GREENSBORO – Filling a gap from last year’s report, a petition calling for a vote of the electorate to close the Lakeview Elementary School in Greensboro was presented and considered at a special meeting of the Mountain View Elementary School District Board, December 28. Approximately 60 Greensboro residents were in attendance, almost all solidly in opposition to closing the school.
At its January 10 regular meeting, the Greensboro select board heard an update on the library’s participation in an energy resilience program, decided to ask Stannard to contribute more to the fire department budget and discussed a petition to close Lakeview School.
Another round of Greensboro Association Community Relief Fund grants was made in January to support local organizations assisting those most impacted after massive flooding devastated the region in July 2023. The association was awarded a nearly $22,000 grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program that will allow for the creation and maintenance of a decontamination station at the Caspian Lake boat launch area.
Members and friends of the United Methodist Church gathered on Sunday, Jan. 28 for a service to mark the closing of the church that had served the community since 1881.
During a community meeting, on February 7, Lakeview Elementary students expressed their gratitude, through words and handmade cards, to community members Roger and Margie Prevot for their donation of skis.
The Second Annual Curds and Curling Competition was held at the Highland Center for the Arts, Saturday, Feb. 3.
Smiles were wide as Lakeview Elementary School students delivered handcrafted heart-shaped cards to residents of the Greensboro Nursing Home Valentine’s Day.
In a year with stress due to the summer’s flooding, Select Board Chair Peter Romans reported, “To repair town roads, the town borrowed one million dollars and subsequently spent most of it. The town’s proposed budget of $1,956,009 comes in with an increase of 6.93% after “lots of hard work” according to town clerk Kim Greaves.
Volunteers from six neighboring towns demonstrated how homeowners can save money on energy bills through home improvements. That was the goal of the recent “Weatherization Pays You Back” panel presentation and individual questions-and-answer sessions held on March 19, at UCC’s Fellowship Hall.
The total solar eclipse, Monday, April 8, brought scores of visitors to town with a huge gathering at Caspian Lake and another at Highland Lodge.
Caspian Lake ice was breaking up in the early afternoon, Friday, April 12.
The Greensboro United Church of Christ’s unofficial Earth Flag that has come to represent Earth Day, April 22, demonstrates support for environmental protection.
A meeting on April 24 at Greensboro’s Lakeview School was held to discuss the RuralEdge housing proposal.
Much of the April 25 select board meeting involved reviewing a recap of discussions during the Greensboro Town Hall Redevelopment Meeting a day earlier, where a RuralEdge proposal to provide housing in the town hall building was discussed.
May 4, Green Up Day resulted in an extra dumpster full of trash.
The Caspian Lake Greeter Program has been instrumental in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species for over 30 years. Caspian Lake was still free of all known invasive species such as Eurasian Milfoil and Zebra Mussels.
“We had our best season ever” reported Peter Gebbie of Maplehurst Farm. He attributes at least some of the successful year to having replaced half of the tubing serving his roughly 7,000 tap maple sugaring operation. “The new tubing helped with a good vacuum from the start of the season,” said Gebbie.
The Greensboro Historical Society (GHS) was honored with an Award of Excellence at the 70th Annual Meeting of the League of Local Historical Societies and Museums (LLHSM) in White River Junction, May 10.
Steven Lowrey caught a lake trout weighing almost 25 pounds before 9 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 27. Lowery’s a regular visitor to Caspian Lake, saying, “I always get my limit.”
“NEK Broadband [is] in the final steps of preparing to hang fiber on utility poles,” wrote NEK Broadband’s Community Relations Manager, Kitty Ufford-Chase in a May 29 Greensboro/Glover Front Porch Forum (FPF) post.
RuralEdge, the Greensboro Housing Committee and select board have been working together for about five years to identify ways to meet a need for more Greensboro housing to support the needs of the town’s growing business community.
Opportunity Greensboro held a forum “In Support of and for Learning More about the Town Hall/Rural Edge Initiative” at the Greensboro United Church of Christ’s Fellowship Hall on Tuesday, June 4. Panelists offered their perspectives on the work of the Greensboro Housing Committee, adding their voices in support of the urgent need for housing in Greensboro to provide homes for employees of Jasper Hill Cheese, the Greensboro Nursing Home, Willey’s Store, Highland Lodge, area schools and Highland Center for the Arts.
RuralEdge and Evernorth were awarded $4,502,746 by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) to restore and redevelop the historic Greensboro Town Hall.
Town Clerk Kim Greaves threw a well-attended party at the United Church of Christ for retiring Collector of Delinquent Taxes Janet Long on the afternoon of June 5. Long has played a role in almost everything related to finances in Greensboro for the 50 years since she returned to town after travels that took her across the U.S. and sailing to the Marshall Islands.
A new kiosk at the Caspian Lake beach offered public education on water quality in Greensboro watersheds, especially in Caspian Lake.
Lakeview Union School fifth- and sixth-graders performed under the Flynn Theater marquee at the Discover Jazz Festival in Burlington on Friday, June 7.
Greensboro Free Library Director Paula Davidson and the library trustees hosted a drop-in open house, Thursday, June 13, to offer patrons a chance to say farewell to Assistant Librarian Mackenna Lapierre and to meet new Assistant Bianca Caputo.
Town projects from December’s flood recovery, to road work, a Breezy Avenue sidewalk scoping study and the proposed wastewater treatment plant were on the select board’s June 12 meeting agenda. Select Board Clerk and FEMA Coordinator Josh Karp provided a FEMA update, stating all Greensboro’s road damage from the December rain event was deemed repeat damage; identical to damage experienced in the July flood. As directed by FEMA, the town will withdraw its new request for assistance, and add the December damage to the July event.
The state eliminated the local match requirement for mitigation funding, Karp reported, and will now be paying 100% of project costs. The funding program has an August deadline, and the town will likely apply to fund at least six projects. Additionally, FEMA announced it will now be able to reimburse the town for a significant portion of the interest paid on the $1 million line of credit.
Greensboro residents and Hardwick Electric customers Liz and Chris Steel installed a 17kW solar array on the roof of their new house in the hope of living in a net zero home. Since 2021, the Steels say they “have seen their electricity rates go up twice to $0.1925 per kWh, while compensation for their solar credits is only $0.1508 per kWh, 22% per kWh lower.
Caspian Lake loons hatched two chicks, photographed June 16 by Katherine Hicock.
Interment terracing work and expanded parking, done June 16 at the Greensboro Village Cemetery, expanded toward the village.
Members of the Greensboro Association Lakes and Environmental Stewardship team met with visiting Environmental Protection Agency, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation personnel, and Orleans County in Greensboro and Greensboro Bend recently to visit sites on Caspian Lake and the Lamoille River. Greensboro is located at the headwaters of the Lake Champlain Basin.
Caspian Arts presented work from local artists on weekends in July and August in the Greensboro Grange building.
The Highland Center for the Arts held a grand opening for their nine-hole mini-golf course, July 6. The course was open Wednesday through Sunday until September 29.
Sen. Bernie Sanders attended Greensboro’s Funky Fourth parade, July 6, and Celebrity Carrot Abigail Reisner, world record holder for fastest female runner of a marathon dressed as a vegetable, marched with the Greensboro Community Garden Group.
Greensboro received 4.07 inches of rain on July 10 and 11.
Greensboro’s update, before 10 p.m., July 11 indicated, “We are again hit hard by last night’s storm. The road crew have been out since 4 a.m. The following roads are closed: Sparhawk Road, Gonyaw Road, Old School House Road, Overlook Road, Harrington Road and Bayley Hazen Road. Baker Hill Road is not open to truck traffic.
Area cheesemakers, Jasper Hill Farm and Cabot Creamery Cooperative, took home 13 ribbons at the American Cheese Society‘s (ACS’s) National Judging and Competition event this year.
Naomi Ranz-Schleifer, representing the Greensboro Association and Eric Hanson, chair of the Greensboro Select Board, presented checks totaling $3,585 from the Greensboro Funky Fourth auction to Heather Davis of the Hardwick Area Food Pantry, at the Greensboro Town Offices, July 12.
Caspian Lake water quality testing immediately after flooding showed mixed results, with elevated levels of e.coli in places, some too high to recommend swimming.
Caspian Lake water quality testing done Monday, July 15, showed improvement everywhere it was tested, with all results well below the 235 threshold, as being safe for swimming.
Rev. Sunday-Winters reported July 18, at the Greensboro United Church of Christ, about the trip he and Jeff Pierpont took June 13 through June 22 on an immersive study tour to Poland’s Holocaust sites, with the aim of deepening an understanding of the Holocaust and Jewish life in Poland.
On July 15, the Greensboro town clerk’s office reported an estimated $500,000 to $750,000 of damage caused by recent flooding. Overlook Road and Harrington Road were closed.
The 3rd Annual Vermont Fairy Festival, July 27 at the Highland Center for the Arts drew young visitors.
The Rock Solid cash register system used at Willey’s store wasn’t solid enough to weather a global tech outage. Late Friday morning, July 19, Rob Hurst said the store’s cash registers and payment systems stopped working unexpectedly. The store’s staff quickly switched to handling business manually, accepting only cash.
The Community Day event at the Greensboro Nursing Home, Saturday, July 20, drew a steady stream of visitors who were able to order their own lunch of tacos and other Mexican dishes from the MexiRican Food Truck.
The Watershed Stewards of Greensboro and the Upper Lamoille have presented the first Streamwise Award to Karl Stein and Judy Carpenter of Greensboro Bend for the quality of the vegetative buffer that has been allowed to develop on their land along the Lamoille.
In August Greensboro Food Share began looking for volunteers to begin a local program in partnership with the Cabot program.
Greensboro’s Community Garden, with just seven raised beds and three in-ground beds, produced enough food for multiple donations to the Hardwick Area Food Pantry (HAFP). Saturday, Aug. 9, 30 pounds of fresh, organic produce was delivered to the food pantry. The donated harvest included lettuce, kale, snap peas, beans, beets, swiss chard, cucumbers, zucchini and a variety of herbs.
The Greensboro Association grants committee awarded another $31,500 to local organizations and nonprofits in the greater Greensboro community as a part of its annual grant cycle.
The Greensboro Historical Society held an all-ages-friendly walking history tour of the Greensboro Bend Train Station guided by long-time St. J. And L.C. Rail worker Steve Leach.
The bulk of the Greensboro Planning Commission meeting at the Greensboro Free Library, August 6, was taken up with a discussion about whether to re-establish a housing subcommittee.
Children tried on fire chief Dave Brochu’s coat and helmet during a fire safety event at the Greensboro Free Library, August 8.
August 13 was primary election day where poll workers said turnout seemed a bit higher than usual for a primary election.
Fellowship Hall was at full capacity Monday evening, August 19, for a special informational meeting called by the select board about an affordable housing project at the Greensboro Town Hall proposed by RuralEdge. The meeting was organized to help the select board understand what area citizens are thinking about the project, said Town Clerk Kim Greaves.
Green lawn signs reading “Save Town Hall” began appearing around town in late July. By the time of the July 24 select board meeting some of the signs had been removed. There is debate and conflicting reports about who and why those signs were removed, though in at least some cases it appears to be the result of an informal town policy prohibiting political signs on town property.
As residents have begun to express reservations about the advisability of a RuralEdge proposal to create a 20-unit affordable housing development at the town hall, a Save Town Hall Coalition has come together, presenting the Greensboro select board with a petition signed by 180 people and retained an attorney who presented those concerns in a letter.
The Greensboro Energy and Climate Action Committee hosted an electric vehicle event at the Greensboro Farmers Market, Wednesday, Aug. 21.
FEMA employees came to the Farmers Market to make people aware of the services they offer.
Greensboro’s Town Clerk Kim Greaves received confirmation that their concerns about black mold in the town hall were well founded. Clean and Restore Restoration was called Wednesday, Aug. 28, following concerns raised at the Tuesday select board meeting. The firm prioritized town offices and arrived Thursday to examine the suspected mold and take samples. Following inspection, staff was advised to move upstairs in the building until the test results come back and a mitigation plan could be developed, according to Greaves. Town offices began a temporary move upstairs on Tuesday, September 3.
Black mold was confirmed in the town hall on September 5 with a plan and a quote for remediation in the hands of the town clerk a few days later.
Project Manager John Reilly and his team from engineering consultants Hoyle Tanner in Burlington conducted an investigation of the lawn in front of Greensboro’s Town Hall, Friday, Sept. 6. They were doing preliminary studies for a wastewater system meeting the needs of Greensboro and Greensboro Bend villages, said David Kelley.
The planning commission asked residents to complete an online survey to capture resident’s voices and map their hopes and dreams for the town’s future.
Greensboro Nursing Home sold 35 homemade pies in front of the Grange Hall for the annual GNH Drive-By-Pie event September 7, raising $880 to go toward general operations for the nursing home.
Local 4-Her Natalie Hill of Greensboro attended the 2024 Eastern States Exposition, September 15 and 16, presenting in the Illustrated Talk category.
Greensboro resident Darryl Johnson, who faced second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Robert Chaplin was found not guilty on both charges.
Peter and Sandy Gebbie’s Maplehurst Farm was awarded a $91,395 grant to install a 67.2 kilowatt (kW) direct current (DC), roof-mounted solar array on a new storage shed.
New parliamentary procedures for discussion were adopted at the select board meeting October 9 to moderate the level of discourse after the September 19 meeting spiraled out of control with disruptive and accusatory remarks. Gary Circosta took public comment time to accuse the board of failing to appropriately post meeting minutes and recordings. Disruptions caused discussion of a sign policy to be postponed.
Comcast and NEK Broadband were both working to install fiber optic cables to bring high-speed internet to Greensboro in November.
An anonymous letter, October 31, about the proposed RuralEdge redevelopment of the town hall, said “Let’s work together to find solutions that benefit everyone. Greensboro’s future is important to us all. Making sure a ‘convenience of the moment’ doesn’t destroy the future of our downtown is essential.”
Greensboro’s Trick or Treat Trail again stationed residents at summer homes throughout the village to offer treats to costumed visitors and volunteers and the Greensboro United Church of Christ offered grilled cheese sandwiches to trick-or-treaters.
RuralEdge was awarded $175,000 in state tax credits to support important code and facade improvements to help make the town hall redevelopment project possible.
Greensboro launched an “Adopt-A-Culvert” in November to empower volunteers to monitor and protect storm drainage systems.
Another anonymous group weighed in on the town hall redevelopment project, November 7.
The Wednesday evening select board meeting, November 13, had a packed agenda, with various grant projects dominating the discussion. In contrast to last month’s meeting, there were far less interruptions after the board implemented new basic parliamentary rules of procedure.
A harvest barter fair was held November 17 at Lakeview Elementary School.
The church delivered turkeys to Lakeview students, November 22, the Friday before Thanksgiving.
Beth Meachem taught a holiday card making workshop, December 1, at the Greensboro Free Library. The town tree lighting happened later that day in the park across from Willey’s Store.
The town clerk’s office moved back downstairs, December 5, following mold mitigation, then found water was still leaking in.
The Greensboro United Church of Christ held its annual ladies Christmas luncheon, December 7 in Fellowship Hall. Highland Center for the Arts held an indoor-outdoor Wintermarket fair with craft and food vendors that same day.
Greensboro residents attended a meeting of the Agency of Natural resources held December 12 about a wakeboat ban requested by the town and Greensboro Association.
At the December 11 selectboard meeting it was revealed the wastewater project has no viable options and will return funds with plans to begin again by forming a new wastewater committee in 2025. The board approved having a third appraisal to reconcile differences between two appraisals already done and extending the RuralEdge option agreement for six months with plans to have a vote at town meeting in March 2025.
