Weathersfield News Feb 25 #WeathersfieldVT #VT
Weathersfield News February 25, 2015
Town Meeting is scheduled next week. There is one contested
race on the ballot, the Select Board Two Year seat. I thought I'd ask Lynn Esty
(LE) and Michael Todd (MT) the two candidates running, a few questions.
In their words..
1. How long have you
lived in Weathersfield?
LE-I was born and
raised in Weathersfield. With the exception of the 5 years we lived in Alaska , I have lived the
majority of my 48 years in Weathersfield. We purchased my Grandfathers 2 acre
farm on 106 in Perkinsville in October 2001. We are buying a mobile home on one
acre on Route 131 in Ascutney. We raised our 3 daughters in Weathersfield. My
granddaughter is the 7th generation of our family residing in Weathersfield. We
also have a grown foster daughter with 4 children that live close by.
MT-27 years, Born
and raised in Springfield ,
Vermont
2. What do you doing
for a living?
LE-Currently I am
a job coach for a young woman with Down Syndrome. I assist her with her duties
at a local humane society: washing dishes, folding laundry, cleaning cat boxes,
walking dogs, socializing cats, and other work as she is able to do. I
transport her to her job, assist her in her responsibilities and transport her
back home. I was previously the Assistant Librarian at the Weathersfield
Proctor Library for 5+ years. My husband and I raise pigs, chickens, turkeys
and beef to fill the freezer and have, year round, Nigerian dwarf goats, a
horse, a pony, two dogs, an elderly house cat, 2 barn cats and 2 love birds.
MT-Business
Owner; Hawks Mountain Motorcycles in Perkinsville ,
Vt.
3. Have you held
other positions for the town in the past either elected, appointed, or
volunteer? If yes, what were they and for how long?
LE-In the Past:
Girl Scout Leader; Weathersfield School Substitute Teacher/Librarian/
Volunteer; Green-Up Participant; Animal Control/Constable; Justice of the
Peace; Clerical Worker for Town of Weathersfield; Weathersfield Proctor Library
Book Group Facilitator 9/2014 to Present; Deputy Health Officer, Town of
Weathersfield 10/2001 to 10/2014; Weathersfield Spay/ Neuter Assistance
Program, Administrator 2008 to Present; Weathersfield Zoning Board,
Member/currently Chairperson 2011 to Present; Weathersfield Fire Commission,
Citizen Member/currently Chairperson 2012 to Present; Weathersfield Directory,
currently Chairperson 2012 to Present; Weathersfield Vermont News,
Administrator/Reporter 6/26/13 to Present; Weathersfield Knit/Crochet Group -
Facilitator Winters 2013/14, 14/15; Weathersfield Proctor Library volunteer
12/2014 to Present.
MT- Yes, Planning
Commission 7 years, currently Chairman. Budget Committee 7 years, Perkinsville
School reuse committee 2 years, Selectman, Appointed 1year
4. Why are you
running for the two year Select Board seat?
LE-I want to
offer a new viewpoint on the Select Board. I've been told numerous times that
there needs to be a change. I am willing to step up and help be part of that
change. My family has a long history of community service to the Town of Weathersfield . I want to
continue that tradition. Being elected
to the Select Board has been a long-term goal of mine.
MT- I like
serving the people of Weathersfield and feel I know many of the current issues
faced by our Town Government.
5. Do you have
something specific on your agenda that you hope to get accomplished during your
two year term?
LE-I would like
to see the monthly reporting resumed (police, animal control, fire commission,
etc.) I feel this information will reflect the hard work and valued presence in
our community. This information needs to be presented monthly to keep us, and
the citizens, informed. I would like to encourage more Weathersfield citizens
to participate in and attend all public meetings and share their knowledge and
ask questions. I want the citizens to feel valued and heard. I would like to facilitate increased awareness
of events, projects and happenings around town. An increase in town-wide
gatherings and communication will only benefit everyone in Weathersfield.
MT-Better
communication between the people and their elected officials. Better
Communication between the School Board and the Select Board at Budget times.
6. What are three
most important things facing the voters in Weathersfield over the next few
years?
LE-A) New Town
Manager Search B) Tax Increases C) Condition of our roads
MT-I think it
depends on who you talk too. Most will say taxes. That means balanced budgets
and fiscal responsibility. There are a lot of
people on fixed incomes that can not afford higher taxes whether its
caused by the School or the Town. They both show up on one tax
bill. There may be an issue arising concerning involvement with the School
Supervisory Union. There are changes occurring at the State level that seem to
further strip Towns of local control. My experience at the Planning Commission
has shown me that the residents of Weathersfield prefer to have a say
in issues that effect them. Especially issues that are this personal and
close to home. Time will tell on this one. The Library Expansion project. I
think most people recognize the need to upgrade and expand this important Town
resource However, the Plan put forward by the Library Trustees has been voted
down twice. I think there needs to be a plan that addresses the
needed upgrades and provides for a bit more modest expansion. This goes
back to my first point, taxes.
7. How will you work
to see these three things happen?
LE-A) I will
volunteer to be on the search/hiring committee and do my best, as part of the
committee, to hire the most qualified, competent individual and the best fit
for the good of Weathersfield. B) Increases in taxes are always a concern,
especially for citizens who are on a fixed income. We need to find a way to
keep the taxes as level as possible while not cutting the necessary services to
the residents. Some taxes – such as the school – we have no control over the
increases or costs. Increasing the revenue from some departments might help to
increase the services and not increase the tax burden. C) Wes and the Town Crew
do a wonderful job with their budget every year and they always seem to have a
surplus. I would like to see some of those surplus funds used to catch up on
the paving of roads that have been put off.
MT-It all comes
down to communication. Reaching out to the public to ask and answer questions.
What do the people want? How much do they know about any given issue? The
better we know what the people are thinking, the easier it should be to make
decisions and have their support.
Boards and Committees
Trustees of the
Weathersfield Proctor Library-at their regular monthly meeting Feb 19 the
Library Trustees accepted the resignation of Library Director Nancy Tusinski.
She will be taking a job closer to her home in Rockingham. The Trustees will be
advertising for the job opening and will collect resumes until Mar. 27. The
Trustees also voted to close the Library Mar. 9-24 so the mold maybe removed
from the basement. The Library will reopen Mar. 25 under Interim Library
Director Karin Fischer.
Town Events:
Friends of
Weathersfield Proctor Library will meet Feb. 26 7 p.m. at the Library.
Election of officers and work on their By-laws and Articles of Incorporation
are on the agenda.
"The LOGGER" Rusy DeWees Saturday, Feb. 28 7 p.m.
at Windsor High School Theater
to BenefitWest Weathersfield Volunteer Fire
Department. Tickets are now on sale by calling 802-952-9712 ($22 advance / $25
at the door) or at one of the following businesses/sponsors: Springfield Auto
Mart, River Road in Springfield, Frazer's Place, Rte 5 North in Windsor, Mr.
G's Restaurant, Rte 131 in Ascutney, MJ Harrington's Jewelers in Newport, NH. Come
and enjoy an evening of fun and laughs while supporting a good cause.
to Benefit
Gun Raffle $10.00 a TICKET. Drawing to be held on Mar. 1. Tickets
may be purchased at Downers Four Corners Store/ Route 106 Deli Store or by
calling 802-356-0623 Prizes: Ruger
American Riffle with a Redfield Scope, -22-250 Rem., -223 Rem,. 243
Win., -270 Win., -7mm-08 Rem., -30-06 Rem., -308 Win. Must be
18+ years old and pass a Federal Background to Claim Prize.
Gun Raffle $10.00 a TICKET. Drawing to be held on Mar. 1. Tickets
may be purchased at Downers Four Corners Store/ Route 106 Deli Store or by
calling 802-356-0623 Prizes: Ruger American
Riffle with a Redfield Scope, -22-250 Rem., -223 Rem,. 243 Win., -270
Win., -7mm-08 Rem., -30-06 Rem., -308 Win. Must be 18+ years old
and pass a Federal Background to Claim Prize.
Drama Club Dates-2nd
Annual Got Talent Show, Thursday,
Feb. 26 7 p.m. (Dress rehearsal
Wednesday, Feb. 25 3-5 p.m.) A Connecticut
Sports Team Sign-ups-sport
sign ups for Track, Softball, and Baseball. Please send sign ups in as
early as possible. Sign up deadlines are as follows: Grades 5-8
- Track - March 23rd; Grades 3-8 - Softball & Baseball - March
23rd; Ongoing for K-2 programs. Anyone interested in coaching should fill out
an application and get it in as soon as possible. Coaches
are chosen based on experience at the level they wish to coach.
Weathersfield Proctor
Library Call 674-2863 or email weathersfieldproctorlibrary@gmail.com for
more information about these events. American
Red Cross Babysitter's Course, Saturday Apr. 11 Martin Memorial Hall 9
a.m.-3:30 p.m. Pre-registration required. Sign up at the Library. Class size
limited to 12, Bring a bag lunch the day of the course.
4th Annual Town
Wide Challenge, It's Almost Time Saturday Mar 21 at 7 p.m. Weathersfield School
Obituaries
WINDSOR-Franklin “Frank” Albert Silfies Sr., 71, of Ascutney Street in Windsor , died Tuesday,
Feb. 17, following a five-year battle with cancer. He was born June 3, 1943, in
Northampton , Pennsylvania
Frank graduated from Norwich University Springfield ,
where he had worked for 35 years. Frank was a member of the Ascutney Volunteer
Fire Department, where he served as president for several years. He also served
as a part-time member of the Weathersfield Police Department and was director
of the Weathersfield Ambulance Service. Well-known to first responders in Vermont and New
Hampshire , Frank founded the Green Mountain Critical
Incident Stress Management team. One of his favorite things was volunteering
every year as an instructor at the North Country
Fire School
in Alburgh , Vermont Hartford
Village
Ongoing:
Weathersfield
Knit/Crochet Group
Beginning Dec. 1 1-2:30 p.m. Perkinsville Community
Church
Food Shelf
The Weathersfield Food Shelf is located at 7303 Route 131 -
the former "World of Discovery" daycare. Thanks to the generosity of
their donors, the Weathersfield Food Shelf will now be open every Thursday from
4-5 p.m.
Senior Exercise
Program in Ascutney-FREE sponsored
by RSPV- Wednesdays 10-11 a.m. in basement of Martin Memorial Hall, Route 5, Ascutney , VT.
Weathersfield Proctor
Library, Hours: Wed 10-6 p.m.; Thurs
& Fri noon-6 p.m.; Sat 9-1 p.m. FREE
Programs-FREE Computer Tutor - Fridays 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Do you want to learn how to use a computer? Sign up for email or Facebook or
learn more about internet safety? Did you know the library offers downloadable
eBooks and audiobooks? Sign up required. BYOL (bring your own laptop or
smartphone if you have one).-Preschool
Storytime Wednesdays 11 a.m. Jan 21
- May 27-Crafternoons for Kids Thursdays
3-4 p.m. For 6 weeks Jan. 29 - Mar. 5
Need to Find a
Business in Weathersfield: http://www.weathersfielddirectory.org/
Another event filled weekend for me.
Friday night I photographed the Sierra Leone Refugee Allstars at the Woodstock Town Hall Theatre. What a great show. Woodstock resident Sayon Camara and the Landaya Emsemble opening the evening with some very impressive drumming.
More images from the concert: http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/PentangleArtsCouncilShows/Sierra-Leones-Refugee-Allstars
Saturday I spent the afternoon at Harpoon Brewery in Windsor for their Long Thaw Party.
Nice way to celebrate the outdoors in winter, in Vermont.
More images from the party: http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/February-2015/Long-Thaw-Celebration/n-3LkHr/
Sunday I attended the Grand Opening of the newly expanded "The Village at Cedar Hill." The 40 unit expansion and the new Memory Care Center is just beautiful. The attention to detail and comfort to the residents is amazing.
More images from the event: http://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/VermontStandard/February-2015/The-Village-at-Cedar-Hill/