Weathersfield News Dec 16 #WeathersfieldVT #VT

Weathersfield News December 16, 2015

Nancy Nutile-McMenemy

photosbynanci@comcast.net

Greetings from Belize! I'm heading back to Vermont after a wonderful week of diving off the coast of Belize (a small country in Central America, near Guatemala and Honduras.) Not to brag, but it was sunny and in the 80s most days and the water temperature was hovering around 83 degrees. I spent about 15 hours in the water and saw lots of very cool animals: sharks, spotted eagle rays, green turtles, green morays, and spotted eels. I even got a glimpse of the rare toadfish and seahorse. Lots of great memories. I posted images and videos on my website. Please use the link below to take you on a BELIZE Adventure.

Diver Log Blog: http://photosbynanci.blogspot.com/
Dive images: https://photosbynanci.smugmug.com/Underwater/Belize/December-2015
Dive videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YseCuB4dThM&list=PLKa6O-DUsAoCAY8LPV6RdinQuYsjMXScq

Now my focus needs to turn to the Winter Holidays: Happy Hanukkah, Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza and "Happy" any other winter holiday you might celebrate.

Select Board News:  Budget Review-Municipal Tax Rate for FY2017 is expected to increase by 6.6% , as reported by Town Manager Jim Mullen at the Boards meeting on Dec. 7.  The large increase is expected because there are no fund balances to reduce the rate this year.

Fire Services Evaluation-The Board and audience members participated in a conference telephone call with John Wood to clarify the goals of the evaluation. Mr. Wood stated that he will need 100 hours to complete the fire services evaluation properly and his report should be done by March or April 2016.

Food Shelf Fund Request-Weathersfield Food Shelf had requested temporary support while awaiting use of Perkinsville School. Select Board member, John Arrison reported that the Food Shelf has received a temporary certificate of occupancy and will be able to move into the school. In a related matter. the Holiday Food Shelf Hours will be Tuesday, Dec. 22 and Tuesday, Dec. 29 4-5 p.m.

You can keep up with all the Town Boards and Commissions by visiting: http://www.weathersfieldvt.org/boards

Weathersfield Proctor Library- Trustee Chair Ernie Shand reported that construction of the ADA bathroom has begun and so far the weather has been cooperating. There will soon been an indoor toilet for everyone to use. The library will be posting updates on their website: http://www.weathersfieldproctorlibrary.org/.

Weathersfield School: Heartsaver CPR for 8th Grade Students on Jan. 7 and 8 will be offered. Carissa Hodgdon a volunteer firefighter at Ascutney Fire Department will be teaching the course from 2:45-4:45 pm. At the end of the class each student will receive a CPR certification card. Please contact Mrs. Stevens or Mrs. Sprague with any questions.

Springfield Crisis Care Center Named for Frank Silfies-Health Care and Rehabilitation Services’ (HCRS) has named its Springfield Crisis Care Center in memory of Frank Silfies. Silfies was hired at HCRS in 1978 and would spend over 35 years working in their Emergency Services Program, eventually becoming the Program Director. In 1992, Frank co-founded the Green Mountain Critical Incident Stress Management coalition. This statewide group of volunteers trains emergency responders to deal with the difficulties they experience as part of their emotionally-challenging work. The full read article is posted here: http://springfieldvt.blogspot.com/2015/12/hcrs-crisis-center-named-for-frank.html

Town Calendar of Events:

Holiday Sing-Along-Weathersfield School is hosting their Holiday Sing Along on Tuesday Dec. 22 8:15-9 a.m. in the gym. Please invite your friends and neighbors and help us celebrate the holiday season!

Get Out And About:

The Nutcracker-Performances will be Saturday Dec. 12 7 p.m. and Sunday Dec. 13 2 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for children. Tickets are available at the door or ahead of time at Misty Valley Books in Chester, Woodbury Florist in Springfield, and Tina's Hallmark in Springfield. Many children from town are in this production.

Mary Poppins-Northern Stage White River Junction VT Nov. 18-Jan 3. Call 802.296.7000 for tickets.

         

Ongoing:

Yoga is becoming more accessible in the area-In Weathersfield: Tuesday nights, Weathersfield Town Hall in Ascutney practice Sivananda & Flow Yoga with Charlotte McIntyre from 5:30-6:30 p.m.. For info visit www.yogisites.com/yogawithcharlotte  or  email yogawithcharlotte7@gmail.com Claremont, NH: The Ahimsa Yoga Center is located at 140 North Street, across from Barnes Park. To find out more about Ahimsa, please visit www.ahimsanh.com

Third Annual Wildlife Photo Contest-Sponsored by the Weathersfield Conservation Commission. Requirements: limited to native wildlife (animals, birds, or insects); Limited to amateur photographers; must be photographed locally (within 50 mile radius); one submission per person, must be on an 8 x 10 glossy. There will be three places. Judging will be done by 3 interested persons. Submitted photos can be dropped off at the Weathersfield Town Office in an envelope plainly marked Conservation Commission photo contest. There is a drop box at the Town office for after hours. The following information needs to be included with the photo: Name, address, phone number, E-mail address, and where photo was taken. Submission is implied consent Town can duplicate the photo in their annual report. Winning photos will be mounted and framed, then displayed for one year at either town office, library, or school, then returned to owner. Submission deadline Feb. 15, 2016.

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 Food Shelf will be moving soon to the 1879 School House in Perkinsville. Watch for move signs. 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 10-8 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. Story Hour with Jordan: Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

Volunteers in Action (VIA) is looking for volunteer drivers. VIA is an organization that drives people to doctor's appointments, usually at Mt. Ascutney Hospital or DHMC and occasionally grocery missions. Your mileage is reimbursable.  Please call VIA at (802) 674-5971 ask for Martha or Scottie. 

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

Have anything you want included in this news and events column-email Nancy at photosbynanci@comcast.net two weeks prior to your event.