Riptonite wins energy honor

A Ripton resident received an honor this month, concerning energy efficiency.

 Efficiency Vermont has named two Vermont building designers as Partners of the Year in energy efficient design and construction. The awards honor homebuilder Alex Carver of Ripton andDuncan Wisniewski Architecture of Burlington.#

Carver, co-owner of Northern Timbers Construction of Ripton, was named Residential New Construction Partner of the Year for achievements in the construction of energy efficient homes that provide lower energy and maintenance costs, superior comfort and air quality, strong resale value, and durability.#

“Alex is an extraordinary builder who is highly regarded by his peers,” said Matt Sargent, Efficiency Vermont Senior Energy Consultant. “In his nearly 30 years of homebuilding in Vermont, Alex has been unwavering in his commitment to creating high-performance homes and to educating others, including the next generation of building professionals. Alex has a drive to always explore new and better building approaches. This award rightfully honors Alex Carver’s notable contributions to efficient residential construction in Vermont.”

Congratulations, Alex!

School district meeting ahead

Also coming up with our annual Town Meeting is our school district meeting.  That's March 2nd, starting at 7:30 pm in the Community House.

Here's what's on deck:

ARTICLE 1: To see if the voters of the Town School District will authorize its Board of Directors, under 16 VSA 562 (9), to borrow money by issuance of bonds or notes not in excess of anticipated revenue for the school year.

ARTICLE 2: To see if the voters of the Town School District will approve the sum of $905,614 to defray current expenses of the Town School District for the ensuing school year and to pay outstanding orders and obligations. 

ARTICLE 3: To see if the voters of the Town School District will authorize the Board of Directors to transfer a sum not to exceed $37,000 from the Education Reserve Fund (balance of $58,825) to the General Fund as revenue for the 2015-16 school year. 

ARTICLE 4: To transact any other business proper to come before said meeting.

 Upon completion of the transaction of the aforesaid business, or upon adjournment of the aforesaid meeting for any other purpose, said meeting shall be reconvened on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, in the Ripton Town Office for the following business of the Town School District by Australian Ballot.

Polls will be open 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

ARTICLE 5: To elect a Moderator for the Town School District for a term of one year.

ARTICLE 6: To elect one School Director for the Town School District for a term of three years.

ARTICLE 7: To elect one School Director for the Town School District for a term of two years.

 RIPTON SCHOOL DIRECTORS 

 Carol Ford, Chair 

 Bryan Alexander 

 Perry Hanson 

 Giles Hoyler 

Laura Murphy McIntosh

(thanks to Alison Dickinson for the documentation)

Town meeting ahead

Our Ripton Town Meeting is coming up on March 2nd.  It starts at 7:30 and will take place at the Ripton Community House, as ever.

Here are some details from the official warning:

The legal voters of the Town of Ripton are warned to meet at the Community House in Ripton on Monday, March 2, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. to transact the following business:  

Article 1: Will the Town vote the sum of $577,000.00 to pay Road and General Fund expenses for July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016, and pay outstanding orders or obligations of the Town, with interest, the tax rate on the 2015 Grand List to be determined by the Selectboard, divided as follows: 

Roads, including winter work $294,100.00
General Fund $282,900.00
Total $577,000.00

Article 2: Will the Town vote the sum of $38,650.00 to the RiptonVolunteer Fire and First Response Department to help pay Fire and First Response expenses for July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016?  

Article 3: Will the Town vote to have current property taxes collected by the Treasurer with a tax due date of Thursday, November 5, 2015?  

Article 4: Will the Town vote to elect a Town Clerk for the term of one year as provided by 17 V.S.A. §2646 (2), said term to begin at Town Meeting, March 1, 2016?  

Article 5: Will the Town vote to elect a Town Treasurer for the term of one year as provided by 17 V.S.A. §2646 (3), said term to begin at Town Meeting, March 1, 2016?  

Article 6: Any other business proper to come before this meeting. 

The Meeting will recess until 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2015.

(thanks to Alison Dickinson)

Sally Hoyler in the Addison Independent

The Independent has a nice article about our late Sally Hoyler.

The headline begins: "Hoyler fondly recalled..."

A river quality discussion

Next week you're invited to a discussion of our local rivers and their water quality.
From a FrontPorchForum post:

On Wednesday, January 28 at 7 pm Matt Witten, director of Addison County River Watch Collaborative, and other River Watch leaders will be in Ripton to participate in a community discussion about River Watch and water quality on the Middlebury River and Otter Creek. Come join the discussion at the Ripton Fire Station on Dugway Road behind the elementary school. We’ll shoot for ending by 8:30, but it may run to 9. Light refreshments.

(thanks to Barry King)

A celebrating of a Riptonite's life

On Tuesday night Riptonites are invited to celebrate the life of one of her own.
Sally Hoyler passed from this life on January 15th, and her family would like to celebrate her life.

Here's what her family emailed:

We will be celebrating Sally's life on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at the Community House in Ripton.
Gathering begins around 4:00.  In true Ripton style, potluck and BYOB.
At 5:00 we'd like to invite sharing of stories, memories, poems, song and music, anything you like...this will be informal. We look forward to celebrating this amazing life with you.  Please spread the word.
In love,
Giles & Emily

All best wishes to the Hoyler family.

Recycling on a cold January day

We held our first town recycling morning of the year.  The Kulczyks and Kings kindly provided fire, soup, and other goodies for us.