TOWN NOTICES

Please consider running for one of the offices we will elect on Town Meeting Day, March 6th. Nominating petitions must be submitted to the Town Clerk no later than January 30, 2012.

If you become a candidate, please remember to submit a statement for the Signpost introducing yourself and what contributions you hope to make. Send to Barbara Ploof no later than Friday, January 27, 2012 at signpostbcp@hotmail.com or 255 Barnes Road, 05602. You may call 223-6934 if you have questions. Statements will appear in the next issue of the Signpost prior to Town Meeting.

Positions to be elected on March 6, 2012
Town Moderator: one 1-year term
School District Moderator: one 1-year term
Town Clerk: one 3-year term
Town Treasurer: one 3-year term
Selectboard: one 3-year term; one 2-year term
Lister: one 3-year term
Auditor: one 3-year term
Trustees of Public Funds: one 3-year term; one 2-year term
First Constable: one 1-year term
Second Constable: one 1-year term
Town Law Agent: one 1-year term
Town Grand Juror: one 1-year term
Cemetery Commissioner: one 5-year term
Planning Commissioners: three 3-year terms
Elementary School Directors: one 3-year term; one 2-year term

Note from Terry Allen, Signpost Photographer:

Rally Day Balloon Ride Photos are online here.

The digital images are free and can be downloaded. If anyone wants a [paper] print, they can contact me at tallen@igc.org and give the file number.
$10 for 8x10.

The Sept/Oct issue of the Signpost features landmarks that have disappeared from our town. We had more stories and photos than we had space in the issue, so click here for more tales of disappearing landmarks.

Contact Bruce Johnson, the town administrator at eastmontadmin@comcast.net if you want to be on an email list that receives Select Board agendas and minutes.

COMMUNITY NEWS:

***NEW*** Many of us don't have children in the school system, yet we are very interested in what's happening in our schools – especially at our very local EMES. The elementary school creates a periodic newsletter (weekly or as needed) that is published online as well as sent home with students. Here's the link to the newsletters. If you lose track of the link, go to the EMES website, click on SCHOOL and then on NEWSLETTERS.

The Select Board has signed E Montpelier up for Front Porch Forum, a Vermont based community bulletin board for posting events, requests, items for sale, neighborhood news, etc. Check it out here: http://frontporchforum.com/ . It's brand new for our town. The Signpost will continue to provide this page for town notices and community events as well, since the 2 websites are quite different. Make sure to use your East Montpelier town address when signing up for Front Porch Forum, rather than your mailing address town.

FOUND: Digital camera on Guyette Road in early September. Inquire at East Montpelier Post Office. 223-2832

The Four Corners Schoolhouse board is looking for ways to support local growers. We are hoping that our building and the energy of our board can be used to benefit the many wonderful food producers in East Montpelier. To that end, we have two projects in mind. The first is to compile a list of all food producers in East Montpelier with contact info. The second is to gather everyone together to give this idea direction. We will be hosting a meeting at the Four Corners Schoolhouse on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at 6:30pm. If you are producing and selling any food product -- beef, sheep, eggs, maple syrup, etc., and would like to be included on the list and in this planning process, please send an email to Rachael Grossman, at: garlicmountain@gmail.com. Or you can call her at 223-3177. You can also contact anyone else on the Four Corners Schoolhouse board. A list of board members can be found by linking to "organizations" on the Signpost home page. We're looking forward to hearing from you!

The Food Shelf at the Old Brick Church is open to residents of East Montpelier and Calais in need on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month from 4-7 p.m. Donations, particularly canned goods, soup, pasta sauce, and tuna, are always welcome, as well as dry goods and paper products. Food can be dropped off at the church from 9-5 weekdays. There will also be a designated box at Dudley's for drop-off.
Financial donations will be put towards purchases from the Vermont Foodbank. To volunteer and for more info call 223-1232.

The Ruth Clark Fuel Group is an oil, propane and kerosene buying cooperative that affords people the opportunity to purchase fuel for the winter at reduced prices. An an example, fuel oil can be purchased at just $.30 a gallon above the distributors cost. Pre-buy options are also available.

Information about the cooperative can be found at www.RuthClarkFuelGroup.com or by contacting Tammy Clark at 476-0066 or via email at RuthClarkFuelGroup@charter.net.

Here is an opportunity to save some money on this winter's energy costs.

The Planning Commission distributed a town survey to townspeople last February and March to understand a number of issues and topics within the town. The PC uses the survey results when it prepares the next town plan, due for completion in May 2013. To see the survey and how people responded, click here.

Unclaimed Property and Monies
Please check the Vt State Treasurer's website http://www.vermonttreasurer.gov/ for your name! There are quite a few East Montpelier Residents on the list. Check it out!

Wanted
Donations of unused or unneeded animal carriers, kennels, fencing, etc. The Town's Animal Control Officers could use these items to carry out their duties.