Neighborhood Organization Sees Grant Delays
courtesy photo
The East Hardwick Neighborhood Organization (EHNO) will raffle this quilt with the funds to benefit the organization. The quilt is 51 inches wide by 59 tall, designed and made for the EHNO by Gail O’Brien with quilting by Laurie Greaves.
by Cheryl Luther Michaels, Community Journalist
EAST HARDWICK – At the September 5 Zoom meeting of the East Hardwick Neighborhood Organization (EHNO), Tracy Martin, community development coordinator for the Town of Hardwick, updated the board on the status of the Better Connection’s Grant. She reported that a VTrans employee has visited East Hardwick for a walk-about. The next steps, however, have been impacted by division staffing issues and the July flood. Currently the town is waiting to receive the grant agreement, after which they can request proposals from community and economic development consultants.
As background, two Better Connections planning grants totaling $97,500 were awarded to the town of Hardwick, specifically for developing a master plan for the Historic Village of East Hardwick. These grants will engage the community in developing a vision and plans for future development in East Hardwick, including storm water and sidewalk infrastructure, parking, traffic calming, outdoor parks and more. The master plan will allow the town to apply for additional grants to complete the work.
Martin attended the August meeting of the EHNO board with information about an opportunity to apply for a grant from the Vermont Buildings and General Services Department. This grant would be to purchase kiosks and bases for interpretive signs for the three Hardwick trailheads. The grant requires a 50-50 match and the EHNO board voted to join the Hardwick Downtown Partnership and the Hardwick Historical Society to provide the matching funds. Specifically, the board will fund half of the cost of a 42×32 inch two-sided timber-framed covered kiosk and a stand for one interpretive sign. Both are for the trailhead park on Stevens Lane in East Hardwick Village. Should the town be awarded the grant, the board voted to use funds from the Prevot Family Foundation’s gifts to the EHNO for this purpose.
Dave Gross updated the board on the condition of Overlook Park, stating that it survived the flood but the apron to the bridge failed. The Hardwick Road Crew has added boulders for support and will be back to add more fill to the parking area. The flowers in the rain garden survived the flood and are doing well.
The board discussed the Witches of East Hardwick project and decided to sponsor it again this year. For the past few years, the population of East Hardwick Village has increased as residents started planting “Witches and other October People” on their front lawns. Past creations may be viewed at the group’s photo gallery, with the witches on view through East Hardwick Village in late October.
The board decided on a date and an agenda for their annual meeting to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Grange Hall in East Hardwick, 88 East Church Street.
Pizza, cider and desserts will be served starting at 6 p.m., with the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Discussion will focus on the upcoming community planning grant and the School Street closing.
The board announced a date to draw the winning raffle ticket for their sunflower quilt. The drawing will be held near the water tub at the corner of School and Main Streets on September 30, at 10:30 a.m. The group welcomes all to stop by for lemonade and to be among the first to know who wins. Raffle tickets for the quilt will be available at Front Seat Coffee in Hardwick, Saturday, Sept. 16, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., unless it rains. Also, tickets can be purchased from any board member by sending an email to ehneighborhood@gmail.com.
To view photos from the October People Project, see ehno5.wordpress.com and select the resources page. For updates to the agenda for the annual meeting and more information about the quilt raffle, select the news page.
