (Paul)
Paul reported that the new parcel maps are at the town office. There are several
discrepentcies between map numbers and parcel I.D. numbers and Paul has asked
the Listers to make necessary adjustments.
Potential commercial use of the digitized map and grand list was discussed.
The new digitized map would possibly allow easy ‘mining’ of information (i.e.
acerage/owner/mailing address, etc.) on all the parcels. All this information
is presently available at the Town office, but requires considerable time and
effort to collect all the pieces of information. The SB would like to know if
the digitized edition must be public and can commercial access to it be limited.
- Town Hall repairs (Paul)
The small roof over the lower entrance to the Town Hall has fallen off. Paul
consulted with a local builder who moved it from in front of the door ans surmised
that short nails and rotten wood were the culprits. He is willing to make necessary
repairs as soon as all the snow is off the roof. The SB consulted with the Zoning
Administrator (myself) who said they would not need any permits for a straight
forward repair. A change of design – such as a change from a gable to a shed
roof – might trigger a review by the Design Advisory Board, howwver.
This discussion led to a query regarding a group led by Donna Fitch to do the
legwork necessary to raise funds via grants or whatever to repair and possibly
restore the Town Hall. Denise is the liason between that group and the SB. Perhaps
information from that group will be available at a later meeting.
9. Zoning violations, appeals, litigation, etc. if needed (likely executive
session)
There were no issues requiring executive session.
10. Other business:
a) Process for Adamant Coop’s tax stabilization (Paul/Anne)
Ann had produced a draft contract for the board to review – It was felt that
some language stating that the contract was only between the town and the co-op
and should the co-op become (via leasing or sale) a different entity the contract
would be null and void and the new leasee/owner would have to return to the
SB for a new contract. Ann will pass the proposed contract by a lawyer – perhaps
Gloria Rice as long as the co-op does not use a lawyer from the same firm.
b) Bridge Inspection report
Paul received a bridge inspection report from AOT on the small one-way bridge
on Max Gray Road.
He will file it with Eva and ask her to make a copy for the Road Commissioner,
Don Singleton Jr.
c) Franks letter
Lois Franks handed in a letter indicating she would be applying for Current
Use for her dairy farm.
The letter was necessary for her to receive town tax stabilization for one
more year.
11. Tentative Meeting Agenda for April 14:
a) Capital Budgeting discussion (Anne)
b) Highway Plan – annual plan for our roads which is also submitted to AOT.
c) Minutes from 03/10/2008
d)
Adjourn.
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Subject: My Notes & Occasional Comments:
Calais Selectboard meeting, Monday, April 14, 08, by Peter
Harvey
MY NOTES & OCCASIONAL COMMENTS: Calais Selectboard meeting,
Monday, April 14, 08, members present (clockwise): Paul Hannan (chair), Anne Winchester,
Denise Wheeler, Cy Lamberton and John Brabant. Rose Pelchuck, the Board's paid
meeting secretary, took the official minutes. There were 6 people in the audience
tonight: Don Singleton Jr., Peter Brough, Greg Pelchuck, Dot Naylor, Steve Cusick,
and myself.
BEFORE THE MEETING: While waiting for everyone to get settled, there is most always
some chatter. Tonight it was about the soft spring roads called mud season, although
it is no longer they real mud season when I recall people having to use their
tractors to get out to the end of the road where they left their cars. The road
crew had worked on the roads all weekend to keep them passable for cars.
The Town posts weight limit signs on the main roads at the Town lines seasonally.
The one on the County Rd., fastened to the Calais Town line sign post has its
edges sprayed painted with orange. It reads in full: NOTICE, NO VEHICLE
HAVING A WEIGHT, Including Vehicle and Load, Exceeding, Two Axle 15,000 lbs, Three
Axle 18,000 lbs, Tractor Trailer 20,000 lbs, Shall Be Operated On This Road Leading,
From ALL ROADS, To _______, In the Town of Calais, Until (Date) May 1st, As per
Sections 1109-1110 Title 19 Vermont Statutes Annotated, Date March 1, By Order
of the Agency of Transportation, Posted 3/2/08, Dawn Terril Secretary of Transportation.
There is an identical sign posted on the other side of the road, facing the other
way, by the Town of East Montpelier.
Overweight permits for driving heavy vehicles, most large trucks, on Calais roads
cost $10. But, Don told Board members, "The big thing is we get a copy of their
insurance when they fill out the form." The town can hold trucks responsible for
excessive road damage they cause. Early morning frozen roads are hard, but overweight
vehicles breakup soft roads, making them difficult for cars and difficult and
expensive for the road crew to keep up with. As Burr Morse wrote in today's (4/4/08)
Times Argus, "I feel sorry for the road crews in the spring: they walk a fine
line between knowing there's nothing they can do and answering to irate taxpayers.
I would advise them to suck it up, and realize there are a few things that money
can't buy…" Our roads would be in better shape and cost us much less if people
would respect them more.
Don has stopped some trucks and Paul said he had stopped 3 heavy trucks. One oil
truck driver had told him, "You can't stop oil delivery trucks!" Paul, who had
identified himself as a selectman, disagreed with him, telling him "I can!" Don
identified an oil company that does not register with the town. Heaviest are full
log trucks and large dump trucks. Greg Pelchuck told the Board that even when
empty, his large dump trucks are overweight. But many of our service trucks, such
as oil & gas delivery trucks and trash trucks, are also over weight. Even
the school buses are overweight. Roads are occasionally closed to school busses.
Overused roads cost us twice, in road repairs and in damage to our cars. That
too common attitude, "I don't care. I'm going to do it anyway." is expensive.
MINUTES: The Board accepted as printed the minutes of 3/10/08 (5-0) & 3/31/08
(3-0-2 with John & Cy abstaining because they had been absent).
ANNUAL HIGHWAY PLAN: Don presented his plan and the annual state form of projected
costs for the coming fiscal year. Each year he resurfaces a section of road. This
year he will add 6 to 8 inches of gravel over the 2.8 miles of road between the
Town Clerk's Office and the Town line at the top of Foster Hill (North Calais
Rd. & Foster Hill Rd.). He estimates the cost to be $84,000. This is needed
because the gravel wears off of the surface over the years. Also, the Town
voted at Town meeting to resurface the paved section of Lightening Ridge Rd. from
Rt. 14 to the school. The Board discussed making that intersection safer, by eliminating
the "apron" shortcut at the south side of that intersection to increase sight
distance towards the north. Fast moving Rt. 14 traffic disappears into the valley
to the north of the intersection, then quickly reappears just before the intersection.
There have been accidents at that intersection over the years, but no fatalities
yet. Fatalities seem to be the State's measure for prioritizing dangerous
intersections. Anne said that she had contacted VTrans. Ernie Englehardt has offered
planning help for the intersection. The Town has been working on making that intersection
safer for years.
The budget is voted on as a whole rather than piece meal, allowing for flexibility
to shifting money within the budget as required by conditions, such as storm damage
and the rising cost of fuel, which is already higher than Don's projected costs.
The Town purchases diesel in bulk at a reduced rate.
CURB CUT: The Board granted a curb cut (5 - 0) for a new house across from
Dot Naylor's on Collar Hill Rd. with the usual conditions pending approval of
the Road Commissioner who has been too busy to see it yet. It needs to have a
20 foot entrance to the Town road @ less than 3% grade. The Board agreed that
it did not need a culvert because of the slope of the land on that side of the
road.
NEW TOWN TRUCK: Don brought the specs for the truck (cab & chassis) to the
Board and asked them to sign the order form for delivery after July 1 from Clark's
Truck Center. The Town is getting a trade in of $17,000 on the old truck and a
state discount bid of $55,000 on the new truck for net price of $81,735. The dump
and related equipment will be extra, from another business. This is the new larger
truck we voted for at Town Meeting.
There was a short discussion about the Toyota car hit by the grader this winter
on the south side of Lightening Ridge Road. It was left on the side of the road
within the right-of-way before winter and covered with snow when it was grazed
by the grader blade pushing snow banks back. The town is not responsible for damage
to vehicles left within the right-of-way. Refer to the Winter Parking Ordinance
on page 27 of the 2007 Town Report Red Book. The owner was immediately notified
and accepted responsibility.
CONSERVATION COMMISSION: Conservation Commission member Steve Cusick appeared
before the Board to discuss how to pay for a brochure to promote land conservation
in Calais. Steve told the Board the 4 color brochure would have a long shelf life.
When the idea of the printing was initially brought before the Board a couple
of months ago, there was concern from some that the voters might see it as a misappropriation
of the Conservation Reserve Fund. When they vote at Town Meeting, many people
expect that the annual $4,000 goes toward helping the purchase of development
rights or land. Paul & Steve had researched the question and determined that
the funds may be used for a broader, but related use. The Board agreed (5-0) that
this brochure is a valid expenditure of the funds.
Executive Session - The Board then went into Executive Session for 20 minutes
with Steve to discuss a prospective "real-estate transaction" for the Conservation
Commission.
That gave Rose & Greg Pelchuck 20 minutes to meet in the privacy of the front
entrance of the school to celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary while the rest
of us chatted off to the side. Rose later told me that they had gone out to lunch
and taken the afternoon off together.
EMFD INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT: Greg (Fire Department President) & Rose Pelchuck
presented the Fire Department's Interlocal agreement to the Board. The Board will
have a lawyer review it and take it up at a later meeting.
BATTEN RD: Rearranging the agenda because he recognized Peter Brough in the audience,
Paul brought up the unpaid bill for the "second opinion engineering study" required
by the Board for the proposed development on Batten Rd. by Steve Duke & Jeff
Sayers (since deceased). Knight Engineering has asked for payment from the Town.
The agreement stated that the developers pay that bill. It is not yet certain
that Steve Duke has been presented with the bill. John will phone Steve and straighten
out the matter.
TAX STABILIZATION CONTRACT, ADAMANT COOP: Anne reported that that attorney Gloria
Rice had reviewed the contract. There was a short discussion about the minutes
from Town Meeting not specifying that the Article had passed by more than a 2/3
majority vote as required by state statute. The Town Meeting minutes have already
been approved and signed by Selectboard Chair Paul Hannan & Eva. Gus still
needs to sign it. All the Board members remembered that there were no dissenting
votes. The Board agreed to sign the 10 year contract.
I talked with Eva the next day. Paul had already talked with her. She said that
had the vote been unanimous, she would have written "unanimous" in the minutes.
She said that a few people voted against it in the voice vote.
LIQUOR LICENSES: The Board voted (5 - 0) to renew the liquor licenses (beer &
wine) for: the Farm House Café, Lapan Enterprises (East Calais Store) and the
Maple Corner Store.
APPOINTMENTS: The board re-appointed Dot Naylor to a 3 year term as Calais Zoning
Administrator (5-0).
VARIOUS BRIEF UPDATES:
NEW TAX MAP: Paul had researched the question of access to public documents. "We
have to give it to anyone who asks for it at the cost of copying it, the cost
of the CD or no cost if I e-mail it to them." The concern was over companies using
and/or selling the date for marketing.
TOWN HALL REPAIRS: In his usual idiosyncratic way, Kenny Miller has agreed to
repair the porch roof over the lower entrance. He was one of the primary carpenters
that built the new Town Office. Dot agreed to leave a note taped to the door of
the Maple Corner Store telling him to proceed. (These meetings can get light
sometimes when the pressure is off. Eva will phone him.)
CURTIS POND DAM: John reported that letters are in the works for the federal funding
process.
METAL RECYLING: John had talked with a representative from Gates Salvage and Donna
Barlow Casey of the CVSWMD which has contracted to run the Town recycling yard
at the old dump site. The CVSWMD said that a recycling dumpster placed by Gates
on the site would compete with them. But she also said there is not room for them
to put a metal recycling dumpster. Gates had asked the town for a site to put
a dumpster for free collection last fall. Gates did not want to be responsible
for trash thrown into a dumpster. The question is still unresolved.
ANCIENT ROADS: Paul reported that both he and Marge Garfield had testified at
the State House about rescheduling a deadline for identifying ancient roads. The
identifying process is long and tedious, searching the town records, page by page,
plotting out road surveys and identifying them. Many towns are finding it a much
larger project than anticipated.
The Board adjourned at 9:30. Winter schedule: the Board will be meeting at the
Calais Elementary School for the winter. The next scheduled meeting of the Board
will be 7:00 PM, Monday, April 28, 2008. Agendas are posted at the Calais Town
Clerk's Office, the 3 stores in town, and the East Calais Post Office. Only items
posted on the agenda are voted on at any meeting. Those wishing to bring items
before the Board should contact Chairman Paul Hannan at 223-5528. Agenda items
for the next meeting need to be received by 6 PM, the Wednesday before that meeting.
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 10:44 AM
Subject: local food
Home Cooking Recipe Swap
Steve’s newsletter is the perfect place to swap recipes. The kitchen is often
the last place left in the home where we can actually make things with our hands.
Kids love to cook. Simple recipes are instantly gratifying. We’ve still got fresh
leeks, beets, Gilfeather turnips, and carrots stored in sawdust in our root cellar.
Two of my favorite spring recipes right now are sugar-on-snow and cream
of leek soup.
SUGAR-ON-SNOW Great with small kids, sugar-on-snow is really easy and we
have a lot of sugar houses right here in Calais. At a gentle rolling boil, just
bring the syrup to softball temperature (234 degrees) and pour over granular snow.
We make it up a cup (in a 3 cup sauce pan) at a time, which is all two or three
of us can eat at one time. Put a little butter in to make it less likely to boil
over (makes a real mess in the burner). You don’t need a candy thermometer. Just
keep a dish of granular snow next to the stove to test it on. Dribble a little
on the snow with spoon, wait a few minutes, and pick it off with a fork. We like
it tender (lower temperature). If you like it chewier, cook it a little longer.
If it gets too tough, or you let it set overnight, just add a little water and
cook it until it tests the way you like it on the snow. Making the raised donuts
is the hard part. Gert sells them at the Adamant Co-op Store.
CREAM OF LEEK SOUP This is only our second year with leaks. They are actually
from last years garden, but the crisp greens are a lot of fun this time of year.
It is our only fresh green garden vegetable over the winter, outside of Lucy’s
sprouts in the windows. They keep really well planted in sawdust in the root cellar,
just like I pulled them out of the garden as the ground froze last November. I
make a real quick & easy cream of leek soup just by making white sauce (melt
4 tablespoons of butter in a sauce pan over low heat, stir in 4 tablespoons of
flour until its smooth, gently add 2 cups of milk, bring to a simmer, stirring
it off the bottom constantly to prevent lumps and burning, until it thickens,
about 5 minutes). I add another cup or so of milk to thin it out (whisk to get
the lumps out), then add one large leek (sliced 1/8 inch thick) and continue cooking
for 5 or 10 minutes more before serving. While that is thickening, I lightly saute
the leak slices in butter, in a pan large enough to add the 3 cups of white sauce
to. I like crunchy, lightly cooked leeks, so I go easy on the cooking. Now that
I’m over 60 and getting wider around the middle, a bowl of soup and a slice (or
two) of toast makes a full supper for me.
Let’s see some more seasonal recipes. When the rhubarb comes up, I will reprint
Mrs. Doris Fowler’s old fashion country pan dowdy recipe from the Fall 1994 Calais
Back Roads. A real farm kitchen recipe, it uses a 1/2 cup of heavy cream for shortening
and is good baked over any seasonal fruit (rhubarb, blueberries, apples...).
OK! Your turn!
Note from the "Editor" -
Another good place to post or to find recipes is in my Plant Photos wiki -
www.plant.photos.net
- not only do we have photos of plants there, but photos and descriptions of
edible plants, and some recipes for thos plants. Also categories for medicinal
plants ans herbs. I will plan on added the above recipies to that website. I
also have a really delicious aple pie recipe that I'll post thee, then later
post a link to it from here. - Steve Gallagher
Sent: Monday, April 07, 2008
Subject: Adamant Co-op Meeting
Public Notice of Meeting to Amend the Bylaws of the Adamant Cooperative
On Sunday, April 27th, at 11 am the Adamant Co-op will hold a meeting to vote
on amending its bylaws with regard to membership. We will be proposing a new
membership policy. Only individuals who hold at least three shares in the Co-op
will be entitled to vote on the amendment. A fire several years ago destroyed
our list of shareholders. If you hold shares in the Co-op, and would like to
be heard on this issue, please attend the meeting, or arrange to cast an absentee
vote by calling 223-5760 and someone will return your call. The meeting will
be held at 1289Haggett Road, directly to the left of the Co-op.
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 9:37 PM
Subject: Winooski River Sojourn
Winooski River Sojourn--June 3rd to June 8th
Join the Friends of the Winooski River on the inaugural Winooski River
Sojourn! The Sojourn is a multi day canoe and kayak trip on the Winooski
River. Participants may sign up for the entire trip, multiple days or
a
single day. The goal of the Sojourn is to inspire individual connections
to the River and among the communities and users of the resource. The
participants will learn about the river's history, ecology and the
challenges facing this precious resource. 2008 programs include: Aquatic
ecology and fisheries, water quality monitoring, stream geomorphology,
hydropower, nonpoint source pollution, floodplain restoration, sustainable
agriculture and fly fishing and paddling demonstrations. These land-based
programs will be open to the general public.
The cost for all six days is $180. The daily fee is $40 per day.
Each
day will include 3 meals, programs and shuttle transportation. You will
need to bring water and snacks. Camping sites will be included for those
staying overnight. You will need to provide your own canoe or kayak, life
jacket, and camping equipment.
All solo paddlers and at least one member of a tandem boat must have
moving water experience. We will have vehicular portage support in some
cases. Sojourners are expected to be able to launch, portage and help load
and unload their boats onto vehicles. The minimum age is 15. All
youths
(<18) must be in a tandem boat with an experienced adult paddler.
More information and a registration form can be found at the Friends
website
http://www.winooskiriver.org/
,
www.winooskiriver.org
or send an
email to
fwr@sover.net
Come be part of the fun and help the Friends develop the Sojourn as an
annual event!
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 9:32 AM
Subject: electric lawn mower for sale
We still have a nearly new electric lawnmower for sale at Maple Corner Community
Center. If you know anyone with a small yard, could you ask them if they'd like
it? They can contact
duburke@charter.net. Thanks!
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 12:14 PM
Subject: Want Beef?
Want Beef?
I read in the March 31 newsletter that Sheila Morse is selling local beef; we
can't use a whole or half ...would like to find some other folks to share with.
Interested in a quarter? an eighth? Call or email...
--
Marialisa Calta
223.8921
MarialisaC@gmail.com
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008
Subject: belly dance classes at the Community Center
Hi Steve,
My friend Shari from Cabot is teaching belly dancing at the Community Center
on Wednesday nights. Will you please put this notice in the newsletter? Thanks!
Carol
Ever wanted to try Belly Dancing?
Please join Sabah (Shari Stahl) Wednesday evenings at the Maple Corner Community
Center from 7:30 to 8:30 pm.
Have fun exploring slow and sensual movement blended with accents to fast percussive
rhythms, inspiring self expression and empowering healthy body image.
Classes will introduce the core movements of undulations, isolations, hip patterns
and shimmies. We will learn short combinations to both popular and classic Middle
Eastern music.
Cost is $10 per class, discounted in series of 10 classes for $80.
For information contact Shari at 563-2292 or go to www.sabahdance.com
- submitted by Carol Beatty
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008
Subject: Green Up Day
Would you please announce in the next newsletter(s) the following:
Green Up Day
Sat May 3
9 - Noon
Recycling Center
Moscow Woods Rd.
East Calais
Let's celebrate Spring with family, friends and neighbors by cleaning
up our roads! Roadside litter will be accepted. Please recycle as much as possible.
Please no personal tires! Scrap metal will also be collected. Household trash
can still be dropped off for the usual fee. For more info or if you would like
to reserve Green Up bags, call Fletcher Dean, 456-8924 or email
fletcherd@hotmail.com. Tell me
which roads you plan to Green Up.
There will be prizes!
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 3:40 PM
Subject: Photography Exhibit at Capitol Grounds, Montpelier
Calais resident and New York fashion photographer, Jeff Rubin, will
present a collection of black and white, infrared photographs
entitled Photosynthesis and the Arc of Existence. The show runs from
May 1st - 31st 2008.
There will be an opening reception on Sunday, May 4, 2008 from 2:00
until 4:00 p.m. All are welcome. Hors d'oeuvres for the reception
will be by Lisa Rubin (yes, they're related) of THE FARMHOUSE CAFE &
CATERING CO. Coffee, tea and cold drinks drinks will be available
for purchase at the Capitol Grounds counter.
Reminders and Updates:
Subject: Memorial Service for Paul Montore
A memorial service for Paul Montore, who died on February 15, will
be held on Saturday, April 26, at 4 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 130
Main St. in Montpelier. A reception will immediately follow at the church.
Donna Fitch
768 Robinson Cemetery Rd.
Calais, VT 05648
802 223-1658
Subject: Sixth Annual Adamant Blackfly Festival Parade
The Sixth Annual Adamant Blackfly Festival Parade
"Downtown" Adamant
Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Please mark your calendars and start mixing up the paper mache: the date
for the sixth annual Adamant Blackfly Festival has been set for Saturday,
May 17th.
As always, the highlight of the festival is the Blackfly Parade. The
parade features eclectic costumes and impromptu music, including what promises
to be an impressive demonstration of virtuoso kazoo playing and creative
percussionist riffs on trash can lids.
People of all ages are welcome to join the parade, which is especially
popular with children and adults with an off-beat sense of humor. Past parades
have variously been described as "campy", "Felliniesque", and "the Macy’s
Day Parade of the Insect World."
Please help us in making this year’s parade the social (if not the
artistic) event of the season by joining us in the parade on Saturday, May
17.
For more information about the Adamant Blackfly Festival Parade, please
contact Cindy Cook (802-223-6060, ccook@adamantaccord.com) or
Pitz Quattrone (802-229-4952 pitzdidg@sover.net).
Important Calais Web Links:
Community Quote of the Week:
Waste and Greed...We seem to have come to a collective delusion of grandeur,
insisting that all of us are 'free' to be as conspiciously greedy and wasteful
as the most corrupt of kings and queens." - Wendell Berry
This e-mail newsletter is open to submissions from the public, as long as they
are noncommercial, and appropriate to the community. Please remember that it
depends on you, the subscribers, to let people know what is going on in town.
Have you written something you want to share with the community? Do you know
of an upcoming event in our area? Contact me by just replying to this email,
or call me, Steve Gallagher, at 802-223-0505, though the actual notice has
to be emailed to me. You can get an idea of what has been posted in the past
by reading the archives at:
http://www.songseek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi?f=list&l=maplecor
----------------------------------------
You can contact me about this newsletter by just replying to this e-mail. It
is sent out about 3 times per month, so if you are sending a time critical message
or announcement please plan to allow enough time before the event. If you just
recieved a newsletter, the next one may not get sent for 2 weeks. You can subscribe
to this list by typing your e-mail address into the form found at www.maplecorner.net and hit subscribe.
-----Steve Gallagher ------
To unsubscribe from: Maple Corner Net Newsletter, just follow this link:
http://songseek.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/u/maplecor/
Click this link, or copy and paste the address into your browser.
)