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The Reading Informer November 2018

Published by the Town of Reading

RES PTO

2ND ANNUAL CHILI COOK-OFF

Saturday November 17th

11:00am-1:00 pm

At the Reading Town Hall

Email to register by Thursday, Nov. 1st RES.PTO@Yahoo.com Entry: Free of charge Bring one “crockpot” of chili and an extension cord. Chili should be kid friendly. The winner will be awarded a one of a kind trophy, made by RES students, and supreme bragging rights!

Please come be a judge by enjoying a cup of chili and voting for your favorite one!

$5.00 per adult $1 per child under 12

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Vermont General Election

Tuesday, November 6, 2018 Polls will be open at the Reading Town Hall

7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Absentee ballots can be obtained until November 5, 2018

For more detail information visit the Vermont Secretary of State

website at

https://www.sec.state.vt.us/elections/candidates.aspx

A copy of the ballot is also posted at the Town Office.

Town of Reading tax bills are due on Monday, November 5, 2018 by 5 p.m.

Postmarks are not accepted. Please contact the Town Clerk at 484-7250

if you own property and have not received a bill.

Thank you to Jim & Diane Bennett

for planting and taking care of the flower boxes at the Town Hall all spring, summer and fall.

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PTO PIE SALE Coming Right Up!

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Pies $12 each or 2 for $20

Reading Town Hall 8:00—12:00 (or until they are sold out)

Some of the flavors will be apple, pumpkin and coconut.

Lovingly made by Reading students Families & Community Volunteers!

Make your holiday a little easier………. (Come inside for the Chili Cook-off after you get your pie)

WELCOME TO READING Signs

Informational Meeting

November 14, 7:00 PM

Reading Town Hall

There’s something special about the feeling of coming home. WELCOME TO READING signs will show off the pride in our town as they greet residents and visitors alike. Please join us for an informational meeting to learn the what, where, and when, and how we can make these signs a reality. A small group of us have done lots of work and now it’s time to share it with you. Please help us wel-come you home and show visitors they’ve arrived to our small town with a big heart!

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Selectboard Meeting Minutes October 8, 2018 UNAPPROVED

The meeting was called to order at 6:00pm. Present: Robert Allen, Gordy Eastman, Jim Peplau, Glen Towne, Calista Brennan, and Stephen D’Agostino. Robert started the meeting asking if there were changes to the agenda, there were no changes. Minutes of the September 10, 2018 Selectmen’s minutes were approved as printed. Treasurer’s Report: As of 9-30-18, Expenses were $51,114.69; Revenue was $321506.48, balance in LSB (G/L account) $164,480.11 balance in the sweep account $321,107.43 for a total of $485,947.54. Delinquent taxes for 2017 are $11,250.30, this is 5 properties. Calista reported that the renewal application for the property and casualty insurance has been received. There have been no major changes to any of the buildings so will leave as is. She also said that the new health insurance rates had been received and were up $3,693.84 for the year. Jim moved to approve and Gordy seconded. Report is accepted. Action Items:

Grants–in-Aid Program: See below Better Roads Grant: The due date for this grant is Oct 26 th. Glen will be meeting with DLX to get a quote

for work on Caper Hill. If this grant is approved the work cannot start until July 1, 2019. This would piggy back the Grants-in-Aid project and finish Caper Hill.

Highways: Glen reported that the winter sand has been delivered and 2 loads of salt will be coming

this week or next. The road crew will be changing culvert and grading roads. He also stated that there were no complaints or damage from the Vermont Overland event the end of September.

New Highway Truck: The new truck is ready for delivery. Calista will get the loan paperwork start-

ed. Town Hall Restoration: Garret Neill sent an email, no asbestos was found. He will be starting to

stage the area next week. Work will begin on or before October 23rd.

Resignation and Appointment: Bill Bakker has resigned from the Green Space Committee. The Selectboard appointed Kurt Voight to fill Becky Basch’s term on the Planning Commission.

Other: The ambulance contract from Woodstock has been received. The Selectboard will review it. The Reading RATS would like to put a memorial stone up on the Tyson Road school bus turn around.

More information is needed. The Recreation Commission would like to hold monthly concerts at the Town Hall in the winter. This

will be further reviewed after the chimneys are inspected, as that would be relevant to heating the up-stairs.

Being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 7:02PM.

Next Selectboard meeting will be on Monday November 12, 2018 at 6:00 pm Respectfully Submitted, Calista N Brennan, Town Clerk

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Reading Planning Commission

October 1, 2018 - unapproved

Present: Stephen Strait, Ken Cox, Kathy Callan-Rondeau, Kevin Kaija Guests: Kurt Voight

The meeting started at 7:00pm. There were no changes to the Agenda.

Minutes of September 10, 2018 - The minutes of the September meeting were amended as

follows: “Vacancy - The PC voted 3-0 (Kevin had not arrived yet) to recommend the Select-

board appoint Kurt Voight to fill Becky’s empty seat on the Commission.”

Recording Secretary vacancy - The PC is looking for a recording secretary. The duties are

to attend the monthly PC meeting and take minutes. The typed version must be submitted to

the Town Clerk within five calendar days of the meeting. There is a stipend for attending the

meeting and recording the minutes. Please contact the Town Office or Stephen Strait at read-

ingvt.planncomm@gmail.com for more info.

Mail/email - The PC received mail about the Vermont League of Cities and Towns’ fair in

South Burlington and workshop in Fairlee in October. Weathersfield is amending their Zon-

ing Ordinance and sent notice of their Public Hearing.

SWCRPC News - Kathy reported that an organization in Springfield has plans to renovate

the Park Street School and another group intends to revamp the Woolson Block. In Windsor,

part of the old Goodyear plant is scheduled for demolition. It will be replaced with a solar

farm.

Wildlife Travel Corridor - The PC voted (3-0, 1 abstention) to change the proposed zon-

ing for future subdivisions in the WTC from a minimum lot size of 25 acres to a maximum

density standard of 25 acres per lot. That would allow landowners the flexibility to create

smaller lots (5 acre minimum) as long as the density requirement was met.

Proposed amendment to the Sign Ordinance - The Commission proposed (4-0 vote) an

amendment to the sign ordinance adding a new category for municipal signs: “Municipal

signs, such as “Welcome to Reading”, shall be no larger than 25 SF on one side.”

Town Plan Survey - The Commission talked about possible questions for an upcoming pub-

lic survey on Town Plan issues. The PC reviewed the questions in the 2003 and 2011 surveys

and decided to repeat several of them as a way to track changes in public opinion over time.

Commission members also suggested new questions, many dealing with energy issues. The

public’s responses to the survey will guide the rewriting of the Town Plan. The last survey

from 2011 is available for public review on the town website. It is part of the current Town

Plan.

Next meeting - November 14, 2018 at 7pm.

Adjournment – 8:45 pm

Respectfully submitted, Stephen Strait

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Green Mountain Smoke-

house Voted 2014 Best Bacon Yankee Mag-

azine Rte. 5 Windsor, VT 802-674

-6653 - Maple Sugar Cured Ham - Smoked Sausages

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Peter K. Vollers, Esq.

Dana Twigg-Smith, Paralegal

T’Other House 4 The Green

Woodstock, Vermont 05091 Tel: 802-457-2420 Fax: 802-457-9960

pvollers@vollerslaw.com dtwiggsmith@vollerslaw.com

Do people think you look ANGRY— when you are not?

Relax those vertical worry lines between your brows for about $350. Call Vermont

Facial Aesthetics 802.356.2343 Vermontfacialaesthetics.com

Consultations are Complimentary!

THE SPRINGFIELD BARBER Pam Eastman

307 Clinton St., Springfield, VT 802-885-3232

Regular & Styled Walk-in Service

Tues 7-5 Wed 11-7 Thurs 7-3 Fri 7– 5 Sat 7-12

Jim & Sandy Peplau’s

Happy Acres Farm Pure Maple Syrup, Hand Braided Rugs

826 Twenty Mile Stream Road

South Reading, VT 05153

484-7806

www.happyacresfarm.com

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Winter Parking Ban Effective

November 1, 2018 to April 15, 2019 Town Ordinance

Article VI Winter Roads

Section 1: No person shall shovel, dump, push or accumulate snow from adjoining premises upon any highway maintained for winter travel within the Town of Reading. It is recognized that plowing across Class 3 Highways is necessary in certain instances, however snow MUST be cleaned up and completely out of the Town maintained travel areas. In no case is plowing across Class 2 highways permitted. (Tyson Road, Twenty Mile Stream and all Village Streets) Section 2: No person shall leave a motor vehicle parked, deposited or left unattended upon a high way or in any public areas ordinarily used for parking, so as to interfere with the prop er maintenance of roads, public areas or end-of-road turnarounds, within the Town. In the case of emergency or mechanical failure, vehicles must be removed within 24 hours. Section 3: The Town will enforce the ‘No Parking’ rules at all locations where the trucks turna- round and all public parking lots. Vehicles left beyond the 24-hour limit will be towed at the owners expense. Section 4: Plow routes are set up to open major traffic routes and school bus routes first. After all school bus routes are open plowing continues until all roads are open. Section 5: The Town does not plow Class 4 or private roads.

Gobble, gobble

You’re Invited By the Reading Elementary Students To attend their Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon

complete with turkey, potatoes and all of the fixings.

Tuesday, November 20th, at the Reading Elementary School 12 pm

Community members are welcome to attend. Donations to defray the cost of the feast will be gratefully accepted at the door.

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TREE PRESERVATION

802.484.5539 Experienced•Insured•References

KRIS BLANCHARD Northeast Rural Resource Management, LLC

Member National Arborist Association

PLUMBING & HEATING

CONTRACTOR

Malagash Road PO Box 183

Reading, Vermont 05062

EDWARD ALLEN (802) 484-5580

Law Office of JONATHAN L. SPRINGER, P.C.

12 Depot Avenue Post Office Box 245

Windsor, Vermont 05089 (802) 674-2649

Fax: (802) 674-2990 Springerlaw1@comcast.net

James Cloud Logging & Trucking

READING, VT

802-484-5946

Firewood Snowplowing

LOGGING & LAND CLEARING SANDING BRUSH CHIPPING SNOW PLOWING BUSH HOGGING LIGHT EXCAVATION

ROLLING MEADOWS FARM CUSTOM FARMING

David Goodhouse * 484-5540

One Tree

Fine Carpentry

GARY MACIA 802-299-9321 BOX 89 READING, VT 05062

Calling All Crafters The Reading Historical Society will be hosting its 3rd Annual Holiday Craft Fair on December 1 at Town Hall. We’re looking for vendors of handmade items to participate. For more information, contact Stephen D’Agostino at stephen.d.dagostino@gmail.com. Mark your Calendars Solar & Home Energy Savings program November 8, 6 pm, at Reading Library Game Night. Card games, board games and more November 15, 6:30 pm, Reading Library Reading’s 3rd Annual Holiday Craft Fair December 1, 9am-2pm, at Town Hall Reading’s 2nd Annual Holiday Tree Lighting December 1, at 6:30pm, at Puddledock Park

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Librarian’s Note

Reading Public Library will host a free and informal Solar & Home Energy Savings program on Thursday, November 8th, starting at 6 p.m. The talk and Q&A will be led by solar community or-ganizer Becca White, as well as someone from the non-profit HeatSquad. Topics include options for go-ing solar with no upfront costs, determining if you have the right spot, saving on electric, the benefits of solar heating and cooling, and weatherization. (Folks who sign up for solar are eligible for a $100-discount on a home energy audit.) In most cases, if Reading Library does not own a particular book, you may still get a copy through inter-library loan. I can borrow the book for you from another library anywhere in the state. It will be sent here in the mail and will be available to you for check-out for up to a month. HeritageQuest is a database providing patrons with research materials for tracing family histo-ry and American culture. Search in City Directories, Slave Schedules, U.S. Indian Census Rolls, Mortality Schedules, Agricultural and Industrial Schedules, the Veterans Schedule, U.S. Federal Census images, family and local histories, the Revolutionary War Era Pension & Bounty-land Warrant Application Files, or the Freedman's Bank. Library patrons can access this database for free from anywhere there’s an Internet connection. Call, e-mail, or come by the library to obtain the login information. If there are people in the community who cannot make it to the library because of physical disability or debilitating illness, I will be happy to deliver books to your home. Just call the library at 484-5588. A library is a place where the community can celebrate itself. By housing special collections based on the needs and unique identities of their towns, libraries serve as a hope chest, preserving a communi-ty’s memories and experiences. We celebrate our town's colorful history by collecting relevant photo-graphs, maps, memoirs, and other paraphernalia. Our website includes historical photographs as well as audio excerpts from the library's Oral History project.

Cordially,

Tony Reading Public Library. Tues. 12-3:30 p.m. & 4-7; Thurs. 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. & 2-5; Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mail: P.O. Box 7, Reading, VT 05062. Tel. 802-484-5588. E-mail: reading.public.library@comcast.net. Web: www.readinglibrary.org. The board meets the last Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Wi-Fi 24/7.

Local Property Transfers

Joseph & Amber Braun to Connie Campbell

House & 2.2 Acres 3615 Tyson Road $268,000

Peter Bennett to Nathan Turbyfill & Kerri Wells

House & 6.85 Acres 707 VT Rte 44 $195,000

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The Reading Historical Society Preserving The Past For The Future

“Celebrating 65 Years”

Claude Bartley, Community Initiative, and the Creation of Our Ballfield Over the course of the summer, while attending Game Night at Bartley Field, I wondered about the man Reading’s recreational space is named after. Just who was Claude Bartley? Of course, Claude was a resident of Reading, born on March 19, 1923. I assume he was like every other boy in town growing up at that time. He became an adult. He married Velma Lorene Adams of West Windsor on September 4, 1942. He became a father of a son, also named Claude, on April 2, 1943. One other thing that was expected of boys Claude’s age after December 7, 1941, was to serve in the armed forces during World War II. That call to serve was heeded by some women, too. In total, 52 people from Reading served during the war. What makes Claude different is that he was the only one who was killed in action. He died in Italy on September 22, 1943. He was 20 years old. Fast forward from that date to 13 years later. In 1956, a committee was formed to create a recreation-al space in town. Committee members consisted of Katie Pierson, Anne Simms, and Wayne Lawrence. A couple of places in Felchville near the school were considered, but in the end, the land known as the hotel lot was chosen. Though I don’t know the history of the land well enough to explain that name (if someone can help, please do!), I do know that this same plot was, at one time, a town dump. To undertake such a project required a special town meeting. Beautifully handwritten notes from that November 1956 gathering recorded concerns that care should be taken while landscaping because pieces of glass dumped there may have worked themselves up through the dirt over time. The notes also reference one person who spoke out against the park since it would mean that the town would have to take responsibility for it for all time. In the end, the vote was 29 for the park and 16 against. The people on the Claude Bartley Memorial Committee assumed this would be a project that would take several years to complete. Even in their year-end report from 1957, the group noted that “bull-dozing and grading have progressed to the point where final top-dressing and seeding of the soft-ball area should be possible in the Spring.” They also say that “accomplishment during the coming year will depend to a considerable extent upon the funds available. It is hoped that at least the flag-pole can be erected; the soft-ball diamond completed; and some play equipment installed." Funds must have come through. The Claude Bartley Memorial Field was dedicated on July 4, 1958. Though still more work needed to be done, Reading now had a park for its children to play competi-tive sports and other games. Though the games played during this year’s Game Nights (kickball, wiffle ball, and horseshoes) were more friendly than competitive, it's nice to know that 60 years out, the park is still providing recreational space for the town's current youngsters and still memorializes the sacrifice of Claude Wilson Bartley. Thanks, as always, to Esther Allen for plumbing the RHS archives to find the information for this article. Stephen D'Agostino

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Reading– West Windsor Food Shelf

Website: rwwfoodshelf.org

Monday 2:00 to 4:00 (Food Shelf)

Thursday 4:00 to 6:00

(Thrift Store & Food Shelf)

Located at 3456 Tyson Road

in South Reading

at the Stone School House

The Thrift Store is open to anyone, not just

food shelf members. Please feel free to stop in

Inquiries please contact

Sara Norcross 484-5097

Dana Waters 802-291-3299

To send a donation please mail to:

Reading– West Windsor Food Shelf

PO Box 384 Brownsville, VT 05037

Meeting Schedule

Town Contact Information

Town Clerk/Treasure Office

484-7250 Mon, Tues, Wed, 8 am—4 pm Thursday 7:30 am—3:30 pm

First Saturday of the Month by appointment Website: www.readingvt.govoffice.com Email: readingvermont@comcast.net

Post Office Iiri Makkonen

484-5994 Retail Counter

Monday – Friday 9:30 am-12:30 pm, 1:30 pm—4:30 pm

Saturday Retail Counter 9:00 to 12:00

Lobby Monday – Friday Saturday 8 am to 5 pm 8am to 12pm

Library 484-5588

Tuesday 12:00 to 3:30, 4:00 to 7:00 Thursday 10:00 to 1:30, 2:00 to 5:00

Saturday 10:00 to 2:00

Listers Call for appointment – 484-7258

Email: rtownhall_464@comcast.net

Reading Elementary School

484-7230

Fire Warden - Fire Burning Permits Nathan Willard 484-0094

Reading Planning Commission readingvt.plancomm@gmail.com

Contribute to The Reading Review in The Vermont Standard. Author Stephen D’Agostino is always looking for newsy

items, sweet Reading stories, or tidbits to share with our community. Send your ideas to him at

stephen.d.dagostino@gmail.com

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Fire and Ambulance 911

State Police 457-1416

Domestic/Sexual Violence Hotline 866-348-WISE (9473)

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The Reading Informer

PO Box 72

Reading, Vermont 05062

PRESORTED STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

WRJ. VERMONT

PERMIT NO. 86

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

4 5 Taxes Due

Fire Aux 6:30 PM

6 VOTE Fire & Rescue 7 pm

7 8 9 10

11 12 No School

Selectboard 6 pm

13 14 Plan

Comm. 7 PM & Town Sign Mtg

15 16 Game

Night Library 6:30

17 Pie Sale &

Chili Cook-off

18 19 20 RES

Community Lunch

21 22 23 24

25 26 27 Library

Trustees Mtg.

28 Cemetery Mtg. 7

29 30

November 2018