WALDEN – In January the select board set a budget with a 2.1% increase.
In February, Walden’s select board heard Lamoille Valley Rail Trail signs would be in place by summer and the fire department discussed possible equipment upgrades to offer rescue services on the trail. $84,122.50 of ARPA funds were allocated to the fire department for equipment and turn-out gear. The remainder was allocated to the town’s Capital Reserve Fund. Advantages of having a town plan were discussed.
Debbie Messier was re-elected as town clerk on March 5, with her term extended to three years.
Randolph Wilson joined the select board, while a lister and cemetery commissioner went unfilled. Bob Bell, Walden road foreman, was recognized for his 35 years of service.
The library held a total solar eclipse party, April 8.
The Walden Fire Department and FAST Squad responded at 6:54 p.m., Friday, April 14, to a fully-involved structure fire on Rock Road in Walden with assistance from departments in Cabot, Hardwick, Greensboro, Danville and Peacham. The Glover Ambulance Squad assisted. More than 60 firefighters responded. Despite their best efforts, the home was a total loss.
No family members were injured, but one of the family dogs was lost. The Red Cross assisted the displaced homeowners. Smith’s Grocery in Greensboro Bend and Hastings Store in West Danville helped with pizza, sandwiches, coffee and sports drinks for all of the responding firefighters and EMS personnel on the scene.
Walden School held its Spring concert for grades pre-K to eighth grade on April 19.
Walden’s Shawn Messier of Mountainside Orchards said, “all of the local producers that I have spoken with had an above average or even a record season. “For us here, we had a record season. This year we made 325 gallons more than we ever had in a season, and we did it with 700 fewer taps. Being able to get our tubing system relatively tight early on, made it easier for us to keep our vacuum levels up and keep the sap coming.”
Walden School’s pre-K to eighth grade spring concert was held Wednesday, May 15.
Resident Roger Fox was told, “Take us to court,” by the select board at its June 3 meeting after he questioned the board about its April 15 agenda.
An April 15 emergency select board meeting was held to discuss hiring a short-term road crew member. ARPA funds were allocated to solar panels, the highway fund and town office weatherization and NEK Broadband, which had begun offering service in limited areas of town.
Walden’s eighth grade class graduated June 6 with eight students.
The state requested a damage assessment from FEMA after significant flooding occurred in Lamoille county and the Northeast Kingdom region on June 23. Walden Town Clerk Debbie Messier said the town was still feeling the effects of previous disasters. “We were still trying to play catch-up from last year.” Walden had only regained full access to its roads on Monday. Several were completely washed out, and multiple culverts needed replacing. Walden’s two-person repair crew and hired reinforcements had been working intensely, according to Messier. She only had a rough sense of what the repairs will cost. “Nothing compared to last July, but it’s definitely enough,” she said.
Thursday, July 11, led Walden Town Clerk Messier to report, the “Town of Walden has closed Cobb Road and Orton Road.” The bridge at the bottom of Orton Road and Stannard Mountain Road was in the river. Washouts happened along the edges of Cabot Road in S. Walden. at 6 p.m. Orton Road below the Coles Pond intersection and Cobb Road remained closed. Noyestar Road and Houston Hill were one lane passable and several other town roads were only one lane in spots. The next day Messier reported Orton Road closed indefinitely because of the bridge being out.
The Walden Community Library held an open house, September 30 on Fall Foliage Day.
Walden’s Mike Southworth was elected, November 5 to the Caledonia-2 House seat, replacing Chip Troiano of Stannard.
At its annual meeting, December 3, the fire department elected officers, then, on December 7, it responded to a CO2 alarm activation.
