Top Ten Stories of 2015

A YEAR’S REVIEW OF ADDISON COUNTY’S MOST NEWSWORTHY EVENTS

TH E A D D I S O N C O U N T Y I N D E P E ND E NT ’S

TOP10

STORIES & PHOTOS OF 2015 eport

Sports R

rosters, C for photos, all 20 of on See section and stories schedules h school teams. our local hig

er High wat

tlett Falls nge over Bar Paddlers plu kayak races on the ual in the ann River. See Page 1B. New Haven

sh Record fi

say a e officials State wildlif n’s catch is bigger . ma Shoreham er carp. See Page 15B than any oth

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23, day, April  Thurs , Vermont ddlebury

EDITION PLANNING PLANNING EDITION

75¢

Q&A with local couples recently

engaged ......................2

ADDISONINDEPENDENT

COPPER WILL ENJOY

and texture, say wedding

analysts at theknot.com.

Photo/theknot.com

ADDISON COUNTY

Vol. 69 No. 4

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont  Thursday, January 22, 2015  40 Pages

School budgets under pressure

Slight spending hike results Career center’s in bigger tax boost at OVUHS slated for 14.7%tuition rate increase

gin

ays

Vt. Gas s

a OT dram

h school fors’hlaxig is ade tly MUHS boy first time in air Clinic eyed d deceec 1B. the ts l ford finau en ls. See Pag goa late st to serve after two

t Retiremen

cated been a dedi s at Earle has Medicine. health care initiative cate for FLOWERS physi- advodlebury schools. pretty inter

By JOHN BURY — Local nals Mid rle) has become clinic) and essio prof MIDDLE “(Ea the tal health ested in (the ful in trydiscussing cians, men help officials are extremely er support in and school of opening a garn to ity ing ing ty mun ibili hop com fire starts possth clinic at Middle- “We are the medical ity at large w that if a ool, heal those and commun ” Lawson Did you knoe, you may have just bury Union High Sch ch to reach this, whi Red ts who, kfor doing ity through in your hom to escape? The ive studen has been wor effec- a facil could rece atever said. “He school nurse two minutes that the most your students attention, sub- for wh are ing with our Cross says protect yourself, in trying g reason, medical staff selin r to othe coun ) e and 14A tive way forward.” stance abus services that not reaching way, Page move this collaborato r (See By the othe and the current their health Potential  c 38 5 clini es. are beyond MUHS viders , Jun an 201 ein11, school nurs care pro urs it tors met a handful of purview of itself has makeday have mer  Th “The idea for longntand to far to ham a mo ity. nd , Ver for them times thus arouury ........ 6A-7A ddleb for the facil d MUHS easier .................. ..... 9B-13B Mibeen out goals s would in,” explaine Obituaries - to do it while ...... time Law ...... goal ...... iam se Will here.” Tho e: Classifieds ctory .......... 10B-13B Principal something they are 12A Dire clud been ...... ice RN it more Serv son. “It’s Hall, t .................. staff here • Making to access — Lynn e of my EntertainmenCalendar ...... 8A-10A som inter ilies 3B ys been for fam Community .................... 1Benience of have alwa convenient ......

The conv d has been health services.

Sports ...... ) ested in.” e intereste Page 18A Among thos e Jr., a physician with (See MUHS, ent Earl Dr. Morris Pediatric & Adolesc Middlebury

ays commit rs glas was alw Kathy Dou s during her 42 yea ted to the kid h. See Page 13A. urg risb in Fer

By the way

NT

NDE E P E D N I

★ Addison ★

75¢

Index

ADDISON — Decisions on spending will dominate Addison’s

chools’ County s plans g spendin ird votes th nt Abraham win in en ts Mou y Pages

Monday, March 2, town and school Obituaries ................................

6A meetings, Tuesday, March Classifiedsand .........................

5B-9B3, balloting.

Service Directory .............. 6B-7B at One financial........................ measure willicbe disEntertainment lth clin 12A h a heanight blisMonday cussed estaon during Calendar ........ rt toCommunity 8A-9A pbellthe nt Cam g an effo school o/Tre of the joint town Sportsportion and ................................ arheadin 1B-4B endent phot spe Indep is school meeting, which will begin at Earle Jr. N MORRIS 7 p.m. at Addison Central School IATRICIA (ACS). Residents will be asked to ool.

BURY PED MIDDLE Union High Sch add $10,000 to the ACS capital imMiddlebury provement fund, an annual request.

On Tuesday, residents may cast

sid ANwSU re HS by support VU argin m te vo 169LDY

sil budget ea 2-597 85 prevails,WERS

r ply bull afte Beef Sup 5, in town Middlebury s of 196 admire the College’s clas ury break to d take a bers of Middleb Raymon and Ethan k initiated by mem eefe O’K pran mond, Nickl was part of a Mark Ray L, LEFT, week. The remova L QUESNE last DARNEL it off the roof reunion. ered they low ege’s weekend for the coll

ull t of b 50-year-old That’y Cos lleage lo alums revive ool rules

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont

rules, between y. interactions N JOHNSO d on the en in the student bod above the

By EVAN BURY — Statione f wom not allowed the womMIDDLE dlebury Bee Men were of of the Mid ury, a lone first floor itories, and the roof dleb Mid t Eas en’s dorm ected Supply in re kept a into students were exp s us figu t pu ine the “It bov in their dorm o eye over to remain watchful and the pass- shock. Wh established after an lege Street parking lot on Route 7. would have curfew. Col a dividing s, that ing traffic ed as than 50 yearits thought ’s e serv men mor the For een ained at years line betw sides of the bull rem is, until last 50 of women’s two later all be and pus, post — that and the ain cam uld week. e to rem of some us wo genders weron their reWith the help College back in the onced Middlebury rdinand,” as same place?” ensc tive residential cam y spec alumni, “Fe wn, finally r curfew.

— Beverle kno puses afte these rules the bull is a trip to the Hansen Overseeing Elizabeth completed Forest Hall en n of Wom a reputation interior of pus, a was Dea had cam ing. ege ” Kelly, whoe of fraternization. on the coll decades in the mak ires “Ma mission five of that journey requ 5 for zero toleranc women were con the 196 The story back in “As far as was Public Enemy ing that cateed, she said Joe McLaughunderstand ks were often intri getic cern ,” s of 1965. college pran rations that ener hi- Number One ope of the clas c justice, a ber ned to ed plan mem ly lin, a etimes rais of symboli of fellow students som .

As a form a group that form aughlin and larious art t also understand e 20A) Col- McL (See Prank, Pag One mus slowly Middlebury set of ction crew store’s in the mid-’60s t Constru ury to a differen and New the East Middleb lege adhered OVATION off l os/Trent

By the way

Index

Thursday, February 26, 2015



56 Pages

(See Bristol,

) Petition seeks

By ZACH DESPART BRISTOL — A group of community members is circulating a petition calling for the removal of Addison Northeast Supervisory Union Superintendent David Adams.

Koran Cousino, who said she was one of several community members who drafted the petition, said the group will deliver it to the ANeSU executive board at a later date.

As of Wednesday morning, 138 had signed the) petition online on 14A ort, Page though Cousino (See Airpwww.change.org, said that scores more people have (See Petition, Page 19A)

cts lley reje Otter Va ndly app e ri -f y ll bu

By the way The Shoreham Festival, which was postponed from Valentine’s Day due to the bitter cold temperatures, has been rescheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 28, starting at 3:30 p.m. on the town green. Come enjoy ice skating, food, a bonfire, (See By the way, Page 7A)

Index Obituaries .......................... 6A-7A Classifieds ....................... 7B-11B Service Directory .............. 8B-9B Entertainment ........................ 21A Community Calendar ...... 8A-10A Sports ................................ 1B-6B

t of their

Branmony in cement cerersday’s edition next Thu

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see it the star schools iors awa the area high gradUNIsON High School sen ons at all OtterVAL graduati LEY erage of OTTER full cov t. rday. For don Satu ison Independen of the Add

Photo by

s/Brandon

Lee Kahr

Reporter

AL MOORHOUSE, A fish culture specialist with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s fish in the facility’s “lighthouse,” above, fish hatchery in Salisbury, checks in on where controlled lighting tricks fish into the spawning, and some of the 500,000 eggs, incubating at the hatchery. below, that are

Filled to the gills

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

Hatchery spawns 9 million trout eggs

spending plan being pitched by Vergennes Union High school that represents an 11-percent hike. That VUHS increase reflects, among other

By JOHN FLOWERS things, the retirement of $256,000 of ADDISON COUNTY — Along a $768,419 deficit that is being carwith the other business on their re- ried over from this past school year. spective town meeting plates, AddiThe four high school budgets will son County voters will be deciding be decided by Australian ballot on four high school budgets to cover the Tuesday, March 3.

2015-2016 academic year.

MOUNT ABRAHAM The proposed budgets range from The MAUHS budget proposal the $14.09 million proposal from assumes that $400,000 less will be Mount Abraham Union High School spent on staff salaries next year, that reflects a $300,000 decrease which in turn will mean a $40,500 in spending, to the $10.47 million reduction in Social Security taxes.

A budget surplus from the previous fiscal year totaling $165,000 made the difference between a 2016 budget proposal that was higher or lower than the present year.

Other line item decreases from the present year include water and sewer ($1,419); repairs and maintenance services ($6,261); swimming pool maintenance ($4,548); student transportation ($2,297); and electricity ($155).

But there are also some increases in line items compared to the present fiscal year, including tuition to private schools ($162,832), tuition to

vocational programs ($14,882), software ($4,284), and Internet ($5,500) and computers ($50,000).

The supervisory union created a new line item for construction services, totaling $245,160.

The school is projected to have 795.41 equalized pupils in grades 7-12 next year, down from 823.38 this year, and 830.71 in the 2013-14 academic year. Enrollment at Mount Abraham peaked in the early 2000s, and supervisory union officials project it will continue to decline for several years.

(See School budgets, Page 20A)



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NDENT

Monday,

May 25,

2015

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t expansio

traffic feared

44 Pages

l

irders

St. Mary’ MUMS tos and new lead hire ers

By JOHN FL

Cyclists g earing

Gap roads

challenge

ependent

New lead

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Mt. Abe

t Campbe

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grades, lo

ng distance

wins

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THT com

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ADDISO

INDEPEN COUNTY NDENT Educatio n bill pro p Middleb

ury, Vermo nt

ards, supe

oses sin

Thursday , February



19,

2015  32 Pages

By JOHN FLOWE RS BRISTO Monday’s tion Com L — The House 75¢ Educamitt Rep. Dav legislative breakfas bill that wou ee is drafting id a more than ld eliminate the new chairs the Sharpe, D-Bristo t by schools with l, who state’s 60 supervis Hou in thos se e unio ing forc Educati mittee. replace them ory with larger unions and at way It’s a panel that on Com- nancial ed to cut staffing ns are be- the scho tricts that school due to fiis look s of cutting ols concerns. adv union wou within each supe public scho ing a better job ocates believe cou dis- reaucracy There are rvis By ld ol and 62 ory ld AND shar bubeco do in whi supervisory changing ing resource Y KIR the state carrying few the ch educati unions in single school dist me their own, s while FERRISBUR KALDY er on is financedmanner lic scho containing around rict. For residents That was employees.

GH — Ferr exam meeting — 250 pub- it would mean that ols. officials are hav . Some the news isbu Mount Abr ple, Union Hig acco of Vermont’ e complained that The Hou delivered made at tow hoping that a deci rgh there were “ma rding to minutes h School aham many se Edu s supe at fice sion noes and the ny yeses budgets con rvisory union of- tee’s bill has not cation Commit- ementary scho will pay off n meeting a year ols serving five elyet been assi tinue to grow Monkton, num ago gath ” — to move the and a few Bristol, this year’s in better attendanc gned Linc day of the ering from while state ber. It proposes to e eliminate a Starksboro in oln, New Haven and ’s supervis suming thatannual gathering — at March to the the first Tuesday the Sup the Addison ory unions. of previous Satu ervisory Instead, That deci change was residents rememb asrday.

Union wou Northeast sion er a Ferr mad ld become (See Com isburgh Tow means this year’s Last March, e to its date. mittee, Pag n Meeting e 13A) held at whelmingly residents voted over from the floo - on Satu Ferrisburgh Central will be rday, Feb School r of town (See Ferrisb . 28, at 10 a.m., not urgh, Pag e 16A)

rvisory un

ion would

be phased

gle distr

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islation

Ferrisbur change gh’s town meetin to take ef fect on Feg date b. 28

Bridport, Cornwall Voters OK ch o $400,000 p ose new rincipals for UD-3 75¢

photo/Tren

up for ‘fo ndo’ ride bicyclists with steep s

MIDDLE OWERS

By EVAN JO dlebury sch BURY — Two MidHANCOC HNSON s are par some leaderool of climbs Interimpre Day marki K — With Me for shi Chambing morial transiti ng the uno Middlebu prepside onser sands of verand descents with . of Commersum fficial sta nt mertime ce Sue ry Ho thouxie was tica rt ionsideMiddl rid School wil namUn pre A gra ntly eady have ing, local bicycl of as one passes l feet gained and los l welcoedme nt. SeeePag recealr istsHu Valley from the sistant pri t ride” n fondo — Italian e 2A of. the mo their eyes set on The rricanes trie — Ch ncipal this a new asfor “big to dthe st challen som the Eag Maund to gro while St. Ma e les, d River Va amplain where pardescribes a cyclin summer, bacbut their nei gin k aga the in. g ry’s School lley and ticipants home team ghborhood g outinglied ing for a ride not event sake of a ralthe spine . Crisscros s into prevai l. clis Cy See ts new top adm is lookPag for the e 1B. fro of Avpod ner ium inistrator the Ecc finent personal cha a ride thr the Green Mount sing east are blo m all over the No ish (See Sivo, , but ric, Broadw oug llenay Page 43) took a ge.by storm, who for don, Appal h the Lincoln, ains, putting in wing up their tire rthWeybridg TH deb T, uts at the s and rod e Feb some miles Bran- lin res.ide 26.nt See Bil gaps makesachian and Middl Pagle 6B. e g bef thr tho ee ore se Roper fondo-sty four gaps tack- and ebury the for a fearso le rides on Jun said sec me quarte t Fondo ond annual Verm e 13 in far the Addison County’s in 2014 . ont Gran most difficu was by scenic. lt and the most (See Gran Vol. 69 Fondo, Pa No. 8 ge 13)

Local bo

75¢

n proposa

By JOHN FL craft traffic EAST MI OWERS DDLEBU ing to wh , more noise and pos residents RY — Mo at sibly mo tur re than residential is now a modest port this pas ned out at the Mi airfield nes re light- adequa nei ddlebury 80 area t Tu te sig tled in a esd At issue ghborhood. ay State a proposed evening to leaving fro ht visibility for pil run learn more Air- that would is an estimated ots m, Many too way renovation/e $3.5 millio about include: State offi the Middlebury Sta landing at, and xpa k n project the nsi • cha on Th about the 11 of the cials have negotiate te Airport. possibility nce to voice their project. from e acquisition of 14 “av others laid concerns some air that those cording to affected property d easements with port neighb igation” easem out upg sou in ow rad Ro the a ners thus ents pec es — and could bring state airpor uelle. Those rn takeof far, ted f/approac ors primarily at ts larger pla h of the the said. to cost a combin 14 easements are acnes, heavie master plan — Rouelle, aviation runway. ed total of exprogra r and larger mo Guy $260,000, air- tre nt Agency of Transp m director for “There are he the Veres need to ortation, trees that approach explained be remove hav e zon enc som e,” d in order roa e to maintain a guided bus touRouelle told reside ched on the nts wh r of the air port facilit o took (See Airpor ies. “We t, Page 42)

Junior b

By JOHN FLOWE RS CORNW Cornwall ALL — Bridport will each elementary welcome and

new school prin

By JOHN FLOWERS summer, cipals this and MIDDLEBURY — Around 20 er will hav neither incomin g leade a long way people showed up at the UD-3 an- get to to travel their resp to ecti nual meeting on Tuesday evening Add ison Cen ve jobs. to learn more about the school dis-Union tral Sup Superintend ervi trict’s proposed $17,287,008 budgetrow ent Peter sory s Burfor the 2015-2016 academic yearpoin confirmed this week the tments and to approve $400,000 in capital apas principa of Jennefer Eaton improvements to various campus l of Brid Sch facilities, including security cam- ool, and Jennifer port Central new eras at Middlebury Union Middle leader of Cor Kravitz as the nwall’s Bin Memoria School. l School. gham UD-3 is the district that includesEaton, a Fair Hav served as en MUMS and Middlebury Union dean of stud resident, has rector of ents and High School. The proposed budget Union Mid athletics at Middleb diof almost $17.3 million reflects ury 201a2. She dle School since 1.3-percent increase in spending July will take Bourne and over for Bon of compared to this year. The UD-3 Tracey nie board fielded some questions onare theco-managing Harrington, who Brid budget on Tuesday but heard nothro port ugh opthe current Cen academic tral position, according to board chairKravitz, a yea 36-yearr. man Peter Conlon. resident, has taught old Shoreham The $400,000 capital improveat Rutland social stud MIDDLE ies ments measure passed by a unaniant slalomBURY COLLEG She will High School since succeed 2006. races, see race at the SnoE SOPHOMORE mous voice vote. The district intealrim principa Abi Sessions, Katy w Bowl Satu Page 4B. the ready has the $400,000 in hand l at the rday mor Greene charges Memtooria Bingham ning. The dow l School. do the work, which includes: “(K women’s n the hill during ravitz) team won the first • Renovating the bathrooms run of Mid the gian expouterience in brings considerabl t slalom. dlebury side of the MUHS auditorium. e teaching For full cov Col vation and erage of lege’s Winter Car a real driv and inno(See UD-3 upgrades, Pagediff alpine and 20A) niva e to mak erence,” Nordic carn l gie a new Cornwa Burrows said ival Inde of

Viability of Phase I tested by cost hike s PSB to

revie pipeline pr w gas oject

By ZACH DES ADDISON PART ulators sort COUNTY — As regthrough the Vermont fallo Gas week to canc Systems’ decisionut of Phase II pipe el its application last for its in Decemb line and announ cem for Phase er of a massive cost ent I, oppone line warn nts of the hike that both pipenificantly events will rais will be aske e the burden rate sigpay d to bear project. for the Pha ers se I Some are aski ng the Pub vice Boa lic rd approval. to revoke the proj Serect’s “The (pro ject) cost doubled, has near and there ly possibility is no long er the paying for that Ticonderoga will said Con a portion of the proj be servation pendent Law Fou ect,” attorney photo/Tre sion to eng ll school hire. “He the nda San nt Campbel these pote dra Levine. “Bo tion l community age the entire Cor r vintially burd th of nwall in both con with huge en rate By pay tinu burd AN (See Prin ers ing the DY KIRKA cipals, Pag While the ens.”

LDY VERGEN e 18A) would hav Phase II pipeline, first Town Mee NES — The Verg whi ennes finis-time candidates. southwest e run from Middleb ch a race amoting Day ballot will The top thre to hers in ury plant in Tico the Internationa e Vergenn two incumbeng four candidat offer two-year the open race will

By JOHN FLOWERS l Pap es City Cou term es earn ing reviewe nderoga, N.Y., was er ncil? ers — for nts and two new — MIDDLEBURY — The Middle3. Are ther The Inde s. d by the becom pen e thre Boa spec Pub den e rd sepa ific issues 25 years seats lic Service t aske cerns bury selectboard learned on Tuesday the gennes City in Was or con paper com rately from Phase Council. on the Ver- tion candidates the sam d each of elec you would like that costs for the town’s new recreto address - I was actively hington state whe The race ted or retu pany had I, the e five s. Their ation facility and municipal building below from responses are re-p quesAlderman will not include 4. Why sho rned to the council if fundraising involved in charitab re mitted to pay for tentatively comSen rint for a vari ? uld the are projected to come in slightly unzati chose to stepRandy Ouellette, ior and edited their written resp ed Vergennes ety of orga le and contribute $31most of Phase II vote for you residents of sincons, and have con onses ni- to Phase who The for der budget. tinued 5. Is ther I. When the million dollars e moving Incumbe down after a deca ? questions length and clarity. to Vergenn to do so withdrew paper com were: Figures provided by Middlebury years ago like to add e anything you Lowell Bernts Joe Klopfenstei de.

1. from Plea es pan seve .” y se would its agreeme ? n ral Vermont Town Manager Kathleen Ramsay inQUESTION ed to the coutrand, who was re-e and cal data, inclprovide basic biog Fritz is pres nt with Gas, the raphidicate the combined costs for the recwith ident of the utili the Boys in 2011, hav ncil in 2012 after lect- mation, pub uding age, career FRITZ: 1: Background info board of on financing of the Phaty was left and Girls losing info reation building on Creek Road and its own. se I project Verg Club and anythin lic service backgrou r- educated “I was born, raised William Nore served multiple in a terms. the town offices at 77 Main St. are and land ennes, chairman of of Greater nd mun The current be relevan g else you believe are joining throp and Jeffrey s Job Cor ity in nort small farming com the Pha Nor coming in at $7,185,380. Bid results mig t. se Frit ththem in is $154 ps Commun ht my fam hern Indi I cost estim - tions the contest z 2. Wh million, Cou ana, whe ate ily for construction of the two projects 78 percent re by Lib ncil, a member ity Rela- than whe as to run at motivated each 150 years. has lived for mor n the of the more rary for or seek have come in at $3,696,391 for the of e Will Stev re-election you ing adm I am 55, a former than a Vergenn fundraising committBix- project in Dec PSB approved the town office building and $3,488,989 inistrato ens of Sho es-Panton ember 201 bank- com to the ness ee, Vermont bee Water 3. Afte reham has Gas mis owner. I spenr and small bus for the recreation facility.n named to the i- peace. sioner and a just District cost increase announced the seco r tainable t most of ice of the lion He has also That overall figure is about Jobs Fun Vermont Susof more than nd the past $2,100 d Board this wor ors. $30 ked past less than the budget,rect milStevens of Di(See City with the Serv December, which includes co-o race, Pag ice Board the set Far $4.5 million in debtRus e 16A) service m with his wns Golden By ZACH DES through decided to Public is million wife a cert from ask the Middlebury College,it$2 MONKTON PART (See Vt. Gas organic veg, Judy; farm and ified , Page 18A Layn said (See Middlebury, etable two countie — Firefighters from greenhous Page 20A) ) the presenc s batt atio e plan n in Sho e of man reham they t oper- afternoon blaze led a Monday accelerants, such in 1981. y as fuel, garage cau five that fou He in the sed the town mod has been Shoreh nded Mo people at 842 Rot displaced quic fire to spre nkton. kly. High ax Road ad served as erator since 200 am’s in flam Mo 4 es to jum winds enabled the from 200 a state representa and men nkton Fire Departimmediately p to the house 7-2014, whe t Assista tive almost . the nt Chief re he was se Agr BOSTON — TheHou Addison on Curtis Lay In-iculture Layn said (See By and Forest came in n said the call “I could see dependent won 18 editorial he knew andthe 10 way, Pag fire was around 3 e 18A) large whe the and by the p.m., smoke advertising and design awards at from could see smo n he ers arrived time firefight- the the annual conference of the New ke from where he other England Newspaper and Press was working flames had minutes later, Monkton in Association (NENPA) this past as soo garage and engulfed a side of also igni town. I wa call came in. n as the weekend in Boston. a doubleObituaries wide trail ted s “I could see ............

The Independent feet from competes er in ..................

Classifie smoke from the the garage. six six miles ds .. the largest non-daily 6A ...... category .................

Layn said Serv Dire away.” town,” he other side of 7B-11B with circulations ofice the hom greater ctor said. “I was thany ............ owner had eEnte miles awa six 6,000. Competition rtain ment ......

— Assista is among all ............ .. 8B-9B y.” on his dun been working Commun nt ...... 12A e buggy About 20 six New England statesity and Cale in-ndar garage, in Chi firefighte ...... 8A-10A rts ...... but som the cludes papersSpo rs with Curtis Layef from Monkton, circulations ............ went wro ething Charlotte, n Hinesbu ng several times larger than the Inde-.............. 1B-5B rg, nition, spar when he turned Starksboro and Bris the ig(See Awards, Page 20A) king to the call tol The garage the blaze. . Layn said responded burned to man and the hom that because y e sustaine the ground day firefighters wor damage, k , d duri loca sign ng l but ificant for mutual departments ofte the to save man firefighters wer n call e able aid because y of the not hav longings. family’s No one be- rang e enough firefightethey may the blaze. was inju e of the stat rs within red by ion.

FROST (See Mon Tuesday AND ICE coat kton fire, buil morning Page 18A . Morning dings and tree ) s

By the way

High school budget plans vary widely

Residents to vote on Town Meeting Day

ont

MARY Trail We HOGAN ELEMEN dnesday afternoo TARY School thi n. The sch rdool’s thi graders Toby Dra rd-grade rs were per and Grace all in Rip Cu ton to stu lver try to spot dy the Mid so dlebury me birds while River an hik d its eco ing the Robert system.

Frost Ind

Middlebury town building project within budget

By JOHN FLOWERS the adult SALISBURY — When the thermometer steelhead brook, brown, lake, rainbow and trout brood fish and for the on-site dips below zero as it did in Salisbury on egg incubation system.

Monday, the only way you’d think you’d spy When the adult fish are no longer needed a trout is in the frozen food section of the for egg production, they are stocked statesupermarket or by drilling a hole wide. The Salisbury FCS spawns through more than a foot of ice “We fish year-round in a light-conare selfout on Lake Dunmore.

Then again, we can’t all be Al contained and trolled room, also known as “the lighthouse.” The room can mimic Moorhouse, a fish culture special- keep disease any cycle of daylight needed to ist with the Vermont Fish & Wild- management life Department who helps oper- under control.” trick the fish into providing eggs.

This also gives the fish a longer ate the state’s Fish Culture Station — fish culture growing season, which is much in Salisbury. specialist appreciated by anglers who flock “We might have 40,000 fish Al Moorhouse to Vermont’s ponds and lakes here at any given time,” Mooreach year in hopes of bagging house said. one for the books.

The Salisbury station boasts the largest fish Moorhouse on Monday was again surof the state’s five culture stations. It produces rounded by his captive audience of pampered around 9 million trout eggs annually for the pisces, which were thrashing about in a series other state facilities, using high-quality well of raceways, holding basins and a pond. water, an excellent water source for rearing (See Fish hatchery, Page 19A)

ury, Verm

N

Downhill

Page 16A

superint cks endent ard ba firing in Bristol y selectbo Middlebur over objections airport plan

More noise, air

Middleb

• A play by Weybridge’ s Doug Wilhelm wa nominated s a theatrica for l honor in South Afric See Page a.

16.

• The Golde Anyone who wishes to run for an town or school office Years mustissubmit a a ofnominating petition at their town lden tim fice by 5 p.m. go on Monday, Jan. e 26.

Signatures fromfor 1 percent regisactiviofty. tered voters are required.

Voters will In headou to rtheSe polls on nio r Town Meeting Day, March 3, to LifestPage yle7A) (See Candidates, s section rea d stories abo ut hobbies, av ing financiaoidl scams, a profile of a senior art ist and more.

Se Pages 19-26 e .

upgrades

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — Vergennes and Ferrisburgh have more than their fair share of contested races on Town Meeting Day, while most — but not all — incumbents in those towns and in Addison, Panton and Waltham have decided to continue their public service.

In Vergennes on March 3, four candidates are vying for three twoyear terms on the Vergennes City Council. Two are incumbents who have served multiple terms, large animal veterinarian Joe Klopfenstein and longtime United Technologies Corp. employee Lowell Bertrand, who was re-elected to the council in (See Races, Page 2A)

Campbel

to accessible es fall and is veiled last an iPhone via iTun one with unt. The aim KAHRS Valley any g a Facebook acco a forum to

By LEE J. — Otter ” to usin app is to give kids nymously BRANDON ool just said “no of the selves ano for their h Sch them Hig on Uni express repercussion ous nartphone ap- without fear of bullying. y the anonym ersial sma A controv by students to bull - comments. But ings quickly turned Rut post used with usplication was taken down in ap- ture of the bullying tool ts about December app into a men others that School last k and met the the posting hurtful com land High wee ers OV last ents ents. peared at fellow stud er 2014, stud ool on emb .

Dec said ry h Sch same fate In early l Jim Ave the Rutland Hig nge.org, OV Principa the presence of faculty at Cha his and tion via that brought to n started a peti to take down the app Saturday le whe via ool app was ) After Sch Monday, June 1, ning lobbying App began at the school , Page 14A on way n mor ying the garnered bull that attentio (See By met him rs- after The petition ort two students about it. By Thu d After School. atures, the supp . him had mobilize r over 1,000 signon officials and Gov and told re school thei cati uade day, the enti app, its users and of state edu , and helped pers ool the mlin Sch r nst Shu agai Peter 7A the Afte tactics. .............. 6A-10B ed the stu- Apple to remove app store. ying ...... bull unifi ...... it ne said y ..... 6BObituaries Everyone Cory Lev from its onli ..................

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“I know we have a lot of serious work to do,” Bray said. “I feel confident and ready to take on the work.”

Bray is one of three Addison County lawmakers who will chair a Legislative committee over the next two years. Sen. Claire Ayer, D-Addison, will again chair the Senate Health Care (See Bray, Page 15A)

Independent photo/Trent Campbell Independent file photo/Trent Campbell

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ADDISON COUNTY

Vol. 69 No. 9

said during an interview on Monday.

The chairmanship had been left vacant by the retirement of former Sen. Bob Hartwell, D-Wilmington. Around 10 senators had expressed an interest in chairing the panel, which will be taking the lead on several hot-button issues this biennium.

learn more about life in meet. They engage strangers in constudents and faculty on its Vermont outside of cam- versation, and ask them questions prying so small campus. pus. about their lives.

But for seniors Sophie much.”

It’s inspired by a project So far, they’ve heard stories about — Noah Kligler, NoahCounty Goss-Wolinin Addison and throughout by photographer some questions Brandon for public of- reconnecting with loved ones, alcoGoss-Woliner er and Molly Parizeau, this beginning ficials, Stanton titledyour the Green Mountain State “Humans and then go and take partofin holism, heart surgeries and Maoist means it is possible for stu- and cul- the this Saturday in Ferrisburgh New York,” in which civic Stanlife of your community.

Our uprisings. They’ve showcased their dents to gowhen through their studies minating at ton the gavel showcases the falls Tueslives of city town-by-town previews of alldwellthe lo- work to date on a Facebook page Middlebury day night in without much Whiting.learning he meets Read about the ers the street. calwhom meetings start on below.

Log on to titled “Humans of Vermont.” about or meeting issuessurrounding that will betowns, “The idea is to highlight the unique discussed at your addisonindependen t.com on Tues- Goss-Woliner said it’s not easy regular Vermonters. town meeting story of each next week, person you the meetresults. day night ev- to get people to open up about their as we live blog “It’s easy to be, especially asprepare a stu- ery day on the street,” Kligler said. lives to young adults they’ve just met, so he starts with questions on their ballots between 7 a.m. and 7 area Vermont House seats. lighter topics. p.m. on town, ACS and Vergennes Longtime ACS board member “I want to ask them something Union High School spending, but Rob Hunt is running unopposed to that doesn’t put them on the defenthere are no contested races for town add three years to his already rough- sive, like ‘What’s your happiest office. ly two decades of service on that moment?’” he said. “We try to give There will be a change on the se- panel. But no one filed for the ACS them questions they can respond lectboard, however, after incumbent board seat to now held Joy Pouliot chose not to seek reelec- Tim Lindenmeyr, by the departing without prying so much.” and town officials Though the trio thinks of questions tion after serving three terms, begin- said as of mid-February no one had beforehand, Goss-Woliner said often ning in 2008. mounted a write-in campaign. the most interesting responses come On the selectboard ballot with The selectboard is requesting as conversations wind onto different unopposed incumbents Jeff Kauff- $303,038 for the town office and topics. man, the board’s longtime chairman, administrative portion of 2015- They said the majority of people and Roger Waterman, who was ap- 2016 spending, MIDDLEBURY a decrease of almost they have approached were open to Goss-Woliner COLLEGE STUDENTS Molly Parizeau, above left, Noah pointed in 2014 to a vacancy, will $4,800. and Sophie Kligler are working on “Humans of Vermont,” participating. About half, according a January Term independent be farmer Peter Briggs. Briggs ran a The board is seeking an increase to Parizeau, had heard of “Humans students about what life is likestudy project that aims to better educate outside of campus. The students are phostrong third this past fall in the four- in road spending, tographing un-named people from around however, of about of New MONKTON York.” RESIDENT Many participants DEB Gaynor the state, like the subject from rises to propose an amendment during person field for the two VergennesVergennes, Monkton’s town meeting in the Monkton (See Students, (See Addison, Page 12A) Central Page School 16A) gymnasium last year.far left, and pairing the photo with a quote from the subject.

Leadership positions up for grabs in ANwSU area

Independ

By ZACH DESPART BRISTOL — Local residents have until Monday to file the necessary paperwork to appear on the ballot for town offices or school boards, but ballots in each of the five towns that comprise the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union are already shaping

No. 10

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Local au th hailed in or is Africa

o time County’s northeast towns r rest look for full electionfo slates

By the way

time FLO

By JOHN BURY — The third nt the Mou MIDDLE thcharm for KIRKA

By ANDY NES — Addison Nor on proved to be the High School budget, on residents ervisory VERGEN aham Uni sory Union theast Sup d ennes Abr west Supervi ed the third Verg os- as Addison Nor Tuesday approve on spending Tuesday backSchool budget prop a Union voters — h 2015-2016 an 852 to proposed Union Hig re them this spring gin of the of $13,947,738 by al put befo plan — by a mar plan $10,258,933 about 56-44 percent.total 597 tally. ment by votorse end rs or a cut 814-645, The decisive nt Abe administrato ly board had was Mou sive The VUHS the budget that ers allows directors to deci s on from n Meeting school $211,000 to focu ated on Tow than and t year and ace soundly defewas $55,000 lower plan for nex rim principal to repl May it on inte votes Day, and Lyman. hiring an lost by 46 er Gaynell rethe plan that 5 vote outgoing leadall very happy and ool 5. That May “We are aham Sch Mount Abr n Griswold lieved,” Daw irwoman e 17A) Board Cha budget, Pag Abe Mt. (See ) Page 17A S budget, (See VUH

MOND RENBeef Supply bull THE RAY Middlebury lowers the week. roof last

By JOHN FLOWERS NEW HAVEN — Sen. Chris Bray had hoped Senate leadership would appoint him to the Natural Resources and Energy Committee this session.

The sophomore senator is an avid outdoorsman and he believes the state’s long history of good environmental stewardship should be perpetuated.

So it’s safe to say that the New Haven Democrat was positively ecstatic when he learned a week ago that he had not only been named to his preferred committee, he would in fact serve as its chairman.

“I could have fallen out of my chair when they announced my name,” Bray

College students get to know Vermonters

for the United Way of Addison County. The 2015 edition of this fundraiser, which incorporates sixSome hours of non-stop action as spin call it the last bastion of cyclist teams and pedal democracy, some individuals say participation stationary bikes a.m. to 3 is a civic duty andfrom some9 just like to p.m., this Sunday, touch will base take with place their neighbors and Jan. 25. Anyone can join in and take the communities. ride in pulse of their segments or spin It is theone-hour annual town meeting — for the whole six hours.

Every houra Vermont tradition that we will revisit will feature a different amazing local instructor who is volunteering their time to keep spinners going (See By the way, Page 16A)

ou aria in the s mantic op roera “Turando t.”

See Arts Be on Page 10 at .

layoffs.

Addison Northeast Supervisory Union Superintendent David Adams said the budget both preserves the quality of education at the school and lessens the tax burden for residents.

“This is a very responsible budget in that it minimizes the impact on property taxes at a time when we’re concerned about controlling that,” Adams said, adding that the 2.76 percent spending increase over the current fiscal year is in line with the rate of inflation.

Adams said the proposed cuts are not a reflection of the competency of instructors, and that the recommendation to lay off employees is not one administrators take lightly.

(See Bristol, Page 15A)

Bray to lead Senate’s natural resources panel

Town Meeting Preview

NTY N COU ADDISO

Index

. 24 Vol. 69 No

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is on ta pending

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THE STEEL FRAME

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By ZACH DESPART BRISTOL — A proposed Bristol Elementary School budget that would increase spending by 2.76 percent in the next fiscal year is drawing criticism from some faculty and staff who are concerned that it would cut several staff positions and hurt students.

The $4.9 million spending plan, which the school board tentatively signed off on last week, would curb costs in several areas, including by eliminating one faculty position and five non-special education support staff positions.

The supervisory union and school board tout the budget as a win for students and taxpayers, while some staff believe the board could formulate a budget that doesn’t call for

of the Lazarus building, former home of Otter Creek Used Books and Green Mountain byits brick façade in downtown of Shoe and Apparel, stands bare Middlebury motion orwas d on their for gone. For more photos see Page 10A. after crews began the demolition process early Monday morning. By early afternoon the building meeting calle ided that the warning s question ion, prov Independent photos/Trent Campbell dle- petit specifies the FLOWERS

By JOHN BURY — The Midd to such meeting ived d.” aske DLE rece MID be vote ard has been on Tuesday ge icipal to bury selectbo for future mun an But Ramsay indicating a chan l way ion pave the be voted by Australi n a legal opin ng on the municipa tow vote annual ballot voti require a public budgets to ad of at the comes just a to would ting, or at ballot inste ed budget at a special mee meeting.

The request residents agre meeting. town after local the annual edged the sefew weeks same voting She acknowl d schedule a to enact the their elemencoul lectboard tingBy decide to LEE change for spending plan.

J. KAHRS advantage of the fact that more sespecial mee , orBrandon warn the

By JOHN FLOWERS tary school Reporter more than this year’s rate and is a for the new nior teachers, who are paid more, the question an artic le for — Statewide MIDDLEBURY — Patricia A. consequence The request ng for the BRANDON educa- are retiring to keep spending down. of a recent pattern of voti tingreform measure as towtion Hannaford Career Center directors declining funding n mee method of budget comes can’t come soon That, coupled with falling fuel enrollment at the school, prices are proposing a 2015-2016 the 2016 enough forise, Otherw Otter Valley Union High and an uptick in tuitioned spend- which has two buildings in Middleury municipal dleb ch.

Mid Mar students, ing plan of $3,496,478, to the fact er next School.

Despite reflecting bury. He explained the career center ld have that the OV plus delaying certain expenses, from form Craig Bingrs wou alorte at uction a 2.24-percent an supp board increase prod approved from over a proposed budget this is funded based on a six-semester Selectm email atures more ity Players’ s- a modest 1.83 per- lowed the board to rein in spending. year’s budget. an April 17 irman month regiwith gather sign this In Commun sday night. For . the average of full-time of But ury equivalent studespite ham what ent amounts Middleb Despite the relatively small spend- dents. The ard Cha ury Tue cent spending least 5 perc to a spe- increase, the union of the lowest budget increases to one past six semesters have nt Campbell ber of the ater in Middleb to selectbo Town at OV ing increase, the budget would rs force trant photo/Tre ning num The rge and tax rate will increase by over the last decade, result yielded an average enrollment of tered vote Homestead Independe BINGHAM in the opeat the Town Hall the effect on the in a 14.7 percent boost Dean Geo Ramon the Aus 2A. a voteroughly l DANCES 7 cents, or 4.6 percent. in the tuition only around 124 students at the Kathleen local homestead tax rate will result ISTLER rehearsa see Page cameeting for Manager ted to rate for enrollees from the three Ad- reer center, ng dress opens April 23, KATY WH The board that cial on Jan. 7 approved a in a tax rate increase ative. self ham poin which serves the 17 Adlot” duri ch of roughly 7 or dison County high schools ham, him spending plan say, Bing in the town charter d to lian ballot initi ly, Bing $10,718,131 of “Spama the show, whi for which dison County communities that feed for the 8 cents, depending on which town a provision would allow the boar er Unsurprisings the law differently. the career center provides technical Mount photos from 2015-2016 fiscals year, a $192,414 served by OV the taxpayer Abraham, Middlebury and , rath ney’ read lives in. education programs. he believed town attor increase on its own force a lawyer, overconVergennes union high schools.

OV serves the towns of Brandon, to te the current spending the change gree with theplan. ion e disa statu Career petit center mak g.

“I Executive state Director ens’ The career center rebounded ch the filin Goshen, Leicester, Pittsford, Sudthe pledged ion, schools, await a citiz Lynn Coale said the proposed tuition nicely Sinclair in ion as to whi“In my opin Like many OV is taking Rendall, who this fall with an enrollment e in than ct- opin (See OVUHS, Page 7A) . and Natural rate of $20,244 is roughly $2,000 CEO Don public’s confidenc s such a switch. s: “The sele be trols,” he said ch was drafted and (See Career center, Page 16A) Addison Rutl the January ision state to the rein ter, whi dicated its That prov to restore ates from n he took any questionany an- town char dlebury, Page 14A) Vermont Gas Gas Project estim ont Gas whe the new budget men may cause estimates (See Mid gas an ballot at said es- Verm rate. n previous costits Phase I natural d by Australiat any special tow remain accu pany’s overall cost 4 in December, mplish that goal. rt- vote $15 ly inacor for acco com s at repo e ed wild ting T help to be ains “Th issu g mee nual DESPAR Cost ed out to that committed Phase I rem categories filin

By ZACH N COUNTY — ex- pipeline turn ssitating increases ) cost “We have timate for

By ZACH DESPART , Page 16A — nece with certain rs increasing,” dent, stuck in that Middle- “That’s what ‘Humans of Vermont’ the project line with ADDISO (See Vt. Gas of curate the price tag for ay, in its million, MIDDLEBURY that are in — “We try to bury bubble,” Kligler said. is premised on.” ng and othe ped ident Jim the subject Frid projections Middlebury College con- give them - decreasi pany vice pres are rarely case of Ver- bum percent. But last So, the three embarked sic Kligler, 78 pectations with the Pub the te com Goss-Woliner and sistently ranks among the ies, but in no news is, in by terly budget filing ont Gas in- wro munity Mu on an independent study Parizeau have spent the past questions news stor quar few top liberal arts institutions Verm ebury Com its first year ems, rd, ddl Syst Boa Mi project, called “Humans of weeks traveling to different Gas ice they can up mont towns e lic Serv Last January the Spin United in the U.S., and the college news.

Vermont,” that they hope (so far Bristol, Vergennes and ter wraps See Page 2A. of the thre Cen two Burlfact, good prides respond itself on th, fostering . a mon event at Middlebury Fitness raised cert will help their classmates ington) to document the people Before this they close-knit community of to without with a con going to the $8,000

ow be Let the sh

• A local fitn gives advic ess professional for the big e on getting ready race. See Page 30.

s

Job cuts eyed at a PuccainCo. stages i work Bristol ElementaryKu• Ten or Alok mar

allot asks for b Bingham town budget Coming down voting on

ury FLOWE

By JOHN BURY — Middlebwill MIDDLE , April 28, on Tuesday ndments to residents ame to proposed would lead of vote on charter that the town of the elected position elimination noted tor. town audi officials have e anyMiddlebury ral years sinc tion seve that it’s been for the elected posi been one has run se auditors have reTho al of auditor. conducting a form ncial charged with town’s annual fina tion view of the But the elected posi t of ts. ligh in men us state superfluo ont has become onal audit that Verm icithe professi a condition for mun acas ts gran or requires ing state icipal Bond palities seek Vermont Munof financing cess to the ose purp the Bank for ects. aucapital proj lt of the professional tor ted audi As a resu tion of elec idates dit, the posi attract any cand rdto s, acco has failed several year ager for the pastdlebury Town Man ard ing to Mid say. The selectbo Ram ) Kathleen , Page 14A (See Auditors

Triathlo training n tip

affair A copper-bottomed popular wedding color a high this year as a

JANUARY 22, 2015

e by must abid cice Board nan Public Serv and municipal ordi for s s town plan ewing application ty DES cials in n revi by utili

By ZACH EN — Offid by the es whe ys not proposed er HAV und trate NEW r arra already en, long frus arrays in the sola panies, which are New Hav PSB. of solar the com ion of the proliferation County town and lat- the jurisdict n ison SE regu T CA Haven Tow1, rural Add of control over The New roach TES 201 in town’s lack taking a new app pted is Plan, ado ty projects, ing them, e limits utili r arrays, to ali- “Th in court. t as sola an , municip now such plic il ap Unt any ts. not held 300 kilowat th, solar firm ties have ght in hear- does not a This mon Solar LLC official wei osed utility comprise Haven ’ ings on propts; the Public ‘public utility New osed a 350-kilo east prop te developmen rd has sole y on the under sta watt arra te 7 near the matService Boa l Rou such era of on side or fed e Police discretion s ont Stat said it ion Verm nit . rt defi ters Tolles il 15 cou m barracks. built to the In an Apr of the Pub- of that ter t exwould be filing in fron Board, the or under south of an y, north and arra state its common lic Service -kilowatt rts that isting 150 total elec town asse fact, permit ge.” ging the in site law does, es to regulate usa — lawyer brin ty output of the municipaliti projects — Hill trici500 kilowatts. r dy Ellen than to sola er Cin e n som is larg a showdow the array in the ause itted that setting up Bec rs perm s. regulato watts ctwith state statewide implication act the 300 kilo New Haven sele g e the a filin could hav ld significantly impsaid town plan, project in opposed the solar,” rd.

“This cou ment of es. board Public Service Boa ) the developSelectman Doug Toll.” to the Page 16A (See Solar, New Haven ewhat of a test case the som not is is nor “Th is whether At issue

would Measure g town in end elect in Midd. auditors RS

Vol. 27

8 color palettes for 2015 .....................................................6

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By LEE J. N — The BrandonresiBRANDO ask town is going to step toward lectboard first that take the local tax dents to 1 percent l infralevying a irs to loca repa would fund such a tax structure. are that Projections hly $130,000 a yearroug capi would raise to spend solely on as for Brandon ment projects, such ir, tal improveroad and bridge repareance and sidewalks, cle mainten and vehi Leary nt. eme Jim plac attorney Brandon a town char l uage for loca drafted langthat would allow a apter change and the selectboard lar option tax, language at its regu proved that day night.

Leg meeting Mon by voters and the le If approved charter would enab new r apislature, a ard — with vote the selectbo ndon, Page 16A) Bra (See

A local restaurant is growing herbs and salad greens indoors this winter. See Page 14A.

Invitation and postage tips ...............................................4 Year 2015........................5 Marsala-Pantone Color of the your budget..................5 Hidden expenses that can sink

Copper shines in 2015 .........................................................9 ............................10 Local experts on planning a wedding

INDEPE

Green inside

The VUHS boys cruised to a win over rival Mt. Abe to improve to 10-1. See Sports, Page 1B.

Contents

en seeks New Havnge PSB to challe r arrays rol local cont over sola protects

mulls Brandon tion a local op & ad tax for ro irs pa bridge re

Commodores!

It’s time to start planning those summer nuptials. Read our special Weddings pull-out.

46 Pages 2015 

Mi

. 17 Vol. 69 No

Weddings

Weddings

Addison County

DENT

N INDEPE

MONDAY

ADDISO

racer

Four see k

ing three Two incu city coun mbents, ch allengers cil seats speak on issues, ba ckground s

Monkton fi homeles re leaves five s, damag es traile r

Addy Indy wins NENPA awards

Index

Winter wo

nderland tempera

tures hovalong Otter Cre ek below ered arou the falls nd 15 belo in downtow w zero earl n Middleb ier this wee ury k.

Independ ent p

PAGE 16 — TOP

10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016

Vermont Gas abandons Phase II pipeline; PSB launches Phase 1 review Vermont Gas in 2015 received some sobering news in its efforts to expand its natural gas pipeline into Addison County and points further south.

The company in February announced it was withdrawing its application for its proposed “Phase II” Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project that would have extended the pipeline from Middlebury, through Cornwall and Shoreham, then under Lake Champlain to supply natural gas to the International Paper Co. mill in Ticonderoga, N.Y. The company withdrew the application after new estimates placed the project cost at $105 million, up from the $74 million budget Vermont Gas initially filed with regulators.

International Paper — which would have underwritten the project as a means of replacing its fuel oil source with cheaper natural gas — balked at the new price tag, which they said could grow further to $135 million. IP officials also voiced concerns about a new project timetable indicating natural gas might not reach the Ticonderoga mill until 2016, instead of by the end of 2015.

“The costs were what they were, and there was no way to change that without changing the whole project,” IP spokeswoman Donna Wadsworth told the Independent at the time.

“We tried to work it out with Vermont Gas, but ultimately the $135 million figure and time schedule made it impractical for us.”

Cancellation of the Phase II project also forced Vermont Gas to take off the drawing board a potential Phase III plan to take the

pipeline further south into Rutland County.

While the Cornwall and Shoreham selectboards had approved agreements with Vermont Gas specifying the terms under which those communities could support Phase II, many residents in those towns celebrated the scuttling of Phase II. Scores of residents from those communities had voiced their opposition to the pipeline at hearings held by the Vermont Public Service Board. Opponents argued the pipeline would pose safety hazards, infringe on private property rights, cause environmental headaches for Lake Champlain, and might delay the region’s conversion to renewable energy sources.

Meanwhile, the PSB decided to reevaluate Vermont Gas’ Phase I project in light of surging cost-estimates for the 41.2-mile pipeline from Colchester to Middlebury. The PSB originally OK’d the project in December 2013, when the price tag was $86 million. But the board in March began discussing whether to reopen the permit after cost estimates for the project ballooned to $154 million — a 78 percent increase.

Still, Vermont Gas began work on the pipeline in anticipation that the permit would be affirmed. The company in early October announced a memorandum of understanding with the Vermont Department of Public Service placing a limit of $134 million on the amount it would seek from its ratepayers for expenses related to the Addison Rutland Natural Gas Project. That amount was $20 million less than the $154 million the company had

Kind kids forecasted for the project.

Gliding Vermont Gas officials in NoHip hop vember confirmed they had reached land easement agreeADDISON COUNTY ments with 160 of the 164 affected property owners along the Phase I project corridor, and noted that eminent domain Vt. Gas abandons Phas e II pipeline Supre me Court proceedings are still pending investigation intolets regulator re-open Phase I gas pro ject against the four Monkton landowners who have declined to sign deals.

ID-4 boar ba lks at “I am grateful to the land- endorsingd ch ange owners who have worked Petitions due on meeting date, votsing with the company to reach agreement. This process requires commitment and attention, and I want to thank them for their hard work and effort,” Vermont Gas CEO Don Rendall said in November. “Where possible, we will continue to work with remaining landowners Music school br ings new life to to try to reach agreements. historic home We are hoping for resolution of these (disputes) by June of 2016, and we will Monkton tea have a work schedule that cher compete s on Jeopardy ! will be consistent with that timeframe.”

By the way Rendall promised MidFor graduation dlebury residents and , opt for ‘morality VUHS seniors ’ over tradition businesspeople would notice a lot of pipelineIndex related work in 2016.

Protests of the pipeline continued throughout 2015.

Students at Brid School took on port Central the Great Kind ness Challenge. See Page 12A.

The MUHS danc down the hous e team brought e at competition. See their home Page 1B.

INDEPENDE

Vol. 69 No. 7

By ZACH DESP AND JOHN S. ART McCR ADDISON COUN IGHT tion to the annou TY — Reacncement Tuesd that Vermont ay Gas abandon its propo Systems would million pipeline sal to build a $105 from Ticonderoga, N.Y., Middlebury to was met with mixture of joy a and relief from dison County residents who Adwould have been direct ly affected.

“I was delighted because we spent more than two years trying to defeat

Tiger Nordic team a race that comb s competed in ined classic and freestyle techn iques. See Page 1B.

Middlebury,

Vermont  Thursday, Febr

uary 12, 2015

NT

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30 Pages

this project,” said man Bruce Hilan Cornwall Select- on Tuesd d. ay afternoon said Mary Martin, one the comIntern of six Cornwall pany last week completed a property owne new cost derog ational Paper, whose Ticon estimate rs a mill would seen the pipeli who would have Rutland for Phase II of the Addison have been ne pipeline’s main

By ZACH DESP said that despit cross their land, line, andNatural Gas Project pipecustomer, effect the ART e killed the projec ively MONTPELIER mont Gas execu promises by Ver- much moredetermined it would be t when it backe tives that they — The state of an d out expensive than Supreme Court would ly antici be compensate previous- the agreement to finance most on Feb. 9 gave d, she never wante pated. The new of pipeline becau green light to the any of the mone price tag for d the pipeline, the Public Servi y. cost, Rendall said.se of the increased which Board ce would “I’m so happy, to launch have run from Midd “We had a numb second investigatioa wide-ranging on my face,” I woke with a smile and Shore lebury through Cornwall er of very professhe n into Vermont sional discussions Gas Systems’ morning. “I don’t said Wednesday Lake Chamham and then underneath about the reality budgeting practi of trust Vermont Gas.” costs plain, ces for Phase I of Vermont Gas from the $74 milliois $105 million, up find a … and we were unable to its Addison Rutla CEO Don Renda path n Natur nd forwa budge al Gas Project. rd,” Rendall said. t ll Gas initial ly filed with regulaVermont “At the increased By granting reman tors.

(See Phase II, cost and given by which a highe d, a process Page 2A) r court sends a

75¢

case back to a lower tribunal, Supreme Court the tion to the Publi ceded jurisdicto consider whethc Service Board voke its Decem er to alter or reber 2013 appro of the project, val a 41-mile pipeli through Chitte ne nden and Addis counties. on Monday’s reman d differs from a remand the Supreme (See Vt. Gas, Page Court is15A)

By ZACH DESP ART MIDDLEBURY — The ID-4 Addison Central Supervisory school board Union annual meeti on Monday eveni decided not to ng mont), which ngs (and most in Verendor that would chang se two proposals with town are held in conjunction e meetings in March trict’s annual meetithe date of the dis- of the . One petitioned propo ng and switch the method of voting sals would move the School budget on the Mary Hogan meeting date of the ID-4 annual to Australian ballot to within 10 days But proponents . of Town Meeting Day. vowed afterward of the changes Chang tions articles to to make the ques- meeting ing the date of the annual be annual ID-4 meeti considered at the In 2005, is not without precedent. zens’ petitions. ng in April via citi- meeting voters decided to move the from May, when The present date it had been of the ID-4 an- held since the 19th century, nual meeting is to April.

A second propo the second Wedn sal would chang day in April, in e contrast to all es- the method by which the other (See ID-4, Page ID-4 bud17A)

MIDDLEBURY son. The cente COMMUNITY MUSIC Cente r in the Middl r violin instru ebury Comm ctor Emily unity House opened informSunderman listens to stude ally in August nt and now offers Nora Wilson, 5, of Weyb ridge a full program of classes and during a recent leslessons for all Independent ages. photo/ Trent Campb

ell

By FAITH GON G MIDDLEBURY bly pleasing as — It’s always well. Entering the sually pleasing vi- er on a weekd to ay afternoon, one foy- community. bury Community enter the Middle- “Moo hears nlight Sonata” Brightman, MCM being worked Federal-style buildi House, the brick out on C founder and music model while teaching a piano in the director, grew at Northampton Seymour and Mainng at the corner of violin up (Mass.) Comm the sawing away in rear salon, a school, she studie in Lincoln. In high Music unity the town Middlebury streets in down- upstai Center. d piano under Diana rs — is that a bagpi parlor, and Fanning, an . The foyer featur After marrying intern a sweeping spiral pe? (It is.) es The Middlebury and starting a fampianist and Midd ationally acclaimed ily in stairca se, Comm crysta chandelier, and lebury College Massachusetts, unity Mul sic Cente doors with blue, Brightman white inform r, or MCMC, opened with ulty member. Brightman continfac- wanted to be closer and gold cloiso to her nné enam al programs in her music educa ued Addison August 2014; Now that the Comm el hardware. its inaug County, and they family in tion at Wesle Unive ural yan reloca unity House Fall Session rsity, the Pragu to Middlebury ted home to the Midd in 2009. She lebury Comm is September. It is the result began in tory, and the Longy e Conserva- teaching began Music Center, piano from of Sadie sic the experience unity Brightman’s vision in Cambridge, School of Mu“I was nervous her home. is audi- with intersecting Mass. Brightman the needs of be enough studen that there wouldn’t the Middlebury began teaching as an under ts,” she gradu and first exper ienced a comm ate, “the piano teachers here laughs, but unity (See Music center were relieved , Page 17A)

By ZACH DESP ART MONKTON — Most Vermonters process to even appear on would be perple the show. of First, applicants xed the show. take an online test Calif., appear on to see Culver City, if they and score high enoug “When I told the h are invited to when that happe their caller ID. But regional producer I was ned teacher, she said tryouts, which a tral School teache to Monkton Cen- games include mock ‘We’ll put you and personal interv in the teachers’ tourna ment, Gagner this past r Kate La Riviereiews.

La Rivier fall, she had a That turned out too,’” she said. hunch York City e-Gagner was invited New who might be on to be her golde ticket, as the in 2013 n “I was in my classrline.

VERGENNE ducers told her to audition, and pro- the annua producers selected her for oom standing she qualifi l teache the window and uation cerem S UNION HIGH School senio ony with boys my heart jumpe by sons 30 and 31 (last year ed for sea- fall. She flew with rs’ tournament this of 2015 voted in blue and girlsrs march in the 2014 gradd,” La Riviere-Gagner and her this husba year) to nd, have in white. The said.

Andy all memb (See “Jeopardy! out of respect VUHS class As she suspected, for those with ers wear blue at their comm ”, Page 18A) it was gender identi Middlebury Union encement a producer from “Jeopardy!” ty issues.

High School informing her will be hostin File photo by book a flight to to g Keith Darwin Los State Music Festivthe Vermont All she’d been select Angeles, because al this May 6-9! ed as a contestant Organizers of the popular TV on the festival game show. housi need ng for young La Riviere-Gag ner said it was around Vermont musicians from lifelong dream a to — and are askin— more than 400 which she has appear on the show,

By ANDY KIRK g anyone in Adbeen dison County ALDY as she can remem watching as long to consider hostin VERGENNES lor, a series of ber.

— discus g Since (See By the way, sions “The show has the tradition, school’s found Page 2A) been on for 30 years, ing in 1959, and two votes, on that and I’m 35, so do Verthe gennes Union the math,” she said.

High School grad- bers of the VUHS class memWhile she was uations have divided its senior decided to change the of 2015 George Mason an undergraduate at final classes by gende University in Virgin r, assigning white of their high school career ritual La Riviere-Gag robes to girls ia, .

This June, both ner and blue robes girls and boys mother and they’d said she’d call her boys and requir to Obituaries ......... ing them to enter will wear blue and enter ................. 6A-7A gether, trying to watch the show tothe ceremony together from the rear Classifieds ......... answer as many from ................ 5B-9B as possible. clues of the school gym. different sides alphabetica of the gym, arranged Service Directory lly. No .............. 6B-7B The Starksboro After a Janua tion will be made gender distincEntertainment resident is in . ......... secon her VUHS Principal ry prompt from d year The final vote as a fifth- and sixthCommunity Calen ............... 12A Stephanie Tayon Jan. 30 was grade teacher at Monk (See Gowns, Page Sports .................. dar ...... 8A-10A ton Central, and 15A) previously taught in .............. 1B-4B Hinesburg.

KATE LA RIVIE Would-be contes tants face a long dream to appea RE-GAGNER of Starksboro r on “Jeopardy!

recently fulfill ” with host Alex ed a lifelong Trebek.

Photo courtesy Jeopar

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TOP 10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016 — PAGE 17

Voters reject school spending plans; lawmakers push consolidation When school boards were wrapping up their budget proposals last It’s on!

January they knew that 2015 would Eat local be a difficult year in terms of money, but few knew just how difficult.

UNTY O C N Bristol Elementary, for instance, O ADDIS was looking at six job cuts, Vergennes Union High School planned budget l to cut the equivalent of three fullo o h c S te a to Sen s s te e o v v o time teachers and a maintenance re m reform Ks Educ61acoutildon ed board O plan job as well as cutting some exid iv D Sharpe: H.3 schools ending Mt. Abe sp pressure small tracurriculars, and the Hannaford Career Center was seeing a 2 percent spending increase but a 14.7 percent tuition increase.

When voters went to the polls on Town Meeting Day many said the cost of educating our tary tol elemen $4.9M Bris llot Tuesday children had become unsustainba on budget able. In Addison County five school budgets in two supervisory unions were rejected.

Residents said “no” to spending plans for Vergennes and Mount Abraham union high ’ n fu ‘Spamalot r schools, Ferrisburgh Cenfo ovels anks out n cr r o tral School, Monkton Centh u a r rsuit es seizure Senio a lifelong pu tral School and Bristol ElVt. Gas ey real estate Hampel has made art on for its pipeline of Monkt ementary School. At town two parcels Firm wants meeting in Starksboro they amended the elementary r Bray calls fo y school budget upwards and ud st to p ou gr s PSB proces OK’d the spending plan, ay w but soon after a petition e th By called for a revote on the grounds that many people Index who did not come to the meeting would not have approved such an increase. t

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rate) raisproperty tax (the education Sharpe said. education pupil,” ds and income. Thefor non-res- es per , school boar cial imConsequently property tax erties would on know the finan nd the eham will Shor ens prop in beyo idential of citiz Breakfast of spending pe noted. re local lawon a ratio plications be based Monday, whe ed details es. ge wide rate, Shar shar those two figurge, Sharpe base state n’t necessarily chan to makers also already been going “It does This chan Monday’s of what has in the Statepeople are a d at l decisions that ld be clearer and told a crow a busy Apri kfast at the but it shou legislative brea gregation- make, transparent,” Sharpe said.

FLOWERS Education house. cted as described Con

By JOHN — The Bill H.361, Shoreham to lot more nd major change refle r t AM day, effor the Mon REH an by -yea is on SHO oved The seco for a three al Church,

by Sharpe m bill appr ol taxes more- in the H.361 calls ding as a bridge finance refor se last Thursday would would: scho e mak ol spen statewide e and user VerVermont Hou s, according cap on scho First, fix the properunderstandabl d savings that gh three thing ation throu accomplish id Sharpe: set a state the anticipate SHARPE friendly. in rate for educ the tax to ters are expected to see18A) to Rep. Dav property tax rate, cap ty taxes at $1 per $100 er letter from mon , Page “The Decembe have one number, (See Education wide education for three years and property value for homacres) or at 2 ding missioner will two how much school spen districts. s (a home on for families who com that number will be ol stead scho r rs and income create large Democrat, who chai percent of based on their The Bristol Committee, pay a smaller tax bill Education slative the House bill at a Legi described the

total of a spending is about approved That figure $14,022,738. than the budget votDESPART

By ZACH — A divided Mount $35,814 less Town Meeting Day BRISTOL dle/High on Union Mid evening ers rejected less than the spendAbraham day 566 $68, Tues and fiscal year. d on the current School boar budget proposal to the reing plan for e between warned a new rs next week.

The differenc figure and the put before vote the five-town area d spending is due The vote in on Tuesday, April jecte warned for next week Abrae one in Mount will take plac residents in BrisAddia decrease day the to to in same h weig ribution 14, the kton will ham’s cont t Supervisory Union tol and Mon ding plans for their son Northeas r the ANeSU deon new spen ols. Voters in all Afte et. et for budg scho FY 2016 budg elementary districts rejected fiscreased the ry union last month, ol scho osals three spending prop of its six the superviso cost to each cal year 2016 ting Day. the assessed on Town Mee heast Supervisory decreased. ols et proscho Nort budg new Addison n Meeting But while the nsive than both rs on Tow expe Union vote the Mount Abe budposal is less and the current year Day rejected a tally of 1,241 to by the first draft ld increase spendget proposal it wou et, budg 20A) Page of six 1,088.

(See Mt. Abe, by a vote board On Tuesday, Mount Abe to three, the

bridge in the Wey Town rehearsal rs during opens at the malot” acto by Dora Greven, t Campbell cted e fellow “Spa t photo/Tren uction, dire , with som Independen center gym munity Players’ prod Com in this case on Page 3A. stage, or t. The Middlebury e photos ES center mor nigh TAK See s.

DON Tuesday TODD GOR ool gymnasium through two weekend ry Sch l 23 and runs Elementa ter on Apri Hall Thea

nt entary and Mou the Bristol Elemproposals between .

Abe spending DESPART at Holley HallreBy ZACH — Bristol residents and 7 p.m.

3 on a 9 a.m. tol voters on March BRISTOL 2016 cast ballots ol Bris will year l day fisca Scho osed on Tues Elementary ol budget jected a prop entary Scho new Bristol for next year that Bristol Elem on by a tally of 377 spending planion of a percent off milli 31 oses $4.9 prop of new budget shaves a fract they defeated on to 267. The $4.929 million and the proposal Day. But despite spending of 2.71 percent spendting in spendTown Mee a . represents $2,700 less current year ld restore asking for ase over the the budget wou tar- ing incre enting options to ing, the new nal positions dIn pres Northeast uctio instr e spen d, Addison som cing school boar Union Superintencut by redu geted to be ry tol rviso areas. day Supe ms and Bris ing in other board on Mon the dent David Adacipal Sandy Jump on The school Prin ding ed the vote Elementary s of draft spen evening warn for Tuesday, April prepared a serie ing from $4.929 new proposal day new Monkton rang asproposals million, incre 14, the sameol and Mount Abraon to $5.197 of $25,000. milli Scho spending Central ments High School voters. ing at incre tol, Page 17A) by ham Union Bris (See considered plans will be can cast ballots on rs Bristol vote

little Betty there before taking her d walk.

Hampel JOHNSON Ham- coul lived in the library,”

By EVAN Y — Betty “I MIDDLEBUR clear that it’s said. during the it very up es her mak like grew pel didn’t Hampel money. Just shine pipeline. ld War and eighth “sun not about the Gas Project part of an effort by the Wor on nd es nd Seco thriv s a similar The push is school beyo was certicat Cricket the land right DESPART complete she’s taken

By ZACH N — Vermont Gas Sys- company to secure all the 41-mile tests said she a higher and love,” at grade. But her writing. complete d it had MONKTO fied to work was able approach to this way,” the Midr to Middleit needs to day announce tems on Mon domain proceedings pipeline from Colcheste l and she company “Artists are leve .

The ent said s. ers emin or in her 20s own Vergenne begun dlebury auth they’ve “I never know to find workrance comMonkton landI of the bury and Page 18A) as against two (See Vt. Gas, for Phase with an insu “As long ere warm a. what I’m along the routeison Rutland Natural pany in Utic got somewh Add that in to eat, to do. company’s She recalled rienced to sleep, foodwrite on, going h expe wit to Utica she something You really I start hborhood sentence life in a neig they’re fine. ” by much else. one all largely controlled and t’s tha don’t need of and e, proof nized crim Hampel is macular rememI need, I go re orga Hampel still lved murthis. Even withstraining from the bers the unso neighbordegeneration a weak- on I have no in her … eyes and FLOWERS ison County N ders her m JOH By the man was une syste — Add idea what are hood. Onewell, anothened imm SHOREHAMs Bray, chairman of ralized myters Chri found in a from gene urces & EnState Sen. e burned is she’s charac Natural Reso legislative er had his hous asthenia grav n in the going to do was in the Senate seek n while he never slowed dow mittee, will that t dow not p” Com nt. abou grou ergy rtme hs depa next.” a “working which the story this week pel it. But the toug creativity Middle- approval for in We heard a she said, continues — Betty Ham y the manner graders from rebothered her, “acceptAt 87, she two seventh- Middle School who would studPublic Service Board passion for her ed ear 50-y deem cts, n a her gy proje Vermont she rebury Unio et on the street near because they deciding to leave ting and approves ener to improve novel. re pain and wall 10th s Befo a , the d .” her view s said d 18A) foun able ishe she ose way way, Page r cently publ th problems are in for Burlington, Vt., and then prop (See By the write a lette “Some heal writing is as bosses asked her to office of the that process. Haven Democrat early but maybe y Hall, the . my genes, s, which The New to Tamman said.

City rmed his plan ic fruswell,” she E New York nedys were in or publ this week confi to may response the Ken EARLY LIF up in Poughkeephe created in around the unilateral “They said to be dealt with,” grew of e pel ling hom had Ham 6A-7A tration swir PSB enjoys in permitdoor to the trouble and ................... sie, N.Y., next family; her father, a she said. ding solar experiauthority the Obituaries ....... .................. 5B-9B lt e about the projects, inclu , eleces called ....... the Rooseve lines 7B-8B ting energy Hampel wrot Classifieds had to wait was sometim ral gas pipe and wind ctory .............. cab driver, ident Franklin Dela- ence but was told she d publish arrays, natu Service Dire t ........................ 12A mission lines to drive Pres and other dignitar- 50 years before she coul and she tricity trans 8A-10A Entertainmen sevelt never did to the Roo Calendar ...... 1B-3B ents She door no ity . nes. resid mun next turbi ....

Com the story lived ison County pel, Page 17A) who was ..................... ies. She also Some Add frustration Sports .......

(See Betty Ham her mother, have voiced ilibrary, and the librarians, began and officials ding on a utility appl friends with that when deci considers — but does 20A) cation the PSB (See Bray, Page

e out with pel has comyears, she 50 or Betty Ham AND auth for more than Y ARTIST A painter t Campbell MIDDLEBURl, “Once a Gypsy.” t photo/Tren Independen her 10th noveng late in life. writi up took

Some 200 people showed up to the revote meeting for Starksboro — so many that they held it in the Mount Abe auditorium.

By the middle of June all of the budgets were finally approved — residents voted three times on the VUHS, Mount Abe and Bristol Elementary spending plans.

Clearly, something had to be done about school spending. The Legislature took its most serious crack at the problem in years when it passed Act 46, a law that offers financial incentives to supervisory unions that agree to establish a single, consolidated K-12 school district that would be governed by a single board. The goal was to lower costs by getting economies of scale, while also improving educational opportunities by sharing resources across more schools.

The Addison Central Supervisory Union was among the first in the state to embrace the Act 46 governance consolidation effort. The Middlebury-area district, which had studied consolidation the previous year, convened a study committee over the summer and was well into writing a merger plan early in the fall. The “articles of agreement’ were finished by mid-November and sent to the State Board of Education for their consideration in December. In the Brandon area, the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union also got its consolidation plan in to the State Board in time for a December decision.

Aside from the overall benefits of consolidation, the law also included some sweeteners designed to move some districts along the path faster. For instance, school districts on the accelerated schedule of governance consolidation would get a decrease of 10 cents on the educa-

tion property tax rate during the first year of the governance merger, followed by 8 cents in year two; 6 cents in year three; 4 cents in year four; and finally, 2 cents in year five. The participating SUs will also receive a one-time “transition facilitation grant” of $150,000 and the ability to retain their Small Schools Grants. “Small Schools Grants” will be eliminated, but schools in these accelerated districts would also get to keep their Small Schools Grants.

Both the ACSU and RNeSU got the state’s blessing and now residents will get to vote on the respective consolidation plans — people who live in the eight-town RNeSU will vote on Jan. 19; those in the seven-town ACSU will vote on Town Meeting Day, March 1. All the towns in a district would have to approve the plan for it to pass.

Also looking to get some of the benefits of the accelerated approach is Addison Northwest, which is expected to send it’s consolidation plan to the state this week, which could result in a March 1 by folks in its five towns.

But as the year drew to a close, school boards ere complaining about another aspect of Act 46 — the one that set guidelines for per-pupil spending increases. Most towns would see rate increases of a percent or two, but with school health insurance costs going up 8 percent, for instance, saying under those guidelines was proving difficult. Towns that exceeded them would face a tax penalty.

With the legislative session set to open this week, lawmakers were saying that they would take a serious look at those guidelines and could act quickly to change them if it is warranted.

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PAGE 18 — TOP

10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016 County United Way of Addison 22, 2015 • Thursday, October the AddIson Independent A Special Section of

A special teen is a great example commitment of leadership and varied and complicated

Solar arrays abound, aesthetics challenged The debate continued — and to some degree intensified — in 2015 over the value and aesthetics of ground-based solar arrays as more were installed or proposed locally from as far north as Ferrisburgh to as far south as Brandon.

Legal challenges were filed by the town of New Haven and residents of Ferrisburgh; solar-specific bylaws were adopted or considered in several towns, including Cornwall, New Haven and Middlebury; questions were raised about whether Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) were being sold in or out of Vermont; and some wondered why panels could not be installed on buildings rather than on potentially useful agricultural land.

Meanwhile, solar power backers pointed out that the energy generated remained cleaner than fossil-fuel alternatives.

New Haven remained the center of the debate, and not only geographically. As well as adopting zoning to insist that solar developers screen arrays — something now allowed under a provision of Act 56, passed this past spring by the Legislature —New Haven in April hired an attorney to challenge the Public Service Board, which oversees and approves solar arrays and other energy projects.

New Haven argued that its town plan gives the community the power to regulate utility projects such as solar arrays in a case that could set a precedent.

In October, Ferrisburgh neighbors of an array on Basin Harbor Club property won a Vermont Supreme Court case against the Public Service Board, but only on procedural grounds. The court held the PSB improperly and unfairly ruled that an array neighbor was not a party to the PSB procedures.

Remaining at issue were questions such as whether the array was improperly built near historic homes, and more importantly whether a PSB definition of an “average” person who would be offended by an array was flawed. The PSB has held in approving arrays that neighbors cannot be called “average” because they live near arrays — and the neighbors are challenging that logic.

Whether developments are offensive to an average person is a key component of Vermont zoning law.

While the fine points are debated, the proposals, mostly for 150- or 500-kilowatt arrays — with some at 1 megawatt or 2 megawatts — kept rolling in from private developers and from Green Mountain Power.

For example, among them were several in Panton; a half-dozen for Ferrisburgh, two of which on Route 7 are under way; one in Cornwall that was abandoned after some opposition and a town meeting that led to the adoption of interim solar zoning; another in Shoreham; a handful in Middlebury; and eight on the books for New Haven, one a 27acre plan.

Families in our community

are

comexemplary leadership, As — mitment and volunteerism. we ADDISON COUNTY Addi- Each year it turned out, the nominating Each fall United Way of fun- are renewed and form only gave us a portion of son County kicks off our a lot to Days by the the story; we still had draising campaign at our we inspired famyear learn about Derek and his number of of Caring event. Each by vast ily. are renewed and inspired volunteers who After showing our annual the vast number of volunteers and by are participating campaign video, which dewho are participating in honor and by the scribed the multiple ways the young people we SerWay and our with our Youth Volunteer ex- young people we which United to partners work together vice awards. Their stories, father, honor with our strengthen lives, his periences, and shared learnings and this Youth Volunteer Derek Sr., raised his hand remind us why we chose He explained work, Service awards. asked to speak. community, this line of to celyear, that he had come only and this organization. Last and hadn’t parthough, the experience was ebrate his son with the community were willing on speaking, but if we ticularly moving. was an amaz- planned to share about One of our award recipients He had been to listen, he had a few things 4) Derek.

(See Support, Page ing young man named Teen Center for his nominated by The Hub

Our campaign goal is rising because the need is rising

By BARBARA NELSON President, United Way of Addison County Board County has a long United Way of Addison through raising tradition of helping people mobilizing the and funds, delivering programs was one of great community. This past year it was also a year but need in our community, and people engaging of tremendous generosity to help their neighbors. increase in needs Recognizing the drastic and families in the among local individuals made the decision to past few years, our board funds raised last year. the message of set a goal higher than the place leaders to expand is $700,000, PERRIN be less informed.

The goal for this year’s Campaign

By DONNA AND MARK UWAC to those who may generosity we will to those in and with the community’s to people in need.

2015 Fund Drive Co-Chairs You can be the best advocate to talk with help be able to provide more lives. Make a point Hello, Neighbors. provide services summer is re- your daily a day for the next 16 weeks Together, we will once again The schools are open, members that need a of year that the one person and how it contributes to our to the many community treating and it’s the time them the opportunity County begins about UWAC us enter your workplace to helping hand and give United Way of Addison Help and healthy conwe may live in county. to live independent, productive, its annual appeal. While the work of UWAC by making the on opposite ends share lives. decision makers. Let’s raise different towns or be success include the one organi- tact with of the work done by UWAC. AtThe keys to the campaign’s of the county, UWAC is Director Kate Mcfamilies, friends awareness that support UWAC. the leadership of Executive BARBARA NELSON zation that touches our team at the United old. You can be tend events honored to be co-chairs of Gowan and her capable and neighbors, young to We are who dedicate countunison to be a greater give to UWAC, ask you to Way, the many volunteers most importantly, We could not rise in assured that when you year’s campaign and we the calls for help. able. advocating, and this community and to answer less hours to the effort and, in whatever way you’re through volunteering, caring of people from We thank you for your support and we encourdifferent agen- contribute the website unitedwayaddithe sheer generosity and monetarily, the many visit to simply help those age you to continue to help us make a differare supported by Please all walks of life who give identify a passion and get cies and programs that as you are able and are able to soncounty.org, is a story worth sharing, ence. Please give as generously in need.

UWAC become stronger involved. UWAC small, it is mighty! our vision of a strong so that we can achieve While our community is living. and reach more of those in need. expanding for all. volunteers, and and your help participation.

Without you — our donors, many hearts. and healthy Addison County UWAC continues to need We look forward to your touch so to talk to your friends — we could not this year we are asking you and work- Thank you. neighbors, family, co-workers,

are in their community. They of Middlebury are active by participating MARK AND DONNA Perrin neighbors to take an active role, too, County asking their Addison and supporting its programs. Independent file photo/Trent Campbell in United Way events

United Way touches us all; support their work

United Way

Playoff rivals

Learn about the agenc others help your neighy that helps special United Way bors in our section.

Gamma Rays

The Eagle girls hoste in one of many posts d Vergennes eason games this week. See Sport s, Page 1B.

ADDIS

A local theater troup e family dynamics in explores a play. See our previ Paul Zindel ew, Page 13A.

ON COUNTY A proposed solar array on the Brandon-Florence line Solar developm could be the largest ent moves west GMP plans one of in the state. In Ocits biggest Supre projects for north ern Panton Ha me Court sends Basin tober developers rbor array back to PSB said they wanted to build a 20-megawatt array on more than 100 acres at a cost of roughly $29 million. Later ANeSU OKs sp lit in the yea they with district head Adams to get ove scaled back a litr $80K after leaving tle.

Will the flood Mt. Abe vice of proposals conchair resigns from board tinue in 2016?

An update to the state’s Comprehensive Energy Plan, due to be finalized this week, mandates Harvest time a huge increase in renewable Middlebury nativ e wi power over the race and a $50K we ns Key city nonp rofit dding By the way on rebound with next 35 years Brides-to-be run up and down 1,000 feet ne w home, hire that could as many as 13,000 more acres of solar arrays across Index Vermont — a 13-fold increase.

Vol. 69 No. 44

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Verm

ont  Thursday , October

22, 2015  42 Pages

75¢

By ANDY KIRKALDY the Blue Spruce Motel.

PANTON — Green Mountain Power is proposing

By ANDY KIRKALDY According to a Sept. 18 letter operate an $11 millionto install and GMP sent to Panton year-round and season FERRISBURGH — , 4.99-mega- Vermo officials, the al homes on watt solar farm in of Basin Harbor Club’s An opponent Mile Point, just nt Public Service Panton. The projnorth of the Basin Board and 150-kilowatt ect would be more project neighbors, the proposed ar- solar array last week won a Vermont Harbor Club resort. than twice the size Suprem On Jan. 14, the PSB e Court decisio ray would generate about of the denied Mclargest existing Addiso Public Service Board n against the Guire’s motion 9.2 “It’s million a to sour n . kilowatts per reconsider its ce County arrays and However, the year, enough to provid CPG, is also of income. e addressed proceddecision “This decision Guire ruling that Mcas large as any such power for more ure, not ven- We’re goin lacked party status than the issues ture GMP is propos g 1,200 homes. at the heart of draws because she had not ing in to filed take it.

Vermont. the case, such as the ar- attention The power genera as an “intervener” ted ray’s impac in the The site proposed would be sent directl t on the lake- to the case. is 40 It’s just that y front neighb acres of a 327-acre into the power orhood.

But last week the court, parcel simple.” confusion and grid, that is part of Panton On Friday, Oct. 16, while GMP officia in a decision written — ’s Selec the tboar ls said chal d by largest dairy operat lenges Vermo THE ADDIS retired Justice ion, Chairman the project would also ruled nt Supreme Court inhe James terms for theON NORTHEAST Supervisory the Vorsteveld Farm. rent that the PSB erred Union board has Morse, disagreed. departure of Super The John Viskup include a “micro grid” agreed to March meeting intendent David site lies in the in not honori in the PSB where with battery storag “Although town’s McGuire calling for his firing. residents explained why they Adams, shown at a e that Mary McGu ng neighbor north end, between supported a petitio would provid disputes BHC’s ire’s motion process.”

Panton Road and n (Basin the Ferrisburgh town cy electricity to Panton e emergen- that the board recons Harbo Independent file line, east of Jerr Club’s — ider town Elizab ) claim that build- its Nov. photo/Zach Despart eth sey Street and west ings during a wider 14, 2014, award party status was require of Slang Creek. power outage.

McGu ire d The county’s curren of the Certificate of According to GMP to appeal or move Pubspokesperson for projects are a 2.2-me t largest solar Kristin Carlson, consideration, she rethe Panton Solar lic Good (CPG) that allowed Basin also array off Route 7 northgawatt (MW) Project is one of Harbo asserts r Club that she to build the array on several solar venbecame a party in of New Hav1.5 fect in the efen Junction and a course of 2.2MW solar farm tures that GMP is looking at state- acres at 4800 Basin Harbor Road. in Middlebury off wide. Another 4.99M and therefore proper the proceeding The project is sited Route 7 behind W project in ly appealed and about 100 feet from Mile Point moved for recons (See Panton, Page Road, ideration,” Morse 18A) vides the only access which pro- wrote. “We agree with the latter asto dozens of (See Basin Harbor, Page 14A)

By GAEN MURP HREE ignation on or before BRISTOL — The Addison Oct. 27.

Northeast Super Bull also stated that visory Union is the employnow just a few steps ment separation agreement would away from ending and mere days be publicly posted David Adams’s on the ANeSU tenure as its superi website. ntendent.

On During Tuesday the discussion period , beevening, the ANefore the Executive SU Executive Committee voted Committee voted on the motion , unanimously to Executive Comapprove the emmittee member ployment separa and Robinson Eltion agreement ementary School

By GAEN MURP between the BrisHREE Board chair Louis BRISTOL — Mount tol-area school DuPont took a ham Union Middl Abradistrict and Adam s moment to note, School board Vice e/High that calls for payChair thoughtfully, that Shawna Sherwin ing him more than announced “this is the result her resignation $80,000 in salary, from the of much deliberaMAUHS board, with severance and othtion over the last to Addison Northe a letter er compensation. ast three or four meetvisory Union Board SuperThe committee Chair ings, balancing Dawn Griswold, also authorized dated Oct. competing inter20.

Chair Dawn Grisests in the district Sherwin’s is the wold to “execute to the best result school board resign third the agreement and we ation think we have for ANeSU this fall related documents and the achieved for all.” fourth since summ to implement the er, and The separation came the same day agreement.” as the agreement (See Board membe inExecutive Comr, Page 15A) cludes the followmittee member ing components: and chair of the Beeman Elemen• Adams will tary School Board be paid his curren t “salary” (quotaBrad highlights of the emplo Bull read tion marks in the agreement itself) of yment sepa- $123,5 ration agreement at ADDISON FARM 34 through Oct. 16, the for a total the Roorda farm ER JACK Kennett climbs atop clarified that Adam meeting and of $42,762. cally grown seed in Addison for the craft sunflo his combine to check on the harve signed the docum s had already • He will get severa wer and canola oil plants this fall. st of sunflower ent. nce payments oil company Full See more photo to complete the separa Steps needed totaling $39,594 in Sun. The Middle seeds he collected Monday aftern s on Page 2A. two bury company harve tion would oon on be for Griswold to sign ments, one in Decem equal installsted its first crop ber and one in of loon behalf of ANeS the document January.

Independent photo/T U, to have the rent Campbell document delivered • ANeSU will pay for Adams to provid to Adams and his health insurance 87 percent of e a letter of resand 100 percent (See Adams, Page 15A)

POLLY LYNN

By LISA GOSSELIN LYNN

By ANDY KIRKALDY KILLINGTON — Rachel CorVERGENNES — vington, 34, was In late 2014, the 15-yea on her way to the ganization that is r-old orSpartan World charged with overse Champ eing the wellbeing of downtown Lake Tahoe in Augus ionship in Vergennes had to t when lay employee, a part-ti she heard about the Sparta me executive directo off its only n Fittest was r, because it Bride out of money.

Challenge. First prize Now, the Vergennes wedding at Sparta (a fully catered Partnership can look n founder Joe De a year in which it back at Sena’s Riverside Farm) has marketing and develo recently hired a new part-time of approximately $50,00 had a value pment coordinator, 0. support from the Vergen won budget That’s over three times what first successful fundraising nes City Council after its own place earned in campaign, effectively cash and prizes nized its board and reorga ($15,000) at the committee structu Spartan World re, and reached an agreement with Championships. city gennes City Hall office officials to move into VerCorvington, an elite racer who During that year, the space. finished in the top nonprofit public 35 nership has also thought she’d have at the Worlds, continued to organi -private parta good shot at ze many events circle on their calend winning the race. ars — the Holiday that Pumpkins in the Park Stroll, She hadn’t counte d on one MidBoys & Girls Club (the latter in tandem with the AMY BODETTE dlebury native who of Greater Vergen BARR is the new also monthly Arts Walk nes), and the development coord marketing and on the prize, and would had her eyes inator (founded in 2014 prove to be a in cooperation nership. The organization for the Vergennes Partwith local gallery potent threat. owners). , which has seen gence, is critica a resurPartnership Presid l (See Fittest bride, ent and city Alderm and the city to to helping downtown businesses Page 16A) win an Renny (See Vergennes, Page community events grants, while also organizing .

14A) Independent photo/T rent Campbell

Federal Election Commission Chair Ann Ravel, one of the leading experts on the role of money in politics, will be in town next week to discuss campa ign approach the 2016 finance as we presidential election. She will give a talk titled “Cam (See By the way, Page 16A)

Obituaries ....................

Classifieds .......................... 6A-7A ... 6B-10B Service Directory .............. 7B-8B Entertainment .......... .............. 12A Community Calend ar Sports .................... ...... 8A-10A ............ 1B-4B

TOP 10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016 — PAGE 19

$78 million and new farming rules aim to clean Lake Champlain Toxic swirls of blue green algae closing beaches along Lake Missing mom Champlain are now a recurring summer event. Although such events continue to be concenTY N U O ADDISON C trated most heavily in Missisquoi Bay and St. Albans Bay, such popular Addison County spots as county ct Kingsland Bay and Button Bay fe af er Creek Ott to s et lake targ New EPA acts continue to see troubling levels feel largest imp to ns tow rs, Farme of blue green algae in the hottest months intermittently.

Efforts to clean up Lake Champlain got a huge boost ’ ds Railroa in 2015 thanks to new state powers Cannon put to test regulations and new limits for Federal rules give ready to l upper hand Rai phosphorus pollution set by the Vt. fire, but federal Environmental Protectalks set tion Agency. While the EPA’s new total maximum daily load (TMDL) limits affect all sectors of the Vermont economy and ask for different choices from individual citizens up through town goverments, small farms, especially, are s te Floodgas haggle, facing new regulations for a As insurance firm repairs me cleaner lake.

By the way family awaits ho The Vermont Clean Water Bill, Act 64, passed the House and Senate in May and was signed into law by ury film fest eb dl id M l ra gu rise on inau to y ad re in Governor Shumlin in June. rta Cu A statement from the govIndex ernor’s office called Act 64 “the most comprehensive legislation to address the problem of polluted storm Let’s roll

New leader

Creek for a Police searched Otter went missing Conn. woman who 2A. in January. See Page

week. See bus Schools open next lebury and schedules for Midd 11A and 13A. Salisbury on Pages

r saw a coachMUHS boys’ socce late-sumsome ing change after s, Page 1B. mer news. See Sport

T

INDEPENDEN

75¢

64 Pages st 20, 2015 

Vol. 69 No. 34

sday, Augu ont  Thur Middlebury, Verm

the target TMDLs, With these new Clean was at the lake with signing into law of Vermont’s Aur cane Irene, and I June, and the my granddaughte Water Act this past state’s plan for my daughter, and and forth and the swimming back under,” said gust revision of criteria, Vermont was result a diving , and as meeting the EPA’s to showing off and green algae bloom that day.” daughter kept say- has its marching orders to meet HREE the beach Banyi. “And my

By GAEN MURP TY — Mike they closed color, oh my God, help clean up Lake Champlain. of Lake Chaming, ‘Look at this My For the middle part ADDISON COUNst for the Lake the state must the frequent occur- it’s blue! Mom, look it’s blue!’ ers By the end of 2017, ms aimed at plain, it’s not like summ Winslow, staff scienti progra ittee, recalls the been at other bays or daughter’s spent all of her have a series of from every land Champlain Comm that he closed rence it has on had never seen quoi Bay we polluti Missis and ng back lake Bay, s reduci at the St. Alban ing the Otday a few years it.” gton’s shores, but and Bay State in each basin, includ those along Burlin occur it can be a anything like the beach at Kingsl g frequency use Programs in specifs To address the growingeneral deg- ter Creek Basin. updated every five when algae bloom Park. be and the and Bay because report of algae blooms n- ic basins will “I went to Kingsl something that serious issue.

Mary Jane Banyi radation of the lake, the Envirothe years, with the EPA issuing saw Retired teacher on y and the park ranger what it was, and phosphorus polluti Protection Agenc cards. phosphoAug. , the they weren’t sure portion of the realized that g problem in Lake mental of Friday t nced last Fully 69 percen comes from between the mainthere was a green was a growin day her granddaugh- state annou on the total maximum overload in the lake contributes Champlain the Bay 14, new limits phospho- rus dock and the shore nt. New York state looked like spilled ter went swimming near Button and daily load, or TMDL, of Vermo that 14A) area y Lake Page , scumm dumped into (See Water quality ” Winslow said. State Park and ended up sick rus that can be paint on the water, the Vermont side. green, and it had vomiting.

Champlain from “It was a bright er after Hurritexture on the water.

“It was the summ that sort of oily ed that it was a blue And so I confirm

plain

g into Lake Cham

phorus goin Sources of phos

Cropland 43% Pasture 5%

Farmstead 2%

17%

Forest 17%

2%

43%

Backroads 4%

10% 4%

17%

5%

2%

of Source: EPA, State

Developed 10%

Wastewater 2%

Vermont

Streambank 17%

ERS

By JOHN FLOW — We’ve all MIDDLEBURY a what happens to seen footage of in the path of an stranded car sitting train. oncoming freight always wins.

The freight train to a dispute comes it when And ipality and a freight between a munic to have the adtrain, the train seemsood that Middlevantage — a likelih merchants are and bury officials call for modificalearning in their nt Rail Systems tions to the Vermo les during the (VRS) train schedu of two downement upcoming replac sses. town rail overpa suggested that Middlebury has detour its freight VRS temporarily Middlebury beh train traffic throug when work is slated ginning next fall ed $45 million propos to begin on a t to replace the to $55 million projec Main Street and Merchants Row officials believe overpasses. Town would allow detour rary y the tempo done more quickl the project to be y causing less and cheaply, therebd property ownMiddlebury Street home in disruption for affecte North Pleasant . their of failure ants. porch drain merch ll the ers and en, Cole, sit on are adamant Father ’s Day storm Independent photo/Trent Campbe VRS officials water during a of their three childr But waste one the of s for with gallon along line open thousands of JEFF Schnoor, about keeping the that go through LEILANI AND was flooded with oon. The home two daily trains g that even a Monday aftern Middlebury, arguinwould harm the short-term detour line and potencompany’s bottom sses that depend busine tially other their products in on the train to move a timely fashion. open,” VRS Pres“It needs to stay n said. “There are Wulfso ident Dave ers — and a lot of many, many custom t customers — who them are indirec don’t even know home. use the railroad and companies that around two ERS grain The overflow lasted hardwood

By JOHN FLOW — It was far it. You have the the where are the Town Hall hours and ruined 19th-century MIDDLEBURY cows every day; Organizers of that the Flea gift feed lous Day late ’s l “Fabu in their their food? What from the Father Theater’s annua Sept. 19, are callJeffrey floors they going to get ’s -filled waves of resident goes into people residence. Stench Middlebury Market, slated for to the fundraisabout the oil that We would basipoured into their expecting.

Schnoor had been were engaged the brown liquid g various items ing for donations theater’s biggest furnaces every day? ss if that line While other dads ies back on basement, ruinin be out of busine ers — one of the old cally househ e. , activit storag tables ” they had in in fun family been of the year. Collec coswere shut down. down, of or and his wife, 21 debacle has shut (both real and Schno June be y n’t 21, The jewelr June would items, The line eally dealing on town-commissioned small furniture ed around Middl Schnoor home Leilani, were frantic old disaster linked to a tume), antiques, that folks can course, but detour ct the Schnoors’ basement of the Page 17A) project to conne R FLOODS THEbury earlier this summer. Courtesy photo with a major househ — any good stuff g, books and (See Railroads, WASTE WATE ebury’s municinds of gallons wrought by thousa that suddenly home into Middl . And the fetid North Pleasant Street in Middle spare except clothin than 25 vendor of nasty sewer waterfirst-floor toi- pal sewer system electronics. More to Page 18A) lly, in addition (See Sewer woes, spewed from the Pleasant Street participate annua Donated items in let of their North THT’s own booth. be dropped off may good condition on two Fridays r of at the theater lobby 4-5 and 11-12, estimate of the numbe Sept. films getting an could accompany those and Saturdays, 462. The selected that and noon. Call said adult-themed15 countries, including people to town, including producbetween 9 a.m. sight, Komesar rs ons. come from questi , Nepal, directo or members of with 2552 he was feeling grat- Brazil, Peru, the UK, Turkey family members festival that the direca, and also ers, opening night, process. know the Canad by High and They FESTIVAL PROGRAM san ified Union Kome SON at Iran, Pakist with Vermont connec- the cast. film “The Incredible AdMount Abraham

By EVAN JOHN — After narrow- producer Lloyd said he “I never look the Page 17A) s,” feature a slate films come from new tor for of Jojo and His Annoying MIDDLEBURY than 300 film ar on Tuesday (See By the way, es things as hurdle of the cool deMIDDLEBURY be bringing goal tions. All in the early part of their ventur ing a field of moreto 95 final selec- was remaining ching Sister, Avila” will organizers he said. “My to filmmakers whom this is their first Little spite the approa Festival submissions down is to always get FESTIVAL four child actors. space in 10 local festival and the ovencareer and for e housing for tions; arranging dis‘yes.’” film. working to arrang Middlebury, e. are second for events and or outsid ts more heat be shmen s in expect establi AUGUST 27-30, 2015 with two like The films to said, Festival organizers come to town guests with familie idge.

The process, he ns; planning a party Middlemiddfilmfest.org Town the cussio 6A-7A at to Weybr ...... ed rs and .......... screen directo dical drink on the ce Cornwall Obituaries ..........

Mar- than 40 has been a metho remain to be bands, food and to gauge the audien ............. 7B-11B Hall Theater, the Other logistics and nailing down one, beginning when addition to Classifieds ..........

Dana next week their work and talk with bury town green; .............. 8B-9B d out as well. In quis Theater and , organizers are awarde- reaction to Service Directory .............. 12A kers about worke housing for all the filmmakall of the little detailsinvite the world he recruited r Jay Auditorium at Middl and other filmma finding to for their Entertainment ..........ar ...... 8A-10A range viewers winning directo just about ready needs to arrange bury College will y’s shire town next the festiSee the official fes- ers, MNFF , their craft.

Community Calend............ 1B-3B to Addison Count ral Middlebury Craven as Film fest, Page 16A) Komesar and other is r. The Middlebury New from shorts to feature-length (See issue .......... directo One inaugu .......... the artistic with Sports val’s week for s to complete ze zers are struggling Festival (MNFF). of tasks to organi Filmmakers Festival documentarie y to tival organi New Filmmakers l was l, slated for list , family friendl The four-day festiva18 months in a new film festivaend in program inside. fiction the been long, but with Aug. 27-30, has with nine days until the making, and

ALDY

By ANDY KIRK — Although FERRISBURGH negotiated sofor a there is still time urgh farmer who lution, the Ferrisb neighbors a year nt upset his lakefro to propane cannon ago by firing a corn crop said this protect his sweet to use the cannon ed week he is prepar next week. again as soon as Crazy owner of Wayne Stearns, Schoolhouse Road, Acres Farm on lives of starlings that said if the flock attacking his corn, on his farm starts deploying a cannon he is considering nds of times thousa fired that in 2014 month. a day for about a caused dozens That constant noise to complain to town of area residents d hard feelings in officials and sparke between the Basin the neighborhood Summer Point.

Harbor Club and e cannon propan the said Neighbors as a shotgun, echoed boomed as loud Lake Champlain, all the way across quality of their lives and affected the health. their and even get a repeat, as Now they could cannon has proven Stearns said the Page 15A) (See Cannon,

1ST EDITION

PRESENTING SPONSOR

10+ Years of DISTINCTIVE Design Choices =

water runoff into Vermont’s lakes and waterways in the history of the state.” The legislation affects not only Lake Champlain, but waterways throughout the state.

The law includes measures to reduce phosphorus pollution from roads, farms, developed areas, forestry and waste water treatment plants. It adds a total of 20 new positions at the Agency of Agriculture, Food and markets and in the Department of Environmental Conservation and creates a dedicated Clean Water Fund , expected to raise $5.3 million in fiscal year 2016 alone. The new law brings tens of millions of additional federal and state funds to bear on the state’s water quality crisis.

In August, the EPA released its own TMDL report, which analyzed the sources of phosphorus pollution for major watersheds along the lake and set different phosphorus pollution reduction targets for each. In the Otter Creek watershed, for example, the EPA found that 50 percent of phosphorus runoff came from farming (48 percent from croplands and pasturelands, 2 percent from barnyard areas), 17 percent from streambank erosion, 17 percent from forestlands, 14 percent from developed lands (runoff from paved roads and backroads, parking lots, athletic fields, etc.), and only 2 percent from waterwater treatment facilities.

For the area of Lake Champlain that drains the Otter Creek watershed, the EPA set reduction targets based both on levels of pol-

lution from different sources and on a sort of “doability”/“bang-for-the-buck” analysis. In its August 2015 report, the EPA asked for a 47 percent reduction in erosion from pasturelands and croplands, an 80 percent reduction from barnyard areas, a 40 percent reduction in streambank erosion, a 5 percent reduction from forested areas, a 22 percent reduction in phosphorus runoff from developed land, and no reduction in phosphorus runoff from wastewater treatment plants .

In October, the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets released a draft of its new Required Agricultural Practices (RAP) for all farms to clean up Lake Champlain. The AAFM is required to develop the new RAPs as part of Vermont Act 64. Ag Secretary Chuck Ross and the AAFM’s Deputy Director for Agricultural Resource Management came to Middlebury as part of the department’s series of hearings on the draft RAPs around the state. The November 17 hearing in Middlebury was one of the most heavily attended in the state, with over 100 farmers and interested stakeholders in the audience.

For owners and operators of what’s defined as large and medium-sized farms, the RAPs are largely business as usual, with a few significant changes. For owners of small farms, however, the new RAPs require them to meet a far more stringent set of farm management practices overall.

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10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016

Middlebury cries foul over rail bridge project Middlebury’s decade-long quest to replace its two downtown rail bridges took a dramatic and expensive turn for the worse in 2015, according to property owners, merchants and residents who figure to be affected by the project.

Local officials had hoped the deteriorating bridges, which carry vehicle and pedestrian traffic on Merchants Row and Main Street above the railroad below, could be replaced for under $10 million during a single construction season, in order to minimize the disruption of detours, noise, dust and the temporary loss of parking spots.

But a plan to replace the two spans with a concrete tunnel quickly mushroomed in cost to around $55 million and a construction timeframe of three years.

Middlebury formed a local project team to represent the town’s interests in lobbying for a simpler project with a shorter time schedule. Local officials and property owners argued that three years of downtown construction disruption might force some businesses to close. But Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) officials noted that since the project was to be funded primarily with federal dollars, it would have to conform to federal transportation standards — including minimum clearance standards for trains. Federal standards call for a rail bridge clearance of 23.5 feet to al-

low for double-stack train cars, well above the 18 feet, 9 inches that currently exist at the two Middlebury spans.

State and federal officials were able to secure a lower clearance threshold of 21 feet for the Middlebury spans. But local officials learned in December — based on project plans that were 60 percent complete — that work could still run into parts of four calendar years and cost around $40 million.

The latest plans reflect around nine months of intensive work in the downtown (in 2017), with 20-hour workdays. Extensive work related to drainage and lowering the rail bed, coupled with the scheduled shutdown of work during the winter months, was expected to lead to the four-year construction timeframe.

Another major bone of contention between the town and VTrans: Vermont Rail would need to be assured of uninterrupted freight train traffic through downtown Middlebury during the project, meaning tracks would have to be temporarily restored during each workday. Local officials argued this practice would add time and expense to the project. Selectwoman Donna Donahue estimated the cost of keeping the track open for trains at around $2.5 million, and she suggested the town should be entitled to a similar sum to support those that would be economically hurt by the work.

Town Hall Theater Executive Director

Cider deal

To the wir

Vermont Har with one of d Cider has partnered Am brewers of beer erica’s largest . See Page 2A.

e

Doug Anderson said the noise and traffic disruption ADDISO generated by a four-year N COUN TY project could force the THT to close.

Bruce Hiland, principal MiRddalebiluryproject could ‘re nd’ town’s may see fou r-year disrup fabric owner of the Battell Block tion on Merchants Row, sent a letter to Gov. Peter Shumlin urging him to ask VTrans to withdraw Some good ne the current plan in fa- bo ws as ANeSU ards vor of a more basic and thrAct 46 penaltiests plaarcet budget work esholds on spe nding expedient project that might minimize construction-related upheaval for downtown merchants and residents. More than 60 people with ties to the downtown signed on Ferrisburg to Hiland’s letter. h installation traffic light set for 201 “Gov. Shumlin, 6 this is ultimately your responsibility and will be part of your legacy,” Winter tw irl the letter stated.

B y the way D “Would you want eer seasons productive Archery, rifl to see the Addison overall e kills up; mu zzleloader do wn without doe permits County seat, now Index a vibrant community, turned into a sad has-been community for want of your leadership?”

Vol. 69 No . 51

INDEPEN Middlebu

ry, Vermont



Thursday,

350,000 lbs of electronic waste

83,000 lbs of waste paint

recycled by the District

collected by the District for recycling or proper disposal

113,000 lbs of books recycled by the District

7,000

lbs of household batteries recycled by the District

220,000

lbs of tires recycled by the District

101

businesses brought hazardous waste to the HazWaste Center for proper disposal

1,950 households brought hazardous waste to the HazWaste Center for proper disposal

DENT

December

17, 2015



34 Pages

d tobegin

40,000

lbs of unregulated hazardous waste (other than paint) collected at the HazWaste Center and kept out of the landfill

4,500

lbs of plastic maple sap collection tubing recycled by the district

Beginning January 1, 2016 the HazWaste Center hours will be expanded to serve you better!

The new hours will be Mon-Fri, 8am to 2pm, & Sat from 9am to 1pm.

Addison County Addison Solid County Waste Solid Waste Management District Management District 1223 Rte 7 So., Middlebury •in 388-2333 Formed Monday - Friday 7am - 3pm, Saturday 9am - 1pm AddisonCountyRecycles.org

1989

Information on waste reuse, reduction,

75¢

t with each in passing day.downtown Midin 2016.

A replacem ent Independe

nt photo/Tren

Still, with enro llment for the part holding most ing slightly steady or even increasBy GAEN across the ANe MURPHREE boards are BRISTOL cautiously optimSU, some istic that cost of heal — Increases in the they will be able to th insurance employees for schools’ threshold and main stay within the tain current com of bine serv d ice. with a state levels designed to guideline “Right now slow overall school in pretty good we’re increases or spending said ANeSU shape,” face penalties are Superintenden Interim chal t Vermont educ lenging Armando Vila ators seca Administrator . addressed the , as he s and school boar ementary SchoBristol Elds in the Addison gathered roun ol board, d a table Supervisory Northeast in the school libra hard at work Union day evening. ry Mondrafting preliminary “We’ll know budgets for the coming course, in the more, of they are facin year said weeks abou next few t anything ularly acute g a particthat may com challenge.

They see a the state,” Vilae through 7.9 hike in heal percent tinued. “Bu seca cont VILASECA ance costs comth insurthis is much right now, better, quite threshold enac bined with a spending honestly, school distr ted in Act 46, the new ticipating when I start than I was anict consolida tion law, that and a half ago. This ed here a week limits spending is good incre Alon new ases to betw 1.35 and 2.1 een tives g with setting timelines s.” and penalties , incenSU schools. percent at the six ANe - to cons for olidate gove getting schools rnance into (See ANeSU, larger Page 18A)

t Campbell

Greg’s marke property slat t ed to be sold at public auctio n

By JOHN FLO

MIDDLEBURWERS Y — The owner of former Greg’s Mea t Market at 3 Elm St. in for bankrupt Middlebury has filed property is cy protection and the expe public auction cted to be sold at a early next year That news was delivered .

Middleb to the ur selectbo y ard on Tuesday “The pla ce by Jamie has gone Gaucher, the town’s direc downhill tor of business- bad.

I hate dev elop men to see it t and innova- go down. tion. Gaucher I had 30 also noted that the mortgag good years on the Greg e there. It’s property is ’s so be- sad ing held by when TD Bank.

I go by (th e Greg’s Mea busin t ess).”

Market had — Gre been in cong Wry

By ANDY KIRKALDY tinuous oper FERRISBURG ation unde selectboard, as an inde r that nam H — Plans the long-awa e pendently call for VTrans owned grocery store for Ferrisburgh ited traffic light at the Program Developmen Director of inter t Richard Tetreault, now That’s whe 34 years until April 1. and Little Chic section of Route the agency’s n co-owne 7 ago r retar anno depu Bart Road to y, said unced the store ty secLitv tional some time next fall, be opera- fewer acci although there have would clos in Litvin and been to an email dents there according Lisa Hartman e. purchased pher, D-Vergefrom Rep. Diane Lan- the agency was “stil in recent years, had the l concerned the fact owner Greg store from longtime Ferrisburgh nnes, read at Tuesday’ with s curred that 11 crashes have selec 2009. It was Wry in December of at this loca ocTown officials tboard meeting. tion over five years, the supermar Wry who establishe had lobbied a light for with four resu the past d for such year Shop & Save ket in place of Stan’s lting in inin March 2013 s and were informed juries.” back in 1981 that the Age The project In announci .

Transportatio ncy will of in April, Litv ng the store closure back project. That n was working on the pedestrian-triggered not include a unable to serv in said “Revenues were cials told the summer VTrans offi- VTrans project man crossing light. a transactio ice the debt, thus forcing timetable wasselectboard that a 2016 burn said such lightager Patti Con. There is s can only realistic. installed whe sale, which be In an Octo Greg’s is still a potential ber 2012 lette infrastructure n supporting pedestria We believe negotiating.

KRISTI WIL n r to the is celebration LIAMSON, LEFT, independent, the county needs an (See Ferrisbu already in place, and at the Tow locally own rgh, Page 18A n Hall The Sara Granstrom rehe groceries and ed source of ) ater in Midd lebury. For arse for “Night Fire buyer or an are hopeful that either s,” the ann more pho a entre preneur tos and sho ual the grocery er solstice wtimes see wint business at will revive Nu mb Pag location. To this historic e 15A.er of dee Independe our many loya r atntAd photo /Tren dis t Camp and rep on l partnort Cobell ers, ed unty rep thank you.” customers orting stations (See Greg Funding is ’s, Page 20A now availabl the Small ) 1,021 and Inspiring e from program at the Vermont grants Nu nity Founda Numb Commu- By ANDY mber er of of dee KIRKALDY deerr rep at ber of com tion. One of a num weigh orted at Ad Addis ADDISO dison 875 petitive gran on Co Count yy rep That decision unt t rounds ing archery,N COUNTY — Durort rep (See By the ing orting sta resulted 807 stattion 772 way, Page 2A) ionss seasons and rifle and muzzleloader est local muzzleloader in the low- man y hunters 840 eight years deer kill in Hunting Wee Youth 1,021 and the lowe woods duri to decide not to hit the 724 kend in st com ng the muz October, Nov zlelo a r c h e r y / m bined son, which The single ran from Dec ader seau and Decemb ember biggest loader seas z z l e - 12 and also er, on totals included the . 5 to Dec. 875 671 dison County Ad- deer killed in the Obituaries ....... of sinc seco archery seas e 2011, the nd half ..................... on. least stations hand weigh county this Classifieds 807 succ 772 .... 6A “Tha essfu yea led 772 wa t’s ..................... l area deer going to take deer, the third s a 234-po r Service Dire ..

840 number of year overall lowctory ..............7B-10B und, hunters, too,”down the 724 est total in Entertainmen cent memory. in re- said. “A lot 8B-9B Phillips the past eight-point spe of people just eight years. cimen Community t ........................ 12A Mike Matot didn’t go.”

The lack of This year Calendar ...... killed But that total Sports .......

44 deer were only problems for snow compounded the 671 ..................... 8A-10A is in Shoreham the eight-day misleading. re- accordin .... 1B-3B ported loca and seas Depart- weigh g on, to lly Rob in the of ment of Fish ert Bedell, ed at Buxto December Bristol’s owner and Store Wildlife in Orwell. n’s loader seas muzzle- End. HuntersGreen Mountain Trail’s officials on, comwho rely on earlier this help pared to an year decided average get pin down deer ’s loca tracks to doe permits not to issue of about 125 tion to the past dell any help from the wea didn’t in wildlife zonemuzzleloader hunters two years. ther, Besaid.

Dick Phillips, ally all of Add s that included virtu owner of Verm “The weather - Field Spor ison County. was ont ts the departme in Middlebury, said tive and took the gas not cooperaright out of nt’s ruling tank,” he said the also led . “You coul (See Deer seas d hunt on, Page 14A in ) 2015

2014

2013

2012

1 2 20,145 14,736 4 0 7 1 3 4 1 you...

6 5 2014

2013

2012

2011

2011

2010

2010

We balanced

In 2015... fluorescent lamps recycled by the District

More than two dozen loca of worship l houses hav planned for e special services Christmas.

Page 11B.

By JOHN FLO MIDDLEBURWERS town Middleb Y — The The project ury is now fix for Mid encompa — whic expected dlebury’s two proposed placing rail bridges Middlebury’ h calls for re- ginning ss around nine months to VTrans to with downtown draw has s for $40 mill now been budgeted and Merchants Row Main Street schedulein April of 2017), the (be- in favor of a mor the current plan latest dien e basic and affecting portion, with construction with a concrete tunn rail bridges the poss offered by Kubricky t expeoffers cons project that might el minimize during parts ions of the village area recently expected to — was until project ibility that a portion of the dow truction-related uphe of as many might continue cost aval for endar years. as four cal- million and span three up to $55 ntown merc into 2019.

New s hant of the latest estim the s and residents year The author This lates ate lowers the s. But struction time revised costs and con. of that lette t dow info n rmat table vide budg to $40 mill from Verm ion comes ion, in large et reaction from dow elicited strong Dec d to the governor on r — proont Thu portation (VT Agency of Trans- because state and part business . ntow 17 rsda — is Bruce n residents y, fede , pal own Hila Construction rans) and Kubricky are allowing the tunn ral officials who are owners and church lead er of Middleb nd, princiury’s Battell presented Midofficials, who recently with a clearance of 21 el to be built ganizers bracing for a project that ers Block, a histo ric feet ackn dleb orbuild the inste ury owle 23.5 ing complex that faces Mer ad of tours, officials with -foot standard dge will brin a revised budg chant Row noise, dust, g and timetable base et and construction nally been mandate that had origi- and an parking prob de- numerous busi nesses, offic hosts d for doub lems apar abundance now deemed d on project designs stack rail cars. of artificial tments. As le- to their es and of area. light ing, 60-percent While the complete. approximatelyWednesday mornSome of thos ment of the most disruptive seg60 people ties to the e to be project affec with the project have sent a affected by land’s lettedowntown had signed ting downletter to Gov Peter Shum Hir, whic . lin, urging “As of toda h in part states: THE DETERIO him to ask y, with 60-p ercent dlebury becomesRATION OF the two (See Bridges, railroad brid more app project is Page 20A) aren slate ges

2015

20,000 mercury-containing

Holy days

Free throws with 1.1 seco decided Mo nds left nda OV and MU y’s game between HS. See Pag e 1B.

2009

2009

tires last year.

We performed countless: - Oil Changes - Inspections - Brake Repairs - Tune-ups - Alignments

And muCh more!

But the number we care about most is

County Tire Center 33 Seymour Street, Middlebury 388-7620 or 1-800-794-7620 www.countytirecenter.com

TOP 10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016 — PAGE 21

Drivers under the influence strike and kill locals riding bicycles ADDISON COUNTY — A series of bike fatalities ews CREWS Rescue Cr RESCUE rocked the Champlain Valley this spring, TY N U prompting public outcry O ADDISON C and discussion around sharing the region’s scenic roads. llot? g or vote by ba tin ee m wn To : On April 14, Starksboro s School board call Middlebury resident ide meeting to dec Kelly Boe was stuck and killed by a car while cycling on Hamilton U wS Larger AN towns set tax Road in Weybridge rates; schools with his wife. Boe, who behind hikes worked as the manager of Middlebury College’s se ca Driver in bike UI D r central heating plant, fo ly cited on rged with homicide Gonyeau not cha was transported to Porter Hospital by Middlebury Regional EMS, where he was pronounced deceased.

He was 55.

State police said the car’s driver, 27year old Nathan ‘Greater Tuna’ Dearing, agreed to m ra og pr Kids in summer nate the submit to a breath do s, en ick ch way raise od shelf By the test at the scene, meat to HOPE fo which measured his Index blood-alcohol level at 0.111 percent, according to court records. Dearing, a Middlebury

A Salute

to Addiso

Squad leader

reflects on

s of service

five decade

a then it was course now,three of those,” essentials I took and lot of county 45-hour course, KIRKALDY native and he said. “I took a a pile of certifi

By ANDY I have — Orwell exactly ORWELL Louis Hall can’t state courses.just into training.” was Orwell was dairy farmerhe ended up on the years cates. I joined, the departmentbuild48 As Hall recall how Fire Department from a two-bay home busy moving to its current Volunteer how I got ing in the village on Route 73 just ago. village. joined don’t remember “I really Hall, now 71. “I east of the department said The started,” two I don’t then owned and in ’67, andif some- “I figured down as trucks, one 15old. remember me. It body asked of those (stepping was the one 19 years departNow, the wasn’t one I had a fire chief) operates to do, ment things where all my best thing sure I seven trucks out of burning desire not joined.” life. I just who but I’m to.” a twice-expanded on a site But Hall, as the facility the really wanted Hall it shares with stepped down chief — Louis highway town’s fire department January this past building, years servdepartment. after 37 post, does look at our new quickly.

“Over time, new trucks, ing in that up the ranks departnew equipment,” recall movinghe was the fire 1972 two expansions, selectand By 1969, rescue vehicles, “The town in 1971 officer, in Hall said, adding, voters have been ment’s secretary, the town and in as its training and served trustee, board us.” a he Chairman became volunteer very generous to 1972 he Selectboard department’s said the for the Orwell 1978 the elected him chief that “Ted” Simmons has earned members of Roland times. first of many one of the foundersonce fire department somesaid Hall, also generosity. department needsdoesn’t Rescue Squad, the fire “The fire the Orwell a member of it. The town in. they get 7) he became he plunged right right thing, (See Hall, Page department I kind of jumpedit’s the “I guess because I took, into things,

will perform A dozen musicians y composer lebur work by a Midd Page 3A. this Friday. See

Little League 9The Mount Abe all-stars reached and 10-year-old See Page 1B. a tournament final.

n County

July 2015

Orwell Rescue

Peace songs

Tourney run

those who resLearn more about g emergencies pond and help durinn inside. in our special sectio

with d the call afield Rivers answere city, further with a patient.” for workis very helpful VARS around which requirements Indeed, the be surprising. a

BROWN to do VARS can it. I’ll be

By JOSEPH the — “I miss Rivers, ing with have to learn how “We VERGENNESit,” said Ann Rivers, describing to monimiss two decades 12-lead,” said electrodes a honest: I more than on the of using would do who devotedher community “When process heart. “You send it right and tor a patient’s it to servingArea Rescue Squad. somebody could read 12-lead on Vergennes I miss it.” and they more go, VARS this the hospital would add the sirens retired from spending to And each year they years …

Rivers, 66, and on.” ambuafter 21 and out of kinds and more interest in medicinea very past April hours in all from Rivers’ countless helping people in developed rescue work lances and situations. spend age.

I took a nursof emergencytime to travel and 66, early high school, “Back in to go to nursing school,” “But it’s stuff,” Rivers, then doing fun ing program native said. “And I’ve more time interview.

Rivers, I got married. like said in a recentyears with VARS, VARS, the Williston EMT for quite when I graduatedto do something road, In those 21 an advanced change across the always wanted who was rescue squad my neighbor in skill that. And me involved in rescue.” has seen thein terms of rigor and got spends more a bit, both she actually,sort of person who 12) intense,” The Page level. medigetting more (See Rivers, “Now it’s always adding on for, said. “They’rehave to go to school you cine that

which vehicle, to beFirst Response respond Squad’s Orwell’s squad Kirkaldy Rescue of 1973. back in photo/Andy members the Orwell board ofEMS. The dozen squad founders Independent a dozen on the runningRegional STANDS Middlebury who was among LOUIS HALL used from said Hall, calls a year, was purchased and 80 tween 70

A special

publication

of The Addison

Independen

t

ont

Vol. 69 No. 30

T

INDEPENDEN Middlebury, Verm



Thursday, July

Pages 23, 2015  50

a

75¢

it that they can’t make of at ple complain meeting because l year, residents to vote at a town 2015-2016 schoo g on Feb. 28 raised work or family obligations. by what is called that voting at the polls — provides the the town meetin be given the opapproved it, then “People should Australian bal“Australian ballot” discussion and that figure and ing plan was revotity to vote by best forum for publicensuring a bud- approved spend meeting, where a portun entational,” Lestown lot; it’s more repres participation while the community’s ed at a May was approved. coe said this week. towns in the Adget that matches with its desire for third figure an independent PHREE Among the five Donna Lescoe, ial resources Union, resiBy GAEN MUR east Supervisory and Starksboro — Starksboro financ ence in education. business owner STARKSBORO te the dison North boro and Lincoln still excell on g which circula g, to meetin meetin l town dent, led the drive 4 special meet- only Starks ntary school budgets The special will hold a specia decide whether of a citizen pethe Aug. to e eleme Tuesday, Aug. 4, d by which vot- came as the result several months petition for she hoped that voting approv a vote at annual town meeth after said metho She throug the comes e ing. in chang tition, 16A) to nPage school spending by Australian ballot would result Robinson Eleme (See Starksboro, peoof tumult over ers approve the budget.

The school board more voices being heard. Some l the tary School annua method — vot- in Starksboro. ing figure for At issue is which warned a spend town meeting or ing in person at

ALDY tBy ANDY KIRK — The Depar VERGENNES release late last ment of Education’s tead education week of final homes on Northwest Addis tax rates allowed towns to begin Supervisory Unionl tax rates, which setting their overal burgh and Verin Addison, Ferrissed by a range of gennes have increa on to 6.2 percent 3.2 percent in Addis in Ferrisburgh. increases are Underlying those hikes that were l tax residential schoo in en 6.4 percent in a range betwe percent in Ver7.1 Ferrisburgh and gennes. collected by Most of the money bills goes to’ tax U each of the towns ANwS the three ward supporting ls and Vergennes elementary schoo l.

Union High Schoo Panton and Selectboards in at rates their final Waltham will set August, according meetings in early towns. to officials in those rates in Addison, Non-residential not Vergennes did Ferrisburgh and of increases. In see the same level rate non-residential fact, Addison’s irds of a penny. decreased by two-th burgh and VerThose rates in Ferrisand 1.8 percent, 2.5 gennes rose by respectively. l tax rates in Residential schoo , which all set tax those three towns days, rose by berates in the past few Ferrisburgh and in tween 7.57 cents on.

9.48 cents in Addis increases transTaken alone, those $151 and $190 late to between abouton a $200,000 of additional taxes home. calculations asHowever, those y wners do not qualif sume the homeo of vity provisions for income sensiti financing law. tion Vermont’s educa data, in 2014 According to state y Count Addison there were 6,918 ed adjustments residents who receivbills; the adjusttax to their property $1,556. Typically, ments averaged in wners of homeo about two-thirds inbased on their most towns pay 13A) (See ANwSU, Page

on County next to Addis burgh, standingAddison County Superior EAU OF Ferris HOLLY GONY Jim Gratton, is arraigned in innocent to driving under ed Public Defenderafternoon. Gonyeau plead Ferrisburgh that left a bicynt in Court Monday a June 17 accide Press during nce /Burlington Free the influe Glenn Russell Pool photo by clist dead.

by Gonyeau’s car. after being struck documents, Gocourt ALDY

By ANDY KIRK — Holly Go- According to alcohol content at the MIDDLEBURY burgh pleaded nyeau’s bloodhours 0.123, and two nyeau, 36, of Ferrisin Addison Su- site tested at tiary test read 0.087. ay innocent on Mond nal Division in later her eviden BAC limit for drivperior Court’s Crimi g under the in- Vermont’s legal is 0.08. ing Middlebury to drivindurCounty on Addis l alcoho of fluence Attornt is Deputy State’s ing the June 17 accide of “Until there Perkett life ney Christopher ed that claimed the bush an ultimate said evidence gather State a cyclist on Green burgh. sentence by the Vermont Road in Ferris reconcyclist decision, it’s Police accident an Family of the and did an open case. struction team by wonder why she med perfor y severe autops an Chief not face more have We have the Office of the supcharges that could ho- obligation, Medical Examiner that lar keep l included vehicu and we’l ported the theory micide. turned that had wing on follo the victim That DUI charge are of into the middl was obligation, to in which Gonyeau Greenbush Road car, a maxi- keep searching raigned carries front of Gonyeau’s ly of two for the truth.” mum penalty that probab and a — Deputy an action accident. years in prison the was caused au ney the $750 fine. Gonye ions State’s Attor “The report from n tt condit Perke with r ed tophe releas reconstructio crash ing to Chris clear including report and ed team was very not court when requir ody had been drinkthat even if someb of alcohol, the refraining from led court date the use ing. The next schedu 24 status con- impaired by to have occurred, Aug. accident was likely l did not play a for the case is an to court records. alcoho ference, according an, 60, of Char- simply that take that very seriWorkshop Dr. Kenneth Najari ride on Green- factor, and we ebury Actors features from the Middl bike ously,” Perkett said. lotte was on a rehearse a scene black box theater. The showFor a pre16A) esday, June 17. r A.R.T. and Steve Small Tuna.

(See Gonyeau, Page bush Road on Wedn 6 p.m. that day ERNY, FRONT, the Hannaford Career Cente of the tiny Texas town of nts HARRY MCEN rent Campbell ter Tuna” in each, all reside He died just before ction of “Grea Independent photo/T 10 characters

produ erny playing Small and McEnphotos see Page 17A. view and more

the Vermont Fisheries staff from tment are the food shelf.”

Depar school kids and the Career Cen- Fish & Wildlife total of 17 lake INSON This past spring class reporting that a

By DIANA WILK — Despite living nable Agriculture ted during reMIDDLEBURY y pro- ter’s Sustai birds. Once classes end- sturgeon were collec lturall agricu most the d Page 13A) ntary in one of the in hatche (See By the way, in the state, one er break, the eleme rs at ductive counties y children is food ed for summ school-age campe five Addison Count to Hunger Free and middle Elementary School’s ing Mary Hogan insecure, accord assistia A. Hannaford r program began Vermont. The Patric ebury has or- MiddSumme ns.

Middl care of the chicke g to in r the with Cente r ing Caree been electin youngsters to help ................ 6A-7A The campers have us off Mainelli ganized dozens of that.

Obituaries ..........

Camp ............... 5B-9B do something about r this month will visit the North six hours a week to Classifieds .......... .............. 6B-7B Road for about The Career Cente pastureService Directory .............. 12A 150 chickens, raised feed, water and move the ty. provide almost Entertainment .......... ........ 8A-9A students, to a local raised chickens around the proper dar Calen a and in part by the unity er dwork Comm Majzl the groun alongside ............ 1B-3B food shelf — laying ive to provide They work Sports .................... initiat . for a community n and produce to farm intern r additionally The Career Cente raises pigs healthy, local protei Addison Counand e of grows vegetables sheep. the food-insecur ly, ty. t,” and, most recent the animals here,” projec fold threehelp “I like to “It’s really a Center an 11-year-old Majzler, Career Jordyn Bessette, 18A) er, 10-year-old said Dave er. “It involves the el- said ealier this summ (See Chickens, Page high Career Center ns later were slaughtered and farm manag l campers, the the Hannaford ementary schoo birds. The chicke being raised at

THE chickens pasture-raised AFTER FEEDING er Kylee Gero observes the camp MiddSummer given to a local food shelf. the meat will be

Photo by Diana

Wilkinson

resident, pleaded innocent in Addison Superior Court, criminal division, to a felony count of driving under the influence with death resulting, and a misdemeanor count of driving with a suspended license for the fifth time. He faces up to 17 years in prison on the criminal charges and additional time on a separate, violation of parole offense. His extensive criminal record includes a felony larceny and several misdemeanor offenses, including two drunken driving offenses, unlawful trespassing, careless and negligent driving, speeding, retail theft and a Department of Fish & Wildlife violation. His record indicates that he was cited for driving with a suspended license three times in 2015 alone.

Just 12 days later, a crash on Route 116 in Hinesburg resulted in the death of two local residents. Police estimated 17-year old Joseph Marshall was driving close to 80 miles-per-hour when he struck cyclist Richard Tom before losing control of his own car and crashing. Hinesburg police say Marshall had been repeatedly warned about driving with excess speed.

A report later determined Marshall was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash.

In May, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, published a report, which

sought to identify the state’s most popular roads among cyclists for recreation, leisure, running errands or commuting to work or school. Cyclists around Vermont provided comment on the 2,426 miles of state roads classified by visitors as “highly desirable,” “moderately desirable,” or “least desirable. ” The report is important because it sets the stage for future bike-related infrastructure projects on Vermont roadways.

On June 17, a Charlotte man who was biking in Ferrisburgh was killed when he was struck by a car driven by a woman who was charged with drunk driving. Holly Gonyeau, 36 was ultimately not charged in the death of Dr. Kenneth E. Najarian, 60, after investigation found he had attempted a U-turn in the path of Gonyeau’s car, and was at fault in the accident. Gonyeau’s roadside blood-alcohol contest read 0.123.

Some questioned whether the fact that Gonyeau is married to a Williston police sergeant influenced the investigation, but county law enforcement officials said that connection is irrelevant. Goneyeau pleaded no contest to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol and was sentenced to a year’s probation and 80 days of community service in Addison County.

PAGE 22 — 2015

TOP 10 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016

2015 TOP 10 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016 — PAGE 23

Top 10 photos

by Trent Campbell

FACES EMERGED AS the theme for the year when searching for favorite photos last week. My picks for the year include, clockwise from top left: Dux the Balloon Man entertaining the crowds at the annual Vermont Chili Festival in March; Addy Parsons and her fall yearling heifer preparing to show at Field Days in August (I know you can’t see their faces, but the image struck me as so evocative that you almost can see them); Brooke Tupper armwrestling her way to a win during competition at Field Days in August; Pippa Amidon posing for the cover of our annual Babies & Families section in July; campers charging a battlefield during the WIllowell Foundation’s Lord of the Rings Camp in Monkton in July; Lucy Goetz is happy with her return during Middlebury’s “Little Aces” tennis camp; children splashing in a foam pool created by the Vergennes Fire Department during Vergennes Day festivities in August; Shoreham Elementary School fifth- and sixth-graders getting tangled up during a movement, dance and acting workshop in June; Shoreham Elementary School students Sarah Well, Shelby Bilodeau, Seaver Cadoret, Addie Hyjek and Taryn Burns releasing a monarch butterfly that was raised in their classroom; and Ferrisburgh Central School fifth-grader Anna Carr working on a bamboo and rattan lantern during a workshop with artist-in-residence Gowri Savoor in early March.

PAGE 24 — TOP

10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016

Big power lines proposed for Addison County Vermont continued to figure prominently as a pathway for proposed large-scale energy transmission projects moving renewable energy from Canada and northern New York toward large markets in southern New England. Two proposed projects, in particular, would affect Addison County.

In April, the Independent reported on the $1.2 billion New England Clean Power Link, proposed by TDI New England. The Clean Power Link would transmit 1,000 megawatts of wind and hydro power from the Canadian border to a transfer station at Ludlow. Ninety-eight miles would be buried under Lake Champlain, including a stretch running near Ferrisburgh and Panton and then hugging the shorelines of Addison, Bridport, Shoreham and Orwell. The Clean Power Link would veer onto land south of Addison County, in Benson. The Addison County town wondered if they could charge property tax on the power line.

In July, TDI New England agreed to pay the state $720 million over the expected 40-year life of the project, including $261 million for Lake Champlain cleanup and restoration. The agreement would also give the state the option of purchasing 200 megawatts of power in the future. At year’s end, TDI New England’s petition for a permit to build the power line was still pending.

In August, TDI competitor Anbaric Transmission, backed by investor National Grid, proposed a similar project, the Vermont Green Line, which would tie onto the grid in Addison County.

The proposed Vermont Green Line would move 400 megawatts of wind and hydropower by underground cable from near Plattsburgh, N.Y., to a converter station in New Haven,

where a VELCO substation is the northern terminus of VELCO’s 345 kV transmission lines.

As currently proposed, the renewable energy — roughly equivalent to two-thirds of the power generated by the now shuttered Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant — would be sold to Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

The line would go under Lake Champlain to Kingsland Bay in Ferrisburgh and run underground along roadways to Route 7, then continue south through Waltham into New Haven.

The New Haven converter station would be as large as a football field and five stories high. The proposed five-acre site is an L-shaped piece of land near the village and directly west of the VELCO substation. In addition to the converter station the compound would include storage and administration buildings.

Since August, the VGL developers have been actively wooing the three Addison County towns. New Haven has raised the most resistance and continues to be the hardest sell.

In Ferrisburgh, VGL developers are estimating nine miles of power line would generate about $150,000 in local property taxes and $900,000 in state school tax revenue. In New Haven, they said the estimated $130 million converter station would generate roughly $300,000 in local property taxes and $2.3 million in state school tax revenue.

In November, VGL developers considerably sweetened the deal for both Ferrisburgh and New Haven. In addition to tax revenue, the latest offers are $350,000 a year to Ferrisburgh for

For 45 years, the United Way of Addison County has taken a leadership role in the area, bringing people and resources together to address community needs.

Section C

Area High School MUHS MAUHS OVUHS VUHS

FALL 2015

tst sporRepor FEATURING

• pictures • team rosters • schedules

Sports Report

and stories

Bullet-proof

Find our comprehensive look at all the athletic teams at the four local high schools in Section C.

Parents sue

The Otter Valley football team crunched BFA-Fairfax in a D-III title game rematch. See Page 1B.

Milton schools face a lawsuit over hazing that led to the suicide of a 17-yeard-old student. See Page 13A.

ADDISON COUNTY 20 years, including for town rights of way, and roughly $700,000 a year for 20 years to New Haven for purchasGrowth sought in county’s ing town rights of way and hosting school meal sites Mediator Group suggests following Addison tells embattled Northeast lead the converter station.

ANeSU to go for training The VGL developers have offered additional enticements to New HaPower line questions ven, including up to remain unanswered Will VELCO lines $3 million for a new require upgrade? fire station.

In Waltham, where the VGL involves just 1 mile under Route 7, the selectboard recommended that the town supClass of 2028 port the project. In Ferrisburgh, the seNew film highlights locals’ role in lectboard appointed nation’s move to same-sex marriage a committee to negotiate a memorandum of understanding.

“Hopefully, they understand we are not going to roll over and show Bristol’s teal ribbons them our soft side,” said Ferrispro burgh selectboard Chairman Steve By the way of mote awareness a ‘silent disease’ Gutowski.

For its part, New Haven hired Index Montpelier attorney Richard Saudek, who has successfully represented a number of towns in energy-related lawsuits and negotiations, and appointed two memthey bers of the selectboard to be the point persons. planned to assess the town’s wishes, includAs the year drew to a close, the New Haven ing whether they would take the matter to a selectboard organized a town meeting-style in- vote. formational meeting that drew more than 100 At year’s end, negotiations were still in participants, who peppered VGL representatives progress and no decision had been made as to with questions for over two hours. New Haven whether New Haven residents would get a diresidents also asked selectboard members how rect vote on the issue.

ADDISONINDEPENDENT

Vol. 69 No. 37

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont



boro, Bristol Elementary and Mount

By JOHN FLOWERS Abraham Union High School.

BRISTOL — Three Addison school in the state. tol and Robinson elementary BrisMoira Cook, director schools Northeast Supervisory Union dlebury district office of the Mid- are offering hot meals in conjuncschools have become the of the Vermont tion with after-schoo first in the Department l programming, of Health, confirmed on while county to offer three meals Mount Abe is providing cold a day to Tuesday that after-school meals are food their students, a service that packed in a bag for students a promi- being offered on in addition to free- and the nent anti-hunger organizatio go to sporting activities, she n would reduced-price said. breakfasts like to see extended to every Meanwhile, a statewide nonprofit public at Robinson Elementaryand lunches in Starks- called Hunger Free Vermont (HFV)

Thursday, September 10,

2015  44 Pages

is urging all schools to follow Representatives of HFV told suit. members of the Hunger Council of Addison County on Tuesday that goal is to see children have their access to good, nutritional food throughout the day while at school, realizing that some of these children go home empty refrigerators and cupboards.to (See Meals, Page 7A)

75¢

By GAEN MURPHREE BRISTOL — A federal media- warm up the cool relationship among the parties. tor has recommended that the suThe Addison Northeast Superviperintendent of the Bristol-area sory Union Executive Committee schools, the teachers in those and the Addison Northeast Eduschools, administrators and school cation Association boards take part in training teachers union to (See ANeSU, Page 7A)

that carry this line, which passes through four Addison County towns — Leicester, Salisbury, Middlebury and New Haven — were erected

By GAEN MURPHREE just a decade ago.

NEW HAVEN — The tidy yellow Wakefield, Mass.-based house in mint condition has Anbaric stood un- is proposing to lay 60 miles of sold since first constructed in 2005. from upstate New York, under cable “Within months of Lake Champlain, and into when we broke ground, New “What Haven along exthey broke ground,” our own said contractor Ken internal analysis isting roadways, all underground. The power Ruddy of Fiddlehead has shown is line would come above Construction, remem- that there’s ground at the proposed bering when VELCO new converter station dug in on its 2006 up- adequate head room just west on grade to the New Haof the VELthe CO substation. Anbaric ven to West Rutland existing grid proposes to lay two electric power lines. to handle our cables capable of carryFor 10 years the flows without ing 400 MW each, but yellow cape on Town triggering major to build a converter Hill Road in New Hastation to handle just 400 ven has sat, sometimes (power line) MW and apply for perrented but largely un- upgrades.” occupied, in the shad— Anbaric’s mits to onboard the adow of the 90-foot towBryan Sanderson ditional 400 MW later.

Anbaric calls the ers that carry VELCO’s project the Vermont 345 kV transmission lines across Ad- Green Line (VGL) because it would dison County. deliver electricity generated A new proposal by Anbaric from Trans- renewable wind and hydro sources mission to add 400–800 MW of pow- in upstate New York er to the transmission lines to customers has some in Massachusetts, Connecticut and wondering if those 345 kV transmis- Rhode Island. sion lines will have to be KINDERGARTNERS CARTER upgraded VELCO’s 2006 upgrade again. The 70- to 100-foot week of school. Area students BEAN and Becka Seeley play before left Adthe start of the day at poles were back in school on (See VELCO, Page 14A) Mary Hogan Elementar Aug. 26. y School during the first Independent photo/Trent

By ANDY KIRKALDY BURLINGTON — On Saturday evening in Burlington a film made by Middlebury resident will make a former its Vermont premiere, a documentary that, in part, highlights Middlebury’s pivotal role in making same-sex marriage the law of the land.

“The State of Marriage,” written and directed by former Vermont radio journalist Jeffrey Kaufman, brings to life the story of how Middlebury lawyers “THE STATE OF Marriage,” Beth Robinson a film produced by former and Susan Murray worked Kaufman, will premiere with Middlebury resident Jeffrey setts attorney Mary Bonauto MassachuPerforming Arts Center. in Burlington Saturday night at the Main Street to develop a Landing and strategy that, according to Kaufman, sucCourtesy photo ceeded on a nationwide basis.

The second annual Food for Fuel Aid free lunch will be held By GAEN MURPHREE on the Vergennes City Green on BRISTOL — Passersby might Saturday, Sept. 12, from be wondering about the 40 or 11 so tealto 1 p.m. The event is put a.m. on by colored ribbons hanging from lamp(See By the way, Page 6A) posts all around the Bristol village center. September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the Turn the Towns Teal campaign aims to save women’s lives by “tealing” Obituaries ................................ towns in all 50 states — 6A and Classifieds .......................

7B-11B ing awareness of the disease raisService Directory .............. and its 8B-9B symptoms.

Entertainment ........................

12A Ribbons (biodegradable and Community Calendar ...... 8A-10A made in the USA) stay up for all Sports ................................ of 1B-4B tember and are then removed. Sep“It’s a really simple process,” said Hinesburg resident Melody Danaher, who launched Vermont’s first Turn the Towns Teal campaign in Charlotte and Hinesburg in 2013 and has

“One of the brilliant things Susan and Beth did in Vermont early, early on, in the mid-1990s, is they realized this had to be not just a legal case, not just a political case, but a case that really brought it to the people and really created a community conversation and made it about who these people are and how they are our and why they deserve equal neighbors protection,” said Kaufman in a recent interview with the Independent.

“And that conversation sparked.

It really spread to the whole country,” added Kaufman, now a California documentary filmmaker. “That process that they invented

and was used state by state all around the country really started in Vermont.”

Kaufman, 60, produced the film with his partner, Marcia Ross.

They have seen the film open to acclaim.

In July, Entertainment Weekly called it one of the “Top 20 Pop Culture Moments in Hollywood’s Road to Marriage Equality,” and earlier this year, the Hollywood Reporter’s review of the movie concluded: “Kaufman and his editor, Asher Bingham, make it a suspenseful nail-biter right up to the feel-good ending.

Full of illuminating insights into the U.S. political and (See Film, Page 16A)

been expanding town by town every year since. “You get permission from the town, you tie the bows, you them, they’re up for the monthhang and then you take them down.”

Each teal ribbon, supplied by the National Turn the Towns Teal nization, carries information orgaal slogans, such as “Know the Symptoms” and “The Silent Disease.” Additional information about the disease and how to recognize symptoms is supplied through posters in store windows and symptom cards available on store counters.

“It’s a great way to increase awareness of the symptoms,” said Bristol volunteer Terry MastersonSpear.

“Even just in the process of putting TEAL RIBBONS LINE the streets of Bristol as part (See Ribbons, Page 16A) awareness of ovarian of the national “Turn the cancer and its symptoms.

Towns Teal” campaign

to build

Independent photo/Trent

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TOP 10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016 — PAGE 25

Juvenile and drug cases flood an overwhelmed justice system Gov. Peter Shumlin shined a bright spotlight on the drug addiction problem r Fast and fa in January of 2014 and, with a lot of help Burn ban from many other advocates for those addicts, began to mobilize Vermonters to UNTY O help solve the problem. But in 2015 it C N O ADDIS was clear that the opiate crisis is still ongoing. Drug addiction is still messing stemspike y s rt up previously promising young lives, u o c to d s flood use caseloa enilesaycopaiatse adediction, troubled families ca causing heartache and fear in many, v u J gets fail, County officials many Vermont families, and mounting VUHS budse vote one in clo untold costs to the economy.

The amount of disruption that drugs is causing was particularly h rg Ferrisbu clear to those who come in contact backs FCS with the courts. spendingarticle Budget, second ote Starksboro Members of the Addison County s ported in rev nt sup de si re give OK to judiciary last spring were warning an pl school that a dramatic surge in the number of juvenile cases is stretching court staff to the limit and in some cases deferring the legal process for adult defendants whose cases must, by state law, take a backseat to justice for young victims and ica bola in ArrafrLeone E defendants. Local judges, proses le tt a b Sie iliency in sician Local phyzye recounts tales of death and res cutors, attorneys and child advowa -S Andersson cates agree the surge in cases — involving neglected, abused and delinquent children, as well as those who court officials deem verty Fighting po s p el h necessary to remove from their ez ar Author Alv an girls homes — can at least in part be Dominic erflies tt become bu attributed to the growing opiBy the way ate addiction problem in the state.

Giving Index Addison County Deputy Back State’s Attorney Chris Perkett explained that cases of child neglect are the primary reason that courts are becoms

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control. nd parental truant or beyoncy. These are children urces to do • Delinque accused of a criminal enough reso to do,” been what we need County who have ison those who Add as ntal Rights act. said well Pare as on of nec’s Attorney • Terminati s involve removing t officials deem Deputy State FLOWERS case cusbers of courry to remove from

By JOHN Chris Perkett.t system (TPR). Such his or her parents’ Y — Mem essa can at onfrom MIDDLEBUR nty judiciary are The cour homes — s a child n the parents have dem for Addison Cou atic surge in the their in part be attributed juvenile case whe could the to care ks that tody brea unfit one dram least le, a adories: that they are can then be put A second artic effect if the first warning that nile cases is stretch- to the growing opiate into three categ In strated child the juve taken number of limit and in problem in • Children rvision the child. The KIRKALDY Addison have only passed, would have

By ANDY tion. t staff to the the legal pro- diction the deaths last the Supe had — , adop cour into le of for 2014 ing artic back NES up Need state and dar year Union ont deferring VERGEN $156,000 These are During calen State Attorney’s some cases defendants whose cas- year of two Verm Supervisory VUHS added that d by 843(CHINS). t children ding. It faile Northwest County eir abusive a backseat cess for adul day sent two VUHS spen percent. cases involving 18) who Addison 114 new petitions for children unde state law, take 0 voters on Tues down to defeat for PERKETT es must, by young victims and de- circumstances.

Canning 556, or 60-4 les 18A) (younger than neglected office filed ndent JoAn , one by a budget artic niles, Page ng there ce for or arrinte 2015 Juve ed hopi justi nd in Supe to (See abus just seco time been “I’m are the second by a land- said the presence of the d by the have either nts, or who children that ors, attorfendants. in and one can’t move by their parent or pare aren’t more t — adde es, prosecut close marg because we on the ballo Local judg advocates agree the meeting get harmed want, or we don’t have osal to ticle S board in a March t have child slide. ectprop and negl on neys milli as fast as we which VUHsurprise move — migh ck, s — involving A $10.31 school, and surge in case delinquent children, in a et setba and to the budg fund the high from the budget deed, abused contributed Page 7A) cut $156,000 n Meeting Day, lost (See VUHS, feated on Tow -48.4 percent.

51.6 722-676 or

DESPART than 200

By ZACH — More ed the auBRISTOL residents packham Union Starksboro Mount Abra ditorium at on Saturday morning ol High Scho meeting to reconsider for a special Robinson Elementary . et budg in February the rs approved School vote than an hour of debate, After more approved a spending e those residentslarger than the figur plan that was ed for the Feb. 28 warn than the originally ting, but less annual mee been approved at that had that figure ting.

February mee meeting was promptto reconThe special ens’ petition ed by a citiz e approved Feb. 28. a sider the figur citizens can force Per state law, eration with a pensid budget reco the signatures of at ing tition bear ent of voters. 142-65 apperc 5 least a tally of 00 in the Voters by ding $2,925,0 proved spen begins July 1, a sum that board. That fiscal year the school offered by $80,000 less than the t rs approved sum is abou budget vote meeting $3,005,169 n annual inso Rob ,000 more at the about $115 Feb. 28, and ding plan originally than the spenthe Feb. 28 meeting warned for 09). than 09,7 more ($2,8 increase is “We feel the can afford, and that’s ity the commun to amend it,” school like why we’d nt said in exLouis duPo dance why board chair those in atten less than plaining to asking for the board was approved. was originally ng to the business Before getti budget total, votg the of amendin to consider whether to ers first had in the first place. That it reconsider ed, 122-70. article pass ion budget passed in ding inThe $3 mill sented a spen February repre 16A) ksboro, Page Star (See

KIRKALDYIn a second

By ANDY H — FERRISBURGFerrisburgh Central on a 2015 vote et, Ferrisburgh voters spending School budg approved two02 for the on Tuesday $3,592,4 ing lt articles total . The resu school year t 2 percent 2015-2016 ase of abou will be an incre spending.

FCS s over current a second Vergenne Because et proposal School budg 722-676, High n Unio on Tuesday, rgh, the isbu was defeated ort in Ferr despite supp Tuesday’s vote is difof ct tax impa ss. rvisory ficult to asse hwest Supe Addison Northad estimated passials on VUHS Union offic $10.31 milli would triging both a FCS budget plan and the increase in the Ferristax rate. ger a 7-cent ential school 4.5 percent burgh resid of about That increase passed would have ets if both budg ’s homestead school town moved the 3. $1.6 med a tax rate to ate also assu But that estim in the statewide ase two-cent increthe Legislature is now Leone. photo Courtesy t in Sierra time spen tax rate, and that would not increase her recent ng plan a duri nts wide homeeyeing Ebola patie 98-cent state s up to treat the current Local lawmakers last wayze gear stead rate. situation in Montpelier Andersson-S TOR JEAN URY DOC week said the.

MIDDLEB fluid ins Ferrisburgh rema r article The majo on Tuesday was a ed voters back budget proposal. The t Anders$3,587,202 234 in favor, or abou ral years ago. buried seve unfathomable,” Dr. Jean 346ran r-old tally “It is just is an eight-yea her girl’s suffering.

60-40 percent.also supported a sepa said of the but a chapter in the latest group with son-Swayze is Among this ndewah. She enters ice $5,200 Residents ndewah’s storyersson-Swayze’s serv erving a are confirmed ed N’ya m pres N’ya nam who le girl of 303t Cennext r, all of And ram, rate artic FLOWERS scorching day parents and a siste ndewah spends the ng six-week saga Lunsar Ebola Treatmen ician hment prog

By JOHN Spanish enric52-48 percent.

Y — Another a Leone, Ebola. N’ya family phys g fever, jarribe- in Sierra Leone’s MIDDLEBURcan Republic of Sierr or about Middlebury ring patients ear, articles is and to have days battling a ragin 276, the pain two idity se e re Afri t hum thos whe inten suffe ter, y with several in the Wes blood, and The total of 02 spending plan. for scores of air hangs heav s of vomiting .

92,4 helped care exwhere the p of spell odds the new $3,5 . and sister ayze’s first beating the rgh, Page 16A) the latest grou lier this year her parents death.

Andersson-Sw (See Ferrisbu of misery for Ebola Treatment fore reward is watching This was not Ebola, Page 17A) Her ar Another day has (See into the Luns N’yandewah patients filing se, die. nd time that l parents were vicious disea is the seco gica It the biolo Center. with her cenflagged orphaned; ’ll leave the For those ren. been chance they t child ercen ’re there’s a 60-p — especially if they bag ter in a body

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ing overloaded. Neglect, Perkett said, can come in the form of a drug-addicted parent who leaves his or child at home to go out and meet with a dealer, and get high. It can be parents who drive under the influence of drugs with their children in the vehicle.

Or it can be parents who have sub-standard housing (such as no heat during the winter) and are unwilling to accept resources to fix the problem.

Ten years ago, the Addison County Courthouse reserved one morning per week for juvenile cases. Now it is not uncommon for more than double that amount. What that means is that prosecutors have less time to work on adult criminal cases, which slows down the process for those defendants In Middlebury the Department for Children and Families saw calls about child neglect rise from 607 in 2012 to 761 in 2014.

The local DCF director attributed the surge in cases, in part, to the growing opiate addiction problem in the Green Mountain State.

There were efforts to stem this scourge in 2015.

Bristol’s Bob Donnis and other members of the Addison County Opiate Treatment Committee last summer launched a new website that will give people the information they need to steer away from drug abuse, or get help if they are already in the throes of addiction. The site — www.addictionhelpvt. com — is a clearinghouse of information for those seeking information on drug education and prevention, treatment and long-term recovery.

Its content includes information and input from the Vermont Department of Health, Counseling Service of Addison County, Turning Point Center of Addison County, area physicians and other entities that assist people struggling with opiate addiction. The United Way of Addison County took a lead role in organizing the Addison County Opiate Treatment Committee.

And late in the year Middlebury police and some local human services organizations were teaming up on a new program through which drug addicts are invited to voluntarily turn in their drugs without fear of facing criminal charges, providing they agree to be steered toward recovery programs and services.

Middlebury police’s adoption of the program comes on the heels of its decision this past summer to install a drug disposal bin within its headquarters off Seymour Street.

People can drop their unused prescription medications and other drugs into the bin, no questions asked, around the clock. By November, the bin had been emptied several times.

“We look at (drug) addiction the same way people are addicted to tobacco, to alcohol or whatever it happens to be,” said Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley. “We need to deal with it as a health issue and not so much as a criminal issue.

“If someone is in crisis and comes to us for help, we are going to help them,” Hanley added. “No longer will it be, ‘Let someone else deal with it.’”

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PAGE 26 — TOP

10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016

New leaders take charge at Middlebury College & Porter Hospital Addison County’s two largest institutions and employers welcomed new top leadership this year. Laurie Patton succeeded Ron Liebowitz as Middlebury College’s 17th president and Lynn Boggs took the helm of Porter Medical Center as the president and CEO, following the retirement of James Daily.

At Middlebury College, Liebowitz finished his 11th year as president of the institution at the end of June. Liebowitz is credited with leading the college through a recession and, despite that economic downturn, seeing its endowment grow from $665 million in 2004 to more than $1 billion this year; acquiring the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2010; and committing in 2007 to making the college campus carbon-neutral by 2016. Liebowitz also oversaw several collaborations between the college and the town including the Cross Street Bridge, the municipal building and recreation facility now under construction, the purchase and demolition of the former Lazarus building at 20 Main St. that will lead to a wider Printer’s Alley, the gift of land off Bakery Lane that the town will use for an as-yet undefined economic development initiative, and donations of funds and student talent to Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater.

After leaving Middlebury, Liebowitz has accepted the position of president of Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass. He begins work in July 2016.

In July, Middlebury College welcomed Laurie Patton as the first woman president in the institution’s 216-year history. Patton comes to Middlebury from Duke University in Durham, N.C., where she was a professor of religion and a dean who oversaw a $435 million fundraising campaign.

At Duke, Patton oversaw 36 academic departments and programs, 640 faculty members and 5,200 undergraduates.

She was inaugurated as Middlebury president on Oct. 11. In an interview with the Addison Independent, Patton stressed the importance of continued cooperation with the town. As the largest employer in the county, she also emphasized the need to remain a viable employer for county residents as well as an attractive option for young people looking for work in Vermont.

Patton brings her own tone and style to the job. She said in the fall that she puts aside time every day to write and do scholarship, she expects to teach a class every now and then, and she embraces the role of scholarpresident.

Over the summer, Porter Medical Center in Middlebury took on new leadership. Lynn Boggs brings more than two decades of experience in health care administration plus almost 10 years as a registered nurse. Prior to coming to Addison County, she worked as senior vice president of system operations at Mission Health in Asheville, N.C., for 19 months and served as the president of Mc-

Dowell Hospital in Marion, Taps run dr y Bristol battl N.C. At Mission Health, she e Business news was successful in developing new services in the counties of ADDISON Mission Health’s service area COUNTY and developing system-wide clinical contracts and servicTown gets es that supported a clinically hearings on integrated regional network solar projects Social work ers New Haven to app re of care. As president of Mcgroup follo before PSB nex ear t month murder in B wing Dowell Hospital, Boggs led arre improvements in quality, financial performance and patient satisfaction.

Boggs is the first woman to lead Porter, which was founded in 1925. She replaces James L. Daily, ACSU grou who served as president p lo Bristol ready for district un bbies break groun to for 31 years before retirification d Panel plans new firehous on for Town Me e eting Day vot e ing.

Boggs takes over an institution that is right in the middle of a sea Walking thr ough color change in how AmeriPatton inaugu cans pay for medical rated as colle ge’s first wom care. Porter this year an president asked regulators to OK a 3 percent spending By the way increase. In the fall, the Porter nurses union, which came into existence just a year ago, Index filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board.

Water mains in twice this week Middlebury broke snarling traffi , closing roads and c. Page 3A.

Vol. 69 No. 43

The Eagle boys ’ late to edge VUHsoccer team scored playoff prospects S and enhance its . See Page 1B.

A city builder adds leadership (Page 13B); a new maple firm opens in Mid dlebury (Page 15A).

INDEPEND Middlebury,

Vermont  Thursday, Octo

ENT

ber 15, 2015



34 Pages

75¢

By GAEN MUR PHREE NEW HAVEN regulators will — The state’s utility give the town Haven a voice of New in three separate their consideration of propo projects. The town, sed solar power fields and a proxi which boasts open transmission line,mity to a main power has been the for many solar target array Town officials proposals. are glad to chance to prote ct their interests. get a “It’s relatively uncommon for Public Service the Board to grant on these petitio hearings ns,” said Geoff mons, director Comof Division of the the Public Advocacy vice Departmen Vermont Public Sert. it’s relatively rare.”“It does happen, but The hearings are likely to take in November, but are not yet place Public Service on the cessible sched Board’s publicly acule. posted about 12 These are usually date, according days before a hearing Judith Whitney. to PSB Deputy Clerk These upcom ing hearings proposed solar on projects are not three Haven’s only filings currently New the Public Servi before has submitted ce Board — the town to the PSB conce over at least eight applications currerns nt(See New Have n, Page 14A)

By JOHN FLO WER MIDDLEBURY S state’s social — The Augu workers face murder in Barre st ward. going forment for Childof Vermont DepartSobel was shot Families (DCF ren & and killed ) social of the DCF regiooutside worker Lara “People get nal ofSobel fice in Barre, tinues to weigh con- real where she ly upset had been based ily on the mind heav. Jody s of her with us, Herring, 40, colleagues, and has been charged with those in the including I understand agency’s that murder and that Sobel’s Middlebury office .

We relatives found of three are taking greate , who intersec deceased t with in their precautions whiler safety peo ple in really Aug. 8. Berlin home on bling their dedic redouHerring, ation to vulnerable legedly target who alwhat can be a ed Sobel high-stress, moments for her invol thankless, but . vement in vitally im- Emo the state-sanct portant job of tions run ioned reprotecting moval of Herri children. really high ng’s child, has pleaded That was the and people innocent to are allegations that on Tuesday frommessage sca red.”

Andrea the victims with she shot Grimm, direct a highor of DCF’s — Andrea powe Middlebury red Grim hunti ng rifle. district ofDCF Middlebum, The Monday fice. Grimm ry after Soshared her thoughts about office bel’s murder, DCF staff the Friday, were provided Aug. 7, traged in-office y, how it has opportunities her staff, and affected menta to chat with the challenges l health couns that the (See Colleague, elors, and talk Page 20A)

By GAEN MUR PHREE BRISTOL — ago, a grim engin Just under a year state of Bristo eering report on the l’s nited the town 1897 fire station igto to rehouse the redouble its efforts town’s firefig a safe and effici hters in ent Builders are slatedmodern facility. to break groun in less than two d house on a 9-acr weeks on a new firee parcel on the side of West south Street near the entrance to the Bristol recreation fields .

Construction contracts were ed this week, said Town Adm awardA MORNING tor Therese See more phot WALK down Sperry Kirby, and theyinistraRoad in Corn os of peak in under the came folliage on wall provides total Page 2A. a brilliant glimp $2,840,067. Build estimated cost of se of fall color of Brandon expecer Naylor and Breen Tuesday.

Independent ts to begin setting photo/Trent up the constructio Campbell to break groun n site next week and d fire departmen around Oct. 26. The t should be move the new 11,00 0-square-foot d into by next July 4. building By JULIA JOH N “A new build MIDDLEBU RY — ing (See Firehouse, has been long stood before a micro Laurie Patton phone on a stage Page 13A) in front of Old dlebury Colle Chapel on the Midge morning bathe campus on Sunday d in “Hello, Midd applause. lebur y!” the newly minted presid ent institution warm of the 215-year-old ing audience. ly greeted her cheerAnd thus began , officially, ure of Midd lebury Colle the tenge’s 17th president.

We at the Indep More than 1,000 endent join folks at Ralp people gathe the on the red h in congratul Myhre Golf Course ration campus for Patton’s inaug ating Bristol . A respected uscholar at Emor resident and Joe Thilbourg Duke y for his holeuniversities and on the Middlebur in-on most rey links. The Ralp e cently dean of Duke’s Myhre folks Trinity h lege of Arts infor and Sciences, Colbourg aced Hole med us that Thil- took Patton over the top job Way to go, Joe! No. 14 on Monday. from Ronald Leibo at the college witz this past (See By the way, July.

Page 17A) The air was cool autumn and abuzz with the onset of with the expec conversations tant of below the stage the audience seated administrators, . Among the myriad Obituaries ........ trustees, presid emer ........ ents iti, faculty, .......... 6A-7A Classifieds ........ bers, townspeopstudents, staff mem........ .......

7B-1 Service Direc 1B was U.S. Poet le and other guests tory ..............

8B-9B Entertainment Trethewey, who Laureate Natasha ........

Community Calen ................ 12A at Emory. Treth taught with Patton Sports ................ dar ...... 8A-10A “Illumination,” ewey read her poem ................ 1B-4 B Patton’s addre and returned after ss president herse to share one by the lf, “On Learn cred Language ing Sain Trethewey’s Childhood.” echoed by otherwarm welcome was speakers, inclu ding NEW MIDD (See Patton, Page 17A) Middlebury’s LEBURY COLLEGE Pres 17th president.

By JOHN FLO WERS MIDDLEBU tional programs RY — Addison during this perio tral Superviso Cen- declin ry launched a majo Union officials have Green ing student enrollment d of in the Mountain State fensive in hopesr public relations ofACSU has estab . for a unified schooof winning support comm lished a chart er l distri ct governed ment ittee to craft articles of by a single board agreefor the new and funded by single budget. district. a articles woul d address such Those Support from as issue dealin reside s g with each nts in all seven ACSU-member school trict’s critical, offici communities will be prope long-term debt; ownershipdisals of feat of the unifie said, because de- build rty and assets, such as school ings; d district propo — which by sal member and how the seven ACSU Act 46 must town s will be voted on on before July the unified board be represented ACSU from 1 — would prevent .

Members of pursuing an the “acce ated merger” that would bring ler- tee met before an charter commitgreatest finan audience of about the 50 peopl cial rewards e at Mary for munities that embrace the new com- Tuesday to expla Hogan School on in Act 46 was law. the mechanics of creating a unified schoo Legislature and passed by the 2015 and l district lize school costs is designed to stabi- so, the possible advantages of doing and how the and improve change might educaaffect (See Unificatio n, Page 14A)

ident Laurie Patton respo nds to a stand ing ovation during her inauguration ceremony Sund ay. Patton is Photo by Brett

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TOP 10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016 — PAGE 27

Critical town buildings take shape in Middlebury, Bristol, Ferrisburgh After years of discussion, major infrastructure projects began ‘Much Ado’ in both Middlebury and Bristol in 2015, while Ferrisburgh also Y T N U went big last year.

O C ADDISON In Middlebury, a crew broke ground in the spring on the $6.5 million project to build a downbypass ad o ilr ra f o town municipal office building n s notio Minter prdan ed and a Creek Road town gymurg Middlebury boa VTrans with to be tougher nasium and recreation center.

After much debate, town voters had backed the projects in veteran World War II azis March 2014 (and reaffirmed took aim at N that in May 2014).

Middlebury College’s pledge to assume $4.5 million of debt helped make the buildings possible, as did a towngown agreement to swap the town’s existing office building site and a Cross Street parcel for the Main Street parcel (owned by the cole take shap gs in ild bu lege) on which the new ofn w Middlebury to fice building is being built.

Sturtevant By the end of 2015, both fill tapped to e at of Middlebury’s new builden spot on pl op to up s ep City kid st Mt. Abe board rs ke MonsteSta ings — the 9,400-squarer’ for the Vt. La All a ‘Community rows selected as y Bar wa e foot town office at 94 Main th By St., and the 11,500-squarefoot recreation center next to Fucile Field — were on budget and on schedule. Officials expected, if Index anything, the structures would be completed before their projected target Fair wrap up

Hands down

re rm a Shakespea Actors will perfo the Bristol on comedy outside Page 2A. town green. See

NT

INDEPENDE Middlebury,

Vol. 69 No. 33

Days 2015 was Directors say Field see competition a big success. Also,s 3A and 4B-6B. results. Go to Page

competitors took More than 200 restling tournapart in the armw . See Page 1B. ment at Field Days

13, 2015 rsday, August

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that several local at that meeting rns dlebury. It was rs voiced conce and property property owne y, noisy and disresidents and town residents length Some Meanwhile, down to flex their col- about what figures to be a town officials span three years. get owners are urging local project managers to e project that could fears that the resulting ruptiv as less e them to endorse a have expressed lective muscl federal partners million propos- merchants rs and commotion could force and state their traffic detou t than the $55 disruptive projec ant the rail bridges on Main to close. ed — whose suppl tracks l question has surfac al that would ERS and lower the principal of “A fundamenta Bruce Hiland,

By JOHN FLOW — Transportation Secretary Street and Merchants Row rail cars. t is this?” said numerous busiMIDDLEBURY ay took the air out of a tri- significantly to handle taller s project projec which houses Tuesd of Merchants Battell Block, the rail bridge Sue Minter on Middlebury residents had been r’s position on sive letter and report re- the s and offices at the intersection Minte the d some al balloon bypass aroun . to their nesse ined in an exten a potential rail of Transportation was conta and Main Street two hours prior that the town Row board sense the ents select floating about been by the r’s comm said the Agency “There has never town rail, Page 15A) concessions ceived meeting on Tuesday. Minte meeting that downtown, but (See Down red to make some public s 7 p.m.

-up to a July 27 Mid(VTrans) was prepato replace two key rail bridge at were a follow VTrans officials attended in to the community have been deteriorating for she and other d that she warne years. least the past 25

34 Pages

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n U.S. Army, Natha a t unit in the down in an anti-aircraf and even shot AS A GUNNER shots at Nazi airplanes Zuses took many couple.

mane of grey hair. in New York’s ERS He spent his life before movBy JOHN FLOW — We should County MIDDLEBURY like Nathan Westchester around four years ame ing to Whiting aughall have a nickn be closer to a step-d Zuses. n goes ago to lives there. vetera II War ter who The World s generaunced the same ren of Zues’ quickly.

Child by “Zues,” prono mythical Greek to grow up fully as “Zeus,” the lightning, thun- tion had was States The United God of the sky, justice.

I by the time and invested in WWI of der, law, order ago, Zues, as Zues entered his senior year in Seventy years high school known, was tothe likes to be In 1943, 1942. ing a 50-caliber the Draft Board gun nomachine served Zues through the Artice that in r dennes region needn’t bothe Belgium as part enrolling in colof a U.S. Army lege that fall.

Sam anti-aircraft unit Uncle fighting in the him for d neede e, Battle of the military servic Zues Bulge. though Monday saw allowed was in Zues engaged to finish high less hostile comschool and end spirite a bat — roll in July. He of game of Bingo S noted some NATHAN ZUSE r with other seleft a little earlie of his classmates nior members ly thrust into batce at Middlee, and were quick Project Independen Services. Zues tle. Many of them didn’t surviv t bury’s Elderly emen engag ing currently won his first Bingo talk he said. was able to d Zues town office build agree help, new ’s ebury With some and of the day and and an eventCampbell ary. d lobby of Middl photo/Trent with the Army life Independent inside the curve to be completed in Febru about his full in- to sign on what he considered uled Corp. stand II record that of ing is sched of Bread Loaf ful World War Heart and two steer clear Chris Huston The 9,400-square-foot build tive Navy post e ry.

JOHN Dale and to be a less attracoriginally been cluded a Purpl his credit.

BOB EATON, n next to the Ilsley Libra had to downed planes on Feb. 8, 1925, to which he spent 22 weeks in under constructio He ed. was born assign Zues Va., , ary.

He has the acat Fort Eustis ancy by next Febru Selectbasic training antiin the Bronx, N.Y. con- for occup g the 376th pleased,” ing rain at both cent to prove it. half,” he said before joinin He was a machine “I’m extremely member of the , through a pound , a ngs that have aircraft unit.

“I’m 90 and a million undertakinge struction sites on buildi and are on man Nick Artim committee, said of that lit up a seaZuses, Page 15A) smile firm the $6.5 (See al ng intens coy a vertic steeri more t with gone projec office ERS ed by a thick had stirred up the new town since suddenly of becoming weather tight.

By JOHN FLOW Fifteen which soned visage crown recthe progress on — the town had seen the verge ls confirmed Main St. and new MIDDLEBURY ipal debate than l Price Chopper SuperLoaf Corp. officia vors are on building at 77 lebury’s munic versia Page 16A) es earlier. Bread months ago, Midd tion facility proj- a contro both endea (See Buildings, this week that ready proposal two decad Monday. schedule to be building and recreacontroversial lines market this past budget and on y Fast forward to ects were simpl second public vote toiling away were crews a Work on paper. It took May of 2014 to afin of 880 to 714

own customized caps, and get their baseball ALDY Lake Monsters

By ANDY KIRK — On Aug. 14, Vermont BURLINGTON men will be singd Northern card. ws and the other eight aroun A trio of local the from of Barro kids eight Park, home New York chosen as Coming at Fenway Sunday. ont and one from ce on the youngsters were from among hunthis Verm Sox, g practi All-Stars Boston Red officials Brynn and Jerstate will take battinont’s Centennial munity applicants, team Mike Dever, David known as Cut, University of Verm ceremonial first dreds of on their answers to three also out emy Perfect — ered — will sing Field, throw Mon- said, based questions “that focused Vermont Lake Split and Deliv ica” during the ip, livpitches at the that on sportsmansh “God Bless Amer h of the Sox’s y lifestyle sters baseball game on stretc he health ing a en ing th-inn “Wh stand The seven s in the will follow, the Mariners. and their effort ized that the Lake rmhome game vs. the field with during real ” group is perfo Lincoln-based was one of community.

Vermont ters team r, Carhe Sox’s Mons mothe the of t’s Barre m and to ing in honor said she the national antheapiece nine selected . No strangers rie Barrows, the Day promotion t the arspend an inning t.

CS&D have sung for this showed Barre the spotlight, house in the team’s dugou2015 opportunity he ticle about the Comm in the State national anthe those nine ap18A) First, tar Page All-S the way, y munit Monsters was over (See By the Lake Little Lake plication on the and All-Stars moon.” te, Community 12-year- — Carrie Barrows Monsters’ websi attention — including it caught his ws of old Barret Barro be y. will Vergennes — intro- immediatel year baseball vet6A site from their Barret, an eight- play Babe Ruth ....................... whisked to the B Obituaries ......... rence in a limo. hopes to .............. 8B-13 for the ductory press confe rence, the all- eran who fall and then Classifieds ......... ............ 9B-10B At that press confe ay promo- baseball this l team in the spring, Service Directory ............... 12A a one-d middle schoo ......... stars will sign taking the time ct with the A mind Entertainment contra 8A-10 didn’t all he ...... dar tional baseb also be said Community Calen.............. 1B-3B r the questions. ters that will answe to Mons I like ......... and Lake Genfun, Sports ......... nd Athletics “It sounded like signed by Oakla Beane (the A’s Billy baseball,” he said. eral Manager Page 18A) ters’ parent club), (See Barrows, are the Lake Mons ters jerseys and receive Lake Mons

PHREE AlBy GAEN MUR Bristol resident BRISTOL — numhas a head for lison Sturtevant her win in part, helped er bers, and that, e a Bristol memb replac to High selection Abraham Union midof the Mount ed had resign School Board who l term. nted by the Bristo appoi vant, Sturte l Board on MonElementary Schoo t Abe board memday, will join Mountt, Carol Eldridge, bers Doug DeWi Kris Pearsall in and Kurth mAlicia l on the 13-me all representing Bristo , which represents ber school board Addison Northeast five towns in the .

Supervisory Union d,” said Steve .

“We’re quite please board BES of the Barsalou, chair to have somebody “We’re fortunate of passion to want who has that kinda volunteer position in to be involved .” l board such as the schoo to have her,” added “Bristol is lucky ior. “The Mount Melch her.” vice chair Elin be lucky to have Abe board will ing Robert DonSturtevant is replac was announced ation nis, whose resign school board’s July as one of at the Mount Abe vant will serve out was chosen ET Barrows Barrows will 9 meeting. Sturte RESIDENT BARRunity All Stars for 2015.14.

S 18A) ENNE Page VERG ters Comm Burlington on Aug. Courtesy photo (See Sturtevant, in Little Lake Mons

Field nine at Centennial join the team

date of early spring.

Middlebury officials had been trying to figure out how to replace the decaying and inefficient — both in layout and energy use — town office building for about two decades.

They were happy to find a plan that replaced both the offices (and keeping them downtown) and the gym for a net cost to taxpayers of $2 million.

College officials plan to convert the current town office site into a park, making for a more attractive approach to their campus.

Meanwhile, Bristol had been working on replacing its old and inadequate firehouse for at least a decade. 2015 brought a breakthrough, and in July voters agreed by an overwhelming margin to spend $3.19 million for a 9-acre site on the south side of West Street, across from the entrance to the Bristol recreation fields, and for a new two-story, 11,000-square-foot firehouse to be built on 2.7 of the acres. The town plans to market the remaining land.

In late October, work began, with a July 2016 target date for completion. Town officials calculated the project would add about $80 per $100,000 of assessed value to property tax bills.

Bristol also in August 2015 closed its town dump, leaving Salisbury as the last holdout in Vermont with its own town landfill. In part thanks to 36,000 tons of marble dust capping material from Omya and other landscaping, all that distinguishes Bristol’s former Pine Street landfill from its surroundings are the

four ventilation pipes sticking up around the 6-acre site.

Bristol had already collected more than $600,000 to pay for the three-month process of shutting down its dump, and with Omya donating its material and Casella kicking in some trucking costs, the town ended up on the hook for much less than originally expected, a little more than $110,000.

Ferrisburgh, the county’s third-largest town, hadn’t been seriously discussing replacing its aging highway department shed for as long as Middlebury and Bristol had eyed their projects, but by late summer department workers were happy to no longer have to climb over equipment to get to other equipment in their cramped former garage. That’s when the town’s new $1.05 million, 5,940-square-foot, six-bay highway garage was finished.

The new facility, across Little Chicago Road from Ferrisburgh Central School, made its official debut in early September, when it hosted the town’s annual Ferrisburgh Day. On the other side of the ledger, Vergennes, the fourth most populous county community, saw efforts to build a $42,000, quarter-acre East Street preschool playground fall short in 2015, in part because delays due in turn partly to public opposition caused a cost over-run.

The Vergennes City Council, which planned to use $21,000 from the city’s Water Tower Fund to pay for half of the project, returned a $21,000 grant to the state.

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PAGE 28 — TOP

10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016

Readers have their favorite stories, and we have a few more, too The Top 10 catalogs what the news staff of the Addison Independent chose as the most important stories of 2015, 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 2014 on addisonindependent.com, with their page views according to Google Analytics (note: Many of these stories had separate follow-ups that are not included in the count. Unfortunately, the analysis did not track all of the site activity late in the year).

We’ll post this list with links to the stories at addisonindependent.com.

1. Middlebury College student dies on campus Thursday, no foul play.

Page views: 13,326.

2. Cancer takes Bristol youth; help sought for family.

Page views: 5,363.

3. A life at risk, and nothing to do but wait: Bristol woman needs lung transplant.

Page views: 4,255.

4. Car strikes and kills bicyclist in Weybridge.

Page views: 3,904.

5. Prosecutors: Man drove drunk and killed Middlebury man bicycling in Weybridge.

Page views: 2,773.

6. Longtime local baby doctor Alan Ayer dies at 71.

Page views: 2,371.

7. Greg’s Market to close on Wednesday, April 1.

Page views: 2,261.

8. Police arrest seven in connection with Ferrisburgh break-ins.

Page views: 2,135.

9. Accident victim making strides in recovery.

Page views: 2,123.

10. Petition seeks firing of ANeSU superintendent.

Page views: 2,011.

Picking only 10 top stories in 2015 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 2014 that caught our eyes.

• Probably the biggest story that did not make it into our Top 10 was that the 2016 election season got a start in 2015. More than 18 months before the 2016 General Election, Bernie Sanders officially declared himself a candidate for president of the United States. This is a very long lead time in Vermont, but Bernie can be excused since he is running a national campaign. But when it comes to the race for Vermont governor, many times the candidates don’t declare until a few months before the August primary.

The 2016 race for governor was unique as well in that the sitting governor, Peter Shumlin, announced in June of 2015 that he would not seek re-election. This started the race for that office early and by summer’s end we had Matt Dunne, Sue Minter, Shap Smith, Bruce

BROWN’ S

Lisman and Lt. Gov. Phil Scott all announced or on the on the verge of announcing their candidacy for governor. Smith bowed out before year’s end citing his wife’s battle with cancer.

With the lieutenant governor throwing his hat into the governor’s race, several candidates then said they would run for that office.

So here we are before the start of the 2016 Legislative session and we already have more than a half dozen people actively running for Vermont’s top two constitutional offices.

• One of the weirder stories we saw last year was four decades in the making but came together quickly in March when news broke of the arrest of New York City real estate heir Robert Durst on a first-degree murder charge. News media from around the country quickly followed a lead that linked Durst to Middlebury’s most notorious unsolved cold case.

Turns out that Durst lived in Middlebury in the early 1970s and operated the health food store “All Good Things” on Court Street. This is the same store where then-18year-old Lynne Schulze, a Middlebury College student, was last seen before she was reported missing in 1971. When Middlebury police acknowledged that a criminal investigation into the matter was ongoing, the media horde descended on Addison County’s shire town. Reporters from as far away as Texas and Louisiana came to the Independent offices seeking information on the case. Of all the

media that covered this story during its week in the spotlight, only the Addison Independent got a statement from the family of Lynne Schulze.

• Fun of a different sort came to Middlebury with the inaugural Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival. The four-day festival at the end of August exceeded expectations for attendance, film submissions and the enthusiasm with which it was embraced and supported by the community. The festival boasted 93 short- and feature-length films submitted by newly minted filmmakers from throughout the world. It sold 205 festival passes, at $75 each, for people seeking access to screenings at all three venues and related special events; 110 day passes, which for $28 allowed the ticketholder to attend shows throughout a single day; and 500 tickets to individual film screenings. That amounted to 815 total pass and ticket sales.

In addition to bringing unique entertainment to town, the festival brought a special vibe to Addison County during a week that is typically a little quieter. Along with putting people into the seats of local theaters, the festival placed film enthusiasts into local stores, restaurants and hotels for the duration of the event. Some downtown Middlebury stores extended their hours to 7 p.m. to take advantage of the extra customer traffic. Some restaurants, like The Lobby, offered meal discounts to those who presented MNFF passes.

• Middlebury physician Jean AnderssonSwayze told us a heroic story of her trip to the West African Republic of Sierra Leone early last year. The country was suffering under an epidemic of Ebola. Andersson-Swayze offered her services to help care for scores of suffering Ebola patients.

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TOP 10 OF 2015 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016 — PAGE 29

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TOP 10 • Addison Independent, Monday, January 4, 2016

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of $10.00 or more

This Coupon MAY BE COMBINED with EVERY other coupon offer or discount!

Valid through 1/31/16 MIDDLEBURY AGWAY COUPON