Spring Update from the GA President, Cathy Irwin
The 2023 Dues Notice will be sent to all members on Sunday, March 26. Please read the Spring update from Cathy Irwin, GA President here.
All Posts Category
Urgent: Public Meeting 2/15 – Proposed DEC Wakeboat Rules
On Wednesday, February 15, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will give the public an opportunity to react to their proposed rule on the use of wake boats in Vermont.
A meeting will be held in Greensboro at the Highland Center for the Arts and via Microsoft Teams. JoAnn Hanowski, co-chair of the Greensboro Association’s Lakes and Environmental Stewardship Committee, will be representing the GA at this meeting. There are concerns that the DEC proposal of a 500′ distance from shore requirement for wake boating is not enough to prevent harm to both the environment and other boaters and lakeshore owners. There will be opportunity for public comment at this meeting; to sign up for a 2-minute time slot to speak, go to https://forms.office.com/g/ayJuuH9923.
A group called RWVL (Responsible Wakes for VT Lakes) is pushing back on the DEC to consider getting closer to their proposed 1000’ distance from shore requirement. RWVL is a group of concerned Vermonters, many of whom are year-round and seasonal lake and pond residents. To learn more about the RWVL position, go to http://responsiblewakes.org/ . Vermont Business Magazine has additional information on this issue and it can be found here: https://vermontbiz.com/news/2023/january/31/vermont-dec-releases-draft-rule-wake-boat-regulation
Currently Caspian Lake boaters must travel at no-wake speed and not over 5 mph within 200’ of the shoreline, a person in the water, a canoe, rowboat or other vessel, a designated swim area, or any anchorage or dock. In addition, use of jet skis, personal watercraft or any other Class A vessel which uses an inboard engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of motive power is prohibited. The wake from a boat must not endanger anyone else. Canoes, kayaks and paddle boards are especially vulnerable to high-wake turbulence, and boaters are responsible for any act which endangers or jeopardizes the safety, life or property of another person. Finally, loons, ducks and other birds are especially sensitive to boat traffic. It is a punishable offense to kill or harass any water bird through the operation of a boat on any Vermont lake.
As JoAnn has pointed out, “The state of Vermont has total jurisdiction over the use of public waters. Any change to public use on Caspian Lake, including a ban on wakeboat operation would require a petition to the DEC. In any scenario (the current DEC revised petition, the original petition, or no ruling) Greensboro will be faced with managing wakeboat access and use on Caspian via our greeter program and through public education.”
Please consider making your voice heard on this important topic!
For any questions please contact [email protected] org.
Interesting update on VT short-term rentals
Towns Across Vermont Are Beginning to Regulate Short-Term Rentals
When Moriah Stokes and Vincent Connolly purchased a second home in Morrisville in 2017, they already had plans to list it on Airbnb.
The couple were living in Colorado at the time, and Stokes, who grew up in Morrisville, wanted to be able to visit her family without staying in a hotel. Renting out the home meant the property didn’t sit vacant, and it provided some extra cash. When the couple decided to move back to Vermont in 2019 to raise their three young children, the home was waiting for them. Read more
Tour de Greensboro
DATE CHANGE: This event will be held on Sunday, February 5.
Embrace the winter and sign up for the first annual Tour de Greensboro. This event, to be held on Saturday, February 4th, will consist of a 25km, classic ski tour on some of the most scenic trails in the northeast. Start and end at Highland Lodge where we will have some chili and fixings and a post-ski bonfire. Go fast or take your time to savor a mid-tour hot cider and donuts. All proceeds will benefit the Greensboro Association. We are limiting this to 100 skiers, so don’t wait, sign up today. (see details below)
January Greetings
New Year’s 2023, looking towards Black’s Point –Karen Gowen, photographer
On January 8, the lake froze (again), and by the 14th of January was sporting 4 inches of ice on the east shore. A few more good cold nights will be great news for all winter activities in the Northeast Kingdom!
Those who live in Greensboro year-round or travel up in the winter are looking forward to the first annual Tour de Greensboro, to take place on February 4. 100 cross-country skiers will take to the trails around town, and then gather for lunch at the Highland Lodge. There may still be a few slots left to ski in this event—you can register here: https://www.SkiReg.com/tour-de-greensboro. Organizers are also looking for volunteers; please contact Stew Arnold at [email protected] to sign up to help. We are honored that the Greensboro Association will be the lucky recipient of funds raised!
The Greensboro Association Board keeps working in the colder months, with committees focusing on fundraising, investment management and the refinement of our funds distribution policies for the benefit of the many fine non-profit organizations in or near Greensboro. Since formalizing the FFG in 2015, we have invested $175,000 into our amazing community! You will be hearing from us in March when we launch our 2023 membership drive. Until then be well!
Caspian Challenge Results and Updates
NEXT CASPIAN CHALLENGE
JULY 30, 2023
8:30am start
COMING NEXT YEAR–The 12th Annual Caspian Challenge, sponsored by the Greensboro Association, will be open for registration Spring 2023!
2022 RESULTS–A spectacular day greeted the 11th Annual Caspian Challenge on Sunday July 31, 2022. Seventy-five runners and eight walkers participated in the scenic race, which hosts a hilly round-Caspian-Lake 6.8 mile loop and a 5K out-and-back from Tolman Corner ball field.
Maxfield English of Wolcott, won the Men’s Loop division in a time of 40:48, and Kathleen Ruffle topped the Women’s Loop field and came in 6th overall with a time of 47:08. Mark Gilbertson of Hyde Park won the 5K Men’s Division with a time of 21:23 and Tara Nelson of Glover came in second overall and won the 5K Women’s Division with a time of 23:48.
The proceeds from the Caspian Challenge went to the Greensboro Association’s Lake Protection Fund this year. This Fund provides on-going monitoring of Caspian Lake’s water quality, including run-off from streams feeding the lake, and prevention of aquatic nuisances such as Eurasian milfoil and zebra mussels.
See full 2022 results HERE
Greensboro Association Updates: July 11
Summer Music from Greensboro | Tuesday, July 12th, 7:30 p.m.
We invite you to attend the opening concert of Summer Music from Greensboro’s 2022 concert series.
Giving performances that are “lithe, persuasive” (The New York Times), “eloquent and enthralling” (The Boston Globe), and described as “the most compelling American group to come on the scene” (The New Yorker), the Horszowski Trio has quickly become a vital force in the international chamber music world. “The Horzowskis are power players.”—The Los Angeles Times.
Greensboro United Church of Christ. Tickets at the door: $22. Students and children under 18: free.
Join us for this first concert of our 2022 summer season and enjoy the best of what true musicianship in live performance has to offer!
For further details, please visit the website: https://www.summermusicfromgreensboro.net/
Swimming Lessons
We are excited to announce that in collaboration with the Greensboro’s & Hardwick’s Recreation Committees, Teach Americans to Swim Program will be offering swim lessons to Greensboro & Hardwick Residents and children in surrounding towns. FOR AGES 2 Years – 13 Years during the week of July 18-22, 2022 Starting at 10 AM. Registration information is here.
Caspian Challenge on July 31 | Click here to register
Join us for a morning of fun, exercise, and community support for Greensboro’s natural treasure: Caspian Lake! Proceeds from this year’s run will go toward the Greensboro Association’s Lake Protection Fund, which helps provide milfoil and other invasive species prevention, as well as lake quality monitoring. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Race day registration opens at 7:15 AM and closes PROMPTLY at 8:15 AM.
July 14 Public Hearing about Reclassification of Caspian Lake
At the Annual Meeting last August we had a presentation from Oliver Pierson, Vermont-Dept of Environmental Conservation Lakes and Ponds Program Manager, who discussed the pros and cons of re-classifying Caspian Lake as A1 versus B2. Basically, reclassification would bring more attention to the lake and the need to be proactive in protecting its water quality. In addition, if Caspian’s water quality decreased below the A1 criteria, the lake would be classified as impaired, and resources would be available to mitigate the sources of the problems causing the decline in water quality. The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. at Fellowship Hall.
Greensboro Association Annual Meeting
The 2022 Annual Meeting of the Greensboro Association will be held on Thursday, August 4 at 4:00 pm in Fellowship Hall at the United Church of Christ in Greensboro, VT. All members of the Association are invited and encouraged to attend. This will be an in-person meeting with a zoom option. The zoom link will be shared prior to the meeting.
Greensboro Association Notice of Annual Meeting
The 2022 Annual Meeting of the Greensboro Association will be held on Thursday, August 4 at 4:00 pm in Fellowship Hall at the United Church of Christ in Greensboro, VT. All members of the Association are invited and encouraged to attend.
The Agenda and new slate of trustees will be distributed prior to the meeting. The minutes of the 2021 Annual Meeting are available here.
Bear Coexistence Advisory from Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department 🐻
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is receiving reports from across the state of black bears seeking food in yards, outbuildings, and livestock enclosures this spring. Many of these situations can be prevented if people take steps to make their backyards bear-safe before a bear shows up.
Bears—and people—are at risk when bears spend time in human-dominated landscapes. And every time a bear finds an easy meal of birdseed, compost, or unsecured garbage, they are learning a dangerous association between people and food. Coexisting with bears starts with you taking the following steps to help keep bears wild:
Birdfeeders are a big problem! Take down birdfeeders until December. You can attract birds by planting bird friendly native plants instead—check out Audubon’s Native Plants for Birds Program: https://www.audubon.
Make your garbage inaccessible. Store garbage in a secure structure and a bear proof container. Learn how to make your garbage can bear proof here: https://
Dispose of garbage frequently. If you have pick-up services, wait until the morning to put your garbage out. Demand bear proof dumpsters for your community.
Follow steps for composting in bear country. Compost needs to be 3 parts brown materials to 1 part kitchen scraps, turned frequently, and kept in a sturdy tumbler or bin: https://
Use electric fencing to keep chickens and bees safe. Fences need to be 4,000-6,000 volts, tested regularly and baited:https://
Clean your grill after every use.
Make bears feel uncomfortable in your yard. Yell, bang pots and pans, or use other noise devices from inside your home. Never shoot a bear to scare it. Even BBs can seriously injure bears.
Please report your bear encounters to Vermont Fish & Wildlife. These reports allow us to help you prevent future bear incidents. They also give us information to help all Vermonters better coexist with bears: https://anrweb.vt.gov/
Following these steps can save bears’ lives, and help protect you, your neighbors, and your property. Please do your part to be a good neighbor and help keep Vermont’s bears wild!
If you have questions, contact the Vermont Fish and Wildlife department at 802-828-1000, or [email protected] .
Swim Lessons at Caspian Lake!
We are excited to announce that in collaboration with the Greensboro’s & Hardwick’s Recreation Committees, Teach Americans to Swim Program will be offering swim lessons to Greensboro & Hardwick Residents and children in surrounding towns. FOR AGES 2 Years – 13 Years during the week of July 18-22, 2022 Starting at 10AM. For more information and to register click here.
Funky Fourth Update
Due to the rise in costs and worries about being able to get supplies needed from overseas in time for the celebration, the Greensboro Selectboard has decided to cancel this year’s 4th of July fireworks. Click here for the announcement on the town website.
Other 4th of July activities will continue forward, with the addition of a few new events. The Funky Fourth parade will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 2nd, ending at the town green where there will be kids games, music, food, concessions and a crafts-farmers market afterwards. An auction to raise funds for the Ukrainian Save the Children Fund will be held on the green as well, featuring Vanna White (Smith) and Tim “Uncle Sam” Nisbet as hosts. There are ongoing discussions about the possibility of evening entertainment, but details have not yet been firmed up.
The Greensboro Association, which has typically helped to fund the fireworks show with the Selectboard, will be exploring other ways to support this year’s town festivities. Those who previously donated towards the fireworks will be contacted soon to discuss donation options.
Caspian Challenge is set for July 31, 2022
THE CASPIAN CHALLENGE!
SUNDAY, JULY 31, 2022
8:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION ONLINE & 7:15-8:15 a.m. on 7/31 at Ball Field
The 11th Annual Caspian Challenge lake run/5K, sponsored by the Greensboro Association, is now open for registration! We are back to normal this year, with official timing and bibs, and prizes for winners in various categories. Join us for a morning of fun, exercise, and community support. Proceeds from this year’s Caspian Challenge will go toward the Greensboro Association’s Lake Protection Fund, which helps support prevention efforts against milfoil and other invasive species, as well as lake water quality monitoring.
Registration fee is $15 through race day; no charge for those under 13, and minimum age to participate in the 5K is 7. T-shirts will be available for an additional $15, with limited supply sold on race day for $20.
2022 Greensboro Association Grants Application Now Posted
The Greensboro Association is pleased to announce that due to generous donations from our members to our endowed Fund For Greensboro, the GA will be funding one-year project initiative grants as well as expanding to grants that support annual operation expenses. We will also consider on an exception basis, grants requests greater than $1000. The deadline for receipt of applications and necessary support documentation is May 31, 2022. . Please submit all applications through the following link:
https://forms.gle/
Any questions and all necessary supporting documents should be submitted through our website g[email protected]
Greensboro Grants Committee
Anthony Acheson
Karen Gowen – CoChair
Rick Lovett
Mike Metcalf
Tim Nisbet
Naomi Ranz-Schleifer
John Schweizer – CoChair
Greensboro’s Funky Fourth Festival – Saturday, July 2nd: “Let’s Celebrate Democracy”
World-Famous Greensboro Parade Starts 10 AM
This year’s parade will feature either the UCLA Marching Band, the Vermont Symphony Mobile Orchestra or the Bread and Puppet wondering entourage. Both President Biden and former President Trump have agreed to either attend or send caricatures and will be walking lock-step with the music. Jasper Hill will be showering the crowd with cheese balls. And we are still waiting for a confirmation from Elon Musk whether Greensboro’s new Tesla Fire Engine will arrive in time. Last and definitely least, Clive Gray’s old-old Pierce Arrow will be making its 119th continuous appearance at this year’s event.
Ukraine Relief Auction- Immediately Following the Parade on the Town Hall Lawn
This is a worthy town initiative to raise money for Ukrainian relief via Save the Children. Great food, maple syrup, crafts and refreshments will be available. Non-personality and town meeting moderator Tim Nisbet has been recruited and reluctantly agreed to be the auctioneer.
Auction Details: Greensboro summer resident Brad Irwin is Chairman of the Board of Save the Children which is now a major source of aid to Ukraine. His position gives our area unique insight into the needs of Ukraine and Save the Children’s efforts to assist the millions of refugees, displaced families, hospitals, and children remaining in Ukraine’s beleaguered towns and cities.
The goal is to raise $5,000 to go directly to help Save the Children’s efforts in Ukraine. We are hoping people will donate 100 high-quality items in good condition worth at least $50. We are also seeking craftspeople, sailors, and others who might donate a day of sailing or other products of their time and energy to the auction.
People with items they think appropriate and with a willingness to donate should contact David Kelley at 802 586 2588 or at [email protected] or John Schweizer at 802 533 9289 or [email protected]
Sailing Races on Caspian Lake: August 2022
Sailing Races will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays this August beginning Wednesday, August 3rd and ending Saturday, August 20th.
Sailors should plan to meet in the center of the lake between Blacks Point and Aspenhurst Point for a 2PM STARTING TIME before each race.
All classes of boats welcome. All ages and abilities welcome!
On Saturday, August 6th we will dedicate the race to the memory of Hazel Gray and her enduring love of sailing on Caspian. All entrants will be awarded a prize.
Request for Art Submissions for the Greensboro Association 2022-23 Member Directory
The Greensboro Association is soliciting digital images of artwork that contain themes or subjects from Greensboro, the Northeast Kingdom, and/or Vermont. One image will be chosen to be featured as the cover of the 2022-23 Greensboro Association member directory published in May 2022.
The Greensboro Association publishes a directory of members every two years. This directory is available at Willey’s Store, and is purchased by a wide number of local and seasonal residents.
WHAT ART CAN BE ENTERED?
- Types of artwork can include: paintings, drawings, graphic or digital design, or photographs.
- We accept submissions containing themes or subjects which focus on Greensboro, the Northeast Kingdom, and/or Vermont
- The art must be a unique creative work of the entrant, and not violate any copyright, intellectual property, or other laws or norms.
- We consider ONLY pre-existing works in black and white or color. Black and white images are preferred.
- Our cover dimensions are 5.25 width by 8 height in inches (note that images can be scaled down to a similar ratio).
- We accept existing art, not proposals.
- We only accept JPG files for submissions.
- The artist owns their artwork–we only license the artwork for the front cover of the directory. The directory cover may be included on our website.
- We do not pay for the use of the artwork, but we include the artists name and a description of the artwork on the inside front cover of the directory.
WHO CAN ENTER?
- We accept submissions from all sources. Preference is given to members of the Greensboro Association and local Greensboro and area artists,
- Artwork by individuals age 11 and over. Artists under age 18 must have their parent or guardians permission to enter.
HOW CAN YOU SUBMIT YOUR WORK?
- Submission deadline is APRIL 1, 2022 at 5:00pm.
- Submissions must be sent via email to [email protected].
- Each submission must include the artists name, telephone number, email address, physical address, name of the artwork, and description of the artwork in the body of the email.
- Each submission must include a print-ready .jpg attachment of the image to be considered.
Early Identification of Aquatic Invasive Species: A Virtual Event on April 6
Aquatic Invasive Species both plant and animal are an ever-growing threat to all lakes, ponds, and waterways in Vermont. This virtual meeting is designed to help organizations and individuals learn how to get a program off the ground.
The Hazen Bell Community Project
A group of local townspeople are involved in The Hazen Bell Community Project, an effort to recondition and install a bell at the local Hazen Union School in memory of a student, Finn Rooney. This effort has been launched to realize the dream of many in the community who fondly remember the bell at Hardwick Academy, the school which preceded Hazen Union. Hazen Union School has been the High School for Greensboro and other area students since 1970. Before his tragic death, Finn had proposed restoring a working bell to the greater Hardwick Community whose purpose would be to inform, to celebrate, to unify, and to heal, just as the beloved bell once did so many years ago.
The bell has been gifted to the project by the Town of Greensboro after it was found in the basement of the Town Hall, the former Greensboro High School which closed in 1968. The bell is being restored by volunteers in Craftsbury; a local architect has drawn up plans for a bell tower to be placed near the Hazen gym; lumber is being donated by a local mill. Many individuals throughout Hardwick, Craftsbury and Greensboro have been involved in the project, and plans are in place to have the bell tower built and the bell installed this Spring in time for the bell to ring in celebration at Graduation on June 11.
For further information and for ways to help, here are some links. Thanks to Kim Greaves, Greensboro Town Clerk, for making us aware of this heartwarming and worthwhile project.
The Hazen Bell GoFundMe effort, set up by Sara Tewksbury, a Hardwick Kiwanis Club member.
The WCAX New Report covering the story of Finn Rooney and the effort to bring the bell back
PBS Rubble Strip program entitled “Finn and the Bell”.
For additional information contact Mike Clark at [email protected] and 802-595-3419 or Dave Perrigo (Former Principal of Hazen Union) at [email protected] and 802-525-3414
GREENSBORO SELECTBOARD HOSTS A PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDMENTS TO GREENSBORO ZONING BYLAWS
The Greensboro Selectboard will host a hearing on Monday, December 6, at 6:30 pm to hear public comments on proposed amendments to the Greensboro zoning bylaw. This meeting will be held at Fellowship Hall, United Church of Christ, and via ZOOM at the link below. The proposed amendments are to address:
- Short-Term Rentals,
- the Shoreland Protection District,
- the Eligo Resource District,
- the Extended Village District, and
- Miscellaneous changes.
The draft containing all of the proposed four amendments is available on the Planning Commission section of the Greensboro Select Board under the Section entitled Greensboro Information.
This meeting continues the process of considering amendments to the current Zoning Bylaw. Following this meeting, the Selectboard may elect to pursue different alternatives for each proposed amendment including:
1) Adopting the amendment by vote of the Selectboard;
2) Submitting the amendment for adoption by voting members of the town at the next Town Meeting; and
3) Sending one or more amendments back to the Planning Commission for further consideration and revision based on public feedback.
Comments on each proposal may be submitted in email to the Selectboard by writing to [email protected]. Greensboro Association members who have already submitted comments to the Planning Commission are encouraged to review the revised proposals and resubmit their comments to the Selectboard for this meeting. Questions should be directed to Brett Stanciu, Greensboro Zoning Administrator at [email protected] and (802) 533-2640.
____________________________________
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What is Going On in Our Watershed?
Join a special meeting on October 14 to learn about the State of Vermont Lamoille Tactical Basin Plan. The basin plan drives a lot of the work and funding available for organizations in the watershed to address water quality issues, including work on Caspian Lake.
Latest News
Spring Update from the GA President, Cathy IrwinMarch 21, 2023 - 2:06 pm- Urgent: Public Meeting 2/15 – Proposed DEC Wakeboat RulesFebruary 5, 2023 - 2:07 pm
- Interesting update on VT short-term rentalsJanuary 30, 2023 - 11:25 am
- Tour de GreensboroJanuary 22, 2023 - 9:04 am
- January GreetingsJanuary 16, 2023 - 9:19 am