Archive for year: 2012

The United States Postal Service has recently sent a survey to users of the Greensboro Post Office soliciting community input to determine the best course of action for providing postal services to Greensboro.   The survey is testing whether the Greensboro Post Office will be open with 6 hours of window service each weekday, or whether the office should be discontinued.

A copy of the Postal Service survey is here.   Instructions are here.  If you have not sent in a form, please consider doing so immediately even if you are after the deadline.   The number of responses will be important as the USPS considers their decision.  Remember to list your Greensboro address on the form.

Besides the important aspect of whether the Post Office should remain open, the survey also asks for input on what the hours should be.    Daily hours can either be blocked (i.e. open 8 to 2 daily) or split (8 to 11, 1 to 4).    The efficiency and profitability of the USPS, a key factor in keeping an office open long term,  is maximized by blocked hours.     Please consider requesting blocked hours to give the Greensboro PO the best chance of remaining profitable and remaining open long term.

There will be a meeting with the US Postal Service on January 14, 2012 at 5pm at the Post Office to answer questions and provide additional information about the POST Plan.   If attendance is strong, provisions are being made to move the meeting to a larger venue.  The attendance and input from this meeting will also be used to make a final decision.

The Greensboro Post Office is only one of the sites being reviewed under a program called the POST Plan.  Further questions about the Federal POST program may be answered here.

There will be a special select board meeting on Monday, December 17 at 7pm on the Fellowship Hall at GUCC regarding the Caspian Lake Beach.  The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public of the facts (right now there is a lot of misinformation floating around) and to hear what the public has to say – concerns, new ideas, etc.  This is considered an informational meeting.

The GA has also formed a Public Beach Advisory Committee, chaired by Andy Dales.   This committee is considering the Public Beach issue from all sides, and welcomes input from any GA members.   Comments may be sent privately to [email protected] or posted here.  Many thanks for the comments we have already received.

There is a meeting this Thursday, December 6 at Hardwick Town Hall 6:30PM on Dec. 6th to discuss a possible sale of the Caspian Lake Public Beach by the Town of Hardwick to the Vermont State Fish and Game Department.    The Vermont State Fish and Game department is interested in buying the “Beach” and Hardwick is interested in a potential sale given the recent decision of the State of Vermont to assess property taxes on the beach.

The beach has belonged to the Town of Hardwick for decades, and has been considered a tax exempt property by Greensboro.   Last year, the State of Vermont decided the property was subject to tax assessment and Greensboro presented a bill to Hardwick.   The payment of the tax has been subject to legal challenge and discussion since that change of status.  Selling to VT Fish and Game is one potential option to the Town of Hardwick.

There are multiple possible questions about a sale to VTF&G, including what price, whether the property will be exempt from state taxes, and to what extent the VTF&G could change the beach – including changing lake level, dredging the boat ramp to accommodate larger boats on the lake (with the potential for noise increases and more potential for invasive species), limits on eradicating geese on the beach, etc.  The Greensboro Association is following the discussions, and would appreciate opinions from anyone who attends the meeting as to the above points and any others.

If you are looking for holiday decorations, please consider AWARE’s Annual Poinsettia Sale.   Red, white, or Marble Poinsettas are available for $15.00 from The Flower Basket in Hardwick.   The proceeds will benefit AWARE in Hardwick.  Delivery dates are December 6th or December 13th, and orders can be placed from now to December 8.

Also, consider a wreath from Green Mountain Monastery in Greensboro.   They are providing beautifully fragrant balsam wreaths, decorated and sent for $25 plus shipping.   There are special discounts for orders of 50 or more, and the sisters are also willing to provide the wreaths at a discount for those who wish to decorate them and sell them on as a fundraiser.   Contact Sister Gail at Green Mountain Monastery ([email protected]) for further information and to place an order.

We know many of you are interested in supporting local organizations who provide extraordinary services to our community.   A list of local not for profit organizations is available here.   Please remember Greensboro and give as generously as you can!

See our revised listing of Greensboro and Area Not-for-profit Organizations

Following last years successful season, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center has again agreed to maintain most of the over 60km Highland Lodge winter trail system.  The Outdoor Center will maintain the Marathon Trail over Barr Hill, through Skunk Hollow and back toward Craftsbury through the Fisher Sugarbush, as well as many of other commonly used Greensboro trails. The frequency of grooming will vary depending on when the snow comes and how much use the trails get, with a minimum goal of having the trails in good shape for the weekends and major holidays.  The Center will collaborate with a volunteer group to keep a warming hut (former ski shop) behind the Lodge open and manned, at least, on weekends and vacation weeks; they hope to provide some shuttle service between the hut and the Outdoor Center at selected high use weeks.

A group of 10 volunteers has already been out clipping branches and sawing downed trees to help get the trails ready for 2012-13 winter skiing.   Thank you so much for your efforts!   All of us who use the trails are very very grateful for you direct and physical help.

Highland Lodge has announced it will have some rooms available for rent over the XCC season.  See here for details.

The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is accepting donations to defray the costs of maintaining the Highland Lodge network.    All who are interested in maintaining this wonderful trail resource should consider at a minimum joining the Craftsbury Outdoor Center as a member, and also should think about contributing with a tax deductible donation to help defray the Outdoor Centers costs.  The Craftsbury Outdoor Center is a non-profit organization whose mission includes both life-long sports and land stewardship.   Yearly membership (as little as $25 for students and seniors) grants year-round access to the trails, rowing opportunities, ski rentals and a broad variety of programs.  More information on memberships can be found here.

Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District is accepting food-scrap drop offs at two locations every Tuesday and Saturday through April as part of its Residential Composting Pilot Project. Participants receive a collection kit and info; no experience necessary! Come by and talk to our Compost Monitor Tuesdays & Saturdays at All Metals Recycling in Hardwick from 8 am – noon, and at Highfields Center for Composting (outside the building between CAE and Brochu’s garage in Hardwick) Tuesdays & Saturdays 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Call 229-9383 x102 for more information, or www.cvswmd.org.