Weathersfield New May 20 #WeathersfieldVT #VT

Weathersfield News May 20, 2015

Nancy Nutile-McMenemy

photosbynanci@comcast.net

Everything is so green. I love this time of year. During our long winter months I miss seeing this special kind of green color that is only around in May. When you look up into the canopy of the trees you just have to smile. The color is so stunning and vibrant. Almost like our spirits are gray in the winter when we cannot see this color and our spirits giggle in the spring when this color returns. Not that this time of year is all fun and games, mind you; I've been diligently weeding. The strawberries have been weeded and mulched, the blueberries are weeded and mulched and the peach trees are weeded and mulched. The hubby has spread the cow manure and turned over the vegetable garden. Now I can water it heavily and cover it with black plastic-to bake out any weed seeds before the tomatoes, peepers, and basil get planted in a couple of weeks. We practice progressive pot planting here at our house and my tomato plants are begging for bigger pots. So that's on the agenda for today. I encourage you all to get outside and enjoy this beautiful spring weather and be sure to look up and take a mental picture of the bright green leaves. Hopefully, we'll all be able to recall this color next February.

Spent a lovely Sunday with my friend Sharon. We drove around Mascoma Lake making many stops along the way. Sunday was an absolutely beautiful day for a drive. Our first stop was Gemstar Gemstones in Enfield. If you love rocks, crystals or beads you have to visit this place!

We stopped for lunch at Mickey's Roadside Tavern and I had my first summertime meal of whole belly clams! YUMMY

Our next stop was to see a very interesting play at the Shaker Bridge Theater-what a cute place and the acting topnotch. Other Desert Cities was fantastic!

Sharon and I topped the day off with a stop at the Dairy Twirl in Lebanon. The line was long but they had three windows open so it moved quickly! First ice cream of the summer.

Monday, Jay and I drove to Albany NY to see Davy Knowles perform at this OLD SCHOOL club-The Low Beat.

Davy put on a scorching show-if you like blues guitar and smooth vocals-I highly recommend this singer from Isle of Man.

Town Calendar of Events:

Weathersfield Elementary School-Memorial Day Ceremony at WS Friday, May 22, 8:15 a.m. in the gym. Please be sure to wear red, white and blue and get ready for an hour of patriotic music and sentiments. There will be some speakers and the children have been practicing a few surprises, sure to delight the audience. Weathersfield K-8 Art Show Thursday, May 28 from 5-6 p.m. Selected student art work from each grade will be on display in the AP room. Volunteer Tea Celebration Mark your calendars the Volunteer Tea will be on June 11at 3 p.m. in the AP Room.

Memorial Day Ceremony-Perkinsville Green, in Perkinsville, Monday May 25 at noon to recognize the men and women who have served us and have passed on. Chip Cobb and the Veterans Memorial Committee have organized a program which will include the Catamount Composite Squadron and Deborah Kell. The Memorial Garden needs volunteers to spruce it up so the garden will look its best for Memorial Day.

Weathersfield Proctor Library-Scrabble Event-Saturday, May 30, Martin Hall in Ascutney 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Lunch and beverages served. Donation at the door. Walk-ins acceptable but early registration appreciated. Forms are available at the library, or call 802-263-9427 or 802-674-5021 to leave your name and category (youth, recreation or competitive). Participants should know Scrabble basics. B.Y.O. board and tiles if possible. Prizes will be awarded.

Obituaries Ascutney, Vt.-Gerald L. “Jerry” Russell, 72, a longtime resident of Ascutney, passed away Tuesday afternoon, May 12, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. He was born Aug. 31, 1942, in Montpelier, Vt., the son of Herbert and Evelyn (Verney) Russell. He attended grade school in Flagstaff, Ariz., and Weathersfield, Vt. He graduated from Springfield High School in 1960. He married Prudence Stillson in Ascutney on June 23, 1962. Mr. Russell went on to become an accomplished Journeyman Electrician and was employed by Hamblet Electric in Keene, N.H., for over twenty years until his retirement. He enjoyed fishing, listening to bagpipes, family barbecues and playing horseshoes. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Department at PO Box 91, Ascutney, VT 05030 or the VNA of NH and VT at 1 Hospital Court, Bellows Falls, VT 05101-1489 or to the charity of one’s choice.

Ongoing:

Keep the Perkinsville Church Open-A recent vote was taken to close the church to regular worship services after Memorial Day. If you want to see the chruch continue services please contact: Steve Aikenhead, 263-5439, steve@vermontel.net or Ginny Franklin, 263-5709, gfranklin2009@live.com.The church will continue to be open after Memorial Day for special events, such as weddings and the annual Christmas candlelight service, and for various group use.

Third Annual Weathersfield Hiking Season Begins-The hikes are being organized by Weathersfield Parks and Recreation. Well-behaved dogs are welcome. We expect a range of hiking speeds. Are you new to hiking? Wear footwear that is broken in and appropriate for uneven trails. Hikers join us at their own risk. Steve Aikenhead, 263-5439, steve@vermontel.net. Please reply by June 2, the day they organize all hikes. Include your name and phone number in case of changes, like postponement due to awful weather.

The Hikes-Saturday, June 20, 9:30 a.m. Cathedral Rocks This hike is partly on wood road and partly on a route that follows blazes through the woods. Its length has not been calculated, but it descends to Reservoir Road from Stokes Road, which is just short of Wellwood Orchard. The difficulty will be greater than a walk down the road. We will spot cars at the end of the hike for a ride back up to Stokes. There is a nice view near the top of the descent. The rocks are very big. Two hours?

Saturday, July 18, 9:30 a.m. The Ancient Hemlocks This route – notice I don’t say “trail” – is over fields and through the woods, up and down a logging road and over a rivulet or brook. You won’t have to remove footwear. The last half mile is up Little Canada Road, past the 1791 John Warner house. Dave Noake will welcome us there with a brief tour of the house and refreshments. The trees are about 500 years old. Your guide will use a compass to find his way through one section – he’s confident. Total distance 2 miles?

Saturday, August 1, 9:30 a.m. Tucker Trail Lookout From the green in Perkinsville we head up a road and a driveway and onto a wooded route that climbs to a fine southeastern view from the top of ledge. The difficulty is moderate to strenuous. The climb is steady, but the footing is good. The total distance is about 1.8 miles, up and back.

Sunday, August 9, 5 p.m. Ferry Road and the Connecticut River This generally level route heads down shaded Ferry Road and into Skyline Nursery. Soon it follows the river, sometimes with views. The total length is about 2 miles. Carol Orth is the leader.

Sunday, August 16, 11:30 a.m. To the Cabin We follow Swift’s Logging Road up to the crest of Pikes Peak ridge, then we follow a trail through the woods to Grace’s skiing trail, and then by woodsy trail on to Steve’s cabin. There is a nice view there. We will linger – some food will be available. The distance to the cabin will feel like 2 miles, plus a short walk on the Center Road. There might be No Trespassing signs at the beginning of this hike, but we natives are sure that they can’t mean us. We use the route many times.  

Saturday, August 29, 9:30 a.m. Perkinsville Lower Valley We will start at the Grange and take in the Lower Falls and the original site of Grout Cemetery. We will offer some historical commentary en route. There are river views and meadow views. The terrain is partly flat and partly of gentle slope. Distance will be optional, from 1.3 miles to 2.5 to 4.0. We’ll see what people want.

Saturday, September 19, 9:30 a.m. Little Ascutney We will walk up to the ledges – very nice view – on a trail, or not, and then might loop around to the basin and its cellar holes. In large part this terrain is strenuous. There is first a steady climb, then a dip, and then a steep ascent to get from the parking lot at 900 feet to the summit of Little Ascutney at 1709 feet. The hike probably will take over two hours. Steve Snyder is the hike leader, we hope.

Saturday, October 10, 9:30 a.m. Cooks Pond Loop This is a route on dirt road more than on trail. It is wooded, lovely in autumn colors. There are three beaver ponds along the trail and a framed view of Mt. Ascutney from the south end of Cooks Pond. Other mountain views occur at later points. Julia Lloyd Wright will be the hike leader.  Difficulty: easy, with one longish incline. Distance: almost 3 miles.    
     

Valley Court Diversion Programs-Volunteer are needed in Weathersfield/Springfield areas to work with low level offenders in the community. The organization embraces the principles of restorative justice. As a volunteer, you will hear participant's stories and help create a restorative contract with them. The group meets once a month at the Springfield Police Department, your commitment will require about 3 hours a month. Training is provided. For more information please visit our website at www.vcdp.org or call Maureen at 802-295-5078 #10.

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. Classes are led by Geraldine Rudenfeldt. If interested call 674-5254 for more information.

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

Need to Find a Business in Weathersfield: http://www.weathersfielddirectory.org/