In This Issue - Fall 2018

Central Vermont best of

FALL 2018 VOLUME 6, NO. 4

COMMUNITIES AND LIFESTYLE IN THE HEART OF THE GREEN MOUNTAINS

EAST HILL FARM

THE ANCIENT ART OF DRESSAGE SET TO MUSIC

HARVEST MARKET

CATERING TO LOCAL PRODUCERS

LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS

OPENING ITS STATE OF THE ART NEW TAPROOM

www.bestofcentralvt.com 5

contents FEATURES

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VERMONT ARTISAN COFFEE & TEA

46

LAWSON’S FINEST ON TAP

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EAST HILL FARM

A COFFEE CONNOISSEUR’S DREAM COME TRUE

BY PHYL NEWBECK

DISTINCTLY VERMONT

BY MARY GOW

DANCING WITH THE EQUINE STARS

BY JAY MURRY

COVER: MONTPELIER, VERMONT. PHOTO BY SEAN PAVONE.

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BEST OF CENTRAL VERMONT | FALL 2018

DEPARTMENTS

30 11 PUBLISHERS’ NOTE 12 ONLINE HUB 14 CONTRIBUTORS 16 OCCASIONS OUT & ABOUT 18

BY CASSIE HORNER

VERMONT HOME SPOTLIGHT

24 A UNIQUE HOME S EASON’S BEST

26 VERMONT’S BEAUTY

IN THE KITCHEN

30 HARVEST MARKET

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BY JENNIFER GOSS DUBY

SPOTLIGHT

VERMONT VIEWS

36 FALL OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS 66 CRAG-VT — CLIMBERS RESOURCE ACCESS GROUP OF VERMONT

BY MARK AIKEN

CALENDAR

72 ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 79 AD INDEX 80 LAST GLANCE

Contents 8

BEST OF CENTRAL VERMONT | FALL 2018

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BEST OF

Central Vermont FALL 2018 | VOLUME 6 NO.4

COFFEE TABLE PUBLISHING 32 Hermit Thrush Lane South Burlington, VT 05403 PUBLISHERS

Robin Gales John Gales Bob Frisch CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Kristy Erickson COPY EDITOR

Elaine Ambrose ART DIRECTOR

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 Central Vermont wants to hear from our readers. Correspondence may be addressed to letters to the editor, Best of Central Vermont, 32 Hermit Thrush Lane, South Burlington, VT 05403. Advertising inquiries may be made by emailing ctpublishing@comcast.net or coffeetablepublishing@ comcast.net. Best of Central Vermont is published quarterly

by Coffee Table Publishing, LLC, ©2018. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. Best of Central Vermont accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or photographs.

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BEST OF CENTRAL VERMONT | FALL 2018

PUBLISHERS’ NOTE

ENJOY THIS SPECIAL SEASON Welcome to what some consider to be the most beautiful time of year in Central Vermont— fall! The word alone elicits visions of mums, pumpkins, hot cider, and gathering around a fire on a chilly night. There are so many things that autumn brings to Central Vermont it’s impossible to bring them all to you in one issue. But we sure tried our best!

This issue includes a look at rock climbing in Central Vermont. The commitment and work climbers put into their climbs is amazing. And the views . . . WOW! If climbing is not your thing, how about chucking a pumpkin? There’s something thrilling about catapulting a pumpkin high into the air. Don’t ask why, just go and watch the teams compete.

We also stop by Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea, a true gem to visit and savor—and perfect for a crisp fall morning. It’s not autumn without apples, and the Cabot Apple Festival is the place to enjoy the fall harvest presented in lots of delicious ways. And speaking of delicious, Harvest Market in Stowe has so many tasty options it will be impossible to choose your favorite—freshly baked bread from their wood-fired ovens, swoon-worthy bakery items, incredible prepared foods, pâtés, cheeses . . . just check it all out and thank us later!

Happy fall, everyone. Robin and I hope that you enjoy and appreciate how special this season is and the area where we celebrate it.

Cheers,

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FALL IN LOVE WITH BAKING

Stock your pantry with flour, sugar, and all the wonderful spices that come with fall baking.

See all the tips of the trade and recipes at www.bestofcentralvt.com.

BUSY SCHOOL NIGHTS

SIGN UP FOR OUR

Save time with easy and savory recipes like Turkey Sloppy Joe sliders or Red Tomato Mac and Cheese. For more great recipes visit www.bestofcentralvt.com.

eNEWSLETTER

FRIGHTFULLY FUN HALLOWEEN PARTY Make a batch of witch’s brew mocktails, caramel popcorn, and masquerade cookies! The possibilities are endless at www.bestofcentralvt.com.

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BEST OF CENTRAL VERMONT | FALL 2018

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What does our newsletter include?

• A summary of our most popular articles and comments from our readers • Local event listings from our calendar • Special offers from Best of Central Vermont and local businesses • Exclusive insights into upcoming features and articles, and much more . . .

Join the conversation online at

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Feel free to drop us a line at ryan@bestof centralvt.com, or share your comments on our site or on social media. You might even see your name in our next issue.

7

OCTO

CLICK ON our online calendar to see local events happening in our community, and you can add your own event free!

Stowe, Vermont The Body Lounge 1799 Mountain Road Red Barn Shops Stowe, VT

Commodities Natural Market 512 Mountain Road Stowe, VT

Discover, Dine, Stay & Shop

4 Points Brewery Tours rick@4pointsvt.com

(802) 253-4464 www.commoditiesnaturalmarket.com Open 7 Days

(802) 793-9246 www.4pointsvt.com

The Country Store on Main

The Bench

109 Main Street Stowe, VT

492 Mountain Road Stowe, VT

(802) 585-3699

(802) 253-7653 info@countrystorevt.com www.countrystorevt.com

(802) 253-5100 www.benchvt.com www.facebook.com/benchvt/

Stowe Kitchen Bath & Linens

Ferro Estate & Custom Jewelers

von Trapp Brewing & Bierhall

91 Main Street Stowe, VT

1333 Luce Hill Road Stowe, VT

(802) 253-3033 stowe@ferrojewelers.com www.ferrojewelers.com/stowe

(802) 253-5750 info@trappfamily.com www.trappfamily.com

(802) 253-7333 www.bodyloungevt.com

Bunya Bunya Boutique 1799 Mountain Road In the Red Barn Shops Stowe, VT

Cooking Classes 11813 Stowe Mountain Road Stowe, VT (802) 253-8050 www.stowekitchen.com

contributors MARK AIKEN is a freelance writer and trail

runner from Richmond, Vermont. When not writing, he trains with his endurance-athlete wife, Alison. Together they are engaged in the ultimate endurance sport—parenting.

JD GREEN has been a local morning radio personality in Central Vermont for almost 20 years. He enjoys spending time outdoors exploring Vermont’s mountains and camping with his family, including their two dogs.

JENNIFER GOSS DUBY is a fitness enthusiast and recovering triathlete, a lapsed lexicographer, former paraeducator, committed coffee drinker, and lifelong writer. She believes in the power of story to educate audiences and transform the self. She seeks the wild places in and around the small New Hampshire town where she resides with her husband, two kids, two guinea pigs, and a lovebird. Online she can be found at jennifergossduby.com.

JAY MURRY wears a trio of hats on any given day.

He is a published freelance writer whose previous work has been featured in Marathon & Beyond and Ultrarunning magazines; the sports play-by-play “Voice of the Bears” at Washington University in St. Louis; and a special-education paraprofessional at Fort Zumwalt West High School in O’Fallon, Missouri.

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OCCASIONS

Celebrate a Perfect Saturday in Fall THEY WON’T LAST LONG!

I

t’s not every Saturday that I wake up wondering what I’m going to do with the day. Most of the time, the day is planned well ahead. This particular Saturday was no different, except the blue sky through my skylight made me quickly switch gears.

There really is something to be said for spontaneity and impulsivity. Sometimes it can do the soul good, I thought as I passed the trash waiting to be taken to the town’s transfer station. Instead, I grabbed Badgeley’s leash and headed for my truck. She’s my three-year-old brindle boxer and rides shotgun. We were on our way to Gramp’s 16

BEST OF CENTRAL VERMONT | FALL 2018

BY JD GREEN

General Store in West Topsham for a fresh hot steak and egg bagel.

Soon after, we found ourselves on an old familiar trail. The Monroe Trail leads up the eastern slope of Camel’s Hump. At 4,083 feet above Vermont, the view from the top never gets old. And with all 140-plus miles of Lake Champlain stretched out to the west, I knew exactly where we were headed when we returned to the trailhead parking lot.

Central Vermont is a mecca for craft-brew lovers, and I needed a dog-friendly place.

There’s the Quarry in Barre, Dog River Brewery in Berlin, and Idletyme, Tap 25, and even the

new Ranch Camp, all in Stowe, but I decided to stop by Prohibition Pig Brewery right there in Waterbury. With Badgeley at my feet, I sipped on a red pale ale on the outdoor patio, planning our next adventure. Maybe a private sailboat charter across the pond to another dog-friendly establishment? With the setting sun beckoning me to the water, it was time to wake up Badgeley and push westward for some twilight stick retrieval and a nightcap at Splash in Burlington. Important to note, if you plan to bring your pup to a dog-friendly brewery, make sure he or she is a fan of other dogs or too tired to care about them. 4

OUT & ABOUT | BY CASSIE HORNER

Friends of

The Stowe Library

T

he mission of the Friends of the Stowe Library is to “foster close relations between the Stowe Free Library and the Stowe community.” The group purchases DVDs and museum/attraction passes people can check out and funds programs for children and adults. All their initiatives help enrich the library. “The Friends get things done!” says Kelley Spear, member at large, who does a lot of the publicity.

“The Friends was started in 2006 by a group of very dedicated volunteers,” says Kelley.

“People met, crafted a mission statement, became a 501(c)(3), and adopted bylaws.” One of the first projects was called Stowe Reads, inviting local readers to read from their favorite authors, along with a book sale and picnic.

Today there is an active board and many community members who volunteer. “We are always looking for interested people with new ideas to sit on the board,” Kelley adds.

The Stowe Free Library is located in what was once a high school. In 1981, it became the town library. “My parents and grandparents

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graduated from there,” says Kelley. Stowe was the first town in Vermont to receive an appropriation of money from the State Legislature for library purposes under state law in 1865. In 1866, the Stowe Free Library was founded with a donation of 51 books from a group of visiting summer artists and supplemented by a town appropriation of $100. The library moved around quite a bit before settling into the current building that is also home to the Helen Day Art Center.

The biggest fundraiser for the library is its annual book sale held in July, the proceeds from

which fund children’s and adults’ programs. A sampling of the lineup features baby/toddler story times and a program that brings in a therapy dog for kids to read aloud to.

In Our Own Backyard is a series where local artists, writers, gardeners, photographers, and others talk about what they do.

On September 20 at 7pm, join the Friends for a discussion with Vermont writer Robin MacArthur, author of Half Wild and Heart Spring Mountain. On September 27 at 7pm, garden designer and author Gordon Hayward will talk about “The Inevitable Garden.”

Far left: Stowe Free Library and Helen Day Art Center building during the Library’s sesquicentennial and 33rd Annual Book Sale (July 2017).

Left: The Friends of Stowe Free Library purchased the materials for dog and cat blankets, which were made by children and donated to North Country Animal League.

Below: Friends of the Stowe Free Library’s 34th Annual Book Sale (July 10, 2018).

The Friends work closely with librarian Cindy Weber, who makes requests at regular meetings. “We always ask her for requests about what she would like,” says Kelley. One request was to fund an update of the popular travel section of the library.

“We provide things to help bring people into the library,” adds Kelley. “We do a wide range of things to impact the library.” The Friends funded several computers for use by kids, a highdemand area. Another purchase was beautiful, comfortable chairs. The Friends also support the archiving of the Stowe Reporter.

To join the Friends or learn more about the group, visit the library or fill out an application at stowelibrary.org. The fee to join is $10 a year for an individual or $25 for a family. The telephone number is (802) 253-6145.

“It’s very exciting to have people join,” Kelley says. “As a longtime Stowe-ite, I tell everyone that joining the Friends is a great way to meet people.” www.bestofcentralvt.com 19

OUT & ABOUT

Come Chuck a Pumpkin!

P

ut on your inventor’s hat and start strategizing for the 10th annual Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival to be held on Sunday, September 30, from 11am to 4pm at the Stoweflake Mountain Resort and Spa event field in Stowe. Have fun competing as an individual or as a team for cash and other prizes and help benefit the Clarina Howard Nichols Center. There will also be live music and a chili cook-off.

At the heart of the event is the construction of a trebuchet that will enable you to chuck a pumpkin. What’s a trebuchet? Festival founder Dave Jordan describes it as “an ancient weapon of war used in medieval days to overpower a castle. It’s a gravity-powered catapult that uses a sling and a long arm to convert the energy from a slow-moving, very heavy counterweight into a very fast-moving, light projectile.” But not all trebuchets are created equal, which makes for a hotly contested competition.

Dave, who won with his trebuchet in 2016, admits to its weakness of being too light. It’s a learning process, calling on skills of “working

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with wood and steel, engineering, simulation, and math.” To date, the Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival has been won by Vermonters only twice. “I’d like to change that and get a local champion,” he challenges.

The festival has strict rules to make the contest fair for all competitors. There are four divisions based on the height and weight of the trebuchet and the age of the contestants. Trebuchets are lined up and fired one by one. The overall grand prize, “Best Design,” is awarded for the trebuchet that fires the best for its size. For instructions on how to build a trebuchet, visit thehurl.wikidot.com and other websites dedicated to trebuchets and pumpkin-chuckin’ contests.

Be warned that the competition continues to get stiffer! In the festival’s first year in 2009, the winning heavyweight division throw was 139 feet. Last year, it was 689 feet.

This year’s event will include a cornhole tournament and may also feature a medieval demo from the Society for Creative Anachronism.

For more information, visit VTPumpkinChuckin.blogspot.com.

The Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival is a great opportunity for kids and adults of all ages to build a fascinating mechanical device with their hands and engage in some friendly competition.

Below: The Brown family from Massachusetts won the heavyweight division in 2011.

www.bestofcentralvt.com 21

OUT & ABOUT

It's pies galore at the Cabot Apple Pie Festival! Visitors will also enjoy a craft show, raffle, and more at this family-friendly event.

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Cabot Apple Pie Festival

S

urely it has been said by someone of note that pie makes everything better!

Blueberry, cherry, peach, chocolate cream, or lemon meringue—everyone has at least one favorite, with apple topping the list here in New England. For almost 20 years, the Cabot Apple Pie Festival has been capitalizing on this much-loved dessert. Join the fun on Saturday, October 13 from 9am to 3pm at the Cabot School for the 19th annual festivities.

There will be hundreds of apple pies made by dozens of bakers.

The heart of the day is, of course, apple pie. Bakers are invited to enter their culinary works of art for judging. There is an entry fee for adults and one for youth bakers, and pies will also be for sale to enjoy at home later. In addition, a chili lunch will be available, plus a craft fair.

The Cabot Apple Pie Festival, started in 1999, is organized by the Cabot Historical Society and is the primary fundraiser for the group. The first year, the event was held in the foyer of the Main Street Museum. It moved several times in its early years, finally finding a long-term home in the Cabot School gymnasium.

Apple pie bakers and volunteers are always needed to help make this day a big success. For more information, visit www.cabothistory.com. www.bestofcentralvt.com 23

VERMONT HOME SPOTLIGHT

A UNIQUE HOME Blending old and new

K

athy Holmes, a founding partner of the Holmes & Eddy Real Estate Group at KW Vermont, brings us a beautiful and unique federal-style home in East Montpelier. The very definition of a modern Vermont home, it perfectly blends old and new.

The owner did most of the molding work himself, hiring local contractors to take on the bigger projects with incredible results.

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Above: The master bath is reconstructed from an old timber-frame cape. It’s finished with a heated copper tub, copper sinks, and granite masonry that took over a year to complete Left: Incredible detailed coffered ceilings in the dining area.

Below: Soaring ceilings, custom cabinetry, a soapstone sink, top-of-the-line appliances, and granite counters—a chef’s dream.

www.bestofcentralvt.com 25

SEASON’S BEST

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Vermont’s Beauty

"Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall," said F. Scott Fitzgerald, and nothing stimulates the senses and makes life feel new again quite like autumn in Vermont.

This final burst of brilliant color before the long winter is the perfect time to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty around us.

And harvest festivals, pumpkins, mums, and mulled cider only make the season sweeter.

www.bestofcentralvt.com 27

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Hot Mulled Cider in Apple Cups 1 gallon fresh apple cider 1 medium orange 1 small piece of peeled ginger root (approximately an inch long) 6 cinnamon sticks 1 Tbsp whole cloves 6 star anise pods 3 whole apples 1. Pour cider into an 8-quart stockpot and place over medium heat. Cut the orange into N-inch-thick rounds and cut the ginger into V-inch-thick slices. Add both to the stockpot. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise pods.

2. Lower the temperature, cover, and simmer until the flavors meld, about an hour.

3. While the cider simmers, cut your apples in half and hollow out to make the cups.

4. Serve warm cider in the apple cups garnished with the star anise pods and cinnamon sticks.

NOTE: Add either bourbon or rum to create a delicious warm adult beverage.

www.bestofcentralvt.com 29

IN THE KITCHEN | BY JENNIFER GOSS DUBY PHOTOS BY DANTE GUERRA, COURTESY OF HARVEST MARKET

A little taste of Europe and a generous helping of Vermont

Harvest Market of Stowe Step up on the wooden decking of the porch at Harvest Market in Stowe, Vermont, and push through the front doors of this compact European-style grocery. Take a deep breath. The aroma that welcomes you is an intricate blend of smoked ham, rich coffee, and freshly baked breads. Racks of specialty foods line the wall to the right, and two square counters dominate the central space, one a charcuterie, the other an espresso bar.

It’s like a slice of Europe—but with a hearty helping of Vermont.

HOW DAVID BEATS GOLIATH “The essence of Harvest Market is European specialty food and quality combined with American convenience,” says General Manager Madeleine, aka Maddy, Bertrand-Gerndt. But more than that, she adds, “We are a place that caters to local producers. We have local sugar, honey, and cheese makers.”

The emphasis is on quality and freshness, with Vermont food producers receiving significant representation on Harvest Market’s shelves and in its cold cases, and the store’s membership in the Vermont Fresh Network as a past proud Gold Barn Honoree, a community of food producers and purveyors committed to using Vermont grown and raised foods, is a point of pride.

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Step into Harvest Market for tastes of the Old World and the New, all under one roof.

Below: A sublime selection of local cheeses.

Maddy notes that, as larger grocery chains have integrated specialty products in their formats, it has become harder for smaller stores to remain competitive. So how does David beat Goliath? This store stays light on its toes and keeps changing and evolving with its customers’ needs and desires.

Trips to food shows in New York give Harvest Market the opportunity to offer European products not seen on New England grocery shelves. The Villa Manodori Aceto Balsamico di Modena, by renowned three-Michelin-star Italian chef Massimo Bottura, is not something shoppers are going to pick up at their local big-box supermarket. And while you can find a product labeled Prosciutto there, getting your hands on genuine Prosciutto di Parma is doable any day of the week at Harvest Market. www.bestofcentralvt.com 31

Above: Fresh herbs and tabletop accessories on the front porch.

Right: Prepared specialty foods made daily by Harvest Market’s talented chefs.

Opposite top: Dessert is served: custom cakes to order with a 48-hour notice include chocolate strawberry shortcake, layer cakes with French buttercream, and flourless chocolate tarts, to name a few.

Opposite bottom: Heirloom cherry tomatoes.

MANSFIELD BREADWORKS Legend holds that the bread offerings at Harvest Market came about when Gérard Rubaud, son of a bread baker in the French Alps (and former head of Rossignol USA), told founder Donna Carpenter that she should learn from his bread. So she did, discovering from Gérard the recipe and techniques required to create a true French bread.

But a lesser known chapter of the story is that when Maddy first took on the role of manager more than 12 years ago, Harvest Market had stopped baking bread. As a former clay artist, she took one look at the purpose-built brick beehive ovens and knew her first goal had to be to get those ovens back up and running.

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In those early days, Harvest Market was able to produce 200 units a day; a unit is one loaf of bread or a roll, hamburger bun, or grissini.

More than two decades later, the Mansfield Breadworks at Harvest Market creates product not only for its own retail sales but also for dozens of wholesale accounts, amounting to over 1,000 units every day of the year!

QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY Few customers can truly comprehend the degree of commitment required to produce this volume of hand-baked bread day in and day out. From feeding the starter to building up the fire to heat the beehive ovens, scraping out the ash

and mopping the surfaces, mixing ingredients, proofing and rising the dough, and finally baking and cooling the products, making quality breads is a 24-hour-a-day marathon. Bakers and pastry chefs arrive to begin their workday at two or three in the morning. It requires a dedicated team of employees in all departments, which Harvest customers have truly come to appreciate.

In two decades of these ’round the clock efforts, manager Maddy can recall only one day when the bread didn’t get made. Vermont was hit with a Valentine’s Day snowstorm a decade ago that brought 30 inches and more to many parts of the state, along with driving winds that kept everyone but the plow guys home. www.bestofcentralvt.com 33

Above: Harvest Market proudly serves Vermont Artisan Coffee.

Staff members attended barista training at Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea in Waterbury this past spring.

Everyone, that is, except Maddy, who shoveled her driveway multiple times in the dead of night to be able to venture out and check on the store. As the only grocery store open, she provided free coffee to the drivers who had been behind the wheel clearing roads for days.

EVERYTHING FOR A SPECIAL MEAL Harvest Market’s dedication to quality and freshness is evident in the ingredients they use. Everything is made from scratch. There are no premade doughs, toppings, or sauces.

There’s even a grain mill where they crack their own wheat, rye, and spelt.

They are as committed to green practices as they are to freshness. They partner with Grow Compost of Vermont to divert food scraps from landfills. In 2017, almost 30,000 pounds of food scraps were kept out of landfills with a Food Recovery Challenge Achievement Certificate from the New England division of the US Environmental Protection Agency as a result of these efforts. In addition, Harvest Market’s takeout containers and utensils are compostable.

And hot on the heels of the recent disposable straw ban, they offer compostable straws and feature reusable glass straws for sale.

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As the holidays approach, Harvest Market will be gearing up to be ready for their busiest season of the year. As purveyors of gourmet prepared food, the store is perfectly positioned to help customers celebrate by providing the fixings and sides that make a special occasion, Thanksgiving, or holiday meal special—everything from soups and appetizers to vegetables, salads, and stuffing, and, of course, bread. Finish the feast with one of the freshly baked pies Harvest Market is famous for. All is perfection. 4

HARVEST MARKET 1031 Mountain Road Stowe, VT (802) 253-3800 www.harvestatstowe.com Instagram: harvest_market_stowe

ONLINE EXTRA For information on Vermont Fresh Network and Dig In Vermont, which feature local producers and events, go to www.bestofcentralvt.com. www.bestofcentralvt.com 35

SPOTLIGHT

fall outdoor essentials Lightweight Alternative Apparel long-sleeve Henley and a pair of 7 For All Mankind slim straight dark-wash jeans. Stylish white canvas Superga sneakers. Find them all at Ecco Clothes. www.eccoclothesboutique.com

SMITH VENTURE HELMET (MEN’S) The new Venture blends style and function in one helmet. Smith has added protection by extending coverage farther down the back of the head. This helmet is adjustable, and you can fit a layer under it for cold-weather riding.

In summer heat, Smith’s VaporFit keeps you cool and comfortable. www.onionriver.com

SPECIALIZED FATBOY The Fatboy brings the fun, no matter what conditions you encounter. On sand, snow, and single track, you’ll feel confident and in control. With a tire clearance of up to five inches, the Fatboy offers unparalleled traction, flotation, and grip while maintaining climbing ability and efficiency. www.onionriver.com

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SALSA MUKLUK Among the most versatile fat bikes, the Mukluk offers superior flotation on soft surfaces and traction on firm trails. Whether you’re riding on single track or a wideopen frozen road, the Mukluk serves up everything you’re looking for in a fat bike. www.onionriver.com

Delicate Bella Dahl plaid button-down blouse, and a pair of light-wash straight leg cropped jeans from Mother Denim with distressing on the legs and hem.

Comfortable white canvas Superga sneakers. www.eccoclothesboutique.com

SPECIALIZED TACTIC III HELMET (WOMEN’S) No matter the season, it’s important to have a helmet that is as comfortable when you’re pedaling all-out uphill as it is when you’re winding down a smooth descent. The Tactic III gives you outstanding protection while staying lightweight and comfortable, even when you add a hat under it for winter warmth. www.onionriver.com

www.bestofcentralvt.com 37

BY PHYL NEWBECK PHOTOS COURTESY OF VERMONT ARTISAN COFFEE & TEA

VERMONT

Artisan Coffee & Tea

PHOTO BY JOSEPH ARCHITECTS AND TOPKAT PHOTOGRAPHY

A COFFEE CONNOISSEUR’S DREAM COME TRUE

TROPICAL STORM IRENE PRESENTED MANÉ ALVES of Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea with a dilemma: He could rebuild his factory, which would require him to elevate all his machinery out of the floodplain, or he could look for a new location. He chose the latter option and selected a spot on Cabin Lane Road off Route 100, next to the Green Mountain Club’s visitor center.

The new location gave him the opportunity to open a café where he could not only sell his coffees and teas but also allow visitors a glimpse into the coffeemaking process. The European-style coffee bar is open weekdays from 7am to 5:30pm and on weekends from 8am to 5:30pm.

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Above: A young visitor enjoys the Children’s Room.

Left: Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, celebrates the Fourth of July.

Below: Say hello to Tucker at Bear Pond Books in Stowe.

The three-year-old French Bulldog is the store’s mascot and official greeter. He does not work on the weekends but poses for pictures daily.

www.bestofcentralvt.com 39

Right: Coffee bar manager Maxwell Duquette.

Bottom right: Ten percent of Vermont Artisan’s business is packing and selling premium teas.

Below: Green coffee beans are cleaned by a vacuum system and directed to silos for storage.

COFFEE LAB INTERNATIONAL Born in Portugal, Mané’s background is in the wine industry. He moved to Vermont from California after marrying his wife Holly and in 1995 founded Coffee Lab International.

Mané would like people to view coffee the same way they see wine, and the café allows him the opportunity to facilitate that process.

He believes people are starting to develop more sophisticated palates for this country’s favorite beverage, and he hopes consumers 40

BEST OF CENTRAL VERMONT | FALL 2018

PHOTO BY JOSEPH ARCHITECTS AND TOPKAT PHOTOGRAPHY

will learn to order coffee based on its country of origin or varietal.

“We have some really expensive coffees that would be impossible to sell by the pound,” he says. “We roast them in small batches, and people experience them by the cup. The coffee is brewed in front of you, and the baristas explain where it came from and the process.”

Those visiting the café also have the opportunity to walk through the building and see how coffee is made. Those “factory” tours have become a very popular part of the business.

Mané’s Coffee Lab International was the first laboratory to be certified by the Specialty Coffee Association. At his initial location, he

taught a course on coffee tasting (referred to as the Q course), but at the new location, students can also learn roasting, cupping, brewing, and how to become a barista, with different teachers providing instruction over the course of several days. For more casual customers who want to spend time learning about the process, classes ranging from two to three hours are available on weekends.

RESPECT FOR FARMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT The café offers a variety of coffees and teas as well as Caff Draft, a coffee drink infused with nitrogen; it looks like a black beer and is very www.bestofcentralvt.com 41

Right: The café sells whole beans roasted fresh daily from bulk bins as well as retail bags to take home.

Below right: Green coffee beans from all over the world come to Vermont in stamped burlap bags from source countries.

Below: Founder and “coffeepreneur” Mané Alves.

popular in the summer. Initially Mané hoped to have a baker on the premises, but he has been purchasing pastries from others and just rented out the area designated for the baker to Whistle Pig for their tasting room. He’s hoping to add a new line of coffees infused with alcohol to sell at the café, but that plan is on hold while he pursues licensing. Another very popular item is an espresso-based drink, and Mané says he has had to educate customers that espresso is a method of extraction, not a roast level.

Mané buys his coffee directly from farmers, and every few years he visits the coffee producers so he can talk with them directly. He purchases beans from countries in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea currently offers between 15 and 20 different varieties. Because he purchases from across the globe, the coffees are always fresh and the beans harvested at their peak.

Mané says the café goes through between 250 and 300 bags of coffee a week with tourist season in the summer being the busiest time.

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He would prefer not to sell retail because traditional 10-ounce coffee bags are not environmentally friendly. At the café, people often buy in bulk, so he can put the coffee in paper bags, something that can’t be done at retail locations. Mané is hoping that a compostable coffee bag will be developed, and if so, he’ll happily make the switch. That environmental ethos extends to the new building, which receives 98 percent of its power from the sun and includes solar carports. It’s heated by wood pellets, also locally sourced.

Twenty to twenty-two people work at the Waterbury facility, with six or seven at the café and the rest doing production or office work.

The two separate businesses work well together.

Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea is the umbrella for production and the café, while the Coffee Lab and the school are a separate and distinct part of the company. “For the outsider, it may look complicated,” Mané says, “but everything is working well together.”

Mané truly enjoys teaching people about the coffee-roasting process, including leading impromptu tours of the facility. “We explain the different variables that are important for getting the best coffee,” he says. “You start by analyzing the water, rectifying it if necessary, www.bestofcentralvt.com 43

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Left: One of the many original pieces of artwork onsite depicting life on a coffee farm in Brazil.

Below: A red Probat 5-kilo roaster roasts smaller batches and microlots.

and then preparing our recipe for the coffee.

There are small steps that make a lot of difference down the road.”

At a recent roasting class, Mané taught some people who were talking about opening their own roastery, but that doesn’t bother him at all. “If I can’t compete against people I’m teaching, I shouldn’t be in business,” he says.

“That’s a healthy way to keep yourself on your toes and walk the walk.” We’ll raise our coffee mugs to that! 4

VERMONT ARTISAN COFFEE & TEA 11 Cabin Lane (off Route 100) Waterbury Center, VT (802) 244-8338 www.vtartisan.com www.bestofcentralvt.com 45

BY MARY GOW PHOTOS COURTESY OF LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS PHOTOS COUR-

The Lawson’s Finest Liquids Taproom looks north and will feature communal picnic table seating and light fare in a stunning, locally made handhewn timber frame building .

Opposite: Sean Lawson with Sip of Sunshine IPA on the canning line.

PHOTO BY JOSEPH ARCHITECTS AND TOPKAT PHOTOGRAPHY

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The Thursday morning lines outside the Warren Store were legendary. Fans of Lawson’s Finest Liquids knew that was delivery day and made the trek—some hundreds of miles—to be there for new brews, fresh from the small craft brewery at Sean and Karen Lawson’s home in Warren. If they weren’t there early, they’d probably be out of luck, as the small batches sold out quickly. The day those fans and ever-growing numbers of beer lovers have waited for is almost here.

DISTINCTLY VERMONT

Lawson’s Finest on Tap

L

awson’s Finest Liquids, a leader among Vermont’s craft beers, opens its spectacular new state of the art brewery this autumn.

The brewery, just off Route 100 in Waitsfield, is accompanied by a gorgeous lodge-like post and beam taproom with a retail store and beer garden.

Sip of Sunshine, Chinooker’d IPA, Fayston Maple Imperial Stout, and other Lawson’s Finest favorites as well as new and seasonal brews will be available both in the taproom and to take home.

www.bestofcentralvt.com 47

Above: Lawson’s Finest staff in July 2018.

Right: Sean, Karen, Ava, and Jade Lawson enjoy the Lake Champlain sunset.

A NEW ERA It’s a craft beer destination, deeply tied to its Mad River Valley community and existing fans but also an attraction for visitors. In addition to beer, other beverages including wine, cider, and nonalcoholic options are served in the taproom as are small tasting plates. The ample beer garden extends the season with outdoor gas firepits and features the ever-popular cornhole game. Very family friendly, there’s a 48

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kids’ area well equipped with games. A viewing section in the brewery brings aficionados and interested locals and tourists up close to beer-making and packaging.

“Much of our history has been beer available in limited quantities. Fans have really flocked when there is a delivery or a release in order to get it before it’s gone. Our hope is that there is enough to go around, so folks don’t feel like they’re going to miss out,” says Karen Lawson, standing in the taproom, an airy welcoming space whose design and Vermont materials and craftsmanship are the perfect complement to great Vermont beers. Twelve varieties of Lawson’s Finest will be on tap, and coolers will be well stocked for retail beer sales.

With the new brewery and taproom, Lawson’s Finest enters a new era, expanding production and getting more of its coveted beer to customers and also building vitality with beer tourism in its hometown. “When Karen and I launched this business in 2008, we had big dreams of what might happen, but we never had any idea that it would turn into a phenomenon. It has gained a life of its own,” said Sean Lawson at the groundbreaking last year. www.bestofcentralvt.com 49

Clockwise from right: Lawson’s Finest Liquids Taproom features a handmade walnut bar and gas fireplace with a kids’ play area adjacent to the Retail Store. Lawson’s Finest highly sought-after IPA lineup brewed at the original Warren brewery.

A company sticker showcases the immediately recognizable sunshine logo. Lawson’s Finest flagship beers Sip of Sunshine and Super Session.

Opposite: Sean serves thirsty fans at a local beer festival.

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A VISION FOR SUCCESS Sean dabbled in home brewing while in college and kept it up after graduating as he developed and led the naturalist program at Mad River Glen. Sean and Karen made the leap to Lawson’s Finest Liquids as a small batch brewery in 2008. Their home nano brewery at first had tiny capacity—one barrel, equaling 31 gallons. Sean packed a lot of flavor into those tiny batches, and awards and fans came fast. In 2011, Lawson’s Finest expanded to seven-barrel capacity housed in a small sugarhouse-style outbuilding at their home. That year, their Triple Play IPA won the National IPA Championship.

In 2014, Lawson’s Finest added an alternating proprietorship arrangement with Two Roads Brewing in Connecticut. Sip of Sunshine and the Super Session series are brewed there and are now available in cans and draft in seven northeastern states. Sip of Sunshine, in its distinctive yellow can, is likened to a “tropical vacation in a glass.”

A versatile brew master, Sean has created defining flavors in a variety of styles. His dozens of small-batch beers include maple stouts, wheat ale, bitters, and more. The once-a-year Maple Tripple is brewed with local maple syrup and only in sugaring season. Red Spruce www.bestofcentralvt.com 51

Left: The original Warren brewery, which operates a seven-barrel brewhouse and will function as the “wizard’s workshop” for new and small-batch recipes.

Right: Fans can’t get enough of the popular Sip of Sunshine IPA, which is now sold in seven northeastern states.

Opposite: Sean proudly stands atop the new state-of-the-art GEA 40 hectoliter brewhouse, which will be showcased at the Lawson’s Finest Waitsfield brewery opening this autumn.

Bitter is a light and zesty holiday ale. A recent release, Hopzilla Double IPA, is “a brawny dryhopped ale” brewed with four kinds of hops.

“We always knew we wanted to grow with a public taproom, retail store, and brewery,” explains Karen, noting that their top priority is their family and raising their two daughters.

With the girls well along in school, the time was 52

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www.bestofcentralvt.com 53

Right: Double Sunshine, the original double IPA that skyrocketed Lawson’s Finest Liquids into beer stardom.

Double Sunshine IPA will be brewed and packaged at the new Waitsfield facility.

Bottom: Sean enjoys one of his beers with Lawson’s many fans.

finally right. With a decade of Lawson’s Finest experience, Sean and Karen also had a clear vision for the facility.

A FAMILY DESTINATION With immense stainless fermenting towers and tanks, a German 40-hectalitre (34-barrel) system, the brewery is state of the art. Favorite Lawson’s Finest recipes have been scaled up for production there. From a viewing area, visitors learn about and see and smell beer in process.

The taproom and store, in a separate building, have the ambience of a mountain lodge. A big fieldstone fireplace with comfortable seating sets the tone. Nearby is a nook with children’s activities—a chalkboard, wooden games, foosball, even vintage arcade games. Being family friendly is a priority here.

The taproom is a distinctly Vermont space.

Beams are Vermont hemlock. Created by local craftsmen, the bar top is rich black walnut.

Antique Verde serpentine quarried down the road in Rochester is used in panels and the drink rail, complementing the texture and palette of the spacious room’s wood surfaces. The Lawsons worked with Conant Metal and Light and Simon Pearce on lighting, even creating their own glass globes for one fixture.

The taproom and beer garden offer a variety of seating, including expansive picnic tables “similar to Germany’s Oktoberfest,” says Karen.

The menu is intended for snacking rather than meals. There are many good restaurants nearby, and part of the Lawsons’ vision is that people will take advantage of connectivity offered by the Mad River Path and walk to those, the movie theater, the farmers’ market, and other local spots.

“We take our role in the community seriously,” says Karen. “This is our hometown, and we couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.” 4

LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS 155 Carroll Road Waitsfield, VT (802) 496-HOPS www.lawsonsfinest.com 54

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www.bestofcentralvt.com 55

Dancing EQUINE STARS

BY JAY MURRY

with the

8

Bringing new vibrancy to the ancient art of dressage

8

Without TV’s Dancing with the Stars, ballroom dancing would likely have as much contemporary cultural relevance as the wall-mounted dial telephone, cord and all. Like making calls on that Smithsonian relic, tethered to it by the curly cord, our notions of ballroom dancing were tied to the occasional Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie on Turner Classic Movies.

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Ruth rides Madame Noir. Photo by Meg Maguire.

www.bestofcentralvt.com 57

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Left: The “nursery” pasture. A room with a view.

Botttom: An afternoon at East Hill Farm.

Photo by Emilie Goddard.

That all changed with ABC’s DWTS. Now, it’s cool to take ballroom-dancing classes at the local community college and elsewhere. And devotees of the show strive to replicate the steps mastered by the professional dancers and their celebrity partners in pursuit of winning their own glitter ball trophy.

The art of dressage faced a similar fate not too long ago. Dressage is described as ballet or ice dancing for horses, and its roots stretch from Ancient Greece through the Renaissance and beyond the twentieth century. Even with that rich history (which includes becoming an Olympic sport in 1912), dressage needed a different approach in the 1980s to bring new energy and participation to the sport. The renaissance for dressage took root in places like Plainfield, Vermont, where Ruth HoganPoulsen broke ground in musical freestyle dressage at East Hill Farm.

INCUBATING THE DRESSAGE RENAISSANCE East Hill Farm came into being in 1975, when the families of Con and Jeannette Hogan and Kathie and Bill Moulton created a place to develop horsemanship skills. Other boarders brought their horses, and 18 stalls were created to start the fledgling operation.

East Hill Farm now has more than 40 stalls, a dressage arena, and attracts riders from the US and Canada. Riders from the very young to adults train at East Hill, including individuals with special needs who train and compete with their peers. It’s the perfect place for an avid rider to become highly decorated and to become an innovator in a sporting discipline that dates back to antiquity. Ruth HoganPoulsen became both.

DECORATED RIDER, CHOREOGRAPHER, PIONEER In her 20s, Ruth narrowed her focus to dressage with great success. She has competed in the US and overseas at the Grand Prix level, the highest competitive level of dressage.

Among her many honors, she has earned US Dressage Federation Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals, along with the Freestyle Gold Bar. Ruth is a four-star rider in USDF Centerline scores, a very high level of versatile dressage achievement. She also qualified to compete in www.bestofcentralvt.com 59

Right: Ruth and her assistant trainer Julie McKean with Larks Home Run. Photo by Meg Maguire.

Bottom right: Ruth competes on Excelsior.

Photo by Obe Lisai.

Bottom left: The dressage arena.

Photo by East Hill Farm.

Below: Always a team effort. Photo by East Hill Farm.

Opposite: Ruth and Nebrijo inspect the new fence.

Photo by East Hill Farm.

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the 1996 US Olympic Trials. She then became one of the top musical freestyle dressage trainers and choreographers in the country. Her riders and horses have won USDF Regional and Reserve National Championships at the Grand Prix level.

Ruth is also head coach and choreographer for Team International at the Challenge of Americas (COTA) Quadrille Freestyle Benefit for breast cancer research. And she’s a record producer—her Riding with Soul CDs help riders and trainers choose the right music for their horses, whether for competition or pleasure.

Ruth politely bristles at the term “pioneer,” preferring “unique” instead. Since no one has replicated her resume, let’s call her a “unique pioneer.”

MUSICAL FREESTYLE DRESSAGE “When I’m competing, it feels like I’m dancing with my horse. And that is a really amazing feeling,” she says. As a trainer/choreographer, Ruth and her rider first discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the horse, and especially the horse’s emotional spirit, before music is selected.

“If I’m on a really excitable horse, then I play softer, quieter, soothing music. If I have a www.bestofcentralvt.com 61

student who is riding a lazy horse, I’m going to put on really peppy, energetic music. It’s remarkable what that does for the horse and the rider.”

Regarding the genres of music used, almost anything goes. Like humans, Ruth says horses have different needs and likes. She resorted to 62

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Scottish bagpipe music with one fretful horse named Soul Believer when he continually responded to it by stepping to its rhythm.

That made Ruth a believer in the power of music and how it could revolutionize the sport of dressage.

Contemporary pop and rock music are included in Ruth’s menu of music choreography. In her Team International’s performance in the Challenge of the Americas in March 2014, she incorporated slices of songs from Aerosmith, Lady Gaga,

Above: Ruth and Madame share some stretching time. Photo by Meg Maguire.

Left: Morning haze at East Hill Farm.

Photo by Emilie Goddard.

Opposite: Home-bred filly Coriander.

Photo by East Hill Farm.

www.bestofcentralvt.com 63

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Left: Winter beauty at East Hill Farm. Photo by Emilie Goddard.

Bottom left: Julie on Homer. Photo by East Hill Farm.

Bottom right: Some of Team Poulsen’s successes.

Photo by East Hill Farm.

Sara Bareilles, Katy Perry, and “A Great Big World” with Christina Aguilera.

Sometimes, it takes sifting through hundreds of songs over several months to find the right piece for both rider and horse. Ruth says the payoff is worth it when the music clicks with horse and rider alike. “The presence of the horse gets larger. . . . The confidence of the rider gets bigger, and the right piece of music can elevate a horse’s gait in a more dynamic way,” she explains.

Given Ruth’s success, it’s not far-fetched to think that she could be a successful choreographer on Dancing with the Stars, to the delight of judges Len Goodman, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Bruno Tonioli.

BEST PRIZE OF ALL Ruth appreciates the accolades that have come from developing musical freestyle dressage into a uniquely entertaining form of horsemanship.

However, she is most proud of how the young riders have progressed toward adulthood while at East Hill Farm.

“I have had so many ladies—and some boys—who have grown up at the Farm and have just developed and turned into the most marvelous human beings and people,” she says. Now, that’s a priceless glitter ball trophy to win. 4

EAST HILL FARM 540 Gonyeau Road Plainfield, VT (802) 479-9258 www.easthillfarm.org

ONLINE EXTRA To watch a video of horses and riders dancing to music, go to www.bestofcentralvt.com, where you’ll also find information on horse organizations, clubs, and events.

www.bestofcentralvt.com 65

VERMONT VIE WS | BY MARK AIKEN PHOTOS COURTESY OF CR AG-V T

CRAG-VT Protecting local climbing resources

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Greg Kuchyt installs a modern mechanical expansion bolt at Wheeler Mountain.

Photo by Dan Pinto.

Below: Greg installs a “glue-in” bolt at Smugglers’ Notch. Photo by Travis Peckham.

I

f you love something, be ready to protect it. Vermonters know not to take this state’s natural beauty and environmental heritage for granted. And those who love to climb its rocks have a particularly poignant understanding of this concept because Vermont rock climbers have experienced loss—loss of access, that is. The nonprofit CRAG-VT (Climbing Resource Access Group of Vermont) has 200 members and exists to protect access to local climbing areas.

“We are a climbing advocacy group,” says electrical engineer Seth Maciejowski, president of CRAG-VT from 2011 to 2017 and current vice president. “We try to ensure access; we work on stewardship; and we push out and educate about climbing ethics.”

The organization also works with the State of Vermont to protect, regulate, and control climbing on state lands. “The goals of the state are in line with the goals of climbers,” says Seth—a good thing considering many classic Vermont climbing areas like Smugglers’ Notch and Marshfield Ledge are located on state lands.

While similar to other advocacy groups like the Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA) or the Catamount Trail Association, CRAG-VT will always be unique because of the pursuit it represents. “Climbing requires more education than, say, hiking or canoeing,” says Andrea Charest, treasurer of CRAG-VT and co-owner of Burlington’s Petra Cliffs Climbing Center. “Once you’re on the rope, it’s just you, the rock, and your abilities.” www.bestofcentralvt.com 67

Right: Emma Millar on the Rose at Upper West Bolton. Photo by Greg Kuchyt.

Below: Andrea Charest on the Rose in Upper West Bolton. Photo by David Crothers Imagery, courtesy of Petra Cliffs.

Opposite top: A modern rock-climbing-specific, stainless-steel “glue-in” bolt.

Opposite bottom: A bolt that will be removed and replaced with the type shown in the photo above. Note the corrosion indicating a slow degradation of this bolt. Photos by Greg Kuchyt, courtesy of Vermont Anchor Replacement.

A NEW (OLD) CLIMBING AREA Bolton Dome, formerly known as Trailer Park Crag, was a favorite climbing area across central and northern Vermont in the 1970s and ’80s— before the establishment of CRAG-VT (and long before climbing became a more mainstream activity). However, climbers soon clashed with property owners who complained of rowdy behavior at the site and loud voices after dark.

Eventually, the owners closed the site to visitors.

CRAG-VT formed in 2002 in order to acquire another beloved climbing area, Lower West Bolton, whose access had fallen into uncertainty. Since then, the organization has added three properties to its portfolio (Upper West Bolton, Bolton Quarry, and Carcass Crag) and has partnered with landowners and groups to ensure access to several more (Bone Mountain, Camel’s Hump State Park, Lone 68

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Rock Point, among others).

Last spring when the Parker family, owners of the Bolton Dome property, decided to move, they reached out to CRAG-VT first. How did climbers manage to get back in the Parkers’ good graces? Through persistence, respect, and just being nice, says Seth, but mostly through the efforts of Dr. Richard Katzman of Waterbury. “He’s friendly, very chill, and of course, respectful,” says Seth of Dick. “Over the years, he continued to call on the landowner, and they developed a rapport.”

When Mary Parker called him, Dick arranged for an appraisal of the property out of his own pocket; the tract with the Parkers’ house was worth $350,000—significantly more than CRAG-VT raised to purchase the other four properties combined.

THE BIGGEST ACQUISITION YET The figure was completely out of the question, but Seth still reached out to contacts at the Access Fund, a national advocacy group dedicated to protecting climbing and climbing

areas. He was surprised when they told him about a loan program. The plan was that CRAG-VT would get a loan from the Access Fund to purchase the entire property, including the house that sat on the land. It would subdivide the plot, establish a right of way for climbers to access the cliffs, and build a parking lot. CRAG-VT would sell the house and the non-climbing acreage, pay back the loan, and fundraise to cover the difference. Easy, right?

Seth was skeptical. And nervous. “What if we couldn’t sell the house?” he wondered. “I www.bestofcentralvt.com 69

Right: Vermont climbing guidebook author Travis Peckham enjoys spring sunshine on Year of the Dog at the 82 Wall. Photo by Greg Kuchyt.

Opposite: Greg at work at Wheeler Mountain.

Photo by Dan Pinto.

worried we’d never be able to pay them back.”

Every aspect of the project has cost twice as much—and taken twice as long—as originally planned. However, the house has been sold, and the project is moving forward slowly. In fact, were it not for a critically timed anonymous donation, the deal would have been off.

“They saved the project,” says Seth of the anonymous donors. It should be noted that CRAG-VT gets all its income through memberships and dedicated fundraising drives, usually surrounding acquisition projects like Bolton Dome.

Meanwhile, climbers are accustomed to being patient, methodical, and persistent.

“Climbing is an independent activity,” says Andrea. “On the rock, the only thing to do is focus on the next move.” CRAG-VT is forging ahead and depending on patience. “Hopefully, this fall we’ll be ready,” says Seth.

SWEATING THE DETAILS Nonclimbers as well as many climbers might not realize how complicated CRAG-VT’s job is, or that it consists of volunteers. Take bolting, for example. Many climbing routes depend on permanent bolts, similar to those used for anchoring concrete, to protect climbers on the way up and as anchors at the top of routes.

“There is no legal precedent for who is liable for bolts,” explains Seth. “We can’t be responsible for placing bolts, so we don’t.” Bolts are placed by climbers, but for safety reasons, any climbing group would want to ensure proper and safe bolt placement.

Enter Greg Kuchyt, a systems administrator at UVM and a member of CRAG-VT. Knowing that bolts can degrade over time, he became interested in replacing them. “He’s super methodical and super motivated,” says Seth. But construction bolts, in addition to the tools required for removal and replacement, are also super expensive. Greg launched a website called VTBoltReplace.com and set about inspecting and updating bolts at popular climbing areas one bolt at a time.

Picture Greg, suspended by ropes 100 or more feet off the ground, power (or hand) tools 70

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hanging from his harness, carefully removing and replacing bolts that will protect climbers’ lives for decades. CRAG-VT can neither sponsor nor assist Greg, outside of helping him get grant money for bolts.

“There’s a lot to it,” says Greg. In addition to the legal challenges, there’s knowing which bolt to use in which situation. Some bolts require glue; others are mechanical expansion bolts. “And working in the vertical environment presents some challenges,” he adds in an understatement. And where did Greg, who is one of a group of individuals around the country who are doing this work, learn the numerous skills needed for this project? “Judicious self-education,” he says. He has replaced 360 bolts to date.

The ledges, cliffs, and mountains of Vermont are beautiful to anyone, but they are particularly special to rock climbers. Like the sport itself, protection and preservation of these areas can be complicated and snail-paced. But CRAG-VT, Vermont’s advocate for climbing, is up to the task. “Climbing takes you to different places, geographically and emotionally,” says Andrea.

“It is a slow-moving way to appreciate nature.”

For more information, visit CRAG-VT at cragvt.org, the Vermont Anchor Replace Project at vtboltreplace.org, and Access Fund at accessfund.org. 4 www.bestofcentralvt.com 71

FALL 2018 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

SPRUCE PEAK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Jason Bishop Magic and Illusion

Roseanne Cash

Arlo Guthrie

Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center 122 Hourglass Drive Stowe, VT www.sprucepeakarts.org

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mad marathon

Vermont Philharmonic

Jia Kim

SEPTEMBER 22 at 2PM and 7PM Mountainfilm on Tour

OCTOBER 6

Jason Bishop Magic and Illusion

OCTOBER 10 at 7PM

Arlo Guthrie: Alice’s Restaurant – Back by Popular Demand Tour

OCTOBER 20 at 7PM

Vermont Philharmonic Opera Concert

OCTOBER 27 at 7PM

Spruce Peak Chamber Music Society presents an Intimate Concert with David Kaplan, Jia Kim & Siwoo Kim

OCTOBER 28 at 5PM

Spooky Silents: A Silent Film Halloween with the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra

NOVEMBER 2 at 10AM

Radio Jarocho & Zenen Zeferino

NOVEMBER 3–4 at 8PM SAT; 2PM SUN

NOVEMBER 23 at 3PM and 7PM

NOVEMBER 18 at 7PM

DECEMBER 15 at 7PM

Miss VT USA 2019 & Miss Teen VT USA

The Last Waltz Live, 2nd Annual First Responders Night

Shimmer Cirque

Reduced Shakespeare Company: The Ultimate Christmas Show! www.bestofcentralvt.com 73

FALL 2018 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

SHELBURNE MUSEUM SEPTEMBER 15–JANUARY 13 Exhibit: New England Now

New England Now

SEPTEMBER 29

Monet the Master 11am

OCTOBER 6

Bird of the Day 11am

OCTOBER 13

Pumpkin Patch 11am

OCTOBER 20

Horse of the Plains (Come Play Cowboy!)

11am

THROUGH OCTOBER 31 Dorset House

NOVEMBER 3 Falling Leaves 11am

NOVEMBER 10

Mapping It Out (Learn Cartography!)

11am

NOVEMBER 17

DECEMBER 8

Wacky Wreaths (Make One!) 11am

DECEMBER 15

Falling Snow (Cut a Perfect Snowflake) 11am

Sailing Away (Collage) 11am

NOVEMBER 24

Dorset House

Reflections (Watercolor Painting) 11am

DECEMBER 1

Printed Presents (Make a Hand-Painted Box) 11am

DECEMBER 2

Spinning into the Holidays (Make a Spinning Top) 11am

Shelburne Museum 6000 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT www.shelburnemuseum.org

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Playing Cowboy

FALL 2018 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

STUDIO PLACE ARTS SEPTEMBER 18–NOVEMBER 3 Exhibit: Rock Solid XVIII

Since 2000, this annual stone sculpture exhibit has showcased stone sculptures and assemblages by area artists.

Reception: September 21, 5:30pm Main Floor Gallery

SEPTEMBER 18–NOVEMBER 3

Exhibit: Finding the Quiet by Linda Finkelstein Works in rust, eucalyptus, and indigo.

Second Floor Gallery

SEPTEMBER 18–NOVEMBER 3 Exhibit: Tension

Site-specific installation art of sociocultural and environmental datascapes by Tuyen Nguyen and Misook Park.

Reception: September 21, 5:30pm Third Floor Gallery

Studio Place Arts 201 North Main Street Barre, VT www.studioplacearts.com

BARRE OPERA HOUSE

Juston McKinney

SEPTEMBER 27 at 8PM The Naked Magicians

OCTOBER 5 at 8PM

Comedian Juston McKinney

OCTOBER 19 at 8PM

Tusk, a Fleetwood Mac Tribute (Celebration Series)

OCTOBER 25

Black Violin (Celebration Series)

OCTOBER 27 at 7:30PM Session Americana

Barre Opera House 6 North Main Street Barre, VT barreoperahouse.org

NOVEMBER 9 at 8PM

The TNT Tour: Tinsley Ellis & Tommy Castro & The Painkillers (Celebration Series)

NOVEMBER 10 at 7:30PM Medium Lauren Rainbow

DECEMBER 8 at 7PM

The Gibson Brothers – A North Country Christmas 76

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VERMONT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SEPTEMBER 22, OCTOBER 27 Masterworks – Burlington

Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30pm

OCTOBER 19

ArtsRiot & VSO Present Jukebox ArtsRiot, 1, 6:30pm; 19, 7:30pm

OCTOBER 28

Haunted Horns: A VSO Brass Quintet Family Halloween Concert Waterbury Congregational Church, 2pm

OCTOBER 28

The True Story of Peter & the Wolf: A VSO Woodwind Quintet Family Halloween Concert United Christian Academy, 3:30pm

DECEMBER 14 Holiday Pops

Barre Opera House, 7:30pm

DECEMBER 15 Holiday Pops

Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30pm

MADE IN VERMONT STATEWIDE TOUR

The VSO’s 84th season opens with VSO Music Director Jaime Laredo leading the VSO in an intensely beautiful work by George Walker, the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. The legendary Peter Serkin performs Béla Bartók’s third piano concerto, his final composition that was widely regarded as one of his masterpieces. Brahms’ beloved fourth symphony will send you out singing!

SEPTEMBER 27

Castleton University Fine Arts Center, 7pm

SEPTEMBER 28

Latchis Theater, 7:30pm

SEPTEMBER 29

Chandler Music Hall, 7:30pm

SEPTEMBER 30

Haskell Free Library & Opera House, 4pm

OCTOBER 6

Mehaney Center for the Arts, 7:30pm

OCTOBER 7

Highland Center for the Arts, 3pm Visit www.vso.org or call (800) VSO-9293 ext. 10 for additional information. www.bestofcentralvt.com 77

FALL 2018 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

OTHER EVENTS SEPTEMBER 21–NOVEMBER 3

Exhibit: Familiars: Valerie Hammond and Kiki Smith Opening reception: September 21, 5–7pm Helen Day Art Center

THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16 Becoming Dr. Ruth Mad River Playhouse

SEPTEMBER 22

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest

Trapp Family Lodge, 11:30am–9pm

OCTOBER 4–21

OCTOBER 13

DECEMBER 7

Mad River Playhouse 2 & 7:30pm

Cabot School Gym

Montpelier Art Walk showcases works of Central Vermont artists at multiple locations.

Downtown Montpelier

Disappearances

OCTOBER 6

Community Day Lincoln Peak Village

OCTOBER 13

Cabot Fall Foliage Festival

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BEST OF CENTRAL VERMONT | FALL 2018

Cabot Apple Pie Festival

OCTOBER 7

Sugarbush Mad Dash Meadow Road, Waitsfield, 10am

OCTOBER 7 Oktoberfest

Lincoln Peak Courtyard, 12–5pm

Montpelier Alive Art Walk

best of

Central Vermont ADVERTISERS INDEX

For more information about print and online advertising opportunities, contact John or Robin Gales at (802) 558-2719 or email coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net.

4 Points Vermont....................................................................................................................................................................................13 Aaron Flint Builders...............................................................................................................................................................................19 alla vita.....................................................................................................................................................................................................53 Ann Roche Casual Furniture...............................................................................................................................................................43 ArborTrek.................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Artisans’ Gallery....................................................................................................................................................................................29 Artisans Hand........................................................................................................................................................................................53 Bare Medical Spa + Laser Center......................................................................................................................................................... 1 Barre Tile..................................................................................................................................................................................................55 BrewView Vermont.................................................................................................................................................. Inside Back Cover BunyaBunya Boutique...........................................................................................................................................................................13 Burlington Furniture...............................................................................................................................................................................15 Burlington Marble & Granite................................................................................................................................................................ 9 Central Vermont Medical Center......................................................................................................................................................23 Church Hill Landscapes....................................................................................................................................................................... 33 Cody Chevrolet......................................................................................................................................................................................78 Coldwell Banker Classic Properties..................................................................................................................Outside Back Cover Commodities Natural Market.............................................................................................................................................................13 Cornerstone Restaurants...................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Country Club of Barre............................................................................................................................................................................71 CW Print + Design................................................................................................................................................................................77 Delicate Decadence..............................................................................................................................................................................45 ECCO Clothes........................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Evergreen Gardens of Vermont.........................................................................................................................................................23 Ferro Estate and Custom Jewelers.....................................................................................................................................................13 Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery..............................................................................................................................................21 Fringe Salon.............................................................................................................................................................................................63 Gillespie Fuels & Propane....................................................................................................................................................................35 Harvest Market.......................................................................................................................................................................................19 Jay Peak.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 75 J Morgans Steakhouse/Capitol Plaza.............................................................................................................................................. 10 Landshapes..............................................................................................................................................................................................41 Mayo Healthcare...................................................................................................................................................................................65 Midstate Dodge....................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Montpelier Alive.....................................................................................................................................................................................17 Montpelier Orthodontics....................................................................................................................................................................65 Morse Farm.............................................................................................................................................................................................35 Onion River Outdoors...........................................................................................................................................................................51 Outdoor Gear Exchange......................................................................................................................................................................69 Patterson & Smith Construction........................................................................................................................................................49 Peregrine Design/Build..........................................................................................................................................................................11 Petra Cliffs...............................................................................................................................................................................................79 Pink Colony.............................................................................................................................................................................................63 Red House Building................................................................................................................................................................................51 Richard J. Wobby Jewelers..................................................................................................................................................................61 Sarducci’s Restaurant and Bar.............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Shelburne Museum...............................................................................................................................................................................45 Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center...............................................................................................................................................69 Stowe Area Realty..................................................................................................................................................................................71 Stowe Red Barn Realty..........................................................................................................................................................................61 Sugarbush................................................................................................................................................................................................49 The Automaster........................................................................................................................................................Inside Front Cover The Bench Restaurant...........................................................................................................................................................................13 The Body Lounge....................................................................................................................................................................................13 The Carriage Shed.................................................................................................................................................................................59 The Country Store on Main.................................................................................................................................................................13 The Store................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea............................................................................................................................................................21 Vermont Kitchen Design By Bouchard-Pierce........................................................................................................................43, 59 Wagner Hodgson Landscape Architecture....................................................................................................................................55 Wake Robin............................................................................................................................................................................................ 44 Windows & Doors By Brownell..........................................................................................................................................................77 www.bestofcentralvt.com 79

L AST GL ANCE

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

—H. Jackson Brown Jr.

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