A Busy Weekend in the Tent on the Greensboro Town Green!

Today – (and all Thursday afternoons) – Greensboro Farmers Market


TONIGHT (July 24)- PREMIERE!! PERFORMANCE of CAROUSEL by the Greensboro Arts Alliance and Residency.   Tickets and information (Tix available at the door tonight)


TOMORROW (July 25)- PREMIERE!! PERFORMANCE of THE MIRACLE WORKER by the Greensboro Arts Alliance and Residency.   Tickets and information


WEEKEND – Further performances of both GAAR productions

TUESDAY (July 29) – Food fair and Free concert performance by Lewis Franco and The Missing Cats Jazz Ensemble.   Sponsored by Summer Music from Greensboro, Cellars at Jasper Hill, Greensboro Arts Alliance and the Center for an Agricultural Economy.  Event details here.



Caspian Water Clarity great for 2014

 

Many Greensboro residents don’t realize that the Greensboro Association monitors lake clarity yearly.   Andy Dales is registered by the State of Vermont to perform lake testing, and Lake Clarity (as measured on the Secchi scale) is one of the measurements.   For 2014 so far according to Andy, “Lake water clarity at 10m is significantly better than average for Caspian and WAY better the VT average.”

The Secchi disk, is a black and white circular disk used to measure water transparency in bodies of water. The disc is mounted on a line, and lowered slowly down in the water. The depth at which the disk is no longer visible is taken as a measure of the transparency (or clarity) of the water. This measSecchi charture is known as the Secchi depth.   The higher the Secchi depth, the better the transparency of the water.

The current year Secchi Disc Readings are located in Willey’s Store next to the Meat Counter (above the wines)   Take a look next time you go in.

A fuller report on Caspian Lake is always a part of the Greensboro Association Annual Meeting, which will be August 8 at 7:30 at Fellowship Hall in the United Church of Christ.  Come along! All welcome…

 

Introducing The Greensboro Association Endowment

July 2014

Dear fellow members:

I want to share with you important recent developments at the Greensboro Association (GA). Based upon the membership vote at the 2013 Annual Meeting, we filed a request to the Internal Revenue Service to designate your organization as a 501(c)3 public charity. The IRS has recently approved this change in our status, and this will enable 2014 and future contributions to the GA over and above dues to be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our officers and board believe that this change will allow the Greensboro Association to increase its membership support and to build a long-term endowment to support its mission.

The Greensboro Association mission is to conceive, advance, and support village initiatives and organizations that enhance our community and to protect Caspian Lake and its surrounding environment for both full and part-time residents of Greensboro.  With a Greensboro Association Endowment, our members and contributors can expand their support for initiatives that are aligned with this mission.

We plan to work with the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) to manage the Greensboro Association Endowment.  The VCF manages hundreds of charitable funds including many nonprofit endowment and reserve funds. With this arrangement, we can make available to our members expertise and services in structuring and stewarding major gifts.  We expect to build the fund deliberately.  We will facilitate discussions with members and friends who wish to have a lasting impact on Greensboro and several residents have approached us to inquire about how to provide long-term support.

We are in the process of establishing the specifics of the program, and we plan to share an update at our annual meeting on August 8 at 7PM – including a guest speaker from the VCF. We are developing a “fact sheet” to help answer questions you may have. Please get in touch with Clay Simpson, Linda Ely or me if you have questions or would like more information about the endowment. We will keep you posted as plans develop.

A substantial effort has gone into restructuring the organization as a 501(c)3 public charity and shaping plans for an endowment fund. For their lasting impact, I would like to thank all our board members and in particular, Clay Simpson, Day Patterson, Mike Cassidy, Robert Fairbanks, Clive Gray, Tara Reynolds and Linda Ely, who have provided countless hours and expert insights. Mary White invited us to explore the initial idea of a community fund.  We have benefited from the expertise of Trish Alley, Marcia and John Stone, Rick Lovett, Andy Dales, Tom Kehler, David Rahr, the VCF founding President, and many others.  Thank you.

Sincerely,

John C. Stone III

Association President

 

Circus Smirkus will break ground in Greensboro on July 15th

Circus Smirkus will break ground in Greensboro for their Circus Camp project on Tuesday, July 15 at 11am.   All are welcome to attend BUT do not plan to park near the ceremony on Breezy Avenue.   Please walk in, carpool, or bike.  Limited parking is available at the 4 corners Ball Field, the Public Beach, or the Town Hall.   Very limited parking will be available along Breezy Avenue including Lakeview Inn.
For more information, see the Circus Smirkus Press Release.

Caspian Arts Studio Tour July 29

The third annual Caspian Arts Studio Tour will take place on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, 10 am to 5 pm, this year. Nineteen artists in Greensboro and the surrounding area will open their studios, offering the public an opportunity to shop, visit with the artists, and learn about the creative process. Map and tour information are available at Hazendale Farmstand, The Miller’s Thumb Gallery, Willey’s Store and at www.caspianartsvt.com. Visitors to the studios will receive tickets for a Tour Prize Drawing, held at the festive Tour’s End Party, 5:30-7 pm at The Highland Lodge in Greensboro. Prizes will be three gift certificates ($300, $200, and $100) to be spent at participating artists’ studios.

This year, each of the artists will be presenting a new piece that is in some way inspired by this beautiful area of Vermont. Chris Jacobs, who creates mirror frames from sawn wood, Jacobs.Caspian Reflectionshas cleverly crafted the inner edge of a frame to echo the contours of Caspian Lake and calls this piece “Reflections of Caspian”. Diana Griffiths has created a set of nesting baskets that she calls “Three of a Kind”, designed specifically to tote the elements of a picnic to the lakeside. In addition, she has branched out into the world of felting, offering colorful, whimsical wool slippers that are the ultimate in coziness.

Ruby Leslie’s titled her new series of woven scarfs “Moonlight on the Water” and the pale

Funky Fourth Parade Photos

The 2014 Funky Fourth parade was terrific, and the sun came out to greet the day despite chilly weather.    Photos are here.

Parade and fireworks today!

Don’t miss Greensboro’s Funky Fourth of July festivities. Events include the Funky Fourth parade today beginning around 9:30 am, music and games in front of the town hall after the parade, the book sale at the Greensboro Free Library,  and the free Fireworks display at the Four Corners beginning at dusk.   The cost of the Fireworks are supported by the Town and the Greensboro Association – many thanks to our members for donations in support of this program.

Give Clive Gray a big thank you if you see him!   He is the major force behind setting up our wonderful parade!   Thanks so much, Clive!

There will be a opening ceremony for the new Firehouse at 8:30am on Saturday July 5 before the parade.   Tours of the new Firehouse will be available all day – come take a look at our wonderful building!

Summer Children’s Swimming lessons cancelled

The long standing summer children’s swim program at the Public Beach on Caspian Lake has been cancelled for 2014.   Organizers in Hardwick and Greensboro have placed multiple advertisements and have reached out locally and via the web to find instructors for the program without success.   Qualified swimming instructors (or people willing to be trained in June) did not come forward.

The swimming programs have operated over a couple of weeks each summer for several decades for both Greensboro and Hardwick children.   Over the past 2 years, the program has been increasingly difficult to staff due to changes in training schedules and in organizations such as the Red Cross who have administered the programs in the past.   The Greensboro Association, who have been the sponsor of the Greensboro lessons, regrets that we have not been able to provide these lessons for 2014.    We welcome any thoughts or ideas on how we might approach this in future.

Selectboard forms committee to discuss parking and Willey Park plans

At their June meeting, the Selectboard decided to form a committee to look into the parking pad which has been put between the rectory and the Altman property.  The meeting was well attended by local citizens, and the general agreement was that the existing new pad is unsightly, may be too large and needs to be reworked. There were differing explanations about how the pad was authorized, who provided the gravel, and how much parking is necessary in that section of the village. According to Prudential Committee member John Mackin, Munson Engineering (who completed the water line replacement this spring) would have returned the area to grass, but was instructed to leave it as a parking area by someone from the Town, and spread gravel as requested.  That occurred in November last year.

The committee will also consider at the statutory requirement for parking in Greensboro, and is aware that there can be difficulty for the road crew in the winter to plow when there are library or church events which have people parking on the street.  The committee, which is comprised of 2 Selectboard members and a member of the Water commission, welcomes input. They will report back on the parking pad issue at the July meeting.  Comments made on this site will be sent to the committee.

The Parking area is the access to Willey Park, a section of land which was purchased by the town in the 1970’s from the Willey estate using State funds. The state grant specifically required the use of the land for recreational purposes. The Willey Park land is adjacent to the Public Beach and contains approximately 300 feet of undeveloped lakefront.

The GA has also agreed to be involved in both this committee and is considering how to help the town determine the use and plan for the Willey Park area.

Greensboro Garage Farewell Reception

Customers of the Breezy Lane branch of the Greensboro Garage over the past 40 years are welcome to stop by and reminisce with Tim Nisbet and Steven Ferber as they bid farewell. Details here.

The Green Sheet will be out late June

Thanks for the many inquiries about the Green Sheet this year.   The final version will be ready late June in the Library, Post Office and Town Hall, and online on the web.

Willey’s Park and Beach – ideas welcome

Plans are in progress for Willey’s Park in Greensboro, located on the land purchased from the Willey estate by the Town in the 1970’s.   The current ideas have included a parking lot, bridge, new beach, etc. on the historically undeveloped shoreland directly next to the Public Beach.   Interested? Come to the Selectboard meeting this Wednesday (June 11, 7:00pm at the Town Hall) to find out more.

Registration is open for the Third annual Caspian Challenge

The third annual Caspian Challenge will be run this year on July 26. Registration is open electronically for the race here. You are also welcome to register by mail, download the form here.
The race includes a lake loop, a 5k run, a 5k walk, and a kids run. Runners who register by July 6 will receive a free teeshirt! Complete details available here.

Bridge lessons offered this summer

Do you want to learn how to play bridge?  The Mountain View Country Club is offering lessons for members and non-members.   Details are here.

Golf and tennis lessons will continue this year for children and adults, and the popular Kid’s Night will run in July and August.  Check the MVCC calendar for these and many other offerings for the 2014 Season.

Mountain View Country club is a family oriented club which has existed for over 100 years. New members are always welcome – contact https://www.mvccvt.com/.

Summer Opportunities at Sterling College – special offer to GA members

Sterling College, up the road in Craftsbury Common, is offering 2-week summer courses that are open to the general public. Both need and merit based scholarships are available for locals and summer residents, and current members of the Greensboro Association will receive an additional $500 tuition credit to participate in the course of their choice while space remains available.

The line-up of summer short-courses includes Artisan Cheese-Making in collaboration with the Cellars at Jasper Hill (May 27 – June 6), The Art of Fermentation with notable fermentation revivalist Sandor Katz (July 7 – 18), and Place-Based Writing with John Elder, and other renowned authors (June 9 – 20). Visit www.sterlingcollege.edu/summer to see a full course list and to register, and contact Tim Patterson at [email protected] with questions, or to inquire about additional financial aid.

2014 Spring Newsletter

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Click here to read the 2014 Spring Newsletter! Lots of news and information about upcoming  events in Greensboro.  Thank you to Niall Kirkwood, our Newsletter Editor.

Join a “green” effort for the Greensboro Community

Are you interesting in “Green” issues for the greater Greensboro Community?  The Greensboro UCC has recently started a “Green Group” whose membership is open to the community.   The overall purpose is to define ways to foster better environmental awareness, and decide on appropriate next-steps, as well as urging users of the church to do so in the most environment-honoring way possible.  Potential projects include not only more efficient energy use, recycling and composting….but also some initial discussion of longer-term and larger-scale projects, that could include a possible town-wide solar project.

The next meeting is May 10, 2014 from 10 am to 12 in the church’s Library Room (nearest the road)

Pastor Anthony Acheson writes “Have you ever come to an event at Greensboro Church? That is likely, because this building is the most widely used space for community events in our area. Other than Sunday morning, our building is used for non-church groups far more than for church events. Because we want everyone who uses this building to follow green practices, there is a way in which this work belongs to the whole community, not just the church’s membership. As a result, whatever green steps we take have great educational potential for the whole area.”

Questions? Contact Anthony Acheson at [email protected], or Green Group facilitator Mike Coffey at [email protected].

$251,000 USDA Grant to Improve Water Supply in Greensboro

GREENSBORO, VT – (April 9, 2014)  – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Wednesday that it has awarded a $251,000 Emergency Community Water Assistance Grant (ECWAG) to Greensboro Fire District #1 to improve drinking water quality for users in Greensboro Village.

The grant will help the Fire District develop an additional well. The system’s existing wells have suffered from drought conditions in the past two years, forcing residents to draw untreated drinking water directly for Caspian Lake. Untreated surface water does not meet the standards of the Safe Drinking Water Act, requiring the system to issue boil water notices to its users.

 “Safe, high quality drinking water in sufficient quantity is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” said USDA Rural Development Vermont and New Hampshire State Director Ted Brady. “Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and the team at USDA Rural Development recognize that our rural communities cannot shoulder the burden of making large drinking water improvements alone, and the ECWAG program is one of the most effective tools we can use to address sudden and unforeseen water quality and quantity concerns.”

The Fire District is in the final stages of an 18,000 foot water line replacement project scheduled to be completed in the coming months. USDA Rural Development provided $2,833,250 in low cost loans and grants through the agency’s Water and Waste Disposal Program. The new lines will increase fire protection and decrease water consumption due to old leaking pipes. The contractor for the project, Munson Earth Moving Corp., recently received the Associated General Contractors of Vermont 2013 Best Builders award for this project.

 “In the middle of our two-year pipe replacement project, our primary well started to dry up,” said John Mackin Prudential Committee Greensboro Fire District 1.  “USDA Rural Development stepped in with critical funding for a new well.  This has been a major undertaking for our Fire District Prudential Committee.  We have been very fortunate to have the professional help that has been provided throughout this project.”

President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA’s investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.

USDA, through its RD mission area, administers and manages housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active portfolio of more than $197 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural areas. For more information on Rural Development, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/nh-vtHome.html.

The Greensboro Garage is seeking a buyer – will close July 1.

The Breezy Lane branch of the Greensboro Garage is seeking a buyer.   Steven Ferber is planning to retire, and has had the business on the market with that in mind.  Without a buyer, it will close its doors on July 1.   According to Tim Nisbet, co-owner of the Greensboro Garage with Stephen,  “This has been an extremely difficult decision for Stephen and me to make. It is our hope that someone will step forward and buy the Greensboro property and continue to offer the service that we have over the past 42+ years”.

Although the Greensboro shop will close on July 1st,  the Hardwick location of the Greensboro Garage is going to remain in operation, according to Tim.

The Greensboro shop is a turnkey business in that it has a faithful and growing clientele and a complete staff of 7 for office and auto maintenance functions.  Interested parties should contact The Watson Agency (Craftsbury office) or Stephen Ferber at the Garage for further information.

Circus Smirkus plans to break ground for Greensboro Camp early in July

The proposal to build a children’s camp on the Sig Lonegren property on Breezy Lane is close to passing its last hurdle.   Once the Act 250 ruling by the state is received, the project will be fully ready to proceed.

Circus Smirkus floated its idea to purchase the Greensboro property for its camp in 2013, and spent significant time developing architectural plans, fundraising among its supporters, and informing various Greensboro constituencies.   Following significant deliberation by the Greensboro Planning Commission,  the project was approved in June 2013.

In August 2013, two groups filed opposition to the camp plan with the State of Vermont, contending that the plan should not have been approved by Greensboro as it altered the character of the town.    As of the Act 250 hearing in February 2014,  all opposition by both the abutters to the Lonegren property and by other summer community property owners had been withdrawn.

Closing on the Lonegren property took place on April 16.   Contractor site visits and bid meetings took place the first week in April, and construction is planned to begin on July 1, 2014.   The camp will  open  in summer 2015.

The camp will not affect the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour program, which will continue to present shows at the Circus Barn on Circus Road in Greensboro.  The 2014 Big Top Tour  “Anchors Away for Atlantis” will present shows in Greensboro on June 29 at 1pm and 6pm, on  August 15 at 6pm, and on August 16 at 1pm and 6pm.

Further information on the camp and how to get Big Top Tour tickets is available on the Circus Smirkus website at smirkus.org.