Monday, November 23, 2009

The Best Granola

5 cups organic oats
1 cup organic whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup coconut
1 cup walnuts
1/2 to 1 cup almonds or nut of your choice
mix and then add:
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup canola oil

Place on 2 cookie sheets.

Bake at 250 degrees until brown,

Make sure to stir once or twice while baking.

Put over some Side Hill yogurt for a delicious breakfast.

Karen Sullivan

Agenda for Tuesday's 7 p.m. Select Board Meeting


1. Minutes
November 18, 2009 minutes
2. APPOINTMENTS:
7 pm – John Svoboda
3. LIAISON REPORTS
a. Police
b. Fire
c. Highway
d. Emergency Manager
4. OLD BUSINESS
a. Computer Security Policy?
b. Email Policy?
c. Hearing Policy?
5. MAIL
6. NEW BUSINESS
a. Special Town Meeting Warrant Articles
b. Vote/Signatures
c. FUTURE MEETINGS/APPOINTMENTS
November 24, 2009 @ 7 pm – Select Board meeting
December 2, 2009 @ 7 pm – Select Board meeting
December 9, 2009 @ 7 pm – Select Board meeting (tax classification hearing)
December 16, 2009 @ 7 pm – Special Town Meeting/Select Board Meeting
d. PUBLIC FORUM (if time)
* This is a preliminary agenda and is subject to change.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Ashfield in Wonderland

"It is getting curiouser and curiouser."

It is becoming increasingly difficult to understand the so-called alliances and camps that were identified early on in the Police Chief controversy. On the one hand you had those declaring that Dave DeHerdt was a staunch defender of the Chief's at all costs and on the other hand you had those who feared that Ted Murray had his mind made up to fire the Chief no matter what the facts.

Yet Wednesday night's meeting seemed to turn that perception on its head. What we witnessed was Ted readying John for his return and Dave piling up the expectations. We saw Ted taking care to explain the expectations that the Board had of John regarding new protocols and policies while Dave insisted he conduct exhaustive inventories of police department equipment and weapons.

We out here in Wonderland may indeed be confused and our world feel topsy-turvy, or maybe we've lived in another type of Wonderland for so long that this is what it looks like to be in the real world.

Amelia Maloney

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Tonight's Selectboard Meeting

I was unable to attend tonight's selectboard meeting, so I would appreciate hearing reports and impressions from those who were there. I have heard that we still do not have a police chief.

Ruth Julian

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Chair Caning Classes

Some people have asked me about chair caning classes. If anyone is interested, please call me at 628-4685. I'll try to schedule classes for January and February.

Karen Sullivan

Monday, November 16, 2009

This Week in Town Hall

Board of Health: Tuesday 11/17 at 7:00pm

Website Committee: Tuesday 11/17 at 6:30pm

Board of Assessors: Tuesday 11/17 at 7:00pm

Selectboard: Wednesday 11/18 at 7:00pm

Planning Board: Wednesday 11/18 7:30pm

Town Hall is open Monday 9am-6pm and Tuesday 9am-8pm

October Animal Control Report

10/06/09
8:15AM Received a call from resident
reporting cattle were out on Rt. 112 near Sanderson.
8:17AM Called several people who have cattle in that area,
left messages.
8:23AM Went to area and found the owners herding them
back in.
10:45AM Spoke to Town Clerk. She reports that
David King is the new Field Driver for large animals with Roland
Townsley assisting.
11:15AM Spoke with David about the position, as I may need
to call on him for help with loose large animals.

10/08/09
8:00AM A Buckland resident reported that she just obtained a dog from a
shelter a few days ago and it got away last night. The dog is a
black and white Australian Shepherd and had been spayed 5
days ago. It weighs about 30 pounds and has choke collar with
an 8-foot plastic leash attached. I gave her some other
people to call and I will call Goshen/Plainfield ACO for her.
4:30PM Received email pictures of lost dog.

10/09/09
9:00AM Notified Plainfield/ Goshen ACO about lost dog.

10/11/09
2:52PM On voice mail, Sgt. Nunez called. A dog has been locked
in the police station and she would like a call.
3:10PM Saw Officer Curtis and he reported the problem with the
dog. Told him I will take care of it.
3:15PM Went to police station, took dog to its owner, all set.

10/14/09
5:30PM A Rt. 112 resident called. He is missing his
greyhound. While speaking with him, his dog returned,
all set.
6:50PM Spoke with Buckland resident whose dog was lost. She has found
her dog, all set.

10/17/09
5:00PM A Rt. 116 resident called. He has a female
chocolate Lab at his house with tag # 228 for 2007. Checked
the list to find owner of dog.
5:05PM Called dog owner, left message about where his dog is.
5:15PM Went to owner's house, no one home.
5:30PM Owner called, he will get his dog and put on the 2009
tag.

10/20/09
2:15PM Saw Sgt. Nunez and she gave me an up-to-date large
animal owners list and their phone numbers. She also gave the
list to the Field Drivers in town.
5:50PM Sgt. Nunez called, she reports a Main Street resident called.
He has a dead skunk on his front lawn and wants to know what to do with it. I will call him.
5:52PM Spoke with Main Street resident. He will dispose of the dead
skunk himself.

10/22/09
4:15PM Meadow Lane resident called. She
is missing her large gray cat. It has been missing since
6:00AM today.

10/23/09
1:25PM Sgt. Nunez called. She has a report from a West Road resident
that a Husky dog is running in the middle of the
road heading towards the dirt part of West Rd. I will check the
dog list and meet up with the Sgt.on West Rd. List reveals possible
owner. Called him and left message.
1:35PM Went to West Rd. area, met Sgt. Nunez. She will check
the area for loose dog and I will go to possible owner's home.
1:50PM Arrived at the house. No one home but found a large
hole dug under the front gate of the dog fence. I left them a
note to call me.
2:00PM Saw Sgt. Nunez, let her know what I found and that I
believed I had located the owners of the loose dog.
2:30PM Notified original caller about who the owner is, left message.
4:05PM Message from owner about the dog.
4:45PM Spoke with owners about their dog. Explained that we have
a leash law and their dog just can't run loose
because the fence won't keep it in. They will do their best to
keep the dog at home.

10/24/09
4:38PM A Buckland Rd. resident called. She
reports a gray cat hanging around the neighborhood. Told her
we have a report of a missing gray cat. I will check with the
owners and call her back.
7:00PM Tried again to call owner of lost gray cat. Left
message.

10/25/09
8:30AM Spoke with owner of lost cat. Cat seen on Buckland
Road is not their cat.
11:00AM Tried to call resident who reported cat on Buckland Road.
Left message.
6:32PM On voice mail, dispatch called about an escaped
horse belonging to a West Rd.resident.
An officer is going over to check the area.
7:10PM Called dispatch back--horse problem has been taken
care of.

10/26/09
9:26AM Left message with the police department, thanking
them for taking care of the loose horse.
11:00AM Buckland Road resident called back. I told her the cat in
question is not the missing one. She will call me back if the cat becomes a
problem in the area.
2:30PM Call from another Buckland Rd. resident
reporting an injured gray cat, which may have been hit by
a vehicle. Told her I will be over to get the cat.
2:45PM Arrived on scene, cat has injury to rear legs, some
bleeding. Put cat in cage and will get it medical treatment.
This is probably the same cat that has been around the area
and seemingly has no owner.
3:00PM Made several calls on the cat, no luck about an
owner.
3:15PM Made several calls to vets in the area, no luck. I will
take it to Hadley for emergency first aid.
4:10PM Arrived at Hadley Vets. Cat has a dislocated knee, but
otherwise in good health. The knee will most likely heal by itself.
The bill was $58.00. Returned to my kennel with the cat.
6:00PM Called Buckland Road resident about the vet visit outcome,
left message.
6:08PM Made several more calls on the cat, no luck.

10/28/09
11:00AM Notified Buckland Road residents about the cat.
I will call them back about the health of
the cat in 10 days.

10/29/09
11:12AM On voice mail, a Phillips Rd. resident reports a skunk
is hanging around the area, acting strange, possibly sick or injured.
He wanted to know the laws on destroying a sick skunk, if it returns.
Gave him some ideas. He will keep me posted.
4:20PM Received a call that the problem skunk is back in the
yard. Told resident to keep an eye on it and I will be down as
quickly as possible.
4:21 PM Notified Sgt. Nunez I will be on Phillips Rd. possibly
destroying a sick skunk, in case she gets a call.
4:40PM Arrived on scene, checked the skunk, very sick.
Destroyed it and took to transfer station.
5:10PM Discovered lock on transfer station is broken.
5:30PM Let Tom Poissant know about the broken lock.

10/30/09
6:55PM On voice mail, a Bear Swamp Rd. resident requests
the phone number of the Hawley dog officer.
8:30PM Called back to give the number requested.

Monies Collected: 0
Expenses: $96.40
Phone Calls: In 51 Out 82
Miles: 96
Labor: 47

Warren Kirkpatrick