Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018 — PAGE 1
PAGE 2 — Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018 Titles won
Wearable art
Local swimmers claimed league titles and set records this past weekend. See Sports, Page 1B.
Ellen Spring shares the secret to hand painting silk blouses and scarves. See Arts + Leisure.
Flying high A wildlife expert has a comeback story to tell about eagles and falcons. See Page 10B.
ADDISON COUNTY
INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont
Vol. 71 No. 31
$1.00
40 Pages Thursday, August 3, 2017
Special Report
Feds seek Champlain cleanup
cuts; state pushes back
EPA chief, Vermonters at odds over who pays $2B pricewatertag quality
on Lake Champlain By JOHN FLOWERS, GAEN improvements. MURPREE, WILL DiGRAVIO “The EPA will encourage New and JOHN S. McCRIGHT York and Vermont to continue to VERMONT — Strides have make progress in restoring Lake up cleaning been made toward Champlain from within core water Vermont the since Champlain Lake programs,” reads the proposed Legislature two years ago passed 2018 budget for the EPA, under Act 64, the Vermont Clean Water the direction of Administrator Act, and the U.S. Environmental Scott Pruitt. “This funding change Protection Agency released its Lake eliminates the Lake Champlain phosphorusChamplain program. of s last “President targets reduction This change returns both parties summer. responsibility the Steps taken have have supported local funding for ranged from issuing funding for Lake environmental efforts agricultural Champlain ever new to state programs and passed best-practice rules to since we and local entities.” 1991 in legislation phosphorus curtailing The budget, released rivers to establish the into runoff in May, also reduces and the lake; to the Lake Champlain other to n funding repairing of roadsides, Special Designatio geographically specific which similarly reduces Act. The Trump projects in cleanup erosion; to taking the Administration’s the Gulf of Mexico, eliminate to call reducing first steps in Chesapeake Bay and spillage of sewage and these investments Puget Sound. road salts into Vermont is a travesty.” Does this mean — Sen. Patrick that the huge effort waters. fear Leahy some But Vermonters have made water the effort to clean to start restoration of a 20-year, $2.3 billion effort to improve of fear the ago. Vermont has commenced Lake Champlain in Lake Champlain two summers recreation, drinking, tourism and economic development. Some Lake Champlain and to improve A KAYAKER COOLS off with a swim the state’s waters for cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and and Peter Hamlin water quality generally will fall by quality in the lake and other waterways to preserve Photo courtesy of Chris Robbins other toxins and preserve its waters of the bill. the wayside? How will Vermont pay federal government won’t foot its share for recreation, drinking, tourism and for this? natural beauty could be hampered The answers vary. No doubt, by a change in administration at the programs are well underway federal level. toward the cleanup goal (see The cost of this huge undertaking story, right). But the Lewis Creek is estimated at $2.3 billion over the Association, for one, is preparing next 20 years. For the current fiscal for less federal money to help it year, the EPA allocated nearly $4.4 achieve its mission. million toward the Lake Champlain The association, which is devoted cleanup. But in its proposed FY to restoring this Lake Champlain reduce to looks EPA 2018 budget the tributary that flows through northern By GAEN MURPREE its overall spending by 30 percent (See Status of cleanup, Page 11A) VERMONT — While politicians and essentially zero out spending and federal agencies jockey to pay for the $2.3 billion clean up of Lake Champlain and improvement of Vermont’s waters, state and local agencies tasked with making it all happen are moving full speed ahead. Agriculture officials have written and begun to implement rules for curbing the amount of animal waste and other phosphorous from getting into the lake. Towns are surveying work they need to do to stop runoff from roads and beginning projects. Municipalities are trying to get their arms around how to reduce the n amount of sewage that escapes into County Regional Planning Commissio Jason Paquette, left, and Addison rivers. water quality-related SHOREHAM ROAD FOREMAN together in Shoreham to inventory It is all to meet the mandates of Transportation Planner Josh Donabedian examine a roadLake Champlain, this stretch of Lapham Bay Road will from reaching lined up in the coming year. the 2015 Vermont Clean Water Act, improvements. To prevent phosphorus Addison County towns have similar work Independent photo/Trent Campbell as well as the U.S. Environmental likely need two larger culverts. Nineteen (See Agriculture, Page 13A) PRUITT EPA ADMINISTRATOR SCOTT
Towns, farms move full steam ahead
on water quality
State commitment strong; questions loom about federal partners
Malt maker, Ferrisburgh e land strike deal for primrespectively .
By ANDY “I’m very hopeful,” “We can bring KIRKALDY said. wing back Peterson FERRISBU RGH grain-gro “At this point I’m — The Ferrisburgh to New England committing money on and Vermont. selectboard attorneys and to 39th the of Organizers Tuesday agreed on It went west firms. I en engineering on-the-Gre annual Festival a $337,500 deal to certainly wouldn’t do in Middlebury report some sell the town-owned 150 years ago, that if I didn’t think spectators left the talent showcase 34.91-acre parcel at and I think it’s that ultimately we t. (See By the way, Page 2A) the junction of Routes really importan couldn’t get it done.” 7 and 22A to Andrew It’s good for the Ferrisburgh Peterson of Monkton, sustainability Selectboard owner of Peterson of agriculture in Chairwoman Loretta Quality Malt. able Lawrence said she be to Vermont n P e t e r s o and other board Obituaries ................................ 6A it become plans to build a to have members are also Classifieds ......................... 4B-9B 1 0 , 0 0 0 - s q u a r e - local again.” hopeful this time Service Directory .............. 6B-7B barn-like — Andrew Peterson around they have a foot, Entertainment ........Arts + Leisure malt-processing buyer who can meet Community Calendar ........ 8A-9A house and to grow s after two contingencie Arts Calendar ........Arts + Leisure contract is he said barley on the land. He Sports ................................ 1B-3B earlier deals fell apart. She noted optimistic the deal can eventually Peterson has had encouraging early close despite the hurdles that remain, contacts with state officials about his such as permitting and financing plans. contingencies that are due to be (See Ferrisburgh, Page 3A) met in January and November,
By the way
Index
Stevens keeps Abenaki legacy alive Tribal chief wants to ensure customs and culture endure
By JOHN FLOWERS Friday, Don MIDDLEBURY — Monday through of Addison Stevens ensures the Counseling Service harmony, as the County’s computers are working in manager. organization’s information technology for the responsible The rest of the week, Stevens is Nulhegan the of chief as people, well being of an entire Abenaki Tribe. American Stevens, 51, explained his role as a Native Addison with the leader during a recent interview he takes very Independent. It’s a responsibility customs seriously, knowing that Abenaki language, if they books and culture will only be found in history generations. future to on aren’t passed with others, “I have an awesome responsibility, along didn’t have, so to get that recognition that our people opportunities to we can carry on our culture and give to have pride in Nulhagen Abenaki our children,” Stevens said. “You have DON STEVENS, CHIEF of the at a tribal leads his late mother, Margaret, who you are.” to 1787 and Tribe, back at the Counseling roots Abenaki his celebration. Stevens works Stevens can trace tribe. Service of Addison County. Courtesy photo Antoine Phillips, a former chief of his (See Abenaki, Page 7A)
Feds seek Lake Champlain cleanup cuts; state pushes back
Everybody uses it, but it’s often taken for granted. Water. And Vermont’s water made a lot of headlines in 2017 as lawmakers — amid steady pressure from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — continued to discuss an action plan to clean up the state’s waterways, with the focus primarily on Lake Champlain. Everyone was (and continues to be) a stakeholder in the estimated $2.6 billion cleanup plan, for which the Legislature has yet to assign a longterm funding source. The feds have promised to cover a big portion of the bill. But Vermont must still raise at least $30 million annually for the next 20 years as its share of the cleanup. State officials believe the state will be able to bankroll the plan in the short-term — through 2021 — using funding from the property transfer tax, the state’s capital bill, and revenue from some competitive federal grants. Vermont could also soon receive more than $5 million annually as an impact fee from the TDI Clean Power Link project that calls for installation of electric power lines under Lake Champlain. Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce gave the Legislature a report this past January that assessed potential cleanup costs and pitched 65 possible revenue sources for the state’s share of the Clean Water Initiative, including an excise tax on pesticides, a gas tax, a $50 annual flat parcel fee, and/or a sales tax on auto repairs. Lawmakers formed an advisory council following the 2017 legislative session to take another look at potential funding sources for clean water. The panel issued a report in
November that didn’t suggest any specific taxes or revenue options. Indeed, finding extra money has been a difficult chore during these tough budget times. Individual lawmakers have sought to protect their respective constituencies as much as possible from the sticker shock. Business groups have lobbied against suggestions the commercial sector bear a larger proportion of the water quality improvements. Municipalities have been on guard about potential new fees or regulations related to their wastewater treatment plants. Farmers have also voiced concern about being targeted as a result of fertilizer- and manure-related runoff into Vermont’s waterways. And Gov. Phil Scott has made clear his disdain for any increases in broad-based taxes or fees. State Sen. Chris Bray, D-New Haven, stepped forward in the fall with what he hoped could be a conversation starter for water quality funding: A per-parcel fee that he said could yield $18.8 million of the state’s estimated $30 million annual commitment. Bray, chairman of the Senate Natural Resources & Energy Committee, noted the average Vermont household size is currently 2.4 people, and there are roughly 360,000 parcels in the state. A per-parcel fee of $1 per week — amounting to $52 per year for the landowner — would yield $18.8 million annually. He reasoned that sum could be combined with another $12 million each year from the state’s capital bill to come up with Vermont’s annual $30 million “lift” for water quality programming. It remains to be seen how Bray’s legislative colleagues will receive the per-parcel fee suggestion when the 2018 session convenes in early January. Vermont Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore told the Independent in December she had some concerns about a per-parcel fee, centering on the potential administrative costs of collecting such revenues.
50 Years o
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Counsel Addison C Addiso Ma John W
50 Years of Funding Here are just a few of the many oranizations YOU helped fund over the years and the year their funding began:
Ho H.O.P.E. (1969) $1,263,736 Elderly Services (1981) $1,163,647 Counseling Service of Addison County (1969) $1,152,838 Addison County Home Health & Hospice (1975) $1,085,551 Addison County Parent Child Center (1981) $765,808
United Way of Addison County PO Box 555 48 Court Street Middlebury, VT 05753 802-388-7189 unitedwayaddisoncounty.org
Mary Johnson Children Center (1978) $752,328 John W Graham Emergency Shelter (1982) $692,663 Age Well/CVAA (1986) $670,333 WomenSafe (1982) $566,575 Hospice Volunteer Services (1985) $539,202
= 12,829,701! $
Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018 — PAGE 3
Vermonters raise their voices
Reflecting what seems to be a broader consen- February in Bristol drew heated criticisms and sus nationwide that it is OK — even necessary a day of protest from people who objected to the — for people to come out, wave placards with indiscriminant killing of coyotes. Lincoln resident Mari Cordes took a whirlclever and pointed statements, and raise their voices, Addison County residents seemed to be wind, three-day trip to our nation’s capital in late June to join protests over the proposed out protesting a lot more in 2017. Some trace the reason for this apparent uptick Congressional repeal of Obamacare. Cordes, in civil demonstrations here back to the man a nurse and longtime activist, joined dozens of whom Addison County voters overwhelmingly other protestors in an act of civil disobedience defeated in the 2016 presidential election, but at the Russell Senate Office Building in D.C., who won the electoral college vote. Following which is headquarters to many U.S. senators. the inauguration of Donald Trump as President After giving their view on the repeal, they began of the United States, hundreds of Addison chanting and eventually sat down in the hall with County residents took to the streets in protest, their arms locked. Eventually Cordes and some both in Washington, D.C., and in Montpelier, others were jailed. Protests of a quieter form took place when many sporting pink “pussy hats” specially knitted for the occasion. Two busloads took local a Vergennes man of Mexican birth was threatmen, women and children to the nation’s capital ened with deportation in early July. He won a reprieve, at least temporarily. for the Women’s March on Washington. In mid-August, about 100 protesters gathered Other area citizens joined the Women’s March in Middlebury to express solidarity with on Montpelier, including counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Middlebury Union High Va., where self-proclaimed white School student Greta Hardysupremacists and neo-Nazis marched Mittell, who became internet (and drew almost no criticism from famous when she recited her Trump). Locally, already inflamed poem “Don’t Tell Me I Can’t sensibilities were further aggravated by Cry” to the 15,000-20,000 displays of Confederate flags outside protesters gathered in front two Middlebury homes and in Vergennes. of our state capitol. Officials responded to the issue of racism and It didn’t take long before crowds appeared on local streets. A week after the inauguration, bigotry in all its forms. Addison Central School Trump issued an order suspending entry into the District created a task force to recommend ways United State to people from a number of predom- of creating a more racially sensitive environinantly Muslim countries. A crowd of more ment in its schools following incidents among than 500 students, faculty, staff and commu- students. In Vergennes, the city council adopted nity members assembled outside Middlebury a resolution supporting inclusivity, tolerance and College’s McCullough Student Center on Feb. universal rights, and rejecting hatred. During the playing of the national anthem at 2 for a rally supporting refugees and denouncing the recent travel ban. The ban struck close a Middlebury College football game in October, to home as Middlebury President Laurie Patton two African American players — Ian Blow and reported the college had four enrolled students Diego Meritus — kneeled in a move in sympawho were citizens of the countries on Trump’s thy with NFL players who had been kneeling during the anthem for a year to draw attention to list. College professor Ata Anzali and his family racial disparities in policing, and to the number were living in his native Iran during of unarmed black men killed by police officers. a sabbatical, but despite his being a permanent U.S. resiIn focus On fast track dent, he feared they may not Best friend be able to return once the ban became official, so the ADDISON family of four rushed back COUNTY to their home in Weybridge with only a few days Connor eyes preparation. ne for business, w spot as Rt. 7 Vermonters ra Congregational Church property now ise their voices for sale of Middlebury pastor Andy Nagy-Benson and Havurah member Emily Joselson responded by organizing a forum at which Muslim townsperMiddlebury pa sons could speak about study local ec nel to their experiences that onomy Will propose bus iness growth ideas grew into a series of community conversations throughout the Local resident year. s join Montpel Women, backer ier crowd s flood state cap Just a month later, ital to show solidar ity Middlebury College Ferrisburgh’s budget won’t trigger was thrown into even tax hike greater turmoil when protests erupted over the appearance of right-wing speaker Bristol board Count y folks take stan backs plan Charles Murray on d in Washington, D.C. By the way with 1% rise campus. He was in spending shouted down and, regrettably, his party was jostled Index by protestors (Read more in our No. 8 story of the year). A coyote hunt scheduled for the second week in
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Hospice Volunteer Services in the Middlebury MarbleWorks
Celebrating 35 Years!
NO.
PhotoPlace Galle how he got invol ry owner tells ved in the worl d of photography. See Arts + Leisu re.
Vol. 71 No. 4
The D-II Tiger girls waxed D-I CVU ’ Nordic team Center. See Spor at Rikert Nordic ts, Page 1B.
INDEPENDE
An experienced mush all about dogsleddi er will tell White North. See ng in the Great Page 10A.
Middlebury,
Vermont Thursday, Janu
ary 26, 2017
NT 46 Pages
$1.00
By JOHN FLOW ERS MIDDLEBURY Company officia — ls told Conn Homes found er Mike Conn or on Tuesday that the layoff workers confirmed on s — which or took effect Tuesd Dec. 30 — up a new Midd ay he is sizing perma are now nent. which to rekind lebury location in But Mike Conn le the business or said he’s negotiations to after hoping reopen the enterp to at its longtime rise He confir change that narrative. Route 7 plant failed med on Wedn esday he is This news is at . least a temporary in negotiations with the setback for the owne r of a building 63 who helped makelaid-off employees park off in Middlebury’s industrial Exchange Street Connor Home specialty colon s’ quickly that could ial reproduction homes. “kit” thriving accommodate the once business. Employees had “We’re very been told of optimistic this potential return is to work by the a going to happen,” Conn of this month, end the move or but to the industrialsaid of current Connor Mike Connor and which park, is being facilit Homes co-ow ated Samuel Pryor have been unabl ner Gaucher, director of the by Jamie forge a deal for e to Office Middlebury of the Econo transf mic Developme er of the Innov Route 7 property nt & ation. or its assets. (See Connor Home s, Page 11A)
By JOHN FLOW ERS MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury through the Middlebury town officials Business Development had planned to Fund (MBDF) voters at town — on, meeting in Marchask or soon after, June 30. help chart the to “I don’t feel community’s comfortable giving future somet economic devel hing that opme But after check nt policy. on for close to has been going ing with four years lawye and state officia ls, and discus rs full year of continuation another the issue amon sing we haven , knowing ’t achieved our gst themselves on Tuesday, goals to date,” select members of Middlebury select the Carpenter board Chairman Brian said of his desire appoint a comm board agreed to up the to shake current strategy, ittee to recommend a new economic which he said “needs to be development cours for the town come e than later. tweaked” sooner, rather July 1. This effectively “My sense is our structure needs will likely turn means Middlebury be chang to current business the page on its econo ed in the way we go about mic developme growth strategy nt, and it needs — (See Middlebury , Page 11A)
By ANDY KIRK ALDY FERRISBURGH — Ferrisburgh select The budget on Tuesd board adopted a ay that if appro by residents ved on Day would barely Town Meeting move the town’ municipal tax rate, effectively s the hours of cut the position from 35 elected treasurer allow the board to 20 per week, and to time worker for hire an extra partthe town office .
Board members also adopted Town Meeting a will ask reside Day warning that nts to make other decisions: three $190,000 truck, whether to buy a to change prope tax payments to rty a quarterly sched and to create a $500 Conse ule, rvation Fund. Residents on asked to appro March 7 will be ve a $1,850,100 (See Ferrisburgh , Page 7A)
EAST MIDD during Satur LEBURY TEENAGER Greta day’s March on Montpelier Hardy-Mittell reads her and others. , which attrac poem ted people warni “Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Cry” to ng national politi cal leaders to thousands gathered at the State respect the rights of women, minohouse rities Photo by Holly
h still going
peop strong at 4 p.m. red by a Middlebury photo le at the Women’s March grapher on Penn sylvania Photo by Ariann
a Slavin
• Bereavement Support • Community Education
www.hospicevs.org • 802-388-4111 The District would like to take a moment to thank our Addison County residents and businesses for your waste reduction efforts. You all contributed greatly to the impact we made this year! Here are some of the highlights:
In 2017...
93,304 lbs of waste paint collected 104
by the District for recycling or proper disposal
14,000 lbs of household batteries recycled by the District
5,136
lbs of textiles recycled by the District
124
residents attended backyard composting workshops
304,600
lbs of electronic waste recycled by the District
mercury thermostats recycled
149,000 lbs of books recycled 42,000 lbs of unregulated hazardous waste (other than paint) collected at the HazWaste Center and kept out of the landfill
2,447
by the District
7,000
lbs of plastic maple sap collection tubing recycled by the district
Stadtler
protest ever held according to organ in Vermont, sainted Sen. Bernie Sande izers. Hardy-Mittell rs, and — that was the 10th roused a laugh from the speaker at the crowd coura the hard-working, brilliant, by comparing Women’s March geous woman the marchers Montpelier — on “Dumbledo can an re’s Army” from to by the lazy class bully be beaten By EMMA COT in the wake of event organized who doesn TON the know how Harry Potter last Novem MONTPELIER series. Then to keep his hands ’t she delivered the first — Greta election, and in conju ber’s to Hardy-Mittell, line of her poem himself.” a junior at with the Women’s Marchnction with gusto. Her words Middlebury in Wash Union “Don’t tell me Statehouse and echoed off the High voicesington, to ensure that the School, stood I can’t cry from on the steps of speakers wome becau smattered across n are heard se I care,” she read. of the Vermont the epic crowd Statehouse last during the era of Presid which Her Saturday aftern poem includ ent ed many Addis , addressed a Trump. oon Coun student in her on speakers left until counting the class who, could ty residents who didn’t The 15-yearor n’t go to the Clutching a foldedit was her turn. old the day after huge march in the D.C. paper copy of East a self-authored election, Middl poem, the nerve had The poem she had quiete s reside e b u r y earned much appla said crying — and nt took d that morning use began to resurf some laughter about the stage after when ace. the Mittell closed Hardy The sign-waving results with a smile, sayingLt. Gov. David was , “Do pussy , not tell me hat-wearing crowd “ridiculous.” before her Z u c k e r m a n , because I will that I can’t cry, — expected to “Don’t tell anyway.” After be only a few after leaders a thousand — me I can’t graceful exit, her mom, standi of nonprofits was estimated ng at 15,000-20,000 cry, because the side of the stage, swallowed on by Vermont State like Planned in her a bear Police, makin hug. America has Pare ntho od, g it the larges “It was so incred t after told the world ible to see the — has told many people who were cominso g our children out to support the same causes (See Montpelier, Page 12A)
By JOHN S. McCR IGHT WASHINGTON, D.C. — “I just kept crying,” East Middlebury resident Joann Colwell said a Congratulations recounting her experience at Union High Schoo to Vergennes the Women’s March on Wash Charlebois, who l junior Mason By GAEN MUR ington this past PHRE this Saturd E week ay. “I’ve never been named a finali was BRISTOL — in a crowd that big, Bernie Sand st in U.S. Sen. meeting, Bristo Last year at town and I’ve been in ers’ annual l some big crowd State an almost 10 percevoters said yes to of the Union s.” essay contest. Big was a word contest gives The spending — largelnt hike in overall used by many Verm of the Addison students an oppor ont high school payments for the y to cover bond County residents who went to to articulate the tunity each year South Street Bridgnew fire station and the issues they would e. the National Mall huge rally on On Monday, the (See By the way, the day after Bristo President Trum l selectboard Page 7A) chose to offer p’s inauguratio voters a 2017n. But it wasn’t plan calling 2018 for a 1.06 perce the number of just describing spending increa se to $2,506,949 nt crowd — which people in the . The proposed was estimated amount to be raised at between 500,0 by taxes is 00 and 680,000 $2,139,887, a — Obituaries ......... it also perce 1.07 referr nt increase over ed to ....................... 6A Classifieds ......... people in attend the diversity of approved for 2016- the $2,117,215 ance, the size ................ 6B-9B 2017. of Service Directory the steps they Town Admi realiz .............. 7B-8B nistrator There Entertainment to make to achiev ed they need Kirby said that se ........A e their goals town Community Calen rts + Leisure and the bighe last year was excep officials knew arted feeling they dar ........ 8A-9A tional. Arts Calendar all shared that “The selectboard ........Arts + Leisu day. and myself Sports .................. re “People were so as taxpayers .............. 1B-3B understand that kind, I didn’t hear a cross year was a large last word the entire day,” said There were overwhelme increase, and we sa Gleason of d with the public Bridport. support of the new fire facilit y the support of Gleason was amon the budget overaand she said on group that helpe g the small Wednesday. “So ll,” d coord MORE two this buslo ads of Addison inate on Wash THAN 100 Addison Coun (See Bristol, Page County ty resid ingto (See Washington 7A) Avenue show n this past Saturday. This ents were among the , Page 12A) half-million s the marc scene captu
• Trained Hospice Volunteers
households brought hazardous waste to the HazWaste Center for proper disposal
Addison County Addison County Solid Waste Solid Waste Management District Management District
1223 Rte 7 So., Middlebury • Formed 388-2333 • AddisonCountyRecycles.org in Monday - Friday 7am - 3pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm
1989
PAGE 4 — Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018
Third times a charm?
Voters reject Mt. Abe bond again
Will the third time be the charm? service vehicles. That’s what proponents of a new bond • Two additional outside terraces for lunchvote to renovate the Mount Abe Union time use, accessed through the large and High School facility are hoping. A third small cafeterias. vote among Addison Northeast Supervisory • A relocated library to the front of the Union district voters is likely to be scheduled building, across the lobby from the main for this coming Town Meeting Day in March. office area. That proposal will follow two prior defeats • Consolidated shop and design/tech areas and a year of planning, haggling and anguish that would take up much of what is now over what to do with the nearly 50-year-old the library. building. • A reconfigured band room floor to make The latest vote, a poll of it ADA (Americans with five-town residents on a $36.6 Disability Act)-compliant, million bond that took place along with a larger area at the on Thursday, Nov. 2, failed back of the auditorium that by 93 votes: 1,261 to 1,168. could be partitioned off for But the first bond vote, held in chorus classes. 2014 on a $32.6 million proj• An upgraded auditorium ect, went down 3,328 to 1,239. with new stage flooring, some In comparing the two votes, turnout at the new seating, new lighting and new sound first vote was almost twice as high and with equipment. almost all of those additional votes going • An expanded middle school art area. The project proposal also included variagainst the proposal. But even in the second vote, the number of supporters dropped by ous code, safety and maintenance improvements, including making the stairways and 71. • The plan defeated this past November bathrooms ADA-compliant; installing a new would have provided for, among other sprinkler system to serve the entire buildthings: ing; putting in new fire alarm and security • A renovated main entrance with more systems; replacing and/or refurbishing the windows that would allow in more natu- entire heating and ventilation system; and ral light. removing and replacing lighting, the electri• A second gym oriented toward the rear of cal system and various plumbing fixtures. the building, with its own event entrance/ While school board members had argued lobby. that the full renovation was needed and little • A “loop” road so that traffic could circu- could be trimmed, a new group of district late around the entire facility,12/8/17 including4:34 a citizens formed after the second bond defeat, Top Ten 2017:Top ten 2015 PM Page 1 rear bus drop-off and delivery docks for spearheaded by Bristol resident David Brynn,
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and have held community meetings drawing as many as 50-plus people. Their goal, Brynn says, is to pass the third bond vote with 60 percent voter participation and 60 percent approval. To do that, Brynn and others say, the renovation price must come down. At the latest school board meeting in D e c e m b e r, a proposal for a $29.5 million was floated, but even that might be too much. Meanwhile, there appears to be another idea from Lincoln resident Stephen Harris, who is advocating a plan to build a brand new 60,000-squarefoot school building connected to the north end of the existing building at less than $20 million. Harris’ plan would keep the existing high school facility intact to share the large
spaces: the gym, library, auditorium and swimming pool, while leasing the rest to a commercial developer as incubator space for commercial enterprises. Whichever plan is chosen, ANESU district residents can anticipate a lively and provocative first half of the year as they sort through the various options.
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Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018 — PAGE 5
State struggles to fund education as students decline and costs increase In his first year in office Gov. Phil Scott has put a spotlight on a seemingly untenable problem: the state’s declining school enrollment and increasing school spending. Scott challenged state legislators and local school boards to come up with a sustainable solution. “We must increase the value students see from the dollars we spend, while providing relief from costs that continue to grow faster than Vermonters can afford to pay,” Scott said at a Dec. 18 summit on education that drew more than 300 educators from around the state. He noted that per pupil education costs in the state have grown faster than even health care costs over the past 10 years — and health care, he noted, was seeing increased utilization, unlike the declining number of students we are educating. Responding to the governor’s appeal and the realization that property taxes are growing at a rate that can’t be sustained, Addison County school boards set preliminary budgets that reflected steep budget cuts in staffing and some services. Addison Central Supervisory Union, representing Middlebury Union High School and the seven district towns, initially proposed a budget cutting $1.9 million and called for a cut in 14 teachers, a principal and 18 paraprofessionals. Good news (in the form of gaining 53 pupils in a change in the way the state figured pre-K students) reduced those cuts by $600,000 — requiring fewer proposed layoffs — but still the proposed reductions will be significant. The school districts in Brandon, Bristol and Vergennes areas also face tough budget numbers that will suggest similar cuts to staff and programs. What’s driving the hard look at education spending is a continuing decline in student population, while costs per pupil continue to rise. The numbers are stark: • Vermont is currently losing 1,000 students per year and has lost 30,000 in the past 25 years. MUHS will see 50 fewer students next year. • While the number of students in the states’ K-12 schools dropped from 103,000 in 1997 to 76,220 in 2017, the number of school employees rose from 14,451 to 18,015. • Not surprisingly, Vermont’s staff to pupil ratio has declined from 6.67 staff per pupil to 4.23 per pupil, with Vermont having more staff per
Happy Holidays TY ADDISON COUN
INDEPENDENT
46 Pages pupil than any other state 21, 2017 Thursday, December Middlebury, Vermont in the nation, according to Vol. 71 No. 51 Suzanne Young, Gov. Scott’s ANWSD likely to Secretary of Administration. nd • The student demographic face $7.6M bohike seen trends in the state mirror that tax no d; eye ate Facilities upd of the workforce as well. The state loses 1,788 people between the ages of 20-64 each year. According to Young, since 2000, the state has 25,000 fewer people under the age of 20, but State funding news 60,000 more people changes ACSD plan ’ to $1.3M over the age of 65. That Budget problem ‘shrinks declining workforce leads to declining revenue from the income and corporate tax revenue — putting an even greater strain on the state budget. To counter those trends, the Government and educators Legislature in 2016 passed Act 46, struggle to fund Vt. schools which encourages school districts to consolidate governance and Holiday meal budgets, which should — theoretically — make it easier n for school Taking music to Japa districts to in Asia es tun an eric Am al tradition MUHS student performs consolidate y wa e th By educational services down the road if that’s what boards determine is in their best interest. The issue is compounded by the state’s Index need for a bettereducated workforce, and the income equality gap for those without a post-secondary education. Businesses are reporting a lack of skilled and qualified candidates to hire, Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe told education And that’s the conundrum Vermont faces: summit attendees, which puts the onus on educators students need more and better education than and schools to get better at equipping students with ever before, but the rising costs of education the skills they need to enter the workforce. At the and the lack of good-paying jobs once students same time those without higher education are being graduate make the public investments ever left behind in a global economy that is increasingly harder to manage. It’s sure to be a dominant displacing laborers with robots. issue in the Legislature this session.
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The issue is compounded by the state’s need for a better-educated workforce, and the income equality gap for those without a post-secondary education.
By ANDY KIRKALDY Addison VERGENNES — The t Board Northwest School Distric to voters a will probably propose Meeting $7.6 million bond on Town list of long Day that would fund a safety and energy efficiency, fire four district all at es upgrad y securit schools. believe And board members or even that bond can be mostly without completely paid for increasing taxes. ANWSD Board members and financial administrators stressed that stages, projections are still in early known: is but one central factor
payments The timing of new bond the end of can closely coincide with that funded payments on the bond tion and the 2000-2001 renova Union High expansion of Vergennes School. erson of chairp ert, Borch Tom s facilities the ANWSD board’ rs are committee, said numbe l. preliminary, but hopefu it as “We’re trying to make terms le in revenue-neutral as possib t,” Borchert of the budgetary impac happening said. “Essentially what’s nts for the here is that the payme simply take upcoming bond would 15A) Page , VUHS (See
By JOHN FLOWERS Public — MIDDLEBURY lament the school officials often Vermont’s of unpredictability is not It . education funding system information unusual for state aid and drabs, to be released in dribs the point at sometimes right up to finalize which school districts must g Day their budgets for Town Meetin votes. different. no been has year This
information But a batch of state aid buoyed the received on Dec. 17 l School spirits of Addison Centra d the learne District directors, who tion has Vermont Agency of Educa student agreed to increase the ACSD count by 53. etation of The agency’s new interpr district’s the Middlebury area school pre-K on enrollment — which keys d this counte ’t weren children who 11A) Page , (See ACSD
ROE By MICHELLE MON St. Albans Messenger can NORTHFIELD — How with ts Vermont provide its studen able afford a quality education at an ts across cost as the number of studen e? That the state continues to declin been has is the question the state decade. a least at for r answe trying to
on new It’s a question that is taking a declining urgency in the face of economic sluggish workforce, nt tax growth and nearly stagna revenues. Scott On Monday, Gov. Phil imately approx of group a convened the state 300 educators from around16A) Page les, (See Strugg
food shelf Donna Rose, CVOEO holiday coordinator, shared a little know let us cheer with us when she u and her about how Anita Nadea — 17 in nts assista of band joyful collected all — recently organized, pounds of and delivered 1,694 food to delicious and nutritious O/ CVOE and the food shelf. Rose Action Community Addison gratitude offered their sincere said the and appreciation. She itment of enthusiasm and comm helping to all of the volunteers a wonder out their neighbors was on a to behold. Rose also passed and Nova special thank you to members Trevor, the youngest r delive helped of the crew, who (See By the way, Page 15A)
.. 6A Obituaries .............................. B 9B-13 Classifieds ....................... 10B-11B Service Directory .......... + Leisure Entertainment ........Arts 8A-9A Community Calendar ........ + Leisure Arts Calendar ........Arts .. 1B-3B .......... .......... .......... Sports
Holley Hall on Dec. 9.
Academy in dance at the McFadden By JOHN FLOWERS Romy Colchester. — a way CORNWALL really like using music as “I her to ing march other people Munkres enjoys led her to communicate with a common own tune, which last month not speak might y who Count n from her native Addiso said. ture of language,” Munkres parents to the Japanese prefec It also doesn’t hurt that her other Tottori. There, she and four days play music (with Romy) in the Red Vermont youths spent nine can Dog Riley ensemble and her brother performing traditional Ameri at is also an accomplished musician. peers music for their Japanese a major art festival. by a The trip was organized ion Tradit g “Youn group called a nonVermont,” or YTV — seeks that profit organization to ans to inspire young musici of embrace traditional forms are pants music and dance. Partici gifts urged to share their artistic d in with others, which has resulte to other YTV members traveling s. nations for performance 15-year-old a Munkres, School High Union Middlebury for YTV. student, is tailor-made since She’s been playing the flute began she was in 5th grade and The 6. playing violin at age studies Cornwall resident also nal Irish and performs traditio
invited When YTV officials to Japan — Munkres to make the trip she accepted her first ever to Asia — Sustic, without hesitation. Mark er, had YTV’s touring group managsojourn ay helped organize the nine-d with the ge exchan l cultura a through estern Tottori Prefecture in southw Japan. (See Romy, Page 15A)
A MUNKRES, ROMY School Middlebury Union High other with sophomore, plays a music Vermont youth at and right, festival in Japan, made poses with a new friend on her trip, above.
Courtesy photos
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By JOHN FLOWERS Abraham BRISTOL — The Mount will meet Union High School Board consider a early next month to t for an budge million $29.5 , leaner that would MAUHS renovation plan on Town be put to five-town voters . March Meeting Day in directors Mount Abraham school agreed to take that tack on “I definitely Tuesday after hear from receiving new public i n f o r m a t i o n the the that people from M A U H S want n o i t a v Reno something C o m m i t t e e . to be done, panel That but they met on Dec. want 14 to chart the really next steps in to know getting major what their repairs for the options are. deter iorati ng, Because in 50-year-old we school the end high off are paying building B r i s t o l ’ s for this with Airport Road our tax bill.” delivers that — school s e c o n d a r y board member education Sandy Lee Addison to Northeast (ANESU) Union Supervisory l, Lincoln, students from Bristo and Haven New Monkton, Starksboro. 2 rejected ANESU voters on Nov. by plan tion a $36.6 million renova It was fivea 1,261 to 1,168 tally. at passing town residents’ second try MAUHS a major repair plan for the in 1968. building, which opened margin Encouraged by the close re-energized of the Nov. 2 vote, a back to Renovation Committee went er new, consid to board g the drawin s. Some less costly project option ant import it ered members consid below $30 a big crowd to to get a future request with Santa event drew g feedback ’s annual Breakfast million, acknowledgin 14A) EATION Department Campbell RECR rent OL photo/T BRIST dent THE Indepen (See Mt. Abe, Page
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VGS pipeline begins to deliver natural gas locally
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After many public meetings, much liti- easements by a 279 to 168 tally. gation, thousands of hours of debate and Meanwhile, a Wellesley, Mass.-based millions of dollars spent, Vermont Gas in company and the Goodrich Farm in Salisbury March turned on the spigot to its Addison late in the year confirmed they were teamNatural Gas Project pipeline. ing up on a project that would turn on-site Initial recipients included some of the cow manure and Addison County food waste biggest businesses within Middlebury’s into renewable energy that would be piped to industrial park off Exchange Street, includ- Middlebury College. ing the Agri-Mark/Cabot cheese plant and Vanguard officials said plans called for Vermont Hard Cider. Vermont Gas officials a Farm Powered-brand anaerobic digester spent considerable time signing up additional that would, on a daily basis, process 100 commercial and residential users and crews tons of manure from the 900-cow Goodrich continued to install distribution lines in the Farm off Shard Villa Road and 165 tons of more densely populated areas of the commu- organic food waste per day from some of nity throughout the year. the Middlebury area’s biggest consumers, Ultimately, Vermont Gas including Agri-Mark/Cabot. The wants to funnel Canadian digester would process the waste natural gas to more than and extract from it natural gas that 4,000 households, busiwould be fed through a 4-inchnesses and institutions diameter pipe five miles into the in Middlebury, Bristol, Vermont Gas pipeline now being Vergennes, New Haven installed in Middlebury. and perhaps eventually Middlebury College will buy a other Addison County portion of the Goodrich gas from communities. Vanguard, and Vermont Gas will purchase The $165.9 million pipeline extends 41 the remainder that and sell it as “renewable miles from Colchester into Addison County. natural gas” to other customers. The project drew support from some local Meanwhile, Bristol officials in 2017 business people and residents who wanted resumed discussions with Vermont Gas on an energy option that company officials a memorandum of understanding that could argue is currently cheaper and cleaner than lead to some of the more populated parts most fossil fuels. But the plan was assailed of town receiving natural gas through the by many citizens and environmentalists who, Vermont Gas pipeline. As was the case in among other things, feared the natural gas other parts of the county, some Bristol resipipeline might pose safety concerns while dents have expressed a desire for the natupotentially stalling the region’s transition to ral gas option, while others don’t want to renewable energy alternatives. see pipeline infrastructure installed in their Vermont Gas’s customer recruitment community. efforts in Middlebury hit a snag in the fall. As the year ended, the state utilities reguLocal resident Ross Conrad disagreed with lator had hired an “independent expert” to the selectboard’s decision to award three free check the burial depth of the VGS pipeline easements to Vermont Gas in order to reach between Colchester and Middlebury, part of 15 downtown customers, including the Ilsley which is closer to the surface than intended. Library and new municipal building. Conrad The expert will look at a half-mile section argued the company should have to pay for where the pipeline’s depth doesn’t comply those easements — one behind the town with the state permit. The analysis will offices and Ilsley Library, one near Mr. Ups also check the pipeline’s depth at stream Restaurant, and one on Mill Street. crossings. Middlebury selectboard Rock on, Jim members pointed to a Challenged Worship precedent of utilities being given free municipal easeTY ments to offer their services. ADDISON COUN Conrad decided to contest the move, and launched a successful petition drive to out? Supreme Court to decide Becoming tapped force a Nov. 7 referendum last link in pipeline project on the matter. Roughly 9 percent of the town’s 4,925 registered voters turned out at the polls to affirm the free
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Worship y Director A publication
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Vol. 71 No. 14
of the Learn the surprise roots its Vermont Folk Rocker and creator in Arts + Leisure.
team met The Panther women’s lax days — four ranked teams in eight and survived. See Page 1B.
dozen Read about more than two area churches and religious . organizations in our directory
INDEPENDENT 6, 2017 t Thursday, April
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prepping the our crews right now are which we By GAEN MURPHREE / pipe for the final stage, COUNTY ADDISON she said. “That means four years call ‘gas up,’” away from being MONTPELIER — Over g the we’re about a week of controversy surroundinnatural able to offer an important energy businesses and construction of a 41-mile families the to Colchester choice gas pipeline from in Addison County.” Vergennes and y Dumont to Middlebur Bristol attorney James before the the court Tuesday on culminated in 30 minutes on Tuesday. argued before Hinesburg residents Vermont Supreme Court behalf of seven question legal the was At issue that laying the 1,987 Systems who contend of whether Vermont Gas to bury feet of pipe through Geprags Park terms under which should have been allowed Park in violates the Geprags bequeathed pipeline under Geprags piece of benefactor Dora Hinesburg — the last major be days the land to the town. Dumont conduit to be laid. It could Court appealed to the state Supreme Court Board last or months before the Supreme after the Public Service issues its decision. granted Vermont Gas an September ground the in is the park. But the pipe itself only about easement across that order on both and the pipeline itself is The PSB based , Vermont conveying natural one week from completion said the public good of Parent Beth would on pipe Gas spokespers gas and on the fact the after Tuesday’s hearing. directional drilling and completed be laid using “We’ve successfully (See Pipeline, Page 11A) Park and our last drill under Geprags
Bill on soil practices ch draws fire at lun , farm labor Focus also on water quality, Shoreham
Independent Vergennes By GAEN MURPHREE quality, Terry Norris, and Republicans of New Haven and BRIDPORT — Water certification, Harvey Smith regenerative agriculture Wyck of Ferrisburgh. legislative Warren Van g the farm labor, and the Among the items engenderin at bill the topped was the so-called budgeting process the Bridport most discussion bill (S.43 Monday’s Ag Lunch at regeneration agriculture would create a Grange. for and H.430). The bill Close to 50 attendees gathered of regenerative agriculture certification is part the annual lunch, which a means to “incentivize as program coseries .” the legislative breakfast Grange ecosystem restoration farming sponsored by the Bridport Farm The aim is to promote carbon and the Addison County practices that increase and “reduce the Bureau. included sequestration Legislators in attendance sediment and waste Conlon of amount of Democratic Reps. Peter (See Lawmakers, Page 3A) of Lanpher Diane Cornwall and
As the climate up in a previous season.the flow of sap. a sugar maple that healed and decrease points to a taphole in earlier in the season sugaring industry. RKS OWNER Dave Folino tap holes to plug up HILLSBORO SUGARWOers worry that warmer weather will cause climate change could hurt Vermont’s iconic Independent photo/Dylan Thomas weather caused by changes, some sugarmak more pests and extreme Maple experts also say
sugarmakers Climate may challenge Vermont higher temperatures than year cause used to see this time of climate the Folinos worry about might change, and how it affect sugarmaking in the COTTON EMMA By — years ahead. ADDISON COUNTY worried “I’m hills the Earlier this week, in climate n, about of Starksboro and Huntingto through change already wind whipped audibly 15,000 existing,” Dave Hillsboro Sugarworks’ sitting rain said, sugar maples. Light the 1979 beside a hulking tapped on the roof of evaporator in the the onto dripped and sugarhouse of sugarhouse. ground. Sue Folino, co-owner “We have huge husband, the operation with her trees downpours almost quivering the eyed Dave, every summer that warily. to can rip have the ability “It’s days like this that cause erosion, or the forest apart,” she said. or good wash out roads, Although it’s been a bit of them so do quite a sugaring season for other ed by damage. The far, days characteriz seems or thing that unpredictably strong winds
Maples at risk from warming
facing farmers during Smith addresses issues Grange. STATE REP. HARVEY Campbell Lunch held in the Bridport Independent photo/Trent Monday’s Legislative
ing over a new leaf Monkton berry farm turn Land conserved as couple begins work
By GAEN MURPHREE years MONKTON — Forty-four 108 bought ago, a young couple and acres on Davis Road in Monktonyears the started dairy farming. Over berries to the farm changed its focus the and became beloved throughout Farm. community as Norris Berry will couple young new a spring This acres. begin farming those same 33 and Stephen and Sarah Park, married last 23, respectively, and just the Monkton fall, began their lease of smack dab landmark on March 15 — While that in the middle of a blizzard. blueberry flurry of snow set back their weeks, the pruning schedule by a few fazed. young farmers aren’t a bit love being Both Stephen and Sarah the hard love both and outdoors physical labor farming requires. Also, both love food. of friends “We always have a tableful Park. around our house,” said Stephenwhole the “And I have always loved of growing process, the full process (See Berry farm, Page 14A)
Out of 252 since, Science and Forestry. to be happening a lot more high survey respondents, 44 percent high, damage maybe the year 2000, is have seen increased wind tapping winds, and a tremendous to trees, 39 percent are amount of wind and 21 percent have damage. I think earlier, decline in the health of a they’re the first seen maples. Experts identify warning shots their severe changes, e already hitting temperatur from damage events and us that didn’t weather the chief threats to one of as used to occur as pests Vermont’s iconic industries. often.” The stakes are high. Vermont’s The Folinos industry contributed over maple alone. not are state’s economy than $300 million to the More supporting between 2,735 50 percent of in 2013, full-time jobs, according 3,169 sugarmakers are and Center for Rural Studies. concerned about to UVM’san iconic industry for “It’s climate change, there’s no doubt about according to a Vermont,Mark Isselhardt, a maple said study by UVM it,” Extension. and specialist with UVM Extension U.S. a growing industry. SUNY’s College “It’s (See Climate, Page 13A) Environmental of
Porter now planning for the way new growth By on campus
Arts Compass Music and is seeking Center in Brandon solo and/or innovative work for artists group art exhibits from media. of By JOHN FLOWERS Medical working in a variety established Porter — URY MIDDLEB and to work Both emerging Center officials are back on the artists are encouraged to apply. planning for future growth work/installations next five Site-specific PMC campus during the (See By the way, Page 14A) effort will years. The four-month master culminate in a facilities a new by plan that will be anchored medical office building. of 2015 It was back in the summer with the 6A that Porter signed a contract Obituaries ................................ Brensinger 4B-7B architectural firm Lavallee Classifieds ......................... planning. 5B-6B to assist with facilities Service Directory .............. includes the + Leisure Porter Medical Center Entertainment ........Arts Healthcare 8A-9A hospital, Helen Porter Community Calendar ........ affiliated 12 Leisure and + ion & Rehabilitat Arts Calendar ........Arts Officials 1B-3B practices. physicians’ Sports ................................ of PMC wanted a thoughtful analysis dations on facilities, with recommen and how they should be improved expanded over several years. had to ely, PMC leaders The week. Unfortunat last Berry Farm in Monkton (See Porter, Page 11A) bushes at the Norris it in the coming year. Park prune blueberry and plan to purchase Independent photo/Trent Campbell SARAH AND STEPHEN the 108 acres last month
Index
young couple took up
a lease on
Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018 — PAGE 7
Porter starts new phase in medical affliation
Porter Medical Center in 2017 officially sealed its affiliation with the University of Vermont Health Network, and immediately began planning for bigger things — including repairs to its nursing home and new facilities on its campus off South Street. It was quite the turnaround for what is now known as the “University of Vermont/Porter Medical Center.” Only a year earlier, PMC had been laying off staff, mopping up red ink and watching some of its health care providers leave for other jobs. Porter CEO Dr. Fred Kniffin and Dr. John Brumsted, president and CEO of both UVMHN and University of Vermont Medical Center, applauded the new organizational union at a May ceremony in Middlebury. The new partnership, officials noted, would net Porter — among other things — long-term financial stability, more diverse health care services, a new medical office building, and an upgrade to its electronic medical records system. Porter and UVMHN hired a consultant to help draft a facilities master plan detailing potential new construction and renovations at PMC during the ensuing five years. Officials plan to go public with details of that plan in early January. At the same time, Porter providers began their transition to becoming UVMHN employees, though they would continue to be dedicated to the Middlebury campus. On the other hand, UVMHN began sharing some of its professionals with Porter. Among the first was Dr. Diana Barnard, who was picked to lead palliative care services at Porter Medical Center. Barnard had for the past five
years presided over UVM Medical Center’s Palliative Care Team. In another major personnel move, Porter hired Mary Jane Nottonson as the new director of Helen Porter Healthcare & Rehabilitation. Nottonson learned she would need to quickly guide HPH&R through a significant renovation project while simultaneously looking at ways to shore up a fiscal year 2017 deficit estimated at $2.1 million. The $850,000 Helen Porter project will make the facility better equipped to serve patients rehabbing from serious injuries and illnesses, as well as those in the final stages of their lives. Specifically, it will include five new patient rooms, two specially designed rooms for terminally ill patients, and a few private rooms for patients. Porter and UVMHN officials on Nov. 6 made their pitch to Vermont’s Green Mountain Care Board for a new, $151 million Epic-brand electronic medical records system that would allow patients’ histories — including medication lists, past procedures and hospital stays — to be seamlessly transferred and viewed by health care professionals within the network. With a nod from the Green Mountain Care Board, the Epic system would be installed at Porter, the UVM Medical Center, Central Vermont Medical Center and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital. Green Mountain Care Board officials were still considering the Epic request as December drew to a close. The many nurses serving PMC got some good news in 2017, in the form of a new, threeyear labor contract. The pact assured nurses
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1 2 22,140 14,736 4 2 7 1 3 4 1 you... 6 0
cost-of-living MONDAY EDITI ON salary adjustments ADDISON CO UNTY of 2 percent in each of the three years of their Vol. 28 No. 45 Middlebury, Verm ont Monday, Februar y 20, 2017 new deal, and 36 Pages $1.00 P orter directors e also establishes a Tragic love n dorse affiliation Partnership with Nursing Practice story in song req UVMH uires one final vot N e • ‘Rus alka, ’ the Council to help of a water spirit opera tic story in love with a be broadcast at THT . ensure “appro- Seeman,ArtswillBeat on Page 10. priate staffing levels” and “the highest quality patient and resident care” FFA stu ts get at the medical hands-onden learning • See what our local agric ulture center. students are up to for National FFA Week on Page s 14-16. In the midst Playoffs arrive of all this for Panther hoop • Both Middlebur change, Porter, hoste y teams d quarterfinals Satu beginning in See the results on Page 18.rday. February, was piloting a “next generation” payment Tubing time model for its Medicaid Skiers let it at p a t i e n t s . the Snow Borip Unified Addison N wl ortheast step • Middlebury Colle ge hoste Under this its Winter Carnival this d into its futu era house thrivin re with first gather s inOp20t g weekend. See photo s on Pages h year of revival scheme, the 18-2 ing 0. government makes a lump sum payment to Porter to cover Medicaid costs for a set patients number of patients rather than reimbursing the who are enrolled in that federally subsidized health insurance program. The hospital for costs based on procedures. Under this model Porter has received around $4 million allotment was intended to cover $4 million in Medicaid funds to pay the medical expenses for the Medicaid pool of patients costs of around 2,600 at-risk, Addison County through this December.
INDEPENDENT
By JOHN FLOWER S MIDDLEBURY — The Porter Center (PMC) and Medical Univ Network (UVMHN) ersity of Vermont Health unanimously to sign boards on Thursday voted an affiliation agree ment, a
move that would result in reduced indep for Addison Coun ty’s hospital but net endence financial stability, some key capital improit greater and a more diverse vements menu of health care for local patients. services Thursday’s board step, but the affilia votes were a monumental tion move still hinge changes to Porter’s s on organizational bylaw some s. Those changes must be approved by voting
members of the PMC corporation organization’s annua at l meeting on Marc the Officials are not anticipating a negat h 15. as the prospect of ive affiliation with UVM vote, drawn mostly positi HN has ve comments durin of public meetings g during the past year a series the merger idea was at which unfur Porter CEO Dr. Fred led. Kniffin, (See Porter, Page in a statement 23)
AFTER A DEAR and his six-year-oTH of big snowstorms over the ld daughter, Penn last Middlebury. y, took advantage two years, the county finally saw of the snow and a snow day for some significant snowfall last area schools last week Monday to go tubin . Daniel Likun g down a hill in Independent photo/
Trent Campbell
By GAEN MURPHR EE BRISTOL — An unify budgeting and governance in accor excitement permeatedatmosphere of pride and with dance Act 46. meeting of the newly the first organizational “It took a lot of work to School District, held formed Addison Northeast said Superintendent Patric get to this evening,” at Mount Abraham High School last k Reen. Unio n Secretary of Educ Thursday. The distri ation Rebecca Holco result of a vote last ct is the comm mbe ended the ANeSU November by the Act 46 Study Comm five town of the Addison North ittee east Supervisory Unio s for “the tremendous amou nt of work” they n to did. (See District, Page 22)
By ANDY KIRKALD Y VERGENNES — Vergennes City Coun On Feb. 14 the report from Friends cil heard an upbeat of House President Geria the Vergennes Opera nne Smart about financial and artist the ic theater. The VOH health of the historic has several big show lined up for the coming months and s is (See VOH, Page 7)
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PAGE 88 — — Addison Addison Independent, Independent, Monday, Thursday, January 2018 PAGE January 1,4, 2018
TRENT CAMPBELL’S
HERE’S A LOOK at some of my favorite photos from the past year. A September assignment for the Arts + Leisure section sent me to the Middlebury College Mahaney Center for the Arts dance studios to photograph Assistant Professor of Dance Christal Brown, top right. A shaft of sunlight illuminated a small spot on the floor and Brown spun and leapt into it enthusiastically for me over and over. Sunlight also played a part in a shot from Ferrisburgh’s Town Meeting, top left, in March. This iconic shot of Nick Thomann standing to ask a question was definitely enhanced by sunlight streaming onto him. The scariest costume at this year’s Spooktacular in downtown Middlebury was this giant crying baby mask, top center; very freaky. Rugby is not a sport we usually cover in the Addison Independent, but the sport’s raw physicality and emotion always make for good photos, like this shot, middle right, of a Middlebury College women’s game against Dartmouth in May. An animal cruelty case in November sent me to Homeward Bound in Middlebury to photograph some of the victims. I was expecting the worst, but instead found, thanks to the Homeward Bound folks, mostly healthy and happy animals, including this cat, middle left, who actually seemed to be smiling. Middlebury Union High School’s annual senior raft race always provides me with fun subjects, plus I get to spend the afternoon in the water at the beach. Here, middle center, Pierson Beatty leads his team, including Andrew Gleason, to the finish line. A tender, quiet moment between a father and daughter reading together, bottom left, switched gears quickly when five-year-old Jordyn Rose Marie Ringey reacted joyously to her father, Jameson’s, take on an Arthur book at the Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol in March. In May I met up with Chad and Morgan Beckwith, bottom right, on their Ice House Farm in Goshen and was overcome by the enthusiasm of their goats, who climbed all over their owners like true publicity hounds. A routine assignment covering a speech at Middlebury College by controversial author Charles Murray, bottom second from left, turned anything but routine when he was met by protestors. The very vocal response (and more) by angry students was, perhaps, ill-advised, but in the moment it was invigorating and empowering. Photos from the protest, including a couple of mine, were seen in news outlets around the country. Finally, plenty of photos of the big dig railroad bridge project in downtown Middlebury were printed in our pages this year and my favorite was of these pre-schoolers, bottom second from right, gawking at the progress. Independent file photos/Trent Campbell
Addison Independent, Thursday, Addison Independent, Monday, January January 4, 1, 2018 2018 — — PAGE PAGE 99
PAGE 10 — Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018
300,000 metric tonnes of carbon avoided each year! The Holiday Season is a time to say thank you, to reflect on the year ending and to look forward to the promise of the New Year to come. At Vermont Gas, we want to thank our 51,000 customers for your loyalty and trust. To our new communities, Middlebury and Vergennes, and the nearly 1,000 new Vermont families and businesses who chose Vermont Gas in 2017, thank you for welcoming us this year. We’re excited about the future and more committed than ever to delivering a superior customer experience. What that means for you is safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy, easy and convenient service, and efficient ways to save money and reduce emissions. Vermont Gas customers have chosen the most affordable energy service around. Apples-to-apples, customers who choose Vermont Gas service are paying 20% less than their neighbors using heating oil prices, and 50% less than those heating with propane. Our commitment to customer value is much bigger than dollars alone. We all share an environmental imperative to build a clean-energy future, including deep reductions in carbon emissions that cause climate change. Our team is dedicated to giving Vermont families and businesses the tools to help achieve Vermont’s carbon reduction goals. We are proud members of Vermont’s Climate Pledge Coalition and determined to do our part to achieve our nation’s commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement. Every Vermont family who chooses Vermont Gas over oil reduces their home carbon emissions by almost 30%. Choosing a high-efficiency gas furnace or boiler can reduce energy use by 20% -- cutting both costs and carbon emissions. Adding a smart thermostat can save 5% more. Our energy experts can identify even more savings through our comprehensive home energy audits. Choosing Vermont Gas to service your gas heating system will also keep those savings coming year after year. EcoGas, our renewable natural gas service, will bring our customers the opportunity to further reduce and even eliminate their home carbon footprint. Completing our extension to Addison County last spring made possible our unique partnership with Vanguard Renewables, Middlebury College and the Goodrich farm to turn farm and food waste into locally produced renewable gas. We’re proud to bring these choices and opportunities to our customers. We’re prouder still of what our customers have achieved – tens of millions in annual cost savings and some 300,000 metric tonnes of carbon avoided every single year, and counting. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that’s carbon avoidance equivalent to more than 70 wind turbines. During this holiday season, we’re also thinking about those who depend on the support of their communities. Strong communities take care of each other in many different ways. Vermont Gas is pleased to offer a low-income discount to qualifying customers, and our employee-led CARE team supported more than 40 community organizations in 2017, donating $96,000 and hundreds of hours of volunteer support. For all of 2017’s achievements, we still have miles to go to make Vermont more affordable and shrink our carbon footprint. Our Vermont Gas mission in 2018 will be to create more choices and opportunities for our customers, new and old, to save more money and cut more carbon. We see a bright future ahead. We are focused on making next year the most successful ever. Enjoy the holidays. Happy New Year.
Don Rendall, President and CEO
Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018 — PAGE 11
ADDISON COUNTY COMMISSION SALES FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED Serving area farmers for over
6 decades
Wishing a safe and prosperous New Year to all of our valued, loyal customers!
Rail bridge replacement tears up downtown Middlebury
A $52 million effort to replace Middlebury’s two downtown rail bridges isn’t due to begin in earnest until early next spring, but area merchants and residents in June got a sneak peek of the major work to come when the Vermont Agency of Transportation demolished the deteriorating Merchants Row and Main Street spans above the railroad and replaced them with two temporary bridges. VTrans fast-tracked installation of the temporary spans after issuing an emergency order in March acknowledging “evidence of accelerated deterioration” in the 1920s-era rail bridges. Workers toiled from roughly mid-June through Aug. 12, with interruptions for July 4 festivities, Festival on the Green, the St. Stephen’s Church Peasant Market, and the Lion’s Club auction and barbeque. Merchants and passersby watched with interest as the old bridges gave way to temporary spans, slated to stand for another three (or more) years until they are replaced with a precast concrete tunnel. Work went smoothly, though not without some anticipated inconveniences. Many coveted parking spaces were lost on both Main Street and Merchants Row — which was made one-way eastbound toward South Pleasant Street. Printer’s Alley, located between the National Bank of Middlebury and the site of the former Lazarus building on Main Street, was closed to vehicles, thus cutting off one vehicular entrance to the Marble Works. Some downtown merchants noticed little disruption to commerce, while others reported their receipts dipped rather dramatically. John Melanson, owner of Carol’s Hungry Mind Café at 24 Merchants Row, said he was down around $5,000 this June compared to the same month last year, while Alice Quesnel, manager of the Battell Block, said she had heard little construction-related buzz from tenants
in what is the downtown’s largest mixed-use building. The Better Middlebury Partnership co-organized initiatives to try and minimize hardships for businesses and draw shoppers into the downtown during construction. Efforts included more signs, an information booth on Cannon Park from which volunteers dispensed advice on local parking and shopping options, a special transit bus, and giveaways of “Middlebury Money” for use at affected businesses. Around 250 people responded to an online survey following the project and a majority indicated they were “satisfied” with the results and thought construction was less onerous on their lives than they had anticipated. But some downtown residents and property owners continued to oppose the impending $52 million tunnel project and urged state officials to reduce its size and scope. Middlebury attorney Peter Langrock in March called for the town to replace the two spans within 72 hours, alleging the bridges were insufficient and dangerous. He included in his correspondence to town leaders an estimate — from Middlebury-based J.P. Carrara & Sons — of $5.2 million for replacing the two spans at their present locations and at their present vertical clearance, using precast concrete. He made his appeal based on Chapter 19, section 971 of state statutes that he said gives citizens the right to file a “notice of insufficiency” if they feel public infrastructure is failing and needs to be quickly corrected. Town officials rejected Langrock’s request, arguing the bridges and their upkeep are the railroad’s responsibility. Selectboard members added they believed the state statute doesn’t give the town the right to make the bridge repairs on its own initiative. At year’s end there were still some locals who weren’t happy with the plan to replace the bridges.
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LIVE AUCTIONS EVERY MONDAY & THURSDAY For more info: 802-388-2661 or Vt Toll Free 800-339-COWS T.G. Wisnowski & Sons– 802-989-1507 www.accscattle.com
PAGE 12 — Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018
College protesters shout down speaker
Addy Indy Numbers Quiz Take this little numbers quiz to test how well you know what we do at the Addison Independent! 1. How many readers pore over each Addison Independent issue? 2. How many towns do we regularly cover? 3. How many “sister publications” do we partner with across Vermont? 4. How many special sections do we feature throughout each year? 5. How many different user platforms does the Addy Indy provide to help you keep up with the news anywhere you are? 6. How many pages did we print in 2017? (Answers on page 10B)
ADDISON COUNTY
INDEPENDENT
VERMONT’S TWICE-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Middlebury, VT 05753 • (802) 388-4944 • www.AddisonIndependent.com
There were many protests in Addison County in 2017 (see No. 2 in our Top 10), but one that struck a particularly grating chord that echoed around the nation was the demonstration over speaker Charles Murray’s appearance at Middlebury College this past March 2. The local college, like institutions of higher learning around the country, continues to wrestle with free speech issues as we head into the new year. Middlebury College students shut down the scheduled late afternoon presentation by Murray at Wilson Hall with boos, jeers, stomps and chants. Employed as a scholar at the right-wing think tank American Enterprise Institute, Murray has been described variously as a professor on the one hand, and a racist troll on the other. He has drawn fire nationwide as the co-author of the controversial 1994 best seller “The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life,” which posited that white men were innately more intelligent than women or people of color. Hundreds protested outside the speaker’s venue. The public was not allowed to attend the speech, but Wilson Hall was packed; many people stood around the edges. Introductory remarks were peppered with boos, heckling and raucous cheers from the audience. Around the room students waved signs saying: “Scientific racism = racism,” “Respect existence or expect resistance,” “Resist white supremacy,” “AEI must go,” and “Free speech ≠ hate speech.” Many other signs also used profanity. Members of the student club that sponsored Murray’s appearance where heckled when they spoke. The crowd quieted down when President Laurie Patton stepped up to the mic, but they did not give Murray the same respect. He uttered fewer than 10 words before all but a handful of the hundreds of students in the hall stood up, turned their backs to him, held up their signs and began chanting: “Who is the enemy? — White supremacy” and “Your message is hatred, we will not tolerate it.” After 20 minutes, Murray was ushered out of the hall, and he held a discussion with political science professor Allison Stanger that was live streamed on closed circuit TV.
Later, a group of masked protesters violently confronted Murray, Stanger and a college official as they left building. Stanger was taken to the hospital to be treated for a neck injury. College spokesman Bill Burger said at the time that officials believed that some of them were not students but “outside agitators.” The trio got into a car, and the protesters violently set upon it, rocking the car, pounding on it, jumping on and trying to prevent it from leaving campus.” Burger said that “at one point a large traffic sign was thrown in front of the car,” before Murray escaped. Describing Murray’s trip from building to car, Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley said, “He was like a little fish dropping into the shark pool.” The campus response to Murray drew national attention. Not surprisingly, the college was thrown into turmoil as students, faculty and administrators debated the value of free speech and wrestled with the concept of inclusivity, not just on campus, but in America today. The faculty was divided over the issue, with some emphasizing free speech as a foundational value of higher education, and others other emphasizing inclusivity and an inclusive process as important next steps on campus. The head of the Political Science Department issued an apology for the way he went about giving the department’s backing for Murray’s speech, which was then quoted (perhaps out of context) by The Wall Street Journal. None of the protesters faced criminal charges, but the school disciplined 67 students. Clearly the face of Middlebury College had not been fully rehabilitated by fall. Late in November someone spammed the college email system announcing that right wing provocateur James O’Keefe would visit Middlebury on Nov. 30 to discuss the college’s “free speech problem.” It is still unclear who — if anyone local — brought O’Keefe to town; but he was not welcome on the college campus and ended up delivering a rant at the Courtyard by Marriott motel on the outskirts of town to a small group that seemed to be dominated by media waiting for some news to happen — it didn’t.
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Vt. Green Line short-circuits
For about two years the towns of New Haven and Ferrisburgh, and to a much lesser extent Waltham, had talked with a consortium of companies that had hoped to build an underground transmission line running from upstate New York to New Haven. The so-called Vermont Green Line, or VGL, was planned to carry hydro- and wind-generated electricity from New York to power-hungry southern New England states. It would have run under Lake Champlain, surfaced in Ferrisburgh, run along back roads to Route 7, headed south through Ferrisburgh and a short stretch of Waltham to New Haven Junction, and turned east to a new converter station in New Haven, and then hooked into the existing power grid. For using town road rights of way and saddling New Haven with the noisy converter station, the companies involved, National Grid and Anbaric Transmission, made promises to the towns. New Haven — which agreed to the project after debate and a town-wide poll — would get payments of $1.4 million per year for 40 years, with yearly 1 percent adjustments for inflation; $4 million to build a new fire station and a new town garage; and a VGL Compensation Fund for designated abutters, with an initial amount of $1 million. A final deal was never struck in Ferrisburgh, but at a November 2015 meeting VGL representatives suggested they would pay the town at least $350,000 a year for 20 years, on top of an estimated $150,000 a year in local property taxes the project would generate. They also left the door open for further talks that never really got off the ground, although a town committee worked out power-line design details and contract language, and the VGL firms agreed to spend $40,000 to support Ferrisburgh’s research efforts
Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018 — PAGE 13 Oh, Broadway !
Tough losses
Carmichael brin gs pros to Vergenne Broadway entertainment. s for a night of See Arts + Leisu re.
On our own?
A young Panther team played well men’s hockey still fell twice. at times, but See Page 1B.
Vermonters find out what happens after seces McKibben’s new sion in Bill book. Page 3A.
on the project and on fees for lawyers and technical ADDISON COUNTY experts. But the two towns’ visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads never became real, or at least it now looks unlikely they will. Vt. Green Lin Late last year the VGL firms announced they had e short-circuits not won a contract they had expected, but were still confident in the project and were pursuing alternatives. Then this past November the companies announced they were calling a City shelter, others help halt to their 13-month effort to obtain new mom to permitting for the project, in the form get fresh start of a Certificate of Public Good from the Public Utilities Commission. Joe Rossignoli, director of U.S. business development for National Grid, did say the companies hope to revive the plan if they can get a contract when Massachusetts makes a decision on a major energy deal early in 2018. Shooters cla Rossignoli said although the companies “feel im success After 554 bucks taken, rifle sea son second-b as though the project has a lot of value, we want est in 13 years Homeless fa to find out what commercially the landscape cing wage sh Most work, but ortfall high cost of she looks like for new transmission lines after this lter, child care challenging giant Massachusetts procurement takes place.� Ferrisburgh selectboard members took the Veteran Christm news in stride. But New Haven had gone further tree farmer read as y down the road. for one last seas on The announcement left New Haven “in limbo,� said Selectman Steve Dupoise, who By the way has been the selectboard’s lead negotiator with VGL developers. “Joe (Rossignoli) called me a couple of weeks ago and said that they were going to Index be pulling that, and I said, ‘OK, where does that leave us?’� Dupoise said. “And he said, ‘Well there’s some other RFPs coming in Massachusetts and that might turn into something.� Vol. 71 No. 48
INDEPENDE Middlebury,
Vermont î ľ Thursday, Nov
ember 30, 2017
NT 42 Pages
î ľ
$1.00
By GAEN MUR PHREE NEW HAVEN which had been in proce end of the road — It could be the Public Utility Comm ss with the and hydropowe for the Vermont Green Line. ission since r, had promised October 2016, bring millio to was not unfor The companies eseen Addison ns of dollars to the three since Natio that wanted County towns. run an electric to Transmissi nal Grid and Anbaric power transmission Joe Rossignoli on, the VGL devel line through Ferris , direc burgh, Waltham partners, late last year failed opment business developme tor of U.S. and New Have nt for energy to win comp their bid n any National withdrew their earlier this month to Mass to sell renewable power Grid, said request for a perm while achus that to build the proje it Rhode Island etts, Connecticut and thoug VGL developers “feel ct. as . h the project The withdrawal has The Vermont Green Line, which value, we want to find a lot of for a Certificate of the petition would out what have transmitted comm of Public Good electricity like ercially the landscape looks , produced through renew for new transm able wind ission lines after (See Vt. Green Line, Page 11A)
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By JOHN FLO WERS VERGENNES weeks old, tiny — At just three Hunter holds the distinction of being the youn gest resident of the John W. Grah am Emergency Shelt er He doesn’t realizin Vergennes. 28-year-old mom e he and his , Samm ie, don’t have a home of their own. But Sammie plans to chang all that, and she’s e getting a big lift from John Graham Hous ing & Services (JGH that runs the S), the nonprofit Vergennes shelte and five multi r -unit apartment buildings in the county. Sammie, 28, is Burlington. She originally from got involved with some people who became bad influences on her life, leadin g to a tailspin that she to herself. Let’s prefers to keep just say Samm found herself in Addison Coun ie around a year ty ago with few resources and no She is not close place to stay. to her folks — literally and figura tively — and had no place to sofa-surf. So she knocked on the door of the John Grah am has thrown her Shelter, which preserver as she a critical life SAMMIE, A works RESI (See Sammie, Page toward a since February, gaveDENT at the John Graham birth to her son, Shelter in Verge 14A) will be heading Hunter, three nnes back
TEN-YEAR-OLD Carter Aude shot it durin t had this 176-p g opening week ound, 6-point end of rifle seas buck weighed on. at Buxton’s Store in Orwe ll. He Photo courtesy of Andy
Buxton, Buxto
n’s Store
By ANDY KIRK ALD ADDISON COU Y This year’s count easily deer hunters enjoy NTY — Area county’s second-best rifle tops the Weekend, and 554 ed the second-bes rifle deer seaso total since at for n since 2005, bring t 2005. That came in one of the follow rifle) weighed 554 bucks to Addi 2015, when ing ing: Vermont Field Sport son County weigh hunters had 444 bucks weigh stations durin locally. ed and Reel s in Middlebury; Rack g the 16-day in New Haven; season that ran Nov. 11 And the numb Buxton’s to 26. Store in Orwe er of deer ll; That total of Jerus weigh at county repor alem ed Country ting stations Store in StarkCorner just 19 short of deer taken came year this overa sboro; 2016’s total of Lincoln and West the highest since 573, muzzleload ll — for rifle, bow, stores; Green Moun Addison general er and youth seaso officials in 2005 Vermont wildlife remains tain Trails End ns — Bristo banned the takin on in pace l; and to break C&S spikehorn bucks g of 2005 recor Hunting Supplies the post- in d of 1,064 set in East Middlebur rifle season, the during November ’s y. 2016. The rifle most popular of If those eight weigh state’s deer hunti the 2017 total season kill brings the statio ns handle more than ng seasons. to 925 bow, 110 for (261 for October and 10, 139 deer between Dec. 2 when the muzz Youth Hunting leloader and (See Deer seaso n, Page 12A)
By JOHN FLO WERS SHOREHAM and his family — Two decades ago, Ray Gaut were in the mark They had plent et for a Christmas hier y tree. Red Sled Chris of options, but elected to visit tmas Tree Farm on Route 74 Westthe Shoreham. in “What’s “My in-laws lived in Shore most fun right next to ham, the Shoreham Gauthier recal is when Inn,� led. “We decid try (Red Sled) ed to families out.� So they did. Agai show “It was a famil n and again. up with said of the expery thing,� Gauthier ience of extended the farm’ s expansive combing tree lot, family.� thinking they had found the perfect — Phil Kivlin one, only to check out several more before hauling their lot and strapping prize back to the Part of the exper it to their vehic le. Red Sled Chris ience has been chewing the tmas fat with “I enjoyed his Tree Farm owner Phil Kivli n. company,� Gaut became pretty hier said. “We good That friendship friends.� will endu re — annual Christmas tree pilgrimage but without the . Kivlin is tellin (See Tree farm, g Page 12A) NEXT MONTH PHIL
to her job in
weeks ago. Samm Vergennes in ie a coup Independent le of weeks. photo/Trent
By JOHN FLO WER ADDISON COU S NTY — It’s easy to assume the typical home less person is unem ploye unable to afford d and therefore a roof and four walls. The reality in Addi son County is far different. Almost all the temporary inhabitants of the John Grah am
Emergency shelte r in Vergennes are employed, but are simply earning enough not to few vacant apartm land one of the according to local ents in our area, advocates. Having a job residents a sense gives shelter of pride and renewed optim ism living an indep for eventually in most cases endent life. But , these jobs pay
Campbell
minimum wage , or only slight above, noted ly Elizabeth Read executive direct y, or Housing & Servi of John Graham ces (JGHS). Around $400 a week , befor taxes, is not enough to land e apartment in an Addison Coun where the vacancy rate ty, approximately is 1 percent. (See Homeless, Page 14A)
Ripton-area residents have delicious way a of school. A Frien helping their local ds of Ripton Scho Pizza Bake is scheduled for ol Friday, Dec. 1, this from the school. Volun 5 to 6:30 p.m. at teer chefs will use the school’s wood and sell pizza -fired oven to make s, rangi (See By the way, ng from $12 Page 14A)
KIVLIN will end
a 30-year tradit
ion of choose-an
Obituaries ........ ........................ 6A Classifieds ........ ............... 5B-1 0B Service Directory .............. 6B-7B Entertainment ........ Community Calen Arts + Leisure dar ........ 8A-9A Arts Calendar ........ Sports ................ Arts + Leisure ................ 1B-3 B
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PAGE 14 — Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018 Foreign films
Grappling
On screen
RAM
FESTIVAL PROG
the third See new perspectives at akers Middlebury New Filmm inside. Festival. The program is AY THURSDAY-SUND
7, 2017 AUGUST 24-2 g middfilmfest.or
have International filmmakers . See their own take on cinema eisure. what drives them in Arts+L
ed More than 200 people compet estling in the Field Days armwr 1B. contest. See who won, Page
TY ADDISON COUN
INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont
Vol. 71 No. 33
Thursday, August 17,
$1.00
2017 80 Pages
Confederate flags buke draw local re voice concerns East Middlebury residents
aware of the flag when she became son — whom she By JOHN FLOWERS — The its presence. Her EAST MIDDLEBURY in North Carolina — has rate flags said resides recent flying of Confede left the area. now in es properti and I on at least two private “I am a very good person the ned by ed,” Sprague told Middlebury is being condem reeling in am not prejudic many area residents still “I’m really very sorry, nationalist Independent. the aftermath of a white that left and there’s nothing else I can say.” Va., up for a rally in Charlottesville, While the flag was s people one woman dead, numerou short period of time, it had in need of relatively some in the injured, and a nation a visceral impact among healing. rate neighborhood. placed his George Locals noted the Confedeat a Kemi Fuentesflags flying this past weekend of infant daughter into her car seat last village drive down Case Street home in the that Friday for a familiar to pick up his East Middlebury and another Street/Route 116 Case a at ay was still flying on Wednesd residence wife from work. the Case School House Hill Road But as he pulled past George — who east of the airport. visiting Street home, Fuentes-and is black — Patricia Sprague said her for the hails from Jamaica was unfamiliar, that son was responsible ng somethi saw her flew at very unwelcome: A Confederate flag that ed concerns about and into unsettling and RESIDENTS have express t homes. This flag Case Street home last Friday differen EAST MIDDLEBURY (See Flags, Page 3A) removed have been flying at two confederate flags that the weekend. She said she n Flowers ouse Hill Road. has been seen at 32
Schoolh
Independent photo/Joh
ury Monday evening
College Park in Middleb PEOPLE GATHER IN Va. events in Charlottesville,
By the way School Middlebury Union High Engvall, a science teacher Carl viewing Bristol resident, will lead coming of the solar eclipse this an event at Monday afternoon in High the Mount Abraham Union n activity School track. A hands-o during s that explains what happen 2:15 p.m. at start will eclipse an at 1:24, The eclipse itself begins m at 2:41, will reach its maximu (See By the way, Page 12A)
Index
...... 6A Obituaries .......................... 7B-11B Classifieds ....................... . 8B-9B Service Directory ............. + Leisure Entertainment ........Arts 8A-9A Community Calendar ........ + Leisure Arts Calendar ........Arts 1B-3B Sports ................................
home in East flying on a Case Street A CONFEDERATE FLAG Courtesy photo been taken down. Middlebury has recently
Vermonters raise their voices against bigotry
, This past Friday and Saturday is, Ku By GAEN MURPHREE to hundreds of neo-Naz white MIDDLEBURY — Close members and Monday Klux Klan 100 people gathered came together in for a rally nationalists ury “Unite Middleb in the under evening opposing Charlottesville ostensibly to in solidarity with those to the Right” banner, white nationalists, in response protest the removal of the weekend’s tragic a Robert E. Lee statue Emancipation events in Charlottesville, “We are here from Va. to affirm our Park in the home of the ity of Virginia. “People needed to values — our Univers share their indignation On Saturday, one said democratic dismay,” and counter-protester was Ariane van Driel van values.” killed and 19 wounded Wageningen, one of — Gloria when a man who the organizers of the Gonzalez apparently was a white a Zenteno supremacist plowed his demonstration and leader with Middlebury vehicle into a crowd of Two Virginia Indivisible. held counter-protesters. The rally in Middlebury, died later in the the traffic state troopers helicopter crashed in the new park near in day when their rallies several of one monitoring circle, was and while they were Skirmishes Rutland on, Burlingt t. Vermon ration. sympathy the demonst nationalists and Barre also held events in Monday. between white rs resulted in at with counter-protesters on proteste counterin organizers being treated Indivisible a rally least 15 other personsUniversity of Middlebury decided to hold at the scheduled for injuries Center. Later that in place of a regularly the word Virginia Medical Terry McAuliffe meeting and spread le is a day, Virginia Gov. emergency and of on social media. Indivisib state a declared ide progressive activist (See Rally, Page 13A) response to weekend nationw democratic values in organization. ce racism and promote
to denoun
nt Campbell
Independent photo/Tre
Makeshift gun ranges draw fire Need for safe shooting grows as problems arise
State police crack down on careless, drunk driving
Gun regulations draw fire
Two county communities hosted at times heated debates this year about where lines should be drawn between the right to shoot firearms and the right to neighborhood peace and safety. The situations and the results varied. In Whiting neighbors of a gun range that town officials said was illegal complained about noise and safety. About two dozen showed up at a zoning board hearing in July to oppose ongoing shooting at a Stickney Road range. The owner, Nicolas Iocco, said he no longer runs the range as a business, although he would accept donations. In August the zoning board held a site visit and hearing on zoning notice of violations issued to the Stickney Road gun range. The notice alleged it is an illegal commercial range, that structures on the site were not permitted, and that it was an unsafe public nuisance. Its operator maintained its hours were reasonable, and its topography makes it safe. But neighbors disagreed and claimed a video he showed back at town offices of the earlier hearing was misleadingly edited — some tempers flared. Ultimately, Iocco appealed to the zoning board the notice of violations issued by zoning administrator Kate Briggs, but the board upheld the positions that it was a commercial operation and a public nuisance. At year’s end, a town official said Iocco was staring at fines of $200 a day dating back to May — roughly $40,000 — but according to town officials was not accepting zoning officials’ position. Elsewhere, neighbors also complained about
informal shooting ranges in Goshen, Lincoln and Ripton, but the situations did not evolve to the same level as Whiting’s. In Bristol spring incidents of guns being fired near homes prompted the selectboard in April to ask Police Chief Kevin Gibbs to research a town ordinance on gun use. Gibbs checked laws elsewhere and then recommended for selectboard consideration a law that would, among other restrictions, ban discharging firearms, bows or similar weapons within 500 feet of someone else’s property, but allow the chief to grant permits for exceptions to that rule. A late-July selectboard hearing on the proposed ordinance drew about 70 residents, with most opposed. Their main arguments against the law was that it was unnecessary and wouldn’t prevent isolated incidents of irresponsible shooting. “You just can’t fix stupid,” one resident said. Proponents said the law would promote safety without infringing rights. One described an incident in which a handgun was fired in the direction of a road in one neighborhood, but then said she was told by Vermont State Police there was nothing they could do without a town ordinance. Another person said two people were shooting pistols within 100 feet of a home. In early August the selectboard put an end to the proposed gun ordinance. Board members pointed to the public opposition, and they noted the spring incidents that had prompted the proposal had not been repeated. They unanimously spoke against the law, saying it was unwieldy and unnecessary. “I totally understand the safety concerns,” said Selectboard Chairman John “Peeker” Heffernan. “But if somebody is going to discharge a weapon in village limits I doubt an ordinance is going to change that.”
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NO.
“You just can’t fix stupid,” one resident said.
By JOHN FLOWERS Vermont MIDDLEBURY — up their State Police are stepping County traffic patrols in Addison recent some of VIO wake in DIGRA beyond and By WILL g one on The sound of gunfire ADDISON COUNTY — unfamiliar to folks fatal car crashes, includin Aug. 7 that is not Route 22A in Bridport on way off in the woods the forests of Addison people. claimed the lives of four who enjoy trekking through der who lives adjacent to a County. For Bill Mathis, Lt. Jeffrey Danoski, comman , range in Goshen, that barracks gravel pit turned shooting bullets flying past as of the VSP’s New Haven under into remains turned crash has 7 salvo Aug. distant said the he sits on his porch. victims — four The ation. investig (happened) “It’s taters headed for jobs at “These areas is one of all out-of-s probably four or five Fair and Field Days pit in Ripton, which ts are Addison County the ground of a sand are not shooting times,” Mathis said. “It Volkswagen officials and residen S and casings litter — were traveling in a DOZENS OF BULLET g ranges throughout Addison County. Town to the area. is a bit disconcerting to ranges, formal center line Pike mental and safety risk several informal shootin Beetle that crossed the Photo courtesy of Chris have bullets whiz over concerned that the range is posing an environ or informal.” and collided with an 22A of Route head.” s near the range said no truck. resident pickup “The g — John Sinclair, your said. l oncomin Pike informa and increasingly Another people in the Beetle were dropped.” Green Mountain four was around Addison County, it All and exist can wellspring range in Bristol last from those who say safe, National Forest shooting ed. Shooting near homes in Ripton, draw attention to consider a unbuckl the people in the pickup supervisor be found d the town’s selectboard ing firearms d alternatives are needed. Both of the in a sand pit named regulate in Lincoln, Bristol and Whiting in prompte g discharg were buckled and survived Cases local ordinance regulatin t. other people’s truck Sparks Pit, near the r have been in the spotligh a specific distance of says the range poses a particulapast winter, Green Mountain National within . On Aug. 10, the Bristol selectboard crash. is concerned with some home of Chris Pike, who Danoski This property Department d gun ordinance. not meet National Rifle infractions his troopers driving and Vermont Fish and Wildlife turning an unanimously rejected the propose the safety hazard and does of Forest operated s. aren’t al allegedly held a meeting to discuss Association (NRA) standard In Whiting, an individu are seeing in the field. Drivers three over the berm, they’re officialsl shooting range in a Lincoln gravel pit range on his property ended “If you look at the trees an illegal, commercial gun officials, poses a maintaining the recomm all of those bullets are informa according to town properly designed range. (See Drivers, Page 12A) riddled with holes, and campsite and house,” into a provide the land that, (See Gun ranges, Page 14A) going out towards (a nearby) “The National Forest would and managed,” get it built would state the Pike said. and ranges like these Informal, unregulated shooting
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Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018 — PAGE 15
he Top 10 catalogs what the news staff of the Addison Independent chose as the most important stories of 2017, but readers have their own opinions about what interested them most last year. To get one indication of that, look at the top 10 stories on our website. Here are the headlines for the most-read stories of 2017 on addisonindependent.com, with the number of page views they go according to Google Analytics. Note: Many of these stories had separate followups that are not included in the count. We also can’t explain why the Charles Murray story on its own was No. 7 but the sidebar story about the professor who was injured was far and away the top story — must have something to do with the way Google tracks webpage visits. Our top story g o t more than 17 times more t h a n N o . 2; we figure that must be because it was linked on a national website, probably one with an agenda based on the kinds of comments we received for the Murray story. We’ll post this list with links to the stories at addisonindependent.com. 1. Middlebury College professor injured by protesters as she escorted controversial speaker page views: 187,293
2. A sad day on Middlebury College campus page views: 11,147 3. Middlebury’s Connor Homes furloughs entire workforce page views: 6,491 4. Feds charge Bristol man with child pornography page views: 6,406 5. Four fair workers killed in two-vehicle crash on Route 22A page views: 4,430 6. Bridport woman crowned Miss Vermont 2017 page views: 3,808 7. Protesters shout down controversial speaker at Middlebury College page views: 3,428 8. Addison County restaurants win highest honors at tourism summit page views: 3,226 9. Fire destroys Blue Spruce Motel on Route 7 in Middlebury page views: 2,608 10. Missing Middlebury dog is found! page views: 2,601 Picking only 10 top stories in 2017 leaves most of the stories we saw and reported on the cutting room floor. Addison County saw many important, interesting, touching and fun stories last year. Here are some of the other stories of 2017 that caught our eyes. • Foreign nationals working on county dairy farms are forced into the shadows by more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws. There probably would have been more protest on this issue, but the workers themselves were skittish about drawing attention to themselves. In the meantime, dairy farmers are also struggling not only with their labor supply but also with low milk prices. We’re told that more may set up robotic milking machines this year. • As you can see in our online listing above the closing of Connor Homes was a big deal to local
readers, even if it did reopened in a smaller footprint and different location a few months later. And local officials were trying to improve the business climate in the county. Middlebury ended its effort to attract businesses and didn’t renew the contract of Business Development Director Jamie Gaucher. Bristol took baby steps toward building a new business park. Middlebury hosted a series of meetings this fall to find ways to enhance local business related to the new climate economy. the Kennedy Brothers complex in Vergennes got a big tenant as Shacksbury Cider moved in and cranked up production. • There was a lot of discussion about legalization of marijuana in Vermont this past year. It almost passed the Legislature. Two Middlebury farmers were focused on legalization a few years back of marijuana’s cousin hemp — they planted 13 acres of it and drew favorable reviews from the Agency of Agriculture. • Directors at Middlebury’s Ilsley Public Library released a plan to renovate the 90-year-old building. The price tag — $8 million to $11 million — prompted some sticker shock. It’s still a work in progress. Thank goodness we have a new director of the library starting soon. • Maple syrup production keeps growing in Addison County, but this past spring some sugarmakers were worried that climate change could curb the flow of maple sap. Did much matter this year as Vermont reported a big maple syrup crop. • In the quirky category, we particularly like the story about how Middlebury author Stanford Pritchard penned an updated and annotated version of William Strunk Jr.’s classic writing-advice work, “The Elements of Style,” and it turned out to be selling surprisingly well after it was translated into Korean. • Finally, a story that everyone could take part in: In mid-August an untold number of people went out to the open spaces and cast their gazes to the sky to view a partial solar eclipse. It was surprisingly moving to see and evoked a great feeling of community.
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Bristol Electronics installed our solar panels early this summer and all the sunny days have been pushing our meter backward at a good rate. It feels good to be contributing to “the grid”. Working with Chris, Stephen, Dave and the other B.E. employees was a pleasure. They were well informed, patient and flexible as we worked through some early unforeseen roadblocks. We strongly recommend this company if you are interested in having solar energy at your home installed by a responsive, responsible company. The Fishers – Addison, VT
We received quotes from Bristol Electronics and another well-known Vermont solar company, and were pleasantly surprised that Bristol had the better price, and we preferred Bristol’s microinverter approach. Additionally, we were very pleased to learn that the panels and racking system were made in the USA with some components manufactured by a Vermont company. On top of this, the folks at Bristol were such a pleasure to work with. We can’t remember a more pleasant experience when making a major investment. We had a variety of questions which they happily addressed. Their knowledgeable staff was well versed with applicable regulations and requirements, building codes and even wind loading concerns. They truly went out of their way to make sure we were educated on the system and pleased with the installation. This was a very rewarding experience which began with a goal of wanting to make our home fully renewably powered by working with a local team and culminated with meeting great members of our community, keeping our dollars local while also supporting other American renewable technology manufacturers. We found kindred spirits at BE and we can’t recommend them highly enough! Megan Nedzinski and Joshua Faulkner – South Starksboro, VT
PAGE 16 — Addison Independent, Thursday, January 4, 2018
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