Best of Burlington Magazine - Spring 2019

SPRING 2019

VOLUME 12 NO 2

VERMONTERS FLIP FOR CIRCUS ZAMBIA TO YOUR

STERN CENTER FOR LANGUAGE AND LEARNING

SPECIAL SECTION

Spring features

56

VERMONTERS FLIP FOR CIRCUS ZAMBIA African youth nonprofit has growing roots in Vermont.

BY LORI LUSTBERG

72

AUDUBON VERMONT It's not just for the birds.

BY PHYL NEWBECK

84

STERN CENTER FOR LANGUAGE AND LEARNING Pathways to knowledge.

BY NOAH DETZER

15 PUBLISHERS’ NOTE 16 ONLINE HUB

65

18 CONTRIBUTORS 20 GATHERINGS Essex Spring Craft Show.

22 PETS AND PEOPLE News, products, and furry facts.

24 ART SCENE

New City Galerie.

BY PAM HUNT

30 VERMONTS’ BEST Treat Yourself to SAP! Nature in a can.

BY COREY BURDICK

65 A TASTE OF VERMONT APIS Kombucha.

20

BY COREY BURDICK

78 BRIGHT IDEAS

Inspired Closets.

BY NANCY HUMPREY CASE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

70

Spring to Life

With shopping and fun things to do in the local Burlington area.

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91 HAPPENINGS

A calendar of events.

95 ADVERTISERS INDEX 96 LAST GLANCE

TO YOUR

37

SPECIAL SECTION 38 BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VERMONT Worksite wellness solutions for Vermont employers.

BY MARY GOW

46 A HEALTHY CHOICE Go for pure, natural olive oil.

47 THE OPTICAL CENTER Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

48 MARKETPLACE FITNESS Classes offer variety and fun!

49 EXPAND YOUR TASTE HORIZON Sign up for a cooking class at City Market.

50 CHROMA OPTICS Solutions for dry eye.

52 TIMBERLANE DENTAL GROUP Caring for healthy mouths and great smiles.

54 FITNESS OPTIONS PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO Choices that fit busy lives.

55 BARE MEDICAL SPA + LASER CENTER Put your best face forward.

Coffee Table Publishing, LLC 32 Hermit Thrush Lane South Burlington, VT 05403 www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

PUBLISHERS

Robin Gales John Gales Bob Frisch CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Deb Thompson COPY EDITOR

Jennifer Duby ART DIRECTION/DESIGN

Robbie Alterio ADVERTISING DESIGN

Hutchens Media, LLC WEB DESIGN

Locable ADVERTISING

Robin Gales (802) 299-9086 John Gales (802) 558-2719 coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net Keep us posted. Best of Burlington wants to hear from our readers. Correspondence may be addressed to Letters to the Editor, Best of Burlington, 32 Hermit Thrush Lane, South Burlington, VT 05403. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing ctpublishing@comcast.net or coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net. Best of Burlington is published quarterly by Coffee Table Publishing, LLC, ©2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Best of Burlington accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.

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PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

PHOTO COURTESY OF APIS KOMBUCHA

Happy Spring, Champlain Valley!

WELCOME TO OUR SPRING ISSUE

W

e made it through another winter and can now begin to enjoy the flowers, the sun, and our renewal and rebirth. The change of seasons is pretty amazing to witness when you stop and think about it.

Our spring issue is filled with fun and informative articles, including a spotlight on

health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont fills us in on health and the workplace, and the rest of our health section informs and promotes healthy living. We take a look at Stern Center for Language and Learning and their work with local elementary schools.

We introduce you to SAP! beverages, nature in a can! And we learn about two local women who are helping to bring to Zambia not only a circus but also a way of providing a chance for young people to better their lives.

And speaking of nature, find out about Apis Kombucha, a naturally sweetened green or black tea made with a low amount of alcohol and fizz and honey from their own bees. Delicious!!!

So let’s welcome spring and enjoy watching everything around us come alive!

John and Robin Gales Cheers,

Publishers

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ONLINE HUB SPRING

2019

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ONLINE EXCLUSIVES

IP NTERS FL VERMO S ZAMBIA CU FOR CIR R NTER FO STERN CELEARNING AND E AG U LANG

NO 2 ME 12

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IO N

contributors COREY BURDICK

Corey is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Vermont Wine School’s WSET Level II program. She is passionate about local food systems, natural wine, running, and cooking from scratch. When she isn’t writing, you can find her vintage treasure hunting, visiting rescue dogs, and rollerskating through her neighborhood. Her work can also be found in Edible Green Mountains and The Other Paper.

LORI LUSTBERG Lori is a financial planner at Pathway Financial Advisors in South Burlington and is the finance columnist for Vermont Woman newspaper. A (recovering) attorney and divorce mediator with a hopeless love of writing, Lori is co-author and editor of the e-book Divorce and Separation Vermont: A Practical Guide to Making Smart Decisions, available at www .divorcebookvermont.com. In her spare time, Lori can be found trying to get her college-age son to answer her texts.

NANCY HUMPHREY CASE Nancy is a contributor to The Christian Science Monitor and has been published in Northern Woodlands, Chicago Tribune, Mothering, and Cricket. She enjoys writing about Vermont’s landscape and culture, planning the next project at her home in Hyde Park, and riding her horses in the woods.

PHYL NEWBECK Phyl is a former flatlander from New York City. She lives in Jericho, where she has learned to stack a mean pile of firewood.

When not skiing, skating, bicycling, swimming, or kayaking, she writes for several local publications. Phyl is the author of Virginia Hasn’t Always Been for Lovers: Interracial Marriage Bans and the Case of Richard and Mildred Loving.

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MARY GOW Mary is a journalist, freelance writer, and arts correspondent for the Times Argus; a contributor to numerous regional magazines; and the author of history of science books for middle school students. Mary lives in Warren and can be reached at mgow@gmavt.net.

GATHERINGS

Essex Spring Craft Show

The Essex Spring Craft Show celebrates its 23rd iteration on May 4 and 5 at the Champlain Valley Exposition. Originally begun as a yearbook fundraiser, this exhibition has grown in such size and scope that it now occupies more than 100,000 square feet of space.

The show is put on every year by Vermont Craft Workers and features exhibitors from as far away as California, Florida, Washington, and Canada. Held on the weekend before Mother’s Day, the show provides a perfect opportunity to find something special and unique for Mom, or for any of the other gift-giving occasions that occur throughout the year.

With close to 100 exhibitors, the show provides visitors the opportunity to view arts and crafts in many disciplines, from fine art to folk art and from traditional to contemporary. Past creations on display have included fiber arts, beads and crystals, woodworking, precious metals and jewelry, prints and cards, paper crafts, wall hangings, caning, clothing, pottery, ornaments, lotions, soaps, candles—the list is almost endless. Also included are many fine foods and beverages, including cheeses, gourmet chocolates, maple syrup and maple products, baked goods, and artisanal spirits.

The exhibitors are selected based on their works’ “quality, artistic appeal, uniqueness, and appropriateness for the show.”

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Artists and makers who wish to become exhibitors can visit the website for an application.

The Essex Spring Craft Show is a community-oriented event, and, as such, collects non-perishable food items to donate to the local food shelf; tons of food have been donated over the years.

Don’t forget to purchase a ticket for the Essex Junction Lions Club Craft Raffle. The raffle is for items donated by exhibitors.

Admission is $7 for adults, with those age 12 years and under free. Parking is free. To print out a discount coupon, go to vtcrafts .com/coupon/ or visit Hannaford Supermarkets in Vermont and Plattsburgh, New York.

Essex Spring Craft Show Champlain Valley Exposition Essex Junction, VT Saturday, May 4 from 9am–5pm Sunday, May 5 from 10am–4pm For more information

Vermont Craft Workers PO Box 8139 Essex, VT (802) 879-6837 vtcrafts.com

PETS AND PEOPLE SPONSORED BY BEVS

Caring for Older Pets As dogs and cats age, they can develop many of the same health problems as aging humans—diabetes, obesity, arthritis, and kidney disease, to name a few. Be observant and ask your veterinarian about any worrisome issues or changes in behavior you notice.

ARTHRITIS Achy joints can be a problem for older pets, so if you notice stiffness or limping, your vet may advise anti-inflammatory or pain medications. Making your pet’s life more comfortable may include installing a ramp to your car for ease of access or to your bed if he sleeps with you. Try a litter box with lower sides for cats, and treat your aging pet to a gentle massage.

WEIGHT GAIN OR LOSS Just like people, pets often become less active as they age, setting the stage for weight gain and the accompanying heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Your vet may advise taking Rover for more walks, changing his diet, or feeding him smaller portions. On the other hand, weight loss can also be an indicator of diabetes or other disease, or it could be that your thinner-looking dog has lost muscle mass and is perfectly healthy. Your vet may want to do a blood test to find out what’s behind any noticeable changes in weight.

SMELLY BREATH If your most loyal pal has unpleasant breath, he or she could be suffering from tooth decay or gum disease, which can cause pain, difficulty chewing, and tooth loss. Treat dental problems promptly to avoid bacterial infections, which are dangerous because they can travel throughout your pet’s body. Your veterinarian may recommend dental work or a cleaning to remove plaque and tartar.

Although pets may require more care as they age, they will love you all the more for the extra attention as they live out their happy lives.

An annual or semi-annual blood test can determine if your pet has diabetes or liver, thyroid, or kidney disease. Early identification of these diseases can help prevent complications.

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What’s in a Name?

“Nine out of 10 pet parents consider their dogs fullfledged members of the family,” says Halle Hutchison, vice president of marketing for Rover.com. “Our dogs and what we choose to call them is part of our selfexpression, which is why people name their pets after the things they love and admire, from pop culture icons to superheroes.”

Whether you’re looking for ideas for puppy names or are just wondering if your dog made the list, here are the most popular dog names for 2018, according to Rover.

TOP 10 FEMALE NAMES 1. Bella 2. Lucy 3. Luna 4. Daisy 5. Lola 6. Sadie 7. Molly 8. Bailey 9. Maggie 10. Stella

Going in Style My fashion philosophy is, if you’re not covered in dog hair, your life is empty.

—Elayne Boosler

BEVS

TOP 10 MALE NAMES 1. Max 2. Charlie 3. Chopper 4. Buddy 5. Jack 6. Rocky 7. Duke 8. Bear 9. Tucker 10. Oliver SPRING 2019 | Best of Burlington | 23

ART SCENE

BY PAM HUNT PHOTOS COURTESY OF NEW CITY GALERIE

Artist-in-residence Amelia Devoid, who recorded her most recent album in her studio at New City.

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Art Scene New City Galerie A hospitable space for the arts

T

he story of New City Galerie began seven years ago when Joseph Pensak, a minister and musician, and his family moved to Burlington to open a new parish.

While searching for office space, he came across a sign advertising a space for rent on Church Street. On a whim, he checked it out.

Though he assumed the rent for such a large unit in a downtown location was beyond his budget, the building’s owner, the late long-time commercial landlord Robert Fenix, had other ideas. “What would you do with this space if you had it?” he asked Joseph, who replied, almost off the cuff, “We’d start a community art center.”

Thanks to the low rent Fenix offered, as well as support from the Redeemer Church and various grants, Joseph and the gallery staff are able to offer a unique space that’s welcoming to everyone. Although the church does support the organization, New City Galerie is not a religious gallery. “I don’t think we’ve ever done a religious-themed show,” Joseph says. “But what is religion? It’s asking and answering the big questions and wrestling through those things. And that’s what art is, too.”

Though Joseph had some experience in the arts, this was a new venture for him.

He convened a roundtable meeting with Burlington artists to learn what resources the local creative community lacked. He received two resounding answers: a space for emerging artists to show their work and residencies. After experimenting with different formats, New City Galerie found success by combining an exhibit hall with a resident artist program.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 25

Above: Artist-in-residence Corrine Yonce’s studio.

Below: Susan Smereka’s installation piece from the show Bookbody.

Opposite: Piece by Noah Riskin (top) and a 3D work

by Lydia Kern from Bookbody.

ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE Three studios are available for resident artists—two rotating slots and one for permanent resident Susan Smereka, who is also the head art handler and assistant curator. If accepted into the program, residents help to run the show. “It’s really an artist-run space,” Joseph says. “The residents get a free studio for six months in exchange for working in the gallery.

They really are the first face you encounter. It’s nice—you come into a gallery to see the work, but you also get to meet a working artist in their studio. It’s a unique thing.”

Several former residents have had shows in the gallery, and the current exhibit features three previous residents. Though artists can reapply for a second residency, “We haven’t had that happen yet because there’s a never-ending supply of people who want it,” says Joseph.

olis, Indiana, for ideas about how New City Galerie should operate. “Their advice: Start with the students because they’re dying to have a show, and they’ll draw in art professors, so that’s what we did,” he says. “For example, two girls interned here for credit, and we gave them the opportunity to curate their own show with student work from UVM. It ended up being a brilliant show,” he continues.

“Some of their professors came to support them. It’s a big deal for the students. Parents flew in for it.”

Those initial exhibits have led to deeper connections with the UVM art department, as well as art programs at other area universities, and students are frequently interns and volunteers at the gallery, a job for which they can earn college credit. “We’re forever grateful for all the volunteers that we have coming through to gallery sit and install and de-install,” Susan says. The shows also feature more established artists, but New City Galerie has not and will never outgrow its relationships with less experienced artists.

THE INITIAL EXHIBITS Joseph had consulted with friends involved in the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianap-

OTHER CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS The acoustics of the gallery have also attracted musicians. Digital sound artist Amelia Devoid

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Omnim qui core, quam dolorep udaestrum faceris mod et expliquia velendi quis nonsequam acientis sincimus, ommosam rem necerunt alit videles int que prate nossunt verionsequi imillen isquiament,

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 27

Gregg Blasdel’s piece was part of the Bookbody exhibit.

recorded her album in the gallery. In addition to the art exhibits, the gallery hosts a Sunday Night Folk Series in the winter and spring, when acoustic musicians don’t have to compete against the electrified instruments and DJ-spun music from Church Street’s outdoor venues.

Other creative endeavors are welcome to use the space as well. “Because we’re a small arts nonprofit, we love hosting other small arts organizations here,” Joseph says.

“We try to open it up to people who have creative ideas.”

NEW CITY’S MISSION Some of the work displayed in New City Galerie can be more experimental or less traditional than that found in other galleries in the state. Not only does the gallery give emerging artists the chance to get their work out there, it provides the public with a chance to really learn how to see art. “Some people ask, ‘What 28 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

do you get’ from a piece. I think that’s a little frustrating because the artist had an intention when creating the work,” Joseph says. Learning the artist’s intentions allows the viewer to interpret the piece.

“It’s not about this me-centered ‘What do you think it is?’ You should be asking, ‘What did the artist think it was?’ It’s a learning process that starts with being curious. If you’re not curious, you won’t ask these questions.”

The staff at New City Galerie revel in bringing art to the public. “Running things on a shoestring, having the residents, the volunteers, and the interns, we love it. We think the art matters. It’s important for something like this to exist.”

New City Galerie 132 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 395-1923 www.newcitygalerie.org

VERMONT’S BEST

BY COREY BURDICK PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAP! BEVERAGES

Spring has finally arrived. Muddy roads, longer days, and maple festivals are only some of the ways the season makes its entrance here in Vermont. But maple syrup isn’t the only form in which flowing sap can be enjoyed locally. SAP!, a business launched in 2015, aims to highlight one of the hallmarks of Vermont agriculture in a new way by incorporating pure, local tree sap into refreshing seltzers, sodas, and sparkling waters. SAP! is changing how people perceive this sticky substance by transforming it into beverages that make people wonder how such refreshment could come from a tree.

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TREAT YOURSELF TO

SAP! Nature in a can

IN THE BEGINNING Cofounders Chas Smith and Nikita Salmon (Chas’s father Charlie is the CFO) are cousins from a big Vermont family, and they both have a solid background in the maple industry. Nikita’s side of the family has been in the maple industry for a long time, and he now owns his own sugarbush in Underhill, Vermont, with 12,000 tapped maple trees. Chas runs a smaller sugarbush in Underhill on the other side of the valley.

Prior to launching SAP! Chas had been working in Washington, DC, for Senator Leahy and had wanted to find a way to move back to Vermont. Therefore, he enrolled in UVM’s sustainable

entrepreneurship MBA program. This expertise helped give him solid ground from which to begin envisioning a business. It was in 2012–13 when Chas and Nikita began experimenting with creating their own maple beverages. They combined sap with carbonation in mason jars and tested it on family and friends. In 2015, with their recipes refined, the duo decided to figure out what regulations surrounded the beverage industry, how to make their product in larger quantities, and, crucially, how to get it into a can with carbonation.

Thus began a lasting relationship with Woodchuck Cider. “They really took a chance on us,” Chas recalled. “We went into the COO’s office and pitched our business. Maybe it’s just the Vermont Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 31

Above: Chas and Nikita deliver their pitch to the panel on ABC’s Shark Tank.

Below: One of the many rustic barns in Craftsbury, Vermont.

way to pay it forward, but I don’t think you see this in other places.” The relationship, in which SAP! pays Woodchuck to use their canning facility, continues to this day.

A GROWING PRESENCE When the product was ready to be introduced to a wider audience, City Market was the first store to put the products on their shelves in August 2015. Next came Healthy Living Market in South Burlington, and today shoppers can find SAP! products throughout Vermont, in two New England Whole Foods stores, and in 15 states. In addition, online sales have been robust, especially after SAP!’s appearance on Shark Tank in 2017.

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When Chas received the message from Shark Tank asking if he would like to come on the show, he initially thought it was a scam. Yet three weeks later, the duo was in Los Angeles, filming and pitching their company. “It was very stressful,” Chas says, “but overall, it was good.

We got an offer but turned it down. We learned a lot from that experience and saw how people outside of Vermont perceive the product.”

HEALTHY AND NATURAL Back in Vermont, during the sugaring season, sap is trucked down to a facility to filter it for specific levels of sweetness, pulling water out of it and making sure it is not heated in order to retain nutrients. SAP!’s products include a maple soda, maple seltzer, and a birch sparkling beverage. The products contain only three ingredients: sap (maple or birch), carbonation, and trace amounts of citric acid (for preservation).

Due to the process and the ingredients, Chas notes that the beverages have numerous health benefits. The maple products contain naturally occurring electrolytes such as magnesium, manganese, and potassium as well as 46 vitamins and minerals. SAP! Birch contains antioxidants from resveratrol and polyphenols, is anti-inflammatory, and is anticavity (from naturally occurring xylitol). The beverages are also gluten free, low calorie, and certified organic. They contain only naturally occurring Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 33

Above: Chas and Nikita check up on one of the family operations from where a portion of their birch sap is sourced.

Below: Nikita preps a maple tree to be tapped during the season.

sugars coming directly from trees. This allows the sugar content to remain low with the seltzer coming in at 9 grams per can, the soda at 18, and the birch at 6 grams.

A desire to offer customers a low-calorie, low-sugar alternative to LaCroix is part of what spurred the development of the birch sparkler in 2017. Bolstered by a grant from the USDA to install the first birch taps in Vermont, Chas began sourcing from several different farms in Starksboro and Marshfield.

He is hopeful this aspect of the business will grow, especially since they are able to use the same equipment to collect maple sap and birch sap, and conveniently, the birch season comes after maple season, once the ground has thawed consistently.

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Moving into the future, Chas would like to continue to differentiate his products from other sodas and sparkling waters on the market.

In addition to the maple and birch beverages, in 2018 SAP! also launched flavored birch water in select stores. The water is infused with combinations of ginger/lemongrass, tangerine/chamomile, strawberry/habanero, and cranberry/goji berry. “These have gone really well,” Chas remarks. “There are no chemicals.

They are truly natural flavors.”

This focus on the natural is a factor that certainly sets SAP! products apart. “There isn’t a lot of smoke and mirrors. The product comes from trees. Then there’s the stewardship piece.

We hope the company has a positive impact on the state and ultimately helps promote the working forestry industry.”

SAP! 266 Main Street Burlington, VT (802) 578-8242 sapvt.com

ONLINE EXTRA Watch a video with SAP! founders Chas and Nikita online at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 35

Discover, Dine, Stay & Shop

Shelburne, Vermont Shelburne Museum

Shelburne Tap House

The Automaster

6000 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT

2989 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT

3328 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT

www.shelburnemuseum.org

(802) 985-4040 www.shelburnetaphouse.com

(802) 985-8482 TheAutomasterMercedesBenz.com

Village Wine and Coffee

Village Wine and Coffee

5288 Shelburne Road #1 Shelburne, VT

5288 Shelburne Road #1 Shelburne, VT

(802) 985-8925 www.villagewineandcoffee.com

(802) 985-8925 www.villagewineandcoffee.com

Mon–Sat 7am–6pm Sun 8:30am–4pm

Mon–Sat 7am–6pm Sun 8:30am–4pm

Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery

A Little Something

Custom Framing • Fine Art Restoration • Gifts

Gifts, Jewelry, and More!

86 Falls Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-3848 www.fsgallery.com

Shelburne Bay Plaza 2989 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-9909 www.alittelsomethingvt.com FB: A Little Something (Gifts)

Jamie Two Coats Toy Shop 54 Falls Road In the of Village Shelburne, VT (802) 985-3221 Open daily 10am–6pm

TO YOUR

A guide to local fitness, vision and dental care, nutrition, and more

BY MARY GOW

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF VERMONT

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont WORKSITE WELLNESS SOLUTIONS FOR VERMONT EMPLOYERS

W

ellness is personal. And building a worksite wellness program that meets the needs of all employees and different organizations can be tough, but Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont’s (BCBSVT) Accountable Blue program gets it right and makes it stick. The seeds of the Accountable Blue program were planted nearly a decade ago with now-CEO Don George’s commitment to making BCBSVT a health and wellness company, not just an insurance company.

From a handful of original employer groups in 2012, Accountable Blue groups in 2019 reach nearly 45 percent of Vermont’s employer-based population—and the numbers keep growing.

Kim Langlais, a health and wellness consultant at BCBSVT, helps employer groups develop their health and wellness programs.

Kim notes, “Wellness is much more than just healthy eating and moving. We always look at the six dimensions of wellness—emotional, social, physical, occupational, intellectual, and spiritual.”

The primary goal of Accountable Blue is to support employers in creating a culture of wellness in their worksites. Its custom-tailored programs promote a culture of wellness and give individuals tools and encouragement for healthy behaviors. Not only does

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The Vermont Department of Health and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports just awarded Cathedral Square a 2019 Governor’s Excellence in Worksite Wellness Gold Level Award.

Here employees of Central Vermont Medical Center gather for the Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 39

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Opposite left: Vermont Law School employees take advantage of on-site exercise facilities.

Opposite right: Dawne Smith (left) and Connie Warren of BCBSVT follow the crowd in Berlin for National Walk @ Lunch Day.

Accountable Blue help make healthy choices the easy and fun choices, it also leads to measurable results with fewer health claims and greater pride in organizations.

CATHEDRAL SQUARE Accountable Blue partner and leader in worksite health and wellness At Burlington-based nonprofit organization Cathedral Square, the journey toward wellness starts with a hike up Camel’s Hump. This may sound unrealistic to some, but for Cathedral Square’s 161 employees, a hike up Camel’s Hump is the model for a year-long health and wellness board game that encourages mindful health and wellness activities. The board game consists of “steps” toward the summit of Vermont’s most iconic mountain. You can earn “steps” by participating in activities such as an annual medical exam, tai chi classes, nutrition seminars at local grocery stores, art classes, and even sleep-improvement techniques.

Cathedral Square is one of over 95 employers around Vermont whose employees participate in Accountable Blue. “We are trying to create healthy organizations with healthy individuals,” says Kim. Over the years, Kim has helped launch many Accountable Blue worksite programs at employer groups across the state.

She works alongside the employers to make wellness a cultural norm instead of a cultural exception. “It’s a partnership. As the consultant, I guide them along, but it becomes each employer group’s unique program,” says Kim. The “Climb-Up-Camel’s-Hump” board game brings a variety of healthy opportunities together, giving people choices to take on new initiatives as well as reinforce healthy behaviors. “The game has been a huge success. This year we added points for participating in more healthy habits,” says Amy Rogers, training coordinator for the Support and Services at Home (SASH) program and chair of the Cathedral Square wellness committee.

The Camel’s Hump game lets individuals track their wellness achievements and brings people together. Participating in monthly in-person events is among one of the ways to earn stickers for progressing up the mountain.

Activities are diverse—from a group walk along Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 41

Above: Employees of Cathedral Square attend a nutrition seminar at the local Shaw's.

Right: Cathedral Square's employee-taught on-site wellness class and wellness committee in action.

the Burlington waterfront to seminars on sleep and personal finances to stress-relieving art therapy. Last year they inaugurated a book club.

The program appeals to many people by providing prizes such as mugs and gift certificates for different types of achievements. “This year, we have even more people involved,” Amy says, noting that, “It’s not really about the rewards, it’s about doing things to take care of yourself.”

HERITAGE FAMILY CREDIT UNION A long-time Accountable Blue partner and local worksite wellness advocate Heritage Family Credit Union was among the earliest groups to develop an Accountable Blue program. Now seven years in, Heritage has seen considerable and measurable gains, including fewer claims that have led to lower premiums, notes Peg Lucci, vice president of organizational 42 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

A quick look at how Accountable Blue is helping improve the lives of Vermonters The program’s numbers tell the story of their success, notes James Mauro, Director of Business Intelligence.

Here are several characteristics of the highest performing Accountable Blue employer groups: ✓ A 6 percent lower cost trend per year compared to other Accountable Blue employer groups. ✓ 5 percent more of the members have a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI). The program’s focus on higher levels of exercise, better diet, adequate sleep, and stress management all contribute to these gains. ✓ Members are more productive at work, missing fewer days for illness. ✓ More Vermonters in the program see their primary physician for an annual checkup compared to the nonAccountable Blue population. This translates to about 2,100 more people getting checkups in 2018. ✓ Almost 90 percent of members of Accountable Blue groups report that they are proud to work for their employer.

development and training. Of 180 employees at Heritage’s 11 locations, about 80 percent participate in at least one activity each year, and some, Peg notes, “go to everything.”

“Using data from our health care claims and health interest survey, we then determine our focus at the beginning of each year,” explains Peg about Heritage’s process in developing their wellness program. At Heritage and all other Accountable Blue groups, the in-house wellness committee strategizes and organizes their planning with dedicated support from BCBSVT. In turn, BCBSVT provides services such as in-person consulting and rich, detail-oriented data compiled from health assessment surveys and health care claims, to name only a few. Through Accountable Blue, clients have access to consumer engagement support including designing and preparing wellness materials and help in locating experts to lead workshops or speak about various topics.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 43

BCBSVT’s employees take a moment outside to participate in a group stretching session.

Heritage’s Accountable Blue health and wellness program, like other groups, has developed a mission and vision statement. Laying out each year’s plan, Peg notes, “We know it will include nutrition, physical fitness, stress reduction, ergonomics.” Their program is rich in variety, too. “We do yoga every week. We have events, such as an indoor golf event during the winter, which draws about 50 people. For our first ever movie-night potluck, we featured the film Forks Over Knives, with a Cornell University whole-foods expert guest speaker and a menu of whole food plant-based dishes. There is also a bowling league and a 5K walk or run to get people moving, and most importantly, socializing.” With an eye to stress reduction, Heritage’s efforts include jigsaw puzzles in the break room and very popular monthly visits to the Pyramid Holistic Health Center’s salt cave.

One highly successful offering organized by BCBSVT with support from the pharmacy team is Medication Therapy Management (MTM). This program allows people to bring their medications and supplements to a BCBSVT consultant who then works with them and their providers to optimize treatments, take medications properly, and elimi44 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

nate redundant medications.

Peg notes that, “At Heritage, we are driven to ensure that employees are supported regardless of what location they work at here in Vermont.

It is also of utter importance to our leadership team that people are able to participate regardless of what department they’re in or level of employment. Our CEO Matt Levandowski sees the importance of wellness in the workplace and is both a participant and advocate.”

Health and wellness is a journey for all Vermonters, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is here to help employer groups build health and wellness into their workplace cultures.

To learn more about BCBSVT’s Accountable Blue program, visit www.bcbsvt.com/healthand-wellness/worksite-health-wellness.

You can also email them directly at bwell@ bcbsvt.com. BCBSVT can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bcbsvt, Instagram at www.instagram .com/bcbsvt and Twitter at twitter.com/BCBSVT.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 45

TO YOUR

A Healthy Choice Go for pure, natural olive oil

The Mediterranean diet, with its emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats such as olive oil, is known for its health benefits. Reduced rates of heart disease and other chronic illnesses are attributed to this way eating. In addition, combining the diet with regular exercise has been shown to promote weight loss.

AN ANCIENT WONDER Olive oil is the heart and soul of the Mediterranean diet. No surprise considering that the diet originates from the lands around the Mediterranean Sea, where olive trees have grown for millennia. Olive oil is rich not only in flavor but also in health benefits.

“Many of the health benefits connected with extra virgin olive oil are due to its being low in saturated fats and rich in monounsaturated fats,” says Kaitlyn Ryan of Saratoga Olive Oil Company in Burlington. “Its biophenol content is also important. There are about 20 different biophenols, a type of antioxidant, that naturally occur in extra virgin olive oil.

They are responsible for many of the sensory characteristics of olive oil, such as pungency or bitterness, as well as benefits like antiinflammatory or antioxidant properties,”

Saratoga Olive Oil Company 86 Church St Burlington, VT (802) 489-5276

46 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Kaityln explains. “Biophenols vary based on olive type and production, creating different flavors and qualities. An olive oil that is higher in biophenols will have a more robust flavor as well as a longer shelf life. We test for the oxidation rate (or peroxide value), which essentially lets us know how quickly the oil will degrade and therefore what its shelf life will be. We also test our oils to make sure that no heat was used,” Kaitlyn says.

Olive oil that is labeled “Extra Virgin” is the gold standard to look for. The term means that the oil is created solely by mechanical crushing of olives, with no other added ingredients

and without using heat. Some companies use heat in order to increase yield, but doing so degrades the oil and reduces its health benefits as well as its flavor.

A VERSATILE ADDITION Olive oil is delicious as a dressing, alone or mixed with seasonings and vinegar, on salads and vegetables, both cooked and raw. It is used for sautéing and frying and even as an ingredient; some recipes for sweet baked items call for extra virgin olive oil. Besides being delicious, olive oil is bursting with healthful qualities.

TO YOUR

Why Are UV Rays Harmful?

A recent study funded in part by the National Eye Institute (NEI) shows how years of sunlight exposure can increase the risk of cataracts, firming up a link between the sun’s damaging rays and a process called oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a harmful chemical reaction that can occur when our cells consume oxygen to produce energy.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the cells within the lens contain mostly water and proteins but lack other tiny organs typically found in other cells. This unusual make-up of lens cells is what makes the lens transparent, uniquely capable of transmitting light and focusing it on the retina at the back of the eye. When a cataract forms, the proteins inside lens cells show signs of oxidative damage, and they ultimately become clumped together, scattering light rather than transmitting it.

How does exposure to UV light contribute to macular degeneration?

Sunlight contains UV and blue light, which can be harmful to the retina.

In certain wavelengths, blue light is implicated in the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), says the American Optometric Association.

The

Optical Center Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays

Sunglasses aren’t just good-looking, they’re good for you. Combining fashion with function, quality sunglasses not only help you see better but are also essential in preventing damage caused by ultraviolet light. It’s well known that exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun can cause skin damage. But many studies show that UV light can also increase the risk of cataract and other eye conditions.

“Long-term exposure to ultraviolet light has been linked to eye damage,” says Gary King, owner of The Optical Center in Burlington.

“Cataracts, a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes opaque, are very common, and macular degeneration, which damages the retina, is one of the leading causes of blindness in the United States,” Gary explains.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, the eyelid region is one of the most common sites for non-melanoma skin cancers. Wearing sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent ultraviolet radiation is an important way to protect the eyes and their surrounding skin.

“Quality sunglasses from manufacturers such as Costa, Maui Jim, and Ray-Ban have lenses that not only filter harmful UV rays,” says Gary, “they also offer the finest optical quality lenses to ensure that visual acuity is not diminished.”

The Optical Center 107 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 658-4683 www.opticalcentervt.com

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 47

TO YOUR

Marketplace Fitness Classes offer variety and fun!

Have you been thinking about taking group fitness classes for exercise and health benefits?

Allison Campbell, Group Fitness Coordinator of Marketplace Fitness in downtown Burlington, can help make the most of your efforts. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Marketplace Fitness 29 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 651-8773 www.marketplacefitness.com

48 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

5 Benefits of Group Fitness Classes 1. Motivation It’s inspiring and motivating to be surrounded by dedi-

cated, like-minded individuals. It doesn’t get much more empowering than a class with an encouraging instructor and supportive people all working hard together.

Group fitness is a great way to help motivate yourself and others to dig deeper and push harder in workouts.

2. Structure Group fitness is a great way to get a workout in without having to think or plan. Each class is structured with a warm-up, a balanced workout, and a cool-down.

3. Proper Form It’s the fitness instructor’s job to show proper form and to make sure that everyone in the class is executing each exercise the right way. Proper form is not only important for your muscles to gain the most from every exercise, but it also helps eliminate potential injuries.

4. Variety Marketplace Fitness offers several types of group classes.

Bootcamp, Spinning, Barre, Pilates, Strength training—the list goes on. Having a variety of classes in your weekly workout regimen is a great way to create muscle confusion, which keeps your body guessing and ramps up your metabolism. It also helps prevent injury and keeps you from getting bored.

5. Fun There’s really no other way to put it: Group fitness classes are fun.

Between the upbeat music, a great workout, and a group of people motivating each other along the way, it’s an enjoyable way to exercise. We encourage you to give group fitness classes a try! All classes are free with membership.

TO YOUR

Expand Your Taste Horizon Sign up for a cooking class at City Market

The Community Teaching Kitchen at City Market’s South End location is an educational space designed to build community through conversation, cooking, and skill-building. “Each month, we host a variety of low-cost cooking classes that are open to the public,” says Mae Quilty, Outreach & Education Manager at City Market, Onion River Co-op. Classes are $10 for members and $25 for non-members. Offering members a discounted rate is one of the many benefits of membership at the Co-op.

A GLOBAL EXPERIENCE Among the most popular classes is the Mosaic of Flavor series that is organized in partnership with Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program.

“These classes are consistently the first to sell out, demonstrating the interest in cross-cultural exchange in our community and prompting us to emphasize more global cuisine in our programming,” says Mae. A typical month’s class listing might include Polish pierogis, Filipino egg rolls, and Tibetan momos, among others.

“We understand the value of accessible foodbased education in our community. We hope you’ll join us for a class soon!”

City Market’s classes are guided by the following principles:

B Offer affordable cooking classes and in-

B Engage the community on topics of

B Facilitate learning opportunities for

B Promote the use of

B Provide opportunities for cross-cultural

B Minimize food waste and explore creative

crease access to educational opportunities designed to meet a variety of skill levels the community to gain confidence in the kitchen

exchange through the exploration of global cuisine

food, health, wellness, and the cultural significance of food around the world seasonal, local ingredients when possible with a focus on products from our local farmers and vendors ways to repurpose the byproducts of cooking.

City Market, Onion River Co-op South End Store 207 Flynn Ave Burlington, VT (802) 540-6400 Downtown Store 82 South Winooski Ave Burlington, VT (802) 861-9756

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 49

TO YOUR

Solutions for dry eye

Chroma Optics Chroma Optics 370 Shelburne Road Burlington, VT (802) 497-1676 www.chromaoptics.com

Computers are great. Who among us could do their work without them? The interconnectedness of the world through the Internet makes it possible to communicate with more people over long distances in less time. A universe of information is at our fingertips day and night, and the many apps, software packages, and devices that are available make modern business possible.

But all these hours in front of screens, whether laptops, phones, or tablets, has some downsides. One of them, according to Dr. Dora Sudarsky of Chroma Optics in Burlington, is an increase in the prevalence dry eye, specifically, a condition called MGD, or meibomian gland dysfunction.

50 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Top: No significant structural change.

Center: Duct dilation.

Above: Truncation and drop out.

The meibomian glands sit under the eyelids and are responsible for creating an oil called meibum that protects the eye from drying out too fast. Sometimes these glands can become blocked, reducing the amount of meibum flowing onto the eye. Dry air or hours in front of screens can exacerbate the problem. About 86 percent of dry eye patients are affected by MGD. Symptoms include scratchy, burning eyes and redness, and the condition can become chronic and progressive.

Warm, moist compresses can alleviate symptoms for some people, but for anyone with persistent problems, an in-office procedure can offer improvement. LipiFlow Activators are a single-use device contoured to cup the eye. They apply warmth to the inner lids and a therapeutic motion to the outer lids, which removes blockages from the meibomian glands. Once the blockages are removed, normal meibum production can resume.

Routine assessments of the structures of the eye and the function of the meibomian glands can lead to early intervention if a problem is detected.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 51

TO YOUR

HEALTHY MOUTHS AND GREAT SMILES

Timberlane Dental Group Timberlane Dental Group was founded in Burlington in 1973 with the vision of establishing a dental home with multiple specialists under one roof. The board-certified dentists at Timberlane include General Dentists, Pediatric Dentists, Orthodontic Specialists, and Periodontal Surgeons.

GENERAL DENTISTRY The role of the general dentist is to establish regular contact with the patient to maintain a level of health, much like a primary care physician in medicine. He or she is the quarterback of the dental treatment team, providing services or referring patients to specialists when needed. At Timberlane Dental Group, general dentists have committed to a tremendous amount of continuing education to become proficient in a number of dental techniques, including full 52 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

mouth reconstruction, TMD, Botox, endodontics, and root canals.

Having a laboratory at the South Burlington location ensures that lab work is of high quality and is done locally.

PEDIATRICS Pediatric dentistry is a specialization requiring extra years of training plus a certificate of completion from an accredited residency program.

At Timberlane, all six pediatric dentists have successfully completed

such training and have earned board certification through the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Pediatric dentists have enhanced knowledge of how a child develops physically, cognitively, and behaviorally, giving them insights into each child’s specific medical needs, whether that’s a first exam for a one-year-old or how best to safely complete an anxious child’s filling.

The Timberlane Dental Group works as a team of dentists. “This allows us to guide you into a properly timed and productive relationship with your child’s orthodontist,” says pediatric dentist Dr. Lauren Gulka. Orthodontic specialists are available to see children at their regular cleaning visits, giving families a comprehensive experience while also saving them time.

And the patient–dentist relationship does not end there. The practice’s dentists and periodontal specialists are a support to families during cosmetic treatment, temporomandibular joint symptoms, and other cases requiring a multi-doctor approach.

From a child’s first tooth through their toddler and elementary school years to high school and even beyond, each child’s needs are unique.

ORTHODONTICS Orthodontics is a dental specialty that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of malpositioned teeth and jaws. Orthodontists typically use appliances like braces, retainers, and clear aligners to create healthy bites and beautiful smiles. The orthodontists at Timberlane are dentists who have gone through years of additional training at a competitive, accredited orthodontic residency program and are Board Certified through the American Board of Orthodontics, the only orthodontic specialty board recognized by the American Dental Association.

Board Certified orthodontists go through hundreds of hours of preparation to demonstrate the judgment, skills, and knowledge required for providing the highest level of patient care. Timberlane orthodontists have many years of experience treating thousands of patients, and they work side by side with

general dentists, pediatric specialists, and periodontists to provide the highest level of complete oral health care.

PERIODONTICS Periodontology is the specialty in dentistry that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting the gums and supporting structures of the teeth. At Timberlane, periodontists have received a certificate of specialty by completing a two- to three-year training program accredited by the American Dental Association.

A periodontist can help patients who suffer from bone loss around the teeth. A wide range of therapy is available to enable patients to maintain a better quality of life by retaining teeth and improving the appearance of their smile. Periodontists can also replace missing or hopeless teeth by placing aesthetic implants.

Timberlane Dental Group 60 Timber Lane South Burlington, VT (802) 864-6881

1127 North Avenue, Suite 1 Burlington, VT (802) 862-0770 7 Carmichael Street Essex Junction, VT (802) 878-8348 5070 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-9797 www.timberlanedental.com

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 53

TO YOUR

Fitness Options Personal Training Studio Choices that Fit Busy Lives One of the offerings at Fitness Options is a 30-minute lunchtime class, called Express H.I.I.T. The strength training builds muscles and is alternated with one-minute intervals of high-intensity cardio exercise that gets your heart pumping—a far healthier way to spend your lunchtime than surfing the net and eating pasta.

If you’re an early riser, Bootcamp is for you.

This small-group class combines calisthenics and weight exercises with cardio and strength training. Modified for all levels, the program is always changing, which is necessary as your body gains strength and flexibility.

TRX Suspension is a fast-paced interval class limited to nine participants. This challenging workout uses TRX straps, jump ropes, stability balls, spin bikes, or kettle bells. The strength exercises combined with cardio intervals are designed to get endorphins flowing and hearts pumping. Endorphins trigger euphoric feelings

Fitness Options Personal Training Studio 89 Rye Circle South Burlington, VT (802) 863-4848 www.fitnessoptionsvt.com

54 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

in the body—that “runner’s high” we’ve all heard about—resulting in a more positive and energizing outlook on life. Choose from TRX Suspension, an hour-long class, or TRX Express, an exhilarating 30-minute workout.

In all these Fitness Options classes, the instructors vary the cardio routines in order to challenge different muscle groups. For flexibility, the stretching exercises before and

after each workout keep you limber and help prevent injuries.

The clients at Fitness Options understand the importance of working with a trainer. They may have tried working out on their own in the past and have realized that they’re much more accountable to themselves and their goals when they have an appointment with an experienced fitness professional.

TO YOUR

Put Your Best Face Forward

Bare Medical Spa + Laser Center

At Bare Medical Spa + Laser Center, you can expect the highest quality medical-aesthetic services, and you can be sure they always use the highest quality medical skin care lines. The staff’s favorite line is Obagi®, which they describe as “tried and true.” Founded in 1988, Obagi manufactures pharmaceutical-grade skin care products, which target your skin’s most pressing concerns, and the company has become a pioneer in bridging the space between medical treatment and skin care.

Obagi products are designed to treat common skin concerns through a medical lens with pharmaceutical-grade formulations, which are highly effective.

Some common skin conditions that Obagi products targets are signs of aging, reversing sun damage, neutralizing hyperpigmentation, healing acne, and more.

All Obagi skin care products must be prescribed by a physician due to their four percent hydroquinone component. Many dermatologists, physicians, medical spas, and licensed skin care professionals can prescribe Obagi products to their patients who have more stubborn skin conditions requiring medical treatment. As a heavily recommended medical skin care brand, it’s no wonder that Obagi has earned some of the most impressive reviews in the pharmaceutical skin care space.

Combining an at-home regimen using Obagi products with one of the many medical-aesthic skin care treatments that Bare Medical Spa + Laser Center offers will leave your skin looking more youthful and flawless then you ever thought possible.

Bare Medical Spa + Laser Center 95 St Paul Street, Suite #110 Burlington, VT (802) 861-2273 wwwbarevt.com

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 55

BY LORI LUSTBERG

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CIRCUS ZAMBIA

56 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

VERMONTERS

FLIP

Circus Zambia FOR

African youth nonprofit has growing roots in Vermont

O Prince Harry visits the opening of the new Circus Zambia Theater with cofounders Gift Chansa and Benard Kaumba and the Young Performance Company.

Opposite: Jennifer Goslovich (left) and Brooke Ciardelli in Zambia, November 2018.

n a recent January evening at the Fraternal Order of Eagles in South Burlington, about 50 people were on hand to hear the heartwarming, hopeful, and inspiring creation story of a three-year-old Zambian nonprofit youth circus with ties to Vermont.

At the front of the room stood a man with a smile that infused the room with his infectiously joyful spirit. Gift Chansa had traveled over 7,000 miles from his home in Chibolya, a compound—a ghetto—that is, as he put it, “famous for its drugs and criminality,” in Zambia’s capital city of Lukasa. In Chibolya, we learned, there are no social services, no free public education. It costs $100 per year to send a child to school, which most families in Chibolya can’t afford. Instead, kids play in the streets with rocks, sticks, and dirt and are introduced to drugs, alcohol, and crime as the “normal” way of life from the beginning of their lives.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 57

Above: Circus Zambia Young Performers entertain Prince Harry at the opening of the new theater in November 2018.

Below: Circus Zambia performs at the Lebanon, New Hampshire, Farmers’ Market in July 2017.

Opposite: Circus Zambia cofounder Amos Malokwa and Norwich, Vermont, resident Lydia Duncan during the 2017 USA/Zambia Youth Circus Exchange. Lydia says, “Circus gives me a sense of belonging and opens up amazing new opportunities.”

Gift grew up in Chibolya, spending much of his time in the streets, where he began performing acrobatics. At age 14, he started training in the theater arts at Zambia’s Barefeet Theatre, a non-governmental organization devoted to giving at-risk Zambian youth a chance at a better life. He became a professional performer, traveling around the world.

FROM VERMONT TO AFRICA AND BACK Brooke Ciardelli of Norwich, founder of Northern Stage in White River Junction, has an impressive list of accomplishments in the 58 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

theater arts as well as in the nonprofit sector.

She wrote and directed the opening show for the Harare International Festival of the Arts in Zimbabwe in May 2014. While there, she connected with members of Barefeet Theatre, including Gift. Brooke arranged for Barefeet Theatre to come to Vermont to perform and teach in June 2014, a few days before they performed at the United Nations.

Brooke returned to Zimbabwe in November 2014 to direct the Barefeet Theatre production of A Never-Ending Story, a play she had written at the invitation of the theatre’s founder. In August 2015, she brought Princess Mhoon, a DC-based performer, to the 9th Annual Barefeet Theatre Festival in Zambia. It was during this time that Gift shared with Brooke his dream of starting a social circus to help the kids in Chibolya.

Brooke’s son Will had been attending circus classes and camps with Ted Lawrence at the Norwich Recreation Department since he was young, so Brooke was intimately familiar with Vermont’s vibrant circus community. She off-handedly proposed a youth circus exchange, and so Gift’s dream became a reality.

A SOCIAL CIRCUS IS BORN IN ZAMBIA In February 2016, Brooke and Will, along with several other Vermont teenagers and their parents, traveled to Zambia for three weeks. Zambian kids and Vermont kids trained and performed circus together. That summer, eight Zambian kids, who were sponsored and hosted by Vermont families, spent the summer in Vermont, performing shows Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 59

and leading workshops in the Upper Valley.

Donations for Circus Zambia began to pour in, to the tune of $125,000, which was used to buy and renovate an abandoned school just outside of Chibolya, which now serves as an arts and media hub, as well as a library.

Back in Vermont, Brooke shared the story and photos of the new hub with Upper Valley residents. Once again, approximately $125,000 in donations poured in, which enabled Circus Zambia to build a 250-seat theater, which was completed in November 2018. Among other supporters of Circus Zambia are MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation and the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

The Trust is a charity established by Queen Elizabeth that “champion[s], fund[s] and connect[s] young leaders who are working hard to change the world.”

FIT FOR A PRINCE In mid November 2018, Circus Zambia learned that Prince Harry, as President of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, would be visiting in a couple of weeks to honor Circus Zambia and celebrate the opening of its new theater. Brooke headed to Zambia and asked her longtime hairstylist, Jennifer Goslovich of South Burlington’s PierVana Hair-Spa-Jewels, to come along 60 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

to assist with hair and makeup in preparation for the ceremony. On Monday, November 27, Jennifer, Brooke, and Gift, along with approximately 200 other people, attended the ceremony,

which made international news headlines.

When Jennifer returned to Vermont, she organized the fundraiser at the Eagles Club to coincide with Gift’s visit to Vermont. Generous

Opposite, top: Circus Zambia’s new theater, built in 2018 and funded by community residents of Vermont. The first theater built in the country in 69 years, this 250-seat theater is home to Circus Zambia and host to many artists and arts organizations in Lusaka, Zambia. Left, front: Ursula Collins-Laine, Martha Kafwanka, and Suzie Sianga. Back: Mwape Blessed Shumba, Teagan Goodwin, Grace Bunda, Lyle Stenenheim, and Lydia Duncan.

Above, from bottom: Cofounder and artistic director Gift Chansa, cofounder Benard Kamba, cofounder Amos Malokwa, and performers John Mwanza, Patrick Chikoloma, and Thomas Banda.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 61

62 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Above: Inside the new Circus Zambia Theater Hub, at-risk young performers train in the safe space with equipment donated by teenagers from Vermont.

Left, from left: Circus Zambia Performance Company: Patrick Chikoloma, Tata Chitambo, Bergus Level, Jennifer Goslovich, Aurthur Chileshe, and Freddy Banda.

Vermonters, after hearing the firsthand stories of Gift, Brooke, Will, and Jennifer, donated over $2,000 that evening.

WHY CIRCUS ZAMBIA? Circus Zambia is a “place to run, jump, fly, and land safely,” both literally and metaphorically. As a social circus, Circus Zambia is not simply about juggling and acrobatics. In addition to learning the circus arts, kids learn crucial life and social skills. They learn to honor and take care of their bodies. They are taught HIV/AIDS prevention, sanitary practices, and the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

They receive mentoring and tutoring, as well as educational scholarships. They learn life and social skills, such as discipline, trust, and communication. They grow, as did Gift, from a life destined for crime and drugs to become peer educators, mentors, teachers, and leaders for others in the community.

Gift is a 2018 recipient of the prestigious Queen’s Young Leader Award, which “recognizes and celebrates exceptional people aged 18–29 from across the Commonwealth who are taking the lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives.”

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 63

Circus Zambia cofounder Amos Malokwa coaches Aurthur Childshe to ride a unicycle (donated by kids in Vermont) in the slum of Chibolya.

On that January evening at The Eagles Club, Brooke spoke of how people often ask why Gift goes back to Chibolya when he can stay in the US and make a better life for himself. According to Brooke, Gift’s reply is always, “Who would be there to help the kids?” At a time when our society is collectively worn down, disempowered, and rendered hopeless by the constant exposure to negativity in the news and on social media, Circus Zambia stands as an example of the incredible power of human compassion 64 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

and connection to change lives.

– Donations may be sent to Circus Zambia, 3 Loveland Road, Norwich, VT 05055. Follow Circus Zambia on Facebook at www.facebook.com /circuszambia.

ONLINE EXTRA Find more information and photos at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.

TASTE OF VERMONT

BY COREY BURDICK PHOTOS COURTESY OF APIS KOMBUCHA

Tart Cherry + Tarragon growler of APIS on snow in front of the Golden Well Sanctuary’s seasonal farm stand where you can find APIS on tap.

APIS KOMBUCHA

M

In harmony with the bees

aybe you’ve heard about kombucha and have been curious to try it. Kombucha is a fermented and sweetened green or black tea with a low percentage of alcohol and a slight fizz.

Or perhaps you are already an avid lover of this unique beverage.

Either way, it seems as though local kombucha options grow by the day. What makes APIS Kombucha stand apart? It’s the honey.

APIS founders Ryan Miller and Nicole Burke have a special relationship with bees and credit that shared passion for bringing them

together. Between the two, they have a combined 22 years’ worth of beekeeping experience. In addition to beekeeping, they also have a background in organic vegetable farming, which they began doing seven years ago in conjunction with brewing kombucha. Ryan began his pursuit of wine, beer, and cider making at home but took those skills to the next level when he secured a position in 2013 at Champlain Orchards Cidery, where he worked as the head cider maker. While there, he received accolades for best cider maker in Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 65

This page, clockwse from top left: Apis mellifera, aka European or western honeybee (APIS Kombucha’s namesake), on an organic sunflower bloom mid summer at Golden Well Sanctuary, New Haven.

Nicole Burke installs and inspects new honeybees on a frame from a nucleus colony in their apiary.

Honeybees with comb on top of frames of an open hive at Golden Well’s apiary.

Opposite, from top: Strawberry + Rosemary APIS Kombucha accompanies breakfast in bed. A springtime CSA share from Golden Well that includes a growler of Tart Cherry + Tarragon APIS Kombucha and seasonal organic vegetables grown on the farm.

66 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Vermont and best cider for his ginger cider recipe. Despite enjoying his time there, the entrepreneur within him was calling.

HONEY MAKES THE DIFFERENCE According to Ryan, APIS Honey Kombucha began after experimenting and researching ways to brew kombucha using raw honey instead of sugar. His and Nicole’s desire to create a kombucha that used honey in lieu of sugar proved to be a boon for both the flavor and

the subsequent health benefits. After finding Jun scoby, a probiotic tea, to work with, Ryan began experimenting with a variety of teas until he landed on the perfect combination.

Due to the use of honey (sourced from their own hives and local treatment-free beekeepers Kirk Webster and Tim Mcfarline), the kombucha boasts additional probiotics as well as being an adaptogen, thanks to the organic fruit and herbs that are added. Ryan and Nicole were so enamored with what they had made they

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 67

Top: Ryan Miller pours a growler of APIS Kombucha in front of the barn at Golden Well Sanctuary.

Below: Golden Well Sanctuary in early summer.

Opposite: Jars of raw honey from the happy hives at Golden Well Sanctuary with label artwork by daughter Miela. Fresh honeycomb made by the honeybees at Golden Well.

decided to try selling it alongside their organic vegetables and honey at farmers’ markets.

However, only several weeks into selling the kombucha, it became clear that there was a greater demand for the beverage than for their vegetables. Thus, the couple formed a separate LLC for APIS from their farm business, Golden Well Farm, and decided to find a local commercial kitchen to grow production. APIS landed at its first store, the Middlebury COOP, at the end of summer 2015.

FRESH FLAVORS “The brand really just took off on its own,” Ryan says, “We’ve not had to do much marketing—people have asked for our product based on taste and quality.” When one takes a sip from APIS’s delicious array of flavors, it’s easy to understand why. Vermont honey and green tea comprise the base for each selection.

Then they are accented by enticing combinations such as strawberry and rosemary, tart cherry and tarragon, blueberry and bergamot, pineapple and coriander, and seasonal cranberry and wild balsam fir, lemon verbena, and crab apple. But Ryan’s personal favorite is the Vermont honey and green tea, once known as traditional “Jun” because “it highlights the subtleties in each seasonal honey that we use to create the product. We also love just muddling fresh fruit or herbs right into it as they’re in season.”

Given the popularity of the kombucha, Ryan says it has been challenging to keep up with the demand. In order to accommodate their growth, APIS is exploring a move from their kitchen in Middlebury to brewing in a larger production facility in Burlington. This is occurring in tandem with the development of added space back at Golden Well with the aim of eventually moving production back to its roots in New Haven.

Currently, at Golden Well Sanctuary, the duo has a seasonal farm stand where organic vegetables, herbs, and fruits are grown. This 68 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

year, they have brought on farmer Paige Wener to cultivate these edibles under the farm name Green and Gold CSA. Expanding their onfarm organic herb, berry, and honey production is crucial to keeping up with the demand for their products. The farm stand also has a spot where visitors can buy kombucha. A refill station even offers credit for bottle returns.

“Not only is there a romance to think of APIS as being brewed with the taste of the land here, but it’s also important to us to invite APIS fans to connect with healthy farmland and to the honeybees that are in dire straits and could really use all the attention they can get,” Ryan says. “We love our bees and hope our product inspires others to share that love and interest in the bees and for the environment in general.”

APIS Golden Well Farm & Apiaries 1089 River Road New Haven, VT (802) 870-0361 www.apiskombucha.com Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 69

Spring ToLife!

Shopping & Fun Things to do in the Burlington Area!

ECCO Clothes Boutique ECCO, Burlington’s original designer boutique, has been your favorite store with top brands for over 25 years! From denim to dresses, boots to stilettos, ECCO has it all! Premium denim lines like J Brand, AG, Paige, Mother, DL1961, and Citizens of Humanity; sweaters by Velvet, Vince, and Repeat Cashmere; basics by James Perse and Michael Stars; dresses by Susana Monaco, BCBG, Amanda Uprichard, and Laundry; shoes from Steve Madden, Seychelles, and Dolce Vita; and handbags by Liebeskind, Hobo, and Day & Mood. From basic to anything but, ECCO has you covered including a great selection of denim for men too! Visit ECCO on the Church Street Marketplace in the heart of Burlington.

81 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 860-2220 www.EccoClothesBoutique.com

Vermont Singing Drum A meditation drum for everyone, artfully crafted to perfection in both sight and sound. These musical pieces of art are handmade, hand finished, and hand tuned. Choose from the Zen Drum, a traditional steel tongue drum with tank drum overtones, or the Bliss Drum, made from heavier steel with a dreamy sound and clear, crisp tones. Visit our workshop and showroom in the heart of Burlington’s Art District.

4 Howard Street Burlington, VT (802) 448-4223 www.vermontsingingdrum.com

Morse Farm It’s our time of year at Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks! We are making hot and delicious maple syrup! Our season is short, so be sure to drop by and enjoy the heavenly aroma of boiling sap and have a taste. We’ll tell you the whole Vermont maple story, from “tap to table.” Our eight-generation story is a can’t miss here in the heart of maple country.

168 County Road Montpelier, VT (800) 242-2740 Maple@MorseFarm.com www.MorseFarm.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Petra Cliffs Petra Cliffs Climbing Center and Mountaineering School focuses on climbing and mountain-related education and recreation, accessible to all ages and abilities. We offer premium instruction and services through experience-based education in an inspiring atmosphere for families and friends to gather for a challenge and fun. Petra Cliffs is also home to an indoor ropes course for birthday parties, teams, and groups.

105 Briggs Street Burlington, VT (802) 657-3872 www.PetraCliffs.com

Istanbul Kebab House Offering Burlington’s only rooftop dining, Istanbul Kebab House in downtown Burlington takes you to Istanbul and back with every bite. Delicious and healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and takeout, all made with 100 percent fresh Turkish ingredients. A truly authentic Turkish dining experience.

175 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 857-5091 www.istanbulkebabhousevt.com

Shelburne Vineyard and Wine Tasting Room As winter draws to a close, join us for a taste of our newest wine releases and a tour of the winery. Let us share our adventure growing grapes and making award-winning wines here in Vermont’s cold climate. Watch as winter fades and the vines awaken and bud to produce next year’s fruit.

Then stay for a glass of wine in our cozy loft or, as the weather warms, on the patio overlooking the vines.

Check our website to find out about our concerts and special events, or consider planning your own private or business event here. We’re always here to welcome you and help make your visit memorable.

6308 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-8222 www.ShelburneVineyard.com

BY PHYL NEWBECK PHOTOS COURTESY OF AUDUBON VERMONT

Audubon Vermont

F

or some, the words “Audubon Society” might conjure up the image of a solitary gray-haired bird-watcher with binoculars, notepad, and bird identification book. At Audubon Vermont, they’re quick to dismiss that inaccurate stereotype. With programs for kids, new Vermonters, and the LGBTQ community, the staff and volunteers of the nonprofit are doing their best to introduce as many people as possible to the birds of Vermont and the natural environment needed to sustain them.

Founded in November 2000, Audubon Vermont is the state office of the National Audubon Society. They are based at the Green Mountain Audubon Center in Huntington (founded in 1964), which has 250 acres

72 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

of forests, fields, and wetlands with five miles of walking trails and a sugaring operation. Many of Audubon Vermont’s programs take place on the property while others are centered in more urban areas.

EDUCATION IS KEY Executive Director David Mears describes the organization as having three pillars: public policy and advocacy, conservation science, and education and outreach. The education and outreach are the most obvious endeavors and include a multitude of activities and events.

One important component is Audubon Vermont’s sugaring operation, which is an opportunity for the organization to highlight

Opposite: Audubon Vermont’s Bird-Friendly Maple Sugaring Crew. Photo by Gwendolyn Causer/Audubon Vermont. This page, clockwise from top: Black-capped Chickadee. Photo by Rae Bronenkant/Audubon Vermont. Golden-winged Warbler.

Photo by Gwendolyn Causer/Audubon Vermont. Blue-winged Warbler. Photo by Rae Bronenkant/Audubon Vermont.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 73

Above: The Newcomer Academy at Winooski Middle School. Photo by Gwendolyn Causer/Audubon Vermont.

Below: Bird habitat assessment. Photo by Tom Rogers/ Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

Opposite: Male and female Bobolinks. Photo by Lynn Cleveland/Audubon Photography Awards.

Bald Eagle. Photo by Matt Shetzer/Audubon Photography Awards.

their Bird-Friendly Maple Project. “We’re getting sugarmakers to think about habitat,” Communications Manager Gwendolyn Causer says. “We use our operation as a demonstration site to translate that work into an educational program which shows the difference between having a maple monoculture and having a diversity of species, age and structure.”

In addition to providing demonstrations for children’s groups, the sugarhouse is open to the public for Sugar on Snow Parties during Maple Open House Weekend. “Sugaring is a great opportunity to talk about our mission on a larger scale,” David says. “One of the most vital resources for Vermont as a hedge against climate change is our forests. The bulk of our forests are on private land, and if we 74 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

don’t have a forest economy, we won’t have a forest. Maple syrup is a longstanding part of Vermont’s history, culture, and tradition but also our future.”

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT The Champlain Valley Bird Initiative is another way Audubon Vermont is reaching out to the community. One piece of that

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 75

is creating habitat for the Golden-winged Warbler which has a declining population.

Audubon Vermont helps landowners manage their fields to allow the kind of early successional forest the Golden-winged Warbler likes. Another initiative called the Bobolink Project works with other partners to alter the frequency and timing of haying to protect Bobolinks’ grassland nesting places.

Audubon Vermont has a staff of nine, including an AmeriCorps member, and a membership base of almost 6,500 people. Many of those members take part in educational events like the photography classes which are conducted on-site. Gwen says the staff has recently been reaching out beyond the facilities to work in more urban areas. They are partnering with the City of Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront to help the city purchase and plant native flora. In 2018, as part of a wetland restoration project, 120 volunteers planted 1,000 native plants and shrubs. To show that this kind of work can be done on a smaller scale, Audubon Vermont has also been involved in the Urban Planter Project, getting people to 76 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

fill their porch and stoop-side planters with native species. “It’s powerful when people can see the transformation plants can make in a landscape,” Gwen says.

Additional outreach includes Pride Hikes with the LGBTQ community and work with

the Burlington School District’s Sustainability Academy, Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center, and King Street Center. Gwen says Audubon Vermont wants to help bridge the “adventure gap” between those who have access to the outdoors and those who do not.

Left: Plants for Birds: Oakledge Park wetland restoration planting. Photo by Gwendolyn Causer/ Audubon Vermont.

Below: Audubon Vermont Staff (from left): Steve Hagenbuch, Rae Bronenkant, Mark LaBarr, Kim Guertin, Debbie Archer, Gwendolyn Causer, Emily Kaplita, Margaret Fowle, and David Mears. Photo

by Rae Bronenkant/ Audubon Vermont.

Other projects involve working to help provide equitable access to open lands.

PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT David wants to ensure that Audubon Vermont continues to have programming for young people. “There is a sense of urgency around all the environmental issues we are tackling,” he says. “The next generation of young people will make a difference, and we should be taking the time to make sure they have the tools to see why the natural world is crucial to our survival as a planet. Our goal is to make sure Vermont kids remain connected to the green mountains and silver waters of our state, both for their sake and that of the environment.”

Recognizing the outdated stereotype of the organization, David thinks it’s important for people to recognize why the focus of Audubon Vermont goes well beyond birds. “We wouldn’t have birds if we didn’t have a clean environment,” he says. “We need forests and fields and clean water and places for them to live.” Although Audubon Vermont focuses on the relationship between people and the environment, they don’t want to forget relationships between humans themselves.

“We try to be a bridge between different communities,” David says. “We want to include young, old, bird watchers, kayakers, hunters, anglers, and all people regardless of gender, race, and orientation. We want to focus together on protecting the environment.”

Audubon Vermont Green Mountain Audubon Center 255 Sherman Hollow Road Huntington, VT (802) 434-3068 vt.audubon.org

ONLINE EXTRA Find flowers that attract birds and Audubon Vermont spring events at www.bestofburlingtonvt.com.

LIFE AND CULTURE IN THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY

SPRING 2019

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VOLUME 12 NO 2

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32 Hermit Thrush Lane, South Burlington, VT 05403 Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 77

BRIGHT IDEAS

BY NANCY HUMPHREY CASE PHOTOS COURTESY OF INSPIRED CLOSETS

Great closets come from great design.

This design maximizes storage space with the use of specific shoe shelving, pull-out drawers, baskets, and hanging space of all heights.

78 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Inspired Closets

Todd and Elizabeth Warren are helping people to organize the way they live.

P

icture this: You’re already late for work and you can’t find the shoes that match your outfit. You rummage through the back of your bedroom closet, but it’s dark in there and shoes are jumbled together with ski boots, and tote bags. Exasperated, you finally give up, put on something else then race downstairs only to trip over one of the dog toys strewn across your path to the door.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Todd and Elizabeth Warren, owners of Inspired Closets in Williston, have helped hundreds of people bring order—and calm—to their households since they decided to add closets to the product line of Otter Creek Awnings in 2005. Formerly called Vermont Custom Closets, their business— newly rebranded to reflect its expanded scope—fills 5,000 square

feet and serves customers all over Vermont, upstate New York, and New Hampshire’s Upper Valley.

ORGANIZATION OPTIONS While Todd runs the side of the business that sells and installs closet and organizational systems, Elizabeth offers a complementary service—helping people with home organization as a professional organizer and stager. Called Organize My Home, the service includes everything from an hour of consulting to come up with a plan a client can execute herself, to actually sorting, editing, and rearranging a client’s abundant possessions in new storage spaces throughout her home.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 79

“I think of it like hardware and software,” Todd says. “The closet business is like the ‘hardware’ side of the business. Organize My Home is the ‘software’ side—it’s all about systems and process.”

The Warrens see the evolution of their business, which “really took off” when they separated it from Otter Creek Awnings and started Vermont Custom Closets in 2013, as part of a hot national trend.

“We all aspire to be more organized, but there’s a big demand now because we’re part of the Home & Garden Television generation. When people see organized spaces and beautiful homes on TV, they have the expectation that things 80 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

should be organized, tidy, in their places. These cultural influences are driving the industry.”

Todd cites the popularity of professional organizer Marie Kondo as evidence of this trend.

“We all have too many things and not enough storage space,” he says. “And the evolution of closet design has resulted in products that are so much better. Wire shelving is going away, and closets can now be as beautiful and functional as the rest of the home. A client can choose from 19 different wood grain finishes for her closets, and the accessories are endless—from jewelry trays and valet rods to pull-out hampers and pulldown ironing boards.”

ROOM BY ROOM It’s not just about bedroom closets, either.

After clients have those done, they go on to the pantry, mudroom, laundry room, and even the garage. “You do one project, find out how easy and fun it is, then you say, OK, next on our list is the garage, for example,” Elizabeth says.

“About half our clients are repeat customers.”

The Warrens’ 5,000-square-foot showroom, just completed in December, features 14 different vignettes illustrating how different spaces in the home can be organized. “It’s one of the nicest Inspired Closets showrooms anywhere in the country,” Todd says. While sharing the name with 43 other businesses that carry the

Museum founder Electra Havemeyer Webb began collecting at an early age and established the museum in 1947. Above: Unidentified maker, Electra Havemeyer Webb in her wedding dress, February 8, 1910. Gelatin silver print, 10 x 8 in. Collection of Shelburne Museum Archives. PS3.2-1.

same manufacturer’s products, the Warrens stress that their business is locally owned and operated and has strong ties to the Burlington community. Their business model is also one of comprehensive service throughout a project —from coming out for a home consultation and taking measurements, through the design process to installation and clean up. “There are not a lot of companies who are in charge of the process from start to finish,” Elizabeth says.

MAKING CLIENTS HAPPY Clients vouch for their excellent work. Suzanne Johnson of Shelburne says Todd gave her “the best possible customer service” and that she Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 81

Above: The Williston showroom features 14 different vignettes and offers organizational ideas for every room in the house.

Below: Murphy beds are the perfect way to maximize usable space and still have a comfortable area for guests.

82 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

All Inspired Closets materials and workmanship are guaranteed for a lifetime.

“couldn’t be happier” with her new closet.

Brenda Green of Essex has hired the Warrens multiple times as she has renovated her 20-year-old home in stages. “Elizabeth is outstanding for coming out and designing something to fit your needs,” Brenda says. “Our new mudroom is amazing. Everyone who comes in comments on it. And their employees are the best—very respectful, very neat, thorough, and making sure their work is 110 percent.”

The Warrens are very conscious of costs in working within clients’ budgets. “From some of our marketing you might think we only do big, extravagant spaces,” Todd remarks. “It’s actually quite the opposite. Vermont homes tend to have smaller closet spaces, so the majority of projects we do are in small closets. I think the smaller the closet, the more important it is that the storage space is maximized.”

Both Todd and Elizabeth are excited to turn things around for their clients. They love to see the “Aha” moments when clients see a cluttered, overwhelming space replaced by one that is beautiful and orderly. “It sounds silly to say, but we absolutely have clients that tell us we have changed the way they live,” Todd says.

“Starting your day in an organized, stress-free way has a way of making your whole day a little easier.”

Inspired Closets 17 Echo Place Williston, VT (802) 658-0000 www.inspiredclosetsvt.com

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 83

BY NOAH DETZER

PHOTOS BY ALAN O’NEIL

84 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

Stern Center FOR LANGUAGE AND LEARNING

Pathways to knowledge

Burlington first graders practice reading words with Kara Quinn, an Edmunds Elementary teacher who completed a Stern Center course last year. Research shows that this type of structured literacy activity is highly effective.

The Stern Center in Williston, Vermont, is an organization that promotes literacy and advocacy for speech-language models that schools can use to strengthen student skills and abilities in literacy. This year marks the 35th year that the center has been in operation— the center in Williston, with 75 employees, has grown significantly from the three employees in the small office in Burlington where it started.

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 85

Each year, the Stern Center works with over 800 students and awards over $160,000 in scholarships. In addition, the Cynthia K. Hoehl Institute for Excellence within the Stern Center awards grants to educators who participate in its Professional Learning programs. In 2018, CKHIE awarded $117,000 to individual teachers and entire school districts.

DEDICATED TO LEARNING The Center is built to prioritize one-on-one reading instruction, and most rooms feature one-way mirrors so that parents and guardians can watch their students learn and grow. Dr. Blanche Podhajski, Stern Center President, was happy to share a brief overview of the Stern Center. “We began the program in Burlington with two other professionals. Originally, the intent of the program was to serve as a small service agency for all kinds of learners,” she says. “In the beginning, the most popular referral would be children with dyslexia or learning disabilities, but as the program continued to develop, the Stern Center began seeing more children who hadn’t learned how to read.” The 86 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

traditional model in classrooms, Blanche says, was clearly not working for them.

Blanche points out that the Stern Center is not simply a place for children with disabilities—the Center receives requests from children who are gifted, disengaged, or who are otherwise demonstrating emotional issues or anxiety. “We all confront learning in different ways,” Blanche says, “so partnerships with invested families and teachers are key to the success of the organization as a whole.”

If students don’t effectively learn how to read by the end of third grade, it’s a red flag. If students are struggling in reading by fourth grade, 75 percent remain behind their peers through high school. For Blanche, this fact underscores the importance of literacy education and instruction in elementary schools for all students.

PUTTING SCIENCE TO WORK Since the Stern Center was founded, the bank of knowledge about neuroscience has

Students of all ages come to the Stern Center for customized instruction in reading, math, written language, social learning, and other communication skills. “Watching my son go from a child who dreaded school to a child who dreams about what he may become in the future is beyond words.

His transformation to a confident young man who can reach beyond the stars is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the Stern Center,” said the parent of one student.

expanded, and noninvasive procedures have revealed more and more about how brains function, especially in younger learners. As the years went on, it became clear to Blanche and her coworkers that certain instructional practices were extremely effective in shifting brain activity in developing minds.

Sound-symbol relationships and the rules of those relationships became paramount in teaching students how to read. Once the research became unambiguous, Blanche explains, they felt compelled to act. “When the best practices became clear, we had a moral responsibility to bring this information to classroom teachers.”

The actual implementation of that knowledge, however, was a little more difficult.

Stefanie Waite, the Center’s Communications Director, shared more about the process: “The Stern Center promotes a model of learning that would encourage schools to undergo major systemic change. For this to happen, leadership in schools has to be engaged and teachers have to be inspired to make the change. When they are willing to give it a try, though, the results can be incredible.”

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 87

English has 26 letters, 44 sounds, and nearly 300,000 words. Teaching reading is complicated, but when teachers understand the science of how reading develops, they are well-equipped to help all children become skilled readers.

88 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

The Stern Center partnered with the Williams​town Elementary School in a general classroom educator initiative to improve literacy. Since concluding the program in 2016, the school has had zero referrals to special education in the area of reading, and the number of students referred for behavior issues has dropped significantly as well.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Last fall, Zachary Terwilliger, a US Attorney in Alexandria, Virginia, and former student of the Stern Center, spoke to the Board about his experience growing up with dyslexia. Zachary’s story was heartbreaking—his dyslexia meant that he grew up with major questions of self-doubt and anxiety about learning. It was through working with the dedicated staff at the Stern Center that he was able to confront and work through his difficulty reading. “You provided peace to my parents when they didn’t know where to turn,” Zachary told the board. “I would not be the person I am without Blanche’s dedication.”

Blanche and Stefanie also shared a story about a man named Frank, who’d accessed their programs as an adult. Frank worked at a manufacturing job and had difficulty with reading.

Thanks to the robust scholarship program and a caring employer, Frank was able to take advantage of the Stern Center as an adult learner. By the end of their work with him, Frank was able to read a book to his daughter for the first time.

Educators and people may still have differences of opinion about reading, but Blanche says “they are much more open to recognizing the importance of the science as it relates to literacy—it’s become a key component of teaching and is starting to drive decisions about curricula.” Blanche continues, “The collaboration the Stern Center has done for the past couple of years with educators doesn’t replace curriculum that’s already in existence. We are simply sharing the brain science with the educators. It is then incumbent upon educators to make the decisions about how to implement the research-based approaches, put students into groups, and deliver instruction tailored to their needs.”

There are many exciting things on the horizon for the Stern Center. They are finalizing two pilots—one in Hinesburg and one in Hardwick—with their programs. The intent is to bring the science of literacy to every teacher in Vermont, and then they hope to be a model for other states. “As we move forward with literacy,” Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 89

Children benefit most when teachers explicitly teach how speech maps to print in the early elementary grades, according to research conducted over the past 40 years.

Blanche says, “the next phase will be to bring in the social-emotional approach, and make sure that they are teaching behavioral strategies that allow students to be available for learning. It shouldn’t depend on the student’s zip code or who their teacher is for learning to occur.”

Soon the center will be launching an online course for parents and daycare providers to share play-based activities to help small children to learn how to read later on. The play-based program, Building Blocks for Literacy, fosters vocabulary acquisition and development through rhyming, songs, and music. In short, the intent is to use science-based approaches to make sure that when students walk in the door at school, they’re ready and primed for success.

Stern Center for Language and Learning 183 Talcott Road #101 Williston, VT (802) 878-2332 www.sterncenter.org

90 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

SPRING HAPPENINGS 2019 | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FLYNN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

MARCH 9

Storm Large MainStage, 8pm

MARCH 15

Québecfest

MainStage, 8pm

MARCH 18–19

Kodo Taiko Drumming

MainStage, 18–7pm & 19–10am

MARCH 18

Green Fields of America FlynnSpace, 7pm

MARCH 21

The Burlington Moth GrandSLAM MainStage, 8pm

MARCH 27

United States Army Field Band MainStage, 7pm

MARCH 29–30

King Lear

Flynn Center, 7pm

MARCH 31

Aaron Lewis

Les Ballets Trockadero MainStage, 7pm

APRIL 3

APRIL 28–29

MainStage, 7:30pm

MainStage, 28, 6pm, 29, 7:30pm

Angélique Kidjo APRIL 4

MAY 4

FlynnSpace, 7:30pm

MainStage, 8pm

Jazzmeia Horn APRIL 6

New Voices: World Party FlynnSpace, 8pm

APRIL 7

The Beethovens of Today FlynnSpace, 2pm

APRIL 11

All About Eve

Palace 9 Cinemas, 2pm

APRIL 11–14

Mamma Mia!

MainStage, Various Times

APRIL 15

A Sick Day for Amos McGee MainStage, 9:30am

Storm Large

Shen Yun

APRIL 20

Ballet Hispánico MainStage, 8pm

APRIL 26

Kip Moore MAY 7

Me Jane, The Adventures of Young Jane Goodall MainStage, 9:30am

MAY 8

BRIT FLOYD MainStage, 8pm

MAY 10

Diary of a Worm….

MainStage, 9:30am, Noon

MAY 11

Aaron Lewis MainStage, 8pm

MAY 16

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood MainStage, 6pm

MAY 30

Jay Leno

MainStage, 7:30

Hot Brown Honey 153 Main Street, Burlington, VT (802) 86-Flynn www.flynncenter.org

MainStage, 8pm

Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 91

SPRING HAPPENINGS 2019 | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MARCH 17

Masterworks

VSO Music Director Jaime Laredo returns to the podium with a program that prominently features woodwind soloists.

Rutland, Paramount Theater, 7:30pm

APRIL 13

Jukebox

This innovative chamber music series, co-presented by the VSO and ArtsRiot, and curated by Vermont composer Matt LaRocca, features a sliding-scale payment option and a singular concert experience.

ArtsRiot, 6:30pm

APRIL 27

Masterworks

The final Masterworks concert of the 2018/2019 season features violinist Pamela Frank performing Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with the VSO. Flynn Theater, 7:30pm

MARCH 8

Jukebox

This innovative chamber music series, co-presented by the VSO and ArtsRiot, and curated by Vermont composer and VSO Creative Projects Chair Matt LaRocca, features a sliding-scale payment option and a singular concert experience ArtsRiot, 7:30pm

BURLINGTON CITY ARTS

MARCH 9

MARCH–JUNE 9

MARCH 23

The March Jukebox program celebrates International Women’s Day with a lineup of all female composers. The evening will be co-curated by Matthew Evan Taylor, professor of music at Middlebury College and our 2019 Made in Vermont world premiere composer.

Rutland, Merchant’s Row, 6:30pm

Featuring film and photography LBG Room, BCA Center See website for days & times

LBG Room, BCA Center, 8pm

Jukebox

MARCH 14

Vermont Youth Orchestra Swings

Join the Vermont Youth Orchestra and Vermont Symphony Orchestra as they explore the elements that contribute to that magical moment when the orchestra starts to swing.

Flynn Theater, 10am

MARCH 16

Masterworks

The VSO performs Masterworks featuring Anthony McGill and Janet Polk. VSO Music Director Jaime Laredo returns to the podium with a program that prominently features woodwind soloists.

Flynn Theater, 7:30pm

Exhibition: Imperfect Societies

MARCH–JUNE 9

Exhibition: ALM@ PÉREZ ROBOPOEMS: QUADRUPED@S Lower Level, BCA Center See website for days & times

MARCH–JUNE 9

Exhibition: Adorned: Hairstyles of Ancient Dynasty 1st floor, BCA Center See website for days & times

MARCH–JUNE9

Princess: Out There

APRIL 11

Natural Pigment Workshop: Elizabeth Bunsen BCA Center 6–8pm

APRIL 20

Family Art Saturday 11am

MAY 18

Family Art Saturday 11am

Exhibition: Rebecca Weisman: Skin EGO 1st floor, BCA Center See website for days & times

MARCH 20, 2019

Call (800) VSO-9293 ext. 10 Visit www.vso.org for additional information.

92 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

A+D Film Series: Milton Glaser: To Inform And Delight Contois Auditorium: City Hall 6–8:30pm

135 Church Street Burlington, VT (802) 865-7166 www.burlingtoncityarts.org

SPRING HAPPENINGS 2019 | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SHELBURNE FARMS MARCH 30

Vermont Sheep & Goat Association Lambing Clinic 9:30am

MARCH 30

Cultivating Farm to Early Childhood Workshop 8:45am

APRIL 6

Together We Build Resilience 8:30am

APRIL 20 & 21

Green Mountain Draft Horse Driving Clinic 9am

APRIL 27

Forest Bathing 10am

MAY 4

Milk and More!

Workshop for Educators, 9:30am

MAY 11

Spring Wildcrafting: Greens & Mushrooms

Are you intrigued by the wild world of mushroom and plant foraging? Join Ari Rockland-Miller of The Mushroom Forager! 9:30am

MAY 15

Indoor Spring Planter Design & Afternoon Tea

Enjoy afternoon tea and create a spring planter for your home with Victoria Dilley, floral designer at the Inn. Take a stroll through the formal gardens before heading home with your creation. 2pm

MAY 16

Weed Walk and Nettle Pesto Making with Spoonful Herbals

Learn how to sustainably harvest nettles and then process them into a nutrient dense nettle pesto to take home. 5pm

MAY 17 MARCH 9

Woolly Flower Power 10am

MARCH 16

Play Date! Spring on the Farm 9:30am & 1:30pm

Sun to Cheese Tour 1:45pm

MAY 31–JUNE 1

Nourish Vermont: Traditional Food & Health Gatherings 9am–5pm

MARCH 16

Jr Iron Chef VT

A statewide culinary competition that challenges teams of middle and high school students to create healthy, local dishes that inspire school meal programs. 9am

MARCH 23 & 24

Open Maple House Starts 10am

1611 Harbor Road Shelburne, VT www.shelburnefarms.org Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 93

SPRING HAPPENINGS 2019 | CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SHELBURNE MUSEUM Tash Sultana

MARCH 9

Life-Sized Portraits 11am

MARCH 10

Movie Month: Panique by Julien Duvivier 4pm

MARCH 16

Over and Under

CHURCH STREET MARKET PLACE EVENTS MARCH 30

Magic Hat Mardi Gras!

Music, parades, and much more!

MAY 31–JUNE 9

Burlington Discover Jazz Festival

Rockin’ Geodes

A 10-day celebration of live music for all ages. With free live music on four stages in downtown Burlington, headlining shows at the historic Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and the Waterfront Tent, and nightly showcases in restaurants and venues all over the city, the festival brings this community to life with a 10-day-long party. www.discoverjazz.com

MARCH 24

OTHER NOTEWORTHY EVENTS

11am

MARCH 23 11am

Harold Weston: Freedom in the Wilds Exhibition Opening MARCH 30

Collaged Quilt 11am

MAY 23

Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on The Green Tash Sultana 6pm

MAY 24 & 25

Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on The Green Brandi Carlile 6pm

JUNE 12

Ben & Jerry’s Concerts on The Green Death Cab for Cutie 6pm

6000 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-3346 shelburnemuseum.org 94 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

MARCH 16

St. Albans St. Patrick’s Day Parade 5pm

MAY 4 & 5

Essex Spring Craft Fair Champlain Valley Expo

ADVERTISERS INDEX A Little Something.......................................................................................14, 36 Bare Medical Spa................................................................................................... 1 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont...................................................................7 Burlington Country Club...................................................................................45 Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Services......................................... 23 Burlington Furniture..............................................................Inside Front Cover Burlington Harbor Hotel.................................................................................. 40 Burlington Marble and Granite........................................................................13 Burlington Mattress............................................................................................51 Burlington Paint and Sip Studio...................................................................... 27 Burlington Surf Club...........................................................................................41 Catamount Physical Therapy/Fitness Options........................................... 27 Chroma Optics....................................................................................................63 Church Hill Landscapes.....................................................................................61 City Market.......................................................................................................... 67 Culligan Water Systems..................................................................................... 4 Davis and Hodgdon Associates......................................................................90 Dear Lucy...............................................................................................................11 Di Stefano Landscaping.....................................................................................17 Ecco Clothes................................................................................................... 3, 70 Fleming Museum of Art.................................................................................... 35 Flynn Theater.......................................................................................................28 Four Seasons/Sotheby’s International Realty............................................... 6 Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery..............................................................................36 Gordon’s Window Decor.................................................................................. 33 Hickok and Boardman Real Estate.................................Outside Back Cover Inspired Closets.................................................................................................. 35 InTrak Investments.............................................................................................43 Istanbul Kebab House........................................................................................71 Jamie Two Coats Toy Shop...............................................................................36 Karlise Fine Jewelers.........................................................................................83 Landshapes..........................................................................................................44 Marketplace Fitness...........................................................................................41 Morse Farm..........................................................................................................70 Otter Creek Awnings.........................................................................................59 Outdoor Gear Exchange...................................................................................59 Pauline’s Café...................................................................................................... 75 Petra Cliffs.............................................................................................................71 Pines Senior Living..............................................................................................61 Play Dog Play........................................................................................................81 Red House Builders............................................................................................87 REV Spinning.......................................................................................................83 Shelburne Museum.....................................................................................36, 87 Shelburne Tap House..................................................................................36, 51 Shelburne Vineyard, Winery, and Tasting Room.........................................71 Shen Yun..................................................................................................................5 Sportstyle ............................................................................................................77 Stern Center for Learning..................................................................................15 Stella Mae.............................................................................................................21 The Automaster............................................................................................. 2, 36 The Essex Resort and Spa................................................................................29 The Optical Center.............................................................................................43 The Spot Restaurant..........................................................................................89 Timberlane Dental.............................................................................................95 Tina’s Home Design............................................................................................19 Tom Moore Builders............................................................. Inside Back Cover Total Fitness Equipment...................................................................................89 UVM Continuing Education............................................................................... 8 Vermont Handcrafted Furniture....................................................................... 9 Vermont Kitchen Design by Bouchard Pierce Candlelight......................63 Vermont Real Estate...........................................................................................81 Vermont Singing Drum.....................................................................................70 Village Wine and Coffee.............................................................................14, 36 Wake Robin..........................................................................................................45 Whim Boutique................................................................................................... 33 Willow House......................................................................................................64 Windows & Doors by Brownell.......................................................................69 For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact John or Robin Gales at (802) 558-2719 or email coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net.

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Spring 2019 | Best of Burlington | 95

LAST GLANCE

Spring is the time of plans and projects. —Leo Tolstoy

96 | www.bestofburlingtonvt.com

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