High Speed Internet Connectivity in Greensboro

The Town of Greensboro Planning Commission has asked us to distribute the following survey to our membership. High-Speed internet connectivity is the subject of intensive effort in the area through a consortium of users called NEK Community Broadband. Internet connectivity was one of the top things that Greensboro residents identified as something they wanted to improve through the USDA community grant initiative that we went through last winter and spring. This survey includes an assessment of your current connection speed as well as a few questions to assess overall interest and need. The quality of the survey increases with the number of people who participate, so please respond. All seasonal and year-round residents are invited to participate.
You can participate by clicking on the following link (or copying and pasting into your browser) – http://nek.tilsontech.com/
TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Please fill out the survey by September 25.
NEK Community Broadband (www.nekbroadband.org) is a Communications Union District (CUD) working to provide every E911 business and residential address in 31 towns in Northern Vermont with access to a minimum speed of 100 Mbps, symmetrical, at an affordable price. The goal is to ultimately get every home and business connected to a fiber-optic network. NEK Broadband will use wireless as an interim solution to get as many addresses connected as soon as possible.
What does 100mb/sec symmetrical mean? 
Symmetrical connections offer the same upload and download speeds.  So if you were to subscribe to a 100mb/sec symmetrical plan, you would be able to download and upload at that speed simultaneously.  Basically, it means your data travels at the same speeds in either direction. Your download and upload speeds are equal, and you can do the two simultaneously equally fast. The higher the number the faster your data travels. For example, a single user with 100 Mbps internet speed will be able to stream Netflix, YouTube TV, Hulu, and other streaming services. It’s also enough for downloading HD video and photos, participating in a Zoom call and doing basic internet stuff like surfing the web and checking email.
What is your current internet speed?
You can find out your internet speed on a smartphone or computer by downloading an app or visiting a speed test online. The speed test result will give you download and upload numbers. The lower the number the slower your internet experience will be. An easy online speed test may be found at:  https://www.speedtest.net/

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.

GA’s Community Relief Fund Matching Grant:  Help Rhodes Reach the Finish Line!

We are nearly there!  Thanks to the generosity of caring contributors, the matching grant for the Greensboro Association’s Community Relief Fund is very close to reaching its goal.  Initiated by 8th grade summer resident Rhodes Boester and supported by a generous anonymous donor, this grant will match up to $10,000 of funds raised by July 31st.

With just over a week left, now’s the time to make a donation of any size, and the impact of your gift will be doubled.

The Community Relief Fund is making monthly distributions to organizations best positioned to meet emergency needs.  Initial support has been targeted toward food, medical supplies, and personal protective gear necessary for first responders.   We are committed to providing critical support throughout the coming year, so every dollar raised matters!

Donations can be made through the Greensboro Association website (www.greensboroassociation.org), or by personal check (mail to GA, Community Relief Fund, PO Box 59, Greensboro, VT, 05841).

For more information about the Fund and the matching grant, read what Rhodes himself has to say:

Hello,

My name is Rhodes Boester, and I am in eighth grade. I live in Rye, NY with my parents and two brothers. During my time at home during this pandemic, I began to think of ways to help people in the Greensboro Community impacted by the Covid-19 epidemic. I spent some time looking at organizations that help those hit hard during these times. One group and cause stood out to me: The Greensboro Association Community Relief Fund. I chose it for many reasons. First, I have spent a lot of time in Greensboro throughout my life, and know how special the community really is. Secondly, it is a small organization, and is likely to not have the resources to help people as large charitable organizations have. There are many small businesses and people who are struggling to make ends meet, and this group is helping them. Please consider a donation, however big or small, to this organization. There are two ways to donate: Either send a check to Greensboro Association, Community Relief Fund, PO Box 59, Greensboro VT. 05841, or visit their website (https://www.greensboroassociation.org/covid/). An anonymous donor will match all donations, up to a sum of $10,000. When donating, mention my name to have your donation matched.

Thank you,

Rhodes Boester

You can find out more about the Greensboro Association Community Relief fund at this link.   The GA Covid-19 Community Relief Fund.  

Caspian Challenge Registration Open: New COVID Format

THE CASPIAN CHALLENGE

SUNDAY, JULY 26, 2020

***Some special changes for this year***

REGISTRATION ONLINE ONLY

SELF-TIMED RACE BEGINS AT 8:30 A.M.; RACERS MAY ALSO START LATER

Click here for details and to register

Connected Greensboro & Community Broadband Survey

By John C. Stone III

Connected Greensboro & Community Broadband Survey

The “Connected Greensboro” task force is one of four local task forces which have come together in recent months through the help and guidance of the Vermont Council on Rural Development and the Vermont Community Foundation. The task force seeks to achieve maximum broadband and mobile/cellular coverage and connectivity at affordable prices for full and part-time residents of Greensboro.

We are exploring broadband providers and solutions including fiber and hybrid networks to maximize coverage and connectivity. Later in 2020, we plan to expand activities to evaluate area mobile/cellular coverage providers, issues and challenges.

An important initiative the task force has been working on in recent months is organizing Greensboro to join the NEK Community Broadband Communication Union District (CUD). CUD membership can further our efforts to bring high-speed internet access, commonly called “broadband” to every 911 address.  Membership in the CUD poses no financial risk to the Town of Greensboro or to its taxpayers, and CUD member towns can benefit from working collectively to seek funding through the State of Vermont, the federal government and revenue-based securities to deploy broadband infrastructure in the region. While it will still take time to realize an affordable broadband solution in Greensboro, the CUD offers us a powerful opportunity to accelerate these efforts.

Good news! At town meeting, Greensboro, along with towns across the Northeast Kingdom, voted to join the NEK CUD!  Carol Fairbank led this effort on behalf of our committee. Please express your appreciation to Carol and other members of the Connected Greensboro Committee!! The next step is for each town’s selectboard is to appoint a resident to the CUD board. The CUD Board will hold its first meeting on May 12th.

We want to hear from you. Please complete the following survey (one per household please) to help us understand what qualities are most important to our community. Connectivity? Speed? Reliability? Cost? Affordable broadband coverage and connectivity is vital to Greensboro’s economic sustainability, safety and quality of life.

Committee members include: Carol Fairbank, Pal Bickford, Fred Mann, Dave Stoner, Mary Metcalf, Joan Feffer, Ken Johnston, Stew Arnold, Michael Hoffman and John Stone (Chair).

10th Annual Greensboro Fire Department Caspian Lake Fishing Derby

10th Annual GFD Caspian Lake Fishing Derby
Saturday, February 8th, 4am- 2pm
Adult class (16 yrs and older) $15.00
Junior class (15 yrs and under) $5.00
50/50 Raffle and other prizes
All children entered must be fishing with an adult registered in the fishing derby
PRE-REGISTRATION OPENS JANUARY 11TH AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
Willey’s Store, Greensboro, VT;
Riteway Sports, Hardwick, VT;
The Old Fishing Hole Gun Shop, Morrisville, VT;
or at Caspian Lake Beach the morning of the derby

Temperature Rise Threatens 114 of 168 Vermont Birds by 2050

Birds of Greensboro by John Audubon Schweizer

The Black-throated Green Warbler and Spruce Grouse are the most at-risk NEK birds.

On October 10th,  the National Audubon released its scientists’ latest forecast for birds at risk of disappearing from Vermont by 2050.  The scientists’ model looked at 168 Vermont bird species and average temperature rising 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050.  This temperature rise which is consistent with the current climate trends will result in shorter winters and more frequent extreme weather-related events like droughts, heavy rains, extreme spring heat, and forest fires.  These conditions will not only affect our birds’ ability and timing for migration, nesting, and reproduction but also shock and reorder the local insect population which is the primary sources of nutrition for fledglings and their parents.

Of the 114 threaten species, 54  common Greensboro birds are at moderate to high risk of disappearing and 60 are at low risk. The moderate to high-risk birds include 11 species of warblers, 5 species of sparrows, woodcocks, mergansers as well as Vermont’s state bird, the Hermit Thrush.  The remaining population of other studied Vermont species should remain relatively unchanged during the next 30 years.  More information on threatening Vermont bird species can be seen at the website: Audubon.org/climate/survival by degrees/state/us/vt.

 

Caspian High-water and Ice Damage

By John Schweizer

Shoreline flooding and ice damage particularly along the north and west shores of the Caspian Lake occurred again this winter. The damage was due mostly to the highest water levels in the past 20 years. On April 22, the water measured 29 inches above the spillway and breached the top of the concrete dam. At this point, GA’s Stew Arnold contacted Ben Green, the Vermont Dam Engineer. As the water was about to flow around the dam, Ben requested that the Hardwick Electric technician fully open the weir flood gate thus preventing a potential disaster. Both Peter Romans of the Greensboro Select Board and Nat Smith of the Hardwick Electric Board observed this episode.

The week following this episode, Ben Green, sent a letter to Hardwick Electric requesting that they conduct an engineering study to determine the condition of the dam and recommend any changes. The GA Lake Level Committee then requested that the Agency of Natural Resources, (ANR) which is responsible for the dam flow, and thus the lake water level, keep the weir flood gate partially open year-round until the study is completed and necessary changes are made to the dam.

Going forward, the GA Lake Committee will continue working with ANR and Hardwick Electric to collect data and make recommendations in order to adjust the dam outflow to meet our common goals of minimizing flooding and ice damage while protecting our beautiful lake and its ecosystem.

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.

2018 Spring Newsletter

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

2018 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.

We have been very busy this the fall, addressing a number of issues important to our members. Read the highlights in the Winter 2018 President’s Letter.

Children’s Summer Camps: Registration Open for WonderArts Summer Journeys Camps, Circus Smirkus, and Hosmer Point Saplings Day Camp and Traditional Overnight Camp

 

WonderArts summer camp registration opens February 1.  This year, they will collaborate with Lakeview Union Elementary School and the Highland Center for the Arts to offer a full slate of creative arts camps for children.  Camps are open to the children of year-round and summer residents, include optional extended care, and will be based at Lakeview Union School in Greensboro.  Registration information is available here:

http://wonderwisdom.org/summer-journeys/

Hosmer Point is a traditional summer camp located in Craftsbury on Big Hosmer Pond.  They offer both sleep-away and day camps, sculling camps for children ages 12-15, a session of Little Bellas Mountain Biking Camp, which is a program for girls ages 11-15.  Some sessions fill quickly, and registration is currently open here:

https://www.hosmerpoint.com/camps/camp-dates-for-2017/

Circus Smirkus Camp still has openings for several of its sessions, including BIG KID CAMP!  Have you ever wanted to run away to the circus?  Now is your chance to learn some of the skills younger campers develop and still have down time to experience all the other great things Greensboro has to offer.  Big Kid Camp is for adults age 21 and up and runs from June 8-10 this year.

Registration info here:

http://www.smirkus.org/smirkus-camp/camp-sessions/

 

Highland Center for the Arts Names New Executive Director

The Highland Center for the Arts named its new Executive Director in January.  A native of Craftsbury and UVM graduate, Annie Houston brings extensive experience in arts management and administration to the HCA.  Read more about Ms. Houston’s background and experience here:

http://highlandartsvt.org/press/

We welcome her to the Greensboro community!

HCA is currently on a mid-winter break and will re-open on February 6.  A full calendar of events for late winter and early spring is available on their website.  Events include improv comedy classes for teens, Wednesday night movies, T’ai Chi, yoga, as well as music and dance performances.

Winter Parking Ban in Effect

 A reminder that winter parking rules in Greensboro are in effect.  Parking vehicles on Town Highway rights-of-way and turnarounds is prohibited.  Vehicles may be towed at the owner’s expense.

Overnight parking in public parking lots, around the Town Hall, or in front of Willey’s Store is also prohibited.  Cars may be towed at the owner’s expense.

Plowing snow across a Town Highway or depositing snow on a Town Highway is a violation of state law and is strictly prohibited.

Trees and brush in the Town Highway right-of-way that are deemed to pose a hazard by the Select Board or Town Road Foreman may be removed.

 

Holiday Happenings

Planning to be in Greensboro during the holiday season?  There will be a variety of arts offerings during the month of December, including performances at the Highland Center, music at the Highland Lodge (check their Facebook page for details), the Craftsbury Farmer’s Market on December 9, and crafting workshops hosted by WonderArts.  Be sure to check the links below for details and to check back for more opportunities.

http://highlandartsvt.org/events/

http://wonderwisdom.org/news/

Greensboro Select Board Discusses Additional Police Officer for Hardwick Police Department

At the Select Board’s November meeting, Hardwick Police Chief Aaron Cochran presented plans for the addition of a new officer to the department.  The HPD has applied for a federal grant to help cover the cost of an additional entry-level officer’s salary for three years, after which that cost would need to be assumed by the HPD budget, of which Greensboro pays a share.  If the grant is received, an existing officer would be promoted to detective.  Statistics show that our area has seen an increase in crime, which Chief Cochran attributes primarily to the drug problem.  Working with Hardwick Town Manager Jon Jewett, the Hardwick and Greensboro select boards will put together two versions of the HPD budget to reflect both receipt of the federal grant and no receipt of the grant.

School Budgets, Education Spending, and the Calculation of Property Taxes

The Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA) released a new video to help explain how the education portion of your property taxes is calculated.  In a posting earlier this fall, we informed you of the pending shortfall in the State’s Education Fund.  This shortfall will likely impact your property taxes next year.  School districts are currently building budgets for presentation to the voters at town meetings in March.  In Greensboro, voters will be asked to approve three separate budgets: one at town meeting on March 6 for the Greensboro Town School District, which funds preschool education, one for the Lakeview Union Elementary School at its annual meeting on Thursday, March 8, and one by Australian ballot at town meeting for Hazen Union High School.  A budget presentation for Hazen Union is currently scheduled for Thursday, February 26 at the high school in Hardwick.

The short video is available below:

http://www.vtvsba.org

Vermont State Education Fund Faces Shortfall

As we near the start of the 2018 Vermont Legislative Session, reports are emerging that the State Education Fund will face a significant shortfall.  The impact on property taxpayers, both resident and nonresident, could be significant.  As the session unfolds and the impact becomes clearer, the GA will endeavor to keep its membership informed of possible tax impacts.  For some background information on what is at stake, the following articles are helpful and informative:

https://vtdigger.org/2017/10/02/depleted-education-fund-makes-for-likely-tax-increase/#.WdvK3kyZO9Y

https://vtdigger.org/2017/10/09/education-fund-gap-go-high-80m/#.WdvH5EyZO9Y

 

Clive Gray Recognized for Community Conservation Work

At the Annual Meeting of the Vermont Land Trust earlier this month, Clive Gray, chair of the Greensboro Land Trust, received the Richard W. Carbin Community Conservation Award. The award recognizes conservation partners who demonstrate a commitment to conservation in their communities.  Clive has served the Greensboro community for many years on both the Greensboro Land Trust and the Greensboro Conservation Commission.  His dedication to the preservation of our beautiful natural spaces benefits all of us.  Congratulations, Clive, and thank you for all your hard work and dedication.