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 452 subcribers.
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As of right now the Newsletter is being sent from steve@maplecorner.net
, which is working, but may be changed in the future.
I am done with traveling for a while now, and the Newsletter should be back
on a more regular schedule, starting with Sept. 2 or 3
Contents:
- Found: Women's watch on the "West side" beach of the Curtis Pond
- Missing Sign
- Maple Corner Car Pooling
- My Notes and Occasional Comments: Calais Selectboard
meeting, Monday, July 28, 2008, by Peter Harvey
- Field Mowing
- My Notes and Occasional Comments: Calais Selectboard
meeting, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, by Peter Harvey
- The Calais Democratic Party is looking for seven Justice of the Peace
nominees
- Organic Garlic for Sale
- Dot Naylor’s Unadulterated Notes: Calais Selectboard Action, Monday July
28, 2008
- Seeking a Housesitter
- Yakima RocSolid bike rack for Sale
- Kellogg-Hubbard Library enews
Reminders and Updates:
- Updated Maple Corner Community Center Spring/ Summer Potluck
Schedule!
- p
- Important Calais Web Links
- Community Quote of the Week
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Subject: Found: Women's watch on the "West side" beach of the Curtis Pond
Found: Women's watch on the "West side" beach of the Curtis Pond
swimming area. Call 223-2487 and ask for Jeffrey or Stephanie
Sent: Monday, July 28, 2008
Subject: Re: Missing Sign - Maple Corner Car Pooling
Please return dry erase board
In an incident similar to MariaLisa's... I'd been using my dry erase board
outside our red barn at 90 West County Road as a sign. It did say "free"
on it -- but it was referring to other items. I use that board for my
work. I didn't mean to give it away. I understand the confusion,
and apologize for my miscommunication -- but can whoever took it please return
it? Thanks, Ginny Sassaman
More on car pooling
Here's more info on the car pooling potluck. As she wrote about for
the last newsletter, Rachel Pelham is pulling together names for a website calendar
that everyone can add to -- where & when you're going someplace, and if
you'd like a ride or would be happy to share your car. More info on this
later when Rachel has the site ready.
Additionally, Artie and Nancy have talked about putting a bench out front
of the store where prospective riders can wait. Of course, they don't
have space for riders to park their cars all day. We may make signs that
riders can hold, saying "Montpelier" "Barre" or "Burlington." Also, we
discussed having riders who are leaving Montpelier for Maple Corner wait on
benches just north of the roundabout in town -- if any of us see a familiar
Maple Corner face there, we can pull over and give that person a ride.
There was also some discussion about getting a station wagon or minvan to
do a few round trip "bus" routes daily. Nell seemed especially interested.
I'm looking into grant possibilities. This seems like a goal for a little
further down the road.
We didn't talk about $$ at the potluck, but I've had a couple of conversations
since then, and it seems like a good idea for whoever is riding into or out
of Montpelier to chip in $1.00 to the driver. Longer drives should be
more. Any ideas?
There is no one in charge of all this at the moment. Anyone want to
take the lead? I facilitated the meeting, and you can e-mail any ideas
or questions to me (
VaMarie@aol.com) --
but I really don't have time to be the one making sure this happens.
It's all pretty exciting though -- I think we're going to help each other
a lot!
Ginny Sassaman
Sent: Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Subject: My Notes and Occasional Comments: Calais Selectboard
meeting, Monday, July 28, 2008, by Peter Harvey
MY NOTES & OCCASIONAL COMMENTS: Calais Selectboard meeting,
Monday, July 28, 08, members present (clockwise: Paul Hannan (chair), John Brabant,
Denise Wheeler, and Cy Lamberton. Anne Winchester was absent tonight.
Rose Pelchuck, the Board's paid meeting secretary, took the official minutes.
There were 4 people in the audience tonight: Dot Naylor, Gail Graham, John McCullough,
and myself.
A nice, quickly paced and short, one hour meeting tonight. Both the minutes of
July 14th and the review of the last fiscal year budget results were deferred
to the next meeting. As often happens, agenda items were addressed out of
order to accommodate the circumstances. I write them up in the order which they
were attended to. There was no executive session for zoning issues this evening.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Kent's Corner Design Review Guidelines - Historic Preservation Commission Members
John McCullough and I appeared before the Board. We suggested that the Board replace
two specific references to number of process days with the appropriate sections
of the Zoning Regulations.
The Board also added a sentence, authored by John Brabant, to the beginning of
the Guidelines clarifying that they are guidelines for the DRB to use when hearing
permit applications and not part of Land Use & Development Regulations, informally
know as the Zoning Regulations.
The Board adopted the new Design Review Guidelines by a vote of 4 to 0.
Class 4 Road Problem - Gail Graham appeared before the Board to tell them she
is concerned about damage being done to the class 4 road passing through her farm.
She told the Board that when she was a little girl the road was open to regular
traffic, but that "in the 1940s they just stopped maintaining it." She has noted
rough traffic on that road recently. Several people in the room, myself included,
said that the road is always very wet and barely passable on foot or horseback.
John asked if folks were using it to mud bog? She wasn't sure. I noted that I
have seen groups of large noisy muddy trucks going by my house a number of times
this summer, coming from her direction a mile away. Paul noted that State Statue
prohibits damage to roads, including class 4 roads. The Board asked Gail to keep
them informed of future damage to the roadway and said that they may consider
reclassifying that road as pent road in the future.
EAST MONTPELIER FIRE DEPT INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT AND AMBULANCE SERVICE LETTER OF
SUPPORT: The Selectboard briefly discussed current language in the agreement
and changed the wording to clarify that the fire department may participate in
negotiations with the dispatch service in Montpelier, but it is the Town, not
the fire department, that will vote on the contract.
The Selectboard also discussed a draft letter the fire department is asking them
to sign supporting the fire department in gather information to assess the possibility
of the East Montpelier Fire Department starting a full time ambulance service.
The Board will further discuss this letter at the next meeting.
VARIOUS BRIEF UPDATES:
Curtis Pond Dam: John reported that although they are still waiting for Allen
Quackenbush's report about lowering the water level of Curtis Pond by 2 feet while
repairing the old dam, Morris Root is looking into a coffer dam to make the old
dam dry while it is being worked on. John told the Board that if the temporary
metal dam is placed at the narrows by the swim area it would cost about half as
much to install and rent as if it were placed next to the old dam.
Batten Road Engineering Second Opinion: John reported that he had arranged to
phone Steve Duke for an update August 1.
DRB Monitoring Report: Anne was not here to report tonight.
Levagenie Curb Cut Report: The Board and Road Commissioner are waiting till trees
& brush are cut before they give final approval to the curb cut.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Denise will chair the August 11 Selectboard meeting as Paul will be away for his
son's wedding.
Ray Foster Inspection - Paul reported that Anne had witnessed that on July 25,
Ray Foster had filled in an old storm drain with concrete, as required by the
DRB, so that it would not drain into Nelson Pond. Zoning Administrator Dot Naylor
said she was still working on other issues with Mr. Foster.
The Board adjourned at 8:07 The Board will be meeting at the Calais Town Hall
for the summer. The next scheduled meeting of the Board will be 7:00 PM, Monday,
Aug. 11, 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 Vise-Chair Denise Wheeler at 456-8730. Agenda items for the next meeting
need to be received by 6 PM, the Wednesday before that meeting.
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008
Subject: Field Mowing
Brush Hog field mowing available in the greater Maple Corner area, including all
of Calais, and parts of East Montpelier, Worcester, Marshfield, Plainfield.
Free estimates and reasonable rates, with hourly rate discounts for bigger jobs.
Also, low impact logging and chainsaw work, driveway grading and bucket loader
work. Contact Craig Line at 229-5621,
craig@craiglinephotos.com
and thank you!
Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Subject: My Notes and Occasional Comments: Calais Selectboard
meeting, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, by Peter Harvey
MY NOTES & OCCASIONAL COMMENTS: Calais Selectboard meeting,
Monday, Aug. 11, 08, members present (clockwise Anne Winchester, Denise Wheeler
(vise chair), and Cy Lamberton. Paul Hannan and John Brabant were absent tonight.
Rose Pelchuck, the Board's paid meeting secretary, took the official minutes.
There were 2 people in the audience tonight: Dot Naylor and myself.
Wow! Tonight's meeting was only half an hour long! Not only was there nothing
lengthy on the agenda, but because two members were absent several items were
deferred to the next meeting: review of the minutes of July 28th, review of the
end of the fiscal year 2008 town budget figures, review of the latest revised
draft of the EMFD Interlocal agreement, and updates on the Curtis Pond dam and
Batten Rd. bill. Nor was there any discussion of zoning violations tonight.
MINUTES: The Board approved the minutes of July 14th with two clarifications of
the language, 3 - 0.
BRIDGE & CULVERT INVENTORY: The Board decided to continue to have the Central
Vermont Regional Planning Commission update the inventory, rather than do it themselves.
The way the statute is set up, the Board has the opportunity each year to take
over that responsibility themselves. If the Board does nothing to change the status
quo, the CVRPC continues doing that job. The inventory, a map and list of all
the culverts and bridges in Calais is required by FEMA to show that Calais is
maintaining them to the current standards. If Calais was shown to be substandard,
FEMA could withhold emergency repair money from the Town.
EMFD LETTER OF SUPPORT: The Board voted 3 - 0 to sign the letter supporting the
fire department's exploration of adding an ambulance service to the projected
new building project for the fire department. Ty had brought up the idea at the
July 14th meeting.
TISBERT APPLICATION TO WORK WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY: The Board briefly reviewed
the application to work within the Town right-of-way to repair the foundation,
steps, and dock of a boat house that is between the road and water of Number 10
Pond. The application had not been signed by the applicant, so it was tabled until
the application is completed.
VARIOUS BRIEF UPDATES:
DRB monitoring report: Anne said that she had been out of town and missed the
last DRB meeting.
Levangie curb cut (off Bayne Comolli Rd.): Denise and Cy said that the brush had
been cut to improve sight distance as ordered by the Board, but has not
yet been removed.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Storm washouts: As a result of last Thursday's downpour, Kent Hill Rd. and Singleton
Rd. were closed and repaired. Cy told the Board that the Town is hoping to get
matching money from FEMA to help with the repairs from this storm and one earlier
this month. 1.2" of rain fell in 30 to 40 minutes this past Thursday afternoon,
causing a lot of damage to many roads in Calais and other towns in the area.
personal note: I have recorded the following amounts of rain at our house
to date: May - 1.6"; June - 5"; July - 8.15"; August - 5.6".
The Board adjourned at 7:32. The Board will be meeting at the Calais Town Hall
for the summer. The next scheduled meeting of the Board will be 7:00 PM, Monday,
Aug. 25, 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: Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Subject: The Calais Democratic Party is looking for seven Justice of the
Peace nominees
The Calais Democratic Party is looking for seven Justice of the Peace nominees
for the November '08 elections. Think weddings, wills, "stamps of approval"
etc., not to mention impressing your family and friends. (In reality, you
may at most be called to discuss/vote on unresolved citizen tax grievances
that might come up).
If you are interested, we are holding a caucus on August 20 at 7 PM at the
East Calais Rec Center (Post Office building) to nominate seven people who
will be on the November 2008 ballot. We have always put a full slate together,
so please do come. The meeting will be short and sweet.
Best, Jamie Cherington
Calais Democratic Town Committee Chair
Questions: 223-9971
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008
Subject: Organic Garlic for Sale
Organic garlic grown in Maple Corner. ( How local can you get) Look
for me at the MC Farmers Market (across from the store) starting Saturday,8/23
from 10:00-11:30ish. See you there. Felicia
Sent: Thursday, July 31, 2008
Subject: Dot Naylor’s Unadulterated Notes: Calais Selectboard Action, Monday
July 28, 2008
Dot Naylor’s Unadulterated Notes
Calais Selectboard Action
Monday July 28, 2008
7:00 P.M.
SelectBoard members present: Paul Hannan, Denise Wheeler, John
Brabant and Cy Lamberton. Anne Winchester was not present.
Also attending were three members of the public, besides myself and Rose Pelchuck,
Recording Secretary.
1. Call to order – assess agenda time allotments
2. Review and approve Selectboard minutes of July 14, 2008 – There were
3 pages of minutes – page 2 was accidentally omitted so approval of minutes
from 14 July 2008 was tabled until next meeting.
3. End of the fiscal year town budget results (if available) – Mailing
out tax notices took precedence over anything else this past week – this will
be addressed at next meeting.
4. Review and approve road commissioner orders and town invoices – Ongoing
throughout the meeting
5. Review "draft" revised EMFD interlocal agreement and possibly sign –
EM SB and EMFD have not seen the agreement with changes suggested by Calais
SB. The SB reworded item 6 yet again.
6. Various brief updates:
- Curtis Pond dam (John) – Invoice from Morris Root for $4700 – still waiting
for information from A Quackenbush regarding possible drawdown of pond. Morris
Root sent information from a company that rents, erects and dismantles coffer
dams. There are two possible locations – one directly behind the present dam
and the other in a narrow spot between some ledge – the one behind the present
dam would be costlier but (I understand) would result in a lesser draw down
of the water during reconstruction of the dam.
- Batten Road bill (John) – no change – John is due to contact Steve
Duke in August
- DRB "monitoring" report – if any (Anne) – no DRB meetings to attend
since last SB meeting.
- Levagenie (Bayne Comolli Rd) curb cut (John) – the trees and brush
have not been cut as required by the SB – the Road Commissioner has therefore
not approved the Curb Cut.
-
7. Zoning violations, appeals, litigation, etc. if needed (possible executive
session) - Ray Foster’s storm drain on his property on Rathburn Road has
been filled with concrete as required by a stipulated agreement last fall.
8. Other business:
a) Chair’s absence for August 11 meeting and agenda prep.
b) Any further discussion of Kents Corner Design Guidelines and possible
adoption – the SB adopted a ‘preamble’ statement written by John B emphasizing
that these were quidelines for the Design Control District. Peter Harvey explained
one change in the document and also where and how modified language of that
‘preamble would be presented in the document. John McCullough, chair of the
Design Advisory Board, agreed to the changes. The SB voted to adopt the document
c) Gail Graham came to notify the SB of activity on Leonard Road which
is a Class 4 road that runs past her dwelling and over to George Road. It was
thought to be impassible for anything bigger than an ATV beyond her yard until
at least one PU truck driver knocked on her door to ask for use of the phone
because he was stuck back in there. If a vehicle causes damage to the town road
the SB can do something. Paul suggested waiting until the Ancient Roads Committee
finishes its work to decide on what to do. Someone suggested making it a pent
road - which means there would be an unlocked gate across it – landowners would
have to be notified.
It seems the big problem is what are known as "mudders" – people in vehicles
that look for the muddiest places to roar through and see if they get stuck
– the muddier, bumpier and more difficult, the better. No action was requested
and no action was taken.
9. Tentative Meeting Agenda for August 11, 2008:
a) Minutes for 14 July 2008
b) End of the fiscal year town budget results.
c) Review "draft" revised EMFD interlocal agreement and possibly sign
d) Draft a letter supporting the EMFD’s gathering of information regarding
the initiation of ambulance service.
10. Adjourned at 8:10 PM – shortest meeting in forever!
Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008
Subject: Seeking a Housesitter
Seeking a Housesitter:
We are looking for a responsible housesitter (with references) for our home
in Calais during the week of August 24 - 30, as well as some future dates. If
you are interested, or can refer someone, please call Chauntelle as soon as
possible at 456-1230.
Chauntelle Eckhaus
802-456-1230 (home)
802-461-7715 (cell)
chauntelleeckhaus@mac.com
Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008
Subject: Yakima RocSolid bike rack for Sale
Yakima RocSolid bike rack -- $85:
* holds up to 4 bikes
* fits into 2" receiver
* tilts down for access to back of vehicle
* lockable
* 7 years old, used only about 5 times
* Contact Mark at 223-8443 or mwcioffi@pshift.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Subject: Fwd: Kellogg-Hubbard Library enews
Kellogg-Hubbard Library enews
802-223-3338
www.kellogghubbard.org
HEALTHIER LIVING WORKSHOP
Thursday Series: September 4th thru October 9th, 2008
1:30-4pm PM
This free workshop, brought to the library by the Central Vermont
Medical Center, teaches you how to: deal with frustration, fatigue,
and pain, improve strength, flexibility, and endurance, manage
medications, learn healthy eating habits… and much more. Enrollment is
limited. To register contact: Central Vermont Medical Center Community
Health and Education Department 802-371-4198 or email
galena.magee@hitchcock.org
CELEBRATING VERMONT ARCHAEOLOGY MONTH
Thursday, September 4, 2008 7 p.m.
"Darkness Falls" (Movie and Discussion)
Preparing for Champlain: The Material & Political World
of the Far Northeast in 1609
Johnson State College Professor Frederick Wiseman discusses the
Champlain Baseline Project's archaeological, material culture and
documentary research for the recreation of the "best guess" 1609
period clothing, arms, armour, transportation, and ceremonial regalia
for Samuel de Champlain and his first Nation guides.
WHY I LOVE WHAT I LOVE – a monthly series
Wednesday, September 10 7pm
Jim Schley on "WHY I (STILL) LOVE ROBERT FROST"
Schley, of South Strafford, is a poet, essayist, editor par
excellence, and director of the Frost Place, in Franconia, NH, which
supports the writing and reading of poetry Frosty and otherwise. He
will talk of how this complicated poet (and difficult, cantankerous
man) continues to engage his and other modern sensibilities and
imaginations.
DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS ABOUT AGING –
for elders and those who care for and about them.
6:30-8:30pm
Monday, September 15: Get a grip on family history so you can talk
about the
money
Monday, September 22: Deal with fears lurking in discussions about health
Monday, September 29: Sort out the relationship between home and identity.
Co-sponsored by Montpelier Community Justice Center, Central Vermont
Council on Aging & KHL
AUTHOR DISCUSSION
Wednesday, September 17 at 7pm
Madelyn Holmes discusses her book: Students and Teachers in the New China
DISPLACED SOUTHERNERS UNITE!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 6:30-8pm
if you or someone you know is a "displaced southerner" and feels the
need to visit with folks that share their heritage or just want to eat
and "tawk" with other folks who know what pink eyed purple hull peas
are, mark your calendar for September 23 at 6:30pm. Our very own
Southern Belle, Children's librarian Jane Napier, will make sure you
feel right at home, so y'all come!
AUTHOR DISCUSSION & BOOK SIGNING
Thursday, September 25 at 7pm
Ann Micou McKinstry discusses her book:
A Guide to Fiction Set in Vermont for Children & Young Adults
In October look for the start of the First Wednesdays programs!
See you at the library!
--
Reminders and Updates:
Maple Corner Community Center Spring/ Summer Potluck Schedule!
All potlucks begin at 6:30 and will be taking place on alternate Sundays
throughout the summer. Below is the list of dates so you can mark
your calendars. Stay tuned for potluck programs, as the schedule is
still in the works. All are welcome to attend.
August 24 - Collections Night: share what you collect. Bring an item
or your whole collection if you wish.
Important Calais Web Links:
Community Quote of the Week:
"The devil's aversion to holy water is a light matter compared with
a despot's dread of a newspaper that laughs." - "The American Press,"
first printed in Mark Twain: Press Critic, University of California, 2003.
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
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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 ------
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