Brewing drama
Ruling the pool
Coffee and theater enthusiasts can blend those passions as a java roaster opens a playhouse. See Arts+Leisure.
The Vergennes Champs enjoyed dipping in their own pool on Tuesday evening. See Page 1B.
Candidate A New Haven man seeks write-in votes for the House seat representing his town. See Page 3A.
ADDISON COUNTY
INDEPENDENT Vol. 70 No. 28
Middlebury, Vermont
◆
Thursday, July 14, 2016
◆
Wetlands save Middlebury millions Prevent damage from Irene, other floods By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — Wetlands like the Cornwall swamp and floodplains like those near the Salisbury flats have saved the town of Middlebury between $126,000 and $450,000 a year in flood damage over the past 80 years, plus up to $1.8 million when Tropical Storm Irene struck in
2011, according to a unique University of Vermont study recently made public. And, said lead study author Keri Bryan Watson, those figures include only private property that would have been flooded without buffering and water absorption from wetlands and floodplains along Otter Creek
between Rutland and Middlebury. Watson said in an interview with the Independent that the study only measured damage from “inundation of buildings” using federal flood insurance models, and not what floodwaters could have done to public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and utilities. She called the damage estimates “really conservative.”
“What we know is that in Vermont most damages are occurring from erosion that occurs in flood events or from damages to infrastructure,” said Watson, a Ph.D. candidate in UVM’s Gund Institute and Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. “We just didn’t have the ability with our methodology to measure that kind of damage.” (See Wetlands, Page 15A)
46 Pages
75¢
After escape from the Third Reich, local artist lets her artwork bloom By JOHN FLOWERS among those who suffered during MIDDLEBURY — Some of the the Nazi occupation of their namost beautiful flowers can bloom tive Austria before escaping to the in the darkness. United States in 1939. Klara Calitri will “I think seeing all show you. the horrendous things Just give her some makes me appreciate paint and a brush and the little things in life,” her fragile, diminutive, Calitri said during an 93-year-old hands will interview at the Town send water lilies floatHall Theater’s Jacking across the canvass son Gallery, where and help some scarlet many of her paintings, geraniums stretching monotypes and ceramtoward the sky. She’ll ics are now on exhibit give them friends, through Aug. 6. such as a contempla“I think my (advice) tive cat or some deterwould be to try to have mined dragonflies. a joie de vivre,” she CALITRI Calitri dives into her added. “And I would own soul for the rainbow of colors like to leave some of that behind she imagines on her tableau. And with my art.” the reservoir remains plentiful and Calitri was born in Vienna in diverse in spite of her early years 1922. She and her parents lived 10 living in the shadows of the Third minutes away from Schonbrunn, (See Calitri, Page 16A) Reich. Calitri and her family were
Report lays out unification plan for Bristol-area schools
On the green PERFORMERS TOOK TO the annual Festival on-the-Green stage this week to entertain large crowds spread out in chairs and on blankets across the Middlebury town green. Marie Savoie Levac, above left, Béatrix Méthé and Eléonore Pitre performed as part of Les Poules á Colin on Tuesday night. The week-long festival kicked off Sunday with a performance by Kiflu Kidane and the New Nile Orchestra featuring percussionist Steve Ferraris, left, and John McConnell and Kidane, below. The festival runs through Saturday night. See more photos on Page 13A. Independent photos/Trent Campbell
By JOHN FLOWERS BRISTOL — Addison Northeast Supervisory Union officials next Monday will officially unveil a proposed blueprint for uniting all of the district’s schools into a single entity governed by one board and financed through a global budget. The July 18 forum will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lincoln Community School. The school governance unification plan is outlined in a final report and “articles of agreement” released this week by the ANeSU Act 46 Study Committee. That 14-member panel — featuring representatives from the ANeSU communities of Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton, New Haven and Starksboro — has spent the past several months determining whether the district’s five elementary schools and
Mount Abraham Union High School could reasonably merge their respective boards into a single panel to more efficiently manage the educational needs of area students. “I feel very hopeful that we’ll be able to provide even more great educational opportunities to our students by forming a larger union,” ANeSU Act 46 Committee Chairperson Jennifer Stanley said during an interview with the Independent. “I feel excited about the opportunities that this could bring for our schools.” On May 4 the committee voted 9-3 to advocate for school governance unification, recommending such a merger be put to ANeSU voters on Election Day, Nov. 8. The panel then held a series of meetings at which (See Schools, Page 11A)
Vt. is special to Fresh Air kids By ELLIE REINHARDT ADDISON COUNTY — Ulysses Suazo, a 15-year-old from Bronx, N.Y., calls Vermont his second home thanks to Rebecca Kodis and her son, Darius Kainen-Kodis, 13. For Suazo, Vermont is an escape from the chaotic pace of New York City living. “In the South Bronx, people have a problem with you even if you just
By the way Main Street in Middlebury from Merchants Row to Seymour Street will be closed on Saturday evening between 6 and 10:30 p.m. for the concluding event of this year’s Festival on-the-Green: the street dance. With musicians hailing from all corners of the Green Mountain State, (See By the way, Page 14A)
Index Obituaries .......................... 6A-7A Classifieds ......................... 3B-7B Service Directory .............. 4B-5B Entertainment ........Arts + Leisure Community Calendar ........ 8A-9A Arts Calendar ........Arts + Leisure Sports ................................ 1B-2B
look at them. Over here, it’s just peaceful,” he said. Suazo came to Vermont thanks to the Fresh Air Fund, a nonprofit organization that brings children from New York City — ages 7 to 18 — to New England, where they can attend one of five camps in Fishkill, N.Y., or, alternatively, spend a week or more with a host family in any of 14 (See Kids, Page 14A)
Local volunteers make repairs to Charter House Work to give boost to homeless shelter By JOHN FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY — Members of the Congregational Church of Middlebury have logged a lot of miles during their annual service trips to such places as New Orleans, West Virginia and Missouri to help rebuild communities torn asunder by natural disasters and poverty. This year, they’ve selected a philanthropic mission within mere steps of their majestic church in downtown Middlebury: The Charter House on North Pleasant Street. Owned by the church, the Charter House during the next few weeks will get a major facelift that will allow it — and the homeless who seek refuge there — to weather many more Vermont winters. It’s all about giving back, and sometimes that means giving one-
self a hand up, noted Congregational Church of Middlebury Trustee Dan Brown, one of around 15 people who on Monday were diligently peeling away the old, outer layer of the Charter House to prepare it for a sturdier surface. “This is a way to bond and learn more about each other, our members and fellowship,” said Brown. Volunteers are trying to replicate an experience they would enjoy on a typical service trip hundreds of miles away. While they’ll be able to sleep in their own homes, they will eat breakfasts and lunches together for the two-week duration of the work, which will involve removing the current exterior siding, putting in insulation, then installing HardiePlank siding and new windows and board trim. They’ll also paint the porch and pillars, the external doors, and — time permitting (See Service, Page 11A)
MIDDLEBURY’S CHARTER HOUSE, owned by the Congregational Church, is undergoing a major exterior renovation. The Charter House Coalition offers services to the homeless and organizes free community meals. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
PAGE 2A — Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016
Charlotte Rt. 7 work beginning this week Third project affecting highway traffic By ANDY KIRKALDY those detours while reconstruction of CHARLOTTE — As work now is Route 7 is done, one lane at a time. starting in earnest this week to pave VTrans officials said they plan to Route 7 between Middlebury and maintain two-way traffic as much New Haven Junction, another Route as possible, but delays will occur to 7 project is also beginning that will move construction equipment, and have an impact on those who head flaggers will direct one-way traffic. north to Chittenden County from Ad- There will be delays during daytime dison County. work hours, they said. This week, contractors were startWork this week was set to include ing to lay the groundwork for a re- clearing land, removal of old and build of a roughly three-mile stretch installation of new sub-base, and inof Route 7 that runs from the Fer- stalling erosion control measures for risburgh-Charlotte town the detour between East line northward. Some Thompson’s Point Road traffic delays are expect- Plans call and Yandow Sales and ed, although as part of the for the first Service on the west side project two-lane detours mile of the of Route 7, and rebuildare planned. ing the first 200 feet of project to be Although the project State Park Road on the completed now starting in Middleopposite side, according bury is targeted to end at this summer, to VTrans. Some onethe Ferrisburgh-Charlotte and the rest way traffic was expected. line, VTrans officials The project will shut and spokespersons said in 2017, down for the winter seathis two-year, $14.5 mil- although the son by mid-November lion task in Charlotte is listed project and begin again next completely separate. It completion spring, according to has a different contractor VTrans officials. doing the work and dif- date is 2018. According to a May ferent VTrans engineers 2014 study prepared designed and are now overseeing it. for the Chittenden County Regional According to information on the Planning Commission, which was agency website and from VTrans researching the feasibility of a Ferry spokespersons, the central goals of Road pedestrian crossing, showed an the project are a rebuild of the road- average 11,200 vehicles used Route 7 bed and a widening of its shoulders. in the area. About a quarter of those Those shoulders now vary from were trucks. just one to eight feed wide between MIDD TO NEW HAVEN Ferrisburgh and just south of the Meanwhile, according to VTrans Ferry Road intersection, which is spokesperson Stephanie Barrett, the familiar to Addison County drivers more southern of the two local Route as the site of the first signal north of 7 projects was set to have an active Vergennes and as the southern marker week. of a long slope upward with a passing That two-year repaving project belane. gins at High Street in Middlebury and Another major feature of the proj- will end at Lime Kiln Road just north ect will be a precast 10-foot-by-10- of New Haven Junction this summer, foot concrete tunnel to be installed and wrap up with resurfacing Route 7 under the state highway near Lower between Lime Kiln Road and the FerOld Town Trail Road. It will connect risburgh-Charlotte line next summer. existing bicycle and pedestrian paths After grinding and crack-sealing on either side of the road. That site is the existing pavement and repairing midway between East Thompson’s potholes, the highway will be resurPoint Road to the south and the Char- faced with 0.75 inch of asphalt and lotte Berry Farm to the north, about repainted. Work will also be done to six-tenths of a mile north of the turn- at-grade rail crossings in New Haven off to Mount Philo State Park. and Ferrisburgh. Also part of the project are culvert Barrett said motorists will see replacements, improved drainage and flaggers: “During the construction signs, the move of utility poles and period, motorists should expect trafoverhead lines, and the purchase of fic flow to be maintained at all times easements. with one-way alternating traffic durPlans call for the first mile of the ing construction hours with control project to be completed this summer, present.” and the rest in 2017, although the listA third Route 7 project is also under ed project completion date is 2018. way. Workers are doing prep work for According to the work plans at the the installation of new signal lights at VTrans website, before roadbed re- the intersection of the highway and construction work begins crews will Little Chicago Road in Ferrisburgh. build two-way traffic detours along The lights themselves are set to be the highway, this summer along the installed later this fall, with a target first mile. Traffic will be moved to completion date of late October.
Still standing THE COLUMNED ENTRANCE to Middlebury’s old municipal gym still stands after the bulk of the building was demolished at the end of last week. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
College’s chief financial officer heading to Tulane By ELLIE REINHARDT MIDDLEBURY — After 13 years as chief financial officer and head of operations at Middlebury College, Patrick Norton has accepted the position of chief operating officer at Tulane University in New Orleans. Norton has been an active member of both the Middlebury College and town communities, serving as a long-time member of the Porter Medical Center board. Laurie L. Patton, president of Middlebury College, announced Norton’s departure in late May to college faculty and staff, thanking him for his contributions over the years. Since beginning in July 2003, Norton has overseen the college’s financial organization through two presidents and one of the worst recessions the nation has seen since the Great Depression. When the recession hit, Middlebury College, along with the rest of the country, was forced to re-examine its financial plan. Despite some budget cuts, the college emerged relatively unscathed. “We were appropriately measured during the recession and we maintained balanced budgets, and sustained our commitment to academic
NORTON quality, need-blind admissions and without resorting to layoffs,” Norton said. “This was a community effort in true Middlebury fashion.” Over his 13 years, the college’s net assets have grown by $500 million to over $1 billion, allowing it to develop programs within the college and abroad, including the acquisition of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey. Norton will remain at the college until August, at which point a search
for his successor will begin. In the interim, Mike Thomas, associate vice president for finance and assistant treasurer, will assume the role of vice president for finance. In this position, Thomas will continue to work with Norton, then his successor, to help lead the finance organization as the college implements “Envisioning Middlebury,” a process to “develop a new set of strategic directions,” according to Thomas. “This year and into next, faculty, staff, students and alumni will have numerous opportunities to contribute to that plan and to drive what a future Middlebury might look like,” Thomas said. Norton said he has confidence in the college as it works to maintain long-term financial sustainability within this process. “There is a reasonable and measured plan to achieve this goal by growing our core revenue appropriately and controlling the growth in costs throughout the institution,” he said. In his new position at Tulane, Norton will oversee a division of more than 650 employees across a range of departments. He will also work closely with Tulane President Michael Fitts and his cabinet in the al-
location and oversight of the University’s $850 million operating budget. “In many ways it’s the same scope of responsibilities I maintained at Middlebury, just on a larger scale,” he said. Norton spent his first 10 years out of college working at the New York University Medical Center in healthcare financing and accounting; at Tulane he will have the opportunity to work in healthcare finance again. Tulane boasts the second-oldest medical school in the deep South, the Tulane School of Medicine, which works in partnership with the Tulane Medical Center. “This is a little like going home,” Norton said of the work he will be doing. Norton, his wife, Valerie, and their two sons, Hunter and Travis, will move to New Orleans together. “(We’re) excited at the prospect of living in a city with all a city has to offer, especially a vibrant city like New Orleans, which has made an amazing recovery after Hurricane Katrina,” he said. “But after living and working for 13 years in Middlebury and Vermont, our leaving is bittersweet. We will always have deep ties and fond memories of our time here.”
Judge fines Brandon farmers, orders them to fix manure pit BRANDON — A Rutland Superior Court judge has ordered Brandon dairy farmers William and Robin Hanfield to fix an overflowing manure pit and pay a $24,750 fine for violating Vermont’s water pollution laws and agricultural practice regulations. Judge Michael J. Harris on June 28 ordered the Hanfields to pay the fine after ruling in April that they were guilty of letting manure-laden water flow from their manure pit into a branch of the Neshobe River three times after being ordered to clean up their operation by the Agency of
Natural Resources and the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. According to court documents, the Hanfields on Dec. 17, 2014, petitioned the Agency of Agriculture for permission to spread manure after the winter manure-spreading ban was in place. When an agency representative came to the Wheeler Road farm the next day, the inspector saw manure flowing out of the pit, denied the permit and referred the case to the ANR. When a state official came to the farm on Dec. 26, that person reported seeing “the flow of manure-laden wa-
ter from the pit, along the driveway, to a ditch running south along Wheeler Road, into a culvert and into a pasture, where it eventually flowed into an unnamed tributary of the Neshobe River,” according to a complaint filed by the Office of the Attorney General. The overflows were observed by inspectors twice more before Jan. 15, 2015, by which time the manure level in the pit was lowered. Harris’s ruling also states that a pipe running from the milking house was improperly connected to the manure pit. The Rutland Superior Court, Civil
Division, found the Hanfields liable for three violations of Vermont law — one violation for each of the observed unpermitted discharges — and three separate violations of Vermont’s agricultural regulations relating to the management of waste at the farm. Following a June 28 hearing, the Hanfields were ordered to certify in writing to the Agency of Agriculture by Nov. 1 for the next three years that they have at least 180 days of capacity in the farm’s manure pit. The court also ordered the Hanfields to hire an outside engineer to work with the
Agency of Agriculture and review the manure pit’s construction, use and capacity. Additionally, the Hanfields must limit the use of the pit to on-site generated waste only. “Vermonters want our rivers, streams and lakes to be clean,” Attorney General William Sorrell said in a July 11 press release. “We know that most farmers want the same and work hard to follow sound agricultural practices. But if a farm fails to follow Vermont’s water quality laws, it will be held accountable. The improper release of farm waste to waters of the state of Vermont will not
be tolerated.” Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Alyssa Schuren also commented in the press release. “Vermonters and tourists alike enjoy swimming, boating and fishing in our waters,” she said. “We know the challenges these waters face, with harmful algae blooms occurring throughout the summer. That is why Vermont has taken an all-in approach to improving water quality. When bad actors violate water quality laws, Vermonters expect and deserve action.”
Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016 — PAGE 3A
Bruhl seeking write-in nod
What’s in your water?
Though consumers can’t smell, taste or see most contaminants from their private panded volunteerism. Bruhl advocated for a “progreswell water, naturally occurring bacteria and chemicals and can cause serious harm siveâ€? tax policy. to personal and developmental health. Here are some of the chemicals that are most “That’s an investment by people By JOHN FLOWERS who do have money in a better socommonly found in well water: NEW HAVEN — Taborri Bruhl ciety to live in,â€? Bruhl said. “None had figured the highlight of his sumof us are better off than the worseContaminant Health Risks (At high levels) mer might be co-leading an educaoff in our society. If you don’t pay Arsenic.........................................Cancer of the bladder, lungs and skin tional trip to Spain with students in one way, you’re going to pay in from Rutland High School, where another way ‌ We’re all in this toCopper .........................................Stomachaches, vomiting, diarrhea he teaches economics. gether.â€? Lead ............................................Damage to the nervous system, kidney and red blood cells. But a brief phone call from AdNew Haven is part of the AddiHarmful to nervous system and brain development in children dison County Democrats has shaken son Northeast Supervisory Union, a up his summer plans — and perhaps five-town district that will soon conNitrate .........................................Oxygen deficiency in the blood, various types of cancer his professional life for years to sider school governance consolidaTotal coliform bacteria (E.coli) ....Cramps, diarrhea come. tion through Vermont’s Act 46. AdUranium ......................................Kidney damage, lifetime risk of cancer With a nudge from his party coldison Central, Addison Northwest leagues, Bruhl has decided to belatand Rutland Northeast have already **according to the Vermont Department of Health edly enter the race for the Addison-5 taken that step. Bruhl favors the http://healthvermont.gov/enviro/ph_lab/water_test.aspx House seat that represents the towns concept of streamlining school govof Bridport, New Haven and Weyernance, a move he said could ultibridge. He will face veteran Rep. mately save taxpayers some money. Harvey Smith, R-New Haven. “We’ve got to be efficient in our Bruhl, a New Haven resident, spending; if we do, many good TABORRI BRUHL missed the May 26 deadline for filthings will flow from that,â€? Bruhl ing nomination papers to get on the they’ve grown up in poverty,â€? Bruhl said. think it’s too expensive? Is it too far well water at $14 for total coliform ballot. So he is now asking support- said. Bruhl is very bullish on renewable By EMMA COTTON ADDISON COUNTY — If you’re to drive the sample?â€? bacteria, $100 for a comprehensive ers to write his name on the Aug. 9 He believes a more educated energy, and wants to encourage proAfter all, tainted water can cause inorganic chemical test, and $45 for primary ballot. He must accumulate population will become a more em- grams that will lead the state in that like many Vermonters, you have a at least 25 write-in endorsements on ployable populace, and thus less de- direction. He and his family live in well drilled hundreds of feet into a wide range of health problems, de- the recommended testing of radioacAug. 9 in order to have his named pendent on social service subsidies. a net-zero house, meaning they are the depths of your yard. This well pending on the contaminant. High tive minerals, called the Gross Alpha placed on the Nov. 1 Bruhl also reasoned that off the state’s energy grid. They heat probably supplies water for drink- levels of arsenic and uranium in well Screen. Homeowners can hire private General Election ballot. a more affluent and edu- their home with sustainably farmed ing, washing, bathing and cooking water increase risk of cancer. High “It gave me pause,â€? “There are cated workforce would wood. Both of the family’s vehicles to your family — and if you’re like levels of copper can cause stomach- companies to perform the testing, Bruhl said of the Demo- some people be less vulnerable to the are solar-powered. The solar panels many Vermonters, the odds say that aches, vomiting and diarrhea. Lead, but DOH prices are lower, according perhaps one of the most dangerous to Vose. crats’ appeal for him to who say, scourge of substance that Bruhl has on his barn generate water’s never been tested. While town water is tested regu- contaminants, can damage the brain, The issue of water quality in prijump into the race. He abuse, which he noted 14,000 watts of solar power. vate wells arose earlier this spring, has for years written a ‘When you But Bruhl acknowledged many larly according to guidelines put kidneys and nervous system. is taking a heavy toll Still other compounds, like man- when 135 private wells in North blog on environmental raise the on families in Addison Vermonters can’t afford up-front forth by the Environmental Protecissues, urging govern- minimum costs for renewable energy projects. tion Agency, well owners must re- ganese and iron, can cause stains in Bennington and Pownal were found County and beyond. mental policy changes wage, supply “In our world today, He pledged to support weatheriza- member to test water on their own. laundry or appliances. Water hard- to be contaminated with PFOA — an ness does not pose a industrial chemical and possible carto expedite consumers’ and demand you really can’t make tion programs and other initiatives to Peter Conlon, a Cornrisk to health, but soap cinogen used to make products like switch from fossil fuels a living carrying bricks help residents invest in green energy wall resident, says he “We’re trying kicks in, and hasn’t tested his water doesn’t lather as well nonstick cookware and fire-fighting to renewable energy. anymore,â€? he said. and step away from fossil fuels. to figure out, in the presence of hard foam. “Now, some are ask- you’re going “The climate demands that we for anything aside from “You’ve got to have colwhy don’t hardness since he first water, and it can cause So far, officials are not concerned ing me to put my money to have less of switch,â€? Bruhl said. lege or vocational skills. buildup in water heaters, about any PFOA contamination in where my mouth is,â€? the very thing Bruhl said he understands that bought his property 15 people test And the people at the cookware and plumbing. Addison County, but the incident is a Bruhl said, adding, “I you want — controversy surrounding the siting years ago. their wells? bottom can’t afford it.â€? “To be honest, I don’t According to Vose, reminder to all residential well ownfeel it’s my civic duty.â€? jobs.’ That’s At the same time, of solar arrays and wind towers in Do they not those contaminants ers that routine testing of private waAnd he’s ready to do Bruhl believes the state residential areas. He is a proponent know if I’m supposed to know what can’t be smelled, tasted ter is often overlooked, and vital for it with a campaign that just false.â€? should increase its mini- of solar power on rooftops, and be testing for anything — Taborri Bruhl mum wage. He did not would advocate for building code else,â€? he said. “I’m go- our recomor seen, meaning many the health and safety of consumers. will include a lot of Vermonters believe While PFOA is an industrial, mandoor-to-door. cite a specific number, changes to ensure that roofs are ing to guess that I’m mendations their water is perfectly made chemical that leaked from “I plan to meet with every single though acknowledged some in his sturdy enough to accommodate so- probably like most peoare? Do they ple.â€? healthy. Conlon is a per- several pinpointed areas, most well voter in the district,â€? Bruhl said. lar panels. party are calling for $15 per hour. Conlon guessed cor- think it’s too fect example. water contaminants come from the Bruhl, 48, graduated in 1990 Some of Bruhl’s other campaign “Hypothetically speaking, $15 rectly — according to expensive? “We’ve been drinking earth’s crust. from Texas A&M University, where per hour would be a priorities include: it for 15 years and we’re Vose said a property owner’s sushe majored in journalism. Upon 50-percent pay raise for • Protecting state the Vermont Depart- Is it too far to “In our world not dead yet,â€? he said. ceptibility to contamination varies graduation, Bruhl joined the U.S. people at the bottom, soils, water and natural ment of Environmental Conservation (DEC), 40 drive the samAccording to Vose, the according to the rock and soil into Marine Corps, continuing his fam- and that would make a today, you areas. only way to know what’s which the well is drilled. Some rock ily’s long history of involvement in dramatic difference in really can’t • Supporting farms percent of the water that ple?â€? — Sarah Vose in your water is to test it. formations are more likely to have the military. It was an eventful four- their lives,â€? Bruhl said. make a living and small businesses trickles through VerThe DOH recommends arsenic, and some are more likely to year stint that saw Bruhl fight in the “There are some people in changing the state’s mont’s residential pipes carrying bricks and faucets comes from private testing water for things like E.coli, have uranium, for example. first Gulf War in Iraq. economy. who say, ‘When you raise “The best thing people can do for Though proud to serve in the mil- the minimum wage, sup- anymore. • “Lessening the wells, but only 5 percent of those under the larger category of “total coliform bacteria,â€? once every year. themselves is to test,â€? she said. itary, Bruhl exited the USMC after ply and demand kicks in, You’ve got to impact of money in our wells have been tested. In Addison County, only seven Residents should test for inorganic Additional information about his tour in order to pursue his love and you’re going to have have college politics.â€? of teaching. He attended California less of the very thing you As he campaigns, out of 23 towns offer public water to chemicals – salt, lead, arsenic and testing private wells and about the State University to earn a master’s want — jobs.’ That’s just or vocational Bruhl will empha- residents, leaving 16 towns without others – once every five years. Also PFOA contamination is available on every five years, well owners should the Department of Health website. degree in history and the humani- false. People at the bot- skills. And the size what he said is a regulated, tested water. Officials at Vermont’s Department have their water screened for radio- Any questions about private well test ties, which propelled him to a high tom, through habit or ne- people at the “triadâ€? of vital assets school teaching career that began in cessity, spend all of their that Vermont boasts: of Health (DOH) have been scratch- active minerals like uranium and ra- results can be directed to the DOH’s bottom can’t Public Health Laboratory Customer College Station, Texas, and eventu- money, and we have an Agriculture, tourism ing their heads, trying to deduce the dium. The DOH provides tests for private Service at (802) 338-4724. ally led him to New Haven, where economy that is driven afford it.â€? and the environment. cause of this lack of testing. In Oc— Taborri Bruhl He said all three of tober, the Center of Disease Control his wife, Susan (Dupoise) Bruhl, by consumption. So the has long family roots. Together, the money you pay at the botthose assets are inter- and Prevention awarded the DOH couple has three children, includ- tom stays in the system. What busidependent and need to $670,010 to learn why homeowners aren’t testing their water supplies ing a daughter who just graduated nesses need are more customers, and be protected. from Mount Abraham Union High customers with more money. The “We have a brand that is draw- and to improve the department’s outSchool and is now headed to the minimum wage bolsters the econo- ing people to our state, and we have reach — and hopefully the dismal University of Vermont. to be careful about disrupting that testing statistics. my at the bottom.â€? “We’re trying to figure out, why Making education more avail- NOT JUST HAND OUTS brand,â€? Bruhl said. able to more Vermonters is one of “We need people in Montpelier don’t people test their wells?â€? said That said, Bruhl acknowledged Sarah Vose, state toxicologist for Bruhl’s top campaign priorities. Vermont “can’t fix its poverty prob- who can see the big picture.â€? He said early- and post-secondary lem by just handing out money.â€? Reporter John Flowers is at the DOH. “Do they not know what our recommendations are? Do they education will be essential for Ver- And he conceded that raising the johnf@addisonindependent.com. monters to land and perform 21st- minimum wage and subsidizing century jobs. And he believes state training and education programs government should provide more would not come for free. But he said assistance to low-income families state government could increase asto make sure their children have sistance in these areas by running access to schooling and vocational a tighter financial ship. And Bruhl training to help them break genera- believes that some Vermonters, if tional cycles of poverty. asked, would volunteer their time to “As a society, we need to do what perform some basic tasks that curwe can to make sure these kids have rently cost state government money. a decent shot in this world as they “This could foster a greater sense come up, and to (correct) some of of community as we go forward,â€? the deficits they’ve had because Bruhl said of his proposal for exCaring for the growing needs of our community
New Haven Democrat eyes Addison-5 seat
Officials: Test wells for pollutants
AN EVENT?
Email it to: news@addisonindependent.com
DO YOU USE OIL?? ARE YOU CONSIDERING
WOULD YOU LIKE A 4 $ # ($ & %! ,$)& $ ! & $& )&# # $) # $#* &( ,$)& )&# & ($ # + # ()& ! ' )&# &
!! )' ($ , # + + !! ! !, !% ,$) $#* &( ,$)& ','( " , ( ( " # ()& ! ' && * '
)0*"(+& %!/(+& %-1(#%. n &$) ! $$(
n &* n + #'( !! ( $#' . ( # ,'( " &* ' . ( )"% #'( !! ( $# . ()& ! ' &$% # &( - . & &* . & $# ( $# # &* # #'( !! ( $#'
Mon-Fri 7am - 4pm, Sat 8-noon
,0/% ,0/' 3 ($$)%"0-2 3
Are you challenged by every day activities? Would you like to retain your Independence? Excellence is our specialty.
Call 802-989-7501 to schedule a tour INDEPENDENT LIVING . RESIDENTIAL CARE . MEMORY CARE
100 EASTVIEW TERRACE, MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT
EastViewMiddlebury.com
PAGE 4A — Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016
A DDIS ON INDE PE NDEN T
Letters
Guest editorial
to the Editor
Affordable housing: A tough nut to crack, but proposed bill offered a pilot project By Rep. Fred Baser The availability of good housing for middle income Vermonters, near their place of work, is a problem in Vermont. Contractors struggle to build affordable homes for this market. In Chittenden County, a consortium of community leaders dramatically made that point with the establishment of a campaign, “Building Houses Together,” to build 3,500 housing units over the next five years. Both rental housing, with 2 percent vacancy rate, and owner-occupied homes for middle income Vermonters, are in short supply in Burlington, as in other areas of the state. Twenty percent of the 3,500 unit total is to be built by nonprofit housing organizations that depend upon state financing. While additional governmental involvement was deemed desirable, there were no specific requests mentioned by the group. The affordable housing crunch is not a new issue. The House Economic Development Committee, on which I sit, has taken testimony from employers over the past several years that quality housing for middle income Vermonters is in short supply and is affecting recruitment efforts. In the past legislative session there was a “workforce housing” bill, H-702, that substantially addressed all the major issues raised by the Chittenden County consortium. Why is a healthy stock of median priced and affordable rental units and owner occupied homes important to a community? For starters new housing construction means more jobs — carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc and greater econmic growth. It also means greater housing opportunities for potential new hires at area employers. This can lead to breaking down barriers in employer thinking about whether to expand in Vermont or elsewhere. Plus a few more millennials might be able to move out of their parents’ home. And when we grow the inventory of median priced housing it has a trickle-down effect and benefits the lower-priced housing market as well. In short, a healthy housing inventory translates to healthy communities. ********** So what did H-702 propose and what happened to the legislation? H-702, which later became H-865, was designed to establish a minimum of two pilot projects for the construction of housing that would be affordable for households with incomes up to 120 percent of their county’s median. Area builders say that they cannot reach this market’s needs (lower costs) due to several factors, including the cost of land, permits, and infrastructure costs (sewer, water, roads, power). The bill addressed three of those factors cited by developers and builders. First, it streamlined the permitting process by targeting three prime housing development locales — Neighborhood Development Areas, Community Growth Zones, and Downtown Designation Zones. These zones enjoy special treatment when it comes to most permits. Development in these designated zones also protects against undue stress on land and water resources, traffic congestion, and pollution. Second, the high cost of land was addressed by requiring a minimum of four single family detached units per acre — maximizing investment through high density construction. Each project was to have a minimum of 12 housing units. Finally, we funded H-702 with one million dollars. This money was to be used for the infrastructure needed in at least two projects, such as roads, sewer and sidewalks. The House Appropriations and Government Operations committees worked hard to find the funding without forcing additional taxation. The bill required at least one project be in a community of 10,000 people or less. The idea here was to have some geographic diversification. As a Republican, and a first-term legislator, I realized support from House leadership and committee chairs was critical in moving the bill. My effort in working with members of the House paid off as the bill passed unanimously in the House General and Military Affairs Committee, and then on the floor it was voted out 139 to 4. This points out a valuable lesson, that with good communication, effort and conviction, a minority party member can get tri-partisan support for major legislation. The bill then went to the Senate where, unfortunately, the good news ended. With state dollars in short supply the Senate money committees choose other ways to spend the allocated one million dollars, and the bill that had tri-partisan support in the House did not emerge to become law. Lesson number two, tough fiscal times can lead to a promising bill’s downfall. H-702 would have advanced economic development and have made Vermont a more affordable place to live for at least a few Vermonters and might have set the stage for a more fully-funded initiative. But when push came to shove, other spending priorities took precedence. As a member of the minority party, I recognize legislative victories are not easy. While I am disappointed that this workforce housing didn’t make it to the finish line, I am heartened to learn that leaders in Chittenden County share my commitment toward solving this issue and, with the continued support of my district, I look forward to working with them and my colleagues in Montpelier to pass this initiative — or one similar to it — in an upcoming legislative session. Rep. Fred Baser is a Bristol resident and state representative of Addison-4, compromised of Bristol, Lincoln, Monkton and Starksboro.
ADDISON COUNTY
INDEPENDENT Periodicals Postage Paid at Middlebury, Vt. 05753
Postmaster, send address change to Addison Independent, 58 Maple Street, Middlebury, Vermont • 388-4944 • Fax: 388-3100 • Web: www.addisonindependent.com E-Mail: news@addisonindependent.com • E-Mail Advertising: ads@addisonindependent.com Editor/Publisher: Angelo S. Lynn Assistant Editor: John S. McCright Reporters: John Flowers Andy Kirkaldy Gaen Murphree Evan Johnson Photographer: Trent Campbell Front Office: Vicki Nolette Front Office: Deb Stevens
Amy Egert
Advertising Manager: Christine Lynn Advertising Representatives: Pam Dunne Elisa Fitzgerald Advertising Co-Manager: Anna Harrington
John S. McCright
Elisa Fitzgerald
Production Manager: Sue Leggett Graphics: Susan Miller Brian King Maxx Steinmetz Copy Editor: Amy Egert Circulation: Lisa Razo Driver: Tom Raymond
Pam Dunne
Christine Lynn
Published every Monday, Thursday by the Addison Press, Inc. Member Vermont Press Association; New England Press Association; National Newspaper Association. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In State – 6 Months $36.00, 1 Year $50.00, 2 years $90.00: Out of State – 6 Months $44.00, 1 Year $60.00, 2 years $110. All print subscriptions include online access. Discounted rate for Senior Citizens, call for details. 802-388-4944. Online Only – 1 Week $3.00, 1 Month $6.00, 6 Months $25.00, 1 Year $44.00 The Independent assumes no financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements but will reprint that part of an advertisement in which the typographical error occurred. Advertiser will please notify the management immediately of any errors that may occur. The Addison Independent USPS 005-380
One candidate backs legal pot While Vermont will not be joining Massachusetts, Maine and California in allowing the people to vote directly on marijuana legalization via ballot initiatives this fall, legalization is — indirectly — on the ballot in our upcoming August 9 primary, in the form of the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. David Zuckerman is the only candidate for lieutenant governor who will use the “soft powers” of that office to help us build consensus in the State House for legalization next year. Moreover, a strong turnout for Dave will send a powerful message to recalcitrant House Democrats that legalization isn’t only popular in public opinion polls, but in the voting booth as well. So, if you want to see legalization become a reality, I urge you to join me in voting for Dave Zuckerman in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor, and tell all your friends and colleagues to do the same! Dave Silberman, Esq. Middlebury
Experience a plus for Scheu
Rhythm section PERCUSSIONIST STEVE FERRARIS and bassist John McConnell back up singer Kiflu Kidane during the Festival on-the-Green opening-night performance Sunday by the New Nile Orchestra. For more photos from this week’s festival in Middlebury, see Page 13A. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
Culture shocks in Green Mt. State Where are you from? It’s a question that, even in the most innocent sense, highlights a sense of alienation and non-belonging. Sometimes it’s just a question when you’re meeting someone for the first time and you know that they’ve just moved to the area. You’re just trying to be nice, getting to know them and taking the first step to welcoming them into the community. What then, when this conversation extends further than is appropriate? My name is Charmaine Lam. I am an intern this summer at the Addison Independent, and I am also a student at Middlebury College. I’ve lived in Middlebury for the past three years, but it is only this summer, living in a By Charmaine house off campus and interacting with Lam the community outside of the campus “bubble,” that I have really felt that I am living in Middlebury, Vermont. And I don’t think I’ve ever felt this far from a sense of home. Vermont is a nice place to be in the summer. There are events to attend, mountains to hike and swimming holes to explore. I have appreciated being able to explore and get to know the community through the stories that I’m writing for the Independent. Yet there’s something that just makes it difficult, if not impossible, for me to feel at home here. Being an Asian American in the whitest state in the U.S., according to the 2010 U.S. Census, makes a difference. The difference is most prevalent when I’m meeting local people or simply taking a stroll around the neighbor-
hood. People with no apparent ill-intent will talk to me, and they will ask where I’m from. Not just where I’m from, but invariably: “Where are you from … originally?” Even without the use of the word “originally,” the question assumes that, as a nonwhite person, I cannot be from here. Or maybe that’s just my being too sensitive; maybe they would assume this of any young adult in Middlebury, with the looming presence of the college. But “Where are you originally from?” — there’s another layer there. Let’s think about the intentions behind the question. The word “original” comes from the word “origin.” In the MerriamWebster dictionary this word is defined as “the point or place where something begins, arises, or is derived.” Well, all of humankind supposedly originated out of Africa. The Garden of Eden, if you’re religious. But if you want to know where I originated, I would take it to mean that you want to know where I was born. In that case, “Where were you born?” would be a much more fitting question, albeit odd in a conversation with someone you’re meeting for the first time. Instead, the question highlights the assumption that, because of my race, I do not belong to here, where you and your race belong. When you ask me where I’m from originally, you’re also fishing for a very specific answer. You want me to tell you that I’m from some country on the opposite side of the globe, maybe even some country of which (See Clippings, Page 5A)
Clippings
‘Golf’ weekend was a losing battle Marriage is not a competition. But if it were, my hus- ten heading out to the links right after work. What better band Mark would be winning. way to out-thoughtful him, I figured, than to spend two You might get the impression, from reading this col- days joining him in an activity that I find time-consumumn, or perhaps from knowing us personally, that Mark ing and frustrating. I would be bored and miserable all is a taciturn old grouch, while I am sweetness and light weekend, just for him. Because that was the thoughtful pretty much all the time, bestowing upon him laughter, thing to do. engaging conversation and tasty home-cooked meals. I booked us a stay at an Airbnb in Waterbury and we All of that is true, of course. But when it comes to headed over Friday afternoon, just before the rain startthoughtfulness, the grouch is way ed. It continued nonstop until Sunday ahead. afternoon, letting up shortly after we I hate him for that. returned home. One summer day three years ago, We did not play a single hole. for instance, he surprised me with a Mostly we did nothing but stare out weekend away at a B&B — not beat the rain, sighing. Mark sat without cause he would ever willingly stay speaking, no doubt wishing he were at one, but because he knew it would back in Middlebury, catching up on make me happy. work. What followed was two days deBut I kept trying. On Saturday afBy Jessie Raymond voted to anything I wanted — the ternoon, I even drove him up to Wilsights I wanted to see, the restaurants liston to an indoor virtual golf range. I wanted to try, the activities that appealed to me. Which was closed. He’s always doing sneaky things like that. It makes me Then, to liven things up, my muffler broke in half at look selfish in comparison. a Taft Corners stoplight, deafening us inside the car and That weekend put him way ahead in the ongoing causing pedestrians to flee in all directions. thoughtfulness battle, and I’ve spent ages trying to oneRather than whiling away the day teeing off and taking up him (I mean, reciprocate his kindness). I thought this mulligans, we spent the rainy afternoon at the only open past weekend would raise my standings. service center in Chittenden County. Mark, a contractor, works hard year round, but espeWhile the mechanic put the car on the lift, we sat in cially in the summer, when his weekends cease to exist. the waiting room, where three young children passed the I decided I would sweep him away for a much-needed time by running laps around our chairs and seeing who break, just like he had done for me. could achieve the highest-decibel shriek. Mark stared at What’s more, I would make this weekend all about the ceiling, not once pointing out how little this resemhim. And that meant golf. Lots of golf. bled the weekend in paradise he had shown me. I’m not a golfer. Mark, however, is becoming one, of(See Raymond, Page 5A)
Around the bend
We enthusiastically support Robin Scheu to represent Middlebury in the state legislature, and encourage fellow voters to do likewise in the August 9 primary and again in November. Why? Because Robin gets things done no matter what she tackles, from managing the Addison County Solid Waste Management District to chairing the boards of key local nonprofits that help all of us. A few of those boards include: United Way, Mary Hogan Elementary and Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op. Robin’s ability to get things done extends well beyond Middlebury, including serving on the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, Working Lands Enterprise, Vermont Employee Ownership and Vermont Land Trust boards. And she knows her way around Montpelier, having served on Shap Smith’s Economic Advisory Council and two legislative study committees. Currently Executive Director of the Addison County Economic Development Corporation, Robin works tirelessly to support and retain local businesses to keep good jobs close to home. Robin understands more than the issues, she understands the people they affect. A vote for Robin Scheu is a vote for all the best in Vermont’s brand of honest, practical, get-itdone politics. John Barstow Kate Gridley Middlebury
Time to pick the path of peace The tragic events that unfolded last week highlight racial tensions that have been simmering in many communities throughout our land for decades. I believe fear is the driver behind violence. We now live in a manufactured, heightened state of fear. The media feeds fear regardless of what the issue is: terrorism, weather events, racial tensions, politics, immigrants, health issues, you name it. Another contributing factor that leads to division in our country is the culture of loud talk show hosts and politicians who shout over each other and don’t allow the person on the other side of the table to answer a question fully. Deeply listening to one another has become a lost art in our society. If you don’t truly listen, you can’t understand where the other person or side is coming from and suspicion and fear creep in, which often leads to violence. Guns contribute to violence. The United States is the No. 1 country (almost double that of No. 2, Yemen) for guns per capita and that doesn’t include the number of weapons we sell and give to other countries. The U.S. remains the No. 1 arms dealer on the planet and accounts for one-third of total global arms sales, according to CNN. Our government and many businesses are making an enormous amount of money from our culture of violence … think movies, video games, weapons sales, the prison system we’re exporting globally and the multiple wars we wage. Imagine if the money spent on weapons and war was invested (See Letter, Page 5A)
Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016 — PAGE 5A
Recent acts part of tragic history What can a white man, in the na- that Dallas terrorist to Parkland Hostion’s second-whitest state, say about pital. The same place where JFK the tragedies of violence and racism died. that continue to tear our country Crying because I’ve seen it all beapart? fore. I sat down to write this column in It’s April of 1968. In my small Carol’s Hungry Mind Cafe, where hometown in western New York, the the flow of coffee and friends on lap- trees are beginning to bud and the tops can stir the creative juices. robins are back. But I had to go home to finish this. But we wake one morning to the Because I didn’t want to news that Martin Luther have to explain to evKing Jr. has been mureryone in the cafe why I dered in Memphis. Then was crying. one big city after another Crying for all the derips itself apart with cades of murdered black rage-filled rioting. victims of white police I’m only 15 at the time violence — people who and living in a very white died because they were town. But even there the black. killing reverberates. At Crying for the unrethe news of King’s death solved, unspoken burI take the American flag den of slavery. The centhat’s flying on our front turies-long crime that porch and hang it at halfhaunts our country long staff. after its supposed end. My father takes my Crying for brave black brother and me to a Diamond Reynolds, who gathering of blacks and streamed the shooting whites that’s led by a death of her black boy- by Gregory Dennis local black minister. He friend, Philando Castile, reminds us of Dr. King’s live on Facebook. Who message of healing and maintained her dignity throughout nonviolence. it all, even calling the white policeThat summer brings more riots. man who had murdered the love of The Kerner Report, commissioned her life “sir.” by LBJ in the riots’ aftermath, fa“You shot four bullets into him, mously concludes, “Our nation is sir,” she told him. moving toward two societies, one Crying for Reynolds’ 4-year-old black, one white — separate and undaughter in the backseat, who wit- equal.” nessed the shooting and told ReynBut really, it wasn’t moving in that olds, “I’m here for you, Mommy. direction. I’m here for you.” It’s always been that way. Crying for the brave Dallas police Then it’s 1992 and I’m living in officers who died or were injured Southern California. A jury acquits protecting the rights of peaceful peo- four white police officers in the arrest ple to gather in protest. of a black man, Rodney King. They Crying for my friend’s brown- were acquitted despite videotapes skinned grandson in Burlington. that clearly showed the unarmed Whose white adoptive parents had to King was subjected to a senselessly sit him down last week and explain brutal beating. to him that police may treat him difLos Angeles explodes in anger. ferently because of the color of his And Rodney King pleads with evskin. eryone, “Can we all get along?” He is all of 9 years old. At a community meeting of black At age 9 he had to hear that talk. and whites in response to the riots, Even in a state as tolerant of diver- a local city council member stands sity as ours. up to speak. He’s a fellow whom we Crying for the thousands of scarred righteous liberals have labeled a conveterans who’ve come back from our servative wingnut. senseless invasions of Afghanistan But he’s there to voice his anguish and Iraq. For the consequences of at the wounds of racism. one vet who turned his inner torture It’s a powerful reminder to me that — ruled by his training in how to kill whatever our politics, most of us rec— into a night of carnage in Dallas. ognize that race is the great AmeriThey took the police victims of can sorrow.
Between The Lines
Last summer it was Ferguson and the public shooting of Michael Brown, yet another black man killed by white police. The shooting came after an altercation, and the police officer was exonerated of any wrongdoing after a careful investigation. But Brown’s dead body has been left uncovered in the stinking Missouri heat for many long hours. Another reminder from white police to blacks everywhere: Mess with us and this is what will happen to you. Let’s be clear: It’s tough for the cops out there. They have a demanding job. I’m glad they are there to protect (most of) us, and I can’t imagine doing that difficult work day after day. As the dignified Dallas police chief — a black man named David Brown — has reminded us, both cops and the black community have legitimate concerns. In the aftermath of losing five of his men, Brown has become a powerful voice for better gun safety laws, telling Congress to do its job. He’s also made it clear that “open carry” laws — which make it legal to carry assault rifles in public in Texas and other states — make it harder for cops to do their work. Ohio is an open-carry state. Does anyone really believe that people around the Republican National Convention in Cleveland will be safer with hundreds of individuals openly carrying guns in public? My heart aches at the tragedy of it all, at the long history of violence in this country I love. So what to do? What to say? This week is one of my favorites of the year, as the Middlebury Festival on-the-Green brings joyful free music to the downtown. So I’m making it a point to get to the festival. To lighten my heart and celebrate the Vermont summer with music. And I’m working it all off physically. On the basketball court last Friday during our regular pickup game, I told my fellow players that with everything going on in America now, I was so grateful to be there with them. There with friends black and white. Just to play together. Gregory Dennis’s column appears here every other Thursday and is archived on his blog at www. gregdennis.wordpress.com. Email: gregdennisvt@yahoo.com. Twitter: greengregdennis.
Clippings (Continued from Page 4A) you have a preconception and some sense of “ownership” — like anime and Japan or orange chicken and China, never mind the fact that orange chicken doesn’t actually exist outside of the United States. “I’m from the Seattle area,” I usually respond. You pause for a bit, nod, smile and then move on. The slight pause may have betrayed that this wasn’t the answer you expected, but you move on, without any seeming fluster at the unforeseen flow of the conversation. Which leaves me the single flustered person in the room. It’s the same when a woman clasped her palms together and bowed at me; it’s the same when a man told me that I “have a really good grasp of the English language.” The thing with microaggressions is that they’re never performed with any apparent ill will. In fact, if you commit one, you probably think that you’re being a nice and open-minded person. You’re being nice because you’re taking an interest in “my cul-
ture,” and you’re being open-minded because you’re engaging in “my culture.” You’re being nice and openminded because you’re doing what you can to welcome me to this “foreign land.” Would you say these things to a white person? Would you feel this way toward a white person, even if the white person were from somewhere as different from Vermont as San Francisco or El Paso? Probably not. I have been speaking English my whole life. I was born in the U.S. Even in Taiwan, where my mom is from, people don’t go around clasping their hands together and bowing at people they’ve just met. By taking a race of people or a group of disparate cultures and lumping them together, you are dismissing entire histories and identities. By assuming that a person of
color is necessarily originally from somewhere else, you are alienating me and telling me that I cannot belong and that I cannot be American. On an even simpler level, by asking me repeatedly where I’m from originally, bowing at me or praising my English, you’re only highlighting your perceptions of my differences. You’re imposing a sense of alienation and making it impossible for me to even come close to feeling a sense of home here in Middlebury, despite living here and despite having lived here for the past three years. Think about this the next time you want to praise a person of color’s English or when you ask them where they are originally from: Would you ask the same of a white person? Yes I’m Asian; I like Taiwanese food and I listen to Chinese music, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t be American.
What are Addictive Medications? You might be surour website: www. prised as we continue addictionhelpvt.com. this series on addiction In the first article to find that many adin this series, I shared dictive drugs are right the information This week’s writer there in your medicine is Jessi de Boer, about addiction as a cabinet. It is very im- who wrote this in disease of the brain. portant for you to pro- coordination with As the brain is extect yourself and your the Addison County posed to the medicafamily from possible Committee on tion or drug in large addiction by talking Opiate Addiction. amounts, it adapts with your doctor about DeBoer, a licensed to collect more and your family history alcohol and drug more of it. Here are with addiction, know- counselor and a some helpful tips to ing what medications licensed clinical help you and your can be habit forming mental health family to prevent adand taking the medi- counselor, is diction: cation as needed and coordinator of Adult • Be honest with prescribed. your doctor about Recovery Services at We all know that Counseling Service alcohol, caffeine and things like heroin and of Addison County. tobacco use. cocaine are addictive, • Tell your doctor but so is caffeine, toabout all drug and bacco, alcohol, some sleeping medication use. medications and some pain medi• Ask your doctor about what he/ cations too. Some examples of pain she is prescribing and if addiction medications are codeine, Percocet, or abuse is possible. If it is addicoxycodone and there are many, tive, ask if there is an alternative many more. For a full list of com- medication choice or treatment mon addictive medications visit available.
Community
Forum
• Make sure to store your medications safety away from children, teens and people who may struggle with addiction. • Do not ever share your medication with other people. Your doctor has picked the correct medication and dose based on your family history and medical needs. Sharing medications can be very dangerous. And of course taking someone else’s medication is not recommended for the same reason. As a treatment community we are still learning about the disease of addiction and how it damages the brain. We do know that it can happen to almost anyone. We do know that it deeply impacts our friends, loved ones and community. And we do know for sure that prevention is the best way for us as a community to battle this disease and protect future generations from getting it. There is always hope. Reach out today if you are in need: www.addictionhelpvt.org. There is help right here in Addison County.
Raymond (Continued from Page 4A) An hour and a half later we learned that the entire muffler would need to be replaced, but the parts were not in stock. We drove back to Waterbury, silent (unlike the car, which emitted sound waves that flattened trees along I-89). We returned home Sunday. Mark didn’t mention what a failure the mini-vacation had been, though I knew, in his mind, he was putting a hash mark under his name and a big
fat goose egg under mine. Yes, I had dragged him away on an unpleasant trip that he hadn’t wanted to take in the first place. But he had some nerve being gracious about it. The jerk was winning again. I needed him to utter just one smart crack, anything to reveal his lack of gratitude and knock him from his saintly, patiently suffering pedestal. But by Sunday night, as we lay in bed in our customary going-to-sleep spoon formation, I prepared to admit
defeat. I was about to apologize for the whole fiasco when Mark squeezed me and kissed my ear. “Thank you for my ‘golf’ weekend,” he said, suppressing a snicker. Bingo. As soon as I heard the audible quotation marks around “golf,” I knew I had won. But I elbowed him hard in the ribs anyway, for good measure. As the sage Pat Benatar once said, love is a battlefield.
from the brink, put our heads and hands together, open our hearts and be willing to go a little out of our comfort zones, so that we become
a more tolerant, compassionate and peaceful nation. Elizabeth Frank Orwell
Letter (Continued from Page 4A) elsewhere: Everyone could have access to quality education, health care and healthy food. The money currently spent on violence could be redirected toward community development, energy efficiency, tolerance and mediation training, mentoring programs for youth, cleaning up our environment, rebuilding our broken infrastructure and supporting the arts. As John Lennon sang, “Imagine”! Put together fear of the “other” (whoever that may be) heightened by a culture that increasingly supports the “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality along with an arsenal of weapons at anyone’s disposal and the scenario doesn’t look good. It’s time to take stock of where we are as a nation. Do we continue down the dark path of continuous war and violence or move toward peace? I believe we need to pull back
Letters to the editor The Addison Independent encourages you to write letters to the editor. We print signed letters only. Include an address and telephone number, too, so we can clear up any questions. Send it to: Letters to the Editor, Addison Independent, 58 Maple St., Middlebury, VT 05753. Or email to news@addisonindependent.com.
“Working together to give our patients the best experience.” Word of mouth... Our Favorite Way to Meet You. It can be hard to find a new dentist. Whether you’re new to the area or simply looking to switch, how do you know who to trust? Well, most people start by asking around. In our office a referral is something we take pretty seriously. It means someone thought enough of us to recommend us to someone they care about. And we want to live up to those expectations. We believe that we provide some of the friendliest, gentlest and most advanced dentistry around. But don’t take our word for it. Ask around. Find out who your friends and neighbors are seeing, and then give us a call. We think you’ll like what you hear. Call us today to schedule your appointment!
Dr. Brian Saltzman, DMD CONTACT GOV. SHUMLIN Governor Peter Shumlin 1-800-649-6825 (Vt. only) • 802-828-3333 109 State Street, Pavillion Montpelier, Vermont 05609-0101 www.vermont.gov/governor
Accepting New Patients and Emergencies
388-7045
www.saltzmandental.com
$0635 453&&5 t .*%%-?: 75
“We like knowing we can turn to Elderly Services when we have a question.” Anita and Bob Duclos
PAGE 6A — Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016
ADDISON COUNTY
Roy Tucker Jr., 71, formerly of Vergennes
Obituaries
Walter Anderson Jr., 68, formerly of Middlebury BOZEMAN, Mont. — Walter James “WJ” Anderson Jr. passed away July 8, 2016, after a valiant battle with his tragic affliction. Long time cowboy and guest ranch owner, Jim was born July 6, 1948, in Connecticut, raised on a farm in Middlebury, Vermont, and educated at Holderness School and Williams College, where he excelled in football, alpine and Nordic skiing, and lacrosse. Introduced to the west by his grandmother who took his brother Hank and him to the Elkhorn Ranch outside West Yellowstone every summer, Jim drove to his first job at the Elkhorn shortly after graduation and his marriage to Cheryl Payne, mother of his daughter, Lacey Dawn, and never looked back. He was the first easterner ever hired to the position of wrangler by then managers, Ron and Barb Hymas. He was an astute and quick study, learning to train mules to pack, pull and ride, a combination achieved by few mule trainers. He was seen for several years perched on a buck wagon driving an eight mule team in the Ennis 4th of July Parade. Jim was manager of Lone Mountain Ranch during the development of
the Big Sky Resort. After leaving Lone Mountain, he ran Mud Creek Mule Outfitters before moving to Wyoming to purchase and operate Paradise Guest Ranch. With his then wife, Leah, they rebuilt the ranch to become one of the premier guest ranches in the country while raising their two sons, Cade and Travis. Jim was elected by his peers to serve a two-year term as President of the Dude Ranchers Association. Leah and Clay (Miller) and sons continue to own and operate the ranch. Jim retired to Gallatin Gateway with his dogs and horses, birds and deer. He pursued his passions riding, skiing, and tennis until his health failed him. He was an active and much loved member of the Hope Lutheran Church of Bozeman. He leaves his beloved companion, Ellen Connolly; daughter, Lacey Dawn Green (John) and their three children; sons, Cade and Travis; brothers, Charles Henry “Hank” and Townsend Hill “Towny” Anderson; uncles, Henry “Harry” and David Anderson and Charles Townsend Ludington; and aunts, Fytie Drayton and Jane Ludington. A celebration of his life will be August 27, 2016, 11:00 am at Hope
JIM “WJ” ANDERSON Lutheran Church, Bozeman, MT with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local animal shelter in his name. Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www.dokkennelson.com. ◊
PUTNAM STATION, N.Y./ VERGENNES, Vt. — Roy Thomas Tucker Jr., “Tom, Diddo & Papa Tom,” passed away on the afternoon of Saturday, July 9, 2016, surrounded by the love of his family, and while family sang him one of his favorite songs. He was born on December 22, 1944, to Roy Sr., and Ruth (Remele) Tucker. Tom was predeceased by both his parents, Roy Tucker Sr. in 1968, and Ruth (Remele) Tucker Ringer in 1999. Tom leaves behind his four children, Daniel and his wife, Suzanne (Pockett) Tucker; Joseph Tucker; Tommy Tucker, all of Putnam Station, N.Y.; and Brette Tucker of Bristol, Vt.; his grandchildren, Tyler, Alyssa, Gavin and A.J.; and many nieces and nephews; his sister, Connie Hobbs; and brother, Charles Tucker, both of Vergennes. He is also survived by the mothers of his children, Alice Tucker of Putnam Station N.Y., and Shari Rowinski of Bristol. Tom was a member of St. Peter’s Parish and later during his second marriage worshiped at the United Church of Lincoln. Tom went to school in Vergennes and graduated from Vergennes Union High School in 1962. After high school Tom served in the Air Force from 1962-1966. Tom had a great love for sports. He played in the Bristol Softball League
retirement, they visited Vermont, fell in love with it and relocated to Brandon in 1995. Jack was known for his hard work ethic, his love of sports and his quiet wit. He had a constant store of good jokes. He is survived by his wife, Janis; a daughter, Julie Noel and her husband Jeffrey of Brandon; a daughter, Laurie Scott and her husband Marshall of Riverside, Calif.; and grandchildren, Amanda Noel of Middlebury, Vt.; Ian Noel of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Raymond Scott of Riverside, Calif.; and SPC Pedro Scott, U.S. Army, of Hinesville, Ga. There will be no calling hours. Donations in memory of Jack Lampley, Class of 1944, may be sent to Arlington High School Athletic Department, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd., Arlington, WA, 98223. ◊
JACK A. LAMPLEY
FERRISBURGH — Sally A. Munnett, 71, passed away Friday, July 8, 2016, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. She was born on October 11, 1944, in Middlebury, the daughter of Stanley and Lucille (Orvis) Smith. She graduated from the University of Vermont and became a dental hygienist and worked for over 30 years for Dr. John Viskup and Dr. Gregory Maurer in Vergennes. She enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family. She was predeceased by her husband, William E. Munnett, on November 20, 1989. Sally is survived by her children, Kerri, Kristina and Karin; grandson, Jace Stevenson; brotherin-law, Peter Munnett; three sisters-in-law, Mary Munnett,
Irene Masterson, 99, East Middlebury EAST MIDDLEBURY — Irene M. Masterson, 99, died on July 10, 2016. She was born March 12, 1917, in East Middlebury and lived most of her life in East Middlebury. She is survived
by her daughter Sheila Rheaume and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Milo, and daughters Joyce McGettrick and Bonnie Lackard. She
ROY THOMAS TUCKER JR. Peaks Hospice for all of their care and making it possible for Tom to remain home while on his journey. Calling hours will be held Thursday, July 14, at 11:30 a.m. at the Brown-McClay Funeral Home, with a funeral to follow at St. Peter’s Catholic Church at 1:30 p.m., both located in Vergennes. ◊
Sally A. Munnett, 71, Ferrisburgh
Jack Lampley, 90, Brandon BRANDON — Jack A. Lampley of Brandon passed away peacefully with his family by his side on July 9, 2016. Jack was born in Arlington, Wash., on February 9, 1926, along with his twin sister, Jean. He grew up there and developed his love of fishing and sports. He was a star athlete throughout his teen years and was an especially adept pitcher. Jack served stateside in the U.S. Army from 1944-1946. After returning home, he became a baker, a job he continued for nearly 50 years. He married Janis Lawrence in 1959 and together they had two daughters. His job took him between Washington and Southern California many times. He specialized in opening new stores for Albertson’s Grocery and later Von’s Grocery. He retired in Riverside, Calif., in 1994. After
for C & F LeBeau’s with both his brother, Charlie, and his brother-inlaw, Wayne. He had a team named after him for softball tournaments in Putnam. They were called “Diddo’s Young Guns.” He was an avid New York Yankees fan and loved watching the New York Giants. Tom also never missed a soccer game, softball game or little league game or tournament for his children or grandchildren. He loved golfing and spending time with his good friend Bill Lasher, and his friends Chuck and Barry. Tom had a great love for music and played in a band called “Trying Times” with his brother and good friends Paul Tarte, Larry Austin and Jimmy Bodette. When asked why the name, his answer was “it was a sign of the times back then!” He very much loved listening to his daughter Brette sing. “The voice of an angel,” he always said. One of his favorite artists was Elvis Presley. Tom had previously worked at Simmonds Precision/BF Goodrich in Vergennes, and prior to his retirement, at Walmart in Ticonderoga. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to either St. Peter’s Church in Vergennes or the United Church of Lincoln. The family would like to thank the American Legion in Ticonderoga for arranging to get a bed for Tom so he was able to be comfortable, and to the staff and Dr. Chapman at High
Barbara Munnett and Joan Smith; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her sister, Janet Dubois and brother, Stanley O. Smith. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, July 12, at BrownMcClay Funeral Home in Vergennes from 5-8 p.m. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Charlotte. Interment will be in North Ferrisburgh Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Addison County Special Olympics, 16 Gregory Drive, South Burlington, VT, or Seth Warner, Rhoda Farrand Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 2789, Panton, VT 05491. ◊
SALLY A. MUNNETT
Joan Cunningham celebration of life
was a member in Champlain Valley BENSON — A celebra- 22, 2015, at her home, will be Hill Road, Benson, Vt. The Fiddlers and an avid horse lover. tion of life for Dr. Joan Carey held July 23, 2016, at 11 a.m., public is invited to this catered She loved playing slots and bingo. A Cunningham, 93, who died July Christ Sun of Justice, Howard celebration. graveside service is planned in East Middlebury Cemetery.
Jason Russell, 36, Starksboro STARKSBORO — Jason R. Russell, 36, passed away Thursday, July 7, 2016, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. He was born February 12, 1980, in Middlebury, the son of Ernest and Sally (Vincent) Russell. He graduated from Mt Abraham High School in Bristol and Wyotech in Florida. Jason had a great love of the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also enjoyed hiking with his family. Jason is survived by his parents, Ernie and Sally Russell; his sister, Bobbiejo Russell; his son, Evan Russell; his fiancée, Aaron Morris; many aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. Calling hours will be held on Monday, July 11, from noon-1 p.m. at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Bristol, with a memorial service following at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. ◊
Got Firewood? We Do! *Dry Wood is heated in our Kilns at 200º until the average moisture is down to 20-25%
Call to Schedule Delivery
Green or Dry (Kiln Processed)*
(802) 453-4884 Certified for Vermont Heat Treatment
THE A. JOHNSON CO., LLC BRISTOL, VT 05443 www.VermontLumber.com
Peace of mind is knowing your loved one never leaves our care.
Affordable Cremation & Burial Plans • the only on-site crematory in Addison County • locally owned and operated by Walter Ducharme
Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home
Obituaries can also be viewed at www.addisonindependent.com
117 South Main St. Middlebury, VT • 388-2311 sandersonfuneralservice.com
JASON R. RUSSELL
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.
FUNERAL MEMORIAL SERVICE CREMATION PRE-PLANNING SERVICES
BROWN-McCLAY FUNERAL HOMES
BRISTOL 453-2301
VERGENNES 877-3321
Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016 — PAGE 7A
ADDISON COUNTY
Brandon police responding to increased mental health incidents
Obituaries
By LEE J. KAHRS the services we have to offer because The Reporter Specialized Community Care placed BRANDON — There was a recur- him here. It’s not their fault, but it’s a ring item in the Brandon Police Log lose-lose situation.” this spring. DAY IN THE LIFE “Mental Health Issue, Triangle The Brandon police body cam video Court. Subject transported by Brandon of the client is both telling and disturbArea Rescue to Rutland Regional ing. In one encounter, Lt. Rod Pulsifer Medical Center.” partially opens the door to a bedroom Brandon police and BARS were and is heard gently talking to the often called to the same residence on client, who is rocking in a desk chair. Triangle Court off McConnell Road A 10-inch kitchen knife is visible on the two or three times a week. desk next to the client’s hand. He does The policing term “mental health not respond to Pulsifer’s questions. issue” can cover myriad issues from a Pulsifer asks the man to please give panic attack to a full-blown psychotic him the knife so he can put it in another episode to attempted suicide. Like room. The client is clearly agitated, many local police departments, the rocking and whimpering softly. Still, Brandon police are called to handle he does not respond. Pulsifer continues mental health issues fairly regularly all to speak gently to the client, who then over town. picks up a cigarette lighter and lights The notion of community-based the sleeve of his shirt on fire. Pulsifer mental health care is not easy in a rural implores the client, “Please don’t do state like Vermont. The miles between that, please put the fire out,” and the towns and the nearest hospital, let client extinguishes the flame on his alone psychiatric evaluation facility, sleeve. often means there is no time to get Suddenly, the client’s whimpers get a mental health counselor on-scene. louder and he picks up the kitchen knife Crisis intervenand presses it to his tion has to happen “We’re not mental own neck. locally. Enter local “Don’t do that,” law enforcement health profesPulsifer is heard and emergency sionals and we’re saying. “I care about services. you and I don’t want The Reporter being forced to you to hurt yourself. spoke with state be experienced I know you’re upset. and local officials Let’s work this out.” in many more for an in-depth The client weeps look at how rural things than we’re softly and then Vermont communi- trained to do.” suddenly throws the ties and state agenknife at the wall in — Brandon Police Chief front of him, where cies bridge the gaps Chris Brickell it sticks, and Pulsifer in caring for the mentally disabled enters the room. in the modern age. In another body cam TROUBLE ON TRIANGLE video, Brickell answers a call to the COURT same location with Cpl. Adam Murach. In this case, the individual was They are seen entering the mobile home under the care of the Department of and calling the client’s name. He is not Disabilities, Aging and Independent immediately found, then Cpl. Murach Living (DAIL), residing part-time on locates him locked in a bathroom. The Triangle Court with 24-hour super- officer asks him to please come out so vision. But when he got agitated, they can talk, calling him “Buddy” and the client would self-harm, repeat- telling him it’s OK. The client unlocks edly banging his head against a wall, the door and an officer asks him if he’s lighting his clothes on fire, or cutting OK and if he needs a hug. The client himself with a kitchen knife. And when nods and the two hug. Then the officer the client was agitated and threatening asks the client if he’d like to have the to self-harm, the caseworkers would handcuffs on and if it would make him call the Brandon police. feel safe, and the client says he would According to Brandon Police Chief like the handcuffs. Cpl. Murach then Chris Brickell, his officers were called puts the cuffs on the client’s wrists to Triangle Court for this client 24 in front of him with plastic zip tie times between Dec. 4, 2015, and June restraints. 1, 2016. Brickell said that while each interacEach time, the client was transported tion with this client ended peacefully, to Rutland Regional Medical Center there are no guarantees. for evaluation. But because the client “Even though we’ve dealt with has been deemed competent and not him successfully 24 times, that could “a danger to himself or others,” he has change any time,” Brickell said. “And the right to make his own medical deci- then you have a worse situation for sions and discharge himself from the everyone involved.” hospital. He then returns to Triangle But the issue is not just the danger of Court. these situations to all parties, Brickell Not long after The Reporter inter- said. It’s that repeated mental health viewed Brickell for this story, the calls tax local law enforcement and client was moved to another house in emergency services, potentially pulling a different town in Addison County. them away from other emergency calls But Specialized Community Care, the and costing money. agency under DAIL that manages these Years ago, Brickell said, a client who clients and places them in communi- repeatedly triggered 911 calls would be ties, owns the mobile home on Triangle arrested and incarcerated or commitCourt, which will continue to be used to ted to psychiatric facility. But with the house its clients. increasing loss of mental health beds in “We’re not mental health profession- the state, only the most mentally ill are als and we’re being forced to be experi- involuntarily committed. enced in many more things than we’re “They want us to come in and fix trained to do,” Brickell said. “(The it, but we’re just a temporary plug to client on Triangle Court) is taxing resolve the safety issues,” Brickell said.
Eleanor Kupfer, 88, Leicester LEICESTER — Eleanor Elizabeth Kupfer, age 88, died Saturday, July 9, 2016, at her home in Leicester, in the presence of her daughters. Ellie, as she was known, was born in Middlebury on July 8, 1928, one of 12 children of Simon and Nellie (Abair) Desjadon. Her family were farmers, so she grew up in various parts of New Jersey and New York, but settled in Vermont. She graduated from Sherman Park Seminary in Port Henry, N.Y., class of 1946. In her earlier years she worked as a supervisor at Van Raaulte Ladies Lingerie in Middlebury, until their closing. Afterward, she joined the staff at Dowty Electronics in Brandon, retiring in 1993. She was a communicant at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Leicester Junction. Everyone remembers her as the lady with the beautiful flower gardens in the house at the top of the hill. Surviving are two daughters, Laura Driscoll and her husband David of Proctor; and Pamela Gates of Leicester; one son, Ronald Kupfer and his wife Peggy of Brandon, Fla.; a sister, Marjorie Quesnel and her husband Robert of Shoreham; five grandchildren, Tamie, Brian, Jeremy, Shawn and Nellie; and four great grandchildren, Jordan, Riann, Darin and Dustin Gates. Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive her. She was predeceased by her husband, Gil Kupfer in 2013; her son, Michael Kupfer in 2014; and her son-in-law Mark Gates in 2014. A private graveside committal service and burial will take place at a later date in the family lot at Brookside Cemetery in Leicester. The Rev. Vincent Okonkwo of St. Agnes Catholic Church will officiate. There are no public calling hours. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made in her memory to Brookside Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund, c/o Leicester Town Clerk, 44 Schoolhouse Road, Leicester, VT, 05733. Arrangements are under the direction of the Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home in Brandon. ◊
ADDISON COUNTY
StudentBRIEFS Adrian Dickerson of Bristol has been named to the provost’s list for the spring 2016 semester at Southern Vermont College in Bennington. Dickerson, a sophomore majoring in psychology, is a graduate of Mount Abraham Union High School. He is the son of Amanda Dickerson of Bristol and Chris Dickerson of Plattsburg, N.Y. Katelyn LaRock of Brandon was named to the Marist College dean’s list for the spring 2016 semester. LaRock, a member of the class of 2016, is majoring in digital media. Smith student brief Harper Smith of Middlebury has been named to the spring 2016 dean’s list at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I.
“We have no place else to go with this guy. As much as I want to, a person has a right to live where they like and be part of the community.” HISTORIC PROGRESSION It is that belief that was the driving force behind a systemic change 25 years ago in the way the mentally and physically disabled were treated in this country, and particularly in Vermont. The state closed the Brandon Training School in 1993 and moved toward a model of integrating those with emotional and mental disabilities into local communities. The idea was part of a nationwide shift in the treatment of the mentally disabled, away from institutionalization and into supervised independent living. The real-life skills some clients were learning in the Brandon Training School were rarely if ever used outside the institution’s boundaries. The goal was to stop marginalizing the physically and mentally disabled and instead teach them to live independently and challenge them to improve their life skills. MANY ARE SUCCESSFUL, SOME ARE NOT Ray Hathaway is the executive director of Specialized Community Care in Middlebury. He reinforced the notion that independent living and learning life skills is the goal with all of his clients. He also confirmed that SCC purchased the mobile home on Triangle Court in Brandon to house DAIL clients. He also said that he and DAIL officials were aware of every 9-1-1 call made regarding that client in the last six month, and that a critical incident report is generated for each incident. “Everyone up and down the line is aware of the situation,” Hathaway said. “Some individuals are extremely challenging and resistant to treatment. This case is well-known throughout the system, and it is a particularly challenging case.” Hathaway added that some clients, like this one, also receive all of the benefits of Vermont’s mental health and disability programs and work the system to their advantage. In this case, the client reportedly did not like one of his caseworkers and would act out when challenged. “There is more than one individual in the state that knows how to work the system,” Hathaway said. “They are protected within the system and it allows the individual to behave in a certain manner.” CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR Much like the police definition of the mental health issue, so it goes society. Anyone with an addiction, depressive tendencies, anger issues, seasonal affective disorder, even those in substance abuse recovery, technically have some form of mental illness. And so the following statistic, while jarring, must be taken with a grain of salt: According to the Vermont Department of Corrections, 60 percent of men and 60 percent of women currently incarcerated in the state have been diagnosed with some form of mental illness. And jail is not where someone with a serious mental illness wants to be, Hathaway said, because the state’s prisons are not equipped with the personnel trained to handle those prisoners. “Generally speaking, no, there are not services available,” he said. “Either the individual doesn’t go to jail, or they don’t go for very long.”
BRANDON POLICE CHIEF Chris Brickell reviews body camera footage of a mental health call in his office. Brickell said he feels law enforcement should get more support from state agencies when dealing with mental health clients.
Community Forum – Open Invitation
Help Chart the Future Path of Porter Medical Center The Porter Medical Center Board of Directors invites you to engage in the forward-looking strategic planning process to ensure that our community continues to have access to high quality health care services for years to come! This is your chance to join Dr. Fred Kniffin, interim CEO, for a conversation about the future direction of Porter and ensure that it is aligned with the needs of the community we serve. If you are unable to attend we welcome you to take our online survey at: surveymonkey.com/r/PorterMedical
Please join us! Middlebury Regional
Reporter photo/Lee J. Kahrs
One reason is the lack of psychiatric and other systems describe some pretty personnel and facilities in prison, but horrendous conditions. Vermont is very more importantly, it’s that punishment progressive regarding integration and and confinement fly in the face of the also treatment.” integration model of therapy for mental WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER health patients. Mourning Fox is the mental health “We are always doing progressive services director for the Vermont development for everyone we serve,” Department of Mental Health. He said Hathaway said. “We’re always trying he is well aware of the tightrope the to teach, educate, change behavior, and state must walk when dealing with change the way the individual interacts clients who are stretching local services with the world. We explicitly do not use so thin. He said that was the main punishment models. Our job is to do reason behind the Team Two program, our best to make sure those (criminal) which was implemented this year. It’s a situations don’t happen again.” collaboration between the Department NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN of Public Safety and the Department of Every individual that enters the state Mental Health to help bridge the gap system of care brings with them their between mental health professionals life’s baggage, their issues, their fears. and local law enforcement and emerSome are on medication, others on the gency service personnel in handling wrong medication or not medicated mental health cases at the local level. enough. Many have alienated their “It’s a collaborative process and a families, or their families have given up coordinated response,” Fox said. “The on trying to help them. It is often when goal is to reduce the amount of time people have nowhere where law enforceleft to turn and no ment is needed. It’s one left to advocate “Some individuals not unknown that for them that the state are extremely law enforcement in steps in to help. general tends to be challenging Hathaway acknowlon the front lines as edged that while local and resistant to first responders to law enforcement and treatment.” mental health crises. emergency services It’s not what they — Ray Hathaway of are trained to do, so are considered partSpecialized Community it just made sense to ners in the quest to Care develop something help the state’s mental health clients who where mental health may get off track, the and law enforceonus is on him and his team of case ment work together.” managers at SCC, DAIL and other state In 2014, mental health training agencies who are working to improve became mandatory for all Vermont law the quality of life for these individuals. enforcement officials under Act 80. The “It’s a tough job but we are commit- Team Two training is voluntary, and ted to it,” Hathaway said. “We believe offers a level of instruction in dealing in it. Generally speaking, everyone we with mental health individuals in crisis work with improves over time, and we beyond the mandated program. are able to resolve the issues that drive The goal of the Team Two program the ineffective behaviors and make is to help build relationships among their lives more enjoyable.” regional responders, while simultaneHathaway said the emphasis is on ously meeting the needs of clients and conflict resolution, problem solving ensure public safety. and coping skills. Police Chief Brickell is a Team He went on to say that Vermont’s Two instructor, which may be why mental health and disability services are his officers are so effective in dealing some of the best and most progressive with mental health cases in crisis. And in the country. while he says the program is worth“The folks in this state are very lucky while, Brickell said it falls short in rural to have these services,” he said. “Some communities. folks who have come from other states “It’s designed for law enforcement, mental health professionals and dispatchers to team up and respond to situations together if possible,” he said. “So, in places like Rutland, it’s great, because everyone is right there. But for me to call Rutland Mental Health and get them up here in 30 minutes to deal with a mental health issue is unrealistic.” But Fox countered that the Team Two program often urges phone consultations over in-person aid in more rural areas where personnel are not close by. “We’re such a small state that we need to pool our resources and use them the best way possible,” Fox said. “And to make sure we’re doing things safely and we avoid the negative outcomes Middlebury when people are communicating.” July12 • 4-5:30pm That said, even Fox agreed that a situation like the one on Triangle Court in EMS Headquarters Brandon is unacceptable for all parties. 55 Collins Drive “It’s not working when EMS and law enforcement are coming out three or four times a week,” he said. COMMUNICATION IS KEY DAIL Deputy Commissioner Camille Vergennes George said the goal of her team in any July 20 • 4-5:30pm mental health issue within a community is to foster communication between law Bixby Library enforcement, mental health casework258 Main Street ers, state agencies and the client. She echoed Ray Hathaway’s assertion that each case requires constant oversight and adjustment. “My hope is that law enforcement Bristol would reach out to the agency and July 26 • 4-5:30pm if they are not having success, we would welcome a call from them to Holley Hall work out some kind of solution,” she 1 South Street said. “As people change and develop, and as circumstances change, we can look at a case at any time and make adjustments.”
PAGE 8A — Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016
MIDDLEBURY
LION’S
rd
63 Annual
CLUB
community
calendar camps, orphanages and hospitals around the world. A “brown bag special,â€? part of Middlebury’s annual Festival on-the-Green, July 10-16. Info: www.festivalonthegreen.org. The DuPont Brothers in concert in Middlebury. Friday, July 15, 7 p.m., Middlebury town green. Indie-folk duo that has toured the country in the last couple of years. Known for versatile songwriting, blood harmonies and ďŹ ngerstyle guitar arrangements. Part of Middlebury’s annual Festival on-theGreen, July 10-16. Info: www.festivalonthegreen. org. Madaila in concert in Middlebury. Friday, July 15, 8:30 p.m., Middlebury town green. Local Middlebury music heroes Mark Daly, Willoughby Morse, Eric B. Maier, Dan Ryan and Jer Coons calling themselves “dance rock dreamersâ€? and “a neon-pop juggernaut.â€? Part of Middlebury’s annual Festival on-the-Green, July 10-16. Info: www.festivalonthegreen.org.
AUCTION and B-B-Q On the Middlebury Village Green Rain Location: Memorial Sports Center
Wednesday, July 20th B-B-Q AT 4:30pm - 6pm
ONLY $1200 ½ Chicken - Macaroni Salad - Potato Salad Rolls & Butter - Iced Tea - Lemonade - Water - Ice Cream
TAKE OUT AVAILABLE AUCTION STARTS AT 6 PM SHARP For more information call Roger Desabrais Jr. at 802-236-9978 or Matt at 758-2813 Auction items from these local businesses!
51 Main at the Bridge • Appalachian Gap Distillery • Beau Ties of VT • Bourdon Insurance Agency Broughton 's Farm Supply•Buds Barber Shop•Cacklin Hens/VT Beads & Fibers•Carols Hungry Mind Cafe•Casella Waste Management, Inc•Chris Morse Computer•Coles Flowers•Countryside Carpet & Paint•Country Tire Center, Inc.•Courtyard By Marriott•Danforth Pewters•Distinctive Paint & Interiors•Fire & Ice•Forth 'N Goal•Goodro Lumber Co•Green Peppers Restaurant•Hampton Inn•Hannaford Food & Pharmacy•Holden Insurance•Homeward Bound•Juice Amour•Kamp ersville•LandWorks•Lincoln Peak Vineyard•Lock-N-Glass Crafters•Maple Landmark•Marquis Theater•Mary's Place•Middlebury Agway•Middlebury College Retail Food Depts•Middlebury Eye Assoc.•Middlebury Fitness•Middlebury Floral & Gift•Middlebury Indoor Tennis•Middlebury Sew & Vac•Milne Travel/American Express•Mister Up's•Monument Farms Dairy•Mountain View Equipment•National Museum of the Morgan Horse•Number 1 Auto Parts•Pratts Store•Purple and Sage Property Maintenance • rk Miles • Robert Frost Mountain Cabins • Rosies Restaurant • Sears Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center•Smith Family Beef•Stonecutter Spirits•Storm CafÊ•The Lobby Town Hall Theater •Travel Associates •Vermont Coffee •Vermont Country Soap •Vermont Hard Cider Vermont Sun Sports & Fitness•Waterfalls Day Spa•Waterhouses Campground & Marina•Waybury Inn
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
WHAT’S ON THE WEB THIS WEEK? www.addisonindependent.com
Check out our new features and additional content
Powers & Powers P.C.
Adam L. Powers
Jul
Cute dog RESCUE DOG FISHER will be at the Bixby Library in Vergennes on Saturday, July 16, from 10:30-11:30 a.m. with his owner, veterinary technician Emily Lewis, who will share her wisdom as a professional dog trainer.
16
SATURDAY
Bake sale in East Middlebury. Saturday, July 16, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., East Middlebury United Methodist Church. Baked goods, hot dogs, beverages, baked beans, doughnuts, cookies and breads. Veterinary/rescue dog talk in Vergennes. Saturday, July 16, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Bixby Memorial Library. Dog trainer, veterinary technician and “mom� to a special-needs dog Emily Lewis will bring her “tripawd� rescue pal Fisher to this talk, which focuses on pet care, therapy dogs, and more. Pet-themed book sale (with free pet books) at the library from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Info: 877-6392.
Jul
18
Jul
19
MONDAY
Foot care/blood pressure clinic in Brandon. Monday, July 18, 11 a.m., Conant Square. $10. Offered by RAVNAH.
TUESDAY
Free foot care/blood pressure clinic in Middlebury. Tuesday, July 19, 10 a.m.-noon, Middlebury Rec Center, 154 Creek Road. Bring your own basin and towel. Offered by ACHHH. The Great Brandon Auction. Tuesday, July 19, Central Park, 4 p.m. (preview starts at 2 p.m.). The 28th annual beneďŹ t auction, offering quality goods and services, attic treasures, new art, merchandise, gift certiďŹ cates, antiques, furniture and lots of surprises. Rain or shine. BeneďŹ ts the Brandon Chamber. Info: 247-6401. Afternoon ramble with Lloyd Komesar in Middlebury. Tuesday, July 19, 4-5:30 p.m., The Residence at Otter Creek, 350 Lodge Road. Lloyd Komesar, founder and producer of the Middlebury New Filmmaker’s Festival, will give a talk about the upcoming 2016 Film Festival, taking place August 25-28. His presentation will be followed by a screening from last year’s festival, “Sabra,â€? proďŹ ling artist Sabra Field. Free.
Jul
20
WEDNESDAY
Stories on the Park in Bristol. Wednesday, July 20, noon-1 p.m., Bristol town green. Lawrence Memorial Selling to the government Library offers weekly stories, songs, time to play, in Middlebury. Thursday, and free lunch. Rain location: library community July 14, 9-11 a.m., Addison room. Info: 453-2366. County Economic Development Boat racing for kids in Corporation, 1590 Rt. 7 South, Suite MIDDLEBURY STUDIO SCHOOL — Adult: Weds. PM Wheel, Bristol. Wednesday, July 8. The Vermont Procurement Technical 2-4:30 p.m., Lawrence Weds AM Int/Adv Painting, Thurs. AM Clay Hand building, 20, Assistance Center (VT-PTAC) is sponMemorial Library. For kids 7 Drawing, Pastels, Plein Air by the Falls. Children: Clay and older. Sign-up required; soring a FREE two hour workshop called “Selling to the Governmentâ€? that classes-hand building & wheel every Tues, Weds, Thurs, Art call 453-2366 or email introduces Vermont Small Businesses Camps: Mythological Monsters, Super Pegs, Art of India, lmlkids009@gmail.com. to Government Contracting. Info: www. Lions club auction and Animal Art, Elves & Fairies. middleburystudioschool. chicken addisoncountyedc.org. barbecue in org Contact Barb at 247-3702, ewaldewald@aol.com. Lap-sit story time in Shoreham. Middlebury. Wednesday, Thursday, July 14, 11 a.m., Platt July 20, 4:30-6 p.m., Memorial Library. Stories, rhymes, Middlebury downtown green. songs and ďŹ ngerplays for ages 0-3 in a low-stress 38th annual Goshen Gallop. Saturday, July 16, Bring the family to the 63rd annual Lions Club environment before the library opens. Info: www. 4-8 p.m., The Blueberry Hill Inn, 1245 Goshenauction and chicken barbecue. The chicken meal plattlib.org or 897-2647. Ripton Road, Goshen. The Goshen Gallop will with coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, corn Rik Palieri in concert in Middlebury. Thursday, July unite runners from across Vermont and around the on the cob, dinner roll and ice cream is $12. 14, noon, Middlebury town green. A new breed of world, seeking to take the road less traveled, while Over 120 local vendors have donated goods and folksingers and singer/songwriters who takes the supporting repairs to trails and bridges damaged services for the auction. Auction items include: listener on a musical jaunt around the world. A by Hurricane Irene. $60 registration includes race two tickets plus round trip transportation to the “brown bag special,â€? part of Middlebury’s annual entry, meal ticket and t-shirt for the ďŹ rst 100 regisRed Sox versus Diamondbacks baseball game Festival on-the-Green, July 10-16. Info: www.festitrants. Dinner is $19 adults; $14 kids 12 and under. on August 13, a new Cannondale carbon ďŹ ber valonthegreen.org. Info: 802-388-4277 or www.goshengallop.com. road racing bike and a utility trainer to haul The Brett Hughes Band in concert in Middlebury. Rochester SummerNight Celebration in ďŹ rewood. Thursday, July 14, 7 p.m., Middlebury town green. Rochester. Saturday, July 16, 4:30-10:30 p.m., Interactive talk on Georgia O’Keeffe in Singer, songwriter, guitar player, music lover Brett Rt. 100, Rochester Village. White River Valley Middlebury. Wednesday, July 20, 7-9 p.m., Hughes brings his band to the festival stage. Part Players present an evening of music and dance Town Hall Theater. Author Dawn Tripp gives talk of Middlebury’s annual Festival on-the-Green, July with ďŹ ve venues and 10 bands. Bow Thayer headon and reading of “Georgia,â€? her breakout new 10-16. Info: www.festivalonthegreen.org. lines. Family friendly. One button gives access to novel. Tripp discusses O’Keeffe’s years with Dwight & Nicole in concert in Middlebury. all performances. Adults $12 advance, $15 day of Alfred Stieglitz in New York, and how O’Keeffe Thursday, July 14, 8:30 p.m., Middlebury town show. Kids (17 and under) $5 advance, $8 day of became a master painter and American icon. green. Multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter show. Info: www.whiteriverplayers.org. Suggested donation $5. Dwight Ritcher and BMA Female Vocalist of the Vermont Jazz Ensemble street dance in Observatory stargazing open house at Year Nicole Nelson join forces. Part of Middlebury’s Middlebury. Saturday, July 16, 7 p.m., Middlebury Middlebury College. Wednesday, July 20, annual Festival on-the-Green, July 10-16. Info: town green. Annual ďŹ nale to Middlebury’s Festival 9-10:30 p.m., Middlebury College Observatory, www.festivalonthegreen.org. on-the-Green, the dance features music in the jazz McCardell Bicentennial Hall. See planets, stars, and big band styles, with selections in rock, fusion, star clusters and nebulae through the college’s Latin and popular styles. Come right at 7 p.m. to 24-inch dome and smaller rooftop telescopes. learn dance steps with Jim Condon. Info: www. Free. Check for weather after 7 p.m. at 443-2266 festivalonthegreen.org. or http://go.middlebury.edu/observatory. Green Mountain Club hike in Lincoln. Friday, July 15, Mt. Abraham, Lincoln. This strenuous hike on the Long Trail covers 5.2 miles with an elevation gain of approximately 2500 feet and leads to phenomenal 360-degree VFW Post 7823 chicken BBQ in Blood drive in Bristol. Thursday, views. Wear appropriate clothing, bring water, food Middlebury. Sunday, July 17, noon July 21, noon-5 p.m., Mount Abraham and hiking poles if desired. Info: Ruth PenďŹ eld, to 3 p.m., Exchange St., Middlebury. Union High School. ruthpenďŹ eld@gmail.com or 802-388-5407. Meal includes half chicken, potato salad, baked Historical society meeting in Bristol. Thursday, Magician Tom Verner on stage in Middlebury. beans, rolls and ice cream for dessert. Music by July 21, 7 p.m., Howden Hall. The Bristol Friday, July 15, noon, Middlebury town green. Champlain Valley Fiddlers. Take out available. Historical Society welcomes Elise Guyette, Local magician Tom Verner may be best known $10. RSVP: 802-388-9468. author of “Discovering Black Vermont,â€? who will for his Magicians Without Borders organizations, talk about the Lincoln Hill black community of which offers magic shows for children in refugee Hinesburg. Info: 453-7709.
Jul
THURSDAY
Jul
FRIDAY
14
15
Jul
17
SUNDAY
Jul
21
THURSDAY
Donald (Tad) Powers
Attorneys at Law ,i>Â?ĂŠ ĂƒĂŒ>ĂŒiĂŠUĂŠ Ă•ĂƒÂˆÂ˜iĂƒĂƒ 7ˆÂ?Â?ĂƒĂŠEĂŠ/Ă€Ă•ĂƒĂŒĂƒĂŠUĂŠ i`ˆ>ĂŒÂˆÂœÂ˜ĂŠĂŠ
(802) 388-2211 www.markspowers.com
1205 Three Mile Bridge Road | Middlebury, VT 05753
NORRIS BERRY FARM – BERRY FORECAST–
Raspberries & Black Currants – Picking NOW! Blueberries – by this Saturday!
You Deserve the Berry Best and We Have it! Expanded, well-tended fields with the sweetest berries Our signature hanging baskets are in full bloom. Lots of Fresh Veggies! Berry plants & flowering shrubs, Plus rhubarb, tomatoes, pickles jams and syrup Flowering Annualsts & Vegetables Star ON SALE
$AVIS 2OAD s (INESBURG -ONKTON s .ORRISBERRYFARM GMAVT NET /PEN DAYS s !MPLE 0ARKING
Sailor made HAROLD LLOYD AND co-star Mildred Davis sample exotic on-shore attractions in “A Sailor-Made Manâ€? (1921), part of a program of Harold Lloyd silent comedy ďŹ lms to be screened on Saturday, July 16, at 7 p.m. at Brandon Town Hall.
community Jul
22
FRIDAY
calendar
Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016 — PAGE 9A
Table of Grace free meal in Vergennes. Friday, July 22, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Vergennes Congregational Church. Meals are held the fourth Friday of the month. This month’s menu: cold ham, salads, bread and dessert.
Jul
23
SATURDAY
Pancake breakfast in Shoreham. Saturday, July 23, 8-10 a.m., Shoreham Congregational Church. Pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, home fries, real Vermont maple syrup and beverages. All proceeds benefit the Church Restoration Fund. Bake sale in Salisbury. Saturday, July 23, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Kampersville Store, Rt. 53, Salisbury. Salisbury Congregational Church bake sale. Checking the turtle traps in Salisbury. Saturday, July 23, 10-11:30 a.m., Butler residence, 87 North Pond Road, Salisbury. Herpetologist Jim Andrews will be talking about the turtle species commonly found in Vermont. Then the group will head out to the northern end of Lake Dunmore to see if there are turtles in live traps. Chicken barbecue church supper in Brandon. Saturday, July 23, 5-7 p.m., Brandon Congregational Church. Come and enjoy homemade barbecued chicken, salads, baked beans, desserts and beverages. Free will offering will be accepted.
Jul
24
SUNDAY
Chamber music society concert in Rochester. Sunday, July 24, 4 p.m., Federated Church of Rochester. Elizabeth LeBlanc, clarinet; Elizabeth Reid, viola; and Cynthia Huard, piano, perform Mozart’s Trio in E flat major, K.498 “Kegelstatt Trio,” Piazzolla, Rebecca Clarke duo and Schumann’s “Fairy Tales.” Admission by donation. Info: 802-767-9234.
Jul
25
MONDAY
Author reading and book signing in Middlebury. Monday, July 25, 2 p.m., Middlebury Town Offices. Come hear M.T. Anderson read from his new book, “Symphony for the City of the Dead,” coupled with a performance by the Arneis Quartet. Sponsored by the Friends of the Ilsley Public Library and Point CounterPoint. Free. Space limited. To reserve a free ticket call 802-388-4095. Band concert in Vergennes. Monday, July 25, 7 p.m., City Park. Concerts held every Monday evening through Aug. 22.
Jul
26
TUESDAY
Constance Holden Memorial Concert in Middlebury. Tuesday, July 26, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall Theater. Point CounterPoint’s annual free concert in memory of Constance Holden. Info: www.townhalltheater. org.
Jul
27
WEDNESDAY
Stories on the Park in Bristol. Wednesday, July 27, noon-1 p.m., Bristol town green. Lawrence Memorial Library offers weekly stories, songs, time to play, and free lunch. Rain location: library community room. Info: 453-2366. Magnificent Marble Runs for kids in Bristol. Wednesday, July 27, 2-4:30 p.m., Lawrence Memorial Library. For kids 7 and older. Sign-up required; call 453-2366 or email lmlkids009@ gmail.com. Free concert in Middlebury. Wednesday, July 27, 6 p.m., Middlebury town green. The Middlebury Community Music Center Jazz Quartet performs. MCMC is holding monthly faculty concerts on the green as part of Experience Middlebury’s Summer Music Series. Come picnic on the green. Vendors, sidewalk sales. Weather permitting; check facebook.com/bettermiddleburypartnership for status. Town band concert in Bristol. Wednesday, July 27, 7 p.m., town green. Bring a lawn chair, blanket or picnic dinner and enjoy an evening of small-town entertainment. Snake Mountain Bluegrass in concert in Brandon. Wednesday, July 27, 7 p.m., Central Park. A great mix of traditional and more modern bluegrass. Family friendly. Bring your lawn chairs, enjoy food from vendors set up in the park. Part of the Brandon Summer Concert Series. Observatory stargazing open house at Middlebury College. Wednesday, July 27, 9-10:30 p.m., Middlebury College Observatory, McCardell Bicentennial Hall. See planets, stars, star clusters and nebulae through the college’s 24-inch dome and smaller rooftop telescopes. Free. Check for weather after 7 p.m. at 443-2266 or http://go.middlebury.edu/observatory.
Jul
28
THURSDAY
Recital at St. Stephen’s-on-the-Green in Middlebury. Thursday, July 28, 12:15 p.m., 3 Main St. Emily Sunderman, violinist, and George Matthew Jr., organist, perform works by Vivaldi, Handel and Georg Muffat. Bring a lunch. Light refreshments provided. Free. Genealogy research workshop in Middlebury. Thursday, July 28, 2-3:30 p.m., Ilsley Public Library. Learn how to use the library’s genealogical databases to explore your family history. Space is limited. Register at the circulation desk or call 802-388-4095. Movies in the Park After Dark in Bristol. Thursday, July 28, dusk, town green. “Aladdin.” Part of Bristol Rec’s annual outdoor film series with classics shown on a theater-size screen. Free. Bring a blanket and bug spray. Series runs weekly (except Aug. 11) through Aug. 18).
Jul
29
FRIDAY
Three-day Stampede in Bristol. Friday, July 29, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Bristol Rec Field. Annual fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research. Huge lawn sale with over 20 tents full of merchandise, plus fair food, bake sale and silent auction. Continues Saturday and Sunday.
James and the Giant Peach TOWN HALL THEATER acting troupe in Middlebury presents “James and the Giant Peach,” a musical adventure for the whole family, on Friday, July 22, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, July 23, at 2 p.m. Show are the young cast members.
Champ themed weekend at DAR State Park. Friday, July 29, 6750 Vt. Rt. 17, West Addison. Celebrate the creature reported to live in Lake Champlain with activities including a scavenger hunt, bike parade, mask making and drawing contest. Activities open to those who are camping and those who come to the park for the day. $4 adults, $2 children ages 4-13; children three and under are free. Info: 802-759-2354. Summer Carillon Concert Series at Middlebury College. Friday, July 29, 5 p.m., Mead Chapel and surrounding lawns. The carillon in the tower of Mead Chapel will be played by Amy Heebner ’93, city carillonneur for the city of Albany, N.Y. Free. Info: http://go.middlebury.edu/carillon. “Evening to Remember” social in Addison. Friday, July 29, 6-8 p.m., Chimney Point State Historic Site. Enjoy a relaxing summer evening at Chimney Point’s old tavern and resort on Lake Champlain. Visit the museum, rock on the porch, enjoy music and children’s activities and meet with special guests from Chimney Point’s past. Donations appreciated. Info: 802-759-2412 or www.historicsites.vermont.gov/chimneypoint. “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” on stage in Brandon. Friday, July 29, 7:30 p.m., Brandon Town Hall. Shakespeare on Main Street presents this Tom Stoppard romp where reality and illusion intermix and word play abounds. The play reinterprets “Hamlet” from the point of view of two minor characters. Tickets $18 adults; $12, seniors, students and military. Info: 247-6720. Runs through July 31. Annemieke Spoelstra & Jeremiah McLane in concert in Salisbury. Friday, July 29, 7:30 p.m., Salisbury Congregational Church. Virtuosi on piano and accordion. Music by Piazzola, Grieg, Poulenc, Dvorak and Hovhaness. Free-will donations appreciated.
Jul
30
SATURDAY
Three-day Stampede in Bristol. Saturday, July 30, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Bristol Rec Field. Annual fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research. Huge lawn sale with over 20 tents full of merchandise, plus fair food, bake sale and silent auction. Motorcycle ride Saturday: Register at 10 a.m., two-hour ride starts at 11 a.m., followed by a post-ride meal. Champ themed weekend at DAR State Park. Saturday, July 30, 6750 Vt. Rt. 17, West Addison. Celebrate the creature reported to live in Lake Champlain with activities including a scavenger hunt, bike parade, mask making and drawing contest. Activities open to those who are camping and those who come to the park for the day. $4 adults, $2 children ages 4-13; children three and under are free. Info: 802-759-2354. Town cookout and fire department open house in Ripton. Saturday, July 30, noon-3 p.m., Ripton Fire Station, 25 Dugway Road. Hang out with Chief Erik and the rest of the department. Hot dogs and hamburgers. Bring a side dish and join your neighbors. Kids’ activities. “Middlebury’s Got Talent” show. Saturday, July 30, 2 p.m., Town Hall Theater. Annual local talent show. Info: www.townhalltheater.org. “What Were You Thinking, John Trumbull and Anthony Wayne?” history talk in Orwell. Saturday, July 30, 2-3:30 p.m., Mount Independence State Historic Site. Modern-day historian Paul Andriscin turns back the time machine to interview two American officers about the events of 1776 and the building of Mount Independence. Info: 948-2000. Annual Lobsterfest in North Ferrisburgh. Saturday, July 30, seatings at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church, 227 Old Hollow Road. Lobster $23, chicken $12. Reservations only. Call 802-4252263 before July 21. Britt Connors & Bourbon Renewal in concert in Brandon. Saturday, July 30, 7:30 p.m., Brandon Music. Blues/folk/jazz. Tickets $20. Reservations recommended: 802-247-4295 or www.brandonmusic.net. “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” on stage in Brandon. Saturday, July 30, 7:30 p.m., Brandon Town Hall. Shakespeare on Main Street presents this Tom Stoppard romp where reality and illusion intermix and word play abounds. The play reinterprets “Hamlet” from the point of view of two minor characters. Tickets $18 adults; $12, seniors, students and military. Info: 247-6720. Runs through July 31. National Moth Week presentation in Middlebury.
Saturday, July 30, 8 p.m., Ilsley Library and Otter View and Wright parks. A talk about the huge diversity and abundance of moths in Vermont, will be followed by an outdoor black light session at 9 p.m. to see what moths are active in midsummer. Local moth experts will help identify moths. Info: 388-6019.
Jul
31
*VALID WITH THIS COUPON THROUH JULY 31, 2016. COUPON MUST BE PRESENTED AT TIME OF REPAIR DROP-OFF.
SUNDAY
Three-day Stampede in Bristol. Sunday, July 31, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Bristol Rec Field. Annual fundraiser for cystic fibrosis research. Huge lawn sale with over 20 tents full of merchandise, plus fair food, bake sale and silent auction. Stampede 5K on Sunday at 8 a.m. Champ themed weekend at DAR State Park. Sunday, July 31, 6750 Vt. Rt. 17, West Addison. Celebrate the creature reported to live in Lake Champlain with activities including a scavenger hunt, bike parade, mask making and drawing contest. Activities open to those who are camping and those who come to the park for the day. $4 adults, $2 children ages 4-13; children three and under are free. Info: 802-759-2354. Guided walk across Lake Champlain Bridge in Crown Point, N.Y. Sunday, July 31, 1-3 p.m., meet at the Crown Point (N.Y.) State Historic Site Museum. Crown Point site manager Michael Roets and Chimney Point site manager Elsa Gilbertson lead a round-trip walk to Chimney Point and back. Rain or shine. Dress for the weather. Cost $6. Info: 802-759-2412 or www. historicsites.vermont.gov/chimneypoint. “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” on stage in Brandon. Sunday, July 31, 2 p.m., Brandon Town Hall. Shakespeare on Main Street presents this Tom Stoppard romp where reality and illusion intermix and word play abounds. The play reinterprets “Hamlet” from the point of view of two minor characters. Tickets $18 adults; $12, seniors, students and military. Info: 247-6720. Runs through July 31. “Middlebury’s Got Talent” show. Sunday, July 31, 8 p.m., Town Hall Theater. Annual local talent show. Info: www.townhalltheater.org.
LI VEMUSIC The Brazen Youth in Middlebury. Friday, July 15, 6-8 p.m., 51 Main. Cooie DeFrancesco in Middlebury. Friday, July 15, 6 p.m., Two Brothers Tavern. Binger in Middlebury. Friday, July 15, 9 p.m., Two Brothers Tavern. John Lyons in Middlebury. Saturday, July 16, 7:30-9:30 p.m., 51 Main. Rehab Roadhouse in Middlebury. Saturday, July 16, 9 p.m., Two Brothers Tavern. Cookie’s Hot Club in New Haven. Friday, July 22, 6-8 p.m., Lincoln Peak Vineyard. Simply Acoustic in Middlebury. Friday, July 22, 8-10 p.m., 51 Main. Bob Gagnon Trio in Middlebury. Saturday, July 23, 8-10 p.m., 51 Main. Root 7 in Middlebury. Thursday, July 28, 6:308:30 p.m., 51 Main. The Grift in New Haven. Friday, July 29, 6-8 p.m., Lincoln Peak Vineyard. Totally Submerged in Middlebury. Friday, July 29, 8:30-10:30 p.m., 51 Main. In the Pocket in Middlebury. Saturday, July 30, 8:30-10:30 p.m., 51 Main. Jinxbox and Jaela in Middlebury. Friday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m., Marquis Theater. Jinxbox and Jaela in Middlebury. Saturday, Aug. 20, 6 p.m., Two Brothers Tavern.
See a full listing of
O NG OI N G
HARDWOODS & SOFTWOOD
At the Mill – QUALITY Kiln Dried Lumber
Over 100 years Superior Quality/ Great Prices
Repairs & Remodeling New Construction – Any Size Job Paneling, Flooring, Siding / Trim Furniture & Cabinets Pine, Maple, Oak, Cherry, Ash...
,OCAL s 3USTAINABLE s 2ENEWABLE Cash & Volume Discounts • Great Specials • Friendly Service The A. Johnson Co., LLC • 995 South 116 Rd • Bristol, VT 802-453-4884 • www.VermontLumber.com
MAINTAIN YOUR MUSCLE Did you know that after age 40 we lose muscle mass if we are not Strength Training? Maintaining your muscle (or increasing your muscle!) will help maintain or increase your metabolism, bone density and joint stability. If you are not currently Strength Training, why not start this month at Bristol Fitness?
Summer STRONG Membership 8 weeks in duration: $129/person Regular Memberships: 3 months: $165 (save 25%) 12 months: $475 (save 35%) 6 months: $275 (save 30%) Offer expires 7/31/16
E VE NTS on the Web at
www.addisonindependent.com
Call 453-5205 for more information 14 School Street, Bristol VT • 453-5205
ARO
PAGE 10A — Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016
UND
TOWN
Workshop in Orwell can help you write your family’s history ORWELL — Have you been researching your family history and wondering where to go next? What do you do with all your notes? Joanna Tebbs Young will lead a workshop, titled “Turning your Genealogical Research into a Narrative,” on Saturday, July 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mount Independence State Historic Site in Orwell. Young is a columnist, writing instructor and coach. In this hands-on workshop she will help participants access their creativity
and learn writing techniques to turn their family history into a narrative and legacy for future generations. Participants should bring writing utensils, questions and a bag lunch or snack. Pre-register by calling 802-9482000. The workshop fee is $25 and includes admission to the site. The workshop is offered by the Mount Independence Coalition, friends group for the historic site. Mount Independence State Historic Site is located 497 Mount Independence Road in Orwell.
Bruce Lisman to share his vision for Vt. at VFW meal MIDDLEBURY — Champlain Valley Agency on Aging (CVAA) holds its Tuesday Meal on July 19, 2016, at the Middlebury VFW on Exchange St. Arrive at 11 a.m. for a discussion with gubernatorial candidate Bruce Lisman, who will share his ideas about the issues facing Vermonters and his ideas for solutions. Join us in this conversation before enjoying lunch. The noon meal will feature chicken parmesan with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, penne pasta
tossed in olive oil, basil and parmesan cheese, roasted zucchini and summer squash, green leaf salad with choice of dressing, garlic rolls and yellow cake for dessert. Certified organic regular and decaf coffee provided by Vermont Coffee Company. Suggested donation is $4, and advance reservations are required. Call CVAA at 802-865-0360 ext. 1070 to reserve. Free transportation provided by ACTR; call 802-3881946. For more information about CVAA, visit www.cvaa.org.
FOUR RIPTON CHILDREN — Matthew McIntosh, left, Mary Harrington, Beth McIntosh and Baxter Harrington — stand at the northern terminus of the Long Trail on June 27. The group has summited all of the northern peaks on the Long Trail and hope to finish the southern end in the future.
SERVICENOTES Young adventurers tackling the Long Trail
ADDISON COUNTY
Staff Sgt. Christian with the 1156th Engineer Provoncha of Middlebury has Company of the New York Army By EMMA COTTON reenlisted to continue service National Guard. RIPTON — Over the last two summers, four hearty Ripton kids have trekked a whopping total of 84 miles on the Long Trail, finishing at the Canadian Border. They reached the northern terminus of the trail in North Troy on June Does your group or organization have something happening 27. The 8-12-year-old mountaineers that’s appropriate for the calendar? We want to hear about it! If are looking to finish the trail in the coming summers. you have a picture, please, send that too. Pictures and text may Beth and Matthew MacIntosh, nine and eight years old, respectively, have be emailed to: been hiking with Mary and Baxter Harrington, eight and 10 years old, respectively, up the winding, rocky
send it in!
OM
AWOR K
S
news@addisonindependent.com
WELLNESS CENTER
A Center for Independent Health Care Practitioners “Wellness is more than the absence of illness.” 50 Court St • Middlebury, Vt 05753 Jim Condon ................... 388-4880 or 475-2349 SomaWork Caryn Etherington ................... 388-4882 ext. 3 Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Nancy Tellier, CMT .. 388-4882 ext. 1... or 989-7670 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
Call to schedule your Botox® appointment today! Private or group appointments up to four In your home or at our Middlebury location
802.265.0282
trails of some of Vermont’s tallest peaks, including Mount Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, Mount Abraham and Jay Peak. Tackling the trail in increments, they’ve traipsed eight-mile stretches and five-day-long overnight trips. According to Tracey Harrington, mother of Mary and Baxter, the kids love it. “They showed a great attitude throughout the hiking,” she said in an email. “They are comfortable scrambling up tough terrain, crawling through the caves and caverns of Devil’s Gultch, walking through wet,
muddy bogs, carrying their gear and eating lots of cheese sticks, Knorr noodles and foil-wrapped tuna.” Jay Peak and Mount Mansfield were two of the toughest, rockiest climbs for the kids, she said, but they persevered. The kids hiked the longest leg of the trip — at 29 miles — in only four days, from June 16 to June 19. On their longest day, they trekked 8.2 miles. Laura MacIntosh, Beth and Matthew’s mom, and Jay Harrington, Mary and Baxter’s dad, are passionate about hiking and both have completed the Appalachian Trail,
Laura in 2000 and Jay in 2002. These two have accompanied the kids for the entirety of their journeys, and they’ve been joined by Tracey and even Mary and Baxter’s grandfather, Frank Willis, making the trip tri-generational. Tracey said hikers can look forward to seeing the little ones on the trail again soon. They may tack on bits and pieces of the Appalachian Trail with their families, but for now, they’re planning to hike south from Mount Abe, staying focused on finishing the trail that traverses the state.
wellness directory
Zeno Bldg • 31 Court St Middlebury, VT www.vtmedspa.com contact@vtmedspa.com
Do you need a change? Overcome doubt and fear with life coaching. You will develop clarity of values and intentions, and learn small achievable steps to success. You can further your career, business, health, relationships, retirement, skills or other aspirations using a comfortable workbook and personal coaching. Call Dr. Charlotte McGray, PSYD at 388-0929 for Coaching or for Psychotherapy.
CHARLOTTE MCGRAY
Doctor of Psychology - Certified Life Coach Do you need a change? Overcome doubt and fear: Take achievable steps. Be joyful! Coaching with Charlotte is an energizing process that accelerates your progress toward achieving your goals, aspirations, or life- dreams. You will develop clarity of values, intentions, small steps, and achievable follow through. You can use coaching to further your career, business, health, skills, relationships or spiritual journey. Charlotte says “Coaching is an incredible process that creates focus on joy and energy and enlivens motivation!” Doctor McGray has done psychotherapy in Middlebury since 1985. She was a counselor before going back to school at age 40 to get a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. This deep broad background enriches the Life Dream coaching that she has added to her practice.
Charlotte McGray, PSYD 388-0929 Doctor McGray also takes referrals for psychotherapy.
Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016 — PAGE 11A
Schools
Service
nity was unnecessary to the continued (Continued from Page 1A) they explained how a governance operation of the new district and its merger could work locally under Ver- educational programs, it would conmont’s Act 46, a law that encourages vey those assets — for $1 — to the supervisory unions to streamline their town in which it is located. This conadministrative functions as a way of veyance would be conditioned on the containing education costs in this era town agreeing to use the property for of declining student enrollment. “community and public purposes” for Voters in all five ANeSU commu- at least five years. If the town were nities will need to endorse unification to sell the property prior to five years on Nov. 8 in order to put the plan into of ownership, it would need to reimmotion. burse the unified district for any capi“We have structured our proposal tal improvements and renovations it so that all five towns have to ap- might have made. prove, or the unification will not go PROPERTY TAX SAVINGS forward,” Stanley said. “We have not Stanley said district officials are included any ‘modified union’ lan- still crunching numbers on potential guage.” property tax savings that five-town The committee has prepared a residents could see through goverdraft plan spelling out specifics of nance consolidation. Stanley said earthe ANeSU’s potential metamorpho- ly estimates, based on current Act 46 sis into a single Addison Northeast projections, indicated “all towns (in Supervisory District (ANESD). Here the ANESD) would see some kind of are some of the main provisions of tax savings over the first four years,” that plan: according to Stanley. • All of the current elementary That’s partly due to state incentives school boards, as well as Mt. Abe’s, for districts that embrace Act 46. would be phased out and supplanted Addison Northeast officials said the by a single, 15-member district is in line to save ANESD board. That around $137,000 annupanel’s composition “We have ally through streamlined would be based on the structured our operations, including population of the towns proposal so the ability to maintain as outlined in the most that all five one budget (instead of recent federal census, the current seven); four towns have meaning Bristol (with years of tax incentives the greatest population) to approve, or for all homestead taxwould be accorded five the unification payers in the five towns, members; Monkton and will not go beginning in the summer Starksboro would each forward.” of 2018; and eligibilget three members; and ity for a $150,000 uni— Jennifer Stanley Lincoln and New Hafication transition grant ven would each get two. through the state. The Board representatives would be elect- district would also be able to keep its ed by the voters in their respective small school grants. towns, as opposed to on an at-large Addison Northeast officials are basis. hoping for a big turnout at the July Representatives would initially be 18 forum at the Lincoln Community elected, on Nov. 8, in staggered terms School. Officials will answer quesof one, two or three years. Ultimately, tions and welcome feedback on what all board members would be elected would be a major change in school to three-year terms on Town Meeting administration. It’s a change that has Day. already been endorsed by residents in • The ANESD would not close the neighboring Addison Central, Adany public schools within its bound- dison Northwest and Rutland Northaries during the first four years of its east supervisory unions. existence. Officials stressed that the Communities that don’t opt for governance unification bid is about governance unification will evenmaking education in the district more tually be assigned by the state to a efficient and cost-effective, and not supervisory district that it might find a precursor to closing any of the five less palatable. elementary schools. The early signs have been good for “We certainly don’t see any desire public support. Seventy percent of to close Addison Northeast schools in the approximately 400 respondents the near future,” Stanley said. to an on-line survey conducted by the But if declining enrollment or other ANeSU revealed support for a uniissues result in a school becoming a fied district, according to Stanley. candidate for closure, it would take New ANeSU Superintendent Pata positive vote by the ANESD board rick J. Reen is hoping for a positive and the citizens of the school’s home vote — as an administrator and as a town — by Australian ballot — in or- constituent. der to shutter that school. “There are many benefits to the • If approved by voters, the new creation of a unified governance unified board would assume full structure including short-term tax control of the district on July 1, breaks and anticipated cost savings 2018. The panel would prepare its through greater operating efficienfirst global budget encompassing all cies,” he said. “However, as superschools in the ANESD for fiscal year intendent and as the father of two 2019, the period from July 1, 2018, children in our school system, what to June 30, 2019. Addison Northeast excites me most about a unified govvoters would decide that budget by ernance structure are the possibilities Australian ballot. that exist when the organization can The current, individual school focus more intensely on improving boards within the ANeSU would con- outcomes for our students. The curtinue to function “for the sole purpose rent structure, with eight boards, inof completing any outstanding busi- evitably leads to a lot of duplicative ness not given to the new supervisory work and therefore takes away from district under these articles and state our focus on moving the system forlaw,” according to the proposed ar- ward. ANeSU does many great things ticles of agreement. The ANeSU as for its students and increasing our we know it would cease to exist on focus will only further support this Jan. 1, 2019. great work.” • No later than June 30, 2018, Reen noted that not everyone is on each of the member communities board with the proposed change. would convey to the new supervisory “I know a lot of our five-town district, for the sum of one dollar, all community members have concerns of their school real estate and related about a reduced connection to their personal property — including all local schools and the possibility of land, buildings and contents. losing local control,” he said. “As The new supervisory district would superintendent, I feel strongly about assume all school-related capital debt not only maintaining the relationship of member communities, including community members have with their both principal and interest as may ex- local schools but actually expanding ist at the close of business on June 30, opportunities for developing these 2018. The new district would also as- very important relationships. After sume all of the communities’ school all, it takes a village to raise a child, operating surpluses and deficits of the let alone hundreds of children.” that may exist by that same date. The ANeSU Act 46 Study ComIf the new unified board were to de- mittee’s final report and proposed termine that any of the school prop- articles of agreement can be found erty, including buildings and land, posted online with this story at addiconveyed to it by a member commu- sonindependent.com.
(Continued from Page 1A) — portions of the south side of the building. The vast majority of the 85 volunteer workers are retirees, several in their late-80s. Some younger folks have promised to help on weekends. Others have committed vacation time to the project. All share the goal of helping the church, which is on the cusp of some major capital upgrades. The congregation has raised money to build an 8,023-square-foot addition onto the north side of its historic place of worship. Once expanded, the church will have room to accommodate its administrative offices, currently located in the Charter House. That will allow the Charter House to ramp up its role as a homeless shelter. The non-profit Charter House Coalition organizes free community meals and has been managing the facility as an emergency shelter for families and individuals during the coldest period of the year, Oct. 16 to April 15. With support from the state of Vermont, the Charter House beginning this fall could begin providing day-time shelter to the homeless on a year-round basis. The Charter House Coalition was founded in 2005 in response to critical food and housing needs in Addison County. The organization has an annual budget of approximately $185,000 and a volunteer base of more than 950 community members who contribute a combined total of around 23,500 hours of service each year. The CHC served 24,000 meals and housed 79 adults and children in 2014, according to Jessica Lipnack, who is helping to document the Charter House renovations. Lipnack is also helping Margaret Carothers coordinate the many breakfasts and lunches for the hungry volunteers. The church is also providing ample supplies of coffee and water on site, to make sure the workers are alert and hydrated. “We figured that by having food, that’s how you bring people together,” Lipnack said. Carothers also fills in at the church office and serves on several of the church’s leadership committees. “It gives me a lump,” Carothers said as she surveyed the work in
VOLUNTEERS WORK TUESDAY on exterior repairs to Middlebury’s Charter House on North Pleasant Street.
Independent photos/Trent Campbell
progress amid a thin cloud of dust and the whir of power tools. “There is as much need here as there is anywhere else. And the work that goes on in this building is phenomenal.” Brown estimates it would have cost around $45,000 to have the Charter House renovations done by a private contractor. Doing the work in-house with volunteers is expected to cut the price down to around $16,000, he estimated. Proj-
ect organizers gave a big shout-out to area businesses for making both financial and in-kind contributions to lessen the church’s financial outlay. For example, HJL Inc. of new Haven not only loaned the construction scaffolding, company officials helped set it up, according to Brown. And Omya Inc., which operates a large quarry in Middlebury, contributed $1,208 to pay for special safety garb to ensure workers are
MORE THAN 80 volunteers will be spending the next two weeks making exterior repairs to the Charter House on North Pleasant Street in Middlebury.
protected from any hazardous material (like lead paint) to which they might become exposed during the job. Countryside, the Swift House Inn, Dundon, Casella, Habitat for Humanity, Foster Brothers Farm, Vermont Integrated Architecture and Awesome Graphics have also provided support, according to a big sign in front of the Charter House. Rich Carpenter has signed up for eight days of work. Though he has spent his professional life surrounded by computers, Carpenter is pretty handy with a hammer and saw, as he demonstrated on Monday. He has participated in several of the church’s service trips. “I like the feeling of doing things that are both productive and useful and getting a group of people working together,” Carpenter said. Work is expected to proceed through Saturday, July 23. Anyone interested in helping with the Charter House renovation project should send an e-mail with contact information, the type of help on offer, and indication of age (if under 18) to Rich Carpenter at richcarpenter212@cs.com or Nancy Jakiela at nancyj@great-ideas.org. More information on the project can be found at http://midducc.org/the-charterhouse-challenge/#sthash.Uxrl6N2b. dpuf.
www.addisonindependent.com — CHECK IT OUT.
PAGE 12A — Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016
Delicious and nutritious wild plants are all around and waiting to be eaten By MICHAEL J. CADUTO In the early 1960s, Euell Gibbons wrote “Stalking the Wild Asparagus” and introduced millions of North Americans to the virtues of harvesting wild foods. Since that time, gathering wild edibles has become increasingly popular, and in our region, woods-grown delicacies such as ramps and fiddlehead ferns appear in grocery stores each spring. Yet you don’t have to lace up your hiking boots to enjoy the wild repast. If you resist the urge to use herbicides, you are likely to find a diverse array of edible wild plants growing in your lawn and vegetable garden. Let’s start with that botanical Darth Vader in the eyes of lawn perfectionists — the dent de lion, “lion’s tooth” or dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), so named for the tooth-like serrations on its leaves. Pick the young leaves for salad greens early in the season, before the flowers bloom and the leaves become bitter. Use blossoms to make dandelion wine or batterfried fritters. Dig the roots, clean and slow roast until crisp, then grind and brew into a caffeine-free coffee substitute. In striking contrast is the sharp, peppery taste of a wild mustard called winter cress, or garden yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris) — among the first plants to sprout after snowmelt. The leaves add character to any salad, but I prefer them steamed like domestically grown mustard greens, or added to soups. Nearby, you’ll likely find red clover (Trifolium pratense) and white clover (T. repens). As with the dandelion, these clovers originally came from Europe. The leaves are
The
good for salads and can be boiled for five to ten minutes for cooked greens. Crush the dried leaves into bread dough to enhance the leavening of yeast. Common sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) is another strongflavored herb whose fleshy, arrowshaped leaves add bite to a salad. Or boil the fresh leaves to create a tart tea, which can be chilled and sweetened for a lemonade-like cooler that’s loaded with vitamin C. The shamrock-shaped leaves of the violet wood-sorrel (Oxalis violacea) and common wood-sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) can be similarly prepared. As springtime progresses, look for the heart-shaped leaves of wild violets (Viola spp.). When violets bloom in our own lawn, they create such a rich carpet of blue and white that I cease mowing those spots for several weeks. Especially good when young and tender, the leaves make an excellent salad green or potherb that is high in vitamins A and C. Violets can be eaten freshly picked, or the boiled leaves can be used as a thickener in soups. Beware the leaves of yellow violets, however, which have a laxative effect. Search the unkempt margins of the yard and you’ll notice the scalloped leaves of oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare), another European immigrant. These leaves, which taste pleasant and slightly spicy, make tender salad greens. Flowerbeds and vegetable gardens often harbor two species that are among our most common edible “weeds” — lamb’s quarters or pigweed . Pick the thick, arrowshaped leaves of lamb’s quarters,
Outside Story
which are coated with a whitish bloom, when the plant is less than a foot high. Boil or steam the leaves lightly, then serve with butter and thyme for a spinach-like dish that is rich in vitamins A and C, B-complex vitamins, calcium, iron, and phosphorous. Lamb’s quarters tastes so good you’ll wonder why you’re not growing it rather than treating it as a weed. The fleshy leaves of purslane, which often grows near lamb’s quarters, can also be eaten in salads, or you can boil them for 10 minutes as a tart, tasty potherb. Purslane is used to thicken soups, and some people enjoy pickling the stems. After your lawn has gone feral, the tiny, five-petalled white flowers of wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) may appear, harbingers of the miniature, ruby-colored confections to come. The sweet scent and flavor of these minute gems put domesticated varieties to shame. You have to pick a lot of them because they’re so small, but they’re worth the time and effort. Try baking them into muffins or pancakes, sprinkling them on your cereal, over fresh yogurt, or into homemade ice cream. Create wild strawberry jam. As the season progresses into summer, your reward for maintaining a chemical-free lawn and garden will be a succession of useful ripening plants — from the fragrant, chamomile-like blossoms of pineapple weed (Matricaria discoidea), to the snappy seeds of jewelweed (Impatiens capensis and I. pallida), which taste like walnuts. And you’ll be joined by a host of birds, bees, butterflies and other forms of wildlife that come to partake of the abundant nectar, leaves, fruits and seeds ecologist and storyteller who lives Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned Wellborn Ecology Fund of New offered up in the wild harvest. in Reading. The illustration for this and edited by Northern Woodlands Hampshire Charitable Foundation: Michael J. Caduto is an author, column was drawn by Adelaide magazine and sponsored by the wellborn@nhcf.org.
Otter Valley Union High School honor roll BRANDON — Otter Valley Union High School recognizes the following students for academic achievement during the sixth marking period of the 2015-2016 academic year. GRADE 7 Principal’s list: Sarah Calvin, Ashley Carrara, Kassidy Carvey, Caleb Chisamore, Joseph Cijka, Grace Coolidge, Raychel Kemp, Mallory Lufkin, Jessica Malbon, Bonnie Moore, Madilyn Morgan, Mia Politano, Anoushka Pschorr and McKenna White. Honor roll: Cole Blanchard, Aidan Blier, Josie Cone, Brennon Crossmon, Bradley Danforth, Gregory DiPietro, Lane Eddy, Melody Falker, Dylan Gaboriault,
Damian LaRouche, Karlton McDonough, Kinsey Moyer, Madeleine O’Connell, Shannon Oudman-Blackwood, Rhys Pitner, Joseph Rovi and Connor Watters. GRADE 8 Principal’s list: Livia Bernhardt, Caitlin Bixby, Lauryl Blanchard, Alia Edmunds, Mary Kingsley, Edward Kopp, Carolynn Lafountaine, Morgan LaPorte, Austin Martindale, Jocelyn Noble, Ian Ouellette, Shayla Phillips, Elinor Ross, Kelsie Sunhawk and Phoebe Wood. Honor roll: Tyler Boynton, Kiaria Corbett, Morgan Daly, Ashlynn Depatie, Evan Diaz, Julia Eastman, Isabella Falco, Madison French, Samantha Hatch, Hunter
Jones, Jordan Lemieux, Alyza McKeighan, Renee O’Connell, Stephanie Palmer, Sawyer Pierpoint, Leah Pinkowski, Aiden Purcell, Paul Schultz, Ingrid Sherwin, Logan Trombley and Olivia White. GRADE 9 Scholars’ roll: Samuel Buswell, Meghan Chaney, Nathan Claessens, Nicholas LaCoille and Ethan Sulik-Doty. Principal’s list: Joshua Beayon, Michael Bedard, Ella Chaney, Hayden Gallo, Clay Hays, Timothy Kittler, Julia Lee, Sophie Markowski and Marcus McCullough. Honor roll: Sabra Ballou, Evelyn Bart, Kyle Burch, Kenneth
Burt, Collin Elliott, Madeline Fuller, Joshua Granger, Mickeen Hogan, Nathaniel Hudson, Hayden Hull, Hunter Johnson, Lucas Jones, Benjamin Klein, Brenna McCullough, Patrick McKeighan, David Mills, Chauncey Moncrief, Isaiah Nelson, Jacob O’Connell, Reilly Shannon, Aedan Taylor, Jacob White and Heather Wood. GRADE 10 Scholars’ roll: Michael Daly, Owen Kulp, Gabriela Poalino and Maxwell Williams. Principal’s list: Micah Bove, James Kennedy and Hunter St. Armour. Honor roll: Sabrina Brown, Caleb Carrara, Madison Coombs, Jared Disorda, Olivia Gaissert,
LOWER NOTCH BERRY FARM
Blueberries acpcc@sover.net • addisoncountypcc.org
Open for U-Pick Open 7 Days/wk • 9am-5pm
Sawyer Heath, Tristanna Hinton, Brandon Jankosky, Brian Kilpeck, Alexandra Lear, Courtney Lee, Joshua Letourneau, Benjamin Markowski, Emily Perry, Houston Pratt, Colby Reynolds, Cameron Silloway, Wesley Smith, Justin Tremblay, Michael Whitney, Payson Williams, Wilson Worn, Nicole Wright and Cody Young. GRADE 11 Scholars’ roll: Courtney Bushey, Kayleigh DeRosa, Brigid Enright, Alyssa Falco, Jillian Flanders, Angelo McCullough, Molly McGee, Colby McKay, Hannah Roberts and Sophie Wood. Principal’s list: Shania Burch, Francis Dolney and Orianna Odell. Honor roll: Derek Aines, Nathan Audette, Sarah Dolney, Chad Eddy, Meghan Hallett, Wesley Harpe, Orion Ladd, Allison Lowell, Conor Mackie, Dominic McCullough, Myliah McDonough, Nicholas Moriglioni, Ethan Nerney, Brent Nickerson, Abigail Pinkowski, Courtney Randall, Ghislaine Robin, Michaela Ross, William Ross, David Whitney and Shane Wood.
GRADE 12 Scholars’ roll: Emma Cijka, Haley Gearwar, Amy Jones, Jonna Keith, Caitlyn Ketcham, Alexis Lape, Alaisha Lucia, Sierra Norford, Trevor Peduto, Kendra Stearns and Lucas Tremblay. Principal’s list: Maia Edmunds, Alexis Hedding, Shana Houle, Dylan Keith and Trevor Lear. Honor roll: Tyler Allen, Jacob Bertrand, Kasey Billings, Colby Case, Cheyenne Dayton, Nathan Doty, Amber Eastman, Danielle Eddy, Collin Eugair, Jamee Eugair, Jared Felkl, Emily Fox, Ben Francoeur, Alyssa Kennett, Isabelle Kingsley, Keegan LaRock, Carson Leary, Ann Manning, Austin McCullough, Cody McQueen, Colin Nicklaw, Robertas Nielsen, Haley Palin, Andrew Patten, Evan Perry, Lennon Philo, Keenan Pratt, MacGregor Shannon, Alyssa Sweatt, Matt Wedin, Annmarie Welch, Hannah Williams and Makala Wright. UNGRADED Principal’s list: Cody O’Connell.
Weather permitting
1946 Lower Notch Road, Bristol • (802) 453-4220
Adult Education Classes Call to Register TODAY - 382-1004
SUMMER/FALL
2016
NEW OFFERINGS FALL 2016 !! DAYTIME LNA CLASS Mon 3-6P, Thurs/Fri 12-3:30P, Aug 15 - Sept. 30, $1920 Our usual 110 hour class for those looking for immediate employment in the growing health care field, but with daytime class hours. Includes 70 classroom and skills lab hours and 40 clinical hours. Successful completion of the course qualifies students to take the Vermont Board of Nursing licensing exam.
S ME L O NH O R
ANTICIPATED CDL DRIVER TRAINING IN MIDDLEBURY Mon-Thur 7A-12P, Sept 19-Oct 28 $5200 Class A, $3500 Class B Pending Town and State approval, the Hannaford Career Center will team up with Giroux General Transport of Barre to offer classroom and behind-the-wheel CDL driver training in Middlebury. More information available at www.cdlschoolinvt.com. Call for scholarship and financing options. Clean driving record, background check, and random substance testing required.
VOTE
PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANT (PCA) Thurs/Fri; 9:00A-12:00P; Oct 6-Nov 18; 40 Hrs; Instructor Mary Beth Tichacek; $550. A beginner course to introduce students to the art and science of health care in either home care or residential facility settings. Successful course completers will receive a certificate listing demonstrated competencies and a voucher for $200 off on Hannaford Career Center LNA tuition.
RON HOLMES
Shoreham Historical Society • Middlebury Garden Club • Proud supporter of the DAV
“Honesty does matter” Paid for by Ron Holmes, 18 Court Street, Middlebury
ID
the
ARMERS
’ MA
RK
E T
• Served 25 years as Addison County Deputy • Days of Caring volunteer • Sustaining member of the
URY F EB L D
Come to
M
for High Bailiff of Addison County in the Aug. 9th Primary Election
0RODUCE s -EAT s #HEESE s 7INE s "READ -APLE 3YRUP s #RAFTS s 0LANTS -ORE Debit & EBT accepted
In the Marble Works – North Parking Lot 7EDNESDAYS 3ATURDAYS AM n PM s 2AIN OR 3HINE www.middleburyfarmersmarket.org
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS Fall offerings will include a variety of courses of interest to teachers as well as professionals in other fields. Details available on our website. Offerings to include: Understanding and Responding to Disruptive Behaviors with Officer Chris Mason of MPD. Using Google Apps including Docs, Sheets, Forms, and others. with Teri Fitzgerald of MAU. Mental Health First Aid with Nicole Reilly of CSAC Substitute Teaching Basics A primer on what to expect and how to respond as a sub, with PAHCC staff.
For more comprehensive information and additional courses:
www.hannafordcareercenter.org
Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016 — PAGE 13A
Under the big top THE POPULAR FESTIVAL onthe-Green got under way in the big tent on Middlebury’s town green Sunday night. The weeklong festival closes Saturday with the annual street dance. Seen here are, clockwise from top left, Pat Donohue; Kiflu Kidane of the New Nile Orchestra; Matt Witler, Patrick M’Gonigle, George Clements, Charles Clements and Gabe Hirshfeld of the Lonely Heartstring Band; Tim Harrington of Tall Heights; Paul Wright of Tall Heights; Pat Donohue; Jeff Salisbury of the New Nile Orchestra; and Marie Savoie Levac, Sarah Marchand and Béatrix Méthé of Les Poules á Colin.
Independent photos/Trent Campbell
PAGE 14A — Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016
By the way
Kids (Continued from Page 1A) participating “Friendly Town” communities. The program — celebrating its 140th summer — hosts 3,000 kids per summer at the camps and thousands more through the host family program. This summer, 34 families are hosting Fresh Air kids throughout Addison County under the supervision of Marion Sullivan, chairwoman for the area. Sullivan herself has hosted seven Fresh Air kids over the past 24 years and in August will welcome back Denise, 18, who has been coming to Sullivan’s house in Vergennes from the Bronx since she was 10. The program began in 1877 to bring New York City kids living in crowded tenements, many suffering from a tuberculosis epidemic, to the fresh air of New England. Today, the program still serves as a way to teach kids living in low-income, urban communities about life outside of the city. “Some kids never have an opportunity to leave the city and see there’s more in the world,” Sullivan said. “We give them that opportunity.” However, as Suazo and the Kodis family demonstrate, the program is more than just an opportunity to get out of the city. Suazo arrived in Vermont for the first time nine years ago and spent a week with the Kodis family at their home in Londonderry. “I don’t even remember how it happened. They just paired us up and it was love at first sight,” said Rebecca Kodis. Since then, Kodis and her son have moved to Bristol, moved three times within Bristol, built a new house and welcomed back Suazo each year. “He’s been through a lot with us,” Kodis said. Kodis works as an occupational therapist for young kids with autism and plays violin in bands around Vermont. Her son — a cello player and lover of drama, art, music, skiing, skating and aikido — is heading into the eighth grade at Red Cedar School in Bristol. Suazo fits in perfectly with their artistic and musical family. In the fall, Suazo will start his freshman year at the High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan, where he hopes to continue theater, art, singing and dancing. For the past four years, Suazo has stayed longer with the Kodis family,
spending two weeks hiking, camping, going to a rock-climbing camp, doing art projects and exploring Vermont. For the trio, these weeks are the best part of summer. “I can’t imagine life without this guy in it,” said Kodis. “He’s really changed our lives for the better. He’s like my boy, and he calls me his second mom. And the guys are definitely like brothers.” Even after Suazo graduates from the Fresh Air program at 18, he is determined to come back to Vermont. “A lot of things are very different here versus there. A lot of the time I wish it was more like here, all of the stuff I have to go through over there,” he said. “It’s hard going back to that lifestyle.” Roberta McKinney of Starksboro started hosting Fresh Air kids 10 years ago. Her mother had hosted Fresh Air children, and McKinney remembered the experience of having kids from different cultures and places in her house as a child. It inspired her to adopt her African-American daughter Diamond, now 14. “I was kind of programmed early in my life to accept people of all colors,” she said. This year, the McKinneys are hosting Savannah Morgan, 11, for a second year. Morgan has spent the last two weeks with the McKinneys playing outside; helping out with gardening and the chickens, cats, rabbits and kittens running around the McKinney’s home; and most importantly, swimming. Playing in a nearby pond, jumping off the docks and chasing the geese were activities brand new for Morgan, who lives with a younger brother and older sister in Queens, N.Y. Diamond McKinney is taking on the big sister role while Morgan is here in Vermont. “It’s laid back and crafty,” she said. “We’re trying to do creative activities, not just mainstream stuff. To come, you have to be outdoorsy and be willing to do new things.” Diamond McKinney said activities don’t necessarily have to be new or remarkable to hosts. “There are so many things that we don’t think are as cool but they find amazing,” she added. Roberta McKinney runs a daycare center in Starksboro, allowing Morgan to meet kids from all over
(Continued from Page 1A) the 17-member Vermont Jazz Ensemble will perform music in the jazz and big band styles, along with selections in rock, fusion, Latin and popular music styles. Get out your dancing shoes, bring the family, and enjoy a special festival finale on one of Vermont’s most unique dance floors. Come right at 7 p.m. to learn a few dance steps with Jim Condon! While you’re waiting for the street dance, you could head over to the East Middlebury Town Wide Lawn Sale, which will be held — rain or shine — on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. You may have seen a story about three Mount Abe students who attended Girls’ State late last month and been misled by the headline. That headline said implied that the school sent the teens, but the organizations that actually funded the experience were the Bristol American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion. The local groups did a lot of fundraising for this project and even sent one more girl than usual because they had such good candidates. We’re sorry for any confusion. The Brandon Town Players will hold auditions for their upcoming murder mystery comedy. Auditions will be held July 17 and July 24 at the Brandon Senior Center at 6:30 p.m. Roles will be cast for six female and four male actors between the ages of 18 and 80. Performance dates will be Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Brandon Town Hall. If you need further information please contact Kathy at 247-6720.
REBECCA KODIS AND her son Darius, 13, have been welcoming Ulysses Suazo, 15, to their Bristol home through the Fresh Air Fund for nine summers. Ulysses hails from The Bronx, N.Y.
Independent photo/Trent Campbell
the town. “Part of my benefit is to help the community realize this is a good thing that anyone can do,” she said. “The community also gets to see diversity which we don’t see often in our small village.”
For all of these families, the program is above all, an opportunity to learn, share and connect. “They’re just brothers and sisters,” said Sullivan. “Just because we look different makes no difference. We’re bringing two cultures together, that’s
what will make a difference. We get as much out of it as the child does.” Those interested in learning more about the program or being a host family may contact Marion Sullivan at 802-877-3028 or visit www.freshair.org.
Boys & Girls Club of Brandon was one of five organizations to be named winners of the Children’s Literacy Foundation’s At-Risk Children program grants. The grants provide a new library of books for each organization, books to keep for the children they serve, storytelling presentations and parent seminars. In addition, children served by each organization are presented a wide variety of books and every child may select two to keep. CLiF officials said that for kids who lack books in their home and whose parents don’t read to them consistently, having access to these resources after school is especially meaningful.
Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016 — PAGE 15A
Wetlands (Continued from Page 1A) — Taylor Ricketts, Gillian Galford, One of the central goals of the Stephen Polasky and Jarlath O’Nielstudy, published in the May edition Dunne — had good reasons to study of Ecological Economics, was to Middlebury. demonstrate the value not only of Middlebury was well known afwetlands, but also of regional plan- ter Irene as a town that, unlike othning for wetlands conservation. ers in Vermont, dodged widespread In many cases after flooding, in- damage from the tropical storm cluding in Vermont after Irene, com- that dumped as much as a dozen munities “armor” streams and riv- inches of water on parts of Vermont ers that run through in a short amount of them to make them time. Watson said the flow faster and more “When you 18,000 acres of Otter straighten a river, smoothly. This tactic, Creek wetlands and Watson said, typically what you’re doing related floodplains makes things much is forcing water were credited with worse overall for to move quickly reduced flooding in towns further along Middlebury. waterways that will downstream. And the U.S. Geofeel the brunt of the That might logic Survey has for provide benefits swifter waters. decades had water“When you straight- in reducing level gauges in northen a river, what you’re flooding where ern Rutland County doing is forcing water and just above the you straighten to move quickly downfalls in Middlebury, the river. But stream,” Watson said. thus bracketing the “That might provide making water wetlands and floodbenefits in reducing move quickly plains between the flooding where you downstream is two towns and makstraighten the river. But exactly what ing for what Watson making water move called a “really clean” causes extreme quickly downstream is comparison. exactly what causes ex- flooding.” “That made this — Keri Bryan Watson case study really a treme flooding.” By demonstrating unique opportunity the economic benefits to look at those water of the wetlands and floodplains, the levels and the difference in the patstudy’s authors hope to support plan- tern of flooding between them and ners and lawmakers who want to really say that difference was largely look at the big picture and take steps explained by the wetlands and floodto prevent floods by supplying evi- plains between the two points along dence of, according to the study, “the the river,” she said. “We had really economic value of flood mitigation” good data.” of wetlands and floodplains. Essentially, the meters allowed “In order to responsibly allocate researchers to measure how much conservation resources to protect water would have reached Middlewetlands and floodplains, we need bury without wetlands to sponge up to know when expected returns on water and floodplains to siphon off that conservation investment will be overflow. They then could estimate positive,” the study states. how high flood waters would have STUDY TARGET reached in Middlebury, and thus how Watson said and the other authors much damage would have been done
UVM RESEARCHER KERI Bryan Watson said her study shows that extensive wetlands between Rutland and Middlebury softens the impact of Otter Creek flooding.
Photo courtesy of Will Watson
in Irene’s aftermath. And because the U.S. Geologic Survey keeps records of meter readings dating back decades, the researchers also chose nine other floods between 1936 and the present and ran the same numbers. Using slightly different assumptions on water coming into the creek from north and south of the Rutland gauge, they came up with a range of $525,900 to $1.8 million in savings for Irene and the averages of at least $126,000 and at most $450,000 a year for Middlebury — again, not including damage to
Brandon floodplain slows creek flooding BRANDON — A large swath of wetland in Brandon that helps prevent flooding on Otter Creek was recently conserved. Owners Lyn and Jim Des Marais last month marked the sale of an easement of 500 acres of their land along the Otter Creek to the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. It is Vermont’s largest wetland easement and protects the land in perpetuity from development or
alteration of any kind. More than 250 acres of the Des Marais wetland will be restored back to original hydrologic conditions. Ditches and berms created decades ago in order to divert runoff and farm the land will be removed, allowing the wetland to flood naturally as the creek rises. The preservation and restoration of floodplains such as the Des Marais property and the Pomainville Wild-
life Management Area, 356 acres of former farmland in Pittsford, are credited with preventing the flood caused by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 from being even worse downstream along the Otter Creek. The Des Marais easement will now be added to the 2,148 acres already preserved with NRCS easements along the Otter Creek between Rutland and Middlebury. — Lee J. Kahrs
Health woods workshop available to landowners VERGENNES — There are over 88,000 private, non-industrial landowners who own 81 percent of the forestland in the state of Vermont. The management decisions these people make regarding the care of their forests have long-term environmental and economical impacts on all Vermonters’ quality of life. Healthy forests not only provide the best wildlife habitat, clean air, clean water and the base for a host of recreation activities, but they also prove to be the most profitable for the landowner. A landowner’s first step should be to become better educated on forestry issues. With that in mind, we are looking for landowners and other individuals committed to wildlife conservation and forest stewardship to attend the 2016 fall Woodland Owner Training sponsored by Vermont Coverts: Woodlands for Wildlife. Vermont Coverts is a statewide nonprofit that works to enhance forest stewardship and wildlife management on private lands through a peer-topeer network. The training workshop
consists of presentations and field exercises to learn about forests, wildlife and outreach. In exchange for the training (meals, lodging and materials are all covered), participants agree to return to their communities and motivate others to become stewards of the state’s wildlife and forest resources. Past coverts cooperators have been landowners, conservation commission members, land trust staff, conservation group staff, teachers, naturalists, retired professionals and more. Over 650 people from throughout Vermont have completed the workshop and become coverts volunteers. These volunteers have returned to their communities and implemented or enhanced management on their own properties, hosted tours on their property, conserved land, presented wildlife programs in schools, joined conservation commissions, written articles for newspapers and magazines, staffed exhibits, initiated natural resource inventories, worked on community conservation projects and much more. The fall workshop will be held at
the rustic, beautiful Kehoe Conservation Camp in Castleton, Vt. Applicants pay a $100 registration fee to secure their spot in the workshop, which can be refunded at the completion of the training. All costs — including food, lodging and materials — are covered for participants. The workshop offers woodland owners and others an opportunity to get to know and to work with natural resource professionals from around the state. It will be fun, educational and you’ll become part of a volunteer network that will keep in touch through newsletters, field tours and future workshops. As our state continues to grow and urban areas expand, it is important for forest landowners to be active in their communities, educating others about the positive environmental benefit of managed forests. The investment of time is well worth it. To view a sample agenda and download an application, visit our website at www.vtcoverts.org or contact executive director Lisa Sausville at lisa@vtcoverts.org or 802877-2777.
JILL CHARBONNEAU FOR VERMONT HOUSE ADDISON 1 - MIDDLEBURY
PRIMARY AUG 9TH
email us:
You can reach us at
news@addisonindependent.com
“I have worked with Jill Charbonneau for over 20 years on issues facing working Vermonters. Jill is a strong advocate for good paying jobs, affordable healthcare, and tax fairness. I am pleased to endorse her for the Vermont House, and am confident she will be an excellent state representative for the residents of Middlebury.” – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Paid for by Jill Charbonneau for Vermont House Treasurer Andrew Pezzulo PO Box 952 Middlebury, Vt 05753
public infrastructure. investments that make communities In percentage terms, the study es- more resilient to the impacts of clitimates the wetlands and floodplains mate change,” Markowitz said. “By associated with Otter Creek reduce putting a price tag on wetlands and damages by between 54 and 78 per- floodplains, we can demonstrate the cent. value of natural infrastructure to proThe study also concludes those tect communities from the increased savings are roughly equal to 26 per- risks of flooding from climate-related cent of the cost of conserving the storms.” wetlands: “That flood That is the other cenmitigation alone could “It’s very clear tral issue hanging over pay back over a quarter that flooding this study and the largof the costs of conserer wetlands preservavation is remarkable is getting more tion issue in Vermont, since conservation intense and more the U.S. and around would also protect bio- frequent already the world — global diversity and a number and will continue warming. Watson said of other ecosystem to.” the Vermont flood data services that provide over the years already — Keri Bryan Watson quantifiable benefits to shows a pattern. people, such as hunt“It’s very clear that ing, bird watching, recreation and flooding is getting more intense and water filtration.” more frequent already and will conCLIMATE CHANGE tinue to,” she said. A UVM press release quoted Deb As rainstorms and floods worsen, Markowitz, Secretary of Vermont’s wetlands and floodplains will beAgency of Natural Resources, on come even more critical, Watson this issue. said — the UVM press release notes “This study shows policy mak- the Vermont Department of Environers the importance of conservation mental Conservation is working on a
river corridor program to allow rivers to recreate protective floodplains. “These findings show the huge benefits of ‘natural infrastructure,’” she said, adding, “Protecting these wetlands and floodplains so that they can continue to protect us is extremely important.” Watson also has personal, anecdotal experience with how floodplains and wetlands work. She lived in Baton Route, La., when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit, but said she was even more struck by typical river flooding on 10 acres of conserved floodplain next to her home. “I would kayak through the floodwaters. And you could see as soon as you got out of the woods into the main channel of the river the water was moving really quickly. But on that flood plain that was protected by the state and allowed to flood, the water was completely still,” she said. “And so that is my visual of this effect, still, that water essentially overflows and is stored in these floodplain areas.” Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at andyk@addisonindependent.com.
PAGE 16A — Addison Independent, Thursday, July 14, 2016
Calitri (Continued from Page 1A) a former imperial palace and one of Austria’s most important cultural and architectural assets. Schonbrunn translates to “beautiful fountain,” and Calitri developed a deep appreciation for great art through her many visits to the iconic site. “It was my childhood playground,” she recalled with a gentle laugh. “I think I climbed half the fountains and sculptures there.” As a young girl, Calitri dreamed of becoming a professional artist. She’d regularly sketch the art-deco buildings and other eye candy on her walk to and from kindergarten. But her parents thought the vocation a bit too frivolous. The younger generations had taken a tremendous MANY OF KLARA Calitri’s painthit during the devastation of World ings and ceramic pieces include War I, and Klara’s parents wanted to images of flowers, birds and water nudge her — their only child — to- to evoke what the artist called a ward a more “serious” vocation that “peaceful, good feeling.” could lead to self-sufficiency. “My parents never sent me to art was the end.’” school, which I wanted to do,” CaUsing equal parts guile and bravlitri said. “They said, ‘No, we want ery, Klara and a dear friend — whose you to be independent.’” Jewish dad had also imprisoned As a result, Klara prepared her- — tricked their way into the office self for a career in teaching — until of the Nazis’ “district manager for world events placed her plans and youth” in Vienna and convinced him her family’s safety in jeopardy. to release the two men. FAMILY’S DARKEST HOUR “We made a big fuss,” she said. Adolph Hitler became chancelKlara was relieved to get her falor of Germany in 1933, ushering ther back, but noted he emerged a in a cruel, totalitarian regime bent changed man. on world conquest. Germany an“He was never the same after nexed Austria on March 12, 1938. that,” she lamented. “I don’t know The Nazi Party immediately target- what they did to him.” ed Jewish families for persecution. Once again reunited, the family Klara’s dad was Jewlooked to escape from ish and her mom was Austria and Nazism. “As you live a Catholic. The rules were clear: The family sent long life and are They needed a family Klara to Czechoslo- reaching an age to sponsor them in a vakia to live with her where it’s not so different country. And mom’s family and go they didn’t have any pleasant, you to school in what they prospects. look back at all thought would be a “We didn’t have more peaceful setting. the good things much hope, and time The Third Reich con- that you had. I was running out,” sidered Klara a “Mis- can close my eyes Klara recalled. chling” — someone and see the pond But fate and good with both Aryan and fortune intervened Jewish ancestry, and where the bass during the family’s thus still at risk of per- was jumping and darkest hour. the water lilies secution. Calitri recounted a She ended up hav- were sitting and spellbinding tale of ing a very short stay in the dragonflies how her family’s past her adopted country. kindness to a little boy were flitting by “As soon as I got led to their survival. settled in, Hitler in- me.” “People were mak— Klara Calitri ing bread out of hay vaded Czechoslovakia,” Calitri said with and grass,” she said, a sigh. setting the stage. “There was very She recalled how her father, a little to eat.” banker, would at times travel home But Klara’s grandfather, Ignatz for lunch holding a white flag to Feiner, and great uncle operated a demonstrate he was not a combat- country store around 50 kilometers ant. But alas, the Nazi regime tar- outside of Vienna. They were fortugeted him for simply being Jewish. nate enough to have eggs, milk and The Gestapo threw him in jail along produce. with other Jewish citizens destined Meanwhile, Feiner’s brother and for deportation, long-term imprison- 10 children lived in Hungary ment or concentration camps. “They were starving,” Calitri re“This was a desperate time,” Ca- called. litri recalled. “My mother was in So every six months, Klara’s pieces because she thought, ‘This grandpa and great uncle would host
one of those starving children from Hungary and “fatten” him or her up before sending the child back. It was a charitable act that was never forgotten. “We get a letter from the United States, and this man asks if we are relatives of Ignatz Feiner,” Calitri said. “My father replied, ‘Yes, that was my father.’” The distant relative responds with another letter stating, “Well, your father saved my life and many of my brothers and sisters, because he took us in and fed us. We want to return the favor,” Calitri said, clearly emotional about the memory. NEW LEASE ON LIFE So Klara’s family had their sponsor, which led to their immigration to the U.S. and a new lease on life. They traveled across the Atlantic from Le Havre, France, to New York on a ship called the Mauretania that maintains a place of honor in Calitri’s exhibit. She explained she bought a big wooden wardrobe from the ship when it was decommissioned. That piece started to deteriorate in the Calitris’ barn. So Klara decided to salvage a panel from the wardrobe, on which she carved some wild animals, inspired by the Paleolithic drawings she had seen on the walls of the Lascaux caves in southwestern France. But artwork would take a backseat to teaching, as Klara integrated into her new surroundings. She continued her studies at Trinity College in Vermont and earned a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Vermont. She earned her master of arts in Comparative Literature at Cornell University, then completed her doctoral studies at Columbia University. She would go on to teach German at both Columbia and the College of the City of New York, then spent many years teaching German, French, Spanish and history to junior high school students in Putnam Valley, N.Y. Along the way she met Junius Calitri, who would also have a long career as an educator and school administrator. They were married for 69 years when he died three-and-ahalf years ago. She recalled meeting her “Juni” in 1940, soon after her arrival from Austria, while seeking her Red Cross certification to get a summer job as a lifeguard in New York. Junius, a top lifeguard on Orchard Beach, agreed to teach her the course. “He had this wavy brown hair and broad shoulders,” she said with a grin. Juni spent the whole summer teaching Klara, so she didn’t get the job. Instead, she got a husband. They would go on to have three children and a wonderful life together, finally retiring to Cornwall in 1980. That’s when Klara immersed herself in creating art, a passion once reserved for summer vacations and weekends. Calitri set up her own workspace and
AT 93 YEARS old, Cornwall artist Klara Calitri has limited energy but vast amounts of willpower and an imagination and memory that stretches back to her life in pre-war Austria. A show of her artwork is on display at the Jackson Gallery at the Town Hall Theater. Independent photo/Trent Campbell
a kiln for her ceramics. There she is pond where I was sitting, where the able to work, at her convenience, on bass was jumping and the water lilies multiple pieces at the same time as were sitting and the dragonflies were the mood and energy strike her. flitting by me. It’s water, flowers and “If I had gone to art school, I prob- such a peaceful, good feeling.” ably would have been told to pick ‘A WINDOW OPENS’ one medium and stick to it,” Calitri Still, she allows a few of her monosaid. types to convey sad sentiments about “Since I have my own freedom, pre-war Austria and concerns about I don’t stick to the the future of the world. rules.” Darker colors and One of her few “There is a more rigid strokes tend rules in making art is metamorphosis to characterize these that there is no rule (with ceramics); monotypes. But even about finishing one the thing has an in these more somber piece before you start pieces, Calitri will proidea of its own another. vide a metaphorical about what it “I have limited enescape in the form of a ergy at this point, but I wants to be.” door or window. still have the willpow“A door closes, but — Klara Calitri er,” she said of her rea window opens,” she cent productivity. said. “I’m a squirrel; I start a paintCalitri doesn’t do portraits, but ing, and then something else comes took great joy in creating flower along.” representations of herself and her Calitri wants her artwork to con- children, Ron, Lisa and Thea. These vey a sense of happiness and serenity paintings are also part of the exhibit. through vibrant displays of natural Her ceramics gleam with images beauty. of fish, birds and flowers. The ex“As you live a long life and are hibit includes a birdbath, platters, reaching an age where it’s not so display plates and cups. pleasant, you look back at all the “The ceramics can take forever,” good things that you had,” she said. she said, noting the multiple firings. “I can close my eyes and see the They are also very delicate — so
Sip to Support Housing SATURDAY, JULY 30 , 6-8 PM TH
Lincoln Peak Vineyard
Enjoy Lincoln Peak wine while you learn about and support our affordable housing programs. Enjoy a night of jazz provided by the Red Clover Trio, mingle with friends & neighbors, and stop by our booths to learn home repair tips and tricks from our trained maintenance staff. WINE TASTING & EVENT SPACE DONATED BY:
TICKET PRINTING SERVICES DONATED BY:
LINCOLN PEAK WINERY
THE LITTLE PRESSROOM
CHEESE DONATED BY:
BLUE LEDGE FARM
much so that Calitri makes duplicates of everything. “It’s very labor intensive,” she said — but also rewarding to be able to make something beautiful out of a “blob of earth.” It’s not often that Calitri’s design for a painting or ceramic piece ends up exactly how she designed it. “There is a metamorphosis; the thing has an idea of its own about what it wants to be,” she said. Asked if she has a favorite piece of artwork in her expansive portfolio, Calitri was diplomatic. “They are all my children; I’ve got to be fair to them all,” she said. Calitri has no plans to put down her paintbrush or retire her kiln. Artwork has become a way of life for her, filling some of the hours on things her body can no longer allow her to do. “As you age, there are a lot of things that you lose,” Calitri said. “ I used to be a skier, a skater, a tennis player. And I was pretty good at all of them, and enjoyed them tremendously. I lost Juni. I have my art left. And it is good that if you lose various things, you can still have something that you can take with you.” Reporter John Flowers is at johnf@addisonindependent.com.
$25 per person or $40 per couple includes: • Lincoln Peak wine tasting • Blue Ledge Farm cheese served with crackers • A performance by the Red Clover Trio • Learn to repair common home maintenance issues • Ask your own repair questions at our maintenance helpdesk
Also be sure to enjoy:
• 50/50 Raffle • Cash Bar • Food available for sale from MaMa Dog’s Food Truck • Displays of recent and upcoming housing developments • Information on our ongoing housing programs
Tickets available at:
Addison County Community Trust 272 Main Street, Vergennes 8:00 am-4:00 pm, Mon-Fri Lincoln Peak Tasting Room 142 River Road, New Haven 11:00 am-5:00 pm, daily
100% OF ALL TICKET SALES GO DIRECTLY TO SUPPORT ACCT’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS
Or Online at: addisontrust.org/sip4housing.html