Category Archives: Coronavirus

ICYMI: Montshire Museum, Norwich University, Farmers Market

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A brief roundup of news and information regarding Norwich, Vermont that may have escaped your attention. Montshire names new Executive Director Lara Litchfield-Kimber is the new Executive Director of the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vermont. The Montshire made the announcement in a November 5 press release. (H/T Daybreak!) Science and science literacy have never been more important—to have a nationally recognized museum here says a lot about our community and what it values, said Trustee Jeremy DeSilva, who Continue reading ICYMI: Montshire Museum, Norwich University, Farmers Market→

Norwich to receive an additional $660,000 in ARPA money, bringing total to over $1 million

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The Town of Norwich is slated to receive a little over $1 million from the federal government under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Town Manager Herb Durfee made that announcement as part of his final Town Manager report to the Selectboard at its meeting on Wednesday, August 25, as seen on CATV. That is a significant bump from the approximately $366,000 the Town was expecting. The additional dollars represent Norwich’s share of the money allocated by the feds to Continue reading Norwich to receive an additional $660,000 in ARPA money, bringing total to over $1 million→

ICYMI: King Arthur Flour name change, Willing Hands video, intervention policy of NPD, and more

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A brief roundup of news and information regarding Norwich, Vermont that may have escaped your attention. King Arthur Flour is now King Arthur Baking. After 230 years, King Arthur Flour has a new name. The new name and logo “better represent who we are today,” says the KAF, er KAB website. “And it’s a pretty simple story. We are bakers, committed now as always to spreading the joy of baking.” Willing Hands video. Filmed by Norwich resident Ezra McGinley-Smith, Willing Continue reading ICYMI: King Arthur Flour name change, Willing Hands video, intervention policy of NPD, and more→

Good news: Public school enrollment in Norwich is up. As a result, the homestead tax rate increase is less.

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The homestead property tax rate is projected to increase by about one cent this year to $1.8185. The increase is less than one percent from last year. Previously, at the time of Town Meeting, the projected increase was about 10 cents. The budgeted amount has not changed, going up five percent, from last year. However, student enrollment is up. That means cost per pupil is down. Under the State school tax formula, cost per pupil matters — a lot. As Continue reading Good news: Public school enrollment in Norwich is up. As a result, the homestead tax rate increase is less.→

How to make a tax deductible contribution to Dan and Whits’ effort to provide food to people in the Upper Valley

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You can now make a tax deductible charitable contribution to support the effort by Dan and Whits in Norwich to supply food and necessities to folks living in the Upper Valley. The Norwich Congregational Church recently designated the “Norwich Knows No Bounds Fund” as one of its Mission Offerings. Donations to the Church in May and June specifically mentioning Norwich Knows No Bounds will support that program. Before quoting the listserv announcement, an important disclaimer. Check with your tax adviser Continue reading How to make a tax deductible contribution to Dan and Whits’ effort to provide food to people in the Upper Valley→

Observations: Norwich Selectboard meeting of 4/22

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Some miscellaneous and/or random observations after watching the CATV video of the Selectboard meeting of April 22, 2020. Draft meeting minutes are here. TRORC approves Town Plan. This was lost in the shuffle a bit, at the meeting. Approval by the regional planning commission is a significant event, in particular because the 2018 Town Plan did not get the TRORC’s imprimatur. As a result of the approval, the Town will likely reestablish its Village Center designation, making it eligible for Continue reading Observations: Norwich Selectboard meeting of 4/22→

Covid-19: House mulls proposal to send recyclables to landfills

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A House Committee is considering changes to Vermont’s recycling laws in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. The Department of Environmental Conservation is recommending that waste haulers have the option to send Vermont recyclables to the landfills during a declared ‘state of emergency’, according to a VTDigger article. The DEC also wants the ban on trashing food scraps delayed by six months. It is set go into effect in July. Opposition from the public surfaced in the House Committee holding Continue reading Covid-19: House mulls proposal to send recyclables to landfills→

Voters to reconsider Article 8. Date of the election remains uncertain due to coronavirus.

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Norwich voters will have the opportunity to reconsider their decision in favor of Article 8 at a special election. Coronavirus concerns may push the date for that election out by several months. Concerned Citizens of Norwich recently announced the completion of its successful petition drive to hold a special town meeting to reconsider Article 8. “We’re excited to share the good news that the petition—OUR PETITION—had the sufficient number of signatures (224 submitted on March 25th and dozens more after Continue reading Voters to reconsider Article 8. Date of the election remains uncertain due to coronavirus.→

COVID-19: School property taxes to rise?

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Might school property taxes rise as a result of COVID-19? A recent VTDigger article discusses the pressure on Vermont’s K-12 funding system as a result of the reduction in business activity. The State Education Fund pays for most of school spending in Vermont. “About two-thirds of its funding comes from property taxes, and the rest from a mix of sales, meals and rooms, vehicle, and lottery revenues,” according to the VTDigger article by Lola Duffort. The State expects revenues from Continue reading COVID-19: School property taxes to rise?→

Coronavirus Response: Dan and Whit’s offers pick up and delivery service

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As a response to the Coronavirus outbreak, Dan and Whit’s is dusting off a practice common in the 1950’s. It is offering pick-up and delivery services. The General Store made the announcement yesterday on the listserv. Dan Fraser’s post lays out the ground rules of what he terms a “work in progress.” The time has come (actually it once was) we are just re-establishing  the service that was once common in the 1950’s, due in part to limit exposure to germs Continue reading Coronavirus Response: Dan and Whit’s offers pick up and delivery service→