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.

 

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.

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)

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 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.

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

Click here to register

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/vZU6v7fY96gpRhAX6.

Any questions and all necessary supporting documents should be submitted through our website g[email protected]greensboroassociation.org.  The Grants Committee will evaluate each application based upon how well it directly benefits the Greensboro community, Caspian Lake and its surrounding environment.  Grant recipients will be announced at the GA’s annual meeting in early August and distribution of grant money will follow starting in September.

Greensboro Grants Committee
Anthony Acheson
Karen Gowen – CoChair
Rick Lovett
Mike Metcalf
Tim Nisbet
Naomi Ranz-Schleifer
John Schweizer – CoChair

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.

The 2020 GA Annual Meeting will be held August 6 at 4pm

The 2020 Annual Meeting for the Greensboro Association will be held on August 6 at 4:00 pm.   We sincerely hope many of our members will be able to attend to hear about the great work of the GA in this unusual year.

This meeting will occur electronically via ZOOM. Please refer to the email from the GA with the Zoom link. If you have misplaced or deleted that email please email [email protected] and we will send the link. You will be able to access the meeting via internet or phone. Information about How to access a Zoom meeting can be found HERE.

Documents for the meeting are available at the links below.

GA Annual Meeting Agenda Aug 6 2020

ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES FROM 2019 (FOR APPROVAL) https://www.greensboroassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2019-8-8-GA-Annual-Meeting-MinutesUnapproved.docx

NOMINATIONS SLATE (FOR APPROVAL)  https://www.greensboroassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2020-GA-Nominations-Committee-Report-.pdf

2019-20 FINANCIAL RESULTS AND PROPOSED BUDGET https://www.greensboroassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GATreasReport-2020-Finalwithbudget.pdf

2020-21 COMMITTEE REPORTS  https://www.greensboroassociation.org/resources/reports/

 

HOW DO I ACCESS A ZOOM MEETING?  https://www.greensboroassociation.org/how-do-i-access-a-zoom-meeting/

 

Results: 2020 Caspian Challenge

Congratulations to overall 5K winner Pablo Coddou (23.0), the overall Lake Loop Winners Evan Thorton-Sherman (38.35) and Anne Treadwell (50.35)  Click here for all results

Next year’s race will be Sunday, July 25, 2021. Mark your calendars!

Special thanks to all of those who came out to help on the day, especially Stew Arnold and Cathy Irwin who organized the event for the Greensboro Association.

2019 Winter Update

Our members have received the Winter Letter by email. Those who have not “opted out” of paper mailings also received the mailing delivered by the USPS. We look forward to getting your updates, suggestions and new member referrals. Please read the highlights of the Greensboro Association in the Winter 2019 President’s Letter.

Greensboro Association Annual Meeting August 3

Mark your calendars for the Annual Meeting of the Greensboro Association.  This year’s meeting will include our regular business meeting, reports from town and school board officers, and a presentation by Sarah Waring, Executive Director of the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE).  Learn more about how the CAE is working to build a healthy food system in the greater Hardwick community through collaboration opportunities, improving food access and hunger relief, educational outreach, and building community infrastructure.  Visit their website here: https://www.hardwickagriculture.org

This year’s meeting will be from 4-6 PM on Thursday, August 3 at the Greensboro United Church Sanctuary.

 

Sixth Annual Caspian Challenge Results

The Greensboro Association held the Sixth Annual Caspian Challenge this past weekend.  Ninety runners and walkers from Greensboro and surrounding communities joined us at the ballfield on Tolman Corner for this annual Sunday outing.  Proceeds from this year’s event go to the GA’s Lake Protection Fund.  Co-sponsored by Circus Smirkus and the Cellars at Jasper Hill, the run brought runners of all ages together to compete in either a 5K or the 6.8-mile loop around the lake.  Many families participated and this year saw a record number of children entering both the 5K and the lake loop.  The field was competitive and conditions (cool temperatures and overcast skies) made for a fast race.  Everyone enjoyed delicious homemade baked goods at the finish.

Evan Thornton-Sherman, age 13, captured the lake loop in a winning time of 42:56.  He led the field from the start, but no one could catch him.  In the 5K, overall winner was 12-year old Cormac Leahy of Greensboro with a time of 20:41.  Complete results are available here:

https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=107507

Just a few of the local businesses that provided prizes for the event include:

Cassie’s Corner

Willey’s Store

Highland Lodge

Hill Farmstead Brewery

Craftsbury General Store

Special thanks to Stew and Becky Arnold, the Jenkins Family, and a host of volunteers for making this event happen this year.

2017 Spring Newsletter

Read our Spring Newsletter! Lots of news and information about upcoming events in Greensboro. Thank you to Whitney Sowles, our Newsletter Editor.

Caspian Challenge Welcomes 112 Runners and Walkers

Sunny skies and coolish temperatures greeted runners and walker for this year’s GA-sponsored Caspian Challenge. One hundred eight finishers enjoyed the fast conditions, and records fell once again! 

Sam Beech took the overall Lake Loop winner, with a record time of 38:12, and our overall 5K winner was Evan Thornton-Sherman with a time of 21:05. 

Results are available for viewing here:

https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=75156

Special thanks to our sponsors who provided donations for this year’s race:

Hillcrest Nursery

Borealis Studios

Black Dirt Farm

Hill Farmstead Brewery

Pete’s Greens

Willey’s Store

Cassie’s Corner

Lakeside Looks

Hazendale Farmstand

Greensboro Garage

Victoria Hill Physical Therapy

Yoga Light

Craftsbury General Store

Jasper Hill Farm

Also, a special thanks to our race volunteers and cooks:

The Ely Family

The Arnold Family

The Osterhout Family

The Kehler/Von Hessert Family

The Virden Family

The Jenkins Family

The Sowles Family

The McKenzie Family

 

We look forward to another great race next year!

Greensboro Association Annual Meeting to be Held Thursday, August 4 at 4 PM

The Annual Meeting of the Greensboro Association will take place on Thursday, August 4 from 4-6 PM.   The Board elected to schedule the meeting earlier in the evening to accommodate the variety of evening activities in early August.

Included on the agenda are a one-hour business meeting, followed by a town update that will include a presentation from the Planning Commission on the results of the recent community survey, as well as a report from Hardwick Police Chief Aaron Cochran.

Finally, we invite you to celebrate the recipients of this year’s Greensboro Award, Judy and Andy Dales, and offer thanks at this meeting for their many contributions to the community.

Please note the earlier time and join us from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Thursday, August 4 at the GUCC Fellowship Hall.

Lake Levels & Ice Damage Informational Meeting

When:  July 8, 2016 from 4 to 6 PM

Where: Fellowship Hall of the Greensboro United Church of Christ

Sponsor: Greensboro Association Ad Hoc Committee on Lake Levels

Shorelines and properties around Caspian Lake experienced unprecedented ice and high water damages during the 2015/2016 winter.  The Greensboro Association Ad Hoc committee on Lake Water Levels has been investigating the extent of the damages, the causes and possible solutions.   The committee has also met with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources  to inform them of damages to Caspian’s shoreline, to understand the Agency’s policies and to discuss long term solutions.

The objective of the July 8th meeting is to inform the Caspian community of the current situation regarding controlling lake levels and to discuss the committee’s proposals on how Caspian community should move forward to prevent seasonal ice and high water damage in the future.

 

Green-up Day!

It’s been a Vermont tradition for 45 years. On the first Saturday in May, Vermonters take to our highways and byways, green garbage bags in hand, and pick up roadside litter. It’s just one of the ways we work to keep our state beautiful for all of us.

This year, Green-up Day is on Saturday, May 7. The town will provide green bags and gloves for trash collection. Come to the Town Clerk’s office to mark your route on the town map so everyone knows which areas have been covered. This year, Greensboro’s Walking ladies will provide snacks and the Vermont Coffee Company is also supplying coffee for volunteers. Full green-up bags can be brought to the designated dumpster behind the Town Hall. In addition, the metal dumpster will be available, as well as a tire dumpster for tires found along roadsides. If you have tires to dispose other than those found along roadsides, the town has a suggested fee of $3.00 per tire, delivered to the town clerk’s office.

Not in Greensboro, or even in Vermont, for Green-up Day? Consider taking a few minutes of your day to green-up in your town. For more information about Green-up Day, including safety tips, visit https://www.greenupvermont.org.