Best of Central Vermont - Summer 2013

Central Vermont best of

SUMMER 2013 VOLUME 1, NO. 3 $4.95

COMMUNITIES AND LIFESTYLE IN THE HEART OF THE GREEN MOUNTAINS

MAKING WINE IN THE CAPITAL AREA Raise a Glass to These Wineries

ON THE ROAD WITH THE 25 1 CLUB The Ultimate Road Trip

WATERBURY

The Little Town That Could

Contents

Features

28

Making wine in the capital area

Raise a glass to these four wineries. by stephen morris

41

the little town that could

Nearly two years after Tropical Storm Irene devastated Waterbury, the town is back on track. by david cogger

48

on the road again with the 251 club

The ultimate road trip. by stephen morris

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best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

Contents

Departments

9 Editor’s Note 10 Contributors 14 Out & About

24

by Cassie Horner

18

Occasions community

20

east warren community market by elizabeth hewitt

outdoors

24 in the alpine zone by lisa densmore

bright ideas

36 lacrosse anyone?

by Mark aiken

20 54

friends

54 central vermont humane society

by pat goudey o’brien

what’s in store

58 Stowe kitchen bath & linens by nancy brennan what’s cooking

62

summer salads for picnics and parties

by Mj bouvier

calendar

70 arts and entertainment chat

74 with lee lauber

by david goodman

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

3 4 Summertime!

Shopping and fun things to

do in Central Vermont.

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Central Vermont best of

summer 2013 | Volume I no.3

Coffee Table Publishing P.O. Box 1460, Quechee, VT 05059

(802) 295-5295

www.bestofcentralvt.com Publishers

Robin Gales John Gales Bob Frisch Editor

Kate Carter Copy Editor

Elaine Ambrose Creative Director

Ellen Klempner-Beguin Art Direction/Design

Robbie Alterio Advertising Design

Hutchens Media, LLC Web Design

Locable Advertising

Robin Gales John Gales (802) 295-5295 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, P.O. Box 1460 Quechee, VT 05059.

Advertising inquiries may be made by e-mailing ctpublishing@ comcast.net or coffeetablepublishing@comcast.net. Best of Central Vermont is published quarterly by Coffee Table Publishing, LLC, Š 2013. 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 | Summer 2013

SFI-00665

editor’s note

When I first came to Vermont

over 25 years ago, it was for the skiing—a little surprising since I’d been living in Colorado where it snows every night and ski conditions are always perfect.

But I had a job offer I couldn’t refuse, so I came.

And then I stayed. It took only one Vermont summer to know this was where I wanted to live.

Colorado is dramatic and beautiful and it never rains, but it doesn’t have Vermont’s lush colors, sultry nights, dramatic sunsets, and gorgeous gardens.

Back then, it didn’t have farmers’ markets either.

No matter the day of the week, you are pretty much guaranteed to find a farmers’ market somewhere in Vermont. They are sprouting up like dandelions in spring, and they are not just about vegetables. You can also get fresh organic meats, flowers, breads, artisanal cheeses, handcrafted soaps, and even beer from local brewers. For your convenience, we list central Vermont’s farmers’ markets on page 70. When you go to your local farmers’ market, be sure to pick up the ingredients for the summer salads we feature on page 62. Let us know which salads you’ve tried and what you think of them by joining the conversation on our website, www.bestofcentralvt.com.

Another farm-related business putting down roots in Vermont is viticulture. In the past decade, the number of Green Mountain wineries has jumped from a handful to 33 statewide. In our area there are four, and they have teamed up to create the Capital Area Wine Trail. Read their stories on pages 28 to 32, then go and visit them—taste for yourself what central Vermont wineries are producing!

It’s been nearly two years since Tropical Storm Irene raged through Vermont, wreaking havoc in towns throughout the state. Perhaps no town suffered as much as Waterbury, which not only lost homes and businesses but also the state office complex located on the southeastern end of town. Relocating all those state employees to other areas took much-needed revenues away from businesses that were already struggling to recover from the storm’s damage. Thanks to a team of amazingly talented and resourceful visionaries, Waterbury is back on track, and it’s business as usual for this up-and-coming town, as you will see when you read our story about Rebuild Waterbury on pages 41 to 45. It’s a story of inspiration, determination, and resolve, and what a community can accomplish when people are united for a mutual cause.

At Best of Central Vermont we are committed to bringing you stories and photos that highlight the people, places, and happenings in your local communities, from the Green Mountain state’s valleys to its mountaintops. This issue is filled with articles about people doing great things right where you live. In addition to our printed pages, we now have a website where you can find out even more about what’s happening in Vermont. Go to www.bestofcentralvt.com and join the discussions, enter fun contests, and see what’s happening in your town tonight. Like us on Facebook to get daily updates (www.bestofcentralvt.com/facebook) and follow us on Twitter (twitter@bestofcentralvt).

We are here for you. Let’s connect!

Kate Carter, Editor editor@bestofcentralvt.com

www.bestofcentralvt.com

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contributors

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be s t of centr al vermont

Nancy Brennan, an author and entrepreneur in Duxbury, wrote Active Against Cancer: A Guide to Improving Your Cancer Recovery with Exercise after her own cancer challenge. She also owns and operates Birdsbesafe, LLC, a cat collar design that protects songbirds from house cats.

For a copy of Nancy’s book go to activeagainstcancerbook.com.

Stephen Morris, who wrote “The 251 Club” on page 48, is pursuing his own quest to visit Vermont’s 251 towns on his electric-assist bicycle. His publishing business, The Public Press, is located between Randolph and Bethel on Gilead Brook Road.

Contact him through his website, www.ThePublicPress.com.

Elizabeth Hewitt is a freelance journalist and native of Warren, Vermont. She has written and reported from three continents, and most recently she worked from Istanbul, Turkey. Among her favorite subjects to cover are the people, environment, and businesses of her home state. Contact her at elizabeth.hewitt@outlook.com.

Lisa Densmore has contributed to publications in Vermont and nationally for over two decades. She is the author of seven hiking guidebooks, including Hiking the Green Mountains (Falcon Guides, 2009).

A former resident of Vermont, she now lives in Montana and returns to the Green Mountains monthly.

Contact her through her website, densmoredesigns.com.

Jeb Wallace-Brodeur

MJ Bouvier is a chef, photo–

grew up in Montpelier and graduated from Middlebury College. He is Chief Photographer at the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, where he has worked for more than two decades. His work appears regularly in Seven Days, Vermont Life, and other regional and national publications. He lives with his wife and son in Montpelier.

When not out shooting, Jeb is usually skiing, biking, or hiking in the Northeast.

grapher, and writer in Jeffersonville. She believes in the art of simple food that is easy to prepare, healthy to eat, and beautiful to look at! She is the author of a foodie blog, “The Savvy Skillet.”

By day Mj works as the eCommerce Manager at The Fly Rod Shop in Stowe. You can reach her through her website, savvyskillet.com.

best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

www.bestofcentralvt.com

best of central vermont online More than a Magazine—a Community Hub!

online exclusives Best of Central Vermont is taking the charm and identity of the towns we live in and giving them a home online, with all the connectedness and convenience of the 21st century. There’s nothing better than the feeling we get from the place we call home. The familiar faces and places we see everyday are the foundations of treasured memories—the markets you visit to buy ingredients for supper, the park where your kids learned to play ball, the trails where you walk your dog, the coffee shop where you catch up with friends.

Now we’re adding fresh ways to interact with the great people, places, and happenings that make our communities unique. Stay connected and go behind the scenes with us. Comment on articles, enter and vote in contests, and help create a showcase of what makes us special.

At www.bestofcentralvt.com you will find photo galleries of our magazine’s stories, a comprehensive calendar of community events, contests from local merchants, and feature stories that are exclusive to our website.

You CAN make a difference Christopher Grimes has stage 4 neuroblastoma. On August 1, his uncle, Ed McGovern and five of McGovern’s friends, will embark on an ultra-endurance bicycle trek, the Can-Mass Ride, to raise money for neuroblastoma research and to help Christopher. Read their heartwarming story of determination and giving at bestofcentralvt.com.

eNewsletter Sign up for our newsletter www.bestofcentralvt.com Our newsletter includes up-to-date info on: • Local event listings from our online calendar • Special offers from Best of Central Vermont and local businesses

Comedy Dinner Theater

• Insights from our communities and towns, and much more . . .

Eat, watch, laugh—three nights of merriment in Waterbury Center. See who’s performing and how to reserve tickets for your own evening of laughter at bestofcentralvt.com.

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CLICK ON OUR ONLINE CALENDAR TO SEE LOCAL July EVENTS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND YOU CAN ADD YOUR OWN EVENT FREE!

like us www.bestofcentralvt.com/facebook

Follow us on Twitter twitter@bestofcentralvt

Blogger Wanted Bestofcentralvt.com is looking for a blogger. If you are looking for hands-on experience in the world of blogging, can write cleanly and frequently, and would like to add blogger to your resume, contact Kate Carter, editor@bestofcentralvt.com.

out and about

by c assie horner

Photos courtesy Waterbury Arts Fest.

Waterbury Arts Fest

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Only the name has changed.

This year, the former Stowe Street Festival is reincarnated as the Waterbury Arts Fest to reflect the always-wonderful arts celebration on Stowe Street “in fabulous Waterbury.”

These laudatory words come from Laura Parette, who adds, “It is time the town took ownership of the art and culture in downtown Waterbury. This year is also a birthday party for Waterbury, the 250th anniversary of its founding.”

The Waterbury Arts Fest begins Friday evening, July 12, with events that revolve around the 250th anniversary. On Saturday July 13, the festival continues from 10am to 4pm with a smorgasbord of fun activities, including a craft show of over 60 artists.

Historic Stowe Street and adjacent Bidwell Lane will be closed to vehicles, setting the stage for a leisurely stroll to visit booths featuring everything from jewelry to pottery and textile arts, all for sale. Some of the artists will be doing demonstrations throughout the day.

Adding to the atmosphere are the many live performances of dancers and musicians, with new acts scheduled every half hour to 45 minutes. There will also be an arts education component with activities for children.

No one need go hungry; there will be food vendors set up on the street, in addition to the indoor offerings at local restaurants.

Waterbury’s downtown, part of the Vermont State Downtown Designation Program, is a perfect setting to celebrate the arts. It is also easily accessed from I-89. Visitors to Waterbury can also enjoy swimming at the reservoir and discovering the extensive hiking and biking trails. For more information about the Waterbury Arts Fest, visit www.waterburyartsfest.com. www.bestofcentralvt.com

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out and about

Green Mountain Opera Festival The hills come alive in June with the powerful sounds of opera, thanks

to the Green Mountain Opera Festival. Sponsored by the Green Mountain Cultural Center based in the Round Barn in Waitsfield, the festival enters its eighth season in 2013 with the classic Don Giovanni and the more modern Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten.

The 2013 season kicks off with the GMOF Gala Concert, a performance of selections from the two operas, on June 14 at the UVM Recital Hall in Burlington.

Don Giovanni will be performed on June 21 and 23 as the Main Stage Production at the Barre Opera House and features highly experienced singers.

“I chose Don Giovanni because he is a nefarious Lothario memorialized throughout history by playwrights as a great lover,” says artistic director Bruce Stasyna. Don Giovanni is part of a trilogy; Figaro and Cosi Fan Tutte have been presented by GMOF in previous seasons. “This season offers a very innovative theatrical presentation of both Don Giovanni and Albert Herring. They are not-to-bemissed cultural opportunities.”

Albert Herring is a production of the Emerging Artists Program that will be performed June 20 at the Gatehouse Lodge at Sugarbush Resort in Warren. “This brings in young singers ready to burst onto the scene,” says Wendy Brauer, president of the GMCC. “This year we received a record number of applications—over 460. We have built a reputation, and people audition for a handful of roles.”

Stasyna explains that the Emerging Artists Program offers these talented performers the chance to do a fully staged production with an orchestra.

Statehouse tour guide There are not many portraits of women in the Vermont State House in Montpelier. One of them, Edna Beard, captured the interest of Sandra Ershow of Moretown when she became a volunteer tour guide. Beard, a teacher and school superintendent from Orange, became Vermont’s first female legislator in 1921, the year after women won the right to vote. It is stories like this that make Ershow glad she decided to become a tour guide three years ago at the suggestion of a friend.

“I am not originally a Vermonter, but I have been here a long time—32 years—and I have read a lot of Vermont history. There is still a lot I don’t know, and each year I learn new bits of information,” Ershow says.

The existing State House, completed in 1859, is Vermont’s third. The first, Ershow explains, was a smaller wooden structure. It was replaced by a granite Greek revival building that lasted 19 years before the destructive fire that left only the portico.

The tours begin in the lobby. One fact that intrigues Ershow is that the black marble floor tiles come from Isle La Motte in Vermont, the oldest 16

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In addition to the two opera performances, the Green Mountain Opera Festival offers master classes and open rehearsals for the enjoyment of the general public. There is also a concert by young artists at the Stowe Community Church.

“It is such an intimate setting,” Brauer says of the opera venues.

“You can almost reach out and touch the performers. This is a chance for the public to learn about opera, both those who know a lot about it and those who are new to it.”

For more information about the Green Mountain Opera Festival, including dates and tickets, and to sign up for email notices, visit www. greenmountainoperafestival.com.

State House volunteer tour guide Sandra Ershow stands next to a portrait of Edna Beard, Vermont’s first female legislator.

Photo courtesy Sandra Ershow.

known fossil reef in the world. Another highlight of the tour is the Cedar Creek Room, with its huge painting of that battle

by Julian Scott, a Civil War veteran. The guides also take visitors into the Senate and House Chambers. Ershow points out that originally there were many more seats in the House because there was a representative for every town in Vermont until the divisive 1965 reapportionment.

Ershow is one of over 100 volunteers at the State House. Tracy Martin, assistant state curator, praises this active group of people who lead school groups, bus tour groups, and individuals and families through the building, and staff the gift shop. The tour guide program was developed by the Friends of the Vermont State House, an advocacy and support organization for education and the continued preservation of the building.

“The State House is the third most-visited site after Ben & Jerry’s and the Shelburne Museum,” Martin says. This makes for a very busy schedule, especially during the season that runs from the last week in June through the end of October (Monday through Friday, 10am to 3:30pm; Saturday, 11am to 2:30pm) and the school-year season that overlaps the legislative season. “We are always looking for new recruits,” she says. “We welcome with open arms anyone interested in state history, government history, buildings, and other areas. It’s a great experience for lifelong learners.”

Training is fun and informative, and includes a three-hour tour of the State House with State Curator David Schutz, materials to review at home, an audio tour (also available to the public), and tours spent shadowing experienced guides.

If you are interested in volunteering as a tour guide or in the gift shop, call Jane Bishop, coordinator of Friends of the Vermont State House at (802) 828-0386 or Tracy Martin at (802) 828-0749.

To schedule a tour for a group larger than a family, call the Office of the Sergeant at Arms at (802) 828-2228. www.bestofcentralvt.com

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occ asions

Barre Heritage Festival & Homecoming Days

Held this summer on July 24–28, the Barre Heritage Festival & Homecoming Days is a five-day celebration of community, culture, history, and the arts.

Come enjoy the live music, comedy, entertainment, exhibits, food, vendors, workshops, parade, antique cars, and community interaction. See the best of Barre and celebrate the city’s heritage and future. For a schedule of events, to be a sponsor, or to volunteer, go to www.barreheritagefestival.org.

We’d love to hear about your occasion. Please send photos to editor@bestofcentralvt.com.

Clockwise from top: A team from Barre Community Gardens rides a parade float. An acrobat thrills the crowd. Bagpipers in Saturday’s parade. Antique cars on the roll. Jazzercisers dance their way through the parade. A fiddlers’ contest is one of the weekend highlights. Children getting their faces painted. Photos from 2012 courtesy Barre Heritage Festival & Homecoming.

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communit y

b y E l i z a b e t h He w i t t Photos by Dennis Curran

East Warren

Community

On a Sunday morning this past spring, sun streamed through the south-facing windows of the East Warren Community Market as Ashley Woods, the store’s manager, flipped the pages of a cookbook, looking for recipes for that week’s Friday night dinner.

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Market

local and fresh

Clockwise from top: East Warren Community Market’s inventory has something for all ages.

Ashley Woods is the co-op’s manager.

Foccacia, bagels, muffins, and more, baked fresh daily.

“To some people’s eyes, it’s the middle of nowhere,” says Megan Moffroid, chairman of the co-op board, “but to us it’s central.”

Rooted in history

“They’re family-friendly comfort food,” says Woods, of the store’s prepared suppers that are large enough to feed a family of six and are available once a week.

“We never cheat. Everything is made from the best products we can get.”

Using products currently available in the store, Woods and coworker Erin Chase prepare the dishes, ranging from the ever-popular chicken Parmesan to a full Indian curry feast. The weekly dinner service is just one ingredient in a complex recipe that turned this small country store into an institution in just four years.

Created by local residents for local residents, the East Warren Community Market is a 21st century take on a traditional Vermont general store. For the neighborhood, it’s a place to pick up the local news while picking up a gallon of milk. But the shop’s unique offerings—from homemade grab-and-go meals to an incredible range of local and imported products—have turned this small market on a sleepy country road into a hive of activity.

The market occupies the ground floor of the old East Warren Schoolhouse, a century-old white clapboard building on the southeast corner of the juncture of East Warren Road and Roxbury Mountain Road. A handful of houses and acres of farmland dot the landscape, set against panoramic views of the Mad River Valley and Sugarbush Resort’s ski trails.

Known to locals simply as the Four Corners, this intersection was once the center of town. Before the villages of Waitsfield and Warren grew up around the Mad River, the earliest settlers established their farms on the somewhat level land of the Warren plateau.

By the mid 19th century, almost a dozen buildings stood at the intersection, including the village schoolhouse.

The building that stands today was constructed in 1897 and continued to serve as a school until the mid 20th century. Since www.bestofcentralvt.com

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Top: The East Warren Schoolhouse is now the home of the East Warren Community Market.

Bottom: Erin Chase prepares Friday night meals-to-go for customers who want a healthy meal prepared for them.

then, the property has served residents of the area in a number of capacities. Today, in addition to the co-op, it holds a commercially licensed kitchen, a community garden, and a public access radio station.

Grounded in community Local residents first began collaborating with Rootswork, the nonprofit organization that manages the property, about five years ago.

Over the course of two years of meetings, the community drew up a business blueprint for the co-op and kicked off the fundraising drive, which involved collecting donations and selling memberships.

“People asked, ‘Well, what do I get?’” Moffroid says. She told them, “You get a store.”

By the time the East Warren Community Market opened its doors on Labor Day weekend of 2009, approximately 200 members supported the market. About $5,000 worth of merchandise lined the shelves of the modest space. Four years later, there are more than 300 members and nearly ten times the merchandise.

The market itself is covered in the fingerprints of members of the East Warren community. The counters and shelves under the south-facing windows were built by coop member and local woodworking expert Randy Taplin, as were the wooden produce shelves and the display table in the center of the store. Colorful art pieces decorate the interior and exterior of the building. Many of the staff members live within walking distance of the shop. (Woods’s home is a mere 150 yards from the store.)

“Our purpose is to serve this neighborhood,” says Moffroid. “It’s pretty diverse. We have all income levels shopping here. We have locals and second-home owners.”

The store attracts visitors to the area year-round. In the winter, it’s a welcome hub for weekend skiers coming over the Roxbury Gap; in the summer, it’s a pit stop for cyclists, walkers, and Vermont lovers out to enjoy the East Warren views.

More than 1,800 different products are packed into a modest 600 square feet, from 22

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one-quart jars of Castelvetrano olives to hamburger buns, pomegranate molasses, and cat food. Freshly baked scones and homemade burritos and soups are ready for graband-go. Coveted local favorites—like the slender white boxes of Quayle’s Chocolates made down the road in Warren, or fourpacks of the Alchemist’s much-in-demand Heady Topper—share the space with goods from the other side of the globe.

“I never say no to somebody in the Valley who’s trying to produce a local product,” says Woods. “If people are making sausages, jam, or hot sauce, I want to know about it. I want to let people try it.”

The market has become a testing ground for local entrepreneurs; locals sell everything from goat-milk soaps to locally created sushi.

Artisanal Vermont cheeses stock the fridges.

In the summer, the store showcases produce from local farms and the community garden out back, and freshly cut flowers come from Mountain Flower Farm, just a stone’s throw up Roxbury Mountain Road.

The store is gearing up to celebrate summer with a farm-to-table dinner in July that will focus on the flavors of the Mad River Valley, featuring locally produced foods prepared by local chefs and served in the community garden.

These days, the store sees a steady flow of customers, whether its families stopping in to stock up on some snacks or neighbors in to replenish their fridge.

“It’s so satisfying to come here and meet people and talk to people and realize that it’s a necessity now,” says Moffroid.

East Warren Community Market 42 Roxbury Mountain Road Warren, VT (802) 496-6758 www.eastwarrenmarket.com Individual memberships are $150; family memberships are $300. www.bestofcentralvt.com

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outdoors

S tory and photos by Lis a Densmore

In the Alpine Zone the coolest place to be on a hot summer day Cresting the summit ridge on Mount Mansfield, I paused to reach into my day pack and pull out a soft-shell jacket. It was pleasantly chilly on this lofty lookout, the highest in Vermont, unlike the sticky 80 degrees at the trailhead. Forget the old adage about girls glistening. It was so hot when I began my trek that a heavy sweat poured down my face, down my back, even down my shins, but I gained incremental relief with each step upward, thanks to a combination of the everincreasing altitude and the breeze that stiffened as the trees thinned.

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Scientifically speaking, with each Left: Looking south from Mount Mansfield’s summit.

Right: Mountain sandwort likes to grow in rocky crags.

1,000 feet of elevation gain, the air temperature drops three to five degrees. My hike this day, via the Sunset Ridge Trail from Underhill State Park, climbed 2,550 vertical feet, providing about a 12-degree reprieve. That said, the summit was still balmy by Mount Mansfield standards. The average temperature on the summit is only 58 degrees in July, the hottest month.

As I traversed the open rock to “The Chin,” the true summit of Mount Mansfield, I met a caretaker from the Green Mountain Club who was stationed atop the mountain to educate hikers about the rare vegetation that subsists there. “Be careful to stay on the rocks,” he said. “The grass up here is not really grass, but rare Bigelow’s sedge.”

Rare? There was more green ground cover atop Mount Mansfield than around many modern-day housing developments. In fact, Mount Mansfield has by far the largest alpine zone in Vermont, about 250 acres of the 270 acres that exist in the state. It’s easy for a casual visitor to disregard such a sizeable lawn, yet in the grand scheme of ecosystems, 250 acres is molecular in size, and thus extremely precious.

The rest of the 20 alpine acres are spread across four other peaks in Central Vermont: Camel’s Hump, Mount Abraham, Killington Peak, and Hunger Mountain. From a preservation point of view, Mount Mansfield, Mount Abraham, and Camel’s Hump have true alpine zones that are biologically signifi-

cant in size. Only small remnant populations of alpine plants exist on Killington Peak and Mount Hunger.

Signs of the Ice Age It’s no coincidence that the three true alpine zones in Vermont are atop 4,000 footers, as it’s their exposed summits that induce arctic-like conditions. Likewise, Mount Mansfield, Camel’s Hump, and Mount Abraham are the three most popular hiking destinations in the Green Mountains. Each year, about 50,000 people climb Mount Mansfield, 25,000 climb Camel’s Hump, and 12,000 climb Mount Abraham to take in the 360-degree views . . . and sometimes to escape the overheated lowlands.

“The alpine zones are special because they are still here, so far south and for so long,” says Pete Antos-Ketchum, director of operations for the Green Mountain Club. “They’re only here and in a few other places in the Adirondacks, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Visually, the plants don’t look unique, but they exist in tiny islands.”

Bigelow’s sedge, mountain sandwort, diapensia, Labrador tea, and mountain cranberry, as well as lichens and other ground covers similar to those found on the tundra 1,500 miles to the north, are among the flora a hiker will find up high. Each first took root and began to propagate 10,000 years ago, just after the last ice age. As the continent warmed, post-glacial vegetation receded to all but the

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coldest, windiest mountaintops. However, while these plants are tough enough to survive the harshest weather, the thinnest soil, intense solar radiation, and a brief 90-day growing season, a single footstep can kill them.

Since the late 1800s, a number of alpine species have disappeared from Vermont’s mountaintops, which is why the Green Mountain Club posts a caretaker atop Mount Mansfield and Camel’s Hump. “The alpine plants survive despite the triple challenge of trampling, extreme weather, and climate change,” says Antos-Ketchum. “Other species can grow higher, but these have nowhere else to go. They’re already at the top.

Hikers can contribute to their well being by simply being aware. . . These colonies of plants are living natural history museums, the last remaining vestiges of the ice age.”

As the GMC caretaker I met that hot, sweaty day on the summit of Mount Mansfield walked toward another hiker, I found a broad, flat boulder on which to sit. I relished the coolness as I ogled the hazy 360-degree view. Camel’s Hump stood bald and beckoning to the south. Tomorrow, if the weather remained unbearably warm, I would seek relief in that alpine zone while savoring the chance to see more rare endemic plant life. The highest peaks in Central Vermont are cool places to visit in more ways than one.

Top: Hikers on the summit of Camel’s Hump.

Bottom: The rare diapensia is found in Vermont only on Mount Mansfield and Camel’s Hump.

Opposite Top: Berries of mountain cranberry, also called lingonberry.

Bottom: Labrador tea is a shrub found at high elevation and also in low-elevation bogs.

HIKE UP HIGH Though all three of Vermont’s true alpine areas require a hike to reach them, the routes vary greatly in length and difficulty.

Here are three of the easiest routes, one to each summit, that are suitable for most ability levels. Each is an enjoyable outing sure to please anyone searching for cooler ground, a spectacular above-tree-line panorama, and a peek at alpine flora.

Mount Mansfield Of the numerous ways to reach the summit of Mount Mansfield, the shortest is via the Long Trail from the top of Toll Road.

Directions to the trailhead: From Route 108 at Stowe Mountain Resort, drive four miles up Toll Road (fee) to its end at a parking lot.

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The hike: Follow the Long Trail north toward “The Chin” (the true summit). Much of the trail is at or above the tree line, over rock slabs, with long views to the east, west, and south.

Distance: 2.8 miles, out and back Elevation gain: 333 feet

Camel’s Hump Though the Monroe Trail has better footing, climbing Camel’s Hump via the Forest City Trail/Long Trail/Burrows Trail (all three form a loop) is shorter and gets you out of the woods more quickly, thanks to a series of open rock ledges known as “The Stairs.”

Directions to the trailhead: In Huntington, follow Taft Road to Camel’s Hump Road.

The trail departs from the uppermost hikers’ parking area.

The hike: Follow the Forest City Trail 1.6 miles to the Long Trail near Montclair Lodge, a cabin maintained by the Green Mountain Club for public overnight use (fee). Follow the LT-North ascending through The Stairs, reaching the summit at 3.0 miles. Continue on the LT-North for 0.3 mile, then descend via the Burrows Trail, closing the loop at the trailhead.

Distance: 5.7 mile loop Elevation gain: 1,950 feet

Mount Abraham A relatively short, steady climb, Mount Abraham may be slightly lower than Mount Ellen,

More Info For more information on hiking in Vermont’s alpine zones and the mountaintop caretaker program or to get involved in other conservation initiatives above tree line, contact the Green Mountain Club, www.GreenMountainClub.org.

which is situated farther north along the high ridge on the western side of the Mad River Valley, but “Abe” has the only bald summit (and the best views) along the ridge that runs between Lincoln Gap and Appalachian Gap. Directions to the trailhead: From Route 100 in Warren, wind up Lincoln Gap Road toward Lincoln. The trailhead is at the top of the gap on the right (north) side of the road.

The hike: Follow the Long Trail north, climbing through boreal forest and across rock slab. After you pass the junction with the Battell Trail and then Battell Shelter, the trees become noticeably shorter, then disappear altogether as you reach the living room-sized alpine zone on the summit.

Distance: 5.2 miles, out and back Elevation gain: 1,700 feet www.bestofcentralvt.com

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by tim reynolds

Making

Wine in the Capital Area R a i s e a g l a s s to t h e s e f o u r w i n e r i e s

When you think of local agricultural products in Vermont, cheese and maple syrup are likely the first things that come to mind. Wine might be one of the last. However, that won’t be the case for long.

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best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

When planning a wine tour of the Capital Area Wineries, check their websites in advance for directions, tasting times, and other special events.

Artesano Mead 1334 Scott Highway Groton, VT 05046 (802) 584-9000, www.artesanomead.com

Fresh Tracks Farm 4373 Vermont Route 12 Berlin, VT 05602 (802) 223-1151, www.freshtracksfarm.com

Grand View Winery PO Box 91 East Calais, VT 05667 (802) 456-7012, www.grandviewwinery.com

North Branch Vineyards 82 Trillium Hill Montpelier, VT 05602 (802) 229-6169, www.northbranchvineyards.com

Above: The tasting room at Fresh Tracks Farm.

Photo courtesy Fresh Tracks Farm.

Right: A lineup of Grand View Winery’s award-winning fruit wines. Photo courtesy Grand View Winery.

Opposite: Fresh Tracks Farm’s retail room.

Photo courtesy Fresh Tracks Farm.

T

he last decade has seen an explosion of wine producers throughout the Green Mountain State. The Vermont Grape and Wine Council now boasts 33 wineries from the Champlain Valley to the Northeast Kingdom.

These include grape wines, other fruit wines such as apple, pear, and blueberry, and meads made from fermented honey, all of which are regulated as a single industry, with alcohol contents that range from 7 to 14 percent.

Many of these Vermont wineries are still in their infancy, while others, like Grand View Winery in East Calais, have been making fruit wines for almost 20 years. Owner www.bestofcentralvt.com

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Top: North Branch Vineyards grapes.

Middle: Mashed grapes after going through the press at North Branch Vineyards.

Photos courtesy North Branch Vineyards.

Bottom: A grand panorama as seen from Grand View Winery’s tasting room.

Opposite: Grand View Winery owner Phil Tonks.

Photo courtesy Grand View Winery.

and vintner Phil Tonks started making wine at his home in East Calais in 1996. As he recalls, there were only five or six wineries operating in the state at that time.

“At that point, there weren’t any grapes in Vermont that were suitable for wine.

I was able to get some grapes from New York, but I was more interested in using our excellent fruit crops here to make a valueadded product.”

Tonks now keeps tasting rooms at Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Center and at his East Calais operation. “In the past, fruit wines have had a bad reputation because they weren’t made very well.

Often they were overly sweet without much character.” But with high-quality Vermont fruit and careful attention to the fermentation process, Grand View has garnered over 20 national and international medals for its fruit wines.

It is one particularly elusive fruit, however, that is fueling Vermont’s wine boom.

Hybrid grape varieties developed at the University of Minnesota have made it possible for a fruit that was once the exclusive domain of moderate climates to flourish in colder climates, such as the Finger Lakes region and Vermont.

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best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

Cold-climate viticulture Fresh Tracks Farm in Berlin planted 12 acres of grapevines in 2003. With 17 varieties, they set out to learn which hybrids could produce superior fruit in Vermont’s short growing season and survive the harsh winters and unpredictable frosts.

Typical grapevines take four to five years to produce fruit suitable for wine. “Of those original 17 varieties, we pulled out 10,” explains vintner Christina Castegren, owner of Fresh Tracks. “A lot of our vines were damaged by cold stretches in the winter months, or just weren’t hardy enough to really flourish here and produce good fruit.”

Castegren, who studied plant and soil science at the University of Vermont, carefully selected their vineyard’s location for its southern aspect and slope that drain cold air away from their vines. “You have standard challenges with soils and land in Vermont, but the seasons are what are so unpredictable. Last spring we had 80-degree days in March and our vines budded out, but then we were hit with a frost only a couple of weeks later. Grapevines have three buds per node, though, so if the first bud gets killed, you may still get fruit.”

These variations from year to year can drastically change the quality of the fruit, and for Castegren, that’s why making wine in Vermont is such a distinctive challenge.

She is in large part a self-taught vintner by

trial and error. “It is rocket science, and it isn’t,” she laughs.

Just ask John McCann, an aerospace engineer by trade, at North Branch Vineyards in Montpelier. “The saying goes that real winemakers are born when they’ve had a bad year of fruit,” he explains.

McCann and his wife Katherine returned to Vermont in 2004 to start their own operation, though they took an alternative approach to that of Fresh Tracks Farm. Given the four- to five-year lag time for grapevines to mature, they opted to start making wines first, buying fruit primarily from other Vermont grape growers, and plant their own later. Last year, all their wines came from Vermont fruit. They planted their first vines last spring and eventually plan to make most of their wines from their own fruit.

Aside from the environmental difficulties, McCann also identifies consumer education as a big hurdle in growing his wine business in the capital area. “Five years ago when we first came out with our wines, people were like, ‘you can grow grapes and make wine in Vermont?’ But after they taste our wines, even the biggest skeptics come around. They realize Vermont can compete.”

North Branch’s production certainly reflects a change in consumer attitude. The McCanns produced 6,000 bottles in 2011 and jumped to 12,000 in 2012. “We were completely sold out of everything in 2011. www.bestofcentralvt.com

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Artesano storefront.

Photo courtesy Artesano Mead.

All of a sudden, we just had a huge demand for our wines.”

Together with Artesano Mead in Groton, Grand View, Fresh Tracks, and North Branch Vineyards have all joined forces this year to form the Capital Area Wineries. “The wine industry is so small and fraternal in Vermont—everyone is helping each other out— and we decided to make a miniature wine trail in the capital area to help cross-promote each other,” explains Mark Simakaski at Artesano Mead.

Artesano, like most Vermont wineries, does a large part of its sales directly over the counters of its own tasting room. Much of their success hinges on getting people to come to them, and the Capital Area Wineries association is an effort to leverage those visits to the area.

Unlike fruit wines, mead is made from honey. “When we get people to come check out our operation, see what we do,

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best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

and have a conversation with us, they develop a really personal recognition for our products,” says Simakaski. “Our goal is to make honey that smells so nice coming out of the hive, and to really shine through and preserve those characteristics in our mead, and we like to show people that process.”

He attributes the rapid growth of the industry to the already flourishing local food movement. “Wines are just one more product that Vermonters are producing within our borders, and visitors and locals alike support that with their pocketbooks.”

As for a distinct terroir for Vermont wines, it may be too soon to tell. Unlike the French, Vermonters haven’t been growing grapes for 1,000 years . . . yet.

But just like their hardy grapevines, our own breed of Vermont vintner is well on the way to defining the taste of Green Mountain wine.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Shopping & fun things to do in Central Vermont!

Summertime!!

Clearwater Sports Clearwater Sports, Mad River Valley’s four-season store! Since 1975, offering guided kayak and canoe river trips, tubing on the Mad River, and stand-up paddleboarding. We carry the best selection of outdoor clothing and footwear, kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards, and hiking gear— Patagonia, Prana, Merrell, Teva, Liquidlogic, Native, Watercraft, Doyle, Old Town, Thule. Sales, rentals, instruction. We put people and the outdoors together!

4147 Main Street Waitsfield, VT (802) 496-2708 www.clearwatersports.com

Vermont Furniture Designs Morse Farm Need snacks for the kids? Want to send a taste of Vermont to loved ones? Try Morse Farm Maple Kettle Corn, available in three sizes. Visit our website and choose the sizes you need. We’ll handle the rest. Maple Kettle Corn is sold at fairs and festivals throughout Vermont.

The Morse family—maple sugar makers since 1782. A Vermont tradition!

(800) 242-2740 www.morsefarm.com

Vermont Furniture Designs is a small, high-quality furniture manufacturer using age-old techniques. We have supplied national furniture stores with their highest quality solid hardwood furniture for over 40 years. Our factory in Winooski has a large showroom and Factory Store where you can purchase our furniture and have it delivered into your home anywhere in the US. 4 Tigan Street Winooski, VT (802) 655-6568 www.vermontfurnituredesigns.com

Cheese Traders & Wine Sellers Discover thousands of wines (Vermont’s largest selection), more than 150 local and international cheeses, discount gourmet products, and delicious made-in-Vermont specialties at bargain prices. We find the deals, you enjoy the savings!

There’s only one Cheese Traders in the world—come treat yourself.

1186 Williston Road South Burlington, VT (802) 863-0143 www.cheesetraders.com Open daily 10am–7pm

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

No. 9 Boutique

Mason Brothers

No. 9 Boutique is your source for contemporary clothing for women, handmade jewelry and accessories, handbags, fun footwear, and sexy lingerie. We take pride in getting to know our customers, so we can carry the products they love, the styles they desire, and the colors they need.

Offering a wide selection of reclaimed and antique building materials, Mason Brothers’ Architectural Salvage Warehouse’s 13,000-squarefoot warehouse is filled with fireplace mantels, stained and beveled-glass windows, lighting, hardware, columns and pillars, marble and pedestal sinks, claw-foot tubs, windows, furniture, and unique artifacts.

75 Main Street Montpelier, VT (802) 229-0019 www.shopno9boutique.com

Check out our NEW WEBSITE! 11 Maple Street Essex Junction, VT (802) 879-4221 www.greatsalvage.com

Down East Tile Our design showroom features a dazzling selection of eco-friendly products and the latest innovations from international manufacturers in ceramic, porcelain, glass, metal, and natural stone tiles. Decorative tiles are our specialty. Service, quality, and price—we have all three.

Explore the possibilities at Down East Tile, the biggest little tile shop in New England.

723 Sylvan Park Road Lower Stowe Village Stowe, VT (802) 253-7001 | (800) 561-9257 www.downeasttile.com

Shelburne Vineyard Winery and Tasting Room

Join us for a taste, a tour of the winery, or a relaxing afternoon at the vineyard.

Learn about our adventure growing grapes and making wine in Vermont’s northern climate. Then, sip a selection of our award-winning wines or stay for awhile with a glassful while you enjoy the sight of the vines coming into bloom from our warm, inviting Tasting Room. Don’t forget to ask us about planning your special event here!

6308 Shelburne Road Shelburne, VT (802) 985-8222 www.shelburnevineyard.com Open daily 11am–5pm

bright ideas

by mark aiken photos by glenn c all ahan

Lacrosse Anyone? the bitter family brings lacrosse tournaments to stowe Just as Stowe, Vermont, is a ski town, Manhasset, New York, is a lacrosse town. And just as the Cochran family of Bolton is one of America’s first families of skiing, the Bitter family of Manhasset is one of the nation’s first families of lacrosse. Last summer the Bitter family and lacrosse converged in Vermont, in the form of the Stowe Lacrosse Festival.

Edwin Ward Bitter, known as “EW,” was an All-American high school lacrosse player in Manhasset. He now lives in Stowe and is a coowner and the sole full-time employee at Bitter Lacrosse. He teams with his father (also Edwin Ward Bitter, who goes by Ward) and three brothers to stage the Stowe Lacrosse Festival—a major regional tournament—in Stowe.

“The tournament is such an opportunity,” says Janet Patching, whose 11-year-old son Adam 36

best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

participated in the tournament as a free agent, a kid who comes from an area without a summer team. He and a number of his friends from Stowe got paired with other free agents from New Jersey and North Carolina. Their coach was Billy Bitter, younger brother to EW and three-time All American at the University of North Carolina. Billy now plays professional lacrosse for the Denver Outlaws.

“Adam has a poster of Billy in his bedroom,” says Patching. “He was fabulous with

2013 Bitter Lacrosse in Stowe June 22–23 Pro-Am Mountain Jam (Men) July 8–13 North Country Lacrosse Academy Session I (Boys) July 20–21 Stowe Lacrosse Festival (Girls) July 20–23 Stowe Lacrosse Festival I (Boys) July 22–27 North Country Lacrosse Academy (Girls) July 22–27 North Country Lacrosse Academy Session II (Boys) July 27–28 Stowe Lacrosse Festival II (Boys) For more information, go to www.bitterlacrosse.com.

the kids, silly and serious,” she says. “It was beyond cool.”

A lacrosse family When you grow up with a dad like Ward Bitter, it would be difficult not to blossom into a lacrosse player. “I started with a stick at age two or three,” remembers EW. “But this was not just our family; in Manhasset, everyone holds a lacrosse stick from the time they can walk.”

The family’s patriarch, Ward Bitter, starred as a collegiate lacrosse player and coached for 45 years. All four sons were recipients of his coaching. “I didn’t realize at the time how fortunate we were to grow up with him for a dad,” says EW. As a kid, EW just saw him www.bestofcentralvt.com

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as Dad—and a guy who taught him skills in a sport they all grew to love. “Looking back, I see how much he knew about the game,” EW says.

The elder Bitter’s coaching served the sons in their sport and beyond. Billy and youngest brother Jimmy, a freshman and All American at UNC, excelled at the collegiate level. Matt Bitter played lacrosse at the US Naval Academy before becoming a Navy Seal. Meanwhile, EW didn’t play lacrosse in college as a result of a blood disease that made participation in a contact sport risky, but fuels his competitive juices by participating in endurance sports like Ironman Lake Placid and the Boston Marathon. He continues his involvement in the sport as the full-time driving force behind the company, Bitter Lacrosse, founded by the five lacrosse-loving Bitters. Their mission? “To share the lifestyle that we experienced as a family,” says EW.

A measuring stick for Vermont lacrosse As with many organized team sports, summertime means camps and big tournaments. Lacrosse is no different; there are huge tournaments across all age groups up and down the East Coast and across the country. Along with the chance to compete against teams from other regions, tournaments give top players exposure to college coaches, who view tournaments as great recruiting opportunities.

Chris Capano, former UVM varsity lacrosse player, coaches all levels of lacrosse, including multiple age groups in South Burlington’s youth program, in an indoor off-season tune-up league at the Edge Sports and Fitness Center in Williston. He also coaches for a northern Vermont program that brings teams of top players in three age groups, U15, U13, and U11, to summertime tournaments. For a place like Vermont where lacrosse is only recently gaining a foothold, the tournaments provide invaluable experiences, says Capano.

“Playing against better teams and better players ultimately makes us better,” he says.

Take, for example, Capano’s home state of New Jersey, another hotbed for lacrosse.

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best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

“My county in Jersey had a population of over a million to draw from,” Capano says.

Northern Vermont’s select teams practice over a three-week period in the summer, during which time they participate in three major tournaments: the New England Youth Lacrosse All Star Tournament

in Amherst, Massachusetts; the Albany Power Summer Shootout at RPI in Troy, New York; and the Stowe Lacrosse Festival. “You get hundreds of teams at these tournaments,” says Capano, “and they serve as a great measuring stick for us here in Vermont.”

Capano says he looks forward to Stowe, partly for the convenience of being close to home. “But Stowe is a vacation destination,” he adds, noting that although they hold good tournaments, Amherst and Troy aren’t places particularly high on his list of areas to go visit. “Summer is so beautiful in Stowe,” he says. Vermont mountain temperatures are perfect for summer activity, and the mountain scenery is stunning. “It’s perfect for lacrosse,” he adds.

Tournaments and more Lacrosse tournaments are big productions.

For the biggest—the sold-out youth session of the Stowe Lacrosse Festival from July 20 to 23—the Bitters and the community of Stowe will play host to a hundred and fifty 20-person teams. What separates Stowe is the appealing destination. “We wanted a location that was family friendly,” says EW. “When they step off the field, the day is not over.” Teams, families, and friends have Stowe’s restaurants, activities, and shops to keep them busy after the day’s games. Tournament organizers provide participants with area information. “We want them to get out and enjoy,” says EW. Bitter Lacrosse is a family affair that involves all four brothers and their father. EW works year-round obtaining use permits for fields, working with town officials on traffic flow and parking plans, scheduling the use

of recreational fields all over town, and communicating with businesses and neighbors.

“We want this to be a win-win for the town too, and the community gives us tremendous support,” he says. Many locals serve on the tournament staff. Meanwhile, neighbors like farmer Paul Percy offer land to be used for additional parking near playing fields.

In addition to the boys’ tournament, the Bitters offer a men’s tournament, a girls’ tournament, a second smaller boys’ tournament (the result of the popularity of the boys‘ tourney), and lacrosse academies for boys and girls. Teams come from as far away as Texas. While EW hopes that his efforts are helping to further the sport he loves, there is no doubt that the events benefit the local economy. Mirroring a nationwide trend, participation in lacrosse in Stowe is growing.

And the draw at the summertime events is as wide as any tournament’s.

“Kudos to the Bitters,” says Capano.

“They have such a following nationwide.

And they are helping to grow the sport in Vermont.”

Bitter Lacrosse PO Box 10 Stowe, VT (855) 248-8529 www.bitterlacrosse.com

www.bestofcentralvt.com

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by david cogger Photos by Gordon Miller Unless otherwise noted

Could

the little town that

photo by kate carter

Nearly two years after Tropical Storm Irene devastated Waterbury, the town is back on track.

www.bestofcentralvt.com

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Since opening the Alchemist in 2003, Jen and John Kimmich had put everything into their Waterbury business. They reinvested all their profits to grow the brewpub, refined their menu, made great beer, and built a loyal following of locals and tourists.

In late August 2011, when Tropical Storm Irene dumped eight inches of rain in 12 hours, the couple lost nearly everything.

Floodwaters destroyed the pub’s basement brewery, all the finished beer, freezers and refrigerators, food, and an office with six computers. The total damage amounted to more than $400,000.

The Alchemist’s story is just one of many emblematic of the post-Irene plight of a number of businesses and homeowners in Waterbury and elsewhere. In addition to the loss of homes and businesses, the state of Vermont lost its entire office complex and hospital in Waterbury, forcing the relocation of 1,500 employees. The town’s daytime population was dramatically reduced, and local business lost revenue.

But a closer look at Waterbury reveals a community rich in social capital that embraced opportunity and came out better prepared to deal with future floods.

In the days immediately after the storm, citizens quickly formed ReBuild Waterbury, which oversaw the town’s long-term recovery project. At their final meeting this past March, almost a year and a half after Tropical Storm Irene, Rebuild Waterbury tied up loose ends. The group worked out tentative 42

best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

plans to distribute what was left of nearly $1.4 million collected over the past year and a half, discussed a final audit, and determined where to store reams of paperwork.

A handful of plaques recognizing individual efforts lay on a long table as the group debriefed and breathed a collective sigh of relief for a job well done.

All told, ReBuild Waterbury completed 60 home renovations, removed 9 tons of trash, cleaned up 10 miles of the Winooski River between Bolton and Middlesex, and removed 3,000 tires left behind by the floodwaters.

“It was exciting,” says Mame McKee, who runs Seminary Art Center in Waterbury

Center and served as volunteer coordinator for ReBuild. McKee oversaw everything from training to serving meals and job matching.

“We found something for everybody to do and ended up with good quality control.”

Help from near and far As the scope of flood damage and recovery took shape, ReBuild knew it needed a substantial sum of money to move forward with cleanup. That’s when Craig Snow arrived from Hope Force International, a Christian-based disaster relief organization. Having seen many disasters of similar magnitude, he estimated it would take

Photo courtesy Mame McKee

Opposite: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Welcome Center at the Amtrak train station during the storm. The Norwich soccer team helps clean debris from a house.

This page: Volunteers removed 3,000 tires left behind by the floodwaters. Teagan Drake and Eamon Lyons walking up a driveway after the floodwaters receded.

Waterbury two years to recover and encouraged ReBuild to team up with tax-exempt, nonprofit Revitalizing Waterbury, an existing organization committed to the ongoing renewal of the downtown area.

Revitalizing Waterbury became a fundraising conduit for ReBuild, allowing ReBuild to focus on returning residents to safe, decent homes. ReBuild opened 104 cases, which included homeowners who needed some form of assistance. As of March 2013, all but four had been closed.

Through donations, a $250,000 matching grant from the Stiller Foundation, and addi-

tional support from the Good Neighbor Fund, ReBuild Waterbury raised almost $1.4 million, while Revitalizing Waterbury raised and distributed $90,000 to affected businesses.

Early on, Theresa Wood, chair of ReBuild’s steering committee, hired Dave Kerr as ReBuild’s construction manager. He took on the roles of carpenter, laborer, cheerleader, and fundraiser, and still managed to oversee all of the residential remodeling and rebuilding projects. With money from FEMA and SBA loans for renovations and repairs, Kerr enlisted the help of kids from the Youth Build program.

“It’s for kids who don’t fit in,” says Kerr, who had once himself been a kid who didn’t fit in. Kerr put two teams to work six days a week remodeling kitchens and replacing drywall. “I had my lost boys,” he says. “I could teach them carpentry and motivate them to come to work.” This turned out to be a huge selling point for the Stiller Foundation and a bonus for the kids, who gained hands-on experience outside of a classroom.

Along with volunteers from Habitat for Humanity, Youth Build logged 10,000 hours and renovated 50 historic homes in one year, all under Kerr’s supervision.

Dave Rappaport, formerly Vermont’s Irene recovery chief, says the situations throughout Vermont were very different in the aftermath of Irene. Waterbury was one of nine designated recovery zones, but unlike many other locales, the town’s flood damage was concentrated and visible. And Waterbury was a place that had developed social capital; people who were already used to working with each other on diverse projects.

“It was just natural that people fell in and took roles,” he says. “Craig Snow helped with vision and a lot of other things came together.”

Rappaport says ReBuild recognized specific jobs, for example, raising money and staffing. Many other long-term recovery committees throughout Vermont did not approach it that way, taking a “not on my watch” approach.

Vision for the future Rebecca Ellis, a state legislator for Washington County, is acknowledged as instrumental in Waterbury’s recovery. Around town she’s known as a person who can carry on three coherent conversations at once. A member of Waterbury’s Select Board, Ellis left her job with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office to help her town recover. She says the town’s www.bestofcentralvt.com

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ongoing recovery success owes much to proper planning.

“At this stage, we can think about 30 to 50 years from now,” Ellis says. “We’re looking at how to be resilient, and we are very concerned about maintaining economic vitality of the historic village.”

The town is working on plans to lower the floodplain by several feet and raise the foundations of municipal and state offices above the 1927, 100-year floodplain level, and a number of new municipal buildings will be constructed to mitigate possible future flood damage, Ellis explains. The long view includes new town buildings with day care, affordable housing, and a municipal complex.

Ellis says Craig Snow of Hope International was a key to getting the recovery underway,

and Central Vermont Community Land Trust provided immediate assistance in addressing housing needs.

“We realized we had a huge issue, and we worked 18-hour days to coordinate housing,” Ellis explains. All told, two-thirds of the properties damaged by Irene were residential.

Barb Farr, former director of the state’s Emergency Management Division, is now the town’s long-term community recovery director. She says that 22 of the 47 buildings on the state complex will come down.

Several structures, including the “dog bone” portion of the structure, will be preserved for historic reasons.

Still, the town anticipates getting back 1,100 state workers of the 1,700 relocated after the flood. And, of course, the Shumlin

When the River Rose: Stories of a Vermont Town’s Flood, RecoverY, and Rebirth Edited by David Goodman Photos by Gordon Miller Several months after Tropical Storm Irene flooded Waterbury, local author David Goodman asked residents to write accounts of their experiences during and after the flood. He compiled their essays in a book, with photos by Gordon Miller. When the River Rose is available at Bridgeside Books in Waterbury, online at www.whentheriverrose.com, or by contacting the Children’s Literacy Foundation at (802) 244-0944. Proceeds benefit the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund.

administration has had Waterbury at the top of its list because of the state office complex.

In addition to Farr, Waterbury hired Darren Winham as its economic development director. His work includes creating conditions to make the town more attractive to investors.

“The good news is that a lot of people have not pulled up stakes and gone away,” says Winham. “And a lot of people want to invest.” Winham thinks that Waterbury’s success has a lot to do with its proximity to Burlington and Montpelier. “It’s a good place to live. While we will get about 800 to 1,000 state jobs back, we need to attract light industry and office jobs, and there are savvy people willing to do it.”

Meanwhile the Alchemist is back on its feet. Prior to Irene, Jen and John Kimmich had begun work on the brewery for production on the Stowe side of Interstate 89, outside of the floodplain. The first cans of the Alchemist’s award-winning Heady Top44

best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

Opposite: Liam Hall on his front steps.

MK Monley putting the final touches on a Rebuild Waterbury sign on Main Street.

Photo courtesy Mame McKee.

per and the first income from the production brewery came days after Irene had destroyed the brewpub.

“One minute we were crying and pumping out our fetid basement, the next minute we were toasting our new cans of Heady Topper,” says Jen. The Kimmiches still own the original pub building and have found a restaurant tenant, Prohibition Pig, to fill the space. In addition, Blue Stone, a pizza restaurant, has opened

on Stowe Street, and old favorites including Arvad’s Grill and Pub, the Reservoir, and Hen of the Wood are thriving.

“I think at this point we all feed off each other,” says Jen of Waterbury’s food scene.

“Our reputation as a cool food hub is relatively new but has grown quickly and organically.

Challenging times are a true test of character.

Our community has proven just how caring and committed we are to each other. We are quite a persevering bunch.” www.bestofcentralvt.com

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Make Waterbury one of Treehouse at Moose Meadow

Reconnect to your childhood. America’s newest Treehouse at Moose Meadow is redefining “glamping.” The two-story nest is built on mature pine trees next to a pond. It’s a magical place that combines nature and luxury in tranquil harmony.

A place where your imagination can soar. An experience that will change you forever.

607 Crossett Hill Waterbury, VT (802) 244-5378 www.moosemeadowlodge.com

Weddings, Tents & Events

Photo courtesy of Spencer Leonard

With over 20 years of experience, Weddings, Tents & Events is prepared to make your event exceptional. Whether you are planning a wedding, festival, private party or concert, we will provide you with only the best products and unsurpassed service for your event—lavish tents, luxurious linens, whatever your needs may be.

53 No. Main St. Waterbury, VT (888) 898-3839 www.weddingstentsevents.com

Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co.

Owner Mané Alves is an acclaimed coffee aficionado, International Cupping Judge, and specialty coffee instructor. He travels to coffee-growing regions in his pursuit of the world’s best coffee beans, which are then sent to Vermont and micro-roasted fresh to order. Find our coffees and teas at specialty retailers, co-ops, regional restaurants, or online.

80 Commercial Drive Waterbury, VT (802) 244-8338 www.vtartisan.com

For more information and to plan

your summer stops this year Arvad’s

For over 20 years Arvad’s has been the place to find “upscale comfort food” in and around Waterbury. Owners Jeffrey and Maryann Larkin, community locals, provide good food and the best beer from local Vermont breweries, as well as from all over the country and the world. Next time you come to Waterbury make sure you save time for lunch or dinner at Arvad’s.

3 South Main Street Waterbury, VT (802) 244-8973 www.arvads.com

Ben & Jerry’s Catering The Tiny Acorn

The Tiny Acorn in Waterbury is where imaginations grow every day, whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart!

Wonderful toys and fun things for kids to learn, play, and grow. Moms will love the decorative pieces for the home, and the earrings, necklaces, and bracelets for themselves. Come in and make your own discoveries.

Let your imagination grow at The Tiny Acorn.

70 South Main Street Waterbury, VT (802) 244-6663 On facebook at www.facebook.com/thetinyacorn

Want to add an extra-special treat to your celebration? We’ll bring the euphoria—a Ben & Jerry’s ice cream social to suit your catering and budget needs. Flexible enough to be the dessert portion of your party or the central focus! From deluxe sundae parties to cups and cones, the endless options are sure to delight party-goers.

We set it up, scoop it up, and clean it up!

Chittenden County (802) 222-1665 Central Vermont (802) 882-2041 www.benjerry.com/scoop-shops/catering

your visit to Waterbury go to www.waterbury.org

On the

Road Again!

vermont’s 251 Club

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best of central Vermont | Sumer 2013

by Stephen morris photos by jack roweLL

The annual gathering of the 251 Club takes place the first weekend in October, at peak foliage time. These are people united by the mission to personally visit all 251 of the state’s towns, villages, and shires. Before the formal meeting begins, the topics at the individual tables are the usual—the weather, the foliage, and comparing notes on the state’s most obscure places. A popular topic is Lewis, Vermont. Never heard of it? That’s because no one lives there and hasn’t since 1910, when the population was eight.

In addition to no people there are no buildings or roads. Does this sound like a destination for tourists? As one of Vermont’s five unorganized and unpopulated towns, however, it represents a crown jewel for the club’s “Plus” members, the status conferred upon those who have completed this geographic quest. 4

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Clockwise from top left: Drew and Claire Nelson, owners of Board and Basket, joined the 251 Club in the late 1980s. Scenic view beyond a sign. The Cotas’ scrapbooks document their travels. Craig and Joan Cota share photos of their adventures.

Highlights Along the Way The club was first mentioned in a Vermont Life article by Dr. Arthur Wallace Peach, a writer and former director of the Vermont Historical Society. Peach suggested visiting all 251 towns as a way for individuals to get to know their state better. In his view people should experience the towns, not merely drive through them. The club now has, according to current Executive Director Sandy Levesque, close to 4,000 members, making it one of the largest membership organizations in the state. Levesque has been the director since 2008.

But back to Lewis. “Lewis is the one town that I didn’t visit in my Chrysler,” says Craig Cota of Stockbridge, who along with his wife Joan completed the circuit several years ago. “I had heard horror stories about getting there,” says Cota, a retired superintendent at CVPS, the state’s power utility, “so I figured I better take my fourwheel drive.”

Cota had already traveled the state extensively in his professional capacity before joining the 251 Club. “I was part of the team that brought the power lines to Victory and Granby in 1963, the last two Vermont towns to get electrified.”

Like many 251-ers, the Cotas document their visits with photographs. They’ve brought a three-volume photo album to the meeting to share with other club members. This is an impressive document, with color-coded lists of towns organized 50

best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

by county seats, shire towns, and unorganized towns.

Occasionally their enthusiasm has gotten them into trouble. Once they were cruising back and forth in Derby Line, looking for the best photo opportunity, when their suspicious behavior attracted the attention of the border patrol, who pulled them over. “Luckily we had brought all our albums with us,” says Cota with a laugh, “so he could see we weren’t terrorists.”

For years Derby Line straddled the border seamlessly. There’s even a building (Haskell Free Library and Opera House) where the performers on stage are in Canada while the audience is in the United States. It was intentionally built to straddle the international boundary at a time www.bestofcentralvt.com

51

Vermont is home to many styles of signs.

when the prevailing orientation was to open the border. Not so any more. “Homeland Security has changed all that,” says Cota.

He’s a font of Vermont state trivia.

Example: “Bennington County is the only one in the state with two county courthouses. Manchester used to be the shire town; now the official shire town is Bennington.” His travel tip: “When in Lyndonville, the place for lunch is the Miss Lyndonville Diner. It’s a must-stop.”

The State Everyone Loves The featured speaker for last year’s event was Roger Hill, weather forecaster at renowned radio station WDEV. He surveyed the audience on the foliage they saw en route to the meeting. Since attendees had come from all points of the compass, he had a statewide summary in seconds. “Not too good,” is the consensus. Hill agreed, adding, “but I think it’s still coming.” He explains that the trees, inundated by Tropical Storm Irene, “still think it’s summer.” They won’t shed their leaves until the decreasing daylight forces them to shut down for the approaching winter.

The attendees listen politely. Everybody in Vermont is interested in the weather, but when the floor is opened up to questions, it’s obvious that travel, not weather, is the primary focus. A number of people have completed the odyssey in odd or colorful ways. It’s been done on foot and on bike. It has been done from the air, and Levesque says it has even been done by canoe. It’s been done as a continuous journey or in segments spread over many years. The club has no official requirements or verification process but does promote members sharing their stories through the events, website, and a twice-a-year newsletter. “This isn’t about setting records,” she says, “It’s about experiencing a state we all love.”

The story swapping continues after the meeting officially ends. John Dumville of Royalton is attending his first annual conference. He loves travel and he loves 52

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Vermont. The 251 Club, he says, “just gives me an excuse to do something I always wanted to do.” His travel tip? “Whenever you go by Plymouth Notch, stop at the Calvin Coolidge Historic Site to buy some licorice at the general store.”

“We’re All in This Together” Drew and Claire Nelson are New Hampshire residents who own and operate the Board and Basket Kitchen Store in West Lebanon. Drew spent summers in the state as a youth. He and Claire met while they were attending college in Burlington, he at UVM, she at Champlain. “I have a vague memory of seeing a club emblem on a car when I was at UVM in the ’60s,” he says, “but my interest was rekindled by a Vermont Life article years later.” They finally became members in the late 1980s. It wasn’t until they sold their former business and took a year off that their 251 quest began.

“Our first trips were in Bennington and Windham counties in the summer. We put the top down on our Jeep, loaded our dog and lunch, and enjoyed driving around the back roads. Claire has an old book about Vermont towns and would read about each on our way there. This gave us hints for places, buildings, or memorials to see and photos for our picture album. Sorting these photos became an enjoyable post-trip experience as we relived our visits.”

Their 251st town? “Wolcott on August 10, 2008,” says Nelson with precision. And Lewis? “Not really a problem for us. We found a road that took us right up to Lewis Pond. It even had a sign!”

Asked why there is not a comparable organization in New Hampshire, he replies, “There is a difference between Vermont and New Hampshire. It’s difficult to explain— sometimes I can just feel it. There’s a feeling of community and mutual support in the small towns in Vermont. It’s never stated but felt and demonstrated. It’s something like, ‘We’re all in this together, so let’s make it work.’” Just not in Lewis.

Are you a member of the 251 Club?

Tell our readers about your experiences visiting Vermont towns. Go to www.bestofcentralvt.com and share your comments and photos.

For More Information Membership in the 251 Club is $6 for one year or $25 for five. More information is available from vt251.com, or by writing to 251 Club, 100 Gilead Brook Road, Randolph, VT 05060. www.bestofcentralvt.com

53

friends

BY pat goudey O’brien

photos by jeb wallace-brodeur

Central Vermont Humane Society

the love is palpable

The Central Vermont Humane Society in East Montpelier is a cheery place where animal advocates devote energy and expertise, providing love, medical care, and adoption services to abandoned or surrendered dogs, cats, and a variety of other furry creatures. The shelter is a safe haven for homeless creatures and a place of caring and animal welfare.

Development associate Peggy Whiteneck describes the environment potential adopters first encounter when they come through the front door. “When visitors first walk into the bright lobby at CVHS, they see a wide window into the first of the light and airy cat rooms, where small groups of cats hang out together, lounging on the ‘cat trees’ built into the walls and center of the room and waiting for attention from visitors. To the left is another room that may hold rabbits, guinea pigs, or other ‘smallies,’” she says.

“Very often, one of the shelter dogs will also be behind the gate ready to say ‘hello.’”

Whiteneck explains that many people who walk through the doors are repeat visitors, so greetings are often friends saying hi to friends. “From the first impression right there in the lobby, people get the feeling that this is a place they want to come back to.”

CVHS will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. It formed in 1964 as an in-home foster care and advocacy group. The group quickly grew and needed a bigger space. They moved into a renovated building in Barre in 1968, and then moved again in 1975 to a new and larger building in Barre, where they remained for 35 years.

Quality care for animals, quality pets for adopters “That space was revolutionary,” says Anne Ward, who started as a volunteer in 2006. She joined the staff a year later and became the shelter’s director of operations. “It was designed to give cats and dogs outdoor access to romp and play, as well as more freedom indoors, including

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CVHS by the Numbers 600 New homes CVHS found for cats and kittens in 2012

200

New homes for dogs and puppies in 2012

130

Lost pets CVHS reunited with their owners in 2012

20

Towns in Central Vermont for which CVHS provides shelter for stray pets

251

Towns in Vermont from which CVHS will take animals relinquished by their owners

25

Percent by which CVHS increased its adoptions in the first four months of 2013, compared to the same four months in 2012

a ‘colony’ structure, rather than individual cages, for animals that play well together.”

In 2010, the organization moved to an even larger space, converting a boarding facility on Route 14 into a state-of-the-art shelter that staff and volunteers rave about. It is where the staff can provide quality care for animals and quality animals for adoptive families.

Ward describes her own experience fostering a fragile kitten she found abandoned beside the road. “Emaciated and dehydrated, he felt weightless and cold in the palm of my hand,” she says. “I rushed him to our medical room to start treatment.” She found malnutrition, flea infestation, ear mites and parasites, and painfully infected eyes that needed care. “Warming him against my body while I prepared the tools I’d need, I called to the staff member who was entering him into our database, ‘His name is Peter.’ A few hours and more than one hundred fleas later, Peter was a soft and fluffy, white-and-apricot-colored kitten with sad little baby-blue eyes.”

“He would cuddle in my collar with one paw resting on my chin and stare up at me while I worked,” she remembers. “He slept in a carrier next to my pillow at night. He attended meetings and helped me give presentations and trainings at CVHS.” www.bestofcentralvt.com

55

Ann Ward, director of operations, with her own two rescues, Kayden and Peter the cat. Right: Dr. Erika Bruner, the veterinarian of record from the Onion River Animal Hospital, left, and medical coordinator Jamie Dutil examine Sophie the cocker spaniel.

Her dog, Kayden, was also smitten with the kitten. “With matching colors, it was hard to tell the two of them apart when they were sleeping or playing!” Ward says. When it was time for Peter to be adopted, she decided to keep him.

“It’s been almost two years, and Peter is now a long, lean, handsome adult cat with amber eyes,” Ward says. “It’s this special connection that drives my work at CVHS—all animals should be loved like Peter is loved.”

Volunteer Virginia Barry has been spending time at CVHS for more than five years.

“The care and concern that staff and volunteers lavish on the animals is palpable,” she says. “Who wouldn’t love being part of this aura?”

There is no such thing as a typical day at the shelter. Staff members arrive between 7 and 9am to let dogs out, begin cleanup, and

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attend to medical plans that are drawn up for each animal. The building opens at 8am, and additional support people arrive.

At any time, the shelter can house from 30 to 70 animals, ranging from cats and dogs to smaller creatures. “Adoptions are very strong from this location,” she noted. Occasionally,

the shelter even finds homes for animals from elsewhere in the region, she says.

Given Vermont’s rural character, CVHS also works hard to control barn cat populations—often known as feral, undomesticated cats. The cats are neutered and released back into the environment to re-

duce the number of litters, discourage new cats from entering the area, and stabilize the colony’s population.

“The worst thing you can do to get rid of a cat problem is get rid of all the cats,” Ward says. “The colony dynamics are what matter. If you maintain the colony and it doesn’t grow, you’ve solved the cat problem.”

Programs are also available to help Vermont pet owners access affordable neutering for population control, Ward adds.

Erika Holm, a volunteer and president of the CVHS board of directors, sums up the CVHS vibe this way: “You can feel it in the air throughout the entire shelter,” she says.

“I love to see folks come in to visit, hopeful that they’ll find the perfect pet for their family, and leave with a well-matched, boundless source of love.”

paws-itive pet care Central Vermont Humane Society offers workshops on how to be a great pet owner. To learn more, go to bestofcentralvt.com.

Central Vermont Humane Society 1589 VT Route 14S East Montpelier, VT (802) 476-3811 www.bestofcentralvt.com

57

what’s in store

by nancy brennan

Photos courtesy Stowe Kitchen Bath & Linens Unless otherwise noted

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photo by kate carter

photo by kate carter

Owner Kate Carpenter setting up a store display.

The loyal customers of Stowe Kitchen Bath and Linens might still refer to Kate Carpenter as the “new” owner.

When Kate and her husband Brian bought the 27-year-old business in 2009, the store had a sterling reputation for quality offerings and excellent customer service. The new owner’s challenge? Continue to develop the store to match the times without losing any of the loyal customer base.

So far, so good.

Stowe Kitchen

Bath& Linens

photo by kate carter

Catering to the customer and keeping current

One long-standing tradition at Stowe Kitchen Bath and Linens is the annual spring sale, a tradition that Carpenter continues. This past March, a few dozen enthusiastic shoppers queued up before the doors opened. Waiting, they compared notes about past spring sales. “I always find a treasure,” said one shopper. “It’s like a rite of spring,” chimed another.

Greeting everyone at the door was a cheery Kate Carpenter, who handed out tickets for the first of many gifts raffled throughout the weekend. The sale is not intended to relieve the store of tired old stock, Carpenter explains; mostly new inventory is brought in and deeply discounted. “The sale itself is a gift we give the customers. It’s our way of saying ‘thank you.’”

It’s clear that Carpenter’s devotion to her customers is paramount. “Everything we do here is about customer service and about the customer experience,” she says. Stowe Kitchen Bath and Linens is not a place where the first member of the sales staff you meet is the cashier. Instead, the store’s sales team treats shoppers with helpful and caring assistance. They know, for instance, the details about Thymes, the gorgeously packaged www.bestofcentralvt.com

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photo by kate carter

line of personal soaps and naturally scented products. They can help you choose a colorful Company C or Dash and Albert rug to transform a living space. Need to choose among competent Cuisinart coffeemakers, Le Crueset cookware, or safe-for-you silicone and glass storage containers? The well-informed staff will help you find the perfect item.

Social media and ethical sourcing Today’s retail-store customers want to feel in touch—even from far away—and social media is part of Carpenter’s marketing plan.

“It’s 2013,” she says, and she keeps in touch via Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Regular customers, far-flung as well as local, are apt to email Kate to request the special orders the store frequently fills. In addition, Stowe Kitchen Bath and Linens’ website has online shopping that includes much of the store’s inventory, and more. Yala, a popular line of bamboo-cloth clothing, is available only on the website. And the modern couple who appreciates quality goods can set up their store-based gift registry online. ”The discerning customers of today are smarter,” Carpenter says. They want to know more about the ethics of the companies providing the goods. “Our customers are our family. I won’t present a product that will harm anyone. Every single item that we have here is for the health benefit—or the life benefit—of the customers. We’re very conscientious,” Carpenter says.

For instance, in the linens department, 60

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Pine Cone Hill uses high-quality cotton in a luxurious bedding line. In the kitchen area, Carpenter touts the virtues of Vietri tableware, which is from a village in Italy. Pieces are microwave-safe, with lead-free glazes and beautiful hand-painted Italian scenes. Swiss Diamond pans have superb heat transfer and are user friendly.

Spa and bath products keep up with the times as more and more people covet a selfsoothing indulgence in their own homes.

The store’s beautiful bath department features attractive lines like the local Elmore Mountain Farm skin products and Ursa Major for men, and the biodynamically farmed-in-Australia skin care products by Jurlique. Other home décor items include pillows, ceramics, rugs, and various objets d’art. Shoppers can easily be partnered with home decorating services and free installation services for bedding purchased at the store.

Branching out Beginning in July, Carpenter will open a stand-alone store featuring Kringle Candles in the retail space adjacent to her Mountain Road store. The soy-based candles from the Massachusetts company (formerly Yankee Candle) burn clean and have a myriad of scents, all presented with an appealing aesthetic.

Carpenter says, “Success in retail only comes if you’re willing to change.” How does she know what direction to go in? “We listen to our customers,” she says. At Stowe Kitchen Bath and Linens, “People will come in, look around, and say ‘I love your store,’ and I will say immediately, ‘It’s not my store.

It’s your store.’” Maybe it’s both. Carpenter says she is honored to be doing what she was born to do, and it shows.

Stowe Kitchen Bath and Linens 1813 Mountain Road Stowe, VT (800) 244-6813 www.stowekitchen.net Open daily from 9:30am to 5:30pm www.bestofcentralvt.com

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w h at ’ s co o k in g

by mJ bouvier

summer salads

for Picnics and Parties Fresh ingredients from farmers’ markets make these salads extra flavorful and healthy

One of our most favorite activities during the summer is packing a picnic and heading for a shore, any shore— lake, river, stream, pond, or ocean.

It all depends on how much time we have and how far we want to drive.

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O

ne magical spot we have grown quite fond of is Crystal Lake State Park, located in Barton, Vermont.

Being sun worshipers, this beach is perfect for us. There’s sand, grass, and plenty of shade trees if you prefer natural sunscreen.

We arrive in the late afternoon, just after 3pm, and set up near a grill, spreading a blanket and pulling out the iPads for a good read (yes, they have service!). Sometimes we just gaze out at the glistening water and listen to children’s squeals of delight. A chilled glass of local wine or ice-cold Vermontbrewed beer hits the spot. After relaxing for

a bit in the lawn chair or going for a dip in the lake, I start pulling out the picnic I’ve packed.

I love packing a picnic. Depending on where we are going, I cook ahead. If we’re heading to a local waterhole, I will plan some type of cold protein salad such as chicken, tuna, or egg salad. If our destination is a state park where grills are available, I bring some marinated chicken wings or the standard hotdogs and hamburgers. But no matter the location, I always pack several summer salads made with fresh ingredients from one of our local farmers’ markets.

w h at ’ s co o k in g

Shaved Asparagus with Parmesan Vinaigrette Makes 4 servings Asparagus can be found at farmers’ markets in Vermont from late March into July.

12 large asparagus spears (about 1 lb), ends trimmed

¼ cup finely grated Parmesan,

plus a piece for shaving 1½ Tbsp fresh lemon juice

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper Working with one asparagus spear at a time, use a vegetable peeler to shave spears into long, thin shavings. Hold the tip of the spear and shave toward the root. Transfer to a medium bowl (the tips will snap off as spears get thinner; add to bowl).

Combine grated Parmesan and lemon juice in a small bowl and slowly whisk in oil until well blended. Season vinaigrette generously with salt and pepper. Drizzle vinaigrette over shaved asparagus and toss to coat.

Divide asparagus salad among plates. Use peeler to shave more Parmesan over each salad.

We have several favorite farmers’ markets.

The Stowe Farmers’ Market was the closest to us and the one we frequented the most, until last year when the Jeffersonville Farmers’ and Artisan Market came to our town.

We also enjoy the Capital City Farmers’ Market in Montpelier if we happen to be there. Living in Vermont, we are very lucky to have so many amazing farmers’ markets in the area, and some are open year-round!

I derive my recipe inspiration from various sources and tweak the ingredients until I have new and different variations that I really like. Here are three summer salads that I have fine-tuned and tested many times. They all complement any type of grilled meat, and they all pack and travel quite well. Some can be made up ahead of time and left to marinate, and others can be made on the fly.

Whether you’re headed out for a daylong adventure or just to your backyard picnic table, these salads will make it a summer party!

www.bestofcentralvt.com

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Heirloom Tomato Salad with Mozzarella and Basil Makes 8 to 10 servings Here’s a salad that’s perfect for a large barbecue or for a picnic for two. This recipe feeds 8 to 10, so just reduce the ingredients for a smaller salad or make the full recipe and enjoy it for a few days!

Allow this salad to sit a few minutes after tossing; the mozzarella milk and tomato juices emerge and add flavor to the dressing.

2 1 ½ ½ 5

1 1½

Tbsp coconut white balsamic vinegar* tsp salt tsp black pepper cup herb extra-virgin olive oil** lb mixed (mixed color) cherry tomatoes; leave whole if small or cut in half if larger*** lb lightly salted mozzarella, cut into ¼-inch pieces cups loosely packed small basil leaves or torn large leaves

Whisk together vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking constantly until dressing is emulsified.

Add tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil and toss well.

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Cook’s Notes Salad, without vinaigrette, can be assembled 2 hours ahead and kept at room temperature. Salad can be dressed 1 hour ahead and kept at room temperature, covered. Vinaigrette keeps, covered and chilled, 1 week. * I use coconut white balsamic from Saratoga Olive Oil Co. on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont, but you can use either dark or white balsamic. ** I use the herb olive oil from Saratoga Olive Oil Co., but you can use any extra-virgin olive oil. *** You can use 4 pounds of regular heirloom tomatoes and 1 pound cherry tomatoes if you prefer, but the mixed-color cherry tomatoes are beautiful and add a nice variety of sweetness. I cut at least some of the cherry tomatoes to release their juices.

Green Bean and Fennel Salad Makes 6 servings This salad is simple and interesting. The crunch of the fennel coupled with the slightly cooked green beans is the perfect combination.

3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice 1 Tbsp olive oil

½ lb green beans, trimmed, cut into 1½-inch pieces (about 2 cups) 2 large fennel bulbs, trimmed, quartered lengthwise, thinly sliced crosswise (about 4 cups) For the dressing, whisk first four ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill.

Cook green beans in large pot of boiling water until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes.

Drain and transfer to large bowl of ice water. Drain beans and pat dry. Wrap green beans in paper towels and chill. (Beans can be prepared a day ahead.)

Place chilled beans in large bowl. Add fennel. Drizzle dressing over and toss. Cover and chill 30 minutes. Toss again and serve.

Which is your favorite salad?

Let us know which is your favorite summer salad. Tell us which of the three salads you like best and share one of your own personal favorites.

Join the discussion at www.bestofcentralvt.com. www.bestofcentralvt.com

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2013

special advertising section

Dining Guide

best of

Central vermont

J. Morgan’s Steakhouse Serving steaks, seafood, and Sunday brunch since 1994. Our recent renovation opens a new chapter in this award-winning restaurant. Known for exceedingly generous portions, we feature over 20 aged in-house steaks, daily seafood, designer pasta dishes, and mountainous salads and desserts. Located on Montpelier’s historic State Street. $$ Vermont’s Cutting Edge Steakhouse 100 State Street, Montpelier, VT (802) 223-5222 www.jmorganssteakhouse.com

Key to Symbols $ most entrées under $10 $$ most entrées $10 to $25 $$$ most entrées over $25

special advertising section

dining guide for central vermont

Beyond the Menu

The Farmhouse Tap & Grill Dedicated to showcasing local farms and food producers, our menu features award-winning burgers, comfort entrées, artisan cheeses, vegetarian options, and nightly innovations. The Tap Room delivers highly prized and rare beers.

“Special Happenins” Wed. nights. $$ 160 Bank Street Burlington, VT (802) 859-0888 farmhousetg.com

J Morgan’s Steakhouse Vermont’s cutting-edge steakhouse featuring over 20 steaks aged and hand cut in-house, 12 daily seafood dishes, and award-winning Sunday Brunch. Located on Montpelier’s historic State Street. $$ 100 State Street Montpelier, VT (802) 223-5222 jmorganssteakhouse.com

El Cortijo

Guild and Company

Red Hen Bakery and Café

Farm-to-table steakhouse featuring dryaged, locally sourced beef grilled over Vermont hardwood. Classic steakhouse entrees, seafood and vegetarian options, an innovative cocktail program, and lighter fare, such as burgers & sandwiches for a more casual dining experience. $$$

Famous hearth-baked breads, plus an excellent selection of freshly baked pastries–croissants, scones, cookies, mapleglazed sticky buns, and more. Soups and sandwiches made in house, featuring local ingredients. Fine wines, beer, cheese, and specialty grocery items. $-$$

A vibrant atmosphere featuring tacos, soups, salads, and entrées prepared with local ingredients and expressed as traditional Mexican fare. Freshsqueezed margaritas and handcrafted cocktails. Late-night menu until 1am, Fridays & Saturdays. $-$$

1633 Williston Road South Burlington, VT (802) 497-1207 guildandcompany.com

961B US Rt. 2 Middlesex, VT (802) 223-5200 redhenbaking.com

189 Bank Street Burlington, VT (802) 497-1668 CortijoVT.com

c alendar

summer

2013

Arts & Entertainment

Central Vermont

Farmers’ Markets

in

Through July 5

Fiddleheads on Montpelier Art Walk.

Art Exhibit by Janet Wormser The Gallery at River Arts, Morrisville Info: (802) 888-1261, www.riverartsvt.org

Tuesdays

Through July 8

Northfield Friendly Farmers’ Market On the Common, 3–6pm Info: Find Us on Facebook

Art Exhibit by Alex Angio The Common Space Gallery at River Arts, Morrisville Info: (802) 888-1261, www.riverartsvt.org

Wednesdays Barre City Farmers’ Market City Central Park, 3–6:30pm Info: (802) 223-1703

June 6–June 23

The Mystery of Irma Vep

Farmers’ Artisan Market Pleasant Street, Morrisville, 3-6:30pm Info: Find Us on Facebook

Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier Info: (802) 229-0492, www.lostnationtheater.org

June 7

Thursdays

Spring Migration Bird Walk

The Waterbury Farmers’ Market Rusty Parker Park, 3–7pm Info: Find Us on Facebook

North Branch Nature Center, 7am–8:30am Info: (802) 229-6206 www.northbranchnaturecenter.org

June 7

Montpelier Art Walk Downtown Montpelier, 4pm–8pm Info: (802) 223-9604, www.montpelieralive.org

June 8 & 9

Montpelier Chamber Orchestra, with Tracy Silverman on Electric Violin Smiley Auditorium, Montpelier HS, June 8, 7:30pm Chandler Music Hall, Randolph, June 9, 4pm Info: (802) 595-0087 www.montpelierchamberorchestra.org

June 9

Pine Leaf Boys

Arts & Entertainment is sponsored by

River Arts, Morrisville, 4pm Info: (802) 888-1261, www.riverartsvt.org

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June 14–September 8

Exhibition: Best of the Northeast Master of Fine Arts Juried exhibit of most-outstanding work created by recent graduates.

The Helen Day Art Center, Stowe Info: (802) 253-8358, www.helenday.com

June 15

Brew-Grass Festival Lincoln Peak, Sugarbush Resort, 3pm–8pm Info: www.sugarbush.com

June 19–July 6 Nine

Stowe Theatre Guild, Wed. through Sat., 8pm Info: (802) 253-3961, www.stowetheatre.com

Fridays Adamant Farmers’ Market Adamant Co-op, 4:30–7pm Info: (802) 456-7054 Hardwick Farmers’ Market Granite Junction, 3–6pm Info: Find Us on Facebook Washington Village Farmers’ Market Town Office Parking Lot, 3–6pm Info: (802) 883-5503

Saturdays Waitsfield Farmers’ Market Mad River Green, 9am–1pm Info: www.waitsfieldfarmersmarket.com Capital City Farmers’ Market State Street, Montpelier, 9am–1pm Info: www.montpelierfarmersmarket.com

Sundays Stowe Farmers’ Market Route 108, The Mountain Road, 10:30am–3pm Info: www.stowevtfarmersmarket.com Plainfield Village Farmers’ Market Mill Street Park, 10am–2pm Info: (802) 454-8614

June 20, 22, 26, 29 Noises Off

Waterbury Festival Playhouse, 7:30pm Info: (802) 498-3755, www.waterburyfestivalplayhouse.com best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

c alendar

s u m m er

2013

Arts & Entertainment

Central Vermont

in June 20–August 29

Art on Park Thursdays Park Street, Stowe, 5:30–8:30pm Info: (802) 253-2275, www.stowevibrancy.com

June 22

July 3 & 6 Noises Off

Waterbury Festival Playhouse, 7:30pm Info: (802) 498-3755, www.waterburyfestivalplayhouse.com

July 7

Music in the Meadow: Vermont Symphony Orchestra Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, 7:30pm Info: (802) 253-7792, www.stoweperformingarts.com

Beer Dinner Castlerock Pub, Sugarbush Resort, 6pm Info: www.sugarbush.com

June 24–28

Musical Theater Camp for Kids Skinner Barn, Waitsfield More info: (802) 496-4422, www.skinnerbarn.com

June 21 & 23

Green Mountain Opera Festival presents Don Giovanni Barre Opera House, June 21, 7:30pm; June, at 3pm Info: (802) 476-8188; www.barreoperahouse.org

June 21–23

Stowe Wine and Food Classic Trapp Family Lodge Info: (888) 683-2427, www.stowewine.com

June 28 through July 27

Green Mountain Watercolor Exhibition Big Red Barn, Lareau Farm, Waitsfield, Thurs–Sun, 1pm–9pm Info: (802) 496-4789, www.lareaufarminn.com

June 29

Film: George Bizet’s Carmen Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe, 7:30pm Info: (802) 760-4638, www.sprucepeakarts.org

June 29 & 30

Tim Hayes Natural Horsemanship Clinic Center for America’s First Horse, Johnson Info: (802) 730-5400 www.CenterForAmericasFirstHorse.org

June 30

Stars and Stripes Charity Airshow Sugarbush Airport, Warren, 1pm Info: www.jimparkerairshows.com

July through September

Brown Bag Series—Thursday Noon Summer Concerts Christ Church Pocket Park, Montpelier Info: (802) 223-9604, www.montpelieralive.org www.bestofcentralvt.com

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2013

Arts & Entertainment

Central Vermont

in July 7

Broadway Cabaret The Skinner Barn, Waitsfield, 8pm Info: (802) 496-4422, www.theskinnerbarn.com

July 11–28

The Cemetery Club Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier Info: (802) 229-0492, www.lostnationtheater.org

July 11–September 2

Art Exhibit by Alysa Bennett The Gallery at River Arts, Morrisville Info: (802) 888-1261, www.riverartsvt.org

July 11–August 30

Art Exhibit by Gabriel Tempesta The Common Space Gallery at River Arts, Morrisville Info: (802) 888-1261, www.riverartsvt.org

July 12 & 13

Waterbury Arts Fest Stowe Street, 10am–4pm Info: (802) 496-6466, www.waterburyartsfest.com

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best of central Vermont | Summer Sprng 2013 2013

Music in the Meadow. Photo by Paul Jalbert.

July 12–14

Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival Stoweflake Resort, Stowe Info: (802) 253-7355, x5538, www.stoweballoonfestival.com

July 17–August 3 Hair

Stowe Theatre Guild, Wed–Sat, 8pm Info: (802) 253-3961 www.stowetheatre.com

July 18–21 & 25–28 Guys and Dolls

Hyde Park Opera House, Thurs–Sat, 7pm; Sun, 2pm Info: (802) 888-4507, www.lcplayers.com

July 23 & 30, August 6 & 13

Gazebo Concerts: Dave Keller and the Dave Keller Band Stowe Free Library, 7pm Info: (802) 253-7792 www.StowePerformingArts.com

July 24–28

Barre Heritage Festival & Homecoming Days Downtown Barre Info: (802) 839-5451, www.barreheritagefestival.org

July 25, 27, 31 School for Lies

Waterbury Festival Playhouse, 7:30pm Info: (802) 498-3755 www.waterburyfestivalplayhouse.com

c alendar

s u m m er

2013

Arts & Entertainment

Galumpha performs at Comedy Dinner Theater.

Central Vermont

in August 1–11 My Buddy Bill

Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier Info: (802) 229-0492, www.lostnationtheater.org

August 1–September 2

Vermont Festival of the Arts

Mad River Valley Info: (802) 496-6682, www.vermontartfest.com

August 2–September 8

Exposed—Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibit Throughout Stowe The Helen Day Art Center, Stowe Info: (802) 253-8358, www.helenday.com

August 3, 7, 10 School for Lies

July 28

Music in the Meadow: Citigrass Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, 7pm Info: (802) 253-7792 www.stoweperformingarts.com

Waterbury Festival Playhouse, 7:30pm Info: (802) 498-3755 www.waterburyfestivalplayhouse.com

August 10

Antique Car Show Street Dance

Main Street, Stowe Info: (802) 253-2275, www.stowevibrancy.com

August 14–31

The Drowsy Chaperone Stowe Theatre Guild, Wed–Sat, 8pm Info: (802) 253-3961, www.stowetheatre.com

August 25

Music in the Meadow: Carolyn Wonderland Band Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, 6pm Info: (802) 253-7792 www.stoweperformingarts.com

August 29 & 31 Parasite Drag

Waterbury Festival Playhouse, 7:30pm Info: (802) 498-3755 www.waterburyfestivalplayhouse.com

August 30, 31 & September 1 Comedy Dinner Theater

Murphy’s Barn, Waterbury Center, 6pm Info: (802) 244-5008, www.murphclown.com

www.bestofcentralvt.com

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centr al vermont chat

w ith Lee L auber

BY David Goodman

program includes families with all kinds of life situations.

How have problems for families changed in your time at the center?

In the past five years, we have seen more intense needs than I have ever experienced in my 40 years of working in this field.

There is more substance abuse, child abuse, homelessness, and mental illness impacting families and making it hard for parents to do their best in their jobs as parents. What hasn’t changed is that every parent loves his or her child, and all parents want what’s best for their children.

Lee Lauber In August 1983, Lee Lauber was hired as one of four staff members at a small

or neglect has already happened. We help parents gain skills so it is possible for the kids to return to their families and be safe.

program in Montpelier serving parents and children. Thirty years later, that small program has become the Family Center of Washington County, with a staff of 60 and an annual budget of $2.4 million. Lauber is now the Family Center’s executive director, and she talked to us about her work with families in central Vermont.

What is the Family Center of Washington County?

It’s an organization that serves 23 towns in central Vermont, providing a diverse array of child development and family support services. This includes free playgroups, which offer a chance for parents to meet and kids to play, and for parents to build relationships outside the home. We call them prevention services. Other services are more specialized, such as helping families that are facing a variety of stressors in their lives. This includes intensive services for children where abuse 74

best of central Vermont | Summer 2013

Why did you decide to do this work?

I studied child development as an undergraduate at Tufts University and graduated in 1974. I was interested in working with young children. As I spent more time with children in the classroom, I learned it was important to know what parents needed as well as what children needed. That got me to expand into the family support arena.

How has the Family Center of Washington County changed in the 30 years you’ve been there?

When I first joined the Family Center, we were part of the education department of Vermont College. The main program we offered was a preschool. Today we serve about 4,200 people in central Vermont.

We have grown and diversified, and added a focus on parents and giving support to families as well as services to children. We offer high-quality child care for 54 children per day. This includes serving children with disabilities, families for whom English is not their first language, families where abuse has occurred, and families with mental illness or substance abuse issues. Our

How do Vermont kids fare compared to kids elsewhere?

Last year Vermont ranked number three in the country in indicators of child well-being in a survey by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The reason why Vermont ranked third is that it has a statewide network of family support organizations and has been making consistent investments in these programs for the last 25 years. These organizations help get families off to a good start. In the first three years of life, 80 percent of the entire brain’s wiring happens. So investments that we make in early childhood have a lifetime of benefits.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new parents?

Parenting is the best and hardest job you will ever have. And all parents have questions.

So please call the Family Center of Washington County (802-262-3292 or www.fcwcvt. org) or other parent-child centers and ask your questions. We also offer help paying for child care. Wherever you are along the continuum of parenting, there is a place in your community you can call to get free support.

What gives you hope?

Families. Their resilience. And parents’ love for their kids. It’s something that’s incredibly powerful. In Vermont, our communities really understand that it’s not just individual families and their own strengths that matter, but the network of families through community connections—families going fishing together, going to the playground together— that matters.

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