Mount Holly Newsflash

Today's Forecast: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 20. Wind chill values as low as -11. West wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Archived Newsflash emails can be read at: https://mthollynewsflash.blogspot.com

Latest edition of the Chitchat

Follow us on Facebook

Hi Folks,

As we have another gray day of a January thaw, soon to change back to winter and waiting for the much desired snow that shows up at 1 or 2 inches at a time, is so depressing for the snow lovers. All is well and snug in our homes as we wait for a true winter to show up, however my side jobs still need to be done.

Chit Chat deadline is one week away on Thursday January 22^nd, by 6:00 pm. Please have all articles, announcements, advertisements and any other item to be shared with our wonderful community that waits patiently for the next Chit Chat to arrive in their mailbox to me by then. It will go to print on the 23^rd and if all goes well, be in the post office on the 24^th. Many thanks for all your help providing the content for our Town Newspaper.

Happy MLK Day,

Diana Garrow, Editor

802-259-2314

chitchat@vermontel.net

www.mounthollyvt.org

LMH School Board Approves 2.97% Budget Increase
The Ludlow Mount Holly Unified Union School District on Wednesday, January 14, approved a budget for submission to the voters for their consideration on town meeting day in March. The proposed budget includes spending of $10.46 million, an increase of 2.97%. Additional grants and other revenue will reduce the increase in the amount to be raised by taxes to 2.14%. If there had been no change in the common level of appraisal, this would have led to a tax rate decrease of two cents -- ($20) for each $100,000 of property value. Unfortunately, the state has determined that property values in both Mount Holly and Ludlow have increased faster than in other areas of the state and as a result the property tax increase in Mount Holly is estimated to be 14.97% and in Ludlow 7.44%. The legislature is now considering proposals that could significantly reduce these tax increases, but the final outcome cannot yet be predicted.
Much of the school spending increase in recent years is attributable to special education costs. Federal law requires the district to meet the special education needs of all its students, but the superintendent is now working to identify ways that the cost of delivering these services can be reduced. One possibility is partnering with neighboring supervisory unions to offer services that currently require placement at private schools.
The continued gradual reduction in student enrollment and increase in costs led the board to establish a committee to examine possibilities for restructuring the way we educate our students. The board agreed that we must maintain strong educational programs for our students, value our educators and respect the role of local schools in our community, while ensuring fiscal responsibility and durable stewardship of our schools. The committee will include members of the school board, parents, teachers and other local community members, with equal representation from our two towns. In February the board will solicit volunteers to join the committee. Their meetings will be open to all.

Happy Friday everyone! Let's get this weekend started, shall we?!

A little bit about us: Plew Farm is a diversified farm located in Mount Holly, Vermont, dedicated to providing a local alternative to commercially produced factory food. Owned and operated by husband and wife, Kevin & Patti Plew since 2011.

We have always shared a passion for growing and producing as much of our food as possible, beginning with a few vegetable and fruit gardens. Meat seemed like the next logical step, and about 16 years ago, we began raising a few chickens – some for eggs, and some for meat.

An opportunity arose early in 2011, for us to lease farm land in our town. There was enough land to expand and begin our farm business, and so we began raising chickens for resale. Keeping in mind that Kevin's retirement from his 'real job' would happen at the end of 2015, we soon focused our time and energy into increasing our farm, so we would be ready to 'farm full time' once retirement arrived.

With that plan, came the addition of pigs, beef, turkey, maple and hay. The opportunity to purchase the farm, 150ac and farm house completed our dream of farming full time.

The addition of maple into our farm plan was a very natural progression for our farm, as Patti comes from a long line of sugar makers (7 generations!) Our syrup is used to make our award winning maple cream, maple candy, and our nearly world famous maple almonds! Our maple almonds are a cousin-to-cousin, coast-to-coast venture with Patti's cousin Bob Livak, who is an almond farmer in California.

We were vendors with local farmers markets for the first 9 years, where we were part of the market community of dedicated farmers & producers. We all shared a common goal of providing our community with products that we take pride in. Our customers are the most important part of our business - without them, we simply couldn't exist.

We now sell our own farm produced products (meat, maple, eggs) from our farm stand as well as a large variety of local products from our farming friends and producers.

We will be open for the entire weekend and will be stocked with all kinds of local goodness. Grab your friends, neighbors and family and stop on by. We'd love to see you.

Located at 1966 Healdville Road in Mount Holly, we'll be open all weekend from 12:00-5:00.

SHOP OUR WEBSITE

Maple syrup, maple candy, maple cream, and maple almonds. All available on our website! Our website never sleeps, so you can shop at your leisure. Visit our website for all things maple. From our Vermont maple farm to your family. You shop, we ship.

Plew Farm

1966 Healdville Rd, Mount Holly, VT 05758

Farm stand open Thursdays through Sundays from 12:00 - 5:00. 802-259-2250