Sterling College’s School of the New American Farmstead continues to offer a wide range of year-round continuing education opportunities. This year you can discover your inner agrarian, teamster (working horses and cattle), weaver and basket maker, orchardist, bee keeper, brewer, baker, and much more. Information and registration is available here:
https://www.sterlingcollege.edu/school-of-the-new-american-farmstead/
Interested in skiing from the Highland Lodge to Craftsbury but not interested in dealing with the logistics of leaving a car in two locations? With great ski conditions now available this winter, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center has resumed its shuttle service from the Center to the Highland Lodge on weekends. The shuttle leaves the Outdoor Center at 9:30 AM for the Lodge. They do request a payment of $5 in the Activity Center to help cover the cost of running the shuttle.
For more information and to confirm that the shuttle will run on any given weekend (it really can change from week to week), check the Center’s website at
https://www.craftsbury.com/skiing/nordic-center/nordic-center-home/
The Great Hosmer Pond Task Force worked throughout 2016 to find solutions to reduce conflict on the waters of Great Hosmer between scullers and motor boaters. As part of these conversations, it became clear that an exploration of whether a revision of the “Use of Public Water Rules” could help reduce conflict.
Members of the Watershed Management Division of the Vermont DEC will host a public meeting on this issue to gain additional input from the communities that use the pond as the DEC moves forward with the rule-making process. The meeting will be this Saturday, January 21, at 10 AM at the Craftsbury Academy gymnasium.
While not in Greensboro, this process could possibly impact the uses of other lakes in our region. We encourage those of you interested in issues surrounding the public use of state-owned water bodies to attend this meeting.
For more information about this issue and the rule-making process, please visit:
https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/lakes-ponds/public-outreach-and-rulemaking
The Greensboro DRB unanimously approved Jennifer Ranz’s application for an event venue at her landmark Greensboro Barn. The DRB’s decision, as well as supporting documents and letters from community members supporting and opposing the application, is available for review here:
Greensboro — Brothers Andy and Mateo Kehler purchased 51 acres in Greenboro and conserved the land with the Vermont Land Trust as part of a broader effort to expand their cheese businesses at the Cellars at Jasper Hill.
Andy and Mateo started Jasper Hill Farm in 2003, milking 15 heifers in an old tie-stall barn. Thirteen years later, their small dairy has grown into a cheese-making phenomenon, with 85 employees, and millions of dollars in sales both nationally and internationally.
The farm has a herd of about 45 Ayrshire cows that graze the fields in warmer months.An onsite creamery produces Bayley Hazen Blue, Moses Sleeper and Winnimere cheeses from this herd, which is aged—along with cheese from herds on other Vermont dairies—at the state-of-the-art cheese caves built in 2008.
The caves, known as the Cellars at Jasper Hill, are currently at 70% capacity—something the brothers are trying to change.
To expand cheese production, Andy and Mateo bought two parcels of adjoining farmland on Country Club Road located on the edge of Greensboro village. The farmland will be home to a new herd and a state-of-the art cheese-making facility, which will produce cheeses that the brothers have been developing.
Andy and Mateo sold a conservation easement on the land to the Vermont Land Trust with funding from the Freeman Foundation, the Greensboro Conservation Fund, the Greensboro Land Trust and the Lookout Foundation.
“We are choosing to conserve [this land] to help fulfill our business mission of maintaining the working landscape,” said Andy Kehler. “This conservation project will maintain the opportunity for agriculture to exist as a central part of our community.
Andy and Mateo also conserved a portion of their main farm with the Vermont Land Trust back in 2008.
“An important piece of our work is to support a thriving farm economy,” remarked Tracy Zschau of the Vermont Land Trust. “Conserving farmland with Andy and Mateo, along with many other farmers in the Greensboro area has helped ensure there is productive land base to support farms now and in the future.”
Andy and Mateo see the new farm as a place that will allow more people to be trained in the art of high-quality cheese-making. The more artisan cheeses that are produced, the more cheese that can fill the Cellars.
There is still a lot of room for growth. If the caves were full, they would be ripening cheese from about 800 cows. This new farm will bring Andy and Mateo one step closer.
“As we as a culture become further removed from our food supply and agriculture,” remarked Andy, “we are excited to preserve the opportunity for agriculture, and dairy in particular, to be a visible and celebrated part of the activities that occur in the village.”
The conserved land has 40 acres of hayfields, all of which have prime agricultural soils. The rest of the property is wooded wetland, which will be permanently protected for water quality through restrictions in the conservation easement.
The project was the culmination of a three-farm conservation effort in Greensboro that was supported in part by the town’s conservation fund and the Greensboro Land Trust. The other two farms protected were the former Jaffin Farm on Jaffin Flats Road, owned by Shaun and Darren Hill and former Fontaine Farm on Taylor and Garvin Roads owned by Todd Hardie.
“The Town of Greensboro and the Greensboro Land Trust are grateful to the VLT for its initiative in helping return three one-time farm properties to agricultural use and ensuring that they remain in that use indefinitely,” remarked Clive Gray of the Greensboro Land Trust. “The Jasper Hill easement opens up the likelihood that Greensboro villagers will see dairy farming return next door after more than 70 years.”
The Kehlers contributed a portion of the easement value by selling the development rights for less than their full assessed value.
A draft of the Town Plan revision is scheduled to be presented at the 2017 Town Meeting March 7.
Town plans lay out a vision for the town for the future. What should the zoning do? Should we consolidate schools? What about a new fire truck? How will we conserve wildlife? All of these and more are questions that can be answered in a Town Plan. The current 2015 Town Plan is available here.
If you would like to provide input to the draft or participate in this highly important planning process, please contact Town Planning Commission at [email protected].
Historic Highland Lodge now taking reservations as a year-round Bed & Breakfast! Please like their page at https://www.facebook.com/highlandlodge/
Change is afoot at the venerable Highland Lodge, a landmark property in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Under new ownership, Highland Lodge is now welcoming guests as a year-round Bed & Breakfast that champions local craft foods and spirits, the arts community and the incomparable outdoor culture of the surrounding area.
Highland Lodge has been welcoming guests in search of the quintessential Vermont experience for generations. Perched on a hill above stunning Caspian Lake, the 136-acre property is the perfect basecamp for adventure in every season. Skiers are on the doorstep of the phenomenal Greensboro Nordic trail system and summer guests enjoy the lake from its private, sandy beachfront. Highland Lodge is also just a short distance from local attractions such as the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Sterling College, Circus Smirkus, Highland Center for the Arts and Hill Farmstead Brewery.
David and Wilhelmina Smith, whose family has owned the lodge since the 1954, have sold the 136-acre property to Highland Lodge 2016, LLC, led by CEO and Event Curator, Heidi Lauren Duke. Ms. Duke will restore the lodge to a classic bed and breakfast inn, making some small changes that respect the lodge’s many traditions while bringing in some modern amenities.
The Smiths were determined to find the right people to fill their shoes before they handed over their beloved gem. “The lodge is so important to us that we had to wait for the right owner,” said the Smiths. “We found her in Heidi Lauren and her team, who have impressed us with their hard work and respect for our land and community. Heidi Lauren will bring the right kind of youthful energy to the place, which is just what it needs.”
Having directed and performed in projects at such venues as New York’s Cartier Mansion, France’s Avignon Opera House, and Washington’s Kennedy Center, Ms. Duke has been working closely with the Smiths during an intensive six-month transition period. “Thanks to their wonderful stewardship, Highland Lodge is a Vermont treasure,” said Ms. Duke. “I look forward to hearing more from loyal guests and the community about what they love most about the lodge as we work to make this the destination of choice in this gorgeous part of Vermont.”
In addition to Ms. Duke, the new owners of Highland comprise three Vermont families who treasure their visits to Highland Lodge and are committed to its long-term future. Together they exemplify the loyalty that the lodge engenders among its patrons. The owners include Peter and Ashley Milliken of Norwich, Vermont; Tim Briglin and Laurel Mackin of Thetford, Vermont; and James Bandler and Rebecca Holcombe of Norwich, Vermont. “Highland Lodge is one of Vermont’s treasures,” said Peter Milliken. “It is an honor for us to play a role in its next chapter.”
As she plans to welcome her first guests, Duke is also focused on making Highland a gathering place for locals. “Highland Lodge has a rich tradition of hosting community events,” said Duke. “I’m excited to build on that tradition by offering a place where for people look forward to coming, whether it be for a special celebration or a moment to catch up with friends.” Among her top priorities is the installation of a new bar and lounge area. The bar will feature locally-made beer and spirits and, together with a refurbished dining room, will be open to the public year-round for weddings, pop-up diners and special events. The Lodge is also resuming its full breakfast service to guests.
The sale of the Highland Lodge was partially financed with a loan from Community National Bank, working in partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. A majority women-owned company and a much-needed outlet for local produce and goods, Highland Lodge 2016, LLC was an excellent candidate for financing.
Highland Lodge 2016, LLC has also engaged Tim Piper of Inn Partners, Inc., to assist with business planning and help support its success in its first year.
“Inn Partners is very confident that Highland Lodge has all the components of a successful business venture,” Tim Piper says. “In an area currently lacking in quality lodging options, we have the right mix of a dedicated, intelligent and talented CEO, a strong investor group, and an iconic lodge located in a rapidly-growing tourist destination.”
Dear fellow members:
We have recently updated our brochure for the Fund for Greensboro. In 2016, with your generous support, The Greensboro Association awarded $14,100 toward community initiatives. The Fund for Greensboro is designed to be a permanent resource for Greensboro. By establishing the Fund, we will be in a position to accelerate the grants program and address important priorities.
The Greensboro Association is establishing the detailed operating structures for the Fund in preparation for an important commitment to grow the fund in 2017. With the support of our Advisory Board and committee members, we have already secured inaugural commitments to the Fund, putting us on a path to success toward our initial campaign goal of $2M within the next three years.
Your donations, small or large, will help us move mountains! Please consider making a bequest, setting up a charitable gift annuity, or naming the Fund for Greensboro as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan. In partnership with the Vermont Community Foundation, we will work with you to determine the most advantageous giving plan for your situation. This is an opportunity to help ensure the long-term health and vibrancy of our community and to protect Caspian Lake and the surrounding environment for generations to come.
Warm wishes for an enjoyable holiday season and I look forward to sharing our Winter Letter in February.
Sincerely,
John C. Stone III
Association President
The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, a division of the Agency of Natural Resources, provides valuable information and resources for home owners about the maintenance and upgrading of septic systems. Greensboro does not have a municipal waste water treatment facility, and as such, all homes and businesses are individually responsible for the upkeep of their treatment systems.
For basic information on the state’s recommended guidelines for the construction, replacement, and maintenance of these systems, visit here:
https://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/wsm/lakes/Lakewise/docs/LP_BMPSepticSystemPrimer.pdf
In addition, the DEC provides a wealth of valuable information through its Lake Wise Vermont Lakeshore Management Program on best management practices to help lakefront property owners be good stewards of our Greensboro lakes. Visit the DEC website here for details:
https://dec.vermont.gov/watershed/lakes-ponds/lakeshores-lake-wise/bmp
Hardwick has a new restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Claire’s, the Vermont Supper Club, and most recently, The Vermont Place. Havana802 features home-cooked Cuban cuisine available six days a week. The restaurant had a soft opening over Columbus Day weekend and is now open for its regular hours, Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 to 8 PM, and Friday through Sunday, 11:30 to 9 PM. Havana802 is operated by John and Monica Montero and their children Kearstyn and Kaeden.
David and Wilhelmina Smith, owners of the Highland Lodge, fulfilled a dream of many years by conserving, in perpetuity, their 76 acres west of Craftsbury Road and south of North Shore Road in Greensboro. At a ceremony in Highland Lodge, the Smiths met with Tracy Zschau, conservation director of the Vermont Land Trust (VLT), and Julie Curtin, VLT attorney, to sign a conservation easement agreement with the land trust. (see map)
The agreement provides that the Smiths and future owners of the Lodge will not develop the lakeside portion of the Lodge property. It excepts a half-acre parcel on the Caspian Lake shore that will provide beach rights to future Lodge owners and some of the adjoining camp owners, but restricts use of the remaining forest and wetland only for open space uses like forestry, agriculture, recreation and education. At the signing, David Smith said: “This conservation easement allows us to preserve our natural living environment for everyone to enjoy.”
The conservation easement was professionally appraised at $282,000, the bulk of which the Smiths donated as a charitable donation to the land trust. About one quarter of the value was provided by contributions from the Stony Point and Freeman Foundations, the Greensboro Land Trust (GLT), and the Town of Greensboro through the Greensboro Conservation Fund.
The property contains the Porter Brook Natural Area, where Greensboro residents have hiked in previous years, and which summer workshops for children have visited. Its interior path has also served as a snowshoe trail. The easement agreement does not guarantee future public access to the area, but it is hoped that future Lodge owners will want to maintain the trail and allow public access. The easement includes a 22-acre wetland protection zone, and riparian buffer zones along Porter Brook that will protect water quality and aquatic habitat.
The VLT representatives congratulated the Smiths on their dedication to conservation of a beautiful natural area, and Clive Gray, clerk of the Greensboro Conservation Commission and GLT chair, said the select board had instructed him to convey its gratitude to the Smiths.
“The Smiths have been excellent stewards of their property for many years,” said the VLT’s Tracy Zschau. “It is gratifying to join them in ensuring that these sensitive and scenic areas will be protected for the long term.”
Despite extensive publicity and the receipt of numerous promising essays, Ross Connelly ended the Kickstarter campaign and essay contest for the Hardwick Gazette on October 10. At 127 years old, the paper is now in need of new energy and leadership. Ross Connelly is its 8th publisher, and he is hopeful and motivated that he will find a new owner for this important community resource and a lynchpin for the continued sustainability of local democracy. We hope that Mr. Connelly is able to find a new owner for the paper who is as committed to the value of community as he has been.
In a posting earlier this month, we shared with our membership that Ross Connelly, publisher of the Hardwick Gazette, put the paper up for sale through an essay contest this year. The contest received national press coverage, including a poignant article in The New York Times earlier this month (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/us/want-to-own-a-newspaper-a-vermont-contest-has-trouble-finding-takers.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0).
The contest needed a minimum number of entrants for it to be a viable solution for Mr. Connelly to hand over the reins of his paper, but unfortunately, it has still not met that minimum.
The contest deadline has been extended one final time to October 10, so if you are interested, you can still submit your essay.
Mr. Connelly has also started a Kickstarter campaign to make the contest viable, with a target of raising $100,000 by October 10.
The Hardwick Gazette is our area’s major weekly source of news and information about local government, sporting events, schools, and more. It would be a serious loss to both our year-round and summer communities were it to shutter its doors.
“These are people who just want to see the Gazette endure,” Connelly says [of participants to date on the paper’s Kickstarter page]. “They recognize the value of the independent voice — socially, culturally and politically. It’s a sentiment being felt broadly, even internationally. “
Perhaps you understand the critical importance of the small town press. Or perhaps you are simply a community member who values the Gazette and its contributions to our corner of Vermont.
The Kickstarter campaign ends October 10. The link is below. Don’t wait. Help save the Gazette today.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192030243/save-the-hardwick-gazette
The Highland Lodge is now under contract with an anticipated closing date in October 2016. The prospective buyer is Heidi Lauren Duke, who was the stage director of the “First Annual Opera Spectacular” for the Greensboro Arts Alliance & Residency’s summer programming this year. She is a director and choreographer with experience staging productions both nationally and internationally. Details on the planned use for the Lodge are not set and a formal press release will be published in mid-October. In the interim, Ms. Duke welcomes support from the community and wants to celebrate the contributions of the Smith Family and the Lodge to the Greensboro community during its long history.
The Highland Center for the Arts Trust (HCAT) submitted a permit application to the Agency of Natural Resources for revisions to the theater complex currently under construction at the corner of Hardwick Street and Center Road. The application includes proposed changes to the architectural design, hours of operation, café occupancy, roof line, colors, and sign. Specifically, the application delineates changes in siding material (cement board to shiplap siding that is grey-green in color), roofing colors, and a new sign that will use a native stone unearthed during construction. An amended wastewater permit was issued in April to revise the design flow use allocation for the system and the café now has a waste water permit that will enable it to seat 40. The amended permit will also reduce the number of folding chairs permitted in the theater from 130 to 29 on days when the café is in operation.
The District #7 Commission will evaluate the changes under the ten criteria of Act 250, but it also intends to narrow the scope of the hearing to Criterion #8, which covers aesthetics, unless the Commission decides to expand the scope at or before the hearing.
The public hearing for this application is on September 15, 2016 at 7:00 PM at the Greensboro Town Offices. A site visit will take place before the hearing at 6:15 PM. Participants should meet at the Highland Center for the Arts parking lot. Please be aware that the Act 250 process has established criteria for whom may participate in hearings. Information on this, as well as how to participate if you are not a statutory party or adjoining property owner, is available here:
https://anrweb.vt.gov/PubDocs/ANR/Planning/7R1359-1/Notice%20and%20COS.pdf
Details about the application, including PDFs and a narrative explaining the proposed changes, are available for viewing here: https://anrweb.vt.gov/ANR/vtANR/Act250SearchResults.aspx?Num=7R1359-1
As many in our membership know, Ross Connelly, publisher of the Hardwick Gazette, put the paper up for sale through an essay contest this year. The contest received national press coverage, including a poignant article in The New York Times earlier this month (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/26/us/want-to-own-a-newspaper-a-vermont-contest-has-trouble-finding-takers.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0).
The contest needed a minimum number of entrants for it to be a viable solution for Mr. Connelly to hand over the reins of his paper, but unfortunately, it has not met that minimum. The Hardwick Gazette is our area’s major source of news and information about local government, sporting events, schools, and more. It would be a serious loss to our community were it to shutter its doors.
Perhaps you are a journalist and have always dreamed of running your own shop. Or perhaps you are simply a community member who values the Gazette and its contributions to our corner of Vermont. Either way, please consider participating, even if it is without the intent of winning. Your submission could be as simple as letting Mr. Connelly know that you don’t want to be selected, but that you value the Gazette enough to participate in its future.
To participate, write your essay and submit with a check for $175 to:
Hardwick Gazette Essay Contest
PO Box 367
Hardwick, VT 05843
Melanie Clarke, a long time summer resident of Greensboro, has been named Chair of the Board of the Highland Center for the Arts, as well as the chair of its Artistic Programming Committee. Melanie joins existing HCAT board members Adelaide Murphy Tyrol, Elizabeth and Andrew Brown, and Greensboro resident MacNeil on the Center’s board. To learn more about Melanie and her long career in the arts and nonprofit management, visit https://highlandartsvt.org/highland-center-for-the-arts-announces-chair-of-the-board-of-directors/
September 2 was the last date for Friday afternoon tours of the arts facility. HCAT will be hosting an end-of-season cookout and tour on Saturday, September 17. They will be serving hamburgers, hots dogs, and drinks. This is a rain or shine event, and there is no fee. The festivities begin at noon, and tours will begin at 1 PM.
Please remember that as the Center is an active construction site, visitors can only come during scheduled tours and must follow safety protocols as outlined by the building’s contractors. Closed toe shoes are mandatory and long pants are encouraged.
If you missed the chance for a tour in August, RSVP to this event by email at [email protected], or leave a message at 533-9075.
It’s the middle of August and while our calendars all feel packed, please take a moment to consider these opportunities for some great near-the-end-of-summer activities.
Circus Smirkus is coming home! Final performances for the 2016 Circus Smirkus Tour, Hup, Hup and Away, will be on August 12 at 7 PM and August 13 at 2 PM and 7 PM. Shows do sell out quickly, so get your tickets in advance at https://smirkus.org.
Final performances of To Kill a Mockingbird, Sinners, and Annie Get Your Gun are also this weekend! All three performances have been given stellar reviews. For show times and ticket information, https://www.themirror.org. Tickets are also available at Willey’s.
Coming next Tuesday night at 7:30 PM, Summer Music from Greensboro is presenting a FREE concert in the GAAR tent on the Greensboro village green. The talented six-person retro big band Chaise Lounge from Washington, D.C. will perform. This is sure to be a great family-friendly evening of dancing!
And the Highland Center for the Arts is offering tours of the new theater complex – for more information (and to sign up) check out the website.
Check your green sheets and the online GA or town calendars regularly for additional events.
As many of you know, Greensboro welcomed new residents to the community this summer. For the first time since 1982, a pair of loons successfully hatched two chicks on Caspian Lake. According to reports, the babies are thriving. A first nest attempt failed, and the second attempt was quickly getting swamped by motorboat wake. Volunteers modified the nest with sideboards and foam, and the pair of loons began incubating their eggs. The hard work of conservation paid off in late July when the chicks hatched.
Eric Hanson, Vermont’s State Loon Biologist, continues to encourage both motorized and non-motorized boaters, as well as swimmers, to not pursue the chicks in open water, as it could be considered a threat by the parents. There have been many beautiful photos of the loons and their babies circulating on Facebook. Please remember that many of these photos were taken by professional photographers with special lenses from a distance. It is not recommended to approach the babies or parents to take photos with phones or other devices.
Preservation of loon habitat is something in which we can all participate, not only by keeping our distance from the loons themselves. Limiting motorboat speed and wake near shorelines and possible nesting areas is critical. Indirect threats to loon habitat include storm-water runoff, which can kill the species that serve as their food supply. Working to mitigate that impact by preserving our shorelines, properly using waste management systems, and limiting the use of pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals around the lake can make a difference.
The Greensboro Planning Commission is holding the first in a series of public forums on August 15th, 2016 at the Fellowship Hall. The Planning Commission is seeking public input regarding the community survey results and invites further discussion about what we want Greensboro to be as based on those results. Public input gathered at the forum will be strongly considered by the Planning Commission as it works on revising the Town Plan. The public forum will be held at the Fellowship Hall on August 15, 2016 and will begin at 7 PM. For more information, please contact the Town of Greensboro, Zoning Administrator at (802) 533.2911.
Subsequent dates for future community forums to be announced soon.
Please review the Community Survey Results before the forum.
Please join us!
