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Reprinted with permission of The Vermont Standard

2/23/20

Our unsettled and unpredictable weather continues! A couple of nights were pretty nippy and the windchill made it feel well below zero. It was interesting that when Tom and I were tapping trees on 2/13, it felt cold, but the sap appeared to be running. Who knows what this sugaring season will hold! More tapping going on over the weekend and especially on Sunday, the weather has been incredible. I guess the turkeys think so, too, because half a dozen departed from eating the fallen seeds from under our feeder and marched up into our woods when I arrived home from church!

There have been significant wind gusts at times and apparently there was an electrical issue with a transformer at Jackson Gore on Friday morning that delayed the opening of the lifts for a time. Perhaps the cold temps kept skiers from complaining too much.

I can’t understand what is happening at our bird feeder lately. It hangs high off the ground and we fill in from our dining room window. Until the other day, massive numbers of finches have been present, necessitating refilling the feeder several times each day. The last two days I have seen no finches, mainly chickadees and the seed consumption has decreased dramatically. I did notice a blue day the other day and wonder how that fits into the equation….

Well, I am afraid that I goofed! I noted the wrong book for this cycle of the Reading Group. Girl Waits with Gun will be for a subsequent discussion. The next selection is actually Boo Walker’s Red Mountain. The beautiful setting of eastern Washington state is the backdrop for the story of four “complicated” people, whose lives intersect. Copies of the book are at available on loan at Town Hall. Discussion will take place on 3/12.

The Town reports are in the mail and perhaps already delivered. You can also see all of the pertinent information on the Town website, including the school district report and sample ballot for the school budget and other school related items to be voted by Australian ballot on 3/3. If you would like a better understanding of the school piece, you can attend the District informational meeting on Thursday, 2/27 at 6 PM at the Woodstock Union Middle School library.

It was a hungry group who gathered for the recent Community Luncheon – both soups, all of the salad, and the beautiful chocolate heart cake made by Teresa Ennis were all devoured! If you would like to order a cake designed by Teresa, you can reach her at teresa.ennis99@gmail.com.

We also had a delightful discussion about love that included shared stories about meeting our special sweethearts. It is such a dedicated group of volunteers that some of our “cooks” weren’t actually unable to attend, but they made sure the food got to the table. Thanks to one and all.

Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

2/16/20

So many people have come to our area for this Holiday weekend and vacation week that navigating Ludlow has not been easy. The Shaw’s parking lot was full by 11 AM on Friday and 4 registers were open – all with lines. Good for local businesses, however, those of us who live here know to shop early, then get out of town!

There were 10 of us at the Book Club meeting last week and I think that might be a new record. The discussion of A Gentleman in Moscow was animated, with everyone having enjoyed it and making interesting observations. It really enhances a book when others add their perspective. The next book is Girl Waits with Gun by Amy Stewart. Reviews indicate it has “a great combo of dialogue and description”, as well as “wonderful development of characters”. The discussion will take place on 3/12.

I do not see snow listed for the day of the Community Luncheon, 2/20, although it is forecast to be cold. So, the fact that there will be two different kinds of soup bespeaks of wonderful planning – on somebody’s part! Feel free to join us at 11:30 AM in the downstairs room at Tyson Church via the Echo Lake Inn parking lot.

Get ready for the Annual Town Meeting on Monday, 3/2, at 7:00 PM at the Town Hall, I believe that Town Reports will be mailed shortly or you can pick one up. Voting by Australian ballot happens on Tuesday, 3/3, at the Town Hall, from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM. Absentee ballots are available by contacting the Town Clerk prior to voting day.

Sample presidential primary ballots are posted on the Plymouth Website, under Bulletin Board and also at Town Hall. You need to select either the Democrat or Republican ballot. Although there are 13 names on the Democrat one, many have since closed their campaigns. I believe there are still 3 names on the Republican ballot. You can also check out the Town ballot and it should be noted that there are no contested races for local elected officials.

Now that we are part of the Windsor Central Modified Unified School District, (whew!) we no longer have a local school budget meeting either before or after Town Meeting. The District will be holding an informational meeting on Thursday, 2/27 at 6 PM at the Woodstock Union Middle School library to review the 2020-2021 budget, which will be voted by Australian ballot on 3/3. Per the insert in the VT Standard, voters will be asked to approve the $21,783,948 proposed budget (of which $16,896,833 is to be funded with taxes), in addition to several other articles. Also on the ballot will be to re-elect Jen Flaster for a 3 year term as School Director!

More property changing hands….

1) Rte 100 (LAND – 12 ACRES) $36,000 Ross Family Trust to Farm and Wilderness Foundation

2) 63 Lakeview Rd, Birch Landing $286,000 Kathleen Kraez Trust to James Slaminki and Marybeth Schanz

3) 368 Crimson Hawk Rd $212,500 Kevin Brill to Shawn McLaughlin and Katherine Blye

4) 916 Salt Ash Rd $238,800 Jay Nisberg and Alicia Boylan to Sparrow Trading, LLC

Reprinted with permission of The Vermont Standard

2/9/20

Our interesting weather continues! You needed to be quick over the last several days in order to see if the precipitation was rain, sleet or snow. I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised to find the shoveling easy on Saturday morning since the top layer was fluffy, light snow. Of course, about five inches down I hit the ice layer!

It really did look beautiful although I know some folks experienced power outages. I imagine that more limbs would have splintered and crashed down had the snow been any heavier. On the bright side, the snow glistened in the moonlight on Friday night, plus the sunrise the next morning was lovely. Trees looked like spun glass and many reflected a rainbow of colors when the sun was out.

It has been difficult to keep up with the bird feeder these days. The inclement weather seems to make them ravenous! I admit that I become a bit frustrated when the finches hog the feeder and I been known to knock on the window in order to give the chickadees a chance to swoop in and out to grab a seed or two.

I have not been receiving much information on the students in our area, so please feel free to send some news my way! I noticed that congratulations are in order for Ian Dupont for making the Dean’s List at Champlain college. I am sure there are other achievements that should be recognized, as well.

Hoping that there will not be any snow for the upcoming Community Luncheon on Thursday, 2/20 at 11:30 at Tyson church. It looks like the meal is all set, so I hope that folks will plan to attend and that stories of love will abound!

Reprinted with permission by The Vermont Standard

2/3/20

Well, it’s Monday morning, with light snow falling, after a hyped up and eventful weekend. Viewing the Superbowl with friends provided a good meal and a back and forth game almost to the very end. Without the Patriots being in it, the intensity of my interest just was not there, however.

Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow and I would love to believe that winter will end after six weeks, but as a friend often says – his predictions do not count here in VT! None-the-less, the frequent snow flurries are keeping the snow sparkling & very pretty. Just be careful driving because the roads seem to have taken a beating this year. I don’t believe that Dublin Road has ever displayed the ice and ripple effect that dominates it this year….

Plans are coming along nicely for the Community Luncheon on 2/20. There will be two soups, salad and also dessert by Teresa Ennis, which is always a treat. We will have a Valentine theme despite that special day having passed, so come with thoughts about love (past or present) to share!

I truly enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles and as several friends have noted, I didn’t want it to end. The Book Club discussion will take place on Thursday, 2/13 at 6:30 at the Community Center.

Plymouth Vermont Historical Society

The Annual Meeting of the PVHS will be held on Sunday, February 2 at 2:00pm at the Community Center.  All interested persons are encouraged to attend.  We will be discussing our plans for future programs, work sessions, etc. 

Your input is greatly appreciated as is your membership.  Dues forms will be available, and membership is still $5.00 each, if you care to join our group.

Your Executive Committee:

Midge Tucker

Joy Donnelly

Barb Lurie

Reprinted with permission by The Vermont Standard

1/26/20

It is so wonderful to still have it light outside at 5 PM! That certainly was a strange storm Saturday into Sunday – a little bit of everything. The temperature apparently made all the difference. Instead of having a slippery glaze on our driveway this morning (Sunday), there was an inch or more of mush. That didn’t seem like an exciting texture for snowshoeing, but when the sun appeared and the wind disappeared, it provided an ideal time for a long walk…..

I just wanted to mention what a delightful breakfast a group of us ladies had at Drewski’s on the River in Bridgewater Corners on Friday morning. I had been there eons ago when it was Blanche & Bill’s and was not even aware it was still open. It is small (seats about 24) and is only open Thursday – Sunday, but the walls are decorated with colorful murals and the food was wonderful.

Not a great deal of news for this week. It is time to make plans for the next Community Luncheon that will take place on Thursday, February 20th. I was thinking that a couple of different kinds of soup with salad and rolls might be nice. Maybe one being vegetarian. Plus dessert, of course! Tyson Church very kindly covers the cost of the main dish ingredients. Please let me know what you think and if you can help. Also, it is the week after Valentine’s Day, so if you have a story about love, please feel free to come share it!

Reprinted with permission from The Vermont Standard

1/20/20

Well, it’s definitely back to winter around here! I couldn’t believe the number of folks who ventured to our area for this holiday weekend. I imagine that local businesses are glad to have them. As the snow was falling on Saturday evening, we went with several friends to the roast pork dinner at the Catholic Church in Ludlow and the mood was festive.

I was surprised that there were not more people snowshoeing at Camp Plymouth State Park on Sunday afternoon because it was delightful over there when Karen Evans and I and another friend spent a fun-filled hour taking in the beauty.

Thanks to everyone who prepared, served, and participated in the Community Luncheon last Thursday! Tacos were a bit hit – thanks to Nancy Kessling for gathering and organizing all of the ingredients. Joy Donnelly’s little cheese cakes vanished quite quickly, too! It was nice to have a few words from recently appointed Selectman, Rick Kaminski. He will be sending out a survey so that folks can express their thoughts about our town for consideration.

I am including a note from Bethany Birches Camp, where a Superbowl party for Plymouth residents will again be held this year.  We will open up the building around 6pm on Feb 2. While we wish we could cook for all and host you right, we will have just finished a winter camp for young people hours before and our cooks will be back to their regular jobs on Mon. So this will be potluck. We will provide a big screen (10′), surround sound, chairs, picnic tables, plates, cups, bowls, napkins, silverware, trash cans… everything you need to eat and drink whatever you bring. If you have young children and want to bring their bike or scooter or similar, there will be space for them to ride indoors. Come to the Bethany Birches parking lot and follow the signs.

This will also provide an opportunity to get to know this wonderful facility, where birthday parties (https://www.bethanybirches.org/birthday-party) can take place and cabin lodging is often available.