Back to school tips!

Another beautiful Vermont summer is coming to a close, and kids have transitioned from the backyard to the schoolyard. It’s natural to want to trust your teens and give them a healthy sense of independence as they head back to school. But the truth is that while our teens deserve our trust, they also deserve our commitment to helping them stay on track and out of trouble. It’s important that parents pay extra attention to teens’ behavior during such times of transition. Research shows that teens often literally can’t help but make bad decisions. During the teen years, the part of the brain responsible for making complex judgments is not as mature as the parts dedicated to emotion and motivation. So it’s only natural for emotions and impulses to win out over good judgment. At the same time, the incredible changes that take place in the brain during these years leave it very vulnerable to the effects of alcohol and drugs—meaning that the decisions your teens make now could impact them for life. Constant monitoring of your teen can seem overwhelming. Instead, identify a few areas of concern that help you set clear boundaries. Here are a few tips you can use to help your teen. Know your teen. Ask questions often and get to know your teen’s friends. Limit access to dangers. For example, keep your alcohol under lock and key and monitor the quantity. Monitor your child when you’re at work or out of town. For example, know your child’s schedule—and have her check in from each destination and when she reaches home. Learn more helpful tips and strategies to keep your kids and community safe with ParentUp, an initiative of the Vermont Department of Health at http://parentupvt.org. If you think your teen is drinking or using drugs, find information and help at: http://parentupvt.org/ Black River Area Community Coalition at  braccvt.org or 802-228-7878

Response to Paul and Judy Nevin on Aug. 28

Response to Paul and Judy Nevin regarding our article “takeover” of Lake Ninevah Paul and Judy charged us with inaccurate complaints. (We prefer concerns). We can document everything in our article. We addressed the positive things the Foundation has done for the lake and surrounding area. We know nothing about the Farm&Wilderness and made no accusations against them. Our article was about Lake Ninevah only as that is where we own land and pay taxes. The history in our article regarding the three camps is correct and documented. The statements made by Paul and Judy are not. We were both Outdoor Adverture Educators and know the values of these programs. The town and state are entrusted to protect their valuable accesses. Three years of extensive research has left us with many questions. We have had problems trying to find records. The Foundation has received several Vermont grants envolving a great deal of money. Regulations are required for those receiving funds. Non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable organizations are required to prove they are providing all benefits to those they have chosen to serve. We hope that the town, state and/or grant agencies and non-profit are requiring records. We do not feel that our local and area residents and Vermont State residents are receiving the benefits they deserve. Probably the most obvious is that the Foundation has denied access to the lake. This is addressed in our article. The fact that the public and even non-members like us on the lake have no place to swim needs to be addressed. We respect and welcome others opinions. The choice of Paul and Judy to attack us has resulted in defamation of character. We quote: “Finally, we believe you should know the Gages have raised their ‘grievances’ in this public manner largely out of anger that last year they had to abandon a lawsuit they initiated against the Foundation after the case proved to be groundless.” It is hard to comprehend why Paul would make this statement as he knew the Foundation charged us with encroachment in March 2015 and filed it with the town. Our deeds were worthless so we hired a lawyer to go to Court with us for Adverse Possession. When we would not accept the encroachments, covenants and even the offer to buy our property the Foundation filed a lawsuit. They used a survey we paid for which was wrong. We never had it stamped or filed. We had to go to court to fire our lawyer. At the hearing the Judge had us sign a paper from the Foundation lawyer stating they had dropped their lawsuit. A new survey showed we were 5’ short of reaching the far side of the maple tree. We offered to buy the land which was probably 0.00065 of an acre. Paul took our offer to Foundation. It was $500 and we pay closing costs. An officer of the Foundation who was now their lawyer sent us a 4-page affidavit and added the charge their lawyer costs for our dispute. We had no lawyer. We refused. We received a scathing letter from the Foundation lawyer. He concluded, we guess for defending our property, that we, our family, our relatives and friends were not to step one foot on the 3,300 acres own by the Foundation. We tore down our retaining wall, tore up our cement foundation and moved our shed down the road to the other side of our camp. We were a lot poorer but still have complete control of our little piece of land. That is the Ninevah Foundation. Art has called Paul and when he received no reply he went to his house. He asked to meet. I wanted the see the information they had on the Gage lawsuit. We still await their reply.

Museum Fundraising Dinner

Mount Holly Community Historical Museum

From: Dennis Devereux

 The Mount Holly Community Historical Museum will hold their annual baked ham dinner on Saturday, September 1st at 5 p.m. at the Hall in Belmont. The cost is $12, and $6 for children under 12 years of age. Call 259-2460. 

We write on behalf of the Ninevah Foundation

Dear NewsFlash readers:

We write on behalf of the Ninevah Foundation.  We are  long-time residents of Lake Ninevah, and many of you may know Paul as a former Chair of the Town’s Selectboard.  Many of you know Judy as a former third-grade teacher in the Mount Holly School.  We have been involved with the work of the Ninevah Foundation (and its predecessor, the Wilderness Corporation) for at least 40 years.  We also have known Art and Ida Gage ever since they began visiting their camp on the lake.

We are surprised and saddened that Art and Ida chose the NewsFlash as a forum to air inaccurate complaints about the Ninevah Foundation, which has provided critical leadership for land and lake conservation and use for over thirty years.  The Foundation makes nearly all of its land and trails open to the public for hunting, fishing, hiking and winter sports including snowmobiling.  The only exception is the lands that immediately surround the summer camp programs operated by Farm and Wilderness for children and teens, which are not open to the public only while those programs are in session.  

Among other conservation activities, the Foundation pays for “greeters” at the State fishing access to check boats to prevent Eurasian watermilfoil from entering the lake, and divers to check the lake for milfoil and hand-pull the weed it when it appears.  The Foundation spent over $200,000 to reconstruct the dam on the lake and continues to maintain it without any public funds, contributed $10,000 to help rebuild the dam on Star Lake.  Please take a look at the Foundation’s website (www.ninevahfoundation.org) for more information, including its 2017 Annual Report with Sources and Uses of Funds.  

We also do not understand why the Gages felt it necessary to make accusations against the Foundation’s new partner, the Farm & Wilderness Foundation camps.  The Camps operate experiential outdoor education programs and a day camp for over 800 children and teens each year.  Three of these programs operate on lands owned by the Ninevah Foundation.  The Camps are run on Quaker values, but they are open to campers of all faiths and have never been charged with religious discrimination.  The Camps’ tuition is significantly less than other New England non-profit summer camps, they offer substantial “camperships” to help children of more modest means attend, and they serve many young people from Vermont.  Finally, the Camps are not nudists.  Please take a look at the Farm & Wilderness (www.farmandwilderness.org) website for more information. 

Finally, we believe you should know that it is likely the Gages have raised their “grievances” in this public manner largely out of anger that last year they had to abandon a lawsuit they initiated against the Foundation after it proved to be groundless. 

We and other representatives of the Foundation welcome the opportunity to talk with anyone who has questions, concerns or suggestions about the work the Foundation does, its history, the Gages’ lawsuit, or how the Foundation might better serve the lake and Mount Holly communities.

Paul and Judy Nevin

Sept. Youth Activities at the FML

Sept. Youth Activities at the FML

Fall Story Time

Wednesdays 10:30-11:30am

Best suited for ages 5 and under

Children and their caregivers are invited to join us each week for early literacy activities, STEM explorations, music, and more!

Read With Sailor

Thursday September 20, 2018

3:00-4:00pm

If you haven’t been to the library to meet Sailor the Reading Dog, here’s  your chance. Sailor and his friend Arlene visit once a month and are always excited meet new friends. Sailor especially enjoys being read to and can’t wait to hear a new story or two. Reading to a dog is known to strengthen the readers confidence while providing an opportunity to practice literacy skills.  

Teens & In- be-Tweens

Book End Art

 Friday September 21, 2018

3:00-4:00pm

Grades 6&up

Have you ever wanted to draw or paint on public property? Well, here’s your chance! The Youth Library is in need of some new book ends and who better to decorate them than you! Bring your ideas and creativity to the library and help create some colorful and functional works of art!

 September STEM Night

Monday September 10, 2018

5:00-6:00pm

Grades K & Up

Earthquake!

What causes the earth to shake? What are plate tectonics? How does a seismograph work? You’ll learn all this and more at this month’s STEM Night.

Crafty Tuesdays

Tuesdays from 3:00-4:00pm

Grades K & Up

September 4th- Perler Bead Keychains-Perler beads or melty beads- whatever you call them- they are sure to equal fun. This week you can make your own unique beaded design which then can be turned into an awesome keychain!

11th- Marbleized Paper-  Have you ever wondered how that beautiful swirly paper you’ve seen before is made? Here’s your chance to learn how. As a group we’ll make several batches of paper that will be used the following week to make cards and envelopes.

18th- Marbleized Paper Notecards and Envelopes-  Using the paper we made the prior week participants will create their own notecards and envelopes perfect for upcoming Birthdays or special occasions.

25th- Funky Bookmarks- Are you always losing your spot while you read? Perhaps it’s time you make a one of a kind funky bookmark to help keep your place!

Monday Night Movie

Monday September 24, 2018

5:00-7:00pm

Please call or e-mail the library for the title of the film

Snacks will be provided

Red Scare in the Green Mountains Book Talk

 Scott Stearns  802-228-3238

Red Scare in the Green Mountains Book Talk

Black River Academy Museum, Friends of the Ludlow Auditorium and The Book Nook welcome Vermont film historian Rick Winston to Ludlow for a talk about Winston’s new exploration of the McCarthy Era in Vermont, “Red Scare in the Green Mountains: Vermont in the McCarthy Era 1948-1960”.  This book talk will take place on Thursday September 13 at 7pm at the Frank Heald Auditorium upstairs in the Ludlow Town Hall.

Rick Winston was the co-owner of Montpelier’s Savoy Theater for 29 years, and was Programming Director for the Green Mountain Film Festival for 14 years. He has taught film history at Burlington College, Community College of Vermont, Goddard College, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and has made presentations throughout Vermont on film history.

In his new book Rick Winston explores what happened in Vermont when the anti-Communist fear known as the “Red Scare” swept the country. We see how a small, rural “rock-ribbed Republican” state with a historically libertarian streak handled the hysteria of the time. Far from the klieg lights of Washington D.C., Hollywood, and New York City, the Green Mountain state challenged the national narrative with its own fascinating stories.

Here are nine of the most gripping dramas played out in Vermont during "scoundrel time," including a high-profile academic firing, controversies involving left-leaning summer residents, courageous newspaper editors who spoke out against McCarthy’s tactics, and a conservative senator who helped take down Joseph McCarthy.  

Copies of Red Scare in the Green Mountains will be available for purchase (and to be signed) at the event.  BRAM, FOLA and The Book Nook are proud sponsors of this literary event in Ludlow and hope that you will be able to join them at the town for a fascinating talk.

Scott

The Book Nook
An independent bookstore in Ludlow, Vermont
http://www.thebooknookvt.com

Tour to the Green Mountain Mineral Spring

From: Dennis Devereux

 Tour to the Green Mountain Mineral Spring 

 Join Dennis Devereux on Saturday, August 25th for a tour to a mineral spring that was believed to provide healing water in the late 1800s. The water from the Green Mountain  Mineral Spring in Mount Holly was bottled and sold in Rutland. Meet at 1:30 in the church parking lot next to the Perkins House Museum on the Village Green in Belmont. 

For information call Dennis at 259-2460. 

For Swing Time and the great music of the 18 piece Enerjazz Big Band.

Ever miss the great music of the Swing Era - the Big Band Era - the music of Glenn Miller, etc.?  Well, you can enjoy those musical gems -and dance if you're so inclined, on Saturday, September 15 at 7 PM when the Enerjazz Big Band plays in the Heald Auditorium in Ludlow Town Hall.  So mark your calendar and get your dancing feet ready for Swing Time and the great music of the 18 piece Enerjazz Big Band.  

Lake Ninevah

Lake Ninevah

Inbox

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Dorothy Weisbord

To all my neighbors at Lake Ninevah, old and new.......  Please forward as you see fit.  

Dear friends - 

My family has had a camp at Lake Ninevah for 53 years.  I have many of the same fond youthful memories as Ida Gage.  Her dad Hy Main stopped to visit us about once a week to exchange lake stories of fish caught and animals sighted.  This summer I was conscious  of the changes as I missed my neighbor George Burgess, a true Vermonter, who sat on his porch loving and admiring Lake Ninevah. My children rode in the wagon behind Vin Blakely's tractor.  It was a wonderful childhood and we often speak of it.  

However change happens and that we can not stop.  Lake Ninevah is as clean as it was in those early days thanks to the cooperation of the State of Vermont with the Ninevah Foundation.  Both these organizations have worked honorably to maintain the beauty, safety and peacefulness of the whole area.  This has benefited the human, animal, aquatic and bird population. The loons have returned. My grandson John, had a wonderful and successful time fishing for bass this summer. One morning at Baba Java in Ludlow I heard a group of men boasting of the size of fish caught at Lake Ninevah.  

Due to the work of the Ninevah Foundation, greeters examining boats at the access, divers examining the bottom of the lake, we have so far escaped Eurasian Milfoil, the fate of Star Lake in Belmont and other Vermont lakes.  

I am truly sorry that Mrs. Gage is bitter about the changes at Lake Ninevah.  I am 82 years old and miss dear friends that I made over the years at the lake, but the lake goes on because of the careful stewardship of many.  

Sincerely, Dorothy Barclay Weisbord

Information and links for Public Hearing on Town Plan, August 23, 2018, 6 p.m. at the MH School.

The purpose of the Hearing is for the public to provide input to the Mount Holly Planning Commission on the 

Mount Holly Town Plan 

The plan is available on the unofficial Mount Holly VT website. The link is:

  www.mounthollyvt.org/town-services/town-plan/ 

The State of Vermont recently published guidelines for Town Plans. This is comprehensive 

but easy reading and provides a way  for those not familiar with the content of town plans to 

understand what the law requires. These guidelines - Planning Manual - is only available

in digital format. The link is: 

   http://accd.vermont.gov/sites/accdnew/files/documents/CD/CPR/DHCD-Planning-Manual-Module1.pdf

Also useful for understanding the section of the Town Plan devoted to the Environment is the 

Report on Mount Holly's Natural Environment and Habitats (Arrowwood Report). This report is available on the Mount Holly website. The link is:

    http://www.mounthollyvt.org/other_docs/1_MountHollyReport.pdf

The Mount Holly Website's copy of the previous Mount Holly Town Plan 2008, readopted 2013, is currently

unavailable.

Hope this information is helpful,

Annette Lynch

THE 'TAKEOVER' OF LAKE NINEVAH

From: Alison Weintraub 

I don’t know if the newsflash will receive this email, but as someone from Belmont who has enjoyed canoeing and kayaking on Ninevah since the 1950s and has enjoyed association with Farm and Wilderness camps since the 1960s I must point out that there are numerous inaccuracies in this letter.   

Here are just a few:   Ninevah has always been open for canoeing that does not include fishing. I haven’t been there this year but for many years there has been a sanitary bathroom facility at the boat launch.  I was a Farm and Wilderness counselor in the 1960s and most people at the camp where I worked (including myself!) did not practice nudism. It was totally optional.  The camps have become expensive, but this is partly to support generous camperships for those who can not afford the full fee.  

Ninevah is a natural gem that could have gone the way of our polluted weed ridden Star Lake. Farm and Wilderness has exposed many children from cities and suburbs to this wonderful state and motivated them to protect our environment.  It is fine to question the regulations, but please stick to the facts when discussing how the place should be used and protected.

Composting Speaker Speaks to Ludlow Rotary Club

Composting Speaker Speaks to Ludlow Rotary Club

At its recent luncheon meeting, the Ludlow Rotary Club (LRC) listened to Carolyn Grodinsky of Grow Compost of Vermont. LLC., of Waterbury address the subject of composting and its future impact on the state.  In 2012, the Vermont Legislature unanimously passed Act 148, a universal recycling and composting law that offers Vermonters a new set of systems and tools for keeping as much as possible out of the landfill.  Carolyn outlined how her organization is working to help businesses in the state deal with the demands of Act 148 in the handling and disposition of food scraps.  By 2020, the state will require all food scraps to be handled as separate items from trash and other recyclables.  This will effect both residential and business users.  Pictured above is Carolyn Grodinsky, holding a bag of dried compost usable as fertilizer, and Rotarian Alphonsus Harris.  LRC meets for lunch on most Tuesdays at 12:15 pm at DJ's Restaurant.  The LRC is small and is always looking to welcome new members.  If you would like to attend a meeting and learn how you may 'Serve Humanity' while enjoying the fun and fellowship of others, please contact any Rotarian or drop a note to Ludlow Rotary, PO Box 216, Ludlow Vermont.

Winter is just around the corner!

From: Wanda Spatzer 

For Sale

Winter is just around the corner!

60” Flexible Flyer Sled

Used once, Amazon price $89 new

Paint is still on the runners

Asking $50.00

Contact wkspatzer@aol.com or 259-2116

Susan Kneebone Presented Lifetime Membership in Ludlow Garden Club

Susan Kneebone, former President and long time member of the Ludlow Garden Club (LGC), was awarded an honorary lifetime membership in the LGC recently by Club President, Anne Cherico.  In making the award, Anne noted the many years Susan had dedicated to the work of the organization and her contributions to the various beautification projects sponsored by it.  Pictured above, are, seated, Susan Kneebone; standing, from left to right, are LGC members Janet Pace, Anne Cherico, and Beth Almond.

Mount Holly Republican Caucus