Guilford, Vermont

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Maintained by the students of Guilford Central School

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Guilford kids raise $1,000 for Stocking (Reformer, Dec. 24 09, p.1)

By CHRIS GAROFOLO

GUILFORD -- Guilford residents have always had a philanthropic heart when it comes to their town’s only school, and that charity has rubbed off on the next generation. The students from Guilford Central School have raised $1,010.50 in three weeks for the 73rd annual Reformer Christmas Stocking to purchase warm outerwear for children around the county. The total tops the school’s previous record of $726.49 set last year.

Student Government President Elizabeth Martyn said the students hosted a bake sale each Friday in December with three different homerooms competing to sell the most. While there was a spirit of competition to raise the highest amount, students were more focused on donating money for coat purchases instead of vying for cake sales. On Dec. 18 alone, the school raised more than $400 for the fund.

At the beginning of the school year, the student government members said they wanted to work on a project to make a difference in their community, and chose to work with the Christmas Stocking again. "One of the things we definitively wanted to do is the Christmas Stocking," said Martyn, an eighth-grader. The student government knew the Stocking money went to help other children, and that is very important for the community, she added.

"There is a feeling in this school of helping out during the holidays," said Jen Kramer, GCS social studies teacher and advisor to student government.

"The students 2aren’t the only ones who did it, it’s a whole community-wide Guilford effort," said eighth-grader Conley Crowder, secretary of the student government. "Helping other people makes you feel good ... it makes you wish there were more of us to make a difference." Along with the entire student population participating in the bake sale, former Guilford teachers, current staff members and parents assisted in preparing goodies for the fundraiser, packing a small table full of seasonal sweets and healthy treats. Students found out last winter which items were the most successful and made sure to stock an extra amount of the children’s favorites. Sure enough, the biggest sales hits were again candy canes, snack cakes and homemade brownies and cookies.

For the first 12 years of the school’s involvement with the Christmas Stocking, [first grade teacher Sue Bos] mainly conducted the daily operations. This is the second year that the student government has exclusively operated as the lead organizer, and the children have responded with the two largest fundraising seasons to date. And the students do everything for the fundraiser, from making posters and announcements to organizing who will volunteer at the table. "It is a tremendous amount of work that goes into this," said Kramer. "Never underestimate the power of middle schoolers, it is amazing what they can do," she added.

GCS Principal John Gagnon said he was very proud of the students’ achievements this holiday season. "They worked very hard and they did it because they wanted to help out people in need," he said.

To donate to the Reformer Christmas Stocking, send the contribution along with the form found in the Reformer each day and on our Web site to: Reformer Christmas Stocking, P.O. Box 703 Brattleboro, VT 05302-0703. A list of contributions is on Page 11.

Chris Garofolo can be reached at cgarofolo@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 275.

Archives 2009

Guilford Boys Win West River Soccer Tournament

Photos from the Guilford Fair

Friends Of Music Info

Youth needed to map resources for Youth Services website

We would like a core group of youth to work on mapping volunteer opportunities, internships, food resources, and possibly job resources in the county. NEN is offering a $10 stipend for a 2 hour chunk of work. Contackt Andi Waisman, Program Coordinator, Youth ImPact Windham County at (802) 254-4609 or awaisman@nenetwork.org

We (Youth ImPact partners) are improving our capacity to serve young people by sharing knowledge, skills and resources, together creating initiatives that curb youth violence, and finding ways to make our work more productive, successful, and sustainable.

Lynde picked Guilford Citizen of Year


By CHRIS GAROFOLO, Reformer Staff

Thursday, May 21
GUILFORD -- The Broad Brook Grange and Guilford Central School presented Nancy C. Lynde with the town's Citizen of the Year award during the 18th annual Community Recognition Evening. "I was very surprised," said Lynde, mother of three. "I want to thank the Grange and the townspeople for thinking of me that way ... It was very special."

For many years, she has donated her time to many of the school's functions, as well as craft programs for her church's Vacation Bible School and potluck suppers for the Grange. But all of Lynde's volunteer work comes as second nature to her, noting it's something she always has time for. "You help when people need help ... that's just what I do," she said. "Its just been something that I've always done."

Born in Guilford, Lynde was honored for her years of service to the region, which began while she was still a student at Brattleboro Union High School. During her BUHS tenure, she volunteered in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. As her girls moved through Guilford's school, she became one of the most active parents with her volunteer work and fundraising efforts. In her time with the Guilford School Community Association, she helped raise more than $4,000 for the athletic program. She often worked on the Staff Appreciation Breakfast with other Guilford parents. After her children moved to the high school, Lynde continued as a booster for BUHS hockey, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball and soccer, even co-coaching the basketball team. Recently, she served as co-coach for the Girls on the Run event, a health and wellness program for young women. "Being a strong role model and showing them how strong women can be was very rewarding."

Lynde also helps pass out the free alert radios provided by Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. "We feel it's very important for all members of the community to have these radios," said Lynde, who will hand out the free radios at the school's concert and arts night June 3. Lynde plans to continue doing her volunteer work while remaining a positive influence on her family and the bookkeeper of their business. "I'm just very honored to receive the award," she said.

While the spotlight of the evening is the Citizen of the Year, the evening provides Guilford residents an opportunity to come together and witness several community service presentations and musical performances from GCS students. First-graders from the school performed a "green-up rap" before students from a variety of classes spoke on the different service projects in the county. Dorothy Kinney-Landis and Amber Bessette performed "Fanfare & Minuet" from Handel's "Music for the Royal Fireworks," under the direction of Mary Bandish. Additionally, the Grange presented longevity awards to Irvin and Jerelyn Bruneau for 35 years, Barbara Petrie for 55 years and Marilyn "Peg" Jaqueth for 65 years. Keeping with the traditional of the annual event, accordionist Bob Tucker opened the evening with a musical prelude, followed by James Young and Richard Austin of Scout Troop 403 presenting the colors.

Chris Garofolo can be reached at cgarofolo@reformer.com or 802-254-2311 ext. 275.

See People and Places in the About Guilford section of this website to view a growing gallery of Guilford Historical Society photos, with writeups by various community people, and Guilford 7th graders.

Archives 2008

Archives 2007

ChurchBrick School House tiger lilybutterflyCarpenter Cemetary