Are you eager to keep up with events and news in the greater Hardwick area, including Greensboro? Subscribe to The Hardwick Gazette to get the full picture. In-state subscriptions are only $35 per year. Out-of-state rates are only $38/year. Contact them at (802) 472-6521 for details.
Representatives from the Lakeview Union School Board and the Greensboro School Board are participating in an Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union Act 46 discussion group. The two school boards will host the first forum about Act 46 and its implications for the Greensboro community on Thursday, December 10 at Lakeview School. Representatives from the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union (OSSU) office will also be present to facilitate an open discussion about the law, which will have implications for all Greensboro residents and taxpayers. This event will be the first of several community-wide opportunities to help determine the path forward for Greensboro. We will be sending out more information about the event and the next steps for Greensboro as the process unfolds for our town.
The Greensboro Development Review Board will review an amended conditional use application by the Greensboro Area Arts Alliance, now known as the Greensboro Performing Arts Center Trust, on November 30, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall of the Greensboro United Church. The amended application is available for review at the Greensboro Town Hall or on the town website at www.greensborovt.org. A site visit will take place on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 11:00 AM.
Please note that participation in the proceeding on November 30, either in person or in writing, is a prerequisite to the right to make any subsequent appeal to these amendments.
Both the hearing and the site visit are open to the public. Interested persons unable to attend the hearing in person may send a letter to the Development Review Board at the Greensboro Town Clerk’s Office or email ([email protected]).
Photos of the architectural models of the current building design are below. These models are available for viewing at the Greensboro Town Hall during business hours.
Construction of The Mirror Theater is on schedule for completion in early 2017. Foundation work, including footings and foundation walls, is under way. Construction of the waste water system remains ongoing. The water line is complete and repairs to Hardwick Street following blasting and excavation have been finished well in advance of the winter driving season.
Below is a photo taken from the Center Road slightly above the construction site.
After a brief hiatus this fall, Greensboro’s Giving Closet re-opened this November. While closed, the Closet underwent a full cleaning and light refurbishment with a fresh coat of paint and some reorganization.
Giving Closet hours are fully dependent upon volunteer staffing. The Giving Closet is currently only staffed on Wednesdays. Without a volunteer present to accept donations or assist visitors, the Closet will not be open. If you are interested in donating your time to this important community resource, please visit the Town Hall to sign up.
If you are interested in donating items to the Closet, please only do so when a volunteer is available to receive your goods. If the item you wish to pass on to a new owner is torn, stained, or broken, please dispose of it properly in the trash.
The Greensboro Development Review Board will review an amended conditional use application by the Greensboro Area Arts Alliance, now known as the Greensboro Performing Arts Center Trust, on November 30, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall of the Greensboro United Church. The amended application is available for review at the Greensboro Town Hall or on the town website at www.greensborovt.org. A site visit will take place on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 11:00 AM.
Please note that participation in the proceeding on November 30, either in person or in writing, is a prerequisite to the right to make any subsequent appeal to these amendments.
Both the hearing and the site visit are open to the public. Interested persons unable to attend the hearing in person may send a letter to the Development Review Board at the Greensboro Town Clerk’s Office or email ([email protected]).
The Greensboro Planning Commission is seeking a new member to assist with the upcoming community assessment and the subsequent update to the Town Plan. The Commission usually meets at 7 PM on the second and fourth Monday nights of the month.
In addition, the town needs a Second Alternate for the Development Review Board. The DRB meets on an as-needed basis. The board considers the merits of conditional use, variance, and waiver applications, as well as conducts site plan review. Members and Alternates must be residents of Greensboro.
Community members interested in either position should send a letter of interest by October 22, 2015 to the Town of Greensboro, Attn: Selectboard, PO Box 119, Greensboro, VT 05841 or send an email to [email protected]. Contact the Town office at 533-2911 with any questions.
Eric Erwin, principal of Lakeview Union School displays the grant check for $1,115 from the Greensboro Association for Lakeview Union’s Farm to School program. On his right is Ryann Collins, Green Mountain Farm to School coordinator, and on his left is Victoria Von Hessert, Greensboro Associations Events Committee Chair.
Earlier this month, the Greensboro Association awarded the proceeds from the Caspian Challenge Run this past July to the Lakeview Union School. The grant for $1,115 will benefit Lakeview’s Farm to School initiative, with a particular focus on container gardening. The initiative aims to teach students about healthy foods (with an emphasis on growing and preparing your own vegetables), nutrition, and local agriculture and stewardship. Through its partnership with the Green Mountain Farm to School Program, Lakeview will use the funds to introduce a unit on container gardening to approximately 35 older students at Lakeview who live in apartments or other housing that lacks garden space. At a time when good nutrition supplied by a garden is critical for student success, many families lack the financial resources to invest in the re-usable containers, potting soil, seeds, and other supplies to begin and sustain container gardens. This grant can make a positive and long-term impact on the lives of Greensboro students and their families.
The Greensboro Association Events Committee organized and sponsored the Caspian Lake Challenge Run in July to fund this program. We thank all the participants of the run who made this grant possible.
For more information on the Lakeview Farm to School initiative, contact one of the following:
Eric Erwin
Lakeview Union School
[email protected]
Ryann Collins
Green Mountain Farm to School
[email protected]
Update August 25: The alleged gunman in yesterdays homicide is in custody after turning himself into Hardwick police. https://www.wptz.com/…/police-search-for-murder-sus…/34878206
August 24: Residents of Greensboro and area towns should be aware that a police manhunt is underway this morning following a reported homicide in the area. See WCAX link for details.
The Mirror arts center has been proposed by the Greensboro Arts Alliance and Residency (GAAR) to be located on the southwest corner of Breezy Avenue and Hardwick Street. The year ‘round arts center would be for a variety of theatrical, arts and musical performances under the aegis of various local arts organizations. The GAAR has a contract with David Allen, the land owner, to purchase the land for the center.
For those of you that missed the August 8 annual meeting of the Greensboro Association, here are a few highlights – as well as reminder to say thanks to your board members and your committee members for all their work and contributions to the Association and Greensboro.
Our 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.
We refined our mission this year to help sharpen our focus and support the launch of the new Greensboro Association Endowment. Establishing a 501c3 status and launching the GA Endowment represents a major milestone for the Association and can pave the way for members and friends to contribute with annual donations as well as consider major gifts to support the future needs in Greensboro and to deliver on our mission.
Read the rest of the report here.
When you see these people, please pass along your thank you for all of their efforts on behalf of the GA and Greensboro. (Feel free to add your comments below and mention any people we may have missed!):
Managing the precious Barr Hill & Long Pond Nature Preserves: Chris King, Clive Gray
Engaging our members with year round communications: Linda Ely
Running events we love like the Caspian Challenge!: Victoria von Hessert with help and support from Stew and Becky Arnold, The Ely Family, The Porrazzo Family, The Sowles Family, The Osterhout Family, The Kehler Family, The Cook Family, Day Patterson, Sarah Kasten, The Gowen Family, Jim Flint
Managing our funds and supporting the 501c3 process: Rick Lovett, Day Patterson
Crafting, shaping and launching the GA Endowment!!: Clay Simpson with John Stone III, Linda Ely, Andy Dales, Rick Lovett, Mike Cassidy, Day Patterson (MVP!), Bob Fairbanks, Clive Gray and Mary Parker.
Awarding Grants and managing the grant applications!: Clay Simpson, Niall Kirkwood, Andy Dales, Janet Johnston
Working with the Select Board to support a range of Greensboro Initiatives: Naomi Ranz-Schleifer with Allison Stegner, Chris King, Sara Dillon, John Stone and working with Patrick Hewes and The Willey Beach Park Committee (consisting of Naomi Ranz-Schleifer, John Mackin, and Selectboard Members Peter Romans and Bridget Collier)
Protecting Our Lake! Andy Dales with Bob Parrish, Allison Stegner, Jim Sutton, June Bascom, Rick Yeiser (Chair of GLT Stream Runoff Subcommittee), Linda Shatney
Launching our Membership Program: Allison Stegner with Naomi Ranz-Schleifer; Sara Dillon
Our Sunday Evening Music – Lake Concerts: John & Lisa Hewett with help this year from Elias Ranz-Schleifer
Facilitating the nominations of your Board of Trustees: Don Jenkins
Managing the Greensboro Swimming Committee: Lorelei Wheeler
Working on the town Zoning By-Laws: Larry Hewes
Ice Shanties had to be removed in haste from Caspian in March during a break in the cold weather when the lake began to thaw. One truck went through the ice near the Public Beach. The truck was subsequently winched out, and fortunately no one was injured.
We’d love to hear any details of good catches during this season.
A great photo of Ernie and Phyllis Hurst – Dad of Tom and Robert, Grandfather of Robbie from Willey’s Store – A true family business for generations. We love you, Willey’s! (I wish we had a soundtrack of Ernies whistling…)
By a vote of 123 to 34, the $920,000 bond to build the new Firehouse at the corner of Breezy Avenue and Hardwick Street was approved at the 2013 Greensboro Town Meeting. The new site is directly across from the Ball field at the Four Corners and will replace the current 1800’s vintage Firehouse on Breezy Avenue.
The approval is the culmination of a 4 year process following the purchase of land from the Hurst estate and a subsequent swap with the Mountain View Country Club for the land at the 4 corners. Numerous information sessions have been held over the past year to answer questions and gain response to the firehouse design. As a result, very little discussion regarding the plan occurred at Town Meeting.
The new building will provide space for the existing equipment plus one additional bay for a potential addition. It is a one story building designed to blend into the landscape in a similar way to a barn. The new building will include bathrooms (which were not in the old firehouse). It will be served by a water line extension from the existing Municipal Water District #1 system – the cost of the extension is included in the Bond amount.
The best estimate is that the new firehouse will cost property tax payers an additional $24.50 per $100,000 assessed value per year for the life of the bond (20 years).
Our members will be receiving the Winter Letter shortly by both email and mail. We look forward to getting your updates, suggestions and new member referrals.
We have been very busy over the fall addressing a number of issues important to our members. Read the highlights in the Winter 2013 President’s Letter.
Other links you may want to review include news about the Public Beach and the GA position submitted to the Greensboro Selectboard: A Public Beach History, prepared by Clay Simpson, offers an interesting background and the Public Beach President’s Letter written in December outlines our position.
We are excited to be announcing a proposal to launch The Fund For Greensboro. Learn more about the proposal here. We welcome your feedback.
We are also putting together recommendations for a Village Improvement Initiative targeting improvements to the Village Green and laying the foundation for other village priorities.
In response to recent questions regarding the ownership of the Caspian Lake Public Beach, the Greensboro Historical Society has asked Clay Simpson to research the history of the Public Beach. The following article is the result of his work. Clay Simpson is a Trustee of the GHS and a Member of the Board of the Greensboro Association.
The History of Caspian Lake Beach
Many thanks to the Greensboro Historical Society for allowing the Greensboro Association to publish this work. We also thank those who aided in the research of this, including Lorraine Hussey, The Town of Hardwick, Clive Gray and Allen Davies.
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.
The Greensboro Association has sent a letter to the Greensboro Select Board supporting their efforts to come up with an equitable, community based solution which maintains local control of the Caspian Public Beach and importantly, does not change the use of the beach to all area residents. Copies of this letter, which was drafted in response to a request from the Select Board and to rapidly developing events regarding the Beach, were distributed at a meeting on Monday night in Greensboro. A letter has also been sent to the editor at the Hardwick Gazette stating our position.
The GA position has been developed by a subgroup of GA members chaired by Andy Dales.
Hardwick has owned the public beach for several decades, and Greensboro has viewed the property as not subject to state tax assessment since it is recreational and for the public good. For many years, both Hardwick and Greensboro, plus the GA, have contributed to the upkeep and maintenance of the beach, and to the important task of detecting incoming boats for Invasive Species like Milfoil. Last year, the State of Vermont found the property was not tax exempt, and forced Greensboro to assess Hardwick approximately $10,000 in property Tax. Hardwick is contesting this judgement in the courts, but is also understandably searching for other ways to mitigate the tax burden while keeping the property open and usable to all community residents. The Greensboro Association fully understands and sympathises with the Hardwick Select Boards tax situation, and has committed to working with the Greensboro Select Board and the Hardwick Select Board to develop a solution.
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.
