Spring peeps
Gone hiking
OT drama
Read about caring for baby chicks and lots of planting tips in our spring Home and Garden section.
A Panther coach walks away from a long career and keeps on walking. See Lindholm column, Page 1B.
The Tiger boys’ lax team picked up a welcome victory on Monday in overtime. See Sports, Page 1B.
ADDISON COUNTY
INDEPENDENT Vol. 70 No. 19
Middlebury, Vermont
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Thursday, May 12, 2016
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48 Pages
ANeSU sets date for vote on school governance
Lawmakers praise medical leave bill, budget resolution Session called low key; reviews mixed By JOHN FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY — The 2016 session of the Vermont Legislature could be remembered just as much for what lawmakers didn’t do, as for what they accomplished, according to a sampling of Addison County legislators. The 2016 session officially concluded very late this past Friday, May 6. It is a session that produced, among other things, a new law requiring employers to offer paid medical leave to workers, new rules on how prescription painkillers can be prescribed, a law that affords more input from communities in the state’s review of solar energy projects, and what Gov. Peter Shumlin called a “balanced budget that for the first time in nearly a decade does not rely on any one-time funds for ongoing state expenses.”
Balloting on unification is slated for November
At the same time, lawmakers expressed frustration at not having more to show for their four months of work. “It was sort of a ‘maintenance year,’ unfortunately,” said Sen. Claire Ayer, D-Addison, who again served as the Senate Majority Whip. “There were not a lot of major new initiatives.” For example, after many hours of debate, the General Assembly could not agree on a plan to legalize possession of small amounts of recreational marijuana — though that impasse was hailed by some local legislators who opposed the controversial measure. “I think it had a lot of problems,” Rep. Betty Nuovo, D-Middlebury, said of the pot legalization bill that passed the Senate but failed in the (See Session, Page 15A)
By GAEN MURPHREE BRISTOL — Residents in the Bristol-area towns in the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union will vote this November on whether to institute a unified union governance structure that would put all schools in the district under one school board and one budget. The ANeSU Act 46 committee announced last Friday that it will hold a vote on a unified union school governance structure for the five-town area. “One of the biggest benefits with the unified union is that it provides the greatest simplification of the governance, which really is part of the main focus of Act 46,” said committee chair Jennifer Stanley of Monkton. “It’s simplifying how we’re governing our schools so that our school administrators have more time and our teachers and everyone has more time to focus on what our kids need. “I think that that was a big driving (See ANeSU, Page 16A)
Dunne outlines formula for economic recovery Gubernatorial hopeful shares priorities By JOHN FLOWERS Dunne, 46, was born MIDDLEBURY — in New Haven, Conn., Hartland Democrat and and was raised in Hartgubernatorial candidate ford, Vt., the son of lawMatt Dunne is pitching yer and civil rights acan economic recovery tivist John Bailey Dunne plan that he said would and Dartmouth College nurture growing busiprofessor Faith Weinnesses, create new jobs, stein Dunne. He was weatherize aging apartelected to the Vermont ment buildings and reHouse at age 22, repduce the state’s carbon resenting Hartford and footprint, all at the same West Windsor for eight time. years. Dunne shared his He was recruited by plan, and positions on the Clinton administraMATT DUNNE other issues ranging tion to serve as director from solar siting to health care, during of AmeriCorps VISTA, a volunteera far-ranging interview at the Addison driven poverty-fighting organization. Independent on Thursday, May 5. (See Matt Dunne, Page 18A)
Bristol teacher to lead Addison Central School
Spring colors BRILLIANT BLUES AND yellows surround the Congregational Church in downtown Middlebury Wednesday morning. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
Lincoln town office moves to temporary new home
LINCOLN TOWN CLERK Sally Ober moves a box in the new clerk’s office located in the Lincoln Library last Tuesday morning. The town will build a new town office by next fall. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
75¢
By GAEN MURPHREE LINCOLN — “It’s like having new roommates,” said Lincoln Town Clerk Sally Ober as she looked around the town office’s snug new home-away-from-home in the Lincoln Library one day last week. Ober, Lincoln Treasurer Lisa Truchon, Lister David Harrison and Zoning Administrator Bob Hall are tucked in, desk to desk, around the library’s Community Room for the next six months while Lincoln constructs a new town office. The old town office at 62 Quaker St. was closed the last week of April while the municipal staff packed up and then reopened in the library space at 222 West River Road on May 2. Among the pleasant surprises for Ober in the office’s temporary digs: “I’m not wearing my long underwear to work. And you can print that.” Ober’s desk in the old building was right near the vault and always cold, she said, but the Lincoln Library is clean, light, warm and cozy. After being open for business in the library only two days, town (See Lincoln, Page 18A)
Orwell to hold revote on school governance By JOHN FLOWERS mont’s Act 46. Those incentives inORWELL — Orwell school offi- clude decreases of 10 cents on the cials are projecting a June revote on local education property tax rate durthe question of whether the commu- ing the first year of the governance nity should join five Rutland County merger, followed by 8 cents in year towns in forming a “Slate Valley two; 6 cents in year three; 4 cents Unified Union School District” that in year four; and finally, 2 cents in would be governed by a single board year five. Orwell would also receive presiding over a global education a “transition facilitation grant” of budget for all of the schools in the $130,000 to assist in the creation of new union. the new district, and This past Friday, the ability to retain its May 6, the Orwell “I realize that we Small Schools Grant town clerk’s office have our work of around $100,000 received a citizens’ cut out for us, but per year. petition seeking a communities am also thankful thatMost revote on the same have not joined school governance for another a unified school disunification question opportunity trict by 2018 will that local residents to meet with be required to do so defeated on April 12 anyway — and the by a 211 to 121 tally. the electorate Vermont Agency of Orwell was the only and answer Education could dicommunity of the six questions.” rect them to join a disto reject unification; — Alyson Eastman trict that might be less the question passed palatable than the one comfortably in the they rejected, ARSU other Addison-Rutland Supervisory officials noted. Union (ARSU) towns of Castleton, The five Rutland County commuWest Haven, Benson, Hubbardton nities in the ARSU would be able to and Fair Haven. pursue unification without Orwell, ARSU officials stressed that only using a “modified” Act 46 process Orwell will field the revote question. that would yield less generous tax If town residents vote “yes” this incentives. time around, Orwell would proceed Ron Ryan, ARSU superintenwith an “accelerated” governance dent, is pleased about the impending unification process that will entitle revote. the community to various financial “I think it’s nice to be able to have (See Orwell, Page 16A) incentives guaranteed through Ver-
By ANDY KIRKALDY ADDISON — The Addison Central School board agreed last week to hire as its next principal a Bristol Elementary School teacher who also coordinates its Afterschool Expanded Learning Program. Travis Park, who in 2007 earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Utah Valley State College and in 2011 received his master’s in education administration from New England College, will this summer replace Matthew DeBlois. DeBlois was recently hired as the new Vergennes Union Elementary School principal. In hiring Park, the Addison Central board accepted the recommendation of both Addison Northwest Supervisory Union Superintendent JoAn Canning and the school’s principal search committee. Canning said the opening drew (See Travis Park, Page 16A)
By the way Area motorcyclists are invited to join VT 4 Red Knights Motorcycle Club for a ride and bike blessing this Saturday. The sixth annual VT IV Red Knights Bike Blessing will begin at Middlebury Beef Supply on Route 7 South in (See By the way, Page 2A)
Index Obituaries .......................... 6A-7A Classifieds ....................... 6B-10B Service Directory .............. 7B-8B Entertainment ........................ 12A Community Calendar ...... 8A-10A Sports ................................ 1B-4B
PAGE 2A — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
Bristol passes $1.1M water bond Positive vote paves the way for a new business park
Clean and green A HUGE MIDDLEBURY town truck fills up with brightly colored Green Up bags and other refuse early last Saturday afternoon as environmentalists brought their trash gleaned from area roadsides as part of the annual Vermont Green Up Day.
Independent photo/John McCright
The members of St. Thomas & Grace Episcopal Church invite their friends and neighbors in Brandon and Forest Dale as well as anyone in the wider community to join them at a special worship service at the Grace Church building on Saturday, May 14, at 2 p.m. At this service, the history of Grace Church will be honored and the Rt. Rev. Thomas Ely, Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Vermont, will formally deconsecrate the space. A reception follows to which all are welcome. Grace Church is located on Route 73 in Forest Dale. If you thought you missed out on Girl Scout cookies this year, take heart: You’ll get one more chance to buy these annual favorites this Saturday. Girl Scout
fernan, Addison County Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Adam Lougee, Green Mountain Engineering’s Alan Huizenga, and Kirby and Harper has been engaged for several months in planning for the new business park. The group, supported by a federal grant, expects to issue its planning report in July. The goal of the report, said Kirby, is to both craft a vision for the business park that reflects the town’s best interest, and to get the project ready for Act 250 permitting. Said Elder, “In passing this bond, the citizens of Bristol have made a substantial investment in the infrastructure and long-term viability of our community. One reason for upgrading and extending the water system was to make possible a new business park on Stoney Hill. This has the potential both to generate new opportunities for local employment and, in doing so, to support the compact village structure at Bristol’s heart.” OTHER TOWN NEWS Kirby was also thrilled to report that the legislature made good on its 2015 promise to help Bristol with up to $145,000 to cover the costs of closing the town landfill. The landfill saw its last day of service in August 2015 and Casella Construction, along with Green Mountain Engineering, completed work on capping the landfill last November. Bristol has so far paid about $609,000 to close the landfill, leaving about $143,863 outstanding that the state is expected to pay by July. “Bristol is so thankful to Reps. David Sharpe and Fred Baser, James Surwillo of the ANR (Agency of Natural Resources), Casella Construction, and Green Mountain Engineering for all of their support in getting the project done and assisting us and in requesting and being granted the money from the state of Vermont,” said Kirby. Kirby added, “It’s definitely been a banner week. We’re celebrating the wins today. I brought Dunkin’ Donuts for the staff.”
Bristol Elementary chooses principal finalists
By the way (Continued from Page 1A) Middlebury. Registration is at 10 a.m., kickstands will go up at 11 a.m. There will also be a blessing of the bikes at approximately 1 p.m. at Vergennes Eagles Club. For a $15 fee, bikers ride with the blessing, and get food and music at the end. For more information, email redknightsvt4@ hotmail.com or call Mike Coyle at 802-877-3564 or George Roy at 802-453-2165. This ride will go off rain or shine.
By GAEN MURPHREE Once the requisite 30 days to peBRISTOL — Bristol voters passed tition for a revote have passed, and a $1.1 million bond Tuesday to up- assuming they pass uneventfully, the grade and extend the town’s water town’s next steps would be to put system. The vote passed by a count the water project out for bid in midof 209 for and 133 against. June and award a contract sometime Bristol officials were happy that in July. The town’s goal would be residents supported not only fixing for construction to be completed by infrastructure, but also supported a Nov. 30, said Kirby. system extension that will help make An important aspect of the multipossible construction of a proposed pronged project is that extending business park. the town water system “We are thrilled that “We are to Lovers Lane would the residents saw fit to allow the town to build support this project to thrilled that the a business park on 10 upgrade 1905 piping in residents saw of the 30 acres it has the water district and to fit to support owned behind the soonallow for the construc- this project to to-be-completed fire station of a business park, tion since 1999. which is a project Bris- upgrade 1905 The two projects tol has been trying to do piping in the are linked because the for over 20 years,” said water district town’s 30-acre parcel Town Administrator and to allow for lies within the 1,000Therese Kirby. foot wellhead protecThe $1,115,020 bond the construction tion area for the nearby will go to finance four of a business Woodland Apartments. closely related water- park, which is Once Lovers Lane is system projects: on town water, Wood• $490,951 (44 per- a project Bristol land Apartments will cent) to replace the has been trying no longer need its well 100-plus-year-old wa- to do for over or wellhead protection ter line on West Street, 20 years.” area. Therefore it will be from Airport Drive to possible to install septic — Therese Kirby Maple Street. and develop a business • $285,949 (26 perpark on the town’s acrecent) to extend the town water sys- age on Stoney Hill. tem to Lovers Lane. According to Kirby, the town ex• $235,652 (21 percent) for pects to take possession of a comstormwater upgrades to West Street, pleted fire station by the end of June. to address drainage problems and The town’s arrangement with Bristol bring that roadway into compliance developer Kevin Harper was that he with the Vermont Clean Water Act. would finance and oversee the proj• $102,468 (9 percent) to extend ect, which the town would then buy the water line to the new fire station. in “turn-key” condition. Bond vote in hand, the town can Sometime after that, said Kirby, now apply to the USDA for a federal the town can finalize the agreement it rural development grant that could signed with Harper this past July for cover up to 45 percent of the bond his Stoney Hill Properties to purchase ($501,759), said Kirby. 10 of the town’s 30 acres at $35,000 Kirby is hoping to hear back from an acre and build a business park dithe USDA within a couple of weeks rectly behind the new fire station. on what the town’s grant and loan A town-sponsored committee that package will be, but said that it’s im- includes the Bristol Planning Compossible to predict the federal gov- mission’s John Elder and Sue Kavaernment’s timeline. nagh, selectman John “Peeker” Hef-
Junior Troop 30594 will be selling the last of its inventory from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. in New Haven, in the southeast corner of the intersection of Routes 7 and 17. The town of Bristol is seeking residents to volunteer to serve on the Bristol Planning Commission and on the Addison County Solid Waste Management District. The district meets monthly and provides free pizza! If you have interest in either of these vacant positions and would like to be appointed, contact Administrative Assistant Pam Correia or Town Administrator Therese Kirby at 453-2410 or email bristoladmin@ gmavt.net. Local people who attend Vermont Tech and lovers of Vermont motorsports will be curious to hear that Ken Squire will be the keynote speaker at Vermont Tech’s commencement ceremony on May 22 in Randolph Center. A native Vermonter, Squires has been a preeminent NASCAR broadcaster for two decades. By being the owner of the Radio Vermont Group and founder of Barre’s Thunder Road International Speedbowl, he has become a Vermont icon. For more information visit www.vtc.edu.
By GAEN MURPHREE BRISTOL — The two finalists for Bristol Elementary School’s principal job met with faculty, staff, students, parents and community members at a meet-and-greet at the school Wednesday evening; one face was familiar to locals and the other was new to the area. Justin Bouvier, a math teacher at Mount Abraham Union High School, and Kevin Robinson, Abu Dhabi Education Council Director of Schools, are candidates for the job currently held by Sandy Jump, who is retiring at the end of the school year. “The committee and I are excited to bring these two candidates forward,” said Assistant Superintendent Catrina DiNapoli, who spearheaded the search. “We believe they both have much to offer Bristol Elementary School.” Participants at Wednesday’s getto-know-you forum had the opportunity to provide written feedback on the candidates, which the search committee will be compiling as part of the decision-making process, along with doing reference checks. Incoming Addison Northeast Supervisory Union Superintendent Patrick Reen also interviewed the candidates on Wednesday, and he will present his recommendation to the school board at its meeting next Tuesday. Bouvier, a Bristol native, has taught math at MAUHS the past
JUSTIN BOUVIER five years. He began his career in education as a paraeducator at the Bristol high school in 2000. During the 2014-2015 school year, he served as administrative liaison/dean of students for grades 9-12. Bouvier earned a B.A. in math from Castleton University in 2011 and will be awarded a master’s of education in school leadership from St. Michael’s College later this month. In his letter to the school’s principal search committee, Bouvier played up his beliefs on the nature of education. “The following values are at my core: All students deserve to have curriculum that is accessible, developmentally appropriate and rigorous,” he wrote. “There needs to be
KEVIN ROBINSON open lines of honest communication to all members of our community. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I always keep students at the center of our work.” Bouvier added that he is fortunate to have grown up “in my community surrounded by most of my 21 cousins (and all of their families as well). I am a proud alumni of BES and MAUMHS, where I found my passion for education because of the influences that my teachers had on me.” Robinson has worked in education for 23 years. For the past five years, he has worked in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, as a Cluster Manager of Schools. In that job he has mentored and evalu-
ated principals and helped the wider school system work toward reforms. Before that, he worked for over 12 years as assistant principal and then principal at schools in the greater Atlanta, Ga., area and as an assistant principal in the Columbia, S.C., area. Robinson began as a chemistry and physics teacher in Orangeburg, S.C. He holds a B.A. in biology from South Carolina State University and a master’s in educational leadership and administration from the University of South Carolina, Columbia. “Over the past 23 years, I have had the professional pleasure of working within the field of education supporting the learning needs of students. Sixteen years of my professional experience has been in leadership roles in local, state and international educational settings,” Robinson wrote in his letter to the search committee. “I am a very people-oriented person, and I strongly believe in the effective use of teamwork and collaboration to maximize the talents of each individual on a team.” Robinson also spoke about the importance of “building strong connections, demonstrating commitment and being of good character” and noted that Bristol “exudes the type of values we would like to expose our youngest two children to as we look to transition back home to the States after the wealth of experiences they have gained living life abroad the past five years.”
l Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 3A
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Open for business THE FORT TICONDEROGA Ferry leaves from its Shoreham moorings Saturday, its first day of operation for the season.
Independent photo/Trent Campbell
ANeSU residents question school merger law Fear democracy will lose out to bureaucracy By GAEN MURPHREE BRISTOL — Monday night’s Act 46 forum for the five towns in the Addison Northeast Supervisory Union drew appreciation for the intensely detailed work the ANeSU Act 46 Committee is engaged in. It also saw a fair heap of skepticism as to the potential benefits of school district unification and a series of eloquent and impassioned defenses of the value and mechanisms of local control. “It was great to have so much participation, and I appreciated all the comments and the discussion,” said ANeSU Act 46 Committee Chair Jennifer Stanley of Monkton. “The committee will need to discuss further some of the comments we heard. I think it’s not a big surprise that we heard a lot of concern about losing local control and local involvement in the schools. And I think that gives the committee some work to do in that area.” The committee last week decided to hold a November vote in the fivetown area on a unified school governance plan that would also produce a single budget for all public schools in the Bristol area (see story, Page 1A). Close to 30 people from all five towns attended the forum, including the main author of Act 46, Rep. Dave Sharpe of Bristol. Sharpe answered questions and spoke forcefully on the benefits of the legislation, but said he was really present as a concerned community member. Such was participants’ engagement with the issues at hand that even when Stanley declared the meeting at time after an hour and a half, all participants elected to stay an additional 30 minutes for further discussion. CONVENTIONAL MERGER Passed in 2015, Act 46 requires Vermont school districts to unify governance structures into more sustainable models. Towns in the three supervisory unions serving most of the rest of Addison County have approved Act 46 unification plans. ANeSU towns would be pursuing what’s called a “conventional merger,” meaning that their plan for unification would be approved by voters no later than July 1, 2017. Carrots for conventional mergers include yearly property tax reductions, starting at 8 cents in the first year and then decreasing to 6, 4 and 2 cents in the following years. School districts that unify by July 2017 also receive a transition assistance grant and keep both the Small Schools grant and the “hold harmless” provision that modifies official enrollment tallies against actual sharp declines. Districts that fail to act lose out on the tax incentives, receive no transition grant, and lose their Small Schools grants and “hold harmless” provisions. The biggest stick wielded by Act 46 is that districts that don’t act will be assigned a unified district to join regardless. Some attendees at Monday’s gathering expressed dismay that the Act 46 Committee voted on a governance structure before the May 9 public forum. Others accepted the committee’s reasoning that it was more effective to present a strategy at the forum and incorporate public feedback into the actual articles of agreement, which will be the focus
of the committee’s work from now how such projects would be accom- lature has handed us something that plished in a unified district. is unacceptable. Act 46 has failed through July. “I don’t understand why towns- this state, and we’re going to see the Committee members also summarized their work thus far, including people would ever vote for this, to ramifications of that for many, many conducting a community survey on give up control to an 18-member years to come.” Rebecca Elder said she liked havissues relating to Act 46, investigat- board where we’d have very little ing examples of articles of agree- representation, where we don’t get ing a local school board. “I like having places where we sit ment and reports on unification from to talk about things at town meetsurrounding communities, and ana- ing,” Dan Ober said. “We did this in my local school and have discuslyzing the equity and quality of cur- $6 million addition to our school sion with the community,” she said. and we had to work hard at it as “It spans from minutiae all the way rent ANeSU educational offerings. townspeople. It got voted on twice. up to the bigger picture. And to think ATTENDEES SPEAK OUT One of the main benefits that dif- We got together and through politi- of sitting in the large room the way ferent committee members advanced cal talk and the process, we came up the ANeSU board meetings occur, with a good plan for our the intimacy is gone. You’ve got for the unified union school. I don’t see how a huge group. So ‘should we use a structure was that the curthat would have gotten microphone?’, ‘shall we have more rent governance structure “It’s like done with two members presentations?’ so that we can look results in school superin- ‘Wow! Are tendents spending most of we a Norman sitting on an 18-member at a screen instead of looking at each board.” other and talking about what’s going their time attending board Rockwell Sally Ober used a re- on? That to me is what we lose.” meetings rather than get- relic? Is that cent example familiar to Starksboro School Board Chair ting out into schools and really such a all ANeSU community Louis duPont admitted that the numbeing able to work directly on educational leader- passé thing?’ members to illustrate her ber of meetings school board memWell to me concern. bers have had to attend has become ship. “How does, let’s say, “untenable,” but he also wondered “We’re hearing from it certainly Monkton sell a major what would be lost for those towns a lot of folks ... that this isn’t.” change will significantly — Louis duPont renovation to their school like Lincoln and Starksboro that to all the voters in the dis- still vote on school budgets from the reduce a lot of demands on the superintendents so that they trict when we couldn’t even sell the floor of town meeting. “To me the thing that I really hate can focus more on education and Mount Abe one to all the voters in to give up and it seems quaint and educational outcomes and less on the SU?” she asked. there’s only Lincoln and Starksboro, meeting with a lots of boards,” said SENSE OF COMMUNITY Continuing in the same vein, Re- so it’s like ‘Wow! Are we a Norman committee member Caleb Elder. Having worked in school admin- becca Elder of Starksboro ques- Rockwell relic? Is that really such a istration, committee member Nancy tioned whether the streamlining passé thing?’ Well to me it certainly Cornell added, “I’m not diminishing of governance would erode a vital isn’t. It’s a powerful, just a fantastic expression of democracy, local deboard work … but to get so much sense of community. “I was hoping to come tonight and mocracy. And to me that has value. more of a superintendent’s time de“And I really hate to see that go voted to teaching and learning is a be convinced that a unified union was the way to go because I have had away. And I keep thinking there has big gain.” Bristol Elementary Board Chair serious doubts all the way along and to be some magic way to retain that Elin Melchior voiced the hope that I’m trying to keep an open mind,” local control and make some of these in working out the articles of agree- she said. “I believe that the very fact governance changes that undeniably ment the committee would be able to that we’re having a discussion that make sense.” says ‘Well, we don’t have a choice Reporter Gaen Murphree is at find new structures for local input. “I’m really hopeful that we’re go- so therefore’ means that our Legis- gaenm@addisonindependent.com. ing to have something better come out of this, some kind of connection between the community and the schools that is dealing more with what’s actually happening in the school rather than policy. So that’s why I voted,” said Melchior. In a follow-up interview with the Independent, Stanley noted the many ways that community members engage with the schools — such as Monkton’s read-a-thon, Teacher Appreciation Day and new gardening project — that are completely outside the world of the school boards and the boards’ decision-making processes. When asked about the extent to which ANeSU would see financial savings from unification, consultant Andrew Pond said that it would see benefits but not dramatic ones. “There wasn’t a tremendous amount of financial savings,” said Pond, referring to the analysis that had been done thus far on unification’s financial benefits to ANeSU. “There were things like audit costs and reduced bookkeeping costs. While there will be some money saved, the thought is that a unified district will be able to operate more efficiently. The true goals are to be able to let the school boards and the superintendent focus on education and not so much on having meetThank you to all our nurses who help ings.” make us great! But many at the forum questioned whether there wasn’t an alternate We appreciate you more than words can say. way to achieve the Act 46 goal of simplified governance and whether the simplified unified union structure would actually benefit students. Dan and Sally Ober of Lincoln both gave the example of Lincoln’s recent passage of a bond to renovate its school facility and wondered
Tickets available April 15 on Main Street in Vergennes at Linda’s Apparel, Classic Stitching, Everywear for Everybody, Malabar, Bixby Library and online at www.bixbylibrary.org/tickets BIXBY BALL UNDERWRITERS AND SPONSORS TO DATE UNDERWRITERS – Kristin & Elliott Bristow, Andrew & Jeff Fritz, Clarke & Cathie Keenan, Roberta & Philip Puschel, Three Squares Café, Vergennes Animal Hospital. GOLD – Addison Independent, The Antidote, Basin Harbor Club, Everywear for Everybody, Friends of Bixby Library, Howard Hall & Paula Moore, Liz & Peter Markowski, Otter Creek Kitchenware, Ouimette & Runcie. SILVER – Champlain Periodontal, Michael & Lynn Donnelly, Foote’s Insurance, Jackman Fuels, Jiffy Mart-Champlain Oil, Joel & Carol Miller, Neuse, Duprey & Putnam PC, Panoramic Landscaping, JW & DE Ryan, Stone Block Antiques, PJ Welch Corp.
Memorial Day Deadlines and Office Hours
Our Office will be closed Monday, May 30, 2016 in observance of Memorial Day. Advertising Deadlines will change as follows: EDITION Thursday, May 26 Monday, May 30 Thursday, June 2
DEADLINE Friday, May 20, 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, noon Friday, May 27, 5 p.m.
We hope you have a safe and enjoyable Memorial weekend as we observe this national holiday and welcome the summer season. ADDISON COUNTY
INDEPENDENT
VERMONT’S TWICE-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Middlebury, VT 05753 • (802) 388-4944 • www.AddisonIndependent.com
PAGE 4A — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
A DDIS ON INDE P E NDEN T
Letters
Editorials
to the Editor
2016 session: Balance of work is up to voters to determine If pundits and critics are lamenting a dearth of “big initiatives” this session, perhaps that’s OK — new initiatives, after all, usually cost money; and part of the goal this year was to limit spending to a sustainable level. Was that achieved? Democrats say yes, Republicans say no. While reasonable people can agree to disagree on such subjective definitions, it’s a political year and voters will help decide whether the spending rate is too high, about right, or still not enough to keep pace with state needs. The tug-of-war between the House and Senate in this session illustrates some of those issues and the challenges the Legislature and administration face. On the plus side of the ledger this session: • The Legislature took quick action in early January to amend Act 46 in important ways by delaying implementation of spending caps and modifying consequences if schools exceed those caps, and/or creating exemptions for schools under other circumstances. They jumped on the issue early and had a fix in time for schools to set budgets for Town Meeting. It was work well done. Act 46 also proved to be far more successful than expected. Communities in 40 school districts have streamlined their operations into nine unified districts, while districts in another 33 supervisory unions have formed 29 formal merger study committees, according to the Agency of Education. Fourteen unification plans were approved in the first year, far more than the five that were predicted. • The Legislature also approved $700,000 for the state college system — the first increase since 2008 — and eliminated the 40 percent rule for the University of Vermont, which will free the university of a ruling that had limited its ability to raise revenues. Both were milestones, though $700,000 more for the state college system is still inadequate. • One of the most heralded laws passed this year was a sick leave bill, which requires businesses to provide sick leave to anyone working at least 18 hours per week. Employers must provide 24 hours of leave for 12 months of employment, and increase that to 40 hours of sick leave per year beginning Jan. 1, 2019. While many businesses already provide the benefit, it’s expected to benefit about 60,000 workers. Small businesses of under 5 employees will be granted an extra year to comply, but afterward all businesses will be subject to the new requirement. That’s significant. • Another accomplishment was passage of the solar siting law, spearheaded by Sen. Chris Bray, D-New Haven. The bill was controversial throughout the session with the solar energy industry arguing it went too far and municipal governments arguing that the provisions still did not give towns enough power to stop developments in unwanted locations. The legislation strove to forge a compromise between those two positions. • This Legislature also passed provisions to address the state’s drug problems, including providing for 35 more employees to work with the Vermont Department for Children and Families and adopting rules to limit the amount of opioids prescribed for pain — steps in the right direction. • In less controversial measures, the Legislature passed a “motor-voter” bill that automatically registers eligible voters when they sign up for their driver’s license; and passed a “Ban the Box” bill that removes questions about criminal records as the first part of job applications for state employment. There were also several important bills passed in the judiciary committee, one that eliminated old citations (pre-1990) and provided for a three-month amnesty later this year where Vermonters can pay off old traffic fines at a reduced rate. (See story, Page 1A.) Other bills were passed that aided the manufacturing and agricultural scene, such as clarifying which agricultural products were exempt from taxes, the creation of a “pollinator protection committee,” and placing restrictions on the conditions that equipment manufacturers place on warranty contracts with dealers — a measure that largely protects farmers from having to pay an unreasonable share of expenses when machinery malfunctions. Go tell farmers that’s not important work. ********* On the down side of the ledger: • The Legislature did not pass a bill legalizing marijuana or advance that agenda. The caveat, of course, is that most members of the House were opposed. While the Senate passed a proposal, and the governor was supportive, the House rejected that proposal, and others, by a wide margin. So be it. Like a bad penny, legalization won’t go away. • Finally, there’s the question of the state budget. Democrats made much ado of the fact that they held total state spending to an increase of 2.4 percent, which should be well below expected growth. Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes, said she believed “we’ve got the budget on the right track.” Not all agreed. Rep. Fred Baser, R-Bristol, did a little cherry-picking of the numbers when he cited an increase of 4.8 percent spending in the General Fund budget, while excluding the education, transportation and other special expenses. Still, such spending in the General Fund was too much, he said. “The trend is totally unsustainable.” Different numbers, different perspectives, different impacts. Voters will have to decide. ********** Critics can look at that ledger of action and call it meager, but voters will have their own metrics for success or failure. In parsing those metrics, here’s something to consider: the issues the state faces today are far from simple. It’s not the late 1980s, when jobs were more plentiful, or the 1990s when the nation’s economy was booming, or the 1950s when life was a lot simpler (harder, maybe, but more straightforward.) That’s no longer the case. The global economy has taken its toll and answers are hard to come by. At the same time, the demand for higher education has been amplified; a high school diploma is no longer enough. We have to do better and that requires change. We have a critical drug crisis we didn’t have a generation ago, and spiraling health care costs that affect the entire country. Our demographics are changing, trending to an older population while those under 45-years-old decline. That, too, requires action. We have new demands on digital infrastructure, which if we don’t meet guarantees continual economic decline. Where, then, do you draw the line on spending? Do we cut Pre-K spending, even though we know it is the best means of giving our young people a better education? Can we afford to do nothing on health care, even though we know the status quo is not sustainable? Do we turn our backs on alternative energy, even though it’s helping to save our planet and creating jobs? We have increasing poverty, homelessness and hunger. What is our response? Before you buy into easy answers (two-year budgeting and 90-day sessions, for example), learn first what challenges the state faces. Angelo S. Lynn
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Act 46 could use more coverage At the meeting in Bristol last night over Act 46, it seems that there are a lot of questions about what it means. One question concerned towns voting not to join the new and improved school districts. Seems the Legislature made the law a “take it or we will do it for you” system. Which left one open question, among many, and that was about a town dropping out of the district, like Huntington. Well, Huntington is in an area that modern news media doesn’t really cover, since we no longer have a regional/state paper. The Addy Indy has covered such gaps with its coverage of Orwell, which had decided to drop out, but is now trying to rejoin their regional district. The rest of the state needs to know about how Orwell, and Huntington, do in their efforts to survive Act 46. We have heard that Act 46 is to help communities with over worked superintendents and maybe reduce costs and maybe even improve the education of our students. We see nice high-quality words to describe this, but these words can have many different meanings and ways they can be put into practice. In other words, keep up the good work, Addy Indy, in letting us know developments and clarifications as they happen so the rest of the area can follow such developments and be better able to help run our own local schools. Peter Grant Bristol
What a hoot A BARRED OWL hangs out in a Leicester tree last weekend.
Photo by Stephanie Manning/Brandon Reporter
Dandelions welcome at my dinner As the last snowfall of the winter of 2015-2016 recedes into memory, it feels like spring has truly arrived. Even before that last snow — gosh, only a little more than two weeks ago — me and my family were getting the lawn cleared of its winter debris and I even puttered around in the garden the weekend before that snow. I got my peas in the ground then. What? You’re wondering why I didn’t get my peas in the ground until the last full weekend of April? Well, I haven’t got my peas in the ground anytime during the past two years, so the fact that I got two different varieties planted — and some spinach! — before Memorial Day put me way ahead of where I usually am. And we’ve had some gorgeous days. Blue skies, a little wind to dry the clothes on the line, not too warm nor By John too many flying bugs. McCright But the best thing about the spring so far may be the dandelions. Even though I grew up in American suburbia, where the immaculately manicured lawns stretch off as far as the eye can see and one is taught to consider dandelions invaders that mar the landscape, I love dandelions. Sure, I love the happy yellow of flower, which is interesting to look upon both as a single blossom and as a field full of blossoms. And the leaves with their “tooth of a lion” jaggedy edges possess a beauty in their own way. But what I really love about dandelions is not looking at them — it is eating them. In the spring, after a season of second- and third-rate greens that come to us from thousands of miles away with most of their character and nutrients sapped by the long journey, I crave the first green leaves of the dandelion plant. Absentmind-
edly I loiter in the yard crouching to pick a few dandelion leaves and pop them in my mouth; then I take a few steps, crouch, and pop a bigger handful. It’s no wonder. One cup of cooked dandelions has more calcium than a cup of cottage cheese, according to nutritionist Jenny Brewer, who hosts the “Green Tea and Honey” radio show with Dr. Aimee Shunny. They say that dandelions are rich in iron; Vitamins B, C and E; some minerals; and dietary fiber. As such, the noble plant promotes liver function, improves blood sugar control, helps clean intestines and promotes the immune system in the gut. Somehow, I think, my body knows that dandelions are good for me and I truly crave them. It’s not that my mouth waters when I see this plant, but when I taste it I just have to reach for more. Dandelion greens are, no doubt, bitter. But I think the bitterness balances out the overly sweet and salty diet that most of us consume. In a cooking podcast I listened to, travel writer Zora O’Neill paired dandelions with a fatty meatloaf, which she says acts as a tonic to the greasy dish. I think I first considered eating a dandelion green after I read Mary E. Wilkins Freeman’s 1887 short story “A Mistaken Charity,” a tale of two desperately poor old spinster sisters that opens with the deaf sister crawling about the front yard of a rundown cottage gathering in her apron a “mess” of dandelions to eat as dinner. The image of the tough old birds subsisting on such plain and humble fare struck a chord in me. Initially I ate it raw, (See Clippings, Page 5A)
Clippings
Trump poses problem for Vt. GOP Donald Trump’s clinching the Republican presidential nomination will pose challenges for Vermont Republicans. In order to win statewide races, GOP candidates need the votes of independents, who disapprove of Trump by large margins. Trump did win the Vermont Republican primary in March, with 33 percent of the vote. However, he received only 10 percent of all votes cast on Town Meeting Day. In November, Trump could well receive less than 40 percent of the Vermont presidential vote. Trump’s only hope of doing better in Vermont would be a low turnout resulting from thousands of disenchanted Bernie Sanders supporters staying home rather than voting for Hillary Clinton. The Vermont Republican who faces the greatest challenges with Trump at the top of the GOP ticket is Lt. Gov. Phil Scott, the likely winner of the Republican gubernatorial primary. By Eric L. Davis Scott should be able to withstand these challenges. He is a well-known figure, about whom many voters have an opinion independent of his Republican ballot label. In 2004 and 2008, Jim Douglas demonstrated that Republicans can win the governorship in Vermont even in years when Democratic presidential candidates receive well over 60 percent of the vote in the state. Scott has also made clear his opposition to Trump’s candidacy. He spoke out against Trump’s style and issue positions before the March primary. Scott told reporters last week that he will write in Jim Douglas’ name on his presidential ballot in November. Bruce Lisman, the other candidate in the Republican
Politically Thinking
gubernatorial primary, has been more coy about Trump. While he supported Ohio Gov. John Kasich in the primary, Lisman has yet to disassociate himself from Trump. Perhaps he wants to curry favor with the small group of conservative Vermont Republicans who have never been enthusiastic about Scott, because they believe he has not done enough to sharpen differences between the Republican and Democratic parties in the state. Some of these conservative Vermont Republicans support Trump, among them Darcie Johnston, Trump’s newly named state director, who has led intra-party efforts against moderate Vermont Republicans in the past. In any case, Lisman’s hesitancy in speaking out against Trump may not bode well for his ability to be a gubernatorial candidate with broad appeal in November. Another Vermont Republican who could be affected by backlash against Trump is Scott Milne. Milne, who nearly defeated Gov. Shumlin in 2014, is likely to announce soon that he will oppose Sen. Patrick Leahy’s re-election in November. This will be a difficult race to begin with — Leahy is much more popular in Vermont than Shumlin, and the turnout this fall will be much higher than two years ago, when Milne benefited from the lowest off-year turnout in Vermont in 50 years. Milne will have to answer questions about his support for the national Republican agenda, and Sen. Mitch McConnell’s continuing as Senate Majority Leader. Unlike House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has said he cannot support Trump, McConnell told reporters that he will sup(See Davis, Page 5A)
Sorrell joins the ‘global warmists’ Is anyone surprised that Vermont’s Attorney General William Sorrell has joined forces with left-wing Democrat attorneys general to shake down Exxon Mobil for daring to express their skepticism about anthropomorphic global warming? Led by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a growing group of A.G.’s are launching a full-out attack on the oil industry. For their point man, and possible fall guy in the event, the whole initiative goes sideways, they deployed Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands Claude Earl Walker to subpoena the Competitive Enterprise Institute for 10 years worth of communications with and about Exxon Mobil. The CEI is a think tank dedicated to advancing the principles of limited government, free enterprise and individual liberty. Their stated mission is to promote freedom and fairness by “making good policy good politics.” They are also deeply skeptical of the global warmist’s alarm theories. Interestingly, in 2015 CEI published a list of the “Nation’s Worst Attorneys General” and Sorrell and Schneiderman were listed at numbers 5 and 6 respectively. “5. William Sorrell, Vermont — repeated flouting of state election laws; channeling contingency-fee lawsuits to campaign supporters; backing clearly illegal speech restrictions that were destined to be ultimately overturned; pioneering the imposition of retroactive Medicaid liability on tobacco companies.” 6. Eric Schneiderman, New York — seeking campaign contributions from those who stood to gain or lose from his prosecutions; using payouts from his lawsuits as slush funds for his office; ignoring state corruption to the point where federal prosecutors had to step in.” Last month Top Cop Sorrell met with the attorneys general from 17 states and territories to fire the first shot in a “lawfare” scheme to drag their political opponents into court and squeeze them for reparations for man-caused climate change — a deeply flawed concept that Exxon challenges, thus placing a target on themselves for daring to contradict popular, though questionable, science. It’s a chilling abuse of power and an indication of just how out of control and corrupt our justice system has become. In the past several years we have seen stunning abuses of prosecutorial power, the most notable of which took place in Wisconsin when a prosecutor with an axe to grind aimed legal hellfire at Gov. Scott Walker and his supporters under an obscure Wisconsin “John Doe Investigation” statute that completely strips citizens of their civil rights. Our justice system does little to prevent corrupt prosecutors from (See Letter, Page 5A)
Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 5A
The good, the bad, and the ugly First, the good actions taken by pecially in instances where parents this years legislators: are deemed unfit for caring for their • Renewable energy siting re- young ones. ceived much attention this session. • Your Legislature made it easiLegislation passed that increased the er for people to register to vote by say towns and cities have passing the “motor voter” over the siting of solar bill. This measure autoand wind farms in their matically registers eligible communities. The meavoters when they sign up sure has regional planfor their driver’s license. ning commissions part• We took action in nering with town and city recognition of the imporplanning boards to create tance of our forestlands. siting standards which Measures that pertain to will receive “substantial conservation, managedeference” when applicament, timber harvesttions for siting go to the ing, and recreation were Public Service Board. passed to help us gain a • The town of Brisgreater understanding of by Rep. Fred Baser, our woodlands and their tol got a shot in the arm, R-Bristol thanks to their represenpotential in the working tatives, who allocated landscape. $145,000 from the Capital Budget to • “Ban the Box” was legislation fund the last dollars needed to close that has employers removing the Bristol’s landfill. question of one’s criminal convic• The Legislature passed an opi- tions on the initial employment apate bill that establishes rules gov- plication giving people who made a erning prescription opiates. There is mistake a fighting chance to get past evidence to suggest abuse of opiate the initial screening process. Emprescription drugs is one of the rea- ployers can look into someone’s past sons that lead people to addictions. after the initial contact. Stricter rules in this area are wel• Additional measures address come. privacy issues surrounding electron• We passed a juvenile justice ic data. bill that protects young people, es• We sought to try to control ris-
Legislative Review
ing prescription drug prices by requiring drug companies to justify significant price increases. So what’s the bad? In my mind it is the state’s budget, specifically the General Fund, which rose by 4.8 percent. The General Fund numbers are especially important, as this is the section of the budget that depends upon our income, sales, and rooms and meals taxes. This is the seventh year in a row that the Legislature has increased the General Fund at a rate that exceeds personal income increases, growth in the state economy, and the projected rise in revenue made by the state’s economists. This trend is totally unsustainable. The ugly is the almost $100 million in fees and taxes that have to be raised to pay for our budget increases in this biennium. The 2017 fiscal year is at least the seventh year in a row the state has had to raise revenue to pay for budget increases and shortfalls. Add to this rising property taxes, and it’s easy to understand Vermonters’ concerns about the cost of living in our state. It is an election year. You have a chance to speak out on issues important to you. Please contact me with your questions and concerns.
Letter (Continued from Page 4A) taking political revenge on perceived enemies. Conversely, it does nothing to compel the justice system to take up a case in which political abuse of the legal system aids cronies and harms opponents, as was the case with the IRS’s admitted suppression of political speech for political gain aimed at Tea Party groups prior to the 2012 presidential election. Sorrell’s willingness to join Schneiderman et al. to go after Exxon would indicate that he approves of, and is willing to participate in, the Obama administration’s culture of abuse power and their inclination to trample the First Amendment for political profit. In a press release, Sorrell defended his position to investigate and possibly prosecute Exxon Mobil by stating that the A.G.’s are “defending federal rules controlling climate change emissions from large industrial facilities, and pushing for federal controls on emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane from the oil and natural gas industry. The states committed to explore ways to work together to fight climate
change, including possible investigations into whether fossil fuel companies misled investors and the public on the impact of climate change on their businesses.” Actually, what Sorrell and his associates are doing should concern every American. They are chilling free speech, and criminalizing policy disputes by asserting that fossil fuel companies do not have the right to challenge the theories that are fueling politicized global warming theory. They are announcing that those who disagree do not have the right to defend themselves from theories that are unproven and based on sketchy science. Further, they will punish the industry by extracting money in lawsuits and settlements to fund their attempts to further undermine all energy sectors (look at coal) that aren’t in line with the view of global alarmists, some of whom, by the way, have said that climate change is purely political and redistributive. The latest but not the first admission was by none other than former United Nations climate official Ottmar Edenhofer as reported in
Investors Business Daily. “One has to free oneself from the illusion that international climate policy is environmental policy. This has almost nothing to do with the environmental policy anymore, with problems such as deforestation or the ozone hole,” said Edenhofer, who co-chaired the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change working group on Mitigation of Climate Change from 2008 to 2015. “We redistribute de facto the world’s wealth by climate policy,” said Edenhofer. You won’t see that on the front page of The New York Times but it’s something skeptics have known for quite some time — that climate change is the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind, and the globalist, socialist redistributors will stop at nothing to achieve their goal of grabbing wealth from rich capitalist nations with the ultimate objective of destroying capitalism forever. And Vermont’s attorney general has stepped up to join this disgraceful, arguably traitorous effort. Alice Dubenetsky Starksboro
tried that yet; but I may. On top of the root but still below the ground is a crunchy part of the plant called a crown, which, I’m told, can be chopped and thrown into a salad (like jicama or a mild hakurei turnip) or, apparently, cooked like a carrot. The flowers, of course, can be pressed to make wine, which my father-in-law did long before I came into the picture. The author of my foraging book warns that dandelion wine is very potent; I wonder if he found it so intoxicating because he only drank it when he was dehydrated from tromping all day through hedgerows and ditches along rural routes.
I only eat the dandelions from my own yard, or maybe from the yard of someone I know well. I don’t use herbicides on my lawn, but plenty of people do. It would be a shame to waste all of the healthful qualities of dandelions by falling over dead from chemical poisoning. Dandelion love has a long tradition. According to Greek legend, Athenian King Theseus ate a dandelion salad after killing the Minotaur (this tidbit came from — I kid you not — the Weed Science Society of America). Well, Theseus was not a god, but he was a pretty sharp fellow, so if dandelion was good enough for him, it’s good enough for me.
Clippings (Continued from Page 4A) like I assumed the weird sisters did. Then I got a foraging book that suggested boiling the dandelion greens. So I tried that, along with boiled curly dock — another spring green that I find much less attractive than dandelions. The boiled dandelions were good with melted butter and salt, but I still prefer eating them raw (they would also be good thrown — literally, if you like — into a casserole or soup to add a spot of color as well as taste and nutrients). There’s plenty about the dandelion that I don’t fully appreciate. The plant that we see grows, as any suburban lawn snob will tell you, from a long tap root that must be entirely removed from the soil to prevent regrowth. Now I’ve pulled plenty of these tap roots, but I’ve never got around to eating them. That is probably because you have to do something to them first — they say that roasting the root and then grinding it into a powder that can be brewed as a coffee substitute is a good option. I’m a little too lazy and I like real coffee a little too much, so I haven’t
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Lucretius: The plague of the heart Editor’s note: This is the 12th calming, assuring, and occasionin a series of essays on Lucretius, ally funny. Thunder occurs when an early philosopher who provides flying clouds collide, or passing a link to “lost classics” through by they grate upon each other, or his epic poem “On the Nature of when they are made to vibrate in the wind, like a canvas awning, Things.” The conclusion of De rerum or clothing on a line, or sheets of natura is somber and troubling; parchment caught up in a minor Lucretius ends his poem with a maelstrom, or through their rolling graphic description of the plague motion, and like breaking waves of Athens (430 BCE), which encounter some obstacle, or when brought in its train not only ter- the wind rushes through them rible suffering and mass death, but making them explode, and this is no wonder, since even also universal despair a bladder full of air — and civic disorder. a balloon — if it were Many have wondered suddenly to burst, will why he chose to conmake a loud noise. clude his poem in this Lightning is the visway, when his overall ible manifestation of purpose is to promote seeds of fire, of inhuman happiness and finitesimal particles of tranquility of mind. matter moving at high Indeed, his sixth speeds colliding with and final book deals each other, and, like mostly with natural steel glancing off hard phenomena that are terrifying because Lucretius: the rock, creating sparks. Lucretius explains that they wreak great havoc through their nature of things thunder and lightning are products of the violence and suddenAn essay by same event, and that ness, and because of Victor Nuovo we see the lightning the human misery that often follows in their Middlebury College flash before hearing wake: violent storms, professor emeritus the thunder because light travels faster than earthquakes, volcanic of philosophy sound. And so he proexplosions, morbid ceeds with other natulakes that give off deadly gases, and, most fearsome ral phenomena. He pauses before taking up his of all, pandemics. He looks into the natural causes of these events, last topic, disease and pandemics, takes account of their randomness, to consider a curiosity of nature: for his purpose is to show that such magnetism, which is puzzling, bedreadful events are merely natural, cause, unlike the common forces that their randomness and the in- of nature, which operate by imdiscriminate distribution of the pact, magnetism seems to involve harm they cause shows that they action at a distance. He goes on to are not punishments of angry Gods explain that magnets rapidly give requiring appeasement or fidelity, off streams of particles at great but all of them accountable from force, whose effect is to create a vacuum between themselves and natural causes. All of this is further evidence the objects they attract. With noththat the world was not designed ing in between it and the magnet, especially for human happiness the object it is propelled by presand well being, that it is, as was sure from its other side towards the said in a previous essay, an acci- magnet. It is an instance of nature dental world. So, there is no incon- abhorring a vacuum. Still, it is unsettling to read sistency here. Earthquake, wind, and fire, along with plague, are the about the plague. What is horrifyconventional background of epi- ing is not the inevitability of death sodes of divine intervention and — indeed, death comes as a relief, revelation. Now they are explained but the suffering and humiliation away and revealed to be merely that precedes it. Lucretius’ source props of vain fictions when oth- of his narrative is the Greek hiserwise employed. Happiness and torian Thucydides, who was a peace of mind come to those who survivor of the plague of Athens. listen to the quiet voice of reason, The description that he gives, and and accustom themselves to gaze which Lucretius follows, transwithout blinking at the realities of lating Thucydides’ Greek into the world in which they happen to Latin, is clinical in detail, and all the more horrifying. Victims “felt live. Lucretius’ explanations of what their heads burning with fever, might be otherwise imagined their eyes inflamed, their throats as terrifying natural events are … sweated blood, ulcers clogged
Davis (Continued from Page 4A) port the Republican nominee. Milne should explain to Vermonters why they should vote for someone who would continue Republican control of the U.S. Senate, in a year in which Democratic candidates are well-placed to reclaim the Senate majority. Finally, GOP lieutenant governor candidate Randy Brock will need to take a position on Trump. Johnston, Trump’s state director, served as Brock’s campaign manager in his unsuccessful gubernatorial cam-
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paign in 2012, and tried to convince him to run against Shumlin in 2014. If Brock does not distinguish himself from Trump, the GOP could face challenges in holding on to the lieutenant governorship, especially if House Speaker Shap Smith decides
to enter the Democratic primary for that office and ends up defeating Rep. Kesha Ram and Sen. David Zuckerman in the August primary. Eric L. Davis is professor emeritus of political science at Middlebury College.
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and closed the passageway of the voice, and the tongue, the mind’s interpreter, oozed with blood, weakened by pain, heavy to move, rough to the touch.” Fever and unquenchable thirst caused many to cast themselves into flowing streams or into wells, where they died, polluting the water. Their minds became disordered, full of sorrow and gloom and deep anguish. Many who survived had neither hands nor feet nor eyes to see, their minds oblivious to all about them, sensitive only to the pain in their bodies. And there was a rank smell everywhere. Temples became places of death, for there was no help from the Gods; physicians had no remedy, they heroically gave care even when it was futile, until they and many caregivers too succumbed to the plague; and there was civil disorder, as families fought over funeral pyres; it is with this that Lucretius concludes his poem. The late H.S. Commager Jr., in a pioneering study, has shown that Lucretius deliberately altered Thucydides’ narrative of the Plague of Athens, and recast it as a sort of allegory of the human condition when it lacks wisdom. No matter how far civilization has advanced, or how grand and extravagant and luxuriant our way of life, how full of riches and conveniences, how cultivated our manners, we remain enthralled by unaccountable moments of dread and unsatisfied nameless desires, and this deep unrest befouls everything that enters the mind, and hence also how we perceive everything around us. The only sure remedy for this plague of the mind, Lucretius insists, is the wisdom of Epicurus, a philosopher from Athens and heir to Democritus. “With truth telling words he scoured the mind, he fixed boundaries on desire and fear, and revealed our chief good, and pointed the way to it, a straight and narrow path that would bring us directly to it” so that the befouling terror and gloom of the mind might be dispelled, “not by the sun’s rays or the bright shafts of day, but by the aspect and law of nature,” by keen observation and thoughtful reflection on the nature of things. There is no doubt that Epicurus is the world’s least understood, most misrepresented, and undervalued philosopher. Yet, Lucretius considered him the greatest of the Greeks. This warrants a closer look at the wisdom of Epicurus, which I shall provide in the next two essays.
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PAGE 6A — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
ADDISON COUNTY
Obituaries
Patricia Baxter, 86, Waltham WALTHAM — Patricia A. Baxter, 86, of Waltham died peacefully on March 21, 2016, at Helen Porter Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Middlebury. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., on March 14, 1930, she was the daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Dolan) Cawley. Her husband, John, whom she married in 1954, predeceased her in 1990. Patricia and John resided for many years in Kingston, N.Y. They also lived in North Carolina and New Jersey before coming to Vermont. Patricia had a long career as a legal secretary and was a member of the World Apostolate of Fatima. Survivors include her brother Thomas Cawley of Pennsylvania; sister Margaret Freehily of New
Jersey; children Kathleen Krayewsky of Waltham, and John Baxter and wife Kathia of New Jersey; grandchildren Thomas Baxter of Connecticut, Richard Krayewsky and wife Kelly of New Haven, Matthew Krayewsky of California, Kate Nave and husband KC of California, and Joseph Krayewsky of Waltham. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday, June 4, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church, Vergennes. Private burial will be at the convenience of the family in St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village, New York. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, 106 Panton Road, Vergennes, VT 05491. ◊
Blanche Dufresne, 89, Bridport BRIDPORT — Blanche Dufresne, 89, died May 4, 2016, at Porter Medical Center. Blanche was born Dec. 3, 1926, to Hervey and Cora (Gingras) Paquette. Surviving Blanche are five children, Arthur Dufresne (Theresa) of Orange City, Fla., Edward Dufresne of Deland, Fla., Ann Stone (Dale) of Bridport, Jeanne Pedersen (Robert) of Summerville, S.C., and Kathleen Vancour (Miles) of Hannawa Falls, N.Y.; a sister, Cecile Booth of Pittsford; 16 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Her Life was held on May 8, 2016, with many friends and family in attendance. Memorial gifts can be made to Project Independence, P.O. Box 581, Middlebury, VT 05753. ◊
BLANCHE DUFRESNE
BRIAN SAMPSON
Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Warner, 69, Middlebury native PARIS, Tenn. — Elizabeth “Betty” M. (Gregory) Warner, 69, of Paris, Tenn., formerly of New Haven, Vt., passed away unexpectedly in her home May 4, 2016. Betty was born on March 19, 1947, in Middlebury, Vt., to Leonard and Evelyn (Forrest) Gregory. She attended schools in Salisbury and graduated from Middlebury High School, class of 1965. Betty was known for her unique sense of humor. She loved to go to bingo, auctions, fishing and spending time with her family. You never knew what to expect in the mail from her. The family wrapping paper lives on. Betty married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Warner on April 19, 1965. Betty worked for several years at Tucel Industries. In 1987, Betty and her husband, Bob, started their own trucking company, Warner Transport, for 9 years, after which they retired due to health reasons. Betty is survived by their four children and spouses, Stacey (George) Leggett of Bridport, Michelle (John) Whitney of Sudbury, Connie (Dwight) Slayton of Bridport, and Robert (Helen) Warner of Ferrisburgh; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and many nieces/nephews; along with siblings Theresa, Bernard,
BETTY WARNER Paul, Jerry, Tommy, Bernadette, Leonard and Joe. Betty was pre-deceased by her husband, Bob; her parents; a brother, Lawrence and a sister, Helena; and an infant granddaughter, Beth Whitney. Celebration of Life to be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family at: Stacey Leggett, 2516 Basin Harbor Road, Bridport, VT 05734. ◊
Lolke ‘Lou’ Vorsteveld, 81, Panton PANTON — Lolke “Lou” H. Vorsteveld, 81, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Sunday, May 8, 2016 following a productive life. Lolke was born on May 27, 1934, in Emmen, The Netherlands, and was married to Antje Koopman, his strength and soul mate, on May 21, 1960. She predeceased him on June 14, 1993. A lifelong farmer, he and Antje moved from Holland to their farm in Panton during the summer of 1979 to provide a brighter future for their five boys. After retirement, he enjoyed watching his sons run the farm. He passionately played the accordion at home and at local nursing homes, and taught most of his grandchildren. The “Vorsteveld Family Band” under his leadership has been an annual attraction at the Addison County Field Days for the past several years. He is survived by his longtime companion, Grietje Hagenauw. He is also survived by his sister, Jantje and brother, Harman, both from the Netherlands. He is also survived by his son Lou of Derry, N.H., and his wife Wynie, son Hans of Panton and wife Melissa, son Andre of Bridport and his wife Lydia, and sons Gerard and Rudy, both of
LOU VORSTEVELD Panton; 18 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Vergennes. Interment will be in Prospect Cemetery in Vergennes. Reception to follow at the Antidote, 35C Green St. in Vergennes. In lieu of flowers, Lolke would appreciate donations to the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, 106 Panton Road, Vergennes, VT 05491. ◊
Brian Sampson, 48, Ladson, S.C. LADSON, S.C. — Brian Edward Sampson, age 48, of Ladson, S.C., passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 6, 2016. He was born on Aug. 15, 1967, to Albert and Carol (Cutler) Sampson. He attended schools in Middlebury and graduated from Middlebury Union High School, class of 1985. On May 5, 1990, he married his high school sweetheart, Suzanne Plouffe, at St. Genevieve’s Church in Shoreham. They had celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary the day before his passing. They raised their family in Bridport until they moved to South Carolina in 2006. Brian was a truck driver by trade, most recently employed with H&E Equipment. While living in Vermont, Brian was a volunteer with the
Bridport Fire Department and Town Line First Response. Brian is survived by his wife, Suzanne; his children, Matthew and his wife Elizabeth, and their son Matt of Norfolk, Va.; his daughter, Beth and her husband Jamie, and their daughters Olivia and Cheyenne; and his brother, Jeff Sampson of Crossville, Tenn. He is also survived by his aunt, Catherine (Gordon) Euber of Orwell; his in-laws, Jean-Noel and Mary Plouffe, Bernadette Colvin, Marcel Plouffe, Lise (Jeff) Fifield and Paul (Rebecca) Plouffe; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents. There will be a private memorial service in South Carolina and a memorial service at a later date in Vermont. ◊
Warren Whitcomb, 87, New Haven NEW HAVEN — Warren Whitcomb passed away peacefully Sunday, May 8, 2016, at his home in New Haven, surrounded by family. He was born Nov. 9, 1928, in Manchester, Conn., the son of Lewis and Vera (Davis) Whitcomb. Warren farmed for 30 years in New Haven. Warren was active in town government, serving as a Lister, on the Planning Commission, the Selectboard and Mt. Abe School Board. He was a charter member of the New Haven Volunteer Fire Department, and treasurer, filing for their 501(c)3 status. He remained active in retirement with his woodworking, making reproductions of early American furniture, chains, and a variety of carvings. He was an avid gardener, winning the grand prize for his blue Hubbard squash. He loved working in the woodshop with his grandchildren. He spent quite a bit of time digging for Native American arrowheads, visiting the area schools and sharing his knowledge of the artifacts with children. His collection of arrowheads from New Haven was donated to the Beeman School Library. Warren is survived by his 10 children, Kathy Barrett, Bob (Karen) Whitcomb, Peg Sherlock, Susi Steinhart, Pat Whitcomb, Julie (Bill) Heffernan, Emily (Eugene) Charlebois, Jim (Christine) Whitcomb, Rebecca (Tommy) Craft and David (Amie) Whitcomb; 21 grandchildren, Connie Barrett, Laurie Barrett, Elijah Whitcomb, Andrew Whitcomb, Natalie Angers, Stephen Whitcomb, Kelvin Sherlock, Karen Sherlock Larock, Kane Sherlock, Joe Steinhart, Brian Heffernan, Sarah
FUNERAL MEMORIAL SERVICE CREMATION PRE-PLANNING SERVICES
BROWN-McCLAY FUNERAL HOMES
BRISTOL 453-2301
VERGENNES 877-3321
WARREN WHITCOMB Heffernan, Nicole Charlebois, Luc Charlebois, Derek Whitcomb, Dustin Whitcomb, Adam Whitcomb, Nolan Whitcomb, Ryan Whitcomb, Hannah Whitcomb and Violet Whitcomb; six great-grandchildren, Caiden Whitcomb, Solomon Whitcomb, Liam Whitcomb, Eden Whitcomb, Ari Reckess-Sherlock and Braeden Angers. He was predeceased in 1976 by the love of his life, Natalie. Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, May 14, at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol from 3 to 6 p.m. Private burial service for family at a later time. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Addison County Home Health and Hospice or the New Haven Volunteer Fire Department. ◊
New Obituary Guidelines The Independent will publish paid obituaries and free notices of passing. Paid obituaries cost 25 cents per word and will be published, as submitted, on the date of the family’s choosing. Paid obituaries are marked with a “◊” symbol at the end. The Independent offers a free notice of passing up to 100 words, subject to editing by our news department. Photos with either paid obituaries or free notices cost $10 per photo. Obituaries may be emailed to obits@addisonindependent.com, or call 802-388-4944 for more information.
Cremation With A Service... A Celebration of Life, for those left behind, helps those family members and friends with closure. Even though your loved one says “I just want to be cremated– no funeral,” they forget the Celebration of Life service is not for them, but for the ones left behind. A service is a healthy way to say good-bye.
Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home 117 South Main St. Middlebury, VT • 388-2311 sandersonfuneralservice.com
Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 7A
ADDISON COUNTY
Obituaries
BEGINNING BIRDERS MIGHT spot a gray catbird like this one during Otter Creek Audubon’s guided birding walk on Saturday, June 25, in Middlebury’s Wright Park.
PHOEBE MORSE
Guided walk offered for beginning birders
MIDDLEBURY — Otter Creek Audubon will host a “Let’s Go Birding!” outing in Middlebury on Saturday, June 25, from 9-11 a.m. in Wright Park off Seymour Street MIDDLEBURY — Phoebe Extension. Participants will meet promptly Gobie Morse died on Jan. 13, 2016, surrounded by her family. Phoebe was married to Harold Wilson Morse, known as Sam (1922-2006), for nearly 60 years. They raised seven children through good times and bad with remarkable grace and integrity. A Mass for Phoebe will be held on May 14, 2016, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s in Middlebury, followed by a reception. The family thanks Addison County Home Health and Hospice and the Addison County Hospice Volunteer Services of Middlebury for their tireless, compassionate care. ◊
Phoebe Morse, Middlebury
at 9 a.m. for this all-ages, guided walk for beginning birders along the Quest Trail, a spur off the Trail Around Middlebury. People may bring their own binoculars or borrow a pair from OCAS. Snacks will be provided. The walk is
family-friendly, but is not suitable for baby strollers. This event is co-sponsored by CYNTHIA WATTERS, LEFT and Jo Birnbaum stand with the door prizOtter Creek Audubon and the es offered at the 2016 fundraiser for the Foundation for Alcoholism ReMiddlebury Area Land Trust. If search in Middlebury. The two, who have attended all 8 years, received in doubt about the weather, call extra raffle tickets for their loyalty. 989-7115.
Card party raises over $1K for alcohol research
NATHAN COBB, LEFT, Lejla Mahmuljin and Dana Ambrose Jr. will be presented with the United Way of Addison County’s Senior Youth Service Awards at the UWAC’s 2016 Community Celebration on May 26.
United Way awards celebration is May 26 MIDDLEBURY — United Way of as well as those businesses that have Addison County will hold its 2016 supported the United Way Campaign. Community Celebration on Thursday, One of the high points of the May 26, at 4:30 p.m. Tourterelle Inn evening is the presentation of Senior & Dining will sponsor this event at Youth Service Awards. New this its beautiful hillside location in New year will be the introduction of two Haven. All are welcome to this free, $1,500 scholarships awards to be ROBERT FORREST family-friendly event to help UWAC used for ongoing education, which thank and honor the people and busi- was donated by an anonymous donor. nesses who help their friends and These two awards will be given neighbors achieve better lives. to high school seniors who have UWAC will present awards to performed volunteer services that individuals and businesses who have have positively impacted our commuPITTSFORD — Robert Clifton demonstrated collaborative efforts to nity and themselves. The public is Forrest, age 77, died Saturday, May strengthen and improve our commu- invited to nominate youth volunteers 7, 2016, at the University of Vermont nity; have shown exemplary support by downloading the nomination form and generosity in time and resources from the website www.unitedwayadMedical Center. Mr. Forrest was born in Brandon for the betterment of their community; disoncounty.org or calling the office, on Nov. 7, 1938. He was the son of Raymond and Elizabeth (Ryder) Forrest. He grew up in Brandon where he received his early education and attended Brandon High School. In his earlier years he was a woodsman while supplies last having logged various areas of the state. In 1977 he moved to Pittsford and farmed for the next 30 years. ARMERS He enjoyed hunting and fishing and URY B AR loved animals. LE D KE Surviving are two daughters, Joanne ID Cone of East Middlebury and Connie Forrest of Pittsford; two sons, Chuck Forrest and Christopher Forrest, both of Pittsford; a brother, Gary Forrest of Forest Dale; and a sister, Sandra Trombley of Brandon. Four grandchildren, one great-grandson and several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive him. He was predeceased by his wife; Judy Forrest, in 1973; a son, Michael Forrest; a sister, Tina Marie Forrest; four brothers, Phillip, Gregory, Wayne and Roger Forrest; and a grandson. 0RODUCE s -EAT s #HEESE s 7INE A private graveside committal "READ s -APLE 3YRUP s #RAFTS s 0LANTS -ORE service and burial will take place at a Debit & EBT accepted later date in Forest Dale Cemetery. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to Rutland County In the Marble Works – North Parking Lot Humane Society, 765 Stevens Road, 3ATURDAY AM n PM s 2AIN OR 3HINE Pittsford, VT 05763. www.middleburyfarmersmarket.org Arrangements are under the direction of the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon. ◊
Robert Forrest, 77, Pittsford
388-7189. This celebratory event includes hors d’oeuvres from the Tourterelle kitchen. The event is free and open to the public. RSVPs arerequired for planning purposes. Call 388-7189 to RSVP or for more information.
MIDDLEBURY — The Foundation for Alcoholism Research, Inc. (FAR) on May successfully held its eighth annual lunch and card party fundraiser at the Swift House Inn in Middlebury. Thanks to the inn’s generosity, said FAR President Peg Calder, FAR has been able to hold the event, year after year, at a significant discount and ensure thousands of dollars go directly to fund research. “Alcoholism is a disease that destroys families and lives. We support the goals of this foundation and are happy to do our part to raise awareness and funds for research,” said the inn’s owners, Dan and Michele Brown. Cynthia Watters and Jo Birnbaum have attended every year and were given extra raffle tickets for their continued support. They are pictured with the door prizes, which were donated by merchants in and around Middlebury. The card party lunch raised over $1,000, which will cover operating expenses for the year and allow 100 percent of donations throughout the year to go directly to research. Event coordinator Colleen Boutin did another exceptional job of pulling it all together while chef Robert Fenn
prepared a delicious lunch: tomato fennel bisque soup with warm bread, roast pork loin with mushroom cream sauce, sautéed carrots and zucchini, lemon tarts with fresh berries, coffee, hot jasmine pear tea donated by the Stone Leaf Tea House, and iced tea. Jennifer Honeywood and Angela Scavo donated homemade cookies. Honeywood also donated colorful large emery boards for this year’s party favors. “We are fortunate to have such a generous outpouring of support from local businesses and from the community,” said Calder, noting in her remarks that online donations have dramatically increased since the launch of FAR’s new website, www.alcoholismresearch.org. She also stated that the previous research grant to study baclofen for reduced craving had been stalled for several technical reasons last year but is now back on track, and that FAR is discussing the next grant for a possible breakthrough in diagnosis. FAR has awarded three research grants. Tax-exempt donations can be sent to FAR, PO Box 54, Middlebury, VT 05753.
Pauline’s Hair Fashions is RE-OPENING
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Shop Phone 802-388-6636
PAGE 8A — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
community
calendar
May
12
THURSDAY
Author appearance in Middlebury. Thursday, May 12, 6:30 p.m., Vermont Book Shop. Vermont author Sean Prentiss will read from his book “Finding Abbey: The Search for Edward Abbey and His Hidden Desert Grave.� Info: 802-388-2061 or jenny@vermontbookshop. com. “Cuba: A Personal Journey� presentation in Bristol. Thursday, May 12, 7 p.m., Lawrence Memorial Library. Bristol resident and musician Rick Ceballos will share his story and images of the trip that reconnected him with his Cuban heritage. Info: 453-2366 or www.oneworldlibraryproject.org.
May
Christian Science Society MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT
Church Services
COMMUNITY HOUSE • Main Street • Middlebury
/( 35 ,0# -65gf9ff5 8 855R55 /( 35 "))&65gf9ff5 8 8 Mid-week Services, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 7:30 P.M.
All are invited
FRIDAY
evening of fun and card games. Come planning to play King Pede or bring your own favorite card game. Requested donation: $2.50. Sister-to-Sister gathering at Middlebury College. Saturday, May 14, 7-9 p.m., meet at Chellis House. Last get-together of the school year for Middlebury College women and local middle-school-age girls. CampďŹ re with activities and s’mores over at the college’s organic garden. Info: 443-5937. Silent ďŹ lm screening in Brandon. Saturday, May 14, 7 p.m., Brandon Town Hall. The town hall’s annual summer silent ďŹ lm series kicks off with “Spite Marriageâ€? (1929), a Buster Keaton comedy, with live musical accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis. Admission is free but free-will donations are accepted to help with ongoing renovation of the town hall. Info: www.brandontownhall.org. Frost and Fire in concert in Lincoln. Saturday, May 14, 7:30 p.m., Burnham Hall. Part of the 2015-2016 Burnham Music Series. Doors open at 7 p.m., concert at 7:30. Admission $8 adults, free for kids and teens. See the Burnham Music Series Facebook page for full schedule of monthly
talks about Syria and its people, before the war. Info: 453-2665.
May
17
Free foot care/blood pressure clinic in Middlebury. Tuesday, May 17, 10 a.m.-noon, Middlebury Rec Center, 154 Creek Road. Bring your own basin and towel. Offered by ACHHH. Blood pressure/foot care clinic in Brandon. Tuesday, May 17, 11 a.m., Conant Square. Info: 802-770-1536.
May
18
13
May
THURSDAY
May
FRIDAY
May
SATURDAY
20
Middlebury FFA students’ Spring Plant Sale! Come see the beautiful plants we’ve grown! Annuals, Hanging Baskets, Vegetables, Herbs
~ Garden Patch Greenhouse ~
Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center $IBSMFT "WFOVF .JEEMFCVSZ 75 t .POEBZ o 'SJEBZ BN o QN 4BUVSEBZT o .BZ UI UI TU t BNo QN Shop Early For Best Selection!
Proceeds Benefit Middlebury FFA Chapter
Board Member Spotlight Shari Johnson
“I joined the Parent Child Center Board after volunteering there for two years, directing the greenhouse/vegetable garden, my master gardener project. I was impressed by the P.C.C.’s mission ‘to provide support and education to families.’ It complimented my life goal of helping others, especially those who have not had the same life advantages that I have. As a veteran high school teacher and avid gardener, my involvement at the P.C.C. is a perfect marriage.�
May
14
SATURDAY
May
15
AURORA SCHOOL STATE-APPROVED GRADES K-8 INDEPENDENT SCHOOL
TUESDAY MORNING PREVIEWS May 3 rd, 10 th, 17 th at 10am
FIND OUT WHAT MAKES AURORA SPECIAL! Visit classes, meet teachers, parents & students. Aurora School provides a challenging, supportive academic environment with an interdisciplinary, thematic curriculum that fosters eagerness to learn, creativity, and personal growth. Aurora School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Financial Aid is available.
Contact us to RSVP: s AURORAK SCHOOLVT GMAIL COM s AURORASCHOOLVT ORG 0ETERSON 4ERRACE -IDDLEBURY 64
SUNDAY
21
May
16
acpcc@sover.net • addisoncountypcc.org • 388-3171
WEDNESDAY
Gallery talk in Middlebury. Wednesday, May 18, noon, Sheldon Museum. Rummage sale and bake sale in Vermont wood historian, educator and selfMiddlebury. Friday, May 13, 9 a.m.-5 taught artist Chuck Herrmann will talk about the p.m., Middlebury United Methodist Church. Sheldon’s exhibit “Out of the Forest: Woodcarvings Clothes, household goods, books by Chuck Herrmann.â€? Free with museum admisand more. Bake sale runs from sion. Also on May 18. Info: 802-388-2117 or www. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Rummage sale henrysheldonmuseum.org. continues Saturday. Youth auditions for “Alice in Wonderlandâ€? Blood drive in New Haven. Friday, in Bristol. Wednesday, May MIXED MARTIAL ARTS EXPO — at Middlebury Town Gym 18, 6-7:30 p.m., Lawrence May 13, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., New Haven United Reformed Church. hosted by TaeKwon Do KICKS. Saturday June 4th from 8:30 - Memorial Library. For ages 6-18. Appointments at redcrossblood.org will be at Holley Hall 4:00. Your choice of ďŹ ve hour long seminars, some do not require Performances or 1-800-733-2767. July 22-24. Script is one reserve previous experience, include Jiu Jitsu, power breaking, swords, at the library. Info: jennisonsjourExhibit reception in Middlebury. nunchuks, sparring (ITF TKD), other kicking drills. Cost is $85 if ney@gmail.com. Friday, May 13, 5-7 p.m., Jackson Gallery at Town Hall Theater. preregister by May 28th or $100 at the door. For more information, Blues jam in Middlebury. Celebration of a two-day show May 18, 8-10 p.m., please contact Master Kellie Thomas at 802-377-0476 or Wednesday, May 12-13: “The ArtiFacts of Life.â€? 51 Main. Dennis Willmott from tkdkicks101@yahoo.com. This is a mini-museum showcasLeft Eye Jump will provide lead ing objects with compelling stories guitar, bass and drums if you need contributed by regular folks. The backup, or take a break and let you focus is on serendipity: objects and stories about play. Bring your instrument and get ready to jam. concerts. Info: 388-6863. chance, coincidence and luck. Info: 382-9222 or Ken and Brad Kolodner in concert in Brandon. Info: www.go51main.com. www.townhalltheater.org. Saturday, May 14, 7:30 p.m., Brandon Music. Exhibit opening reception in Middlebury. Friday, This father-son duo pushes the boundaries of the May 13, 5-7 p.m., Edgewater Gallery on the Appalachian tradition by infusing their own brand Green. Celebrating the opening of the May exhibit, of innovative, tasteful and unique interpretations Historical society meeting in Bristol. “Hannah Bureau: Abstracting the Landscape.â€? of traditional and original ďŹ ddle tunes. Tickets $20. Thursday, May 19, 7 p.m., Howden Hall. Light refreshments served. Info: 802-989-7419. Reservations recommended: 802-247-4295 or The Bristol Historical Society welcomes “A Vermont Romanceâ€? silent ďŹ lm screening in info@brandon-music.net. Mike Chesley, who will present “History of the Middlebury. Friday, May 13, 7-8 p.m., Town Hall “Scenes and Songsâ€? at Middlebury College. Bristol Park Cannon.â€? Info: 453-3751. Theater. This 1916 ďŹ lm is the ďŹ rst feature ďŹ lm ever Saturday, May 14, 8 p.m., Mahaney Center for the made in Vermont. It will be shown fully restored with Arts. Middlebury College vocal students present live piano accompaniment, and will be followed by a lively sampling of musical theater from opera discussions with panels of ďŹ lmmakers, historians to Broadway in this popular and fun evening. and archivists. Run time 35 minutes. Tickets, $15, Accompanied by Cynthia Huard and Annemieke Exhibit opening reception in available at the THT box ofďŹ ce, 382-9222 or www. Spoelstra on piano. Free. Info: www.middlebury. Middlebury. Friday, May 20, 5:30-8 p.m., townhalltheater.org. edu/arts or 802-443-3168. National Museum of the Morgan Horse, 34 Main St. Celebrating an exhibit of the art and words of Jeanne Mellin, an inspiring advocate of the Morgan horse. Light refreshments served. RSVP Monthly wildlife walk in Middlebury. Tiger Pride 5K in New Haven. Sunday, to 802-388-1639 or morganmuseum@gmail.com. Saturday, May 14, 7-9 a.m., Otter View May 15, 9 a.m., Addison County Fair and Five Town Bixby Ball in Vergennes. Friday, May Park and Hurd Grassland. A monthly Field Days grounds. Middlebury Union High 20, 7-11 p.m., Vergennes Opera House. Catering OCAS-MALT event inviting community members School’s fun-color-run-walk fundraiser to beneďŹ t by 3 Squares CafĂŠ, open bar by Bar Antidote, silent to help survey birds and other wildlife. Meet at its baseball and softball teams. Arrive 30 minutes auction and live music by The Grift. Tickets $65, Otter View Park parking area, corner of Weybridge early to pick up color packets. Online registration: available in Vergennes at Linda’s Apparel, Classic Street and Pulp Mill Bridge Road. Birders of all www.tigerpride5K.com. Stitching, Everywear for Everybody, Malabar and ages and abilities welcome. Shorter and longer Chicken and biscuit dinner in New Haven. Sunday, the Bixby Library. All proceeds support the library. routes possible. Info: 388-6019 or 388-1007. May 15, noon-2 p.m., New Haven Congregational Hungrytown in concert in Lincoln. Friday, May Town Wide Yard Sale in Monkton. Saturday, May Church. Sittings at noon and 1 p.m. Gluten-free 20, 7-8 p.m., Starksboro Public Library. The roots 14, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Monkton Firehouse and houses alternatives available. Adults $10, children 6-12 music duo of Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson around town. Breakfast, lunch and snacks avail$5, under 6 free. Takeout available. Walk-ins OK gives a free concert. About the music: hungrytown. able at the ďŹ re station. Maps available on sale day but reservations appreciated: 453-3498. net. Info: 453-3732. at the ďŹ re station or Monkton General Store. To Spring handbell concert in Weybridge. Sunday, host a sale, call 802-338-6731 or email jls_2499@ May 15, 3 p.m., Weybridge Congregational hotmail.com. Church. Info: 545-2895. Rummage sale in Middlebury. Saturday, May 14, CPO spring concert in Middlebury. Sunday, May Green Mountain Club hike in Lincoln. 9 a.m.-noon, Middlebury United Methodist Church. 15, 4 p.m., Town Hall Theater. The Champlain Saturday, May 21, time and meeting Clothes, household goods, books and more. Philharmonic’s spring concert, titled “Storytellers.â€? place TBA. The Bread Loaf Section leads a Saturday is Bag Day: $2.50 per bag. Tickets $15 adults, $10 seniors, $5 students, availstrenuous hike on the long trail to the summit of Mt. Sustainability Expo in Middlebury. Saturday, May able at the THT box ofďŹ ce, 382-9222, www.townAbraham. Hike is 5.2 miles with an elevation gain of 14, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Middlebury Union Middle School. halltheater.org or at the door. 2,500 feet, some steep pitches, and a rocky ascent Note new location. Great workshops focused on Library open house and reception in Shoreham. to the summit, which offers a 360-degree view. transportation, speakers, displays, tours, local Sunday, May 15, 4-6 p.m., Platt Memorial Library. Dog-friendly hike. Contact leader Mike Greenwood food. Hosted by Middlebury Energy Committee, The library will celebrate the work of nearly 60 for details: mike802vt@comcast.net or 802-989Go Addison County and Go Vermont. volunteers, unveil its newly renovated Vermont 7434. More info: www.gmcbreadloaf.org. Free child safety seat checkup in New Haven. Room and kick off a summer fundraising rafe for Pancake breakfast in Shoreham. Saturday, May Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., New Haven state a painting by Shoreham artist Deb Holmes. Info: 21, 8-10 a.m., Shoreham Congregational Church. police barracks, 2490 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 897-2647 or platt@shoreham.net. Plain or blueberry pancakes with Vermont maple 7). CertiďŹ ed child passenger safety technicians will Free community dinner in Bristol. Sunday, May 15, syrup, scrambled eggs, home fries, sausages, check car seats for proper installation, and advise 5-6:30 p.m., St. Ambrose Parish Hall. Come enjoy juice, coffee, tea and milk. Adults $6, children parents and caregivers on how to choose the a home-cooked meal with your friends and family. $4, $20 families. Proceeds support the Church right car seats and install them properly. Info, or Menu: Homemade meat loaf, potato salad, rolls, Restoration Fund. to set up an appointment: 802-388-4919 or adria. dessert, coffee, tea, and white and chocolate milk. TaeKwon Do KICKS testing in Middlebury. pickin@vermont.gov. Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Middlebury rec Annual church tag sale in Bristol. facility. Come learn about this martial art and see Saturday, May 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., students ages 4-adult doing their promotional testFirst Baptist Church of Bristol. Red Cross blood drive in Bristol. ing. Skills include sparring and board breaking. Homemade baked goods, clothes, Monday, May 16, noon-5 p.m., Mount Open studio and book reading in Middlebury. toys, books, puzzles, furniture, Abraham Union High School. Info or appointSaturday, May 21, 2-5 p.m., Phoebe Stone’s kitchen items and the usual treaments: redcrossblood.org or 1-800-733-2767. Gallery, 52 North Pleasant St. Acclaimed Vermont sures. Proceeds go to the wheel“A Storytelling for Syriaâ€? presentation in Lincoln. author Phoebe Stone will open her Middlebury chair lift fund to make the church Monday, May 16, 7 p.m., Lincoln Library. Deborah studio and read from her new middle-grade novel, handicap +accessible. Harte Felmeth, author of “Syria – Remember Me,â€? “Paris for Two.â€? Red Knights Motorcycle Club ride and Vermont Mozart Festival concert in Middlebury. bike blessing in Addison County. Saturday, May 21, 7 p.m., Champlain Valley Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m., starting from Unitarian Universalist Society. The Vermont Mozart Middlebury Beef Supply in East Middlebury. Chamber Players present three of Wolfgang Registration at 10 a.m., kickstands up at 11 Amadeus Mozart’s “Haydnâ€? string quartets. a.m. Rain or shine. Bike blessing at around 1 Admission is $15 for adults and free for children. p.m. at the Vergennes Eagles Club. Cost: $15 Info and tickets: www.vermontmozartfestival.org. per bike including ride, blessing, food and music at the end. Info: redknightsvt4@hotmail.com. Bluegrass/Americana Music Festival at Middlebury College. Saturday, May 14, noon5:30 p.m., on the lawn in front of Battell Hall (off Green Mountain Club “Bound for College Street). Free. Bands include nationally Bristolâ€? bike ride. Sunday, May 22, acclaimed Pierce Pettis and Grace Pettis, with 9:15 a.m., meet at Clifford Lumber in locals Sugarhouse, Bob Degree & the Bluegrass Hinesburg across the road from the Hinesburg Storm, and Snake Mountain Bluegrass. Food General Store. A 40-mile ride on low-trafďŹ c roads trucks on site. Rain location: Dana Auditorium. from Hinesburg to Bristol, with a lunch stop at Prize bingo in Leicester. Saturday, May 14, 1 p.m., Bristol Bakery. Info: Phyl Newbeck, 899-2908 or Leicester Senior Center. Refreshments available. phyl@together.net. Season kickoff barbecue in Brandon. Saturday, Community Suicide Prevention Walk in May 14, 1-5 p.m., Brandon American Legion Middlebury. Sunday, May 22, 8 a.m., Middlebury Post 55. Admission $10, free for kids 12 and Rec Center, Creek Road. Donations support the younger; includes food and water with more beverTJ Duncanson Scholarship Fund, suicide prevenages available for purchase. Live music, rafes. tion programs in Addison County and Vermont Proceeds beneďŹ t Vermont Fallen Heroes and the Suicide Prevention. Registration from 8-9 a.m., Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation. walk at 9:15. Rafe and silent auction before the Info: 802-236-9657. event. Info: 31alysia@gmail.com or 802-289-1396. Steak dinner and dance in Middlebury. Saturday, Online donations: https://goo.gl/PaHnNu. Online May 14, 5 p.m., Middlebury VFW. Dinner from registration: https://goo.gl/6B3ShT. 5-7 p.m., featuring charcoal-grilled 8-ounce New “Black Faces, White Spacesâ€? presentation in York strip steak, baked potato, vegetable and Ferrisburgh. Sunday, May 22, 3 p.m., Rokeby dessert. Dancing follows, with music by Triple B Museum. On Rokeby’s 2016 opening day, scholarDJ. Meal price $15. RSVP by May 7 to Wendy at activist Carolyn Finney will talk about how African 802-388-9468. Americans are underrepresented in outdoor Roast pork supper in Vergennes. Saturday, May recreation and the environmental movement. Info: 14, 5-6:30 p.m., Vergennes United Methodist 877-3406 or www.rokeby.org. Church. Roast pork, mashed potatoes, stufďŹ ng, Opera Company of Middlebury’s “Meet the vegetable, applesauce, roll, dessert and beverage. Singersâ€? event in Middlebury. Sunday, May 22, Adults $9, children $5. Served buffet-style. Takeout “ROOT FENCE EGRETâ€? is currently on dis5-7 p.m., Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist available. play at the Sheldon Museum in Middlebury Church. The professional cast of Verdi’s “Macbeth,â€? Student talent show in Salisbury. Saturday, May in an exhibit titled “Out of the Forest: Woodwhich runs at Town Hall Theater in early June, will 14, 6:30 p.m., Salisbury Community School. carvings by Chuck Herrmann.â€? Herrmann will be on hand for drinks and hors d’oeuvres and then King Pede party in Ferrisburgh. Saturday, May 14, give a gallery talk on the exhibit on Wedneswill perform their favorite arias. Tickets, $35, include 6:30-8:30 p.m., Ferrisburgh Community Center day, May 18, at noon at the museum. appetizers, the performance and a complimentary and Town Hall. Sandwich supper followed by an
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24 Varieties of Tomatoes Available!
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Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 9A
ticket to “Young Artists in Recitalâ€? on June 2 at THT. Tickets available at the THT box ofďŹ ce, 382-9222, www.townhalltheater.org or at the door.
May
24
TUESDAY
Senior meal and discussion in Middlebury. Tuesday, May 24, 11 a.m., Middlebury VFW. CVAA invites area seniors to a discussion with gubernatorial candidate Matt Dunne, who will talk about issues surrounding aging in Vermont. Noon meal features chicken breast with vegetable sweet-and-sour sauce, brown rice pilaf with vegetables, broccoli orets, whole wheat bread and pineapple for dessert. Coffee and decaf. Suggested donation $4. Reservations required: 1-802-865-0360, ext. 1070. Free transportation with ACTR: 802-388-1946. Info about CVAA: www.cvaa.org. Red Cross blood drive in Ferrisburgh. Tuesday, May 24, 1-6 p.m., Ferrisburgh Town Hall, 3279 Route 7. Info or appointments: redcrossblood.org or 1-800-733-2767. Movie night for adults in Lincoln. Tuesday, May 24, 6:30 p.m., Lincoln Library. Call for movie title. Movie is rated G and stars Walter Matthau. Info: 453-2665.
May
25
WEDNESDAY
Computer help in Lincoln. Wednesday, May 25, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Lincoln Library. Call to sign up for a time and tell us the topic you need help with: 453-2665.
May
26
THURSDAY
United Way community celebration in New Haven. Thursday, May 26, 4:30 p.m., Tourterelle Inn & Dining. Free, familyfriendly event to honor the people and businesses who help friends and neighbors achieve better lives. Hors d’oeuvres served. RSVP’s requested: 388-7189. Book discussion in Lincoln. Thursday, May 26, 7 p.m., Lincoln Library. This month’s title: “Between the World and Me� by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Info: 453-2665. Gardening discussion in Salisbury. Thursday, May 26, 7 p.m., Salisbury Public Library. Come talk gardening with some local experts. Bring your experience, questions, and extra seeds or seedlings. Learn about the library’s Seed Savers collection. Refreshments served.
LIVE MUSI C The Willoughbys in New Haven. Friday, May 13, 6-8 p.m., Lincoln Peak Vineyard. Mike Burbank & Friends in Middlebury. Friday, May 13, 6 p.m., Two Brothers Tavern. Coon Hill John in Middlebury. Friday, May 13, 8-10 p.m., 51 Main. The Eschatones in Middlebury. Friday, May 13, 9 p.m., Two Brothers Tavern. Mogani in Middlebury. Saturday, May 14, 8:3010:30 p.m., 51 Main. Bad Smell in Middlebury. Thursday, May 19, 8:3-9:30 p.m., 51 Main. LeMon Trio in Middlebury. Friday, May 20, 8:3010:30 p.m., 51 Main. Root 7 in Middlebury. Saturday, May 21, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 51 Main. Cooper & LaVoie in Middlebury. Thursday, May 26, 7-9 p.m., 51 Main. Gumbo Ya Ya in New Haven. Friday, May 27, 6-8 p.m., Lincoln Peak Vineyard. Deb Brisson and the Hayburners in Middlebury. Friday, May 27, 8:30-10:30 p.m., 51 Main. The Grateful Hot Club in Middlebury. Saturday, May 28, 8:30-10:30 p.m., 51 Main.
ONGOINGEVENTS By category: Farmers’ Markets, Sports, Clubs & Organizations, Government & Politics, Bingo, Fundraising Sales, Dance, Music, Arts & Education, Health & Parenting, Meals, Art Exhibits & Museums, Library Programs. FARMERS’ MARKETS Brandon Farmers’ Market. Fridays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., May 27-Oct. 7, Central Park. Vegetables, owers, plants, Vermont maple syrup, honey, baked goods, organic beef, goat cheese, hand-crafted and tie-dyed items, jewelry, paintings and more. SPORTS Co-ed volleyball in Middlebury. Pick-up games Monday, 7-9 p.m., Middlebury Municipal Gym. Jack Brown, 388-2502; Bruce at Middlebury Recreation Department, 388-8103. CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS ACT (Addison Central Teens). Drop-in hours during the school years: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 3-6 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 3-7 p.m. 94 Main St. (Middlebury Town OfďŹ ce building), below rec. gym. Teen drop-in space for kids. Hang out with friends, play pool, watch movies, and eat great food. Baking: every Thursday from 3:30-5 p.m. Info: 388-3910 or www.addisonteens.com. Addison County Amateur Radio Association. Sunday, 8 p.m. On the air on club repeater 147.36/147.96 MHz, 100 Hz access tone. Nonmembers and visitors welcome. Addison County Emergency Planning Committee. Last Wednesday, 5 p.m. State Police Barracks. Public invited. Addison County Republican Party. Third Friday, 7 p.m., Ilsley Library, Middlebury. 897-2744. American Legion Auxiliary Post 27. Fourth Monday, 7 p.m. American Legion, Wilson Road, Middlebury. Addison County Council Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. Fourth Tuesday, noon-1:30 p.m. Addison County Courthouse in Middlebury. 388-9180. Brandon Lions Club. First and third Tuesday, 7 p.m., Brandon Senior Center. Brandon Senior Citizen Center. 1591 Forest Dale Road. 247-3121. Bristol Historical Society. Third Thursday, 7 p.m., Howden Hall, 19 West St., Bristol. Champlain Valley Fiddlers’ Club. Middlebury VFW, 530 Exchange Street. Third Sunday (except Easter), noon to 5 p.m. Donation $3. Refreshments available. Looking for ďŹ ddlers young and old. Open to public. Info: 342-0079. The Hub Teen Center and Skatepark. 110 Airport Drive, Bristol. Open mike night, ďŹ rst Thursday of the month, 5:30-7:30 p.m., free for all ages; reserve a spot at thehub@gmavt.net. Info: 453-3678 or www.bristolskatepark.com. LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender,
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Coming home VERMONT MUSICIANS REBECCA Hall and Ken Anderson, a husband-and-wife duo performing together as Hungrytown, take a break from touring to give a free concert on Friday, May 20, from 7-9 p.m. at the Starksboro Public Library. Queer). Youth support group meets Monday nights, 4-6 p.m., Turningpoint Center, Marble Works, Middlebury. Info: 388-4249. Middlebury Garden Club. Second Tuesday. Location varies. Pat Morrow, 802-462-3741. NEAT (Northeast Addison Television) Channel 16. Fourth Monday, 5-7 p.m. NEAT studio in Bristol. Bruce Duncan, bduncan@madriver.com. Neshobe Sportsman Club. Second Monday, 6 p.m. potluck; 7 p.m. meeting. 97 Frog Hollow Road in Brandon. Otter Creek Poets. Open poetry workshop held Thursdays, 1-3 p.m. Ilsley Library in Middlebury. Poets of all ages are invited to share their poetry for feedback, encouragement and optional weekly assignments. Bring a poem or two to share (plus 20 copies). Led by David Weinstock. Free. Orwell Historical Society. Fourth Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. Orwell Free Library. PACT (People of Addison County Together). Third Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Vermont state ofďŹ ce building on Exchange St. in Middlebury, Health Department conference room. 989-8141. Salisbury Historical Society. First Saturday, 9:3010:45 a.m. Salisbury Congregational Church. Samaritan’s Cupboard. Assembly of God Christian Center, 1759 Route 7, Vergennes. Third Thursday through October. Vergennes Lions Club. First and third Wednesday, 6:45 p.m., American Legion. Club address: PO Box 94, Vergennes, VT 05491. Info: President Tim Cowan, 877-2382. Vergennes Rotary Club. Tuesday mornings, 7:158:30 a.m., Champlain Valley Christian School, 2 Church St. Breakfast served at 7:15 a.m. GOVERNMENT & POLITICS Addison Peace Coalition. Saturday, 10:30-11 a.m. Triangle Park in Middlebury. Citizens for Constitutional Government in Bridport. Thursday, 7-9 p.m. Bridport Community School. Learn about the U.S. and Vermont constitutions and how to defend our rights. Five-Town Area Vigil for Peace. Friday, 5-5:30 p.m. Bristol green. All welcome to speak out for world peace. Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Mobile Service Van. Second and fourth Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Every Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Addison County Courthouse, in Middlebury. The van offers written exams, customer service and road tests. 828-2000. BINGO American Legion Hall, Middlebury. Wednesday. Doors open 5:30 p.m. with early birds. Jackpot $3,000. Food available. BeneďŹ ts veterans, scholarships and community programs. 388-9311. Brandon Senior Center, Brandon. First and third Mondays. 6 p.m. Refreshments sold. 247-3121. Brandon American Legion. Tuesday, warm-ups 6:15 p.m., regular games 7 p.m. Food available, complimentary hot tea and coffee. Info: 247-5709. VFW Post 7823, Middlebury. Monday. Doors open 5 p.m., quickies 6:15 p.m., regular bingo 7 p.m. 388-9468. FUNDRAISING SALES Bixby Memorial Library Book Sale, Otter Creek Room, 258 Main St., Vergennes. Starting April 18, 2015: Monday-Friday, 2-4:30 p.m. (Thursday, 2-6:45 p.m.); and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Proceeds support library programs and materials. Brandon Free Public Library Used Book Sale. Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The 2016 season runs May 4 through mid-October. Ilsley Public Library Book Sale. First Saturday, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Vermont Room. Ongoing sale in The Last Word during library hours. Info: 388-4095. St. Peter’s Closet in Vergennes. Behind St. Peter’s. Open on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two Brothers Tavern’s Charitable Mondays. First Monday. 10 percent of entire day’s proceeds go to designated charity.
EXHIBITSMUSEUMS GALLERIES 51 Main. Main Street, Middlebury. 388-8209 or www.go51main.com. On exhibit May 2016: Works by photographer David Griggs and children’s book illustrator Ashley Wolff. Art on Main. 25 Main St., Bristol. Gallery open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. on Sundays. 453-4032, info@artonmain.net or www.artonmain.net. Basin Harbor Club. Ferrisburgh. 475-2311 or www.
basinharbor.com. BigTown Gallery, 99 North Main St., Rochester. 767-9670. Bixby Memorial Library, Vergennes. 877-2211. On exhibit May 2-31, 2016: Addison Northwest Supervisory Union K-12 art exhibit. Bobcat CafĂŠ. 5 Main St., Bristol. 453-3311. Brandon Artists’ Guild. 7 Center St., Brandon. Gallery open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. 247-4956 or www.brandonartistsguild.com. On exhibit March 4-May 3: “Out on a Limb.â€? On exhibit May 6-June 28: “Early American Decoration in Retrospectâ€? by Dolores Furnari. Brandon Free Public Library, Brandon. 247-8230 or www.brandonpubliclibrary.org. Brandon Museum and Visitor Center at the Stephen A. Douglas Birthplace. 4 Grove St., at the corner of routes 7 and 73 West. www.brandon.org or 247-6401. Open daily 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through mid-October. Brandon Music CafĂŠ, 62 Country Club Road, Brandon. www.brandon-music.net or (802) 465-4071. On exhibit: The abstract expressionist landscapes of Tom Merwin. Bristol Bakery. Main St., Bristol. 453-3280. Carol’s Hungry Mind CafĂŠ. Merchants Row, Middlebury, 388-0101. Chimney Point Vermont State Historic Site, 7305 Vermont Route 125, Addison. 759-2412. Open May 28-Oct. 10, 2016. On exhibit through Aug. 7: “Observing Vermont Architecture.â€? Compass Music and Arts Center, 333 Jones Drive, Brandon. www.cmacvt.org. On exhibit April 1-May 30: “The Girl with the Purple Hair: A Retrospective.â€? On exhibit June 3-July 29: “The Sky’s the Limit: A Vermont Pastel Society Exhibit.â€? Creative Space Gallery and Sean Dye Studio. 214 Main St., Vergennes. 877-3850 or www. creativespacegallery.org. EastView at Middlebury. 100 Eastview Terrace, Middlebury. 802-989-7500. Edgewater Gallery at Middlebury Falls. 1 Mill St., Middlebury. 802-989-7419 or www.edgewatergallery-vt.com. On exhibit April 2016: “Jill Matthews: Full Bloom.â€? Edgewater Gallery on the Green. 6 Merchants Row, Middlebury. 802-989-7419 or www.edgewatergallery-vt.com. On exhibit May 2016: “Susanne Strater: Structure.â€? Galerie Provenance. 1 Frog Hollow Alley, Middlebury. 388-3101 or Michael@galleryprovenance.com. Gallery @ 85 North Street. 85 North St., Bristol. 453- 5813 or 349-7551. Gallery in-the-Field. 685 Arnold District Road, Brandon. 247-0145 or www.galleryintheďŹ eld. com. Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History. 1 Park St., Middlebury. Museum hours Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Research Center Thursday and Friday, 1-5 p.m. Museum admission: Adults $5; seniors $4.50; children 6-18 $3; families $12. Research Center admission: $5. Information: 388-2117 or www.henrysheldonmuseum.org. On exhibit March 15-May 21, 2016: “Out of the Forest: The Woodcarvings of Chuck Herrmannâ€? and “The Curious Cousins of Vermont Outsider Artist Gayleen Aiken. On exhibit through summer 2016: “Addison County in ProďŹ le: Silhouettes from the Henry Sheldon Museum Archives.â€? On exhibit June 21-Oct. 16: “Pedaling Through History: 150 Years of the Bicycle.â€? Ilsley Public Library. 75 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4095. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. On exhibit in January: “Highway to the Sun,â€? photographs of a 1951 road trip across the U.S. Lake Champlain Maritime Museum. 4472 Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, 475-2022 or www. lcmm.org. 2016 opens May 21. Summer exhibit: “Collections and Recollections: Preserving Peter Barranco’s Legacy.â€? Lawrence Memorial Library. 40 North St., Bristol. 453-2366. Lincoln Historical Society Museum. 88 Quaker St. Second and fourth Sunday of every month, noon-4 p.m., June through October. Free. Lincoln Library. 222 W. River Road, Lincoln, 453-2665. Monday, 2-6 p.m.; Tuesday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Lincoln Peak Vineyard. 142 River Road, New Haven, 388-7368, www.lincolnpeakvineyard. com. Liza Myers Gallery. 22 Center St., Brandon, 247-5229 or lizamyers.com. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Featuring the work of Warren Kimble, Liza Myers and other selected artists. The M Gallery. 3 Mill St., Middlebury. Middlebury College Davis Family Library. 443-3168 or www.middlebury.edu/arts. Middlebury College Johnson Memorial Building.
t (FOUMF 1SFDJTF /VNCJOH XJUI The WandŽ – /0 .03& #*( /&&%-&4 t $SPXOT #SJEHFT $MFBOJOH &YBNT 'JMMJOHT %FOUVSFT &YUSBDUJPOT t *O /FUXPSL GPS $#" #MVF %FMUB %FOUBM Dr. Jim Cossaart & sta
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Call 453-5205 for more information 14 School Street, Bristol VT • 453-5205
PAGE 10A — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
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Gallery hours, Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Walkover Gallery. 15 Main St., Bristol. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 453-3188.
L IBRAR Y PR O G R AMS
Father and daughter SINGER/SONGWRITERS PIERCE Pettis and Grace Pettis, both critically acclaimed as solo folk musicians, team up to headline the Bluegrass/Americana Music Festival at Middlebury College on Saturday, May 14, from noon-5:30 p.m.
ONGOINGEVENTS
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443-3168 or www.middlebury.edu/arts. On exhibit May 16-26: Senior Studio Art Thesis Exhibition. Middlebury College Museum of Art. 72 Porter Field/Route 30 South. 443-3168 or www.middlebury.edu/arts. Museum is closed Mondays. On exhibit in the Overbrook Gallery May 27-Aug. 7: “Paul Strand in Vermont, 1943-1946.” Mount Independence State Historic Site. 497 Mount Independence Road, Orwell. 802-948-2000 or www.historicsites.vermont.gov/ MountIndependence. The National Museum of the Morgan Horse. 34 Main St., Middlebury. 388-1639. Winter hours: Thursdays and Fridays, 1-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and by appointment. Norton’s Gallery. Route 73, Shoreham. 948-2552 or www.nortonsgallery. com. Studio/gallery of Norton Latourelle’s whimsical woodcarvings. Open most days and by appointment. Orwell Free Library. 802-948-2041. Otter Creek Custom Framing. 3 Park St., Middlebury. 388-2370. Outerlands Gallery. 37 Green St., Vergennes. www.outerlandsgallery.com. Peter Fried Art. 245 Main St., Vergennes. Friday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., starting Feb. 20, 2015. PhotoPlace Gallery. 3 Park St., Middlebury. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday by appointment. Info: 388-4500 or www.vtphotoworkplace.com. Rokeby Museum. Route 7, Ferrisburgh. 877-3406. 2016 season opens May 22. On exhibit starting Sunday, July 10: “Quaker Made: Vermont Furniture, 1820-1835.” Starksboro Public Library. Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 453-3732. Starry Night Café. 5371 Route 7 in Ferrisburgh. Wednesday-Sunday, 5:30-9 p.m. 802-877-6316. Stone Leaf Tea House. Marble Works, Middlebury. Exhibit: “Foreign Language Featurel: Collaborative Conceptual Works by Yinglei Zhang and Rachel Baird.” The Storm Café. 3 Mills St., Middlebury. Studio V. 179 Main St., Vergennes, above Addison Outfitters. Info: 877-6524 or www.bethanyfarrell.com. Stratford House Pottery gallery and studio, 294 Route 22A, Orwell. Weekdays 10 a.m.-5 p.m., call proprietor Stacey Stanhope at 948-2105 to ensure it is open the day you wish to visit. Tourterelle. 3629 Ethan Allen Highway (Route 7), New Haven. WednesdaySaturday, 5:30-9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Town Hall Theater Jackson Gallery, Merchants Row, Middlebury. MondaySaturday, noon to 5 p.m. 382-9222. On exhibit March 11-May 7: “Disclosures: Coming out of Obscurity,” works by Lily Hinrichsen and Karla Van Vliet. On exhibit May 20-July 2: “Full Circle: “Emerging Images Within Handmade Paper,” works by Deborah Sharpe-Lunstead. Vermont Folklife Center. 88 Main St., Middlebury. Gallery and shop hours Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission by donation. 388-4964. On exhibit Jan. 15-April 30: “Shedding Light on the Working Forest.” On exhibit March 18-July 31: “Life Under the Shadow: Paintings by Hom Pradhan.” Vermont Studio Furniture Gallery. 718 Old Hollow Road, North Ferrisburgh.
WELLNESS CENTER
A Center for Independent Health Care Practitioners “Wellness is more than the absence of illness.” 50 Court St • Middlebury, Vt 05753
Bixby Memorial Library. 258 Main St., Vergennes. 877-2211. Monday, 12:30-7 p.m.; Tuesday, 12:30-5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday, 12:30-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Preschool multi-age story time Thursday, 10:30 a.m. Brandon Free Public Library. Hours through Oct. 18, 2014: Wednesday, 4-7 p.m., Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Preschool story hour every Friday at 1 p.m. with Deb Lendway. Movies shown every Friday at 1:30 p.m. (17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian). 247-8230. Summer programs: “Sally’s Music Circle” with Rob Zollman, Tuesdays and Fridays, July 8-29, 10 a.m., for ages birth and up; “Stories and Crafts” with Kathy Hirschberger, Wednesdays and Thursdays, July 9-31, 10 a.m., ages preschool and up. Hancock Free Public Library. Wednesday, 1-5 p.m.; Thursday, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Books, videos and DVDs. Other items available through interlibrary loan. Ilsley Public Library. 75 Main St., Middlebury, 388-4095. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. October-April, Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Baby and Toddler Story Time, Tuesdays, 10:15-10:45 a.m., Jan. 6-May 12. Preschool Story Time, Thursdays, 10:30-11:15 a.m., Jan. 8-May 14. Saturday Story Time: 10:30-11 a.m., Jan. 3-May 16. Youth Media Lab, Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m., for kids in grades 4 and up. The Zone, for grades 4 and up, Wednesdays following the school calendar, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Foodie Friday, Fridays, 3:30-4:30, for kids in grades 4 and up. For a complete listing of ongoing and special children’s activities, visit www. ilsleypubliclibrary.org or call the Children’s Room at 388-4097. Lawrence Memorial Library. 40 North St., Bristol, 453-2366 or www. lawrencelibrary.net. Monday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 1-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., free walk-in computer help. Family Fun and Games, second and fourth Fridays, 3:15 p.m. Lego Club, Wednesdays, 3:15-4:30 p.m., for school-age children. Fall 2015 preschool story times: Mondays, 10:30-11 a.m., Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Lincoln Library. 222 W. River Rd., Lincoln, 453-2665. Monday, 2-6 p.m.; Tuesday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (additional evening hours on a volunteer basis); Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Chess Afternoon, Tuesdays, Sept. 15-Nov. 17. Story time (age five and under), Friday, 10:30 a.m. Senior program, second Wednesday, 10 a.m. Book discussion group, fourth Wednesday, 7 p.m. New Haven Community Library. Located in the new library/town offices building. Tuesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, 1-8 p.m. Thursday, 1-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Story Hour, Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. Information on Facebook at New Haven Community Library (Vermont), at the website nhcl.org, or by phone at 453-4015. Orwell Free Library. Tuesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.; Thursday, 3-6 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Platt Memorial Library. Shoreham. 897-2647. Monday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 2 p.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Programs on website: www.plattlib.org. Summer programs (June 23-July 30): Preschool story time, ages 3-5, Mondays, 11 a.m.-noon; youth story time, ages 6 and up, Mondays and Wednesdays, 1-2 p.m.; drop-in crafts and activities for all ages, Mondays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m.- noon. Russell Memorial Library. Monkton. 453-4471. Tuesday and Thursday, 3-7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday Story Hour, second and fourth Friday, 10-11 a.m. Wi-Fi available. Salisbury Free Public Library. 352-4198. Tuesday, 2:30-5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Thursday, 2-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon. Children’s Time, Tuesday 2:30-4 p.m. Info: http://salisburyfreelibrary. blogspot.com. Story hour, pre-K through grade 4: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m., read-aloud book followed by arts and crafts project. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Sarah Partridge Community Library. East Middlebury. 388-7588. Ilsley Library cards accepted. Tuesday, 9 a.m.-noon; Thursday, 2-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon. Book sale on Saturdays. Starksboro Public Library. 2827 Route 116, Starksboro (in town hall); 453-3732. Parking behind town offices. Monday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Story time (ages 3-5) Monday, 10:30 a.m. 453-3732. Whiting Free Library. Main Street opposite the church. 623-7862. Call for hours. Story time with Deb Lendway, 10 a.m. Wednesdays.
See an extended calendar and a full listing of
ONGOING EVENTS
on the Web at
www.addisonindependent.com
Where does memory live? When we moved grown dusty, boxes a few months ago, unopened for years in downsizing from a the attic, pictures faded large Victorian house in worn frames — we that we will hold in looked through it all. our memories as the Some of these things home where we raised were worth keeping; our sons, the act of some were not. taking the house apart Memories triggered. brought — to my The Willa Cather surprise — an image books, gifts from my of my father’s brain to father, brought back mind. the memory of how My father died at the through my childhood age of 86 from causes he placed books on my related to a disintegratbedside table that he ing brain. We thought thought I might enjoy. of it simply as demenThe Welsh Love Spoon tia, but there was much from a beloved spinster By Kate Gridley more going on. aunt. Three copies of We removed our E.B. White’s essays: things from our home one from a college deliberately. The shell, the house itself, roommate, one from my grandfather, “home” on the outside, was composed and one from my father. Which to now of empty rooms. At the end of my keep? Pink and gold place plates from a father’s life, the shell was there, too grandmother, never used. A tiny pieced — and this was comforting — but his quilt for a doll’s bed — who made it extraordinary ability with words, the and where had it come from? building blocks of his rich knowledge We found the school reports and of history, geography, politics, busi- artwork from the boys’ preschool days I ness, nature, had evaporated. had packed away in memory boxes for Where does memory reside? What is them; their baby clothes, tiny woolen home? Is it the place we live, the very sweaters, and cotton onesies; childhood shelter, or is it something we carry dolls; a box of beanie babies; a box of within? Is it a construction of memo- matchbox cars; smocked dresses made ries? Do we furnish our memories the by my grandmother in Wisconsin; way we furnish a home? Do we furnish X-rays of John’s mother’s spine; a a home by filling it with memories? roaring ’20s wedding dress packed Flashback: Eighteen years ago, we in tissue; Legos; an electric train set; took our sons on their first trip abroad broken furniture; a poem to our home to visit friends who were spending a written by a friend of Charles’ at the sabbatical year in age of 15. And box Ireland. We rented after box of family s he tried a whitewashed photographs, going to grapple cottage next to theirs back 150 years. on a green hillside. My father realized with the Arriving late at he was losing his night, jet lagged, our incremental memory long before friends greeted us changes his family figured it in a warmly lit inte- progressing inside out. By then, he had rior, hot food and tea amassed a collection ready, a refrigerator him, he was of books on the brain, fully stocked. Laid trying to furnish from biological treaout on the boys’ beds tises on its biochemhis brain with were Irish children’s istry (“In Search of books for a bedtime new information. Memory,” by Eric read, and little Irish But biology was R. Kandel, is a good flannel nightshirts. one for lay people) Yet Angus could not in charge — he to art books of brain sleep. “I want to go couldn’t forge imaging. As he tried home,” he cried into enough new to grapple with the his pillow. “I want my incremental changes own bed.” “How can neural pathways progressing inside you be homesick?” to keep going. him, he was trying we asked. “We are to furnish his brain all together, mummy, daddy, Charles. with new information. But biology was Your good friends are next door.” in charge — he couldn’t forge enough “That’s not it,” he said. “I miss the new neural pathways to keep going. air in my room.” Empty, the old house was no longer As we packed our things for the home. The new house became home as move, or gave them away, or sold soon as we furnished it — literally and them, the rooms of our home became metaphorically. Something of what is more spare, then emptier. Slowly “home” is inside us. Something of what the richness of the fabric that we had is “home” is also in the memories and woven changed. Pictures came off associations we have with the things walls revealing cobwebs. Books and we choose to carry with us. treasures came off shelves. Drawers Now and here is where we will make were emptied, releasing odors of — and lose — new memories. ancient perfume bottles, wax, rubber Kate Gridley is an artist residing bands, random keys, matchbooks, and in Middlebury. She is currently workold playing cards. Anything that had ing on a new series of paintings, “An fallen out of use, long-neglected books Iconography of Memory.”
Ways of Seeing
A
wellness
directory
Jim Condon ................... 388-4880 or 475-2349 SomaWork Caryn Etherington ................... 388-4882 ext. 3 Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Nancy Tellier, CMT ......................... 388-4882 ext. 1 Therapeutic Massage, CranioSacral Therapy, Ortho-Bionomy®, Soul Lightning Acupressure Donna Belcher, M.A. ............................ 388-3362 Licensed Psychologist - Master, Psychotherapy & Hypnosis Charlotte Bishop ....................... 388-4882 ext. 4 Therapeutic Soft & Deep Tissue ...or 247-8106 Neuro Muscular Reprogramming JoAnne Kenyon ....................................... 388-0254 Energy Work; Relaxing Integrative Massage. www.joanne.abmp.com Karen Miller-Lane, N.D., L.Ac. .............. 388-6250 Naturopathic Physican, Licensed Acupuncturist, CranioSacral Therapy. Ron Slabaugh, PhD, MSSW, CBP........ 388-9857 The BodyTalk™ System Irene Paquin, CMT 377-5954 or 388-4882 ext.1 Integrative Energy Work & Therapeutic Massage. Ortho-Bionomy® & Reiki Master Robert Rex................................. (802) 865-4770 Certified Rolfer™, Movement Educator Gail Rex...................................... (802) 989-1989 Licensed Acupuncturist, Herbal Medicine
If you’d like to be listed in this Wellness Directory, call Pam at 388-4944.
BETSY SPANNBAUER
Certified Healing Touch Therapy Practitioner Healing Touch is a therapy that helps to restore and balance energy that has been depleted due to stress, illness, injury, grief, medical conditions, surgery or medical treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. When an individual has pain, the practitioner focuses on removing the energy congestion so that the pain level is reduced. Think of times when you have been stressed and how it affected your body. You may have experienced muscle tightness in your neck and shoulders, developed a headache or had discomfort in other parts of your body. Stress causes congestion in our energy system. Healing Touch techniques help to relieve that congestion.
(802) 377-0865 email: bshealingtouch@aol.com
Crystal Rose Healing Center
www.crystalrosehealingcenter.com
Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 11A
ND
AROU
Goings on
TOWN
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ACSU eyes global preparedness School district will explain International Baccalaureate
stated mission on ibo.org. “To this has evolved to apply to all grade end, the organization works with levels. schools, governments and internaLocal school officials believe the tional organizations to develop chal- ACSU is the only supervisory union lenging programs of international in Vermont currently considering IB education and rigorous assessment. authorization. The Dover School in By JOHN FLOWERS These programs encourage students 2015 became the first public school MIDDLEBURY — The Addison across the world to become active, in Vermont to receive candidate Central Supervisory Union will hold compassionate and lifelong learners status for IB. The (private) Long a series of meetings throughout the who understand that other people, Trail School in Dorset currently district during the next offers the IB diploma three weeks to explain, program. and accept feedback A transition to IB Upcoming ACSU International on, a proposal to could be fairly seamadopt the International Baccalaureate public forums less, with professional Baccalaureate (IB) development over a Tuesday, May 17 program in the three-year authoriza6:30 p.m. at the Weybridge Elementary School library. Middlebury-area school tion process to introdistrict. Thursday, May 19 duce the program at The Independent in 6:45 p.m. at the Ripton Elementary School library. ACSU, according to late March reported Superintendent Peter Tuesday, May 24 the ACSU’s scrutiny Burrows. The IB 6 p.m. at Mary Hogan Elementary School. of the IB program as a diploma program would Wednesday, May 25 way of placing students require some changes 6 p.m. at the Bridport Central School gym. more in charge of in course scheduling their own learning and at MUHS, he believes. Thursday, May 26 to make them better Transitioning to IB 6:30 p.m. at the Shoreham Elementary School gym. prepared for success in would not mean a Tuesday, May 31 an increasingly global wholesale switch in 7 p.m. at Cornwall’s Bingham Memorial School. community. ACSU course mateOffered in more than rial or academics, Thursday, June 2 4,000 schools worldbut rather, it would 6:30 p.m. at the Salisbury Community School library. wide, the IB program be a change in how “aims to develop the information is inquiring, knowledgeable and caring with their differences, can also be conveyed and how students would young people who help to create a right.” be expected to absorb their lessons, better and more peaceful world The IB program originated during according to district officials. through intercultural understanding the 1960s as a diploma option for Reporter John Flowers is at and respect,” reads the program’s high school juniors and seniors. It johnf@addisonindependent.com.
Update sought to railroad bridges pact By JOHN FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY — Jim Gish, community liaison for the Middlebury rail bridges replacement project, on Tuesday updated the Middlebury selectboard on the upcoming $40 million project. Among other things, Gish reported on efforts to relocate the Addison County Transit Resources bus stop from Merchants Row to the north end of South Pleasant Street, and the scheduled start, this fall, of work on a temporary road from Water Street to the Battell Block parking area, and
a drainage system that will be built under the former Lazarus building site on Main Street. Gish also discussed the continuing dialogue between the town and downtown property owners concerned about what they say has been a lack of detailed project information provided thus far by the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The property owners said they want to make sure they and the town are adequately protected against any potential mishaps during the course of the complex project. They
also want the VTrans-Middlebury contract to be updated, as the current pact references a $17 million project, not the latest $40 million version. Gish and selectboard members said they understand the property owners’ concerns, and added one of their own: The importance of ensuring the project’s drainage system could be temporarily shut down to prevent the funneling of potentially hazardous material from the rail bed to the Otter Creek. “It is a matter of great concern,” Selectman Victor Nuovo said.
Picket’s pile SECTIONS OF A white picket fence sit stacked together in Middlebury this week.
Independent photo/Trent Campbell
Wright Park considered for wild bird protection
Reflective crowd MIDDLEBURY SELECTBOARD MEMBER Nick Artim speaks to a large crowd gathered at the grand opening ceremony for Middlebury’s new town office building on April 29. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
By JOHN FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury Area Land Trust Executive Carl Robinson told the Middlebury selectboard Tuesday about a proposal for a habitat management project to help sustain some dwindling “state and regional priority bird species” at Wright Park. Robinson cited the goldenwinged warbler as an example of the species that the project would help protect at the park. MALT, Middlebury College and Audubon Vermont would undertake the project, with potential funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Work would include clearing some invasive plant species, shrub land and some trees. The selectboard gave its OK, with the caveat that they and the town’s lawyer have a chance to review the specific work that would be done in what is a public park.
ROMA ‘MO’ AND ERIC MORTENSEN
Mortensens hit 50th anniversary CORNWALL — The kid from the Bronx and the farmer’s daughter, Eric and Roma “Mo” Mortensen of Cornwall, have been married for 50 years. Instead of a big party on May 22, we have been celebrating their 50th year of marriage all year long. We keep a scrapbook of their adventures as a reminder of the joys we experienced. We have simple dates and outings and visits to friends and family all over the country. Most mornings, we greet each other with “Happy anniversary.” It has been an interesting journey.
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PAGE 12A — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
Phoebe Stone open house set for May 21
BIKING ATTIRE HAS come a long way since this image of an early bicycle excursion was taken. The Sheldon Museum in Middlebury will highlight the development of the two-wheeler in the exhibit “Pedaling Through History: 150 Years of the Bicycle,” which runs June 21-Oct. 16.
At the Sheldon Museum
150 years of bicycling on display MIDDLEBURY — 2016 marks the 150th anniversary of the first pedal bicycle patent in the United States. The Henry Sheldon Museum in Middlebury celebrates this occasion by showcasing Glenn Eames’ extensive bicycle collection, which traces the evolution of the bicycle from its inception to the present, while spotlighting
Di
g n i n
the bicycle’s golden era at end of the 19th century. The exhibit will open on June 21 and run through Oct. 16. The exhibit’s high points include the velocipede, or “boneshaker,” from the 1860s, the high wheel or ordinary bicycle of the 1880s, the safety bicycle of the late 1890s, and a selection of more modern
&
Entertainment
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20th- and 21st-century road, offroad, and fat bikes. Complementing the two-dozen bicycles will be historic photographs, ephemera and bicycle accessories, as well as documentation of the bicycle’s impact on women’s liberation and children’s recreation, health, and mobility. New Yorker magazine cartoonist and Vermonter Ed Koren is lending four celebrated bicycle drawings to the exhibit. The Vermont Arts Council recognizes the exhibit as part of its Vermont Arts 2016 celebration. The Henry Sheldon Museum is located at One Park Street in downtown Middlebury across from the Ilsley Library. For more information, call the Henry Sheldon Museum, 388-2117 or visit www. henrysheldonmuseum.org.
Benefit pancake breakfast to be held in Shoreham SHOREHAM — The Shoreham Congregational Church will host a pancake breakfast on Saturday, May 21, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the church on 28 School Road, Shoreham. Get ready for your weekend chores by enjoying plain or blueberry pancakes with Vermont maple syrup, scrambled eggs, home fries, sausages, juice, coffee, tea and milk. The cost is $6 for adults, $4 for children, and $20 for families. All proceeds will go toward the Church Restoration Fund in order to repair the floor in the lower level.
A mini-museum showcasing objects with compelling stories contributed by regular folks. Reception: Friday, May 13 s 5-7pm
Fri 5/13 7pm $15
A VERMONT ROMANCE SILENT FILM W/ LIVE PIANO
Digitally remastered, the 1st feature film made in Vermont in 1916. Panel discussion to follow.
Sun 5/15 4pm $15/$10 Seniors/$5 Students
CHAMPLAIN PHILHARMONIC: STORYTELLERS
Well-loved musical tunes from Rossini’s Cinderella to Bizet’s Carmen.
Sat 5/21 7pm $15/Children FREE
VERMONT MOZART FESTIVAL As a goodwill sponsor, Town Hall Theater welcomes the Festival to Middlebury Champlain Valley UU Church, 2 Duane Court, for a performance of The “Hayden” Quartets.
fence around it. Come in through the back gate. (Extra parking is available at the Methodist church across the street.)
Sing Street; Running time: 106 rooted in authoritarian bullying. minutes; Rating: PG-13 On the day Cosmo sees Raphina Every now and then a small stun- (Lucy Boynton), a lovely young girl ner punctures the mediocrity of the standing gracefully on the steps near movie summer. Here comes “Sing his school, he approaches her and inStreet,” an Irish movie that grabs our vites her to be in a video of his band. hearts early and never lets Cosmo, of course, has no go. If I tell you this is a band. The balance of the movie about a 16-year-old story is his recruitment of high school student startschoolmates for the band ing a band, nothing unhe now must build as a veusual about that. When I hicle for knowing Raphina add that we’re talking here who is an aspiring model. about a small group of The core of the movie boys from troubled famiis that it is about far more lies who start to dream of than building a band. better lives it becomes a It is about a group of different tale. young people from tough John Carney — direcbackgrounds who begin to tor and writer of script By Joan Ellis dream of something better and songs — has crafted a than the lives their parents jewel that builds gradually live. Writer/director Carney to an ending that is an inspired cap- avoids timeworn solutions, opting stone to his movie. The story begins instead for emotional confusion and in the house where Cosmo (Ferdia gradual awakenings. He shuns easy Walsh-Peelo) and his older brother wrap-ups in favor of showing what Brendan (Jack Reynor) hang out up- can happen when young people stairs to avoid the constant fighting use dreams as stepping stones of their parents who announce that out of a melancholy life. Terrific divorce is imminent and the family performances from the principals house will be sold. Cosmo must en- and their supporting cast make the roll at Christian Brothers, a school story magical.
Movie Review
Vegetable & Flower Packs Field Proven Varieties Herbs, Hanging Baskets, Perennials, Johnny’s Seeds Compost, Organic Potting Mix and Fertilizer, Onion Sets and Organic Seed Potatoes
Thur 5/12 & Fri 5/13 Two Days Only! FREE IN THE JACKSON GALLERY
MIDDLEBURY ARTIST PHOEBE Stone will offer an open studio and book reading on Saturday, May 21, starting at 2 p.m.
For more information, contact Jenny Lyons at 802-388-2061 or jenny@vermontbookshop.com.
‘Sing Street’ will grab your heart
Organic Greenhouses
www.townhalltheater.org
The ArtiFacts of Life
MIDDLEBURY — Acclaimed Vermont author Phoebe Stone will open her Middlebury studio on Saturday, May 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. New artwork will be on display and Stone will read from her latest book at 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Stone weaves together the tales of two sisters and two generations in her latest charming middle-grade novel, “Paris for Two.” Twelve-year-old Petunia Beanly and her 14-year-old sister, Ava, are at odds about their family’s move to Paris — though the city seems magical to glamour girl Ava, shy Pet would rather be anywhere else. Stone, a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design, is an award-winning artist who has received two Council on the Arts fellowships for painting. Her work has been exhibited widely and appears in many corporate and private collections. This free event will be held at 52 North Pleasant St. (two houses North of the Methodist church on the opposite side). The studio/gallery is in the carriage barn behind the peach-colored house with a
Open Daily 9-5 – Wed & Fri 9-6
(802) 897-7031 1329 Lapham Bay Road, Shoreham www.GoldenRussetFarm.com
Lincoln
Ferdia Walsh-Peelo plays Cosmo in a consistent tone of shy questioning. Can he approach the woman he fell in love with at first sight? Can he create a band? Are dreams possible without any kind of emotional support? Walsh-Peelo creates an innocent young dreamer who never loses his shyness or honesty. A perfectly cast Lucy Boynton makes Raphina a 17-year-old who is testing sophistication, loyalty and ambition as possibilities but never quite loses her natural goodness. Cosmo: “Sometimes I want to cry just looking at her.” Jack Reynor plays Cosmo’s much older brother who long ago surrendered to the family misery and sank into drink, drugs and nothingness. In a scene so overwhelming that it reduces the audience to absolute silence, Brendan rises in sudden, strong emotional support of his younger brother’s dreams. The characters created by these young Irish actors are consistently believable, never overdone and deeply appealing in their confusion and shyness. And all of it is set to the beat of John Carney’s infectious score. You won’t forget this movie.
Have a news tip? Call Kathy Mikkelsen at 453-4014 NEWS
LINCOLN — As I was recording the sweet sounds of the peepers the other evening (to listen to in the dead of winter!) I heard the snipes whoopwhooping in the dark sky. Sitting on my porch next morning I noticed that the barn and cliff swallows have returned also. We are fortunate to have these birds to eat up the mosquitoes and other bugs. I do miss seeing all the bats, however. I wonder if they will ever repopulate our state. The Town Wide Yard Sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 28. This was
started over 30 years ago to benefit Weathervane Elderly Housing apartments with the $15 donation everyone is asked to make in order to have their location included on the map. You may sign up for this at the Lincoln General Store and on Friday, May 27. The arrows will be set out along the roadside directing shoppers to the sales. A special post will also be set out by your driveway. Weathervane thanks you for your support. The Lincoln Library will be having their Bake, Plant and Book Sale on this day, too. Please label your plants. If you would like to donate to any or all of these sales, please call Debi at the library at 453-BOOK (2665). Please, no textbooks. The Lincoln Historical Society is looking for clean, usable donations for their Town Wide Yard Sale. Items may be brought to the museum on Thursday, May 26, from 1-5 p.m. or Friday, May 27, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thank you for your help. Please call Eleanor at 453-2807 if you have any questions. Happy birthday to my granddaughter Elizabeth. She will be 9 years old on Saturday, May 14.
Free dinner on tap in Bristol May 15 BRISTOL — St. Ambrose Parish in Bristol will host a free community dinner this weekend. Everyone is invited to come enjoy a home-cooked meal with friends and family on Sunday, May 15, 5-6:30 p.m. at the St. Ambrose Parish Hall next to the town green. This month’s menu will feature homemade meat loaf, potato salad, rolls, dessert, coffee, tea, white milk and chocolate milk.
Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 13A
Young Writers Project
This week: Wishes, Gate & general writing PROMPT: WISHES. What kind of magic happens at the bottom of a wishing well?
Smoke and Mirrors
BY MAISIE NEWBURY, 15, MIDDLEBURY UNION HIGH SCHOOL
Time is an illusion measured in years. So now that I’m younger than the wisdom in a child’s tears and you’re older than death, than life’s greatest fear, now that you’re through and now that I’ve just begun, now that I’m brand new and you’re barely hanging on, and all you want is some peace —
let’s go run through the field of eternities. Leave the past and sorrow and swim away from useless realities. Let’s cry our last salt tears. Let’s go somewhere with nameless streets. Let’s do something crazy, just you and me. Because time is an illusion. It’s smoke and mirrors. So let’s go somewhere far away where time isn’t measured in years.
PROMPT: GATE. Use this phrase in a story: “She slipped out the gate and started to run …”
Her Words
BY MAKAYLA FOSTER, 17, MIDDLEBURY UNION HIGH SCHOOL She slipped out the gate and started to run into the talking about and his eyes opened wide before filltunnels of their ears. She twisted and spiraled multi- ing with disappointment. The world that he had come ple times like the dizzying rollercoaster at the fair to know and love was not as perfect as he thought, last year. Once she started, she could not stop spread- and as the rumor spread, she covered her eyes with ing around the school like an infectious disease — shame. infecting everyone with her plague of gossip. One day a little stocky kid heard what everyone was
The Picture Perfect
BY MAKAYLA FOSTER
The straight lines left by the paintbrush left bumpy streaks along the wooden frame. Blue waves of paint cascaded across every inch of the cheap square with ripples along the edges. This cool hue mirrored the apparel my family wore as we stood like scarecrows in between our beautiful rows of corn that flourished last fall. We lined up like ducklings, shortest to tallest,
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and waited in our staged positions as Mom rushed in before the camera on her tripod snapped the photo. She carefully dodged the green and yellow army with a few seconds to spare, and finally, we all smiled in sync. Our picture was approved by Mom and remains stamped on our family 2015 Christmas card and lodged within the walls of that frame.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Young Writers Project is an independent nonprofit based in Burlington that engages students to write, helps them improve and connects them with authentic audiences in newspapers, before live audiences and on web sites, youngwritersproject.org, vtdigger.org, vpr.net, cowbird.com and more. Young Writers Project also publishes a monthly digital magazine, The Voice. YWP is supported by this newspaper and
foundations, businesses and individuals who recognize the power and value of writing. To donate to YWP, go to youngwritersproject.org/support. Contact YWP at Young Writers Project, 47 Maple St., Suite 106, Burlington, VT 05401; sreid@youngwritersproject.org; or (802) 324-9539.
PAGE 14A — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
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A GROUP GATHERS for a special tai chi class at the new rec center in Middlebury recently. The event was part of “One World – One Breath,” a coordinated worldwide practice of tai chi on April 30, World Tai Chi and Qi Gong Day.
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World Tai Chi Day feted in Middlebury MIDDLEBURY — On Saturday, April 30, 35 tai chi practitioners and interested community members gathered at the new Middlebury recreation facility on Creek Road to be part of the celebration of the 2016 World Tai Chi and Qi Gong Day. The event, titled “One World One Breath,” included many hundreds of cities on six continents. It began in New Zealand at 10 a.m. moving westward; people gathered at 10 a.m. in their part of the world to do tai chi. Fourteen hours later, as it turned 10 a.m. in Vermont, we joined the “healing wave” of hundreds of practitioners in the eastern United States doing tai chi before the wave continued westward. Tai chi has been utilized as a healing art for hundreds of years, but only recently have Harvard Medical
School and the CDC provided research that indicates tai chi maintains and improves strength, balance, agility, flexibility, integration of the right and left halves of the body’s movements and upper and lower halves of the body’s movements. “A growing body of carefully conducted research is building a compelling case for tai chi as an adjunct to standard medical treatment for the prevention and rehabilitation of many conditions commonly associated with age,” says Peter M. Wayne, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of the Tai Chi and Mind-Body Research Program. Findings suggest that tai chi integrates body and mind, and positively impacts the heart, bones, nerves and muscles. Additionally, doing tai chi is highly pleasurable and
creates a sense of well being through slow, flowing, continuous movements and mindful breathing. The event was organized by Karen Glauber and special remarks were offered by Ruth Barenbaum, both of whom, along with Dotty McCarty, teach classes in Middlebury for Oak Tree Tai Chi Vermont (in cooperation with CVAA), a program offered in many communities across the state of Vermont, free of charge to senior citizens 50 years of age and older. For a complete listing of these classes, phone CVAA or email taichi@cvaa.org. We are fortunate in Vermont to have this program as well as many fine tai chi instructors teaching additional forms of tai chi and Qi gong. Editor’s note: This article was contributed by Karen Glauber.
Auditions on tap for ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in Bristol BRISTOL — The Bristol Gateway Players will stage another summer production this coming July and they are looking for young thespians to take part. Auditions for “Alice in Wonderland,” the classic fantasy by Lewis
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7 p.m. and July 24 at 1 p.m. The script is on reserve at the Lawrence Memorial Library for actors to review. For more information contact Melissa Jennison at jennisonsjourney@gmail.com.
Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 15A
Session (Continued from Page 1A) initiatives.” House. “And it’s not like the whole Lanpher believes the approved state wants it.” budget restores state spending to a Nuovo — who is retiring this year sustainable level, after several years after three decades of service in the of fiscal turmoil brought on by a maHouse (See story, Page 18) — said jor recession. This current budget Vermont should not consider recre- does not include one-time funding ational marijuana until states like sources for state programs and does Colorado and Washington report not require an increase in broadfindings on how the legalization of based taxes. It should be noted, howpot has affected their respective pop- ever, that the budget calls for some ulations. major increases, according to Rep. Opposition in the House to the Fred Baser, R-Bristol, who serves on recreational marijuana bill crossed the House Commerce party lines. Rep. Harvey & Economic DevelopSmith, R-New Haven, ment Committee. also listed defeat of the And Baser noted the marijuana bill as one of fiscal year 2017 Genthe Legislature’s top aceral Fund budget is up complishments of 2016. 4.8 percent compared “It was moving way to this year, to a total of too fast to understand all $1.4 billion. the implications of it,” It’s too much, he beSmith said of the bill. lieves. Like Nuovo, he believes “This is the seventh Vermont should take year in a row that the some time and learn Legislature has infrom the experiences of creased the General states in which pot has “We brought Fund at a rate that exalready been legalized. ceeds personal income municipal Nuovo was also increases, growth in the and regional pleased that she and her state economy, and the colleagues approved the planning projected rise in revemedical leave bill, solar together with nue made by the state’s siting legislation and land use. There economists,” Baser new regulations aimed is now an said. “This trend is toat reducing patients’ tally unsustainable.” dependency on opioids. orderly, fair and He added, “The 2017 Nuovo also hailed suc- transparent fiscal year is at least the cessful bills that clarify mechanism seventh year in a row the ground rules for for the orderly the state has had to raise homeowners seeking development revenue to pay for budto raise small flocks of get increases and shortof energy chickens in back yards, falls. Add to this rising projects on the and a measure that reproperty taxes, and quires pharmaceutical landscape.” it’s easy to understand companies to be more — Sen. Chris Bray Vermonters’ concerns transparent on drug about the cost of living pricing increases. in our state.” The new sick leave law made the New Haven’s Smith also gave a top of many local lawmakers’ “best thumbs-down to the fiscal year 2017 of 2016” lists. spending plan. He credited his colBeginning Jan. 1, 2017, Vermont leagues for working hard and makemployers must allow their employ- ing tough funding decisions to come ees to accrue and use at least 24 hours up with a budget, but he believes the of earned sick time in a 12-month pe- bottom line is too high. riod. That ramps up to 40 hours of “It’s growing too fast for me,” earned sick time per year beginning Smith said of the budget. Jan. 1, 2019. Lanpher pointed to inadequate “That was very important,” Nuovo reimbursements through the federal said of the bill. Medicaid health insurance program SOLAR SITING LAW as the biggest impact on the fisThe state’s new solar siting law, cal year 2017 budget increase. It’s spearheaded by Sen. Chris Bray, D- more than a $70 million problem, New Haven, also earned some ku- she said. dos from county lawmakers. It calls Still, she noted the Legislature on communities to develop energy was able to give what many lawmakplans as part of their town planning ers believed was a long-overdue inprocess. Those local plans should crease of 2 percent in funding for the address renewable energy — such health care providers like the Counas solar arrays — and advise where seling Service of Addison County such projects would be most appro- and Addison County Home Health priately located. The Vermont De- & Hospice. partment of Public Service will be asked to approve those energy plans and determine if they are compatible with the state’s broad renewable energy goals. The Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) will give “substantial deference” to the solar siting priorities outlined in these approved energy plans, while reviewing specific applications. The state’s current Section 248 review process for permitting renewable energy projects gives the PSB unilateral power in deciding solar project applications. “We brought municipal and regional planning together with land use,” said Bray. “There is now an orderly, fair and transparent mechanism for the orderly development of energy projects on the landscape. “I really think we have changed the balance of power,” he added. Bray also noted a compromise in the solar siting bill that calls for the PSB to draft new, temporary sound standards for wind turbine projects. The PSB will adopt permanent sound standards to take effect by July of next year, according to Bray. “It was a struggle down to the last,” he acknowledged of the bill. Bray was also pleased with the work that the committee he chairs — Natural Resources and Energy — did on advancing clean water initiatives and forestry issues. And he was also pleased with the latest state budget trends. “A concern of mine has been we should always live within our budget,” Bray said. “The consensus forecast is that the state economy will grow at 5 percent (per year). Our budget is growing at 3 percent. It is important that we pace ourselves in an affordable way.” STATE BUDGET The Legislature approved a fiscal year 2017 state budget of $2.46 billion, a figure that includes general fund, transportation, education and other special expenses. This amounts to a 2.4 percent increase, according to Rep. Diane Lanpher, D-Vergennes, and member of the House Appropriation Committee. “I really believe we’ve got the budget on the right track,” Lanpher said. “There are no major new
DRUG PROBLEM The budget also provides for 35 more permanent employees — including social workers — for the Vermont Department for Children & Families. That agency has seen surging numbers of children in need of supervision, in part attributable to more parents struggling with drug addiction, according to Lanpher. The new state budget also includes more resources to battle drug addiction, particularly in Franklin County, Lanpher said. Lawmakers also passed bill S.243, which calls on the state health commissioner to adopt rules governing the prescription of opioids for acute pain for major and minor procedures, as well as place limits on the number of pills that can be prescribed for certain procedures. The bill earned the unanimous endorsement of the Senate Health & Welfare Committee, chaired by Ayer. “There are too many drugs out there,” Ayer said. “People steal them, divert them and save them in case they have that certain pain again.” A group of health care providers will set up some guidelines for prescribing pain medicine. Also, medical professionals who dispense pain medicine will need to be drilled in prescribing such drugs and detecting signs of addiction in patients, according to Ayer. “We wanted to have something that protects doctors in a lot of ways, and protects patients,” Ayer said. She also hailed passage of bill H.812, which sets up a wide variety of protections for consumers navigating the health care industry. While Baser wasn’t a fan of the state budget, he credited the Legislature with other accomplishments, including the solar siting bill, a capital fund allocation of $145,000 to help close the Bristol landfill, a “motor voter” bill that automatically registers eligible voters when they sign up for their driver’s license, and a “Ban the Box” law that removes questions about criminal records from the very first part of job applications for state employment. Rep. Dave Sharpe, D-Bristol, spent much of the session focusing on school issues as chairman of the House Education Committee. The panel’s most high-profile undertaking this biennium was devising, and then tweaking, Act 46, a new law that calls for supervisory unions to consolidate their governance under a single board. “Other than education legislation ... perhaps the most significant piece of legislation we passed this year was the paid sick days bill,” he said in an emailed response to the Independent. “We also made it easier
Rep. Nuovo steps down from decades in Montpelier MONTPELIER — The adjournment of Vermont Legislature this past Saturday night marked the closing of Rep. Betty Nuovo’s three-decade career representing Middlebury in the Vermont House of Representatives. Nuovo, now 84, began her tenure in the House in 1980, when she became the first representative from Addison County to be elected to the Vermont House as a Democrat. A practicing lawyer at that time, she served on the House Judiciary Committee, and chaired the panel from 1985 to 1988. She served for 10 years, but then took a break from the House. But Nuovo returned in the late 1990s for a second stint that came to a close last weekend. Betty Nuovo was honored last month by Emerge Vermont, an organization that promotes women in politics. Emerge Executive Director and Middlebury resident Ruth Hardy presented Nuovo as the honored guest of the group’s annual meeting, calling her an inspiration for all women seek-
STATE REP. BETTY Nuovo is congratulated by her husband, Victor, and former Gov. Madeline Kunin during a ceremony at the Middlebury Inn last month at which Emerge Vermont honored Rep. Nuovo as a trailblazing leader in politics. Emerge Vermont is an organization that supports women who aspire to elective office. Photo by Heather Seeley
ing public office. Former Gov. Madeleine Kunin and State Sen. Claire Ayer delivered laudatory speeches about Nuovo. During her last day in the House, Nuovo received an outpouring of gratitude through speeches deliv-
for Vermonters to register to vote. this biennium after spending sevWe funded the naloxone program eral terms in various House leaderfor addicts overdosing on heroin. ship positions. He was proud of his We limited prescription painkillers committee’s work this year in elimiprescribed by hospitals nating old (pre-1990) and we passed a redriving-with-suspendnewable siting bill that ed-license (DLS) citagives localities more tions that were being input on where big carried by thousands of wind and solar energy Vermonters. Also, durprojects should be loing a three-month pecated.” riod later this year, VerSharpe also hailed monters will be able to the Legislature’s depay off outstanding trafcision to ratchet up fic violations at a rate of spending for weath$30 per ticket, accorderization programs to ing to Jewett. help homeowners and The panel also ensured businesspeople make “Several that, with few exceptions, their buildings more hundred 16- and 17-year-old degreen and fuel-effi- juveniles per fendants will have their cient. cases adjudicated in juyear won’t be “We know that the venile court, as opposed subjected to cheapest, most effecto as adults in criminal tive way to reduce our having a lifetime court, Jewett said. There dependence and cost criminal record.” are 12 exceptions to this — Rep. rule, including major of fossil fuels in order Willem Jewett crime categories such as to heat our homes is to weatherize them,” murder. Sharpe said. “Several hundred juveniles per JUDICIARY WORK year won’t be subjected to having a Rep. Willem Jewett, D-Ripton, lifetime criminal record,” Jewett said was able to immerse himself in of the impact of the new law. House Judiciary Committee work Smith applauded some other bills
ered by her colleagues from both sides of the aisle. Much of the emotional thanks was spontaneous. Her husband, Middlebury Selectman Victor Nuovo, said on Tuesday that the kind words brought “tears to my eyes.”
that were important in spite of generating few headlines during the session. They included: • Restrictions on the conditions that equipment manufacturers place on warranty contracts with dealers. This means that manufacturers will become more responsible for the expense of correcting any problems or defects in warrantied equipment. Some dealers have complained about having to absorb an unreasonable share of those expenses, Smith noted. • The creation of a “pollinator protection committee” that will work with the Agency of Natural Resources in identifying pesticides and other chemicals used in agriculture that might be reducing the populations of bees, birds, bats and other wildlife key in pollinating crops and producing honey. • A clarification of the specific agricultural products that are exempt from taxes. Smith said the Agency of Agriculture and the Department of Taxes reviewed the exemptions, some of which had been challenged by the Department of Taxes largely due to the recent retirement of some senior staff. Reporter John Flowers is at johnf@addisonindependent.com.
PAGE 16A — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
Travis Park (Continued from Page 1A) nine applicants, five of whom were interviewed. She said she was “pleased with the quality of the field,” but that she and committee and community members all focused on Park’s qualities and commitment to the position. Canning also noted that Park has family ties to the area: In an email to the Independent, Park wrote, “Our growing family led my wife and I back to Addison County, close to her family’s home,” after he started his teaching career in New Hampshire. “What made Travis stand out was his ability to connect with the kids, the faculty and with the community when he came for a site visit,” Canning said. “He had a very clear plan on how he would get to know the Addison Central School and the people in the town of Addison. He showed a commitment to being visible not just at school events, but at community events. People like that he’s from Addison County. He knows the context. He has relatives here. They felt he would be making a commitment to the school, a multiple-year commitment.” Canning said ACS teachers appreciated that Park has experience as a 6thgrade science teacher in Portsmouth, N.H, from 2007 to 2011; while in Bristol he has taught in kindergarten and from grades 3 through 6. “He’s been in a classroom, and the teachers really liked that,” she said. “When he’s acting as an administrator giving them feedback on their instruction, it’s nice to know he’s been there.” Park, who in his cover letter said he first decided to become a teacher at the age of 22 when he substitute taught in Addison County, said the community feel of ACS and Addison immediately caught his attention when he decided to look for a principal post. “The first thing that attracted me to the ACS position was a litany of shared values noted on the job posting; for example, ACS and I share a vision when it comes to commu-
Orwell
TRAVIS PARK nity and school collaboration,” Park wrote in his email. “I believe that a school is as strong as its community and the school is the heart of the community.” The hiring process confirmed his first impression, and Park said he is eager to get started this summer. “It was clear to me during my interview that the school community is invested in the holistic education of each individual student; we share the belief that a student must be supported at school, at home, and within the community for a student to thrive,” he said. “I am excited to work with such an invested group of teachers, staff members, family and community members who share the same overall goal of helping our children be successful in all aspects of their life.” Park’s experience as the “academic enrichment leader” of the Bristol Elementary afterschool program might have prepared him for administrative leadership. According to his résumé, tasks for that position including recruiting, hiring and evaluating instructors; dealing with workshop proposals; organizing enrollment, transportation and classroom space; attending and providing meetings and train-
ing; organizing community presentations; blogging and handling PR; communicating with parents; and dealing with behavioral issues. In his cover letter, Park wrote that in that post, “I have either served, worked directly with or supervised every stakeholder at the school. It has been a choice experience and opportunity. I have seen this program positively impact students, families, and the culture at Bristol Elementary School.” He also served on the Bristol Elementary School Advisory Team and its Technology and “PLE” committees; the latter committee dealt with behavior intervention and school culture issues. He also serves on the larger school district’s Wellness Enhancement Team. Asked what else folks in Addison should know about him, Park responded, “I began my teaching career in Addison County as a young substitute teacher 15 years ago. That experience catapulted me into the world of education, where I have been privileged to teach kindergarten and third through sixth grade for the last nine years. “I am pleased to continue my career where it all began so many years ago. Beyond teaching and educational leadership, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three daughters, playing guitar (poorly), and rooting secretly for the Chicago Bears in Patriots’ country.” Looking ahead, Park said he hopes to accomplish good things at ACS working with teachers and community members. “My goal is to continue to unify the school and community while celebrating Addison Central’s legacy; I will work to build the school’s future by highlighting student successes, teachers’ innovation, and community and PTA support,” he said. “In this way, we will showcase ACS’s tradition of fine education while developing areas that will give rise to the success of each individual student.” Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at andyk@addisonindependent.com.
Eastman and Glen Cousineau were elected to Orwell’s two positions on the new board. Unification supporters will spend the coming weeks correcting what they said was some misinformation spread prior to the April 12 vote, while reiterating what they believe are the advantages of joining a unified school district, a move that has already been approved in the nearby Rutland Northeast, Addison Central and Addison Northwest supervisory unions. Addison Northeast is also discussing a path to unification. Advocates for unification through Act 46 contend such a move would streamline school operations, encourage the sharing of personnel and resources between schools, and reduce long-term education costs during this era of declining student enrollment in Vermont. Opponents have voiced concerns that governance unification would diminish local control and could be a precursor to the closing of some of the state’s smaller schools. The Orwell Village School currently has an enrollment of 122 students and is not at risk of being closed or consolidated in the foreseeable future, according to ARSU of-
ficials. The proposed six-community Slate Valley Unified Union School District would serve an estimated 1,350 students. Orwell would see an estimated 10-cent reduction in its education property tax rate (from $1.41 to $1.31) in fiscal year 2017 if it endorses an accelerated merger under Act 46, according to the ARSU business office. Andrea Ochs, an Orwell resident and member of the Fair Haven Union High School Board, joined approximately 50 of her fellow townspeople in signing the revote petition. A minimum of 43 registered voter signatures were needed. Ochs said she voted in favor of unification back on April 12. She said she looks forward to a new public information campaign for residents to glean more insights into the governance unification question. “It’s something that is dividing the town right now,” she said of the issue. “It’s not perfect,” Ochs said of the unification plan, but added she believes the community might regret doing nothing and thereby allow the state draw up a plan for the Orwell school.
on school governance, that the alter(Continued from Page 1A) force, that some of the other struc- native structure proposed by Cornell, tures we looked at just didn’t provide Fisher and Olson would likely face as much simplification in the gover- legal challenges at the state level. So the committee’s Act 46 consultant, nance,” she added. The committee on May 4 voted Andrew Pond, advised it to instead to take this path with a 9-3 tally, pursue “known structures.” “I think that Herb and the folks which was more than the two-thirds majority that the committee had set that he worked with did a really great job thinking creatively as its rule for passing about what are some all votes on all issues. “One of the ways we could try to Voting for the unified biggest benefits realign the governance union were commitwithout losing some tee members Michaela with the unified of the things that they Wisell, Steve Pilcher, union is that felt were really valued Dawn Griswold, Elin it provides in the local schools,” Melchior, Kate Heath, the greatest said Stanley. “And the Sarah LaPerle, Caleb simplification of committee did have Elder, Allison Sturtevant and Ed McGuire. the governance … some pretty significant Voting against were so that our school discussions about that proposal.” Herb Olson, Nancy administrators Prior to its May 4 Cornell and Mike have more time meeting, the commitFisher. Stanley, as and our teachers tee had also conducted chair, did not vote. and everyone has a community survey According to Stanley, the committee more time to focus on issues relating to Act 46, which reevaluated all standard on what our kids vealed that while 71 merger options and need.” had also looked at an — Jennifer Stanley percent of survey participants were somealternative structure what to very likely to proposed by Cornell and Olson of Starksboro and Fisher support a unified union, a substantial of Lincoln. The committee ruled out number were concerned about losing as not applicable to ANeSU’s current local control. With the date set for a vote, ANeSU structure what are called the sideby-side, regional education district, residents came together on Monday and layered options. In addition, for a forum on school governance the modified union — which allows unification, and clearly many still some member schools to merge into have questions (see story, Page 3A). Looking ahead, several committee a district and others to opt out, while keeping the supervisory union — members said that having chosen a was rejected as offering complica- governance structure, the committee would be able to use the articles tion without substantial benefit. Stanley explained that the commit- of agreement as a place to fine-tune tee had received feedback from Don- ANeSU’s approach to unification na Russo-Savage, the Secretary of and to address constituents’ conEducation’s chief legal spokesperson cerns.
“I really think our best mechanism for moving forward with a lot of the goals we’ve heard is in the articles of agreement,” said committee member Caleb Elder. “And we can’t work on the articles of agreement until we’ve picked a structure.” SPREADING THE WORD The ANeSU Act 46 committee plans to have the unified union proposal on the November ballot to take advantage of the greater turnout that comes with a presidential election. That means, roughly, that it wants to have the articles drafted and do a legal review by the end of June, get feedback from the Agency of Education in July and August, and then submit to the Board of Education sometime in September. Stanley noted that for the rest of May and June the committee will be meeting weekly and that meetings rotate through all ANeSU towns to make it easier for community members to attend. She also encouraged community members to contact their representatives on the Act 46 committee to voice their ideas or concerns. The Act 46 committee tentatively plans to hold its next community forum as part of the Wednesday, June 8, all-boards meeting. Upcoming meetings will be held: • Thursday, May 19, at Robinson Elementary in Starksboro. • Wednesday, May 25, at Beeman Elementary in New Haven. • Wednesday, June 1, at Bristol Elementary School. • Wednesday, June 8, at Mount Abe. • Tuesday, June 14, at Lincoln Community School. • Wednesday, June 22, at Monkton Central School. • Late June/early July, date to be confirmed, Robinson Elementary.
(Continued from Page 1A) another chance at it,” he said in a Monday interview. “It would be nice (for the six communities) to all move forward together,” he added. Orwell resident Alyson Eastman, chairwoman of the ARSU’s Act 46 Study Committee, said the Orwell Village School Board will meet on May 16 to discuss the petition and likely sign a warning for the revote. Officials are anticipating a June referendum. Orwell Town Clerk Betty Walker said the revote must take place within 60 days of the filing of the petition. “I realize that we have our work cut out for us, but am also thankful for another opportunity to meet with the electorate and answer questions,” said Eastman, who also serves as the independent representative of Orwell, Shoreham, Whiting and Benson in the Vermont House. Back on April 12, voters in the six ARSU communities also elected the 18 members of a new, Slate Valley Unified Union School District board. Those elections are still valid, so those officers are in place to preside over the new unified district, if it is OK’d in a June revote.
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Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016 — PAGE 17A
Chosing college & what to study go to community colleges) and only 20 percent enroll in four-year, private institutions like Middlebury College. Despite the fact that private, four-year, undergraduate colleges and universiBy DAVID FUCHS MIDDLEBURY — Every year, ties serve only a fifth of the student national newspapers are overrun with population, these types of institutions headlines about how getting into are dramatically over-represented in college has become more difficult than coverage of American higher educaever before. Yet, as Jeffrey Selingo tion — a bias that exists because most argued Monday afternoon before a members of the national media went to them, Selingo crowd of 50 people said. in Middlebury “The newsCollege’s Dana rooms of major Auditorium, those publications and stories largely miss network news are the point. full of graduates While a small of elite, mostly number of private private, four-year colleges have colleges,” he said. gotten progres“When I was a sively more selecreporter at The tive, the percentage Chronicle, I could of students across count on one hand the country that — in a newsroom are accepted into of 60 people — the college has held number of reportstable at 65 percent. ers who went to It’s only because JEFFREY SELINGO the national media Photo courtesy of Middlebury College public universities, and most of them focuses disproportionately on the former category of went to elite public universities like schools that the American public is University of Virginia, Michigan and Berkeley, which are hardly, in some led to think otherwise, he said. A former editor of The Chronicle of ways, public universities.” According to Selingo, this media Higher Education with award-winning columns and best-selling books under blind spot for public universities has his belt, Selingo is an experts in iden- caused one of biggest stories in higher tifying trends in higher education. education to go virtually unnoticed His Middlebury talk, titled “Higher by the press: the widespread disinEducation: How the Press Shapes vestment by states in public colleges Private Gains over Public Good,” drew and universities. In the past, public colleges and from his book, “There Is Life After College.” On Monday he explored how universities were seen as a worthy the media influences public perception investment for the public good but of quality in higher education and how now are seen as a vehicle for private students today should be navigating gain, he said. “Today, more than 30 states spend school to best prepare themselves for less on public higher education than the workforce of tomorrow. Selingo explained the ways media they did in the year before the Great distorts public perception of the Recession in 2008 and, according to current state of U.S. higher education. one analysis, more than half the states According to his research, 80 will be out of the business of higher percent of American undergraduates education by the year 2050,” he said. This philosophical and financial attend public universities (50 percent
Author urges kids consider soft skills
shift has consequences for students, especially when it comes to tuition. “A decade ago, students at public colleges and universities paid for about one third of the cost of their education. Today, they’re on track to pay for more than half and, in half the states, they already do,” he said. Beyond raising tuition, many public universities are admitting more outof-state and international students to generate more revenue, leaving fewer places for in-state students. With costs rising for a bachelor’s degree, Selingo set out to examine the value of a diploma in what he calls “the workforce of tomorrow.” To determine what skills employers are looking for in new employees, Selingo spent the last two years meeting with organizations of all sorts, from government and nonprofits to tech companies like Facebook and larger organizations like Enterprise Rent-a-Car. By and large, he found that companies were looking for “soft skills” — curiosity, creativity, grit, digital awareness, contextual thinking and humility came up again and again, he said. Selingo referenced a study he conducted with Burning Glass, a data analytics firm in Boston. They collected information from 20 million job ads and tracked which skills employers listed as necessary. 80 percent of those listings repeated the same 25 skills; the top five were: communication and writing, organizational skills and planning, problem solving, detail/attentiveness and Microsoft Excel. In light of this information, Selingo concluded by urging his audience to broaden their ideas about the value of higher education — to think less about pursuing a particular degree or GPA and more about seeking out the kinds of experiences that allow students to develop the softer skills that today’s employers are seeking. “We need to leave college with much more than (a degree and a transcript) because it’s how you go to college — it’s the experiences that you have — that will have much more value in the workplace of tomorrow,” he said.
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Many free, fun and educational children’s activities throughout the exhibit hall. Ride your bike over for a FREE safety check by Frog Hollow Bikes! TIME
ROOM 100
ROOM 101
ROOM 105
ROOM 106
10-11am
A Tale of Two Bridges, Jim Gish
Energy Independent Vermont Messaging & Skill Workshop, Walter Gustafson
Getting Off of Fossil Fuels: Zero Energy Now! Program, Tom Perry and Chuck Reiss
Herbalism: Growing, Harvesting and Making Plant Medicines, Emily French
11:30am-12:30pm
How Walkable is Your Town? Chris Robbins
Solar PV – the Ownership Model, Nik Ponzio
Qualitative Sustainability Design, Lealoni Coathup, Nicholas Wood, Sam Ostrow
Simplify Your Life By Conquering Your Clutter, Maija Chamberlain
1-2pm
Transformative Transportation, Debra Sachs, Dave Cohen and Mary-Claire Crogan
Hydrogen, The Next Wave of the Clean Energy Evolution, Peter CasselsBrown
Recycling 101: Myths and Facts, Donald Maglienti
Supporting Balance in the Midst of Stress, Margi Gregory
2:30-3:30pm
What’s New in Socially Responsible Investing? Todd Walker
What Are My Solar Options? R.J. Adler
Getting Off of Fossil Fuels: Zero Energy Now! Program, Tom Perry and Chuck Reiss
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Hannah Zeno
Adults and children 16 and over $5
Children under 16 FREE
PAGE 18A — Addison Independent, Thursday, May 12, 2016
Matt Dunne (Continued from Page 1A) He performed that job in Washington, D.C., for two-and-a-half years, then returned to Vermont in 2002, whereupon he was elected to the state Senate. Dunne made unsuccessful statewide runs for lieutenant governor in 2006 (losing a close race to Republican Brian Dubie), and for governor in 2010, finishing fourth in a five-candidate Democratic primary. It was after the 2006 election that Google hired Dunne to serve as its community affairs director, which he did from an office in White River Junction. He recently stepped down from his Google job and is now one in a three-person field of Democrats vying for that party’s nomination for governor. He is competing against Townsend Democrat Peter Galbraith, former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia and current state senator representing Windham County; and Waterbury Democrat Sue Minter, MATT a former state lawmaker who most recently served as secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation. The winner of the Democratic Primary will face the Republican Party nominee, which will be either current Lt. Gov. Phil Scott of Berlin, or Bruce Lisman, a Shelburne Republican and former Wall Street executive. Dunne last week said one of his top priorities would be jumpstarting the Vermont economy. “We’ve got to make some changes, because the direction we’re going in is not sustainable,” he said. “We have kids who are going homeless, we’ve got a 50-percent increase in the number of people in poverty in Bennington County, the number of business starts has not recovered since the recession. “Places like the Northeast Kingdom that have been struggling for a long time and thought there was hope, turns out there were a bunch of crooks,” he added, referring to alleged corruption related to the federal EB-5 program and the Jay Peak and Q Burke ski resorts. Dunne’s economic recovery plan calls for: • A bonded “green jobs fund” of $100 million that would be tapped for energy efficiency improvements to apartment buildings throughout the state of Vermont. He said the bond would be paid off over 20 years through an assessment on the aid recipients’ utility bills. Specifically, a portion (50 percent) of the energy cost savings would be used to pay debt service on the bond. “We have an aging inventory of housing stock and there is no incentive for landlords to do efficiency improvements, because they pass on all the utility costs to the tenants,” Dunne said. The green jobs fund, Dunne said, would generate more jobs in the energy efficiency industry, make apartment living more affordable, improve the comfort level in the improved units, and help reduce the state’s carbon footprint. • Giving an entity — such as the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board or the Vermont Housing Authority — the ability to assess a property transfer tax fee and dedicate it to a revenue bond that would help finance affordable housing throughout the state. “I think VHCB has been quite good at identifying priorities and where to make this investment happen,” Dunne said. “The biggest challenge they’ve had is not enough money to support the projects they know are necessary.” • Providing more small business loans, with support services. “It allows for a business to build assets, so that they are no longer one flat tire away from going back into poverty,” Dunne said.
Dunne believes his IT background He also acknowledged that Vermont will not make its business bones by would be an asset in trying to work the “harpooning large corporations and bugs out of the VHC website that he said has already cost $230 million. He dragging them in.” Dunne stressed that for Vermont to asserted the state advisory board that completely fulfill its economic prom- laid the groundwork for VHC did not ise, the state must “deliver on the have any IT experts on it. “I am hopeful that we will be able promise of the electricity of our time, which is broadband. Unfortunately, the to fix the website and still be in control of our own destiny by having our mission is not accomplished.” Dunne noted there are still many own setup (rather than joining the fedareas of the state that don’t have the eral health exchange),” Dunne said. “I broadband or cell phone coverage es- believe we have to look (at VHC) and sential to making Vermont competitive evaluate it.” Dunne is a big advocate for renewin recruiting businesses and making itself a able energy projects — the subject hub for telecommut- of much debate in Addison County, ers. He believes the which has become a hub for the sitstate, with its quality ing of solar projects. County residents of life, could become closely followed solar siting legislation a magnet for telecom- in the Statehouse this year, hoping for muters and economic new rules that would give communidevelopment given its ties more input in how solar arrays are geographic proximity set up within their borders. As it stands, to the business hubs of the Vermont Public Service Board has Boston, New York and the power to approve or deny renewable energy projects that send power Montreal. “We really should back into the state’s power grid. “I would say that the aesthetic of the be shooting for 100 megabytes, symmetri- state of Vermont, if we increase the cally, and 20 at a mini- temperature significantly, is going to DUNNE mum,” Dunne said of be a heck of a lot worse than having the broadband capacity some solar panels in your viewshed,” goal for the state. “Some places (in Dunne said. “We need to be focused Vermont) are dependent on satellite, or on that fact that climate change is real and that we need to be moving toward they can’t even get satellite.” He is proposing three ways to ad- energy independence as quickly as we dress the state’s telecommunications can.” That said, Dunne said he favors indeficiencies: • A change in regulatory laws to al- volving communities more broadly in low for the use of utility poles “in an the solar siting permitting process, and favors offering incentives for locating efficient way.” “You make sure that people who arrays on rooftops and other less conwant to deliver additional services spicuous areas than sprawling fields. “We won’t always agree (on sitcan do it inexpensively and quickly,” ing), but there can be a process for Dunne said. • Bond for fiber infrastructure that engagement,” Dunne said, citing his support for a regional planning procan be used by multiple providers. • Expand opportunities for wireless cess through which community oftelecommunications using the same ficials, residents and business people medium that once delivered television might agree on where renewable energy projects would be service. best sited. “There is something “I am more Dunne on Thursday also called ‘low frequency spectrum,’ which is basi- confident than stressed the need for Vermont to ramp up its battle cally how you used to get ever that we against drug addiction. your UHF and VHF tele- can actually “It’s a huge deal,” he vision; now everything achieve said. “All the other stuff is switched to digital,” universal we want to do is very difDunne said. “That capacity health care, ficult to do if we don’t adis still available.” dress the heroin addiction Dunne believes his ex- because the problem.” perience in the tech world providers He suggested a fourmakes him the best candi- know what pronged attack: date to deliver on broad- we are doing • More aggressive band and telecommuniright now isn’t drug addiction prevention cations upgrades in the working.” efforts in schools and comGreen Mountain State. — Matt Dunne munities. “This is what I have • Placing “commubeen doing with my life,” he said. “If there is going to be a gov- nity organizers on the ground” in geoernor who could bring together the graphic areas where the drug problem right group of people to move us from is particularly acute. • Increasing drug addiction treatalmost dead last to first in the nation, I think I would be that guy,” Dunne ment resources in the state. • Eliminating what he called “the said. “It would also, I think, lead to us being the telecommuting capital of the overprescribing” of opioid painkillers. VERMONT SCHOOLS world.” Dunne is not a huge fan of Act 46, HEALTH CARE SYSTEM If elected, Dunne said he would the new state law that requires school seek to revisit a plan to establish a districts to consolidate their goversingle-payer, universal health care nance and budgeting. “There are a number of ways we system in Vermont. In the meantime, he believes the state cannot scrap should be addressing the costs of edits broken Vermont Health Connect ucation,” Dunne said. “In any role I (VHC) insurance exchange website have ever been in, what I usually do and should ensure that all state resi- when you’re trying to reduce costs is dents have access to a primary care you get rid of overhead.” With that in mind, Dunne asserted physician. He added the health care system should be rewarded based on Vermont does “not need 60 superinpatient outcomes, rather than by the tendents for 78,000 kids.” Along with administrative efficiennumber of medical procedures that cies, Dunne said he’d lobby for a are ordered. “I’ve been on the board of Dart- global school payroll system for the mouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for entire state. He also believes in one the last three years and I am more con- electronic student records system, fident than ever that we can actually multi-age classes and distance learnachieve universal health care, because ing as ways to cut education costs. “The harm of jumping to consolithe providers know what we are doing right now isn’t working,” Dunne said. dation is that you lose the sense of “The cost of health care in Vermont is connection to the community and all going up $650,000 a day. There’s noth- of the engagement that comes along with that,” Dunne said. “And, you’ll ing sustainable about that. “I’m a big believer in the capitalist have scenarios where kindergartners system, but there are moments when will have to commute an hour to get the marketplace is broken,” he added. to school.”
LINCOLN ZONING ADMINISTRATOR Bob Hall looks through a town map in the temporary storage facility that the town is using as the town vault during the construction of the new town office. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
Lincoln for the next six months in half the (Continued from Page 1A) staff were still getting organized in space. Ober said she is a little sad to say the new space. So it was possible to overhear exchanges such as the fol- goodbye to the old town office building, which will be torn down next lowing: Lincoln resident: Where’s the Monday to make way for the new one, but it was a decision based on grand list? Clerk: I have no idea. I didn’t pack cost and practicality. The old building was constructed in 1973 and proit, but Lisa has it on the computer. Ober planned the move like a com- vided 990 square feet of office space. plex military campaign, right down The new building will be more than twice as big — about to the color coding, and 2,320 square feet. supervised her move crew “It’s a lot When residents apof Truchon, Selectboard of work. proved the $590,000 town Administrative Assistant office bond in March Matthew Ham-Ellis and It’s a little 2015, the idea was to Assistant Clerk Kayla confusing. renovate the existing Atkins, along with some It’s an building and add on to it, help from selectboard opportunity Finger said. But the town Chair Bill Finger. Moving a town office to clean up.” got only one bid for the brings its own unique — Town Clerk project, which came back challenges, such as figSally Ober $100,000 over the bond. This sent town officials uring out what kind of back to the drawing board. climate-controlled trailer Finger said a committee then would provide the best conditions and security to preserve and store worked with Middlebury architecthe town’s permanent record so that tural firm Keefe and Wesner along with Mill Bridge Construction to they’re both safe and accessible. Ober expressed a considered opin- find a way to deliver an upgraded ion on what it’s like to move an en- and expanded facility within the fitire town office, complete with 200 nancial constraints dictated by the years’ worth of land records and vital bond. What the town learned was records, along with a century or so of that it would be more cost-effective lister and zoning records, as well as to do a design-build project from the ground up (including the cost of deoffice supplies. “It’s a lot of work. It’s a little con- molition) than to renovate. Ober said the town wanted a lowfusing. It’s an opportunity to clean maintenance structure that would be up,” she said. The town office in the library is built to last, and she is pleased that more efficient and more organized, the town will be able to get the buildsaid Ober, because it must operate ing within budget without compro-
mising on quality. Finger said construction is moving ahead in an orderly fashion. A new 400-foot well was drilled earlier in April (water from the dug well that serviced the 1973 building was not potable) and a mound septic system was installed. Like many an older Vermont septic system, Finger said the old system was a bit of a mystery. “Well, there was something there,” he said. Meanwhile, the town is about to finish getting all the necessary state permits. Demolition of the 1973 building is scheduled for May 16. Shortly thereafter construction will begin. The new town office is due to open in October. Finger said the town will be reusing the old propane boiler in the new building, but the new building will be better insulated and more energy efficient. “Well, it’s exciting, and it’s going to get done pretty fast,” said Finger, as construction is about to get under way. “We’re anticipating that assuming we get going the middle of May that it should be finished by the end of October, and we’ll be able to go back in at that point. We’re looking forward to a substantial increase in space and efficiency and energy efficiency. The building that’s there has served the town very well for the last 50 or so years. It’s just at the point where it needs to be bigger and a little bit improved. So that’s where we’re going, and we appreciate the town supporting it.”
ROTARY 4th Annual Rotary Flag Raising The Middlebury Rotary Club is pleased to announce its Fourth Flag Raising Project to promote patriotism and to raise funds for charitable use in our community. We invite you to join your Middlebury neighbors by permitting us to display an American flag in one of several ways during the following time periods: Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-30) Flag Day (June 14-15) Independence Day Weekend (July 2-4) Labor Day Weekend (September 3-5) Veteran’s Day (November 11) In exchange for an annual $50.00 subscription, our Rotarians will place one 3’ x 5’ flag on a 10’ pole into a short pipe which is driven into the ground so it will not interfere with lawn maintenance. The flag will be installed just after sunrise and removed before sunset for storage until the next holiday. Seeing these flags throughout town is an impressive sight. Local charities are selected annually to ben-efit from your generosity and patriotism. Homeowners and Businesses may select to have their flags on their lawns in front of their home or business, if they live close to town or the center of East Middlebury. - OR Homeowners who live in outlying areas can have their flags flown at the top of the Town Green along Rt 7 with a small plaque attached engraved “in honor of” or “in memory of” a friend or family member. - ORBusinesses that do not have a lawn or are located away from the town center, may have their flag placed on Court Square opposite the Middlebury Inn. Signs and Newspaper articles will memorialize their generosity. - OR Finally, for those who wish to honor a Veteran, Rotary will install a flag with many others in Canon Park opposite the Library. A Plaque with the Veteran’s name, rank, branch of service and tour of duty will be affixed to the flag pole. This year’s beneficiaries are: HOPE, Homeward Bound. Elderly Services, Meals on Wheels and VT Special Olympics. Please contact us at: rotaryflagproject@gmail.com or Tim Hollander at 802-989-3857 For more information, please contact us at rotaryflagproject@gmail.com