October 17: Share Your Village Store Stories
Saturday, October 17, 8:30–11:30 a.m. at the Village Store
Bring your memories, stories, and family histories of the Village Store as we build an archive about this community hub. Stop by on your way to recycling!
We'll be recording short on-camera interviews about your memories of the store: your favorite memory, your favorite item to buy there, and what you hope to find at the new Village Store & Café. We'll also have the rocking chairs set up in front of the iconic Village Store sign for a photo. Whether you're a longtime customer, a donor, or a neighbor, we'd love to add your picture to the community mosaic planned for the new store.
Septic Solution Moves the Village Store Forward
Anyone who has wrestled with commercial or affordable housing construction in Vermont knows that progress depends on your septic plan. Without a wastewater solution, nothing gets built.
That's why our partnership with the Town of Thetford matters so much. Working with a team of septic engineers and Town Manager Brian Story, we have completed a septic design plan in which TCCT will pay to expand the capacity of the Town Hall septic system. The expanded system will serve the Village Store and can support other buildings in Thetford Center that may connect in the future.
The design must now be approved by Vermont's Department of Environmental Conservation. We hope to have that sign-off by the end of the year.
Thetford Labor Day Parade: Thetford at Its Best
The Thetford Labor Day Parade is an institution, so we were excited to join a group to build a Thetford Center float that featured the Village Store, the Frost Building, and the Thetford Center Community Association buildings, painted by volunteers in Susan Arnold's Outback Barn over a couple of weekends. Deecie Denison and Dean Whitlock chaired the effort, David Goodrich supplied the engineering skills (and trailer!), and Margaret Loftus led a Crossmolina Farm crew handing out fresh carrots along the route. Thanks to Jim Harlow for towing this masterpiece of American gothic art! EC Brown donated plants, and Studio Nexus, the 250 Semiquincentennial Project, and Real Hazen Construction helped cover paint and lumber. Evidence of passion and love (more than skill) is now front and center: we attached the float mural to the Village Store facade. It takes a village! Thanks to Charlie Buttrey and all the organizers who make this such a great town tradition.
Over $900,000 and Counting: A Critical Phase for Fundraising
We are now over $900,000 in donations and pledges. Amazing!! We are in a critical phase of fundraising: gifts and pledges made now will provide the support Thetford Center Community Trust needs to contract with the construction team and begin building.
If you love the idea of reviving a gathering place and food hub in the center of Thetford, and you're able to contribute, don't wait another day.
The Trust accepts contributions through our website, gifts from Donor-Advised Funds, and direct donations to our Mascoma Bank account and to our Fidelity brokerage account (for gifts of appreciated securities). Let us know if we can assist you as you consider a gift.
THANK YOU!!
More soon. Thank you for supporting the revival of the
Village Store & Café.
— The Thetford Center Community Trust Board (Tim, Deecie, Sarah, Dom)