American Precision Museum Model Engineering Show August 18th

The museum will be hosting its 19th Annual Model Engineering Show and Family Maker Space on Saturday, August 18, 2018 when visitors will be treated to a wide variety of exhibits and hands-on maker activities. 

Exhibits are held at both the museum and around the corner at the Windsor Rec Center / Admission is $10 adult and $5 students; one ticket good for both venues. Also, free admission for Windsor students accompanied by one parent and free admission for any Junior Machinist Apprentice graduate and one parent if the graduate wears his/her JMA pin. PLEASE NOTE:  Admission to this event is NOT PART of the benefits of APM Membership. 

If you would like to participate in this day long event there is still time to register. Vendors and Exhibitors Register Here

Featured at the Show:

In addition to the great modeler exhibits we will be welcoming some new exciting participants this year as we broaden the scope of the show to include more technology, youth oriented activities and historic presentations. New confirmed participants include:

• Howard Coffin, author of several books on the Civil War and winner of the esteemed Hathaway Award from the Vermont Historical Society for his book “Something Abides: Discovering the Civil War in Today’s Vermont.” Howard will be presenting a talk on Vermont Sharpshooters in the new Learning Lab of the Museum Lobby.
• Steve Giroux, a local videographer will demonstrate how he uses drone technology in his work,
• Along with other state robotic teams our own American Precision Junior Apprentices will give VEX and SPERO robot demonstrations
• Frank the Welder, aka Frank Wadelton, a legendary figure in American bicycle frame design and manufacturing. He’s worked at Yeti, Spooky, Mongoose, and many others and has a tremendous influence on mountain bike design. CLICK HERE to see a video of his story. 

Harpoon BBQ Festival this Saturday and Sunday July 28th & 29th

Harpoon BBQ Festival 2018 l
Saturday: July 28th 11am–7pm Doors close: 5:30pm. Sunday July 29th 11am–5pm Doors close: 3:30pm We're celebrating summer at Harpoon Riverbend Taps & Beer Garden the best way we know how - with beer, friends, live music, and some of the best BBQ! Here's the deal: competitive BBQ teams from all over New England compete to be crowned the Grand Champion which earns one lucky team a ticket to the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue. Read: you get to enjoy some damn good BBQ!  TICKET INFO: Entrance is $15 and includes one beer/soda ticket Friends of Harpoon get $5 off their admission! Cash or Credit Card. The event will be held rain or shine. Tickets not sold in advance.  Food sold separately. All ages welcome. Free admission for kids under 12 when accompanied by a paying adult. Must be 21+ to drink with proper ID
 
Beer University Ever wonder about the science behind brewing and the ingredients we use? Join us at 'Beer University' during the festival where you'll learn about beer from our Head Brewer and Innovation Brewer. Did we mention there will be samples?! Learn more and sign-up day of at Customer Service!
 
A Note About Pets Dogs are allowed, but must be leashed at all times. Harpoon reserves the right at any time to ask that a dog and its owner leave the event if the dog is not leashed, cleaned up after, or is misbehaving in our opinion. No refunds will be issued if a dog owner and dog are expelled.

Should Mt. Ascutney's Name be changed to Kaskadenak?

Late last week the Town received a notice from the Vermont Board of Libraries that they would be considering, at their July 17th meeting,  a petitioned request to change the name of Mt. Ascutney to Kaskadenak. (who knew the Board of Libraries handled such things?) The Selectboards of Windsor, West Windsor and Ascutney will all be discussing the matter at their next respective meetings. For Windsor that is this Tuesday.  If you would like to know more about the topic and express your opinion, you can find the information we received on the Town website here. You can take a once question survey on the topic here

This is an article written several years ago on the issue link

This Week In Windsor 6.29.18 (Includes area fireworks schedule)

Click here for this weeks newsletter https://mailchi.mp/3a3f6e9e0c2e/another-championship-2612125

This Week In Windsor 6.22.18

Check out this weeks newsletter //mailchi.mp/342b063d1bd0/another-championship-2612121

Concerts on the Common

Concerts on the State Street Common on Wednesdays. Bring your lawn chair and enjoy

the great sounds of summer. Dates: July 11 – Aug. 29 Time: Wednesday 6:00pm - 8:00 pm

FREE

July 11- About Gladys

July 18- River Road Blues Band

July 25- Sullivan, Davis, Hanscomb

August 1- Frydaddy

August 8- LarryDougher/Adam McMahon

August 15- East Bay Jazz Ensemble

August 22- Newmont Miltary Band

August 29- The Repeat Offender

Backyard Composting workshops & composter sale

Composter Sale

The Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste District, which includes Windsor, is selling “Soil Saver” backyard composters for $50 each. The 100% recycled plastic composter is 28”w x 28”d x 32”high and has a 10-year manufacturer’s guarantee. We also sell Sure-Close food scrap pails for $5 each. To order, call 674-9235 for an order form or download one from the District’s website, www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org. Orders are due by Friday, April 13 and may be picked up at the Windsor Town Garage on Saturday, April 28. If you attend a backyard composting workshop, you can buy one at the workshop for $35. 

Backyard Composting Workshops

The District is offering workshops again this year. If you attend one, you can purchase one composter at the greatly discounted price of $35 (additional composters are $50). The workshops will be held at 6:00 p.m. on the following Thursdays:

·        Whiting Library in Chester – May 3

·        First Congregational Church in Springfield – May 31

·        Reading Town Hall – June 14

·        Rockingham Free Public Library – June 21

The workshop presentation is about 45 minutes with time afterwards for questions. To sign up, call 674-9235 or email mobrien@swcrpc.org

Meet the "Windsor Grasslands" Vermont's newest Wildlife Management Area

VT designates a new WMA in Windsor

The Fish & Wildlife Division of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources has recently designated approximately 825 acres of fields, woodlands and grasslands as a Wildlife Management Area. (What is a WMA? click here). The property previously fell under the jurisdiction of the Department of Buildings and General Services. 

The Town of Windsor recently held a public forum to provide an overview of what the future holds for the property. A video of the forum can be foundhere.  

The Fiscal 2017 Annual Report is now available

An electronic copy of the annual report can be found Here

Hard copies can be found at Town Hall, the Library, and the various town banks.

Town Meeting is Monday, March 5th with ballot voting Tuesday March 6th. Click for links to ballot information

Click the links for various information regarding the upcoming Town Meeting

Sample Ballot https://app.box.com/s/pu33sdoqz1m9ile3sdp89i9gt1yye57c

Video of overview of Municipal and School Budgets http://woa-tv.org/site/2018/02/16/windsor-town-and-school-budget-review/

Video of Public Forum on Act 46 https://vimeo.com/256631692

Documents related to the FY 2019 Municipal budget https://app.box.com/s/pc7iadmnunwkpww7oqcfe93bib49t0cw/folder/43859421123

Public Forum - Learn about the Wildlife management area on the former prison land.

Wednesday February 21st 7pm Welcome Center Representatives from VT Dept. of Fish and Wildlife will be on hand to discuss land management activities and future plans for the wildlife management area formerly part of the prison property. Topics will include;

• What is a Wildlife Management Area?
• What are the characteristics  of the property?
• What has taken place since property oversight was assigned to the Dept. of Fish & Wildlife?
• What are some short and long term goals of the land management process?
• Who oversees activity and does the work?
• What information will the state develop to inform the public of the WMA assets?
• Opportunity for questions and answers.

Public Forum on Prison Repurposing Wednesday, December 20th

Prison closure discussion
We had a very productive public forum with many of the key executive branch and legislative players who will be involved in the prison repurposing process. We heard about the status of the prison farm as well as the deliberative process and timetable that will be used to determine the future of the facility. (Only land within the fence, the 800+ acres will remain a Wildlife Management Area). A video of that meeting can be found here.
 
During the meeting is was made clear that there is interest and expectation by both the executive and legislative branch to hear what Windsor’s objectives are for the property.  In addition, the process is very open to specific idea (s) from Windsor for property use. It was emphasized that any ideas must have broad support from the community as well as basic vetting related to regulatory compliance, financing options, and overall social & economic value.
 
To ascertain what ideas may be percolating in Windsor we will be hosting a community forum on Wednesday, December 20th from 7pm to 8:30pm at the Welcome Center to hear ideas and outline the vetting process. We will have the following representatives on hand to listen and provide information:

o   Regional Planning Commission: state permitting, existing regional plan

o   Springfield Regional Development Corp.: business support services, potential state and private equity financing options.

o   Selectboard: listen for community guidance on purpose and priority

o   Zoning: local permitting and town plan provisions

Residents will be encouraged to provide a brief description on ideas for specific uses (amusement park, trade school, etc.). Equally important will be to hear comments from residents on general provisions for the land (leave land open, state social services, private development, etc.).
 
Specific proposals will require a 3 to 5 page overview, due by January 12th for consideration by SRDC/RPC/Selectboard/zoning. Submissions will be vetted for regulatory compliance, fiscal practicality and community benefit. Proposals that meet those criteria will be moved forward to a more rigorous process of business plan development. We expect to have a submission ready for the state by early March. This timetable is designed to meet the legislative schedule.

Would you like to know more about the prison closing and repurposing process?

The discussion regarding repurposing the "prison farm" is a fluid process. Documents related to the closing and to the property can be found here

Learn more about Economic Development Opportunities in Windsor

Windsor offers a variety of tools to those doing business in Windsor and those considering a move to our community.  Business planning services, competitive loans, tax stabilization, state financing and regulatory assistance are all services offered, at no charge through our Economic Development arm "Distinctly Windsor". 

To learn more click here

American Precision Museum Model Engineering Show & Family Maker Space Saturday, October 28th 9am - 4pm

AMERICAN PRECISION MUSEUM PRESENTS our

18TH ANNUAL MODEL ENGINEERING SHOW & FAMILY MAKER SPACE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2017 9am-4pm

WINDSOR, VT:  What do an 1841 Springfield Special rifle, a ball-tossing robot, a miniature replica of a steam power-plant, and a 3D model of your face all have in common? They all part of the things to see and do at The American Precision Museum’s 18th annual Model Engineering Show. The show will take place at the Windsor Recreation Center, 29 Union Street, and at the museum, 196 Main Street on Saturday, October 28 from 9:00am-4:00pm.  The admission fee of $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students covers entry to both the Recreation Center location and the American Precision Museum.  Also, free admission for Windsor students accompanied by one parent and free admission for any Junior Machinist Apprentice graduate and one parent if the graduate wears his/her JMA pin.

The American Precision Museum’s Model Engineering Show provides visitors the chance to see the work of some of New England’s finest model engineers and machinists, along with engaging demonstrations highlighting the most intricate of machining skills from the past, present, and future.

The Family Maker Space at the Recreation Center will feature a variety of activities for all ages including making a working telegraph, a Cardboard Teck Pinball Machine, 3D Printing demonstrations, the 2016 Vermont state champion robotics team, the Rutland Robo-Rattlers, who represented Vermont at the First LEGO League World Festival in 2017. This year we will be offering a special screening of the MacGillivray Freeman documentary “DREAM BIG” sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It features the accomplishments of young women engineers. 

Outside at the Recreation Center – from Vermont Technical College – “On the Move” mobile machine shop with Manufacturing Education Specialist, Chris Gray.

Around the corner at the museum, a National Park Service Ranger from Springfield Armory National Historic Site will talk about early lathes and the new Coltsville Historic Site in Connecticut.  Also on display, will be a private collection of Vermont and New Hampshire antique firearms with Wayne McCutcheon.

Special guest, Gerald M. Carbone, noted author will be doing a book signing and a presentation about his most recent book “Brown & Sharpe and the Measure of American Industry”.  The book follows the ascent of the dazzling array of measuring devices, machine tools and precision machinery that the company produced and marketed that helped shape Rhode Island, the nation, and the modern world.

Children from 8 to 14 can participate in the Junior Machinist Apprentice program all day at the museum.   All this complements the American Precision Museum’s  Shaping America exhibit.

A detailed schedule of events with times will soon be released.

The show is most generously supported by The Point, Mascoma Savings Bank, Jane Osgood and Ted Hilles, the Town of Windsor, Windsor Improvement Corp, Snapdragon Inn, Miller Construction, Windsor Mansion Inn, Blood’s Catering, Cota & Cota, and L F Trottier & Sons.

For more information visit the event web page: https://www.americanprecision.org/2012-01-18-16-22-51/model-engineering-show and the museum’s Facebook page or call 802-674-5781. 

Harpoon Octoberfest this weekend

Harpoon Octoberfest

October 7th & 8th Harpoon Octoberfest at our Windsor brewery is much like our festival of the same name in Boston – nonstop live oompah music, chicken dancing, cake eating, bratwurst, and of course, barrels upon barrels of freshly brewed Harpoon beer.  But instead of Boston as the backdrop, you’ve got Vermont’s beautiful upper valley in the peak of foliage season.  Fresh beer, radiant fall foliage, and live oompah music…awesome. On Sunday prior to the festival, we'll be hosting our annual Harpoon Octoberfest Race which benefits the Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center. It's a great start to the festival and we'd love to have you! SCHEDULE: Sat., October 7th 11am - 6pm Doors close: 4:30PM
Sun., October 8th, 2017 11:00am - 4:00pm Doors close: 2:30PM

Due to the Harpoon Octoberfest Road Race to benefit the Friends of Norris Cotton Cancer Center - we hope you keep in mind the delays on Route 5 Sunday October 8th. If possible seek alternate routes that day, or join us for the race or the Octoberfest event! Thank you for your support and understanding!

DELAY ON ROUTE 5 NORTH AND SOUTH Date: Sunday October 8th 2017 When: 11am -12pm

There will be road delays on both route 5 north and south starting at 11am and ending by 12pm

Autumn Moon Festival Saturday, Sept. 30th

4th Annual Autumn Moon Festival

Come join us for another fantastic evening of fun and entertainment on Saturday September 30th from 4-9pm on Main Street. There will be stilt walkers, fire dancers, jugglers, kids zone, craft and product vendors, food trucks and more.
New this year is a dunk tank and back by popular demand, Bob’s Tommy & Friends Train.
Pi Brick Oven Trattoria will be hosting the Beer Garden serving Harpoon beer and cider.

Music by About Gladys and to top off the evening another beautiful Fireworks display!

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Saturday, Sept. 16th

The next Household Hazardous Waste Collection:

Saturday, September 16   9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Windsor Goodyear Building

Click here for the printable list of what to bring and what not to bring to HHW events.

Armory Open House and Skate Party - September 10th

Sunday, September 10th 2pm Come join us at the Windsor Armory to tour the facility, enjoy a community cookout and meet members of the Twin State Roller Derby team!
Explore this unique space and and see what potential opportunities exist for the entire Windsor community. ALL people and dogs are welcome!!! FB link

Stanley Steamers Coming to the American Precision Museum - this Friday

Stanley Steamers Coming to the American Precision Museum

A club of Stanley Steamer automobile owners will be visiting the American Precision Museum throughout the day on Friday, August 11. Feel free to stop by the museum and chat with the owners, view the cars, and visit the museum as well. We ask that you be respectful of the cars and only touch with owner’s permission. Parking will at the museum will therefore be limited. They will not be arriving at the same time but will arrive and leave at different times throughout the day. Up to 75 cars could eventually visit eginning at 10am when we open.