pawlet newsletter

TOWN OF PAWLET, IN VERMONT’S METTOWEE VALLEY

PAWLET NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1 FALL 2010

INTRODUCTION

This issue of the Pawlet Newsletter includes important information for votersand notices of two informational meetings held by the Select Board: oneregarding the library green and parking area (November 6) and another onthe revised town plan (November 16). The series of profiles of Pawlet busi-nesses continues with a feature on Citizens Bank in West Pawlet.In other news, the Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department reports that its need fornew members has become critical. Attrition due to retirement has reduced thedepartment team to the point where it must either recruit new members orconsider closing the department. Pawlet residents are faced with the very realpossibility that they may soon be without a local fire department unlessvolunteers come forward to help.Pawlet continues to gear up for its 250th birthday celebration in 2011. Plan-ning meetings are held monthly at the Town Hall. Come and join the party!The Select Board meets at 7 PM every other Tuesday at the Town Hall. Thepublic is encouraged to attend. Upcoming meetings are November 3, 16 and30 and are open to the public. The Planning Commission usually meets on thefourth Monday of each month at 7:30; meetings are open to the public.

The purpose of this newsletter is to make town news available and encourage community involvement.Comments are appreciated; see page 16. The newsletter may be viewed online at the Town of Pawlet website(http://pawlet.vt.gov; under “Town News” click on “Newsletter”) and also at the Rutland Regional PlanningCommission website under “Town News” at wwww.rutlandrpc.org.The editor also maintains an email group list to distribute updates on local events via email. To receivePawlet ENews, send a request to Elizabeth Gibson at [email protected].

FREE ELECTRONICS COLLECTION OCTOBER 25-30 AT THE PAWLET TOWN GARAGE

IN THIS ISSUE

EVENTS CALENDAR 2

TOWN OFFICE NEWS 3

STATE HOUSE UPDATE 4

TOWN HALL PROJECT 5

SCHOOL NEWS 8

PAWLET’S 250TH 9

FIRE DEPARTMENTS 10

HISTORICAL SOCIETY 10

LIBRARY 11

BUSINESS PROFILE 12

SENIORS 15

The Town encourages residents to take advantage ofa free electronics recycling event offered by theRutland County Solid Waste Alliances Communityduring the week of October 25, Monday throughSaturday. Get rid of those broken and unwantedelectronic items, both cordless and with cord – thisincludes computers, printers, scanners, sewingmachines, vacuum cleaners, power tools, electriclawn mowers and weed wackers, microwave ovensand even satellite dishes.The following items will not be accepted: refrigerators,freezers or other large appliances, air conditioners,batteries, car parts, tires, hazardous or metal wastes.Please leave items in the boxes provided on thepallets in the salt shed on the east side of the towngarage on the Pawlet-Danby Road.

Panasonic, Sharp, and Toshiba products must beseparated out and placed in the specially designatedcollection box; please provide your name and addresson the clipboard if you are dropping off any of theseproduces. This information is being requested byPanasonic, Sharp and Toshiba and must be submit-ted to them at the end of the collection event.For more information seeww.rutlandcountyswac.orgor call the Highway Depart-ment at 325-3467. Allmaterials will be collectedfor recycling by Good PointRecycling of Middlebury.

October10/25, Monday, 7:30 PM. Planning Commission, Town Hall10/25 - 10/30, Monday - Saturday. Electronics recycling event, Pawlet Town Garage

November11/1, Monday, 7:30 PM. West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department11/2, Tuesday, 9 AM - 7 PM. General Election, vote at Town Hall

7 PM. Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department11/3, Wednesday, 12 PM. Crescent Valley Homemakers, Pawlet Community Church

7 PM. Select Board, Town Hall11/6, Saturday, 12 PM. Select Board informational meeting concerning

library green and parking area, library parking lot 5 PM. Roast pork supper, Pawlet Community Church

11/8, Monday, 7 PM. Club 2011 plans Pawlet’s 250th, Town Hall11/9, Tuesday, 12 PM. Haystack Hustlers seniors potluck lunch,

Pawlet Community Church11/10, Wednesday, 7 PM. UD #47 Board, Mettawee Community School11/13, Saturday, 5 PM. Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department Game Supper11/16, Tuesday, 7 PM. Select Board, Town Hall11/19, Friday, 9 - 11 AM. Food Pantry, Pawlet parsonage barn

7 PM. West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department turkey raffle11/22, Monday, 7:30 PM. Planning Commission, Town Hall11/23, Tuesday, 12 PM. Mettawee Community School Thanksgiving feast11/30, Tuesday, 7 PM. Select Board, Town Hall

December12/1, Wednesday, 12 PM. Crescent Valley Homemakers, Pawlet Community Church12/6, Monday, 7:30 PM. West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department12/7, Tuesday. 7 PM. Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department12/8, Wednesday, 6:15 PM. Pawlet School Board, Mettawee Community School12/13, Monday, 7 PM. Club 2011 plans Pawlet’s 250th, Town Hall12/14, Tuesday, 12 PM. Haystack Hustlers seniors potluck lunch, Pawlet Community Church

7 PM. Select Board, Town Hall12/22, Friday, 9 - 11 AM. Food Pantry, Pawlet parsonage barn12/28, Tuesday, 7 PM. Select Board, Town Hall

January1/3, Monday, 7:30 PM. West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department1/4, Tuesday, 7 PM. Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department1/5, Wednesday, 12 PM. Crescent Valley Homemakers, Pawlet Community Church1/10, Monday, 7 PM. Club 2011 plans Pawlet’s 250th, Town Hall1/11, Tuesday, 12 PM. Haystack Hustlers seniors potluck lunch, Pawlet Community Church

7 PM. Select Board, Town Hall1/25, Tuesday, 12 PM. Haystack Hustlers seniors lunch, Mettawee Community School.

Call 325-3196 for reservations11/28, Friday, 9 - 11 AM. Food Pantry, Pawlet parsonage barn

COMMUNITY EVENTS CALENDAR: OCTOBER 2010 - JANUARY 2011

PAGE 2 PAWLET NEWSLETTER

Voting Reminders!

Vote in General Election November 2, 9 AM to 7 PM, Pawlet Town Hall.Deadline to register to vote is 5 PM Wednesday, October 27.

Absentee ballots are available from Town Clerkand must be received by 7 PM, November 2

Town Hall, by Nancy Offensend Houghton

TOWN OFFICE NEWS

Town Clerk, Deb HawkinsAbsentee ballots: These may be requested anytimeup till the day before the election. Absentee ballotscan only be given or sent to the voter, although familymembers or authorized persons may request a ballotfor a voter. Absentee ballots may be received at theoffice right through Election Day. Signing petitions: You must be a legally registeredvoter in your town, and you may only sign as manypetitions for a race that there are open seats for. Forinstance if it is a “Vote for not more than 2” race, youmany only sign two petitions for that race. Manytimes as petitions get generated, people lose track ofwhat petitions they have signed, and for whom. If acandidate is relying on your signature to get on aballot and you have signed several petitions for thesame race and exceeded the number of open seats,then your signature will not count on any of thepetitions. When you sign a petition you are attestingthat you are legally permitted to do so. Remember, when you sign a petition you are notnecessarily committing to vote for the person or issueto which you’ve given your signature. You are simplyenabling the generator of the petition to get his or hername on the ballot or helping to bring an issue beforethe Select Board for consideration of a possible vote ofthe town.Voter registration and general election: Beforeany election, the voter checklist is displayed in theWest Pawlet and Pawlet post offices and in the townhall. If you aren’t sure if you are a legally registeredvoter, check these lists. You may also call the TownClerk’s office any time during regular office hours toinquire. Public service awards: Congratulations to thefollowing recent recipients of the 2010 Vermont PublicService Awards presented earlier this year by Secre-tary of State Deb Markowitz: James Andrus, MichaelBeecher, Judith S. Coolidge, Robert R. Daring,Clarence Decker, Dale Decker, Matthew C. Godette,Edgar Haskins, Platt Herrick, Sr., Bernie A. Lurvey,Edith Mach, Eric Mach, Michael Mach, Gilbert F.

VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1 PAGE 3

Mach, Jr., John W. Malcolm, Charles R. Mason,William C. McKenzie, Thomas Nelson, Francis Pow-ers, James F. Reid, Sr., Robert L. Schoenemann, FredG. Stone, Ronald Taylor, Jr., Ronald D. Taylor, Sr.,Ashley D. Waite, James Waite, Joanne G. Waite,Marvin Waite, Myron Waite, Perry Waite, Richard C.Waite, Donald Waite, Sr. and Craig Watrous.Holiday Schedule: The Pawlet Town offices will beclosed for the following dates:Thursday, November 11, Veteran’s DayTuesday, November 23 through Friday, November 26,ThanksgivingTuesday, December 21 through Friday, December 24,ChristmasMonday, December 27 through Friday December 31,New YearsPlanning CommissionThe Planning Commission has been working onupdates to the Town Plan. Thanks to retiring ClerkStacy Banet for her service and welcome to JackiLappen, recently appointed Clerk.Town Office Contacts/HoursDeb Hawkins, Town Clerk: Monday & Wednesday,8:30 AM - 3:30 PM; Tuesday, 11 AM - 6 PM;Thursday, 9 AM - 12 PM. Closed on Friday. Contact:802-325-3309, [email protected] Coolidge, Treasurer: Monday, Tuesday, Wednes-day, 9 AM - 12 PM & 1 - 4 PM. Contact: 802-325-3309,[email protected].

Town of Pawlet Notice of Public HearingAmendments/Revisions to the Pawlet Town Plan

Residents and voters of the Town of Pawlet are hereby notified and warned that the Pawlet SelectBoard will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 7:30 PM in the Pawlet Town

Offices, 122 School Street, Pawlet to consider amendments/revisions to the 2005 Pawlet Town Plan.These amendments/revisions address issues concerning technology and energy.

A complete copy of the proposed 2010 Pawlet Town Plan is available at the Pawlet Town Clerk’soffice and at the Town of Pawlet website: http://pawlet.vt.gov; under “Regulations” click on

“Town Plan and Maps.”

PAWLET NEWSLETTER

STATE HOUSE UPDATE by John Malcolm, Representative for Pawlet, Middletown Springs, Rupert, and Wells

While the Legislature is not in session, its homepage,www.leg.state.vt.us , is an important link to informa-tion about bills that were passed in this year’s legisla-tive session, the status of the state fiscal year and theforecast for next year’s budget.Through the legislative homepage, it is possible tolook up all the bills that were not only introduced inthe past year, but all the ones that passed and becameacts. Brief summaries of the acts are availablegrouped by act number, original bill number or bytopic. For example, it’s possible to see summaries ofall the acts passed pertaining to agriculture.It is also informative to click from the homepage ontothe Joint Fiscal Office for updates on acts that pertainto fiscal issues, changes in tax law, how Vermontcompares with other states, and how Federal fundingwill affect Vermont.The Legislature’s two-year session concluded withmany accomplishments. The economic downturnrequired everyone in state government to find savingsand efficiencies in all aspects of government programsand services. Increases to broad-based taxes wereavoided, and cost shifts to local communities and theproperty tax were minimized. Investments were madeto grow Vermont businesses and Vermont jobs.Compared to many other states, Vermont continuesto rank on or near the top for overall quality of life,child health, graduation rates, lack of violent crime

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and low foreclosure level.Every Vermont citizen playsa role in Vermont’s successand our shared status.The Legislature dealt withmany difficult and complexissues. The judicial systemwas reformed to not onlysave over $2.2 milliondollars per year but to provide efficiencies to allowVermonters and Vermont businesses access to timelyjustice. The unemployment insurance trust fund waschanged to direct it out of bankruptcy and be avail-able for the future. The sustainability of the teachers’pension fund was addressed with compromises onboth sides. Incentives for increased broadband andcell phone coverage were created along with incen-tives for more renewable energy creation. Otherlegislative actions involved highway safety, healthcare, schools and agriculture.Please contact me for more information on the activi-ties of the Legislature, a specific new law or changesin state policy at [email protected], 325-3424,and 1822 Rupert Mountain Road, Pawlet, VT 05761.It is an honor and privilege to serve as representativefor this district. Thank you!Representative John Malcolm

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More than 50 community members, friends andfunding agency representatives attended the town’sopen house on October 8 at the Pawlet Town Hall tocelebrate completion of the ADA-handicap accessiblephase of the restoration project. The ADA (Americanswith Disabilities Act) phase of the project was suc-cessfully finished in July. The building is now totallyADA-compliant, with a handicap-accessible entranceon each floor, and a three-stop accessible full-serviceelevator. The cupola has also been fully restored.Molly Lambert, State Director of USDA Rural Devel-opment, commented, “The Town of Pawlet has donean admirable job obtaining multiple grants andfunding sources. Now all people of Pawlet will haveaccess to a vitally important community center.”This work was made possible thanks to: grants fromVCDP-AM (Vermont Community DevelopmentProgram-Accessibility Modifications) for $50,000,ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act)through USDA-RD CF (U.S. Department of Agricul-ture – Rural Development Community Facilities) for$35,226.66, VAC-CF (Vermont Arts Council – Com-munity Facilities) for $14,800, VDHP (VermontDivision for Historic Preservation) for $11,000, andHAVA (Help America Vote Act) for $5,000; privatedonations; and the Town of Pawlet. The Pawlet TownHall cupola restoration is funded in part from aVillage Revitalization Initiative grant — a partner-ship between the Preservation Trust of Vermont andSenator Patrick Leahy, with funding from HUD.

The Pawlet Town Hall was built in 1881. The restora-tion project began in 2003 when the voters of Pawletby a margin of 3:1 decided not to investigate construc-tion of a new town office building. The overall restora-tion is about 75 percent complete. The next crucialstep is to stabilize the auditorium ceiling. The histori-cally significant decoration on the ceiling will berepaired, and the historic wall stencils will be repro-duced. Two grants are being sought to accomplish thisstep, and additional matching funds are required tomeet the total estimated cost of $40,000. Donationsfor the grant match are needed; tax-deductible contri-butions payable to “Town of Pawlet Town Hall Resto-ration” can be sent to Judy Coolidge, Treasurer, Townof Pawlet, PO Box 128, Pawlet, VT 05761.

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PAWLET NEWSLETTER

“The simple life should not involve getting locked in achicken house by an ox,” Philip Ackerman-Leistdeclares in his new book “Up Tunket Road: TheEducation of a Modern Homesteader,” published byChelsea Green. It’s a tale that captures the unpredict-able nature of life as a Pawlet homesteader, but it isalso part of a serious narrative about a family’s questfor a self-sufficient life-style and a reflection on whathomesteading means in an age of climate change andincreasing human demands on the land.Philip is associate professor of environmental studiesand director of Green Mountain College’s Farm andFood Project. He lives on Tunket Road in Pawlet withhis wife Erin and their three young children.True to the family and community spirit of theauthor’s homesteading adventure, the book is acollaborative effort, as Erin did the many beautifulpen-and-ink illustrations that accompany the text.Their education in agriculture and homesteading wasinfluenced by several people: their Pawlet neighbors;Green Mountain College colleagues; and hundreds ofPhilip’s students who inspired him to write the book.This book challenges the model of the homesteadingtradition as acquiring land in a rural area and livingoff the grid in complete self-reliance. Successfulhomesteading is all about community; lessons abouthow to do it successfully come more from local farm-ers and builders than back-to-the-land guidebooks.

EDUCATION OF A PAWLET HOMESTEADER by Kevin Coburn, Green Mountain College

Erin Ackerman-Leist’s pen and ink drawings illustratemany of the adventures described by Philip in his book.

The real joy of the book is the cast of characters —including neighbors, real estate agents, bankers,students and fellow faculty members at GMC — whocontribute knowledge, advice to help the family buildan off-the-grid home and farm. Kevin Coburn is Director of Communications atGreen Mountain College in Poultney (287-8926 [email protected]). This article is adapted fromone published in the Rutland Herald/Times Argus onJune 13, 2010, www.rutlandherald.com.

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Gary Baierlein Gary Baierlein Gary Baierlein Gary Baierlein Gary Baierlein . . . . . 802-645-0803 802-645-0803 802-645-0803 802-645-0803 802-645-0803 . . . . . West Pawlet, VT 05775West Pawlet, VT 05775West Pawlet, VT 05775West Pawlet, VT 05775West Pawlet, VT 05775

Wilson “Bill” Clark was one of four people inductedinto the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame at theChamplain Valley Exposition in September. Knownas Vermont’s “Mr. Maple,” Bill’s career began earlywhen, at age twelve, he and his brother Jackestablished Clark Bros Maple Syrup Co. and startedtheir maple syrup production business at the family’sTadmer Hill Farm in Pawlet.Later Bill served as the president of the VermontMaple Sugar Makers Association for 32 years. For 8years, from 1961 – 1969, he was president of theRutland County Maple Producers Association andthen was the Vermont Maple Delegate to the NorthAmerican Maple Council (1973 - 2001) and served asits President for 2 years. He was also a charter and31-year member of the Pawlet Planning Commission.With an eye to the future of agriculture in Vermont,Bill co-founded the Vermont Farmers Market and hasserved as its President from 2001 through 2010. Hehelped develop the state’s first, every Saturday andall winter Farmers Market in Rutland. As an early member and director of the Rutland AreaFarm And Food Link, created in 2004 to enhancesustainable, diverse agriculture in Rutland County,

Bill helped establish the “Grow The Longest ExtraRow” project, which in 2009 generated over 10,000pounds of fresh produce that was given free to over adozen food pantries in Rutland County.Bill is optimistic about the future possibilities foragriculture in Vermont. As he puts it, “Eat better foodand put idle land back to work.”

Bill Clark has served 50 consecutive years as President ofa Vermont Agriculture Association and also celebrates his

50th wedding anniversary this fall with his wife Susan.

BILL CLARK INDUCTED INTO AGRICULTURAL HALL OF FAME

STAY INFORMED - GET PAWLET ENEWS!The editor of the Pawlet Newsletter is compilingan email group list to distribute updates on local

events via email. To receive Pawlet ENews,contact Elizabeth Gibson at [email protected].

TO HONOR ALL OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL

The West Pawlet Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary requests donations to help place U.S. flags on all lightedtelephone poles in Pawlet and West Pawlet. Each flag costs about $66. A plaque will be placed in the TownHall. If you would like to donate and dedicate a flag to honor someone who has or is currently serving, or in

memory of someone, their names will be placed on the plaque.To make a donation please send a check payable to “WPVFD Ladies Auxiliary” and mail to Joanne Reid, 3474

VT Rte 30, West Pawlet, VT 05775. Please call Joanne with any questions (645-0244).Special thanks to Clarence Decker for encouraging this project. Cindy Hosley, President of the Auxiliary

PAWLET NEWSLETTERPAGE 8

METTAWEE COMMUNITY SCHOOL NEWS by Linda Maness

Kelly Ahlfeld receives 2010 B-RSU TeacherRecognition Award: At the Bennington-RutlandSupervisory Union’s annual “Welcome Back toSchool” gathering, Jean Ward, B-RSU’s Director ofCurriculum Assessment & ProfessionalDevelopment, announced the 2010 B-RSU TeacherRecognition Awards: Kelly Ahlfeld, Librarian andMedia Specialist at the Mettawee Community Schooland Jennifer Turner, Kindergarten teacher at Cur-rier Memorial School.Ward quoted some of Ahlfeld’s colleagues’ comments:“Kelly is an amazing teacher and friend. Her love ofbooks and reading is infectious, and the students atMettawee love the library. Kelly is creative, (and)resourceful. Kelly never runs out of creative ideasand energy! She is a leader in Mettawee technology,and her encouragement and support for students andteachers are unending. With Indiana Jones flair, shelaunched a technology exploratorium that encour-aged all of us to be adventurous with our school’s new‘technology treasures.’ As a colleague, you can alwayscount on Kelly to be a team player.” Ward continued, “It would not be out of the ordinaryfor Kelly to dress in costume and take on multipleacting roles to help her fellow faculty membersunderstand a technology concept. It would also not beout of character for her to dress as a cheerleader anddance around on stage in front of our school, pumpingup the crowd. She truly understands that adults andchildren alike learn in a variety of different ways,and she caters to all of them every single day.” Mettawee Community School Principal Nancy Marksaid of her award-winning staff member, “Kellyinspires all of us, from students to teachers, and in somany ways. We all thrive in the library, surroundedby beautiful books and her own love of literature. Shehas also helped to make us all “21st Century Learn-ers” by helping us to harness technology in order tobecome responsible, digital citizens and encouragedus to be innovative and creative. Kelly is so verydeserving of this recognition.”Mettawee Scientists Excel: The New EnglandCommon Assessment Program (NECAP) science testresults for Mettawee Community School’s 4th gradeof May of 2010 are in and the news is good!The NECAP science test was taken by 21 4th gradersand all scores were in the Proficient with Distinction,Proficient or Partially Proficient levels. There wereno students scoring substantially below proficient.According to Mettawee Community School PrincipalNancy Mark, “ ... our students earned the secondhighest percentage of scores that showed Proficiency

with Distinction in the state of Vermont and overallexceeded state results when combining students whowere proficient with those who were proficient withdistinction.”The scores also showed that Mettawee 4th gradersachieved a percentage of possible points higher thanthat of the state in all content areas: physical science,life science, earth space science and Inquiry.In addition to Vermont, NECAP tests are adminis-tered in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. The testsare administered in grades 4 and 8, and again ingrade 11. The tests are made up of multiple choiceand constructed-response questions. The inquirysession seeks students’ answers based on actualscientific investigationMark explained, “ ... each student is evaluated on his/her performance on a Science Inquiry Task whichmeasures a student’s ability to make connections,express ideas and provide evidence of scientificthinking. In the inquiry portion of the test, studentsare asked to formulate questions, hypothesize, set upan experiment and evaluate results. These skills andunderstandings are vital as we prepare our studentsfor leadership in our 21st century. Our scores haveprovided us with important information as we moni-tor our students’ achievement, help our studentsreach grade expectations and continue to refine ourinstruction in order to guarantee student success. Themean scaled score increased from the previous year,as well as from the year prior to that (2007-2008).”

Kelly Ahlfeld (left) and Jennifer Turner (right)were announced as the 2010 Bennington-RutlandTeachers of the Year. Ahlfeld is the Librarian and

Media Specialist at the Mettawee CommunitySchool in West Pawlet. Turner is the Kindergarten

teacher at Currier Memorial School Danby.


The Mettawee Community PTO reminds you of waysto support your child’s education. Please save andsend in Boxtops for Education and Campbell’s Labelsfor Education. Boxtops and labels can be sent in toschool with students or mailed to: MettaweeCommunity PTO, Mettawee Community School, 5788VT Rte 153, West Pawlet, VT 05775. Boxtops forEducation is a cashback program. Campbell’s Labelsfor Education is a program where points are redeemedfor educational equipment. The PTO thanks thosecommunity members who support the school’s partici-pation in these programs.The Price Chopper Tools for Schools program for2010-11 has already begun and will end in February2011. Thank you in advance to all shoppers with aPrice Chopper AdvantEdge Card who have alreadydesignated Mettawee Community School as thebeneficiary of their shopping points. If you have anAdvantEdge shopping card and have not registeredit for the Tools for Schools program, you may do so atwww2.pricechopper.com/. If you do not have anAdvantEdge Card, you can visit the Customer ServiceDesk at any Price Chopper location to obtain one, andthen register it for the Tools for Schools program.Additionally, the PTO reminds online shoppers of itsparticipation in the SchoolPop shopping programwhereby the school earns cash as a percentage of eachshopping purchase made at a variety of online sites.Visit www.onecause.com/schoolpop to learn how youcan designate the school as your beneficiary.

From the Mettawee Community PTO

Haystack Hustlers seniors receive Netbook lessonsfrom MCS 5th and 6th-graders.

The school also receives cash benefits from Target viaits education program. Whether in store oronline, Target shoppers using a Target Red Card (orTarget Visa Card) can help Mettawee earn a percent-age of the purchases made once a shopper has desig-nated Mettawee as the beneficiary. If interestedplease visit www.Target.com online or inquire atcustomer service in store.You may also recycle your printer cartridges throughMettawee or at Staples (just mention MCS).The Mettawee Community PTO thanks everyone whosupports the school and its students.The MCS PTO Officers for 2010 - 11 school year are:Brooke Burnham, President; Heather Lund, VicePresident; Judy Zinn and Wendy Chilkott, co-treasur-ers; and Linda Maness, Secretary.

Club 2011 is gearing up for Pawlet’s 250th birthdaycelebration, set for the weekend of August 26 – 28,2011. Some of the “old” Pawlet Players are planning aplay for that weekend, and the Haystack Hustlerseniors are working on a quilt show. The PawlettHistorical Society will be organizing events; CharlieLeach is putting together a military reenactment. Wehope someone will host old-time crafts and games.The weekend will include a Saturday afternoonparade in West Pawlet, with the theme “PawletThrough The Decades.” We hope that communitymembers will put together floats for the parade. Weplan to have a chicken barbecue after the parade andthen a street dance. On Sunday we are thinking of achurch service and possible brunch or picnic.We are now selling our historical 2011 calendar.Susanne Rappaport helped us put this beautifulcalendar together to commemorate Pawlet’s 250th

birthday. The calendar can be purchased for $12 atthe Town Hall and selected locations in town.

Club 2011 thanks all who contributed baskets,food, or raffle items to their June basket party. Weare especially grateful to hosts Alice Ricard and ElliePark. We also appreciate all who helped with oursecond annual Homegrown & Handmade Festival,held on October 23 at the Mettawee CommunitySchool to benefit the town’s birthday celebration. Weare grateful for all the ongoing support of the Town aswe prepare for the monumental occasion of thePawlet’s 250th birthday. Our group meets the second Monday of each month at7 PM at the Town Hall. Please join us as we work toplan activities that will remain inour memories as those of previousbirthday celebrations have.Save the dates of August 26 – 28,2011 for our celebration nextsummer! For more information orto offer help or ideas, please callPhyllis Mason at 325-3196 or JudyCoolidge at 325-3073.

CLUB 2011 PLANS FOR PAWLET’S 250TH CELEBRATION

Happy Birthday, Pawlet!

PAWLET NEWSLETTER

Bob Schoenemann

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phone 802.325.3420 * fax 802.325.3820www.schoenemann.com * [email protected]

The Pawlett Historical Society and the VermontTheater Curtain Restoration Project have finishedrestoring the theater curtain from the West PawletSchool. The curtain was recently displayed for theOctober 8 Town Hall open house.This type of curtain, known as an Advertising DropCurtain, was painted in the 1930s or 1940s for thestage in the auditorium of the West Pawlet VillageSchool. The curtain was likely produced by an un-known artist in Paul Brigham’s Crystal Art Studio inN.H. It is about 27 by 11 feet and shows a centralscene of a garden surrounded by advertisements forlocal businesses.The curtain was stored in the Town Hall basementfor several years and then by the PHS at the NorthPawlet School until it was stabilized and restored inJuly of this year to hang on the Town Hall stage. There evidently was another curtain for the TownHall stage, but it has never been found.Work on the curtain was done through the VermontTheater Curtain Project, directed by Chris Hadseland now called “Curtains Without Borders.” Suki

Fredericks, conservator, works with Chris on eachcurtain, and local volunteers also help. Most fundsfor the work are provided by the project; the restcomes from the local organization, in this case thePHS. The restored curtains are hung in a publicspace to be on view for the public a few times a year.The Society plans to host an open house at the TownHall next spring for another viewing of the curtain.

PAWLETT HISTORICAL SOCIETY COMPLETES CURTAIN RESTORATION

The restored theatre curtain has been placed in theupstairs auditorium of the Pawlet Town Hall.

West Pawlet Fire Department:Congratulations to AshleyCrandall, recipient of the YvonneBest Memorial scholarship. Wewish Ashley continued success as she attends collegethis fall. In early June we lost president and activemember Jim Stearns, whose sense of humor anddedication are greatly missed.Last spring a tree fell on the firehouse and destroyedthe old lean-to. The accident kicked off a long-plannedexpansion a bit early to includes a third truck bay anda training room. The department has worked withEfficiency Vermont to make the new building energy-efficient. Community and area businesses generouslydonated towards the project, but we must take out aloan to complete it. Please send donations to the WestPawlet Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 87, WestPawlet, VT 05775.

Pawlet Fire Department: The need for new mem-bers is critical. “We are down to a skeleton crew,”reports Chief Jim Andrus. The department musteither recruit new members or close.Pawlet residents are faced with the possibility thatthey may be without a local fire department unlessvolunteers come forward to help. This will be the lastyear of the famous game supper. The department hasalready given up its fall brunch. From now on thedepartment will limit its fundraising efforts to itsNew Years and Mothers Day brunches and the Julyauction.Please help us keep our local fire department! With-out one, help will take longer to arrive. Many resi-dents may see their homeowners insurance premiumsincrease. Call Chief Jim Andrus at 325-3714.

VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS


Exciting activities for Fall: The Pawlet Library, inaddition to its extensive collection, offers weeklyyoga, exercise class, story hour, ballet and jazz dance,tai chi and more! Here are some excerpts:

• Chat n’ Craft, Thursdays, 1 to 2:45 PM. Come knit, crochet, quilt and visit.

• Kids Kung Fu, Saturday mornings; call Rich Marantz to register at 645-1960.

• Hullabaloo dance, Pollywiggler class, Thursday mornings.

• Story hour, Tuesdays, 9:30 AM.

Stay tuned for upcoming dates of “cupcake wars” andmore activities for children. Join the Pawlet PublicLibrary on Facebook for updates and watch for newsin the Manchester Journal, Vermont News Guide andFree Press/Sentinel.

For more details call us at 325-3123.

Thanks! Beth Kashner, Pawlet Library Director

Open House marks completion of downstairsrenovation: The Library held an open house toformally christen its new downstairs suite earlier thisyear. The new space includes a large room for avariety of functions and a small kitchenette.

An estimated 80 visitors attended the open houseceremony or stopped by to see the new space andartwork earlier in the day. The library trustees anddirector, and PPC members decided to dedicate thenew downstairs rooms to the memory of Matt Waite,who donated excavation and driveway resurfacingservices to the library.

43rd Annual Pawlet Public Library Book SaleSays Thanks: What makes Pawlet Public Library’sAnnual Sale a phenomenal success? The army ofvolunteers who donate books, sort books, move books,stage books and sell books. These folks are generous

with their time, energy and enthusiasm. It is also thesupport of local and regional sponsors whose dona-tions create a terrific raffle, spread the word and feedthe crews. For those of you who bought our books,raffle tickets and food, you are remarkable!

During the week of July 19 – 26, volunteers andsupporters from Pawlet, North Pawlet, West Pawlet,Wells, Rupert, Dorset, Manchester, Poultney, andfrom across the line in New York, rallied to supportPawlet Public Library’s main fundraiser. OxbowMountain 4-H Shooting Sports Club and local areayouth turned out to move thousands of boxed booksfrom Edie Mach’s barn to Mettawee CommunitySchool in a record one hour. Crescent Valley Home-makers donated luscious baked goods and the pro-ceeds to the library sale.

In appreciation of all our volunteers who make thesale happen, the Library hosted a pot luck picnic atEmerald Lake State Park at the end of August.Thank you, all!

Dolores Luebke, Chair: Pawlet Public Library BookSale

PAWLET PUBLIC LIBRARY

MASSAGE THERAPY

The Library’s renovated downstairs suite servesas a gallery and as a pleasant space for a

variety of activities. Source: Glenn Munson

PAWLET NEWSLETTER

PROFILE OF A WEST PAWLET BUSINESS: CITIZENS BANK by Elizabeth GibsonCitizens Bank, Pawlet’s only full-service bank, islocated in West Pawlet right on the edge of Granville,N.Y. Harry Haldt, the bank’s Assistant Vice Presi-dent and Branch Manager, talks about the history ofthe bank, its services and its role in the community.What is the history of the West Pawlet branch? Thisbranch opened as the ninth branch of Proctor Bank in1986. Subsequently, due to bank mergers, it becamea branch of Green Mountain Bank, Albank andCharter One Bank. The branch became part ofCitizens Bank in 2005 when Citizens Bank acquiredCharter One Bank and all of its Vermont branches.Citizens Bank is a division of RBS Citizens, N.A., asubsidiary of Citizens Financial Group, Inc., a $144-billion commercial bank holding company headquar-tered in Providence, R.I. CFG is owned by RBS (TheRoyal Bank of Scotland Group plc).How many people does the bank employ at thisbranch? We are a team of four full-time employeesranging in longevity from 19 years to 6 years at thisbranch. We all live in Granville.How has the bank been involved in our local commu-nity? The three pillars of our bank’s credo are “cus-tomers, colleagues and community.” We offer cus-tomers the community commitment and customerservice of a neighborhood bank and the breadth anddepth of products and services of a much largerinstitution.We believe that “Good Banking is Good Citizenship.”The bank is an active corporate citizen in the localcommunity.Through community programs such as the Commu-nity Service Sabbatical Program, the “Be Inspired”award program, sponsorships, grants and employeevolunteerism, we are able to make a difference incommunities where we live and work. In 2007 theWest Pawlet branch team won the first Vermont “BeInspired” Award for our work with the local chapterof Habitat for Humanity, which included a $2,500grant to Bennington Area Habitat for Humanity.

The local branch gives two business scholarships tograduating seniors from Granville High School, onealways a Vermont resident. We make donations tothe Pawlet Food Pantry and provide raffle gifts tolocal Pawlet organizations and events such as theWest Pawlet Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary andthe Woodchuck Festival. We participate in the annualBackpack Project through our Gear for Gradesprogram by donating school supplies to underprivi-leged children in the Granville/Wells School Districts.The Backpack Project includes the Mettawee Commu-nity School this year. I have also given talks oncredit, fraud prevention and credit cards to localsenior citizen groups in Pawlet and Wells.When the town of Wells built its new Town Hall a fewyears ago, Citizens Bank contributed the conferencetable and chairs to the building.What do Pawlet residents need to know about bankingin this day and age? Banking today is all aboutconvenience and options — bank where and when youwant to. The increased use and options available withonline banking via the Internet bring the bank intothe home. About the only thing you cannot do withonline banking is get cash, but you can transfer fundsamong accounts, pay bills, check balances, set up“alerts” and more. With a corresponding ATM/Debitcard, you can access your cash through ATMs acrossthe country and around the world.Options are very important — let the customer decide— via online Internet banking, telephone bankingutilizing touch-tone technology or talking to knowl-edgeable telephone bankers (both available at Citi-zens), local branch banking, Citizens Bank ATMs at arapidly growing number of convenient outlets (prima-rily supermarket chains and new outlets like a

Pawlet’s only full-service bank

Employees of Citizens Bank in West Pawletleft to right: Christine Brown, Trudy Kelly, Donna Daigle,

Harry Haldt


Editor’s note: This is part of a series profiling localbusinesses. If you run a business in Pawlet and wouldlike to have it featured, contact Elizabeth Gibson,[email protected] or 802-325-3619.

SOUTHWIND FORESTRY

Gabriel Russo,Forester8252 VT RT. 30

Pawlet, VT 05761

Phone 802-325-2250(leave a message)

Email: [email protected] Services

Low-Impact Harvesting

The Pawlet Potter

746 Lilly Hill Road

Pawlet, VT 05761

(802) 325-3238

MARION WALDO McCHESNEY

www.marionwaldomcchesney.com

number of Cumberland Farms locations and SunocoPlus stations up and down the east coast.)Harry Haldt has lived in Granville, N.Y., since 2001.He is a Past President of the Granville Area Chamberof Commerce and a Past President of the GranvilleLions Club and Melvin Jones Fellow. He is a memberof the Pawlet 250th Anniversary Committee and thebank’s local coordinator for putting together colleagueand customer groups to help build homes throughHabitat for Humanity. Harry is married to his wifeSusan and has a daughter, three stepsons and sixgrandchildren ([email protected]).

Mettowee ValleyAuto Repair

VERMONT STATE INSPECTION STATION

Claude Tarbell, Owner

Quality work atReasonable Rates

802-325-3570 www.mettoweeauto.com

Paid for by Malcolm for State Representative, Sue LaPorte, Treasurer1822 Rupert Mountain Road, Pawlet, VT 05761

Profile of a West Pawlet Business, continued

A major Highway Department project at the end of thesummer was to install at precast concrete culvert on Route153 in West Pawlet. The 4.5 by 6.5-foot culvert replaced around culvert that was 3 feet in diameter. The work was

funded by a FEMA grant. The Town is applying for a grantto install a similar culvert on Tadmer Hill Road next year.

Some Culvert!

RESPECTED EFFECTIVE THOUGHTFUL

PAWLET NEWSLETTER

Route 30 802-325-3910 N. Rupert, VT

VALLEY WOODWORKINGJim and Linda Boyd

Let us create custom furniturefor your home.

• Handcrafted Custom Furniture• Kitchen Bath and Cabinetry• Country Reproductions

RAVNAH HOSTS SEASONAL FLU AND PNEUMONIA CLINICS

The Rutland Area Visiting Nurse Association& Hospice (RAVNAH) and Dorset Nursing,with support from the Coalition for AdultImmunization in the Rutland Region, arehosting seasonal flu and pneumoniavaccination clinics. The clinics are open to alladults age 18 years and over.

Individuals who have Medicare Part B orcarry Managed Medicare need only bringtheir card. Costs for all others are: flu immu-nization - 33, high dose flu vaccine - $55 andpneumonia vaccine - $65. Mastercard, Visaand American Express are accepted.

For more information, call the Flu Hotline at770-1574, RAVNAH at 775-0568 or visit ourwebsite at www.ravnah.org.

Upcoming clinics are scheduled for:

• Thursday, October 28, Community Center, Castleton, 9 to 11 AM.

• Monday, November 1, Young at Heart Senior Center, Poultney, 9 to 11:30 AM.

• Wednesday, November 3, Godnick Adult Center, Rutland, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

• Friday, November 5, Town Hall, Wells, 9 to 11 AM.

• Tuesday, November 9, Boys and Girls Club, Rutland, 10 AM to 12 PM.

• Thursday, November 11, Masonic Temple, Danby, 10 AM to 12 PM.


Robert M. King Funeral Home

Dignified Funeral ServicesPrearrangements AvailableServing All Faiths

(518) 642-1122

23 Church St., Granville, NY 12832

DirectorsRobert M. KingCharles J. King

Sliding fee scales forpatients with nomedical insurance.

Carl Beckler, MDBrian Kilpatrick, MD

Mettowee Valley Family Health Center278 Vermont Route 149, West Pawlet, VT 05775

802.645.0580 • 802.645.0587 fax

Michael Dashnaw, RPA-CJacki Becker, FNPJean Morgan, FNP

EVENTS FOR LOCAL AREA “HAYSTACK HUSTLER” SENIORS

The Haystack Hustler Seniors are into their fallschedule — a great time to join them for theirmonthly pot luck lunches at the Pawlet Church(second Tuesday, noon) and monthly lunches at theMettawee Community School.

All area seniors are invited to come for their next potluck lunch at noon on Tuesday, November 9, at thePawlet Church. After lunch Ann Duncan, author ofthe Johnny Vick book series, will talk. The seniors

will hold their usual 50/50 raffle and request allattending to bring items for the Pawlet food pantry.

Also in November the Haystack Hustlers will enjoytheir annual harvest feast at the Mettawee Commu-nity School.

All area seniors 60 and over are welcome. Watch alsofor other special activities and trips. For more infor-mation contact Phyllis Mason at 802-325-3196 orElaine Decker at 802-325-3121.

Garden Center, Nursery, Landscape Design and Build

Open Monday - Saturday 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, Closed Sundays.

Florist: 518-642-9696

Trees, Shrubs, Perennials,

Annuals, Vegs., Herbs,

mulch delivery, tools,

garden supplies, gift items,

and much more!!

1637 County Route 28, Granville, NY

www.mandysnursery.com 518-642-3676 Join our email mailing list online and get coupons by email!

Our professional florist is

open year-round

to serve you.

Our Every Day Plant Special: Buy 5 Get 1 Free!

Remember the old schoolhouse on Cemetery Hill Roadthat became the chapel for the Mettowee ValleyCemetery and the old Pawlet Cemetery across theroad?

Some of you may have attended school in this beauti-ful, peaceful setting in the village of Pawlet. Thatcemetery is a special place to visit.

The chapel needs some basic repairs due to the effectsof weathering: roof and ceiling work, painting, floorrepair and repointing the external window sill bricks.

The Mettowee Valley Cemetery Association asks yourhelp to accomplish this project. Volunteers are comingforward with time, skills, and materials — but addi-tional materials must be purchased, and some otherskilled people must be hired.

METTOWEE VALLEY CEMETERY ASSOCIATION NEEDS YOUR HELP

Please support this effort. The chapel is one of thesurviving landmarks of our town. We must not allowthis building to fade into history, only to be seen inpictures and kept in memories.

This chapel is available for the entire town and may beused by all.

If you have questions, and/or can donate tax-deductiblefunds or skills to the Mettowee Valley and NortheastCemetery Association, please contact Myron Waite,Superintendent, at 325-3052 or mail your check or giftto Charles Mason, Treasurer, Mettowee Valley andNortheast Cemetery Association, 458 Maple Grove,Pawlet, VT 05761. Thank you!

Mettowee Valley and Northeast Cemetery Association

Postal Patron

W. Pawlet, VT 05775

Presorted Standard

US Postage Paid

Pawlet, VT 05761

Permit #4Pawlet Newsletter

Town of PawletPO Box 128

Pawlet, VT 05761

A CA CA CA CA COMMUNITYOMMUNITYOMMUNITYOMMUNITYOMMUNITY

OFOFOFOFOF H H H H HEALERSEALERSEALERSEALERSEALERS

802-325.3300802-325.3300802-325.3300802-325.3300802-325.3300www.circleofhealingvt.orgwww.circleofhealingvt.orgwww.circleofhealingvt.orgwww.circleofhealingvt.orgwww.circleofhealingvt.org

Rural Route 30 - PO Box 295 - Pawlet, VT 05761Rural Route 30 - PO Box 295 - Pawlet, VT 05761Rural Route 30 - PO Box 295 - Pawlet, VT 05761Rural Route 30 - PO Box 295 - Pawlet, VT 05761Rural Route 30 - PO Box 295 - Pawlet, VT 05761

Offering workshops & seminarsOffering workshops & seminarsOffering workshops & seminarsOffering workshops & seminarsOffering workshops & seminars

JOHN C. THRASHER SUSAN M. CEGLOWSKI

CEGLOWSKI & THRASHER LLCATTORNEYS AT LAW

P.O. BOX 100 TELEPHONE (802) 394-99442023 ROUTE 153 FACSIMILE (802) 394-9966RUPERT, VT 05768 EMAIL [email protected]

The Pawlet Newsletter is published quarterly and distributed at no charge to Pawlet residents and nonresidenttaxpayers. All others may subscribe to 4 issues by sending a check for $10 to:

Town of Pawlet Newsletter, PO Box 128, Pawlet, VT 05761.Deadline for ads & news for the winter issue: January 5, 2011.

Ads: Business Card $25 (4 issues, 25% discount: $75); Double Business Card $50 (4 issues, 25% discount: $150)Ads to Barry Schoenwetter, 561 North Pawlet Rd, Wells, VT 05774; [email protected] or 802-645-0654.News to: Elizabeth Gibson, Editor, 128 Solar Park, Pawlet, VT 05761; 802–325–3619, [email protected].

Windsong Hill, Inc.Windsong Hill, Inc.Windsong Hill, Inc.Windsong Hill, Inc.Windsong Hill, Inc.

Where science and compassion meetwww.windsonghill.com (802) 325-2297

Caroline Albert, KPA CTP

Clicker Training - Boarding - Riding Instruction - Farrier ServiceEquine and Canine Positive Reinforcement Training

802-325-3619 • 800-404-7261www.dreamshadow.com [email protected]

HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK™HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK™HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK™HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK™HOLOTROPIC BREATHWORK™

Leonard Gibson, Ph.D. Elizabeth Gibson, M.S.128 Solar Park

Pawlet, Vermont 05761 USA

Self-Discovery Workshopsin a retreat setting

Weekends in October and December

pawlet newsletter

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