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Vol. 58, no. 15 February 25, 2016
Vermont’s oldest nonprofit community newspaper, bringing you local news and views since 1958
CY kids thrive
Operation Rescue CVFRS plans for the future by asking important questions about their structure and state involvement Geeda Searfoorce THE CHARLOTTE NEWS
I
Leland, Deacon, Cheryl and Jadin Brown with mentor Woody Keppel at the Annual CY dinner at CCS. Photo: Wendy Bratt
Building community one T-shirt at a time CY Mentoring program connects students with caring adults Madison Hakey THE CHARLOTTE NEWS
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eb. 11 was an exciting day at CCS for participants in the Connecting Youth Mentoring program. Students in grades 5-8 had the opportunity to introduce their mentorstoparents.Thelivelybunchenjoyed a meal together before breaking into mentoring pairs for a night of decorating T-shirts, that they will wear as they compete against other pairs in an annual ping- pong tournament on Mar. 8. Through the CY program, all students in Chittenden County have the opportunity to
spend one hour a week with a mentor doing whatever they want. Kayla Fysh, a fifth grade mentee at CCS, says that she enjoys baking with her mentor, Susan Hyde. Ethan Karshagen, an eighth grade mentee, says that the best part of the program is the deep conversations he can have with his mentor, Mike Walker. “I have a strong connection,” Karshagen says. For the students, it’s not just about having a break from school. For many kids, it’s about having another adult who cares about them. Children can sometimes think that parents love them because they have to and teachers care because it’s their job. When another adult finds something special about them, the benefits are endless. “Students who have one additional, caring adult in their lives are less likely to eventually drop out of school,” says Wendy Bratt, Coordinator of CY Mentoring at CCS. “They tend to do better in school, their attendance increases, their enjoyment see Cy mentoring, page 4
n advance of Town Meeting Day, Charlotters who examine the Town Report will discover a 2016-17 proposed budget for Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service (CVFRS) that is essentially flat with last year’s. But as the weeks and months roll on, engaged citizens will recognize the need to assess resources and begin planning ahead to address the challenges that continue to plague this essential entity and raise questions about the state’s role in ensuring equity of services among municipalities. John Snow, president of the corporate board for the past two years—in addition to his roles as volunteer firefighter and ambulance driver—knows the significance of the story behind the numbers. “Things are very stable,” Snow says, on
see Cvfrs, page 8
Selectboard readies for Town Meeting John Hammer THE CHARLOTTE NEWS
T
he Selectboard has met twice in the past two weeks, on Feb. 16 and 22. The meeting on Feb.16 was consumed for the most part by discussions on cost of living raises for town employees and the discussion of contract bidding procedures. The second meeting went quickly with the finalization of the bids for landscape maintenance on town lands and agricultural leasing of a portion of the Burns property.
Cost of living metriC for town employees
The new Town Salary Administration Policy, Section III, states that a “Cost of
Put your money where your heart is Milk Money and VSECU bring Vermont investors and entrepreneurs together to strengthen the local economy Geeda Searfoorce THE CHARLOTTE NEWS
V From left to right, Milk Money co-founders Louisa Schibli and Janice Shade, VSECU CEO Rob Miller and Vermont Department of Economic Development Commissioner Joan Goldstein.
the budget front. “This year’s proposed budget is almost to the dollar the same request as last year. We’ve gone through a period of having to add paid staff and we’ve budgeted appropriately.” One paid firefighting position and three paid rescue positions, added in 2014 to offset a decline in volunteers, now balance workload and scheduling challenges to keep operations running. But Snow also knows first hand how a shrinking volunteer base and increasingly complex rescue training requirements have affected—and will continue to affect—CVFRS. Twelve-hour shift coverage is difficult to fill because of demographic and economic conditions that necessitate a shift towards more wage-earning work and inhibit volunteerism. Changes in healthcare continue to have ramifications for the resources needed to ensure a properly trained cadre of EMS providers. “The pressures and requirements of time, training and continued training in recent years have made volunteering for fire and rescue much
ermont’s small businesses are poised for big wins thanks to a new partnership between the Charlotte-based company Milk Money and VSECU, a Vermont credit union. As Vermont’s first and only third-party equity crowdfunding portal, Milk Money will leverage the credit union’s support to carry out its mission to empower entrepreneurialism and drive local business development. Janice Shade and Louisa Schibli founded Milk Money, a Charlotte-based
Living increase (must be) based on the Northeast Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).” The COL is to be “determined annually in January by the Selectboard during budget preparation... [Under the heading of] “All Items”, using the yearly percent change from the prior January.” There are two methods for computing the index. One is to take the index number stated on the Bureau of Labor Statistics website. This number simply takes the difference between the December values from the previous two years (e.g., Dec. 2014 and Dec. 2015). The other method, argued for by Town Treasurer Mary Mead, is to take the average of the sum of each month’s index for the previous year. see seleCtboard, page 10
company, in February 2015 with a mission to put the means for creating new businesses, a strong local economy and personal wealth within the reach of all Vermonters. The two seasoned entrepreneurs identified a hole in the early stage capital market and created a solution that takes advantage of the Vermont Small Business Offering regulatory updates of July 2014. Vermont entrepreneurs can post fundraising campaigns on MilkMoneyVT.com to solicit equity/debt investments from any Vermont resident. Prior to VSBO, such investment opportunities were available only to accredited investors—individuals with $200,000 annual income and/or net worth over $1 million excluding their home. “Janice and I founded Milk Money to help drive local investment, giving entrepreneurs access to local capital and strengthening Vermont’s local economy,” said Schibli. “And our new relationship see milk money, page 10
2 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News
Letters to the Editor Tradition or innovation? Editor: I encourage everyone to attend Town Meeting this year, as it may be the last time that you can experience the rare opportunity to be a decisive part of direct democracy. You can read the Town Report, study the Selectboard budget, consult with your neighbors, debate it on the floor, make amendments and vote on the conclusion affecting the governing and municipal taxes of our town for the next fiscal year. We are so fortunate to be part of this Vermont tradition of citizenship. Very few states, and certainly very few countries, offer this power to its voters. At the same time, we will take our ballots into the voting booth and determine if this tradition will change. With the Article 9 Municipal Charter ballot, we will decide if this Town Meeting exercise will be amended, making that conclusive vote at Town Meeting no longer conclusive. Instead, the Selectboard would then present that result three or four weeks later to all the voters of the town as an Australian ballot item. This innovative approach has not been tried in any other town in Vermont. It is driven by the fear that someday the traditional Town Meeting will be replaced by Australian ballot only, so that everyone in town will have the opportunity to vote on the Selectboard budget. That has already happened with the school budget, which has led to the demise of anything resembling a meaningful Town Meeting experience on education spending. Our school taxes represent 90% of our property taxes, and I can understand why everyone must be able to vote on that level of spending. But for municipal taxes, representing 10% of our tax bill, is it necessary to weaken our traditional Town Meeting experience? Every voter in town has the right to attend Town Meeting, an experience that I promise is worth the effort.
Nancy Wood Charlotte
The power of ordinance Editor: A recent commentary by Ed Amidon in The Charlotte News asked the question: What is a “reasonable compromise?”— the siting of solar arrays and wind turbines being the topics of concern. The public is very vulnerable to being pushed to accept a compromise that produces an outcome contrary to what one can comfortably live with. A group of New Hampshire citizens observed that the system of site approval for wind turbines and solar arrays gave little assurance that their expectations of having a forceful voice in the proceedings would be honored. What did they do when confronted with this potentially undesirable outcome? This group contacted the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), an organization headquartered in Pennsylvania that has written ordinances that give communities the power to establish ground rules for siting these wind and solar developments. This is a viable option and a giant step away from the hopes of accepting a “reasonable compromise.”I highly recommend that this option be considered. You will find more details on the Internet at celdf.org. I used the services of this organization when I was a resident of Pennsylvania and found their assistance was outstanding in producing a favorable outcome to my concerns.
Karl Novak Hinesburg
Vote yes on the land use articles on the Town Meeting ballot Editor: Creating vitality in today’s historic Vermont villages—the kind of small-scale development that draws residents of all types to work, socialize, buy goods, and enjoy services—is a complex puzzle. With appropriately scaled economic growth often passing our villages by, vitality doesn’t happen by accident. The menu of items needed to generate activity in our villages includes friendly zoning regulations, specific town plan language, favorable market conditions, energetic volunteers and forward-thinking town leadership. One small piece of the puzzle involves getting a “Village Designation” from the State of Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development. A “Village Designation” would enable us to receive priority consideration for important grant programs and allow builders to take advantage of a number of tax credits for rehabilitation of historic structures. To this end, vote YES on Town Meeting Day on Article 10 which will allow for integration of the specific language into the Charlotte Town Plan necessary to receive this designation. And while you are at it, vote YES on Articles l1 and 12. They will allow placement of language in the Town Plan and Land Use Regulations to help us achieve more thoughtful siting and screening of renewable energy projects.
Dana Hanley Charlotte
Town Meeting and charter vote Editor: We will be voting on a Town Charter for the first time, by Australian ballot, on Town Meeting Day. What does that mean? If approved by the Town (and then by the Legislature), what this would mean is that on Town Meeting Day we would vote by Australian ballot the CVU and CCS budgets and the Town and School Officers, just like we do now. We would discuss the Town budget and have the ability to amend that Town budget by the group of people in attendance on that Town Meeting Day, just like we do now. However, the actual vote on that budget would not be on Town Meeting Day. The Selectboard would then schedule the day to vote on that town budget by Australian ballot sometime 3-4 weeks out from Town Meeting Day—most likely April sometime. The date is not something that has been set as an actual date. The language in the Charter states “The date of the vote shall be at least 20 days following the posting of the warning.”So, we will be voting by Australian ballot in March for school budgets and again in April for the Town budget. What if budgets don’t get passed? This past year, the CCS budget was voted down in March and had to be revised and voted on again in April. Every year, voting by absentee ballot gets more and more popular. The challenge is always sending those absentees out of state and out of country in enough time for the voter to receive the ballot and return them to us. It’s important to listen to the majority— what does the Town want? Is it the ability to vote our Town budget by Australian ballot just like the school budgets? The Town could decide to vote our Town budget by Australian ballot, without a Charter and there would no longer be a traditional “Town Meeting.” Do you want one local election day in March to vote and decide all of our budgets or would you rather vote
in March and April, splitting up the town and school budgets? This vote is important for everyone, think about what you want. I will be supporting the majority vote.
Mary Mead Clerk/Treasurer Charlotte
Please approve Article 9 Editor: A few well-informed and responsible citizens in our town have taken it upon themselves to deal with the modern-day challenge of not being able to attend Town Meeting. These citizens are proposing a Charter to make a simple change that will allow more tax payers to approve or reject the annual town budget. As in the past the town budget will be presented, discussed and amended as voted on at Town Meeting. This valuable exercise remains unchanged. The budget approved by the voters present at Town Meeting will then be subjected to a townwide Australian ballot to allow all registered voters to have a say. This seems like a fair and sensible solution to address the relatively small number of people at Town Meeting (as a percentage of all voters). Importantly, it still allows those who can attend to participate in the budget process. I urge everyone to approve Article 9 in order to implement this change. It is truly a case of having one’s cake and eating it too! Let’s get this done without further delay.
Nan Mason Charlotte
Vote yes on article 10 Editor: The Warning Notice printed on page 10 in the last Charlotte News lists the articles whose fate will be decided on the floor and in voting booths on Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 1. The articles can also be found in the Town Report you should have received by now, beginning on page 13. A YES vote for Article 10 would include a statement in our Town Plan in support of an application to the state for “Village Designation” in our East and West Villages. If, upon approval of Article 10, our application to the state is accepted, the results are priority status for grants and tax benefits to property owners for improvements to their commercial buildings. It is a completely voluntary program that will not place restrictions on the town or property owners in the district. Details about the program can be found at this link: goo.gl/ PSGGJG. To get on the ballot this question was discussed and supported by your Planning Commission, your Town Planner and your Selectboard at multiple meetings, which included the general public. Vote YES for Article 10. It is a small but meaningful step in support of Charlotte’s East and West Villages. Thank you.
Karen Frost Charlotte
Vote yes Editor: I am writing to ask that Charlotte considers voting in favor of Article 9. This article is necessary to make needed changes in the structure of our town voting structure. At present, the town budget is voted on only by those who are able to attend Town Meeting. Thus the budget is approved by a small percentage of Charlotters who may or may not be representative of our community. On the occasions I have been able to
Continued on page 5
The Charlotte News The Charlotte News is a nonprofit communitybased newspaper dedicated to informing townspeople of current events and issues. It serves as a forum for the free exchange of views of town residents and celebrates the people, places and happenings that make the Town of Charlotte unique. Contributions in the form of articles, press releases and photographs pertaining to Charlotte-related people and events are accepted and encouraged. For submission guidelines and deadlines, please visit our website or contact the editor at news@thecharlottenews.org. The Charlotte News is published in Charlotte by The Charlotte News, Inc., a Vermont domestic 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation. Distribution is made every other Thursday to all households and businesses in Charlotte and to more than 50 outlets in Shelburne, Hinesburg, North Ferrisburgh, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes and Burlington. The Charlotte News relies on the generous financial contributions of its readers, subscriptions and advertising revenue to sustain its operations.
Editorial Staff news@thecharlottenews.org / 425-4949 Editor in chief: Alex Bunten Assistant editor: Geeda Searfoorce Contributing editors: Edd Merritt, Ruah Swennerfelt, Jorden Blucher, John Hammer Copy editors: Beth Merritt, Leslie Botjer, Vince Crockenberg, Carol Hanley Outwater interns: Kali Adams, Madison Hakey
Business Staff ads@thecharlottenews.org / 802-343-0279 Business manager: Shanley Hinge Ad manager: Monica Marshall Circulation group: Valerie Lebensohn
Board Members President: Vince Crockenberg Secretary: John Hammer Treasurer: Patrice Machavern Board members: Bob Bloch, Carol Hanley, Michael Haulenbeek, Gay Regan, Louisa Schibli
Contributors Clyde Baldwin, Elizabeth Bassett, Nicole Conley, Susan Crockenberg, Georgia Edwards, Karen Frost, Valerie Graham, Dana Hanley, Nan Mason, Mary Mead, Sharon Mount, Pat Monteferrant, Karl Novak, Kerrie Pughe, Mary Recchia, Nancy Wood, Margaret Woodruff, Mike Yantachka
On the Cover Left: A view from Bolton down into the Champlain Valley. Photo: Alex Bunten. Right top: A picture of the charter ballot. Right middle: Brandeis AllNew England honorees, left to right: Emily Bryson, Haliana Burhans, Ramani Dayon, Tove Freeman, Kanya Brown, Maddie Dolins. Photo: Courtesy. Right bottom: CVU wrestling team last weekend at the Northern Vermont Athletic Conference State Championships held at St. Johnsbury Academy. More info page 19. Photo: Courtesy.
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The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 3
Voices Commentary: Clyde’s side At the conclusion of the budget process, CCS Director Nostrand was at pains to make it clear that I should conduct myself as a team player. Her logic was routine: having just concluded a process during which all community members could have input, the board had labored long and hard to produce a fair and balanced result. For a board member to not support the result refutes the process and is disrespectful of the effort. Director Nostrand’s comments DO reflect the THEORY of the intent of the design of the process: a popularly elected board—with control of and authority over their education system—having taken comments and deliberated on the validity of educational policy, presents a fair, balanced and educationally meaningful budget for consideration by the community. In fact I DO refute the process as it exists. What has evolved is an annual performance in which the latest crop of knee-jerk-supporter-of-the-institution helicopter parents, nestled in the warm, supportive bosom of a coterie of likeminded parents and massaged by the institution, produces a budget disconnected from financial reality, employing a baseline budget in which no one has confidence, containing things for which there is either no demonstrable need or there exist clear reasons to eliminate. Excessive administration. Too many chiefs and not enough Indians. Ever-increasing non-essential activities. In the end, propped up by using savings for operating expenses. We cannot afford it. There is not enough money to support the current definition of education. Having read this, the reader may be surprised at what comes next on the subject of voting: it may not matter how the reader votes. The vote this year, or possibly next, may well be the last time that Charlotters have ANY meaningful voice in education. Looming on the horizon—May 24—is the vote on a subject that will determine whether local people have ANY meaningful say in educating their children—or control of their finances because of: Consolidation caveat: If two or more CSSU towns decline further consolidation (unlikely) most of what follows is irrelevant for the moment. Unfortunately we will not know the answer until May. There is not space here for a full discussion. Because it bears strongly on a voting decision, a few comments. We have arrived at a point where the unsupportable upward spiral of education costs is NOT, as the state contends, the fault of local control but just the opposite. The costs of education have spiraled out of control as the state has co-opted almost all control of educational policy and cost and handed decision-making to superintendents. The state is the playground of special interests—in the case of education this means, mostly, the NEA and the Superintendents Association—and organizations that have no desire to see their excesses limited by the people who pay the bills.
The state has no clue how to accomplish anything. Anyone in doubt about this need only observe the massive confusion resulting from the passage of Act 46. The state, as usual, has created disaster by talking out of both sides of its mouth: “We’ll control costs but to do that we have to have more of your money.” At the heart of the problem is that the state, like the education institution, has become addicted to spending money. Under the false promise that something can be done about the bell curve in specific subjects (i.e., math), the state, along with the institution, contends that if we just spend more money all will be well. As an aside, the state, having realized that everyone knows that consolidation will not only not save money but will also cost much more, has phased into the argument that the goal is educational equity—not cost control. Consolidation will not control cost, eliminate the bell curve or provide equity. But that’s another letter. This is all fascinating—and frustrating—stuff. Simple empirical observations provide the facts. How does it bear, I’m sure the reader wonders, on voting on THIS budget? By extension. Act 46 is a severe transition from carrot to stick. At heart it reduces the decision on the matter of consolidation to the decision of one person—the Secretary of Education. Yes, the towns get to vote. Yes, the state Board of Education gets to approve or disapprove. However, in the end, the secretary has authority to make the call if she doesn’t like what a town decides. Charlotters—with the knowledge that Charlotte is considered by the state as a “necessary” component of a merger of the CVU feeder towns—have good reason to fear a “done deal.” Charlotte’s best hope to provide quality, cost-controlled education is to opt out of a merger and opt into a structure (perhaps a K-8 academy?) which the secretary cannot contend does not provide good education and move forward with sound, cost-controlled educational decisions. The “extension” mentioned is that a “no” vote means that the town is willing to go forward with the difficult—but far from impossible—task of agreeing on a new arrangement for its education system. Meaning: the town will have to demand a change of mindset—and probably membership—on the board. It is a little confusing. A “no” vote only has meaning if the town is willing to take the next, non-consolidated steps. A “yes” vote means that the voter probably considers consolidation and the final, complete loss of any meaningful voice in education to be a fait accompli. There is not much point in worrying about a budget this year when budgets will, after a merger, be completely beyond public control. I will vote “no.” The reader should give some thought to her/his long-term concept of education and vote accordingly.
Clyde Baldwin Charlotte
Letters PoLicy: The Charlotte News welcomes signed letters to the editor and commentaries on any subject of interest to the community. To allow the publication of a diverse selection of views in each issue, please limit letters to a 300 word max. and commentaries to a 800 word max. Include your full name, town of residence and phone number. The editors reserve the right to edit for clarity, English usage and length or to publish submissions in full. Send them to news@thecharlottenews.org.
BENEFITING:
at Vergennes Opera House
MARCH MARCH 5th 5th 7pm 7pm SPONSORED BY: Andrew and Jeff Fritz, Markowski Family, Mike and Lynn Donnelly, Connie and Bill Houston, Garry Simpson Family, RPM: Restoration Performance Motorcars, J.W. & D.E. Ryan Plumbing & Heating, Jackman Fuels, H.J. LeBoeuf & Sons Contractors & Builders, Vergennes Animal Hospital, WhistlePig Whiskey, Everywear for Everybody, Ed & Beverly Biello, Hall Radio Group, Gary Lange Law Office
cash bar & silent auction MASKS & COSTUMES ENCOURAGED
Enjoy Asian-inspired fare as we honor and celebrate the achievements of world traveler Marco Polo who forever connected the Italian and Asian cultures in magnificent and delicious ways.
TICKETS: $50 Purchase tickets at: Everywear for Everybody, Classic Stitching, Linda’s Apparel, Malabar, at the door or online at vergennesoperahouse.org
4 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News
CY Menotring
continued from page 1
Keagan Bothwell & Seth Zimmerman
Kayla Fysh & Susan Hyde
Stephanie Taylor & Ellie Carpenter
of school increases, their likelihood to use alcohol decreases, and their likelihood to go to college increases.” The students are not the only ones benefitting, however. Many mentorsparticipatebecausetheyenjoyspending time with kids. However, the connections each pair makes are incredibly strong. Bratt says she hasn’t had a mentor leave yet; mentors usually continue until the end of their student’s eighth grade year. In fact, across the district, 98% of mentors continue through eighth grade. “I don’t think mentors
know how much they’re going to love it,” she says. Mentors like Walker agree. “It’s nice to interact with kids on a non-academic level,” he says. Seth Zimmerman, mentor to Keagan Bothwell, says, “My life is enriched just by knowing him.” Ellie Carpenter, Charlotter since fourth grade and mentor to Stephanie Taylor, adds, “I’m having such a great time!” Parents are enjoying the program as well, as they watch their children thrive. Heather Karshagen, mother of two children
The Charlotte Conservation Fund Please support Fund Reauthorization At Town Meeting 2016 THE FUND • Established by town vote in 1996 • To be authorized at Town Meeting
Heather Karshagan, Mike Walker & Ethan Karshagan in the mentoring programs, says that her children have become more confident and vibrant, both emotionally and socially. “It’s a fresh beginning,” she says. “They [the mentors] don’t know the background.” Since the program has been such a huge success, CY is looking to expand it to the high school level—with some program modifications, according to Christine Lloyd-Newberry, the CY Program Director. At the middle-school level, students and mentors spend their time at the school. At the high school level, the program would be both community and school based, depending on the needs of the student. The students with mentors already would have the option to remain with the same mentor. Mentor pairs and parents are excited about the idea of expansion to the high school. Mentee Karshagen says he would love to continue the program next year. Even with the new challenges that high school brings, most participants were enthusiastic. Aside from the mentoring program, CY supports a healthy community in many other ways. Within schools, there are student assistant counselors, who support students who are suffering from their own
or others’ substance abuse, student and faculty health education services, and clubs for students to get involved in. Alexa Uline, a senior from Shelburne, was on a board of CVU students that was led by CY. They worked with other youth awareness organizations and raised awareness through activities and informational tables at events such as craft fairs. Uline says that CY is “more about making healthy choices rather than saying you can’t do this, you shouldn’t do this.” In addition, there is a middle-school version called VKAT (Vermont Kids Against Tobacco) that students can get involved in. Outside of school, CY works with other organizations to get a clear, unanimous message out to the public. These organizations include Prevention Works Vermont, Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community, Essex CHIPS, Milton Community Youth Coalition and Winooski Partnership for a Safe and Peaceful Community. Together, these organizations work to create a healthy, supportive environment in which students can thrive. Contact: madison@thecharlottenews.org
• Provided essential funding for conservation projects around Town for 20 years, totaling 1,687 conserved acres over 20 projects • Projects have includes farms, natural areas, scenic views, trails, and other public access • $1.4 million invested, leveraging $6.7 million of total project costs from other donor sources, such as VHCB and Vermont Land Trust
Please vote for reauthorization at next Town Meeting, March 1, 2016
The Charlotte Conservation Fund – for 20 years a good investment with long-lasting benefits to Charlotte’s landscape and economy
Charlotte Land Trust www.CharlotteLandTrust.org
Tell them you saw it in The Charlotte News!
The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 5
Legislative Report by Representative Mike Yantachka
Paid sick leave Last year the Vermont House passed a bill, H.187, to require Vermont employers to provide a minimum number of paid sick days to their employees. However, the Senate did not act on the bill before the session ended in May. As this year began, the Senate took up the bill and made several changes after hearing testimony from business leaders, labor representatives and many employees who do not currently have this benefit. The subsequent changes made it easier on small businesses to comply with the requirements of the bill. Last week I joined with the majority of my House colleagues to concur with the Senate’s changes and pass the amended bill, which Governor Shumlin has indicated he will sign into law. Why is this bill needed? While about half of Vermont’s private sector employers offer some form of paid sick leave, less than
LEttErs to thE Editor
continued from page 2
participate, I have found Town Meeting to be a vibrant, interactive, important part of Charlotte life during which healthy debate and discussion between neighbors takes place. A change to a two-part structure, maintaining Town Meeting yet having final approval by vote (either in a booth or by absentee ballot) at a later date allows participation by those who would like a say in how our taxes are to be allocated, but are unable to be physically present at Town Meeting. Thank you for your consideration of this issue.
Sharon Mount Charlotte
Article 9 – Vote yes Editor: I love Town Meeting. I love hearing opinions from many points of view. I often hear ideas that had not occurred to me. Sometimes they change my vote. When I’m unable to go to Town Meeting, I still want to have my say on acceptance of the Selectboard’s budget. The Charter will allow us to have our cake and eat it too—those of us who can’t get to Town Meeting will be able to vote on the budget —but only if we approve the Charter. The ONLY effect of the Charter is to allow this innovative process: Town Meeting with its chance to discuss and amend the Selectoard’s budget, followed later by an Australian ballot vote open to
half of employees working for companies with less than 20 employees have any paid sick leave. Around 60,000 workers have to take unpaid time off if they or their child or other family member gets sick. Since most of these workers are in minimum or low wage jobs, they can hardly afford to do so. In many cases they go to work sick or send their child to school sick. So this is a public health and safety matter as well as a labor issue. Beginning January 1, 2017, the bill requires employers to provide every employee at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 52 hours worked. Up to 24 hours can be accrued annually during the first two years of implementation. Beginning January 1, 2019, up to 40 hours can be accrued in a 12-month period. So, if an employee only worked 20 hours per week, they would accumulate 20 hours
over the course of the year. An employer with a paid time-off program such as vacation or combined time off (CTO) that is at least as generous and can be taken for the same reasons as sick leave already satisfies the requirements. Other provisions give employers flexibility in scheduling if employees can give sufficient notice for their absence or can switch with other co-workers. Furthermore, an employer can require newly hired employees to wait one year before they can use the accrued sick leave. While the unused accumulated sick leave is to be rolled over into the next 12-month period, the employer can limit time off to the minimum required by law for that 12-month period. Employers can be more generous if they prefer. In recognition of situations faced by many small businesses, several categories of employees do not fall under the provisions of the bill. Employers are not required to provide paid sick leave to employees who annually work less than 18 hours per week on average, work 20 weeks or less in a 12-month period, work on a per diem basis with no expectation of regular employment, or who are less than 18 years old. Substitute teachers, sole proprietors
or business partners, and exempt state employees are also not covered by the bill. There is also a new employer exemption, which exempts a new business from complying with the law for a period of one year after the employer hires its first employee. In addition, the bill requires the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Department of Labor to develop a program that will assist employers with five or fewer employees with implementing a paid time off policy. We recognize that there is a cost to our employers for this benefit, but we need to also consider the costs to workers, especially those at the low end of the pay scale, for not having this benefit. Costs are part of doing business. A business routinely invests in equipment that improves its operations. So, too, businesses should be willing to invest in their employees who are a benefit to their business as well. I will be available at Town Meeting on March 1 if there is anything you would like to talk about with me. I always welcome your thoughts and can be reached by phone (802-233-5238) or by email (myantachka. dfa@gmail.com). You can find this article and past articles at my website, MikeYantachka.com.
all voters, in person or by absentee ballot. leghold traps, including birds of prey such and trapping culture there.Vermont should Please join me in voting YES on the as owls and Vermont endangered animals do the same. like the American marten. Since trappers Charter, Article 9. Pat Monteferrant Valerie Graham are only required to check traps every 24 Director of Protect Our Wildlife Charlotte hours, the animals suffer for hours on end, Williston often with injuries and exposed to weather extremes, before Trapping our wildlife being killed Editor: The public has been misled and skinned to believe that trapping isπ a necessary for their fur. wildlife management tool. This claim is Leghold traps set not supported by any hard, scientific data; underwater kill if anything, the data available points to the animals by Boys & Girls the opposite conclusion. State agencies, drowning, which ages 13-16 including the Vermont Fish and Wildlife can take up to Department, promote trapping since 20 minutes for wildlife departments are largely funded by beavers. trapping licensing fees and federal grants. Trapping Champlain Discovery Kayak Adventure Follow the money trail. poses additional This Summer! June 20 - July 23 Traps are indiscriminate in the animals harm when 5-week kayak building & outdoor experiential camp for teens. they trap. It is estimated that at least two undertaken on Three weeks to build your kayak; two weeks paddling & camping “non-target” animals are trapped for public lands, on Lake Champlain. Financial aid available. every animal species actually targeted. which are Moreover, traps are just as likely to capture accessed by Info & Video: lcmm.org healthy, young and productive animals, a wide sector Registration: Nick Patch as diseased or mature ones. Therefore, of the public, (802) 475-2022 x113; nickp@lcmm.org trapping cannot target certain animals in accompanied by w order to “manage” a population. Since the their pets. This is ASK about our ne N VT Fish & Wildlife Department relies on why an initiative ANSPORTATIO R T self-reporting by trappers, trapping cannot in Montana OPTIONS! even provide reliable figures on animals proposes to ban killed on which to base sound management trapping on all decisions. of its public Leghold traps, commonly used in lands, despite Register Vermont, are a particularly cruel way to the presence of (802) 475-2022 trap an animal. These traps are not designed a strong hunting Now! www.lcmm.org www.lcmm.org to kill, but rather, to forcefully immobilize an animal until the trapper returns to either shoot, bludgeon or suffocate the animal. Many non-target species are caught in
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6 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News
News From CVU
More on flexible pathways and SBL This past month, the dean for graduate education at MIT announced her leave of absence in order to launch a new model for a residential research university—one that puts problem-based learning at its core, eliminates majors and the hallmark tool of higher education—the lecture. It is but one more manifestation of a growing call throughout K-12 and higher education to deepen student learning through engaged problem-solving and help students discover real interests and issues they care about while they acquire skills to create a consequential life. At CVU, the arrival of Principal Adam Bunting has launched another round of institutional soul-searching, exploring whether some of
and it is likely that the state will give high schools the option of awarding credits or not. At this point in time, CVU intends to continue to award credits. However, the credit system will be revised to ensure credits are earned by demonstrating proficiency on graduation standards. 2. cvu had been expLoring fLexibLe (or muLtipLe) pathways to Learning many years before the new 2015 state mandate. why is it important for students to have these experiences? The charts below speak to the importance of giving students the chance to experience the world as opposed to just talking about it or describing it. The research is clear and compelling: we remember only
National Avg. 2014
Drop Out Rate (1st Year)
Graduation Rate
4 Year Colleges
34.8%
36.6% (in 5 years)
2 Year Colleges
44.5%
29.1% (in 3 years)
Source: http://www.air.org/sites/default/files/downloads/report/AIR-CALDERUnderstanding-the-College-Dropout-Population-Jan14.pd
the cornerstones of our high school are up to the task. We’ve reported on Standards Based Learning and Multiple Pathways to Learning before. This Q&A with Principal Bunting will update everyone on the actions CVU is taking to engage students in meeting learning goals through experiences that give them a palpable sense of self and purpose.
what we need to remember; we learn best by experiencing; we are engaged most highly when we care. When schools focus on normalizing students—instead of focusing on strengths and natural interests—we waste lots and lots of time! Let’s face it. Despite many advancements in secondary education, much of our educational process encourages passivity in our learners. Students go to class and
National Avg. 2014
Avg. Student College Debt
1989
$9,634
2014
$35,200
Source: Pew Research
1. Let’s
do a quick review of the
basics. where is cvu in its impLementation of what has been referred to over
cvu2015, evoLve and standards based Learning? In 2015, the Vermont Legislature placed responsibility on each secondary school board to set proficiency-based graduation requirements (PBGR), based on standards adopted by the State Board of Education, to demonstrate proficiency in literacy, mathematics, scientific inquiry, global citizenship, physical education, artistic expression and transferable skills. CVU has been working on a graduation standards document that merges the state’s suggestions, our mission statement and our existing internal standards documents. These are transferable standards that apply across disciplines, and we hope to seek the board’s adoption of these standards this spring. After that, CVU will begin the work of aligning disciplines and courses with these standards—in other words, defining what the graduation standards look like when applied to specific content areas. The state also now requires schools to provide students with the opportunity to experience learning and meet PBGR through flexible and multiple pathways, including but not limited to career and technical education, virtual learning, work-based learning, service learning, dual enrollment and early college. This calls into question whether the current credit system to monitor student performance toward PBGR within a flexible learning environment is the best choice, the years as
hope that the information they are exposed to leads to a graduation that matters. The status quo too often results in graduates, across lines of gender, socioeconomics and even classroom performance, who don’t know what they care about or how to go about leading a life that matters. We need to re-define this process and make it clear that, “Yes, you will get many of these standards in classes, but it’s also on you to dig in and find ways to develop and exhibit competence.” Kids should have ongoing, self-designed, interest-based, teacher-guided, growth-mindset learning experiences. 3. what changes is cvu considering to aLLow for more fLexibLe pathways? It is unlikely that we will get 1,225 students outside of the building at the same time, so we will need to reorganize current structures and modes of thinking. We are exploring a couple of significant changes right now. One idea is to evolve grad challenge into every year of a student’s experience at CVU. We are also planning to move away from our traditional Red/ White schedule next year to enable our students to interface with the schedules of other schools and the rest of the world. Over the past few years, CVU has been working to expand internship opportunities for students. We also hope to add personal interest/project-based learning opportunities in re-purposed facilities at CVU. It is anticipated that four on-campus hubs/centers for learning will be created to foster meaningful learning that provide evidence of growth on standards and increase a student’s self awareness of
interests. Project-based work in such a “Makerspace” could replace traditional classes in Tech Ed. 4. how wiLL these experiences be faciLitated, evaLuated and reported? These are all important considerations, and CVU is in the process of developing models now. We must create sound structures that enforce strong communication between the school and the extended learning community. In addition, the personalized learning experience may incorporate multiple components, such as a seminar, internship, independent study (including exhibitions) and e-portfolio. We expect that participants would work closely with advisors to define the unique ways in which they will demonstrate their proficiency in meeting standards and prepare a contract that will, among things, specify the number of credits to be awarded upon completion. 5. this is a Lot to absorb! is there a finaL thought you’d Like to share with readers?
I often talk about my first graduation as a first-year principal at Montpelier High School. While the moment was one of celebration, it was also marked by a sense of guilt that too many students were crossing the stage without us really knowing if they had developed a depth of skill or the chance to answer the central questions: what are you interested in? What do you care about? What might you want to do in life? It’s unsettling to think that many of our graduates will be forced to declare a major, select a job, enlist in the services, etc. in a matter of months after graduation. What evidence do students really have to draw from to have any sense about how they might make choices in the future? Parents and educators have a responsibility to provide the structures for students to experience what a certain vocation might actually feel like before we put them in the position of incurring significant debt.
FIRST QUARTER CVU HONOR ROLL
Congrats to all CVU students from Charlotte making the grade and staying studious. As per usual, here is your inspirational quote to keep you grounded: “Where honor ceases, knowledge decreases.” — Proverb
High Honors A/B Honors Caroline J. Arthaud Evan G. Beal Victoria E. Bergstein Hannah R. Bernier Benjamin R. Blackmore Tatum Braun William B. Braun Lillian M. Cazayoux Alexander R. D’Amico Sabrina L. Davis Simone R. Edgar Holmes Elizabeth T. Emmons Michaela M. Flore Bay Foley-Cox Katey J. Hayes Lindsea B. Hayes Meara A. Heininger Maeve G. Higgins Seamus M. Higgins Nathaniel B. Hodgson-Walker Sara A. Holm Benjamin R. Hyams Laurel M. Jaunich Julia L. Kahn Christopher E. Keane Kienan J. Kittredge John J. Koskinen Jennings R. Lobel Katherine M. Mahoney Megan A. Mahoney Brynn T. Marshall Finn L. McGarghan Hadley S. Menk Sadie B. Otley Lucy M. Pappas William B. Pinney III Cassidy R. Price Annabella L. Pugliese Madison B. Randall Benjamin K. Recchia Bradley L. Reynolds Jane F. Servin Andrew M. Silverman Matthew B. Silverman Rayona T. Silverman Samuel H. Sturim Charlie Tegatz Jack P. Thibault Paige E. Thibault Ryan M. Trus Campbell C. Whalen Eleanor C. Woodruff Erin L. Zubarik
Carly G. Alpert Elise B. Askew Jenna M. Baginski Chester B. Barber Elaine L. Beaudin Anne M. Bedell Daniel P. Bernier Oliver H. Bijur David S. Blood Cole A. Boffa Jack W. Boynton Walter L. Braun Iain C. Buxton Malina C. Carroll Catherine A. Cazayoux Joseph C. Cianciola Ashley N. Clark Silas A. Cleveland Isaac A. Cleveland Mason E. Cohn Samuel J. Comai Rebecca D. Cottrell George W. Davis Kevin G. Devine Brandon J. Donahue Spencer Dooley
Harrison C. Falk Emma E. Flore Josephine M. Fox Joseph R. Franceschetti Alana E. Golding Sophia R. Gorman Maxwell J. Gorman Matthew J. Gross Adam G. Hamilton Shannon G. Helfman Andrew Hinsdale Elizah R. Jacobs Kyle T. Jaunich Jackson M. Kahn Claire S. Kellner Samuel W. Knox Sam R. Koskinen Ethan P. Leonard Gabriel S. Lourie-Wisbaum Morgan K. Magoon Nathaniel S. McChesney Sydney M. McGlaflin Ezra A. Miller Colin R. Monsey Liam D. Morse Lillian A. Oates
Rosanne M. Oates Cole B. Otley Mason V. Otley Stella J. Pappas Reece Pawlaczyk Amelia B. Pflaster Cole A. Rehkugler Caroline F. Reynolds Morgan M. Schnell Audrey A. Schnell Wyatt J. Shea Sohaila C. Shiffert Jayce W. Slesar Elias H. Sturim Julie A. Sulva Andrew T. Tieso Zachary O. Toensing Adelaide G. Toensing Elizabeth B. Toensing Maya J. Townsend Declan J. Trus Peter J. Unger Zaqary N. Urbaitel Parker L. Urie Sydney O. Vincent Thomas D. Wright John R. Zahn Suzannah T. Zimmerman
The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 7
A guide to summer adventure for parents and kids Kali Adams THE CHARLOTTE NEWS
Preparing for summer camp is exhilarating. Between the packing and other preparations, it’s easy to overthink the process. Luckily, we’ve got both you and your kids covered with guides on planning for their summer adventures.
Parents Choosing which camp to send your child to is by far the most important decision. Sleep-away or day camp? Full schedule or time for leisure? Subject orientated or a bit of everything? See what options are available in your area, then discuss what interests your child. If the ideal camp is out of your budget, look into scholarships provided by the camp or outside organizations. Sleep-away camp will likely require more preparation, materially and emotionally. It’s important to make sure children are clear about the experience they are going into. Most of all, if they seem hesitant and unready to attend a sleep-away camp, don’t pressure them. Starting with a day camp to build confidence is probably a
to pick children up if they aren’t enjoying themselves is a great idea, it doesn’t work that way. Children are more likely to dwell on the negatives and have increased homesickness if this deal is made. Positive discussions about the upcoming experience is the better option.
better option. Children should be involved when packing for camp. Make sure they know what they’re bringing. Get their input on which clothes they’d rather have or if they prefer one toothpaste over the other, instead of packing everything for them. They’ll have to pack it up before coming home, so they should at least have some idea of what goes where. Also, make sure you have packed the required materials. Camps sometimes have a packing list of recommended items, so be sure to double-check the essentials. Don’t stress out over packing or other preparations. This may sound like an obvious one, but kids will pick up on any stress you have and become more anxious or excitable. By starting preparations ahead of time, you’ll have less of a last-minute rush and be more stress free. Follow your kid’s lead on talking about camp. If he or she seems unenthusiastic about it, hearing you say “it’s gonna be great!” every day is not going to boost anyone’s expectations. Listen to what your children have to say regarding camp—it is going to be their experience, after all. If they feel pressured to attend, they likely wouldn’t enjoy themselves as much. Though you may think that promising
“Summertime is always the best of what might be.” — Charles Bowden
CamP Kids! read this!
Hey kids! Winter is almost over, right? Are you ready for some exploration and adventuring this summer? Thinking about going to camp for summer vacation? Well, before you pack up and head out the door, here are some things for you to consider. Camp is all about learning new things. Do you want to be active and outside? Then maybe a mountain biking or rock climbing camp will suit you. What if you prefer using your brain instead of body? Perhaps something STEM-related would be the camp for you. Search the Internet for camps in and around Vermont. Talk with your parents about finding one that fits your interests. Next, would you prefer a sleep-away or day camp? Are you ready to be away from home for a week or more without your family? If you think so, a sleep-away Contact: kali@thecharlottenews.org
Quietly making noise Talking to our children about death Jorden Blucher THE CHARLOTTE NEWS
My father would have turned 76 on the 19th of this month had cancer not taken him four years ago. In an attempt to explain his passing to Noah, who was two at the time, we told him that grandpa had gone to be with God. He seemed to understand and nothing more was said on the matter. Six months later he asked when grandpa was coming back from visiting Jesus. Experts agree that using the words “die,” “dead” and “dying” are crucial in talking to your child about death. Never under any circumstances should you tell your child that their loved one has gone to sleep. Because each child will react differently, it is important to stress that there is no right or wrong way to feel. Some children may ask a lot of questions; others may just listen. To channel their grief some children may want to write or draw, others may want to do some outward form of honoring their loved one, such as running a race or planting a tree. My first experience with death came at the age of six when our dog, Fiocchi, died. It was the first time I remember hearing my father cry. It was a strange cry, a deep sucking sound as if he were trying to catch his breath. I realized, years later, that it was his emotions revolting against him as he tried to hold them back in an attempt at being strong in front of us. It is my experience that sharing your emotions, at least a little bit, is far more productive than trying
camp is a good choice. There you’ll be fully immersed in the camp’s experience, making new friends and learning new skills. But maybe you don’t want that 24/7 or you just like being around your family. A day camp still gives you the chance to have a great camp experience. Now for packing. If you’ve chosen a day camp, chances are you won’t need to bring much. A sleep-away camp, on the other hand, can mean loads of packing. Either way, check out what the camp recommends you bring and go from there. Even though it may be tempting to lug all your favorite stuff to camp, chances are you wouldn’t need it. If you want to bring a special item to remind you of home, you certainly can, but don’t overpack. While you’re at camp, how will you communicate with your family? If you’ll be gone awhile at a sleep-away camp, you’ll want to stay in touch. See if the camp allows phones or personal computers. If not, consider setting up a schedule so you know when to expect mail or calls from home. Know that you may be homesick, but don’t dwell on it. If you are still feeling homesick after a few days, don’t be shy about talking to other campers. Chances are they might be feeling the same way. Or maybe a camp counselor can give you a pep talk. Though it may be tempting to call home, talking with your family will most likely make you feel more homesick. Most of all,have fun! This is your adventure, after all!
to listen more than you talk, and you need to ask questions so you are not running on assumptions as Erin and I were when we first talked to Noah. No matter how many books or articles you read on the subject, no matter how many people you ask for advice, in the end you need to forge your own path in talking to your children about death. Being forced to talk to the boys about the death of my father has allowed for more open and frank to be stoic for your discussions. It has shown them that people children. Holding can still miss someone they love years after back emotions, I the person is gone, and it helps the boys have found, only to show compassion when someone they Jorden Blucher with his father makes the process know loses someone they love. In all of this of grief that much friends was killed in a car accident. I’d I take comfort. For though my father is no harder. It is important that we show our seen his lifeless body on a metal ER table. longer with us, he still helps to guide me in children that keeping everything bottled But no matter what you know, or think you teaching the boys the lessons of life. up inside is not healthy and that you are not know, you’re never prepared. weak because you cry. On the contrary, I We thought we had done a good job believe that you are stronger for it. explaining to Noah that grandpa was We knew my father was going to pass not coming back. We never took into away. He knew he was going to pass away account how literal his thought process and told us in no uncertain terms that he was. Therein lies the dilemma of talking did not want to see any dour faces around to your children about this subject. You the house. I knew what was coming. I’d have to be upfront and honest, but you witnessed death at 18 when one of my best have to do it in the proper way; you have
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8 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News responsibilities, “looking at Shelburne’s and Charlotte’s fire and rescue services’ bottom lines is,” according to Snow, “not just comparing apples to oranges. It’s more like comparing artichokes to angus beef.”
a big enough umbRella?
John Snow
CVFRS
continued from page 1
more involved than it used to be,” says Selectboard member Matt Krasnow, “and I think the total required time obligations exceeded many people’s thresholds. It used to be much easier to stay qualified for volunteer service than it is today.”
CompaRing budgetS CVFRS is an independent, nonprofit corporation funded by public tax dollars. Though it is small, it offers response competencies that other fire and rescue organizations aren’t able to, and it often aids regional responders. Because of its unique position, it has a unique budget. Shelburne’s budget is smaller compared to Charlotte’s. However, its municipal fire department is largely staffed by volunteers and its separate ambulance is funded by patient billing, a structure that seems to make sense because of the town’s high population of seniors. “It is extraordinarily difficult and generally inaccurate to compare one town’s costs to another,” Snow says. With different structures, equipment, systems and
Snow says that housing fire and rescue services under the same umbrella is not necessarily standard. “Fire and rescue services are almost always separate,” he says. “And statutorily, there is no town requirement to provide ambulance services.” Larger cities like Burlington and South Burlington have paid, full-time staff. Hinesburg, a town that houses no ambulance services, utilizes St. Michael’s College’s ambulance, which is subsidized in part because of its educational component. Changes in rescue operations over recent years are catalysts for a discussion about whether or not Charlotte should keep fire and rescue together. EMS training requirements for certification have gotten more complicated—and get more so every year. Emergency transport now involves more pre-hospital care—more interventions—than it has in the past. “It really is like an extension of the healthcare system,” Snow says. The higher standard of care and more sophisticated equipment translate to dollars and cents for towns and highlight a potential inequity. “Pre-hospital medical care ought not be based on the town you live in,” Snow says. This perspective is rippling out statewide, as questions of regionalism are affecting education issues, which have given rise to Act 46 and a movement towards consolidation, and healthcare issues. “You would not design fire and rescue services as they exist today if you had a clean piece of paper,” says Snow. “Over 200 years of evolution in infrastructure have led us to where we are now, and we must respond to building systems for the future that reflect what our towns and state are today and for tomorrow.”
town and State
hiSSSS-toRy oF a natiVe VeRmonteR Ever wondered if Snake Mountain was named for a reason? Snakes are an important part of Vermont’s ecosystem, and while most aren’t venomous, there are a few of which we should be wary. But did you ever think that there might rattlesnakes here? There are, in fact— timber rattlesnakes. One of 11 species of snake native to Vermont, they once lived in most of the Champlain Valley but now can only be found in Rutland County. Doug Blodgett will be discussing this elusive species on March 3 at Green Mountain College. Blodgett has been employed as a wildlife biologist with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department for 30 years. He has led the Department’s
timber rattlesnake research since 2012, after becoming interested in reptiles inhabiting Vermont. His talk will focus on his research regarding the endangered timber rattlesnake, from the challenges it faces to the life history of this original native Vermont animal. This event is sponsored by the Vermont Woodlands Association and Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. when: Thursday, March 3, 6:30-8:30 p.m. wheRe: Poultney, Vt. inFo: vermontwoodlands.org. Contact: info@vermontwoodlands.org or call (802) 747-7900.
“We’ll need to ask ourselves as a town,” says Snow, “whether or not we believe that fire and rescue should continue to operate as one entity.” “The challenges on the EMS side are profound,” Snow says, a reality that begs the question whether or not the state should take over EMS. “EMS is basically an extension of the healthcare system now,” Snow says, “because of licensing and patient care issues.” He believes that “a discussion needs to happen among towns, ideally led by the state, to develop an efficient rationalization for resources in the future” that respond to town budgets while ensuring that patient care remains top priority. “Is it a good idea that the state pull up resources at a state level and redistribute them?” Snow asks. “It’s a question worth asking.” Because “our service is regulated by the state,” Snow points out—ambulance service is licensed by the state and paid for by the town—perhaps a bird’s eye view would be useful in designing future regional structures.
focus. “Our bylaws always called for [that board structure],” Snow says. “We just hadn’t been as aggressive as we could have in implementing it.” As for recruiting and retaining more volunteers, Krasnow believes that incorporating willing and able citizens at a variety of levels and shift durations could help increase participation. “Sometimes someone only has two hours to be on call,” he said, “but that’s still two free, life-saving hours of coverage.” Snow agrees. “We must define volunteer roles that are more manageable,” he says, reflecting on the opportunities that arise in responding to the available population’s time constraints. “We also need to find ways to enhance quality of patient care without requiring full certification for all rescue volunteers.” Snow believes in Charlotters’ ability to come together for the good of the community and wants to harness that power in symbiotic relationship to CVFRS’s needs. “There are people in our community who are willing and able to help out,” Snow says. “The town as a whole has been very supportive. We can work to find more entry points for volunteers and accommodate shifts in roles to reflect what time people are able to put in.” As we move toward Town Meeting Day to vote on the proposed CVFRS budget for the near future, Charlotters will need to begin the discussion about how to plan for the longer term.
CVFRS’s goals for 2016-17—to recruit more volunteers to the board and make CVFRS a model for other towns going through similar shifts—now includes being a part of a local and statewide discusmoRe woRk to be done sion. Down the road, Snow can envision a new structure surfacing that involves Looking back over the past two combining fire and rescue services based on a volunteer configuration, along with years, CVFRS has accomplished a lot, hiring a paid executive director or CEO. largely because of the addition of paid staff to offset diminished volunteerism. Continuing to bolster the board structure by involving volunteer firefighters and rescue workers and community members with diverse skillsets and backgrounds is a Contact: Geeda@thecharlottenews.org
$339,000
The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 9
P RO P O S E D S C H O O L B U D G E T $7,401,800
2. 23% D ECREASE
Points of Pride ♦
CCS Students Scored Well Above national, state and CSSU averages on the SBAC tests in English Language Arts and Math.
♦
CCS develops citizens who contribute to their community through its Service Learning Program.
♦
CCS engages its students in project based learning through its Exploratories Program.
♦
CCS has dynamic Music and Visual Arts Programs which are regularly invited to showcase their talent at multiple venues.
♦
CCS builds future leaders through its middle level Student Leadership Program.
♦
CCS has a model Farm to School Program that is deemed one of the best in the state.
♦
CCS has a thriving Mentoring Program that involves a whopping 25 community mentors.
2015/16
Estimated 2016-17
1.0216 (Charlotte)
1.0215
.4929 (CVU) 1.5145 (Composite)
Tax Rate Increase
=
2016-17 Tax Est.
Tax Increase Est.
$200,000
$3,069
$40
$300,000
$4,603
$60
$400,000
$6,137
$79
0.0%
.5128
=
4.0%
1.5343
=
1.3%
VOTE! on these Articles on Tuesday, March 1st, 2016, 7:00am to 7:00pm - CCS Multi-Purpose Room Article V Budget $7,401,800 for the 2016-2017 school budget
House Assessment
Article VI Fund Balance Apply $300,000 of fund balance as revenue for the 2016-2017 operating budget
Budget Presentation: Monday, February 29th, 2016, 7:00pm, CCS Multi-Purpose Room ADVERTISEMENT
Charlotte School Board Clyde Baldwin Erik Beal Mark McDermott (Chair) Susan Nostrand Kristin Wright
425-3366 425-2140 425-4860 425-4999 425-5105
Lead Principal Barbara Anne Komons-Montroll
425-6613
Instructional Leader/Principal Stephanie Sumner 425-6612
10 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News
PROPERTY TRANSFERS Jan. 27. Steven Colangeli and Corinne Hayes-Colangeli to Matthew Looft and Abigail Garrett, 30.72 acres with dwelling, 65 Big Oak Lane, $580,000. Feb. 1. Matthew and Michelle Hough to Joshua Corrow and Jennifer Pike, 1.0 acre with dwelling, 399 Monkton Road, $230,000. Jan. 25. John J. Winton, Trustee, to Michael P. and Rebecca M. Abbott, 1.0 acre with dwelling, 719 Hills Point Road, $718,500.
Milk Money
continued from page 1
with VSECU accelerates our ability and capacity to meet those goals.” As a not-for-profit banking resource for everybody who lives and works in Vermont, VSECU offers a full range of financial products and services to its member owners. But this partnership marks the first initiative under VSECU’s newly launched vision, focused on maximizing the credit union’s social, environmental and financial impact throughout Vermont. “Our mission has long been to improve the lives of all Vermonters, and our new vision is really a renewed focus on that mission in a very literal sense,” said Rob Miller, CEO of VSECU. “With our large scale and reach across the state, we are in a very unique position to bring people together and empower the possibilities to help tackle some of Vermont’s economic and social challenges.” By making an equity investment in Milk Money through VSECU’s wholly-owned, independently operated subsidiary, Vermont Heritage Financial Group (VHFG), the credit union will leverage its scale, capacity and cooperative principles to foster social, environmental and financial prosperity throughout Vermont. “Credit unions were the original peerto-peer lenders, and with Milk Money’s focus on supporting local investment at the individual level, it was a natural fit,” said Miller. “One of the most significant ways we improve the lives of our members—and all Vermonters—is to help strengthen Vermont’s economy. This investment supports those efforts by fostering a healthy, locally-grown entrepreneurial ecosystem, connecting Vermonters with Vermont business and growing the Made in Vermont brand.” VSECU members will benefit from the relationship through increased access to investment and entrepreneurial educational programs, as part of this new partnership. Schibli said, “We are thrilled to not only have VSECU’s support and encouragement, but to also benefit from its scale and reach to make more Vermonters aware of local investment opportunities and how they can make an impact in their communities.” Governor Peter Shumlin, at a recent press conference announcing the partnership, lauded the union for its potential to exponentially impact the state’s economy. “This is exactly the type of collaboration that makes Vermont a very special place to grow a business or an idea,” he said. “With a community by your side who believes investing locally is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do, Vermonters are tackling economic and social challenges head on in the most creative ways.” Entrepreneurs and investors—regardless of size or current net worth—can get ready to capitalize on that creativity starting now.
Feb. 12. Unison Site Management, T14 to Theresa Knowles, 104.00 acres (easement), 1324 Ferry Road, $85,536.
THINKING OF SPRING PLANTING ALREADY? The Town Tree Team urges you to check the website of the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District for order forms. Reasonable prices (considering the size), good selection and all planting information can be found at winooskinrcd. org/trees-and-trout-sale-2016. These are bare root stock that need immediate planting after pick up, which is on April 23. We urge you to use species native to Vermont (not blue spruce or box elder). Happy planting!
For more information, visit These events will start at the old Dickerson Farm on Hinesburg Road and end at the MilkMoneyVT.com and vsecu.com. Charlotte Central School. All courses will use portions of Guinea, Bingham Contact: geeda@thecharlottenews.org Brook, Prindle, Roscoe and Lewis Creek roads, with a short piece of Spear Street to Selectboard complete a loop. The Lake Monster Sprint continued from page 1 and Olympic Triathlons will follow this on August 7. The bicycle race portion will use The Selectboard had been using the a loop running to and from the Shelburne first method but at the meeting on Feb. 22 Town Beach along North Greenbush, Lake agreed to change to the second method and Ferry roads. The runners will race and correct the wording in the policy to along Orchard and Lake roads, turning at reflect the method of computation. The the Charlotte Town Beach. And finally, the finalized document will be reviewed at Covered Bridge Half Marathon with added the Selectboard meeting on March 14. In 5K and 10K races will be on Sept.10. These a related matter, there will be a 15-minute races will use Orchard and Lake roads as discussion on the calculation of the pay far as Converse Bay Road. Rayne Herzog, grade for the Town Clerk/Treasurer posi- organizer of Race Vermont, pledged tion presented by the incumbent, Mary adequate police and road control officials. The Charlotte Recreation Committee will Mead. receive $1 per racer. Last year it received requeSt For landScaping bidS about $800 from Race Vermont events for its scholarship fund. Requests for Bids for landscape mainA second organization, the National tenance of town lands took up significant Multiple Sclerosis Society, received time at both meetings. A number of approval to run its annual Green Mountain changes were widely discussed on Feb.14 Getaway Bike Ride on the morning of and passed with a few amendments on Feb. Aug. 6. Generally the route will proceed 22. Much of the discussion centered on down Greenbush Road on its outbound leg, the special needs of the Park and Wildlife returning from Ferrisburgh through the Refuge and the cemeteries. An argument Hollow to Mount Philo Road, then Spear was successfully made that these needs Street to Hinesburg Road and up Dorset to justified departure from centralized the finish in South Burlington. There will bidding as required by the new town be a rest stop in front of Spear’s Corner purchasing policy. Robert Mack repeated Store. Signage will be posted along all his persistent calls for the inclusion of routes. “scopes of work” in the contract bidding adMiniStrative MatterS process. Stephen Brooks, Cemetery Commissioner, supported Mack by A host of administrative actions also suggesting the need for a similar element took place during the two meetings. Among entitled a “narrative bid module.” Significantly, a request for hourly rates these was approval of the Thompson’s was also added for each bid module. The Point Wastewater budget. It sets the intent would be to provide information wastewater fee at $0.055 per gallon. The necessary to compute variances in a resulting fees will result in the collection of about $24,000, which will go toward maincontract should they become necessary. With respect to the brush-hogging tenance and future repairs to the system. portions of the Requests for Bids, the Green Mountain Power received permisPark and Wildlife Refuge Committee sion to replace a number of utility poles on was granted allowance to separately issue RFBs due to their special scheduling requirements. The point was made that there are specialized timings and equipment needs that must be met. The committee will depend on the Selectboard to do the bid opening and awarding. An opportunity to grant an agricultural lease for the Burns Property arose from the RFB discussions, and a lease proposal and application documents were approved at the Feb. 22 meeting. Deadline for submission of applications will be 3 p.m. on March 31. The lease program, for five years, is intended to provide young and beginning farmers with an opportunity to find agricultural lands at a low cost.
SuMMer road eventS approved The Selectboard approved a total of four road events for next summer. Race Vermont, an annual user of Charlotte’s roadways, received permission to hold a half-marathon, 5K and 10K runs on May 7.
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” —Chinese Proverb
Lake and Whalley roads. Joe Bobee, the GMP representative, reported that he is completing plans to remove a significant number of bare poles throughout the town. The Selectboard went on to approve an open space agreement for Michael Hinsdale on 3795 and 3825 Ethan Allen Highway. A pinhole leak in the hot water heater coil at the Senior Center has recently been discovered. This will necessitate replacement of the coil, and the Selectboard accepted the bid of J.W. & D.E. Ryan, Inc. to complete this task for $2,239.02. The Selectboard went on to take a strong stand with the Public Service Board against the proposed installation of a solar farm made up of six rows of solar panels attached to a fixed-tilt racking system. The principal objection was a perceived, very adverse effect the farm would have on the western viewscape from Mount Philo State Park. The PSB Docket NM 6691, with a series of photos, may be found at: bit.ly/21aFtuF. The Selectboard, acting as the Liquor Control Board, awarded Rick Tenney, d.b.a. Tenney Enterprises, a renewal of his Second Class Liquor License. Further administrative items included approval of the expenditure of $333.50 for audio support to the Town Meeting. The annual contract with the Green Mountain Humane Society was renewed. The terms cover taking delivery of delinquent animals from Comfort Hill Kennels. The animals are released to the Humane Society subsequent to the mandatory rabies-holding period. The firm of Stitzel, Page & Fletcher, PC was engaged to act as legal counsel in assisting the Delinquent Tax Collector with tax sales. The next meeting of the Selectboard will be an informational hearing on the Municipal Charter on Feb. 29 at 6 p.m. in the MPR of the CCS. Town Meeting will be on March 1. Regular meetings will be on March 7, 14 and 28 in the Town Hall at 7 p.m.
The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 11
Vote YES on ARTICLE 9 The Charter Vote
Making Town Meeting Work for Everyone PROBLEM: The traditional Town Meeting format preserves one of the last vestiges of “direct democracy,” a form of government in which every citizen present participates in deciding and voting on the town’s policies and the budgets that determine our taxes. However, due to myriad reasons, the current format of voting on town budget via a floor vote on Town Meeting Day limits the number of town residents who are able to participate. GOAL: Increase voter participation on the Town budget while maintaining Town Meeting. SOLUTION: Two-Part Voting Session 1: Town Meeting will continue to be held on its traditional date on the first Tuesday in March. Those in attendance discuss the Town budget presented by the Selectboard, amend it if desired, and then vote the budget from the floor, just as we do now. Session 2: The budget determined at Session 1 will be put to Australian ballot (voted in a booth or by absentee ballot) for Town approval 3-4 weeks later.
Why a charter? State law requires that towns adopt their town budgets on Town Meeting Day unless the Legislature approves a town charter, approved by the town’s voters by Australian ballot, changing that date to another. This is a voting initiative - nothing more. It only changes who can vote, when we vote and how we vote. This is not a change in government. If someone tells you something different, he or she is mistaken. Paid for by the ad hoc Town Meeting Solutions Committee Vince Crockenberg, Valerie Graham, John Hammer, Lynne Jaunich, Patrice Machavern, Charles Russell, Abby Rehkugler, Mike Yantachka
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12 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News
2016
V
ermonters like to volunteer. It’s true. We ship off around 50 Peace Corps cadets per year—often the most per capita in the nation. According to the Corporation for National & Community Service, 34.7 percent of Vermonters volunteered in 2014—the 6th highest in the country. Yet, for the first time in 10 years (at least), every electable position on the Charlotte town government ballot is uncontested or vacant. Maybe everyone is happy with how it’s going. All services and taxes are in balance, right? Alternatively, maybe no one wants to raise their head above the
parapet. Politics are messy affairs with plenty of divisive issues to go around. For incumbent candidate Matt Krasnow, his uncontested bid for office “is a symbol of [his] constituents’ approval of the work and service.” He believes “if someone is doing a good job in office serving the people, Vermonters do not run against such an incumbent merely to achieve their own personal goals.” When asked about the lack of participation, Town Clerk Mary Mead stated bluntly, “Who would want to? Is this what you want to spend your time doing?” And it’s not just Charlotte with one-horse or ghost races. A quick look at the 2015 town report in Hinesburg shows four vacant seats and all others unopposed. In Shelburne there’s no competition on their ballot either. The hours can be long and the tasks or topics are not always riveting,
but as the proud home of a unique breed of direct democracy, doesn’t Vermont need enthusiastic competition amongst electable positions to ensure this tradition continues? Maybe this is just a sign that we have too many volunteer positions available. Appointed committees and boards in Charlotte have over 70 participants and very few vacancies. Are Charlotters just spoiled for choice? Two of the positions on Charlotte’s ballot have questionable value—Town Grand Juror and Town Agent. Will they soon go the way of Fence Viewer and Weigher of Coal? Possibly worth further inspection. Looking at the Cemetery Commission over the past 10 years (see chart below), they’ve had historic issues finding someone enthusiastic about tending the final resting place of our ancestors. Some
people aren’t comfortable around the dead, but what about the Trustee of Public Funds position? No one wants to take care of our money? Maybe people are just apathetic. They come to Charlotte to get away from it all. Unless a town issue directly affects them or their five acres, they keep their head down. Without digging in the historical data more, it’s hard to say if this year is an outlier or not. There’s certainly a commonly sung refrain among some town officials (see CVFRS article on page 1) that “people are busy,” a truth that reflects the challenges we all face in an economic climate that tips work/life balance every day. Regardless, our town needs running, and we’re grateful for the intrepid souls that are ready to keep the home fires burning for another year. Alex Bunten
Game of thrones (2006-2016)
Editor in chief
NB: Numbers in parentheses represent the term length. Names crossed out didn't win the election. 2006 lists candidates on the ballot and others elected in previous years. Source: Annual Town Reports, Town of Charlotte, "Names to appear on the Ballot"—chart does not include people appointed after elections were held.
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
SELECTBOARD Jennifer Cole (3)
Jennifer Cole (3)
Charles Russell (3)
Frank Thornton (2)
Edward H. Stone (2) Eleanor Russell (2)
Charles Russell (3) Frank Tenney
Charles Russell (3)
Frank Thornton (2)
Fritz Tegatz (3) Winslow Ledue
John Owen (3)
Dennis Delaney (2) Gerald A. Bouchard Frank W. Tenney Richard L. Weed
Frank Thornton (2)
Edward H. Stone (2)
Winslow Ladue (2)
Winslow Ladue (3) Frank W. Tenney
Carrie Spear (3) Charles Russell Eleanor Russell (2) Dennis Delaney Edward H. Stone
Winslow Ladue (2)
Edward H. Stone (3)
Jacob Spell (2) Frank W. Tenney Matthew Krasnow (2) Bonnie Christie Ed Stone
Matthew L. Krasnow (2)
Heather L.G. Manning (3) Lane Morrison (2)
Lane Morrison (3)
CCS SCHOOL DIRECTORS Adam Brown (3) Clyde E. Baldwin (3) Daniel Luce
Edorah Frazer (3) Thomas Nola
Lynne Jaunich (3) Clyde E. Baldwin (3) Kristin C Wright Patrice Machavern (3)
David Hill (2)
Patrice Machavern (2)
Susan Nostrand (3) Clyde E. Baldwin (3)
Sue Thibault (3) Sue Thibault (2) Thomas Gorman
Daniel Luce (2) Thomas Gorman
Kristin Wright (2) Daniel Luce (2)
Clyde Baldwin (3) Mark McDermott (3)
Kristin Wright (2) Donna L. Spielman
Mark McDermott (3) Kristin C. Wright (2)
Lynne Jaunich (2)
Erik Beal (2)
Lorna Jimerson (3)
Vacant (3)
Jeff Martin (2) Erik Beal (2)
CVU SCHOOL DIRECTORS Lorna Jimerson (3) Dottie Waller (3)
Lorna Jimerson (3)
Lorna Jimerson (3)
Dottie Waller (3) Marilyn K. Richardson (3) Richard Hess
Marilyn K. Richardson (3)
Lynne Jaunich (3)
CHARLOTTE LIBRARY TRUSTEES Beth Merritt (5) Denise F. Danyow (5) Nan Mason (5) Lynn Cluff (5) Alice Lawrence (5)
Dorrice Hammer (5) Sharron Richards
Beth Merritt (5)
Nan Mason (1)
Bonnie Christie (5) Martha Perkins
Robert Smith (5)
Theresa Hudziak (5)
Emily Ferris (5) Vincent Crockenberg (5)
Lynn Alpeter (2)
Danielle Conlon Menk (5)
Bonnie Ayer (5)
Jonathan Silverman (5)
AUDITORS Nancy Wood (3) Debbie Ramsdell (3)
Nancy Wood (3) Debbie Ramsdell (3)
Nancy Sabin (3)
Jason J. Pidgeon (3) Charles Russell
Nancy Wood (3) Judy Billard (3)
Nancy Sabin (3)
Patrice Machavern (2) Nancy Sabin (3)
Peter Trono (3) Robert Mack Jr. (1)
Peter Trono (3) Jennifer Cole (3) Robert Mack Jr. Note: All other posiitons were uncontested at least for the past 10 years.
Lane Morrison Matt Krasnow Selectboard (3-year term)
I am running for a second term on the Charlotte Selectboard. With nearly three years complete, I have gained the experience necessary to have a meaningful impact on the various issues that come before the town. Our current Selectboard has a good cross section of citizen representation. With your vote on March 1, I am prepared to continue this effort. Accomplishments this year consist of updating financial policies, launching an employee evaluation process, fine-tuning our pay system, supporting CVFRS, involving the town in the issues related to propane storage safety on our rail sidings, facilities upgrades, and endorsing a Town Charter vote to allow more citizen representation for the town budget. Next year I look forward to a significant involvement in the Town Plan that is due for an update, changes in our planning and zoning office, and a major capital purchase of a fire truck pumper. The board will work with CVFRS to assure a competitive price using the new purchase policy. Our meetings are now available on VCAM streaming, allowing for broader community awareness. Thank you for your support.
Selectboard (2-year term) My name is Matt Krasnow and I’m asking you to elect me, on Town Meeting Day, to a second term on the Selectboard. Born and bred here, I value maintaining and strengthening Charlotte’s land use planning, which has allowed us to preserve a rural working landscape, accessible recreational spaces and local engagement. As a Selectboard member I’ve worked everyday to minimize the municipal tax burden. I’m looking forward to helping update the Town Plan this year, specifically strengthening the town’s ability to ensure any future proposed large renewable energy installations and railroad developments are consistent with our local community values. I also plan to be collaboratively advancing language and mechanisms which improve property rights, encourage responsible growth and attract new residents (to reduce the housing stock inventory currently on the market). Employing a fiscally conservative approach, I have successfully worked toward presenting level-funded budgets and year-end expenditures which were less than budgeted. Spending significant time crafting and implementing financial control, salary administration and purchasing policies has paid off and positioned our town government to be more stable, fair and transparent moving forward.
In a second term, I hope to benefit the town by reinvesting what I have learned in my first term, continue to successfully limit the growth of the municipal budget, and encourage the growth of positive
community interactions utilizing readily available resources in town like the school, senior center, library, beach, ferry, state park, fishing access, wildlife refuge park, and local businesses and services. I’d also
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Meet the candidates
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The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 13 like to develop a user friendly webpage that showcases Charlotte’s businesses and services (with links to their webpages) for locals, tourists, friends and family alike. I appreciate your consideration of my re-election campaign for Selectboard, which will provide me with the opportunity to serve the town for another two years as I improve my advocacy skills forconstituents and capacity to govern well.
Jeff Martin
Charlotte School Board (2-year term) My decision to run for this office has not been undertaken lightly and has arisen from several factors: As a parent, I’ve witnessed the incalculable impact of highly skilled teaching and guidance at CCS on the growth and development of my children. As a psychologist and university educator, I have gained some knowledge of public school practice through my consultations with various schools in addressing the needs of children with emotional and learning challenges. And as a volunteer on the CCS Diversity Committee for the past five years, I have been committed, along with school staff and others, to the essential relevance of diversity learning to better prepare our students for the increasingly complex world they will live in. For these reasons, tied to my determination to give my best efforts to the work of the school board, I am asking for your consideration and your vote on Town Meeting Day. Thank you.
Mark McDermott
CCS School Board Director (3-year term)
I am pleased to be running for reelection to fill a three-year term on the Charlotte Central School Board. My family and I moved to Vermont in 2010. Many factors drove our decision to choose Charlotte over other towns—its agricultural character, rural landscape and strong sense of community—but one important factor was the reputation of CCS. I am running for School Board to help CCS continue to deliver excellent education to our youngest residents. There are many complex issues facing the School Board, including the continued decrease in enrollment, needs of the physical structure of the school, ongoing budgeting issues and the question of uniting school districts under Act 46. Together they form a difficult time for schools across the state. We are fortunate to have a community that supports CCS and an excellent collection of teachers and staff to run it. Educational systems are always being asked to do more and perform better, frequently with less or static finances. Let’s not forget that children are at the heart of these discussions. Providing a top-notch education in a thoughtful and fiscally responsible fashion is an achievable goal. I look forward to the opportunity to continue to participate in that process and ask for your vote on March 1. Thank you.
Lynne Jaunich
CVU School Director (3-year term) I graduated from Middlebury College with a joint biology-psychology degree and received my master’s degree from Duke University in physical therapy. Over the years, I have
served on a number of statewide and local non-profit boards. My husband, Scott, and I have lived in Charlotte for 15 years and have been strong proponents of public education. Our three children, Christian, Kyle and Laurel, have attended CCS and CVU, with the last two kids graduating this June. I served as a CCS and CSSU school director from 2008-2013 and was appointed to fulfill the remainder of Marilyn Richardson’s CVU term in June of 2015. Over the years, I have seen many changes in our children’s education. CVU has been recognized as one of the top high schools in the country. I’m running because I feel strongly that we need to be creative in order to offer a rigorous and meaningful education for our students while still maintaining affordability for the taxpayer. We are fortunate to have a strong, coordinated system between CVU and the sending schools and have realized some efficiencies. However, as more of our education is consolidated, I believe we need to ensure accountability and transparency to the communities that support our schools. With my prior experience on school boards and other nonprofits, I believe I can help ensure that a thoughtful and accountable process is followed when meeting those challenges.
Moe Harvey
Trustee of Public Funds (3-year term) Thank you for considering me as a candidate for Trustee of Public Funds. As a Trustee, our goal is to assure the citizens of Charlotte that the funds in trust will be invested safely with a reasonable rate of return. The income from these funds is distributed to our CCS Library and the Grandview and Barber Cemeteries on an
annual basis. My experience in volunteering in our town consists of the following: Chair of Conservation Commission, Chair of Charlotte Land Trust, Lister, Safety Commission, Chair of Selectboard, Affordable Housing Commission. In my personal life I have owned my own company for 43 years (currently with my son Jason), served as state chair of Ducks Unlimited, regional vice-president of Ducks Unlimited, co-founder of the Vermont Duck Stamp program, which utilizes its funds to protect and purchase wetlands in Vermont, board member of Birds of Vermont Museum. I appreciate your support. Thank you.
Nan Mason
Charlotte Library Trustee (1-year term) It is a privilege and a pleasure to serve as a library trustee to complete the term of Dorrice Hammer. I was a trustee for 10 years when the library was built and have been part of the Friends of The Charlotte Library for many years. I re-joined the trustees when Bonnie Christie resigned last year. The library by any standard is providing services to the town through its ever growing and changing collection and programs. The entire staff is dedicated and always ready to help and to innovate. As a trustee I think that my job is to support the staff and let them continue unfettered to do what they do so well. I believe that I bring perspective, enthusiasm and occasional humor to the position of trustee.
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14 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News
Around the world, home to Charlotte Susan Crockenberg CONTRIBUTOR
Charlotters know Sandi and Rick Detwiler as an engaging couple whose charming camp on Thompson’s Point has served as their summering site for 21 years. In the early days, the cottage was “home base” for the entire family, who lived, worked and attended school abroad the rest of the year. As you walk along Flat Rock Road, you recognize their camp by the brightly decorated rickshaw that adorns their property, a souvenir of their time in Bangladesh. Well before Rick and Sandi settled on Thompson’s Point, however, they were familiar to Charlotte families. Some parents with grown children, now 30-something adults, may remember Rick Detwiler as the popular principal of CCS from 1984 to –1988. Talking about those days, Rick describes his staff as incredibly talented, supportive of him as well as of their students, though not above playing a practical joke from time to time. On one occasion, knowing that Rick read every report card that went home to parents, a not-to-be-named teacher
Rec News by Nicole Conley Youth BasketBall The rec basketball season has come to an end. The 3rd-4th grade girls and boys basketball teams finished up their games last week and the kindergarten to 2nd grade teams finished up their skills practice. The recreation department truly appreciates all of the time, effort and positivity each coach has added to make for a fun-filled season. All of the kids had smiles on their
thought it humorous to insert a false report card amongst the others—; one that spoke unflatteringly about the student—to give Rick a jolt and a laugh as he conscientiously completed his review. It did. It also prompted a joke in return. Rick sent a message to his staff confessing that he’d been unable to review the report cards this time and had sent them out “as is.” Then he waited in his office, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Shortly, the teacher in question appeared in his doorway, ashen-faced and guilty, ready to confess, when Rick’s laugh gave the joke away. Rick also recalls strong support from both the school board and the community, with little of the budget angst that now characterizes the school-town relationship. A year later they were on their way with their three young children, Kari, Charlie and Jake, to Athens, Greece, where Rick was a middle school principal and Sandi taught English as a second language to an incredibly diverse set of students from around the world. How, I wondered, did they make what seemed a momentous decision to leave Charlotte, where by all accounts they were happily ensconced, for
faces while learning how to play the game of basketball. We would like to say a big thank you to the following coaches: Tim Hunt, Emily Kallock, Jim Morris, Jeff Blasius and Richard Keach Jr.
RecReation lacRosse The primary goal of recreation lacrosse is to provide a venue for athletes to learn and master lacrosse skills in a fun, positive environment. Winning is not the primary objective but rather development of sportsmanship, skill work, teamwork, respect for others and having fun are all part of the program. Games will be played with other towns; children in 3rd grade and up will participate in the US Lacrosse league. Every child who fully participates will receive equal playing time. Third through 8th grade participants must have a US Lacrosse membership to participate in the lacrosse program. To register your child, please follow these steps: 1. Obtain a registration form from our town website under the “recreation” tab or you can stop by the Charlotte Town Offices to pick one up. 2. For 3rd–8th grades visit the US Lacrosse website (uslacrosse.org/ membership) to register or renew a membership.
The Detwiler Family: Rick, Sandi, Kari, Charlie (seated) and Jake, by the Red Sea, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt-circa 1992 a country they had never visited, whose language was completely unfamiliar to them, and for who knows how long? Their responses were instructive, perhaps especially for young people considering international careers. For Sandi and Rick, the decision seemed natural. They had served together in the Peace Corps in Botswana some years previously, loved learning about and living in different cultures, knew they would face challenges
Please record your child’s US Lacrosse number and its expiration date on the rec registration form. (You will receive a confirmation e-mail with this information shortly after becoming a member or renewing.) Your child’s US Lacrosse membership must be valid through June 30, 2016. 3. Complete the registration form and return the form and payment to Charlotte Recreation. You can either bring the form to the Charlotte Town offices or mail it. You MUST include your child’s US Lacrosse membership number and expiration date on the registration form if you are in 3rd through 8th grades.
RegistRation Fees and deadlines
(although not specifically what these would be) and were confident they could cope with whatever the experience dished up. It helped also, Rick said, that they were not making a life-long commitment but rather envisioning a two- or three-year stint abroad to begin with. Then they could decide what to do next. In the years that followed, Rick and Sandi indeed continued the life they began in Greece, moving across the world, stopping for three to seven years in places as diverse as Tel Aviv, Israel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Budapest, Hungary, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, each spot with unique pleasures and endless opportunities to introduce their children to humanity’s tremendous and inspiring diversity. Was there a downside to the life they chose? Not really, though as in all lives there were challenges. Notably, a 100-year flood in Bangladesh brought water right to their doorstep, requiring the family to exit their home each day by boat. There was also the sadness of leaving a country and friends they had made there, but they were always ready for the next challenge. Given their obvious enjoyment of working and living internationally, how did they end up back in Vermont? A few events that conspired to bring them home included an illness in of a family member here, Rick’s mother’s passing away, the ability to see their adult children often and their
Continued on next page
2015—birthdates on or between 1/1/03 – 12/31/08. Babe Ruth deadline: Apr. 30, ages 1+ (baseball and softball)
Fees Farm (age 7-8): $60 Minor/Major (age 9-12): $60 SB Minis & Minors (age 7/8-9/10): $60 Softball Majors (age 11-12): $60 Babe Ruth (age 13+): $90 Please note: $10 non-resident fee does not apply to Little League; $50 late fee applies after above deadlines.
skill assessments
3rd-8th grade registration fee $80 by Will be held at The Field House March 11 (after add $25 late fee) 1st-2nd grade registration fee $35 by in Shelburne (must be registered to participate): April 11 (after add $25 late fee) Softball—Sat., March 5, 8–10 a.m. Please make checks payable to Town of (mandatory) Charlotte. Baseball Minors—Sat., March 12, 8–10 spRing little league a.m. (mandatory) Baseball Majors—Sun., March 13th, Charlotte, Shelburne and Hinesburg 8–10 a.m. (mandatory) have combined Little League teams. The Registration forms are available at the Town of Shelburne will be organizing Shelburne Recreation Department or Little League registrations. Please follow at shelburnevt.org/160/Parks-Recreation the instructions listed below to register adult pRogRamming your child. Opening Day is Saturday, April 30. Indoor Pickle Ball, Wednesdays, 6–8 Baseball deadline: Mar. 13, ages 5-12. p.m., at CCS. Boot Camp, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Note: baseball age as of April 30, birth6–7 a.m., $10 per class at CCS. dates on or between 5/01/03 - 4/30/11. Mat Pilates, Fridays, 6–7 a.m., Girls’ Softball deadline: Mar. 13, $8 per class, at CCS ages 5-12. Note: softball age as of Dec. 31,
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You can find registration forms and additional information on our programs on our town website charlottevt.org under the ‘Recreation’ tab or contact Nicole Conley by email Recreation@townofcharlotte. com or by phone 425-6129 ext.204.
The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 15 reunion with a number of close friends in the area here who provided a ready-made community. Now Rick and Sandi live in Ferrisburgh in the winter and Charlotte in the summer—that is, when they are not traveling. Rick continues as a school board consultant in countries as far-flung as Nepal, Bulgaria, Rwanda and Israel. Recently he was lead presenter at the conference of the Association of American Schools in South America, a role that reflects the high esteem in which he is held. Although they travel together still, Sandi’s life in Charlotte has blossomed. At the Senior Center, a talented writer herself, Sandi leads with consummate skill and sensitivity a lively memoir writing group that gathers weekly to read some of their memories of lives past and continuing. You can bump into Sandi at Monday morning yoga class and Friday afternoons as she greets Senior Center visitors with a smile. Recently, Sandi fascinated an audience with the remarkable tale of their 10-day trek along the Lycian Trail in southwestern Turkey. She illustrated the talk with photos of the turquoise Aegean Sea that lay below and the dry, rocky cliffs of the Turkish coast. The trail took them (and us) back through 2,500 years of history and into the homes of local Turks who welcomed and fed them the ultimate Mediterranean cuisine of freshly sliced
tomatoes and cucumbers, olives and feta. Sandi’s work with children and families from different cultures continues unabated. She shares the expertise gained from living and teaching in different cultures here with the Refugee Resettlement Project and, closer to home,
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Rick and Sandi Detwiler in Istanbul, Turkey, 2014. Photo: Courtesy
with the Achindas, a family with eight children who began their life in America in Charlotte. If you are considering a change of great magnitude in your life, Sandi says “You have to be willing to take a chance and not have everything all planned out.� Rick adds that you also need a good sense of
Carnevale Vergennes to benefit three area nonprofits On Saturday, March 5, from 7 to 11 p.m., Vergennes’ historic Opera House will transform into an Italian plaza. Vergennes’ ever-popular Carnevale returns, this year bringing the magic of Venice to Vermont. Created by local residents Andrew and Jeff Fritz, the original Carnevale was created to raise funds for the Vergennes Opera House and other nonprofits. This evening of entertainment benefits not just one charity this year, but three—the Vergennes Partnership, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes and the Vergennes Opera House. “The first beneficiary was the Vergennes Partnership, an organization that does great work to bolster the Vergennes downtown economy,� said Opera House board president Gerianne Smart. “This year we’ve added the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes, an organization that makes a difference in the lives of area children.� So what does Carnevale entail? The theme this year is “Marco Polo Returns,� harkening to the achievements of the world traveler who brought Asian culture to Europe. Guests are encouraged to come in costumes, so start searching for your
who you are, how much security you need they spent the night. and how much risk you can tolerate. On the way to Istanbul the next day to A piece Sandi has written about a apply for new passports, they rued the family vacation in Turkey exemplifies this ruined vacation, prompting Charlie, age 7, spirit of adventure and where it can lead. to reflect that, if all this hadn’t happened, They parked their car on the verge and they would never have met Ahmet who scrambled down the rocky slope to a beach introduced them all to the kindness of the on the Aegean Sea. As the day wore on, Turkish people. others arrived, waving gaily to the bathers below. When they returned to their car, however, passLawn ports and money they’d Re-Ed left behind had vanished, Prunin taken no doubt by the Spring people who had seemed Install so friendly earlier. As Retain if that were not enough, Weedi their car simultaneously developed electrical probStone Est. 2001 lems and a flat tire. Pressu Like the intrepid Interio Wyatt Vincent travelers they are, Sandi Leaf re 25 Bowman Road and Rick survived this t 4QSJOH $MFBOJOH Limb a Vergennes, Vermont 05491 potentially disastrous set t 'VMMZ *OTVSFE Beach of events with the help of Brush a generous Turk who ran t $BMM &BSMZ GPS 1SF 4FBTPO .PXJOH %JTDPVOUT Hedge the local gas station. He Power fixed the car, drove Rick Vincrestlandcare@yahoo.com Staini to get money, fed Sandi and the children multiple Snow Catering To Your Seasonal Needs cups of very sweet tea and Drivew took them all home to his Seasonal lawn care tiny house where, after Sp 8ZBUU 7JODFOU vacat more cookies and tea, #PXNBO 3PBE t 7FSHFOOFT long
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Venetian mask! There will be “Asian-style fare� for guests to enjoy, as well as an “Italianstyle� desert. A cash bar will be staffed by Bar Antidote, and a portion of bar proceeds will go to the beneficiary nonprofits. A silent auction—featuring eclectic, unique and unusual items, all “priceless� and some one-of-a-kind—will also raise money for charity. In addition, Charlotte resident Woody Keppel has organized an array of entertainment. Keppel is an internationally known performer, comedian, acrobat, juggler and actor who is heavily involved in the annual summer “Festival of Fools� on Church Street in Burlington. The Hokum Brothers will be performing at Carnevale, so expect magic, music and acrobatics! For more information, visit vergennesoperahouse.org or call 802-877-6737. There is a limit of 200 attendees for this year’s Carnevale, so guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are $50 each and are available online as well at Vergennes shops Classic Stitching, Everywear for Everybody and Malabar.
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16 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News Russian ice sculpture winner
Out-Doors Making the best of winter Elizabeth Bassett THE CHARLOTTE NEWS
How do Charlotters survive a winter as weird and uneven as this? “Walking, walking, and walking,” said one, “while
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the ski pass goes to waste. “Also hanging around lots.” Sounding a familiar theme, Robin Coleburn says, “Robert and I have walked mostly at Shelburne Farms, but we have also done some new hikes in Middlebury on the TAM— Trail Around Middlebury. This would be a perfect place to cross country ski—if and when the snow comes.” “Other than that,” Coleburn says, “I have taken up knitting while listening to books and podcasts; also spending lots of time painting. Not many calories burned doing either of those things! I also spend two days a week gazing out my kitchen window and keeping track of birds at my feeder for the Cornell Backyard Bird Count. It is a fun way to enjoy the winter wildlife but not very athletic.” Coleburn spends about four hours per week counting and identifying birds by species. The Great Backyard Bird Count, launched jointly in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, was the first online citizen-science (WēǨǨǨǨƮÛƮƮƺƝ
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project to collect data on wild birds. Today, more than 100,000 people worldwide contribute information to produce an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds. Other Charlotters take to the road. Since 1990 the Castle family—Anne and Ted Castle along with sons Ned and Rooney— has traveled to Ottawa for Winterlude, a Canadian celebration of winter, snow and ice. Why would Vermonters venture north at the coldest time of year? “Ottawa and Winterlude are magical,” Anne Castle says, “skating through the middle of the city along five miles of the Rideau Canal. Without unlacing your skates you can feast on Beaver Tails (fried dough), hot chocolate and poutine or stop at a warming hut, heated port-o-potty or fire pit.” Launched with Friday evening fireworks, three weekends of Winterlude include snow and ice sculpture contests, a snow park with slides, tunnels and labyrinths, a free Snowbus to transport the young or weary, and on-ice contests and races: puck shooting, an obstacle course and a bed race sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. “The ice sculptures this year were some of the best ever,” Castle says. Competitors come from North America, Europe, and as far away as Japan, Russia and the Philippines. Many are chefs. “They are
given a limited amount of time to complete their carvings. It is thrilling to watch the creations emerge from large blocks of ice. It often comes down to the last hour before the chain saws, hair dryers and small dental tools are put away and the final layer of ice dust is brushed away. What is left is simply amazing and aptly called the Crystal Garden.” Ottawa is Canada’s national capital and, like Washington D.C., is rich in museums: Civilization, National Gallery of Canada—an architectural gem in addition to its collection—Canadian War Museum, Aviation and Space Museum, Science and Technology Museum, among others. The Parliament Building is beautiful and also worth a visit. “This year Mother Nature was a challenge and the canal did not open until the Friday of opening ceremonies,” Castle says, “but technology has lent a helping hand.” A new system allows the canal to be brushed clear of snow and then watered by a Zamboni-like machine that smooths the surface. “The canal is open 24 hours, day and night. If you are lucky you might follow the Zamboni down the canal with nary a soul in sight. This is truly magic!” For more information about the Trail Around Middlebury, visit maltvt.org/trail/ tam-trail. Cornell’s Backyard Bird Count can be found at gbbc.org, and Ottawa’s Winterlude is at www.ottawatourism.ca.
The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 17
Boys In The Trees: A Memoir By Carly Simon Georgia Edwards CONTRIBUTOR
I’m home again in my old narrow bed Where I grew tall and my feet hung over the end The low beam room with the window looking out On the soft summer garden Where the boys grew in the trees It is hard to imagine that Carly Simon, a multiple award-winning singer and songwriter, grappled with performance anxiety, low self-esteem and depression for much of her life. Voted the music industry’s Best New Artist for 1972, she went on to write and perform songs that defined the 70s. In this intelligent and rich memoir, Simon writes movingly of the tumult that dogged her first 38 years of life: family problems, stormy relationships with men, and depression, which she refers to as “The Beast.” She chronicles her awkward childhood in Greenwich Village and Connecticut through her troubled, ten-year marriage to fellow singer-songwriter James Taylor. Simon’s outwardly privileged life belied the struggles within her family. The third daughter of Richard Simon, co-founder of Simon & Schuster, she ached to receive love and attention from a father who fought his own depression demons. Her mother, Andrea, turned a blind eye to Simon’s sexual abuse by a family friend and later, invited her son’s 19 year-old tutor to live in the family home as her lover. Simon does not disguise her fury about her mother’s infidelity. She developed a stutter that derailed her academic studies and caused panic attacks. An older Simon experienced the sexual freedom of the 60s and early 70s. The portions of the book about the men in her life read like a dishy, yet tasteful, Who’s Who of famous men: Warren Beatty (her inspiration for “You’re So Vain”), Michael Crichton, Mick Jagger, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens and Jack Nicholson, who once asked, “Do you ever drink coffee in your bedroom?” Her relationship with James Taylor comprises the last third of the memoir. After seeing him on the cover of Time Magazine, she told her sister, “I’m going to marry him.” They were wed in 1972 after a short engagement. Despite Taylor’s drug problems, mood swings and affairs, Simon’s love for him was unfailing and bordered on adoration. She writes, “James was my muse, my Orpheus, my sleeping darling, my ‘good night, sweet prince,’ my something-in-the-way-he-moves.” She is frank, however, about the not-so-honeyed side of Sweet Baby James. Disappointingly, Simon gives her writing and recording career—arguably more creative than Taylor’s—little mention in the book. Whole albums are briefly cited or glossed over. She did not want to “overshadow the man I loved”— a contradictory statement from a woman seen by many as a feminist icon. The lyrics and songs that she does share with the reader are thoughtful and poetic. Boys in the Trees is written by one of pop music’s more erudite songwriters. Simon writes beautifully and movingly, chronicling her life with fearlessness, candor and wisdom.
Single-sport specialization in young athletes – risk and reward? Tim Gould CONTRIBUTOR
An estimated 30 million American school-age children will participate in organized sports this year. Among them, a growing number will play and direct their training toward a single activity year-round while excluding other sports. Parents, coaches and health professionals must decide if this is a good thing for young athletes.
The rewards The decision to pursue a single sport through the year and to specialize in that activity is motivated by many factors. Foremost, the notion that early specialization will lead to superior skill development and better athletic performance may drive the commitment. Parents, players and coaches often feel pressure to promote specialization to improve an athlete’s chance of competing at the next level—a scholastic team, a travel program, an elite club, a collegiate scholarship or perhaps professional sports. Others make the
decision because peers are involved in a focused program, and they fear being left behind if they do not follow suit. Research, however, does not support a relationship between early specialization and advancement to elite-level participation. In fact, the available evidence points to the contrary. In a study conducted at UCLA, 88 percent of 296 male Division 1 collegiate athletes played two or more
sports through childhood. In a similar survey of 376 female Division 1 collegiate athletes, only 17 percent had specialized in their sport prior to college. A 2013 study in the Journal of Sports Sciences found that, when comparing groups of children ages 11, 13 and 15, those who participated in multiple sports were significantly more likely to advance to higher levels of competition than those in the specialized group. Among a sample of 708 minor league baseball players, 75 percent did not specialize in their sport until later adolescence. At the highest levels of competition, the NCAA, MLB, NHL, NFL, USTA and the U.S. Olympic Committee all discourage youth specialization before later adolescence.
The risks More important than the future athletic success of a child, the health concerns associated with sport specialization must be considered. Injuries associated with athletics are common. Yet the rate at which injuries occur in young athletes increases when participation is focused on one sport and when that activity is pursued year-round. A 2013 study titled “Sports Specialization in Young Athletes” found that, in a sample of 1,200 young athletes, those who specialized in a single sport were 70 to 93 percent more likely to get injured. A 2015 article in the American Journal of Sports Medicine also linked specialization to increased injury rate. Another study found that participating in a given sport for eight months or more per year was associated with significantly higher risk. The single-sport athlete is particularly prone to overuse or repetitive-stress injuries. These injuries differ from more acute conditions suffered in sports (sprains, strains, fractures, contusions) in that their onset is typically gradual and can begin as low-level pain that progresses over time. The muscles, tendons, ligaments and even bones in our bodies require a period of recovery following high-level physical demand. When this recovery period is too short or is absent altogether, we begin to experience tissue breakdown and injury. Common repetitive-stress injuries include tendinopathies (Achilles, patellar, rotator cuff), stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, osteochondritis dissecans, Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sever’s disease, “shin splints” and many others. Children and youth engaged in repetitive-stress activities can be particularly prone to these conditions because as their bodies grow, especially during the more pronounced phases of a “growth spurt,” their bones often lengthen at a faster rate than the surrounding muscles, tendons and ligaments, which pull on the relatively softer bones with increased force. Open growth plates also present an opportunity for injury in this age group. Such growth-related stress on the developing musculoskeletal system combined with repetitive sports activity is a recipe for injury. Aside from the obvious pain, these conditions can lead to larger problems such as chronic tissue damage, abnormal movement patterns with subsequent injury to other areas of the body, and future orthopedic issues. Pain can often
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prompt children to withdraw from sports and drop out from participation. More troublesome, kids may begin to associate physical activity with pain and refrain from exercise long term. Some studies have linked early sport specialization with reduced physical activity in adulthood due to these negative associations and possible burnout.
The balance Measures can be taken to keep young athletes healthy and engaged. Principally, their bodies must be given adequate rest and recovery periods from the physical forces associated with a particular sport. Young athletes should take at least three to four months off from a given activity during the year. During that time they can still participate in athletics, but the activity should be of a varied nature. For example, if a young athlete plays baseball in the spring and summer (with its repetitive overhead throwing movement), they should not pick a sport in the fall and winter that involves similar movement (for example, the repetitive overhead stroke in swimming). A true recovery period means that young athletes will not constantly be involved in off-season training programs aimed at their sport (camps, skill workshops). Instead they should cross train in the off-season, exercising in patterns that oppose their typical movements and engage different muscle groups. This will help promote a more balanced body that is not only less prone to injury but also offers benefits in athletic performance. An annual physical with a pediatrician or a physical screening with a qualified healthcare professional can also help identify young athletes who may be at increased risk for injury. Potentially problematic anatomical and biomechanical characteristics can often be recognized, thereby alerting the parent and child to the risk and directing them toward appropriate management. Participation in sports can contribute to the development of a well-rounded young person. Parents and coaches can help promote safe involvement by being aware of the risks associated with singlesport specialization, identifying factors in children that may predispose them to injury and making educated decisions when choosing activities. Tim Gould is a physical therapist at Dee Physical Therapy in Shelburne. He lives in South Burlington.
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18 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News
Sports
Edd Merritt Sports Roundup
Charlotter Jennings Lobel playing against the South Burlington Rebels for the CSB Cup. PHOTO:
Essex gymnasts are tough to tumble The Essex gymnastics team is rivaling CVU’s women’s basketball for the number of consecutive state championships with eleven this year. Last Saturday they defended their title in their home gym, topping South Burlington by six points and CVU by nine. St. Johnsbury and Randolph claimed the other top-five spots. Jam Giubardo and Jackie Casson were the top individual finishers for the Redhawks, along with Julia Higa and Jam’s sister Kam. Jam was sixth in the all-around scores with Jackie directly behind her in seventh, with just under one point separating the two. Floor exercises have been the Redhawks’ strong event throughout the year, and the state tournament was no exception with Casson and the Giubardos finishing in the top eight places.
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Men hoopsters fall to Mt. Anthony The season ended in the state quarterfinals where the Redhawk men lost to Mt. Anthony 69-62. As he has been doing all year, Walker Storey paced the CVU scorers with 19 points. Charlotte’s Adam Hamilton also hit for 19.
Burke Mountain provides the snow; high schools provide the skiers
CVU’s Alpine skiing teams took to Burke for a five-school set of ski races. The women finished fifth, the boys third. Emma Owens was the third fastest individual on the women’s side, and Trent Smith finished ninth among men. Rice won the Three square wins for women’s team title and Stowe the men’s. women’s basketball Rice’s Anna Schibli finished fourth among With Essex, Burlington and Spaulding individual down-hillers. its latest three victims, CVU women’s basketball heads into the playoffs ranked Men’s hockey prepares top in the state among Division I teams. Breaking their 91-game winning streak is for the tournament With two more victories under its belt, probably not an item on their dinner plates, however. It is certain that Coach Ute Otley CVU men’s hockey is setting itself up for has them taking the playoffs one game at a the state tournament. The Hawks’ defense time. With their last three wins by over 20 played a major role in each win, as CVU points per game, scoring was well spread kept both Colchester and Rutland shut out among the Hawks—well, at least within of its goal, beating the Lakers 4-0 and the home borders of Charlotte. Against Essex, Red Raiders 9-0. Tyler Brooks found the Anna Pugliese led the way with 12 points net for a hat trick in the Rutland game, and eight rebounds. Laurel Jaunich was and Joe Parento scored twice against right behind her. The game before, it was Colchester. Ty Parker in goal against Sadie Otley and Jaunich. Must be some- Colchester earned his shutout as did Blaine Moore against Rutland. thing in the Charlotte water.
Cougar/Hawks ranked second in state in women’s hockey
and CVU runner and Brandeis University sophomore, Haliana Burhans (who has since moved to Massachusetts) earned all-New England honors twice, once by her Looking forward to hosting the winner personal seventh-place finish in the 400 of the Brattleboro versus Burr and Burton meter dash and later as anchor to Brandeis’ game, the combined women’s hockey team 4X400 meter relay team. of Mount Mansfield and CVU tested its skills in a 4-3 win over Woodstock. CVU’s Hess family recognized Jackie Ryan joined her Mount Mansfield teammate Lauren Hagerty to each hit the before CVU women’s net twice. With a season record that stands basketball game at 13-5-1, following a two-goal loss to Burr Charlotter Emma Hess was recognized and Burton a week before Woodstock, the Cougar/Hawks move on to a quarterfinal at a recent CVU basketball game by having her start, even though she is recovering berth in Division II. from an injury to her ACL suffered while basketball in Maryland last CVU wrestlers pin down a playing summer. On Senior Night Emma was North Conference victory joined on the court by her parents, former The Northern Vermont Athletic owners of Archie’s Grill in Shelburne. Conference championships went to the Redhawk wrestlers who increased their conference record to 17-1 with three more victories in the tournament. After downing Vergennes and Mount Abraham, CVU faced Essex, the only conference team to Hey sports fans and hack photogs! beat them this year. The duel came down Got a decent camera and like to the final match when freshman Wyatt to attend CVU sports games Sanderson came back from a one-point or other local events? The deficit to pin his opponent with less than a Charlotte News needs you. minute to go, giving CVU a 42-30 win over Send us your shots of Charlotters the Hornets. CVU plans to enter wrestlers in action and you could have your in all 14 weight classes in the upcoming work seen across Chittenden state championships at Mill River High County. You’d be well on your School. way to being famous. You heard it first here. Get shooting!
Give Charlotte a Shot!
At the college level, it’s the season for indoor track
The New England Division III indoor track championships were on the line at Middlebury College. Former Charlotte
Questions/comments? news@thecharlottenews.org
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CVU wins planning grant Champlain Valley Union High School has been named one of six schools and educational programs to win planning grants from the 2016 Vermont Farm to School award program. The program, now in its tenth year, works to improve nutrition among Vermont children by connecting food producers to their local schools and, in doing so, provide enriching educational experiences and new curricula. As of this January, the program has reached
120 schools, impacting more than 30,000 students. CVU joins BFA Fairfax, the Essex School District, Flood Brook School, Lund New Horizons Education Program and Proctor Elementary School as awardees for planning programs. The 2016 implementation and planning grants will impact more than 5,000 new students.
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The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 19
From the Archives
Puzzle “of Awater. lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing —Carl Reiner (1922- )
Cover page illustration by: Charlie lotz
Welcome to tHe cHarlotte neWs’s arcHiVes! We’Ve started to Work on making our History accessible to all cHarlotters. sloWly, We’re deVeloping a pdF arcHiVe tHat Will eVentually be searcHable and We Hope to sHare tHat WitH you soon. We’re lucky enougH to HaVe nearly 60 years oF publications to Work WitH, but tHat does leaVe mucH to be cataloged. many oF our publications HaVe no digital presence WHatsoeVer, so We’re HaVing to Find Ways to make tHem tecHnologically aVailable. tHougH tHis project Has barely begun and We HaVe a long Way to go, We’ll be giVing you a taste oF WHat’s to come rigHt Here in print as regularly as possible.
Puzzles have been underwritten by
reprinted arcHiVe compiled by: kali adams & madison Hakey
PO Box 101, Charlotte, VT | 870-3481
Volume 27, No. 13 February 28, 1985 Page 16 The Clemmons in Africa Jack and Lydia Clemmons have recently returned from their own mini-peace corps trip. They traveled to a town called Moshi in Tanzania, East Africa, where they donated six-weeks of their services to a Christian hospital. They went to observe, to learn… and especially to help. They came away with a feeling of involvement and understanding of the country and its people. Tanzania is a country which has enjoyed independence for the past 20 years. It has a progressive government interested in gaining literacy for all its people. The hospital (formerly operated by the Mennonite missionaries) is one of 2 national hospitals in Tanzania. The Clemmons went to Tanzania as a result of their contact with Dr. Jack Craighead of UVM, who is carrying on a research project on African diseases. During their stay, they worked at their specialities -- Lydia as anesthetist and Jack as pathologist (there are only 2 practicing pathologists in Tanzania which has a population of 20 million). One of the problems encountered by Jack during autopsy was the refusal of families to allow removal
of organs for analysis -- on religious grounds. What they observed was a hospital where one could work 24 hours a day, which runs in spite of constant shortages of such basic needs as soap and linens. Anesthetics as we now know them, and modern medical equipment are non-existent. Despite this, quality care was given, basic in concept. Outside of the hospital they observed the gentle native population, some of whom leave high school to train in the hospital, some of whom are Nomads. Those that train in medicine then go into the outlying communities to work as doctors and nurses (much as the “barefoot doctors” of China).
Volume 27, No. 12 February 14, 1985 Page 15 CVU Notes Computer Owners: The Computer Club at CVU is running a computerized bulletin board. You may contact it by calling 482-3578 between 3:00 pm and 8:00 am and all day on weekends. We are running at 300 Baud, 7 bits, 1 stop bit, evenly parity or 300 Baud, 8 bits, 1 stop bit, no parity. This is a public bulletin board open to everyone and we would enjoy hearing from anyone out there that would like to call in. The Computer Club at CVU is composed of students who are
Homeport Vermont
interested in computers. These students have between them a large body of knowledge about all types of computers, and we would be willing to answer any questions you might have. Craig Lyndes Advisor
Volume 27, No. 12 February 14, 1985 Page 12 Wed. Nites in Feb. Set Aside for CVFD Smoke Detector Campaign Because some areas of Charlotte have not been canvassed yet, the Fire Department is setting aside Wednesday evenings (approx. 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.) to continue the door-to-door smoke detector campaign. (Some members may be out at other times as well.) If you do not have a smoke detector, we can install one free of charge under the provisions of this pilot project being conducted in cooperation with the Vermont Department of Labor and Industry. We are proud to report that so far our survey shows 80% of the single family dwellings in Charlotte already have at least one smoke detector (as compared to a national average of 60%). We are determined to bring Charlotte’s coverage to as close to 100% as we possibly can? Joan Schermerhorn PublicInformation Officer
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Across 1. Certain bird 6. Keats, for one 10. “The Sound of Music” backdrop 14. Antipasto morsel 15. Biblical preposition 16. Gloss 17. George’s aunt 20. Calendar abbr. 21. Puzzle 22. Put something on 23. Blast from the past 26. Reduces friction 27. Contradicted 29. Arouse desire 30. Bouquet 31. “___ No Sunshine” 32. “A pox on you!” 35. “Stony End” singer 39. Numbskull 40. Irritate 41. Salsa, for one 42. Mark 44. Colorful bird 45. Call a koala an elk, e.g. 48. Chipper 49. Secrets 50. Arctic bird 51. TV doc 54. She beat Bo Bice 58. And others, for short 59. ‘80s rock band 60. As such 61. Gym set 62. 1987 Costner role 63. Myers and Douglas
Down 1. Microsoft product 2. African plant
3. Stains 4. Holiday lead-in 5. “Losing My Religion” rock group 6. Blender button 7. Black stone 8. “Yadda, yadda, yadda” 9. Bear 10. Ancient meeting places 11. Floor coverings 12. Newbie, of sorts 13. Eye sores 18. All fired up 19. Aces, sometimes 24. Arm or leg 25. Abby address? 26. Romance, e.g. 27. Cake with a kick 28. “-zoic” things 29. Deed 31. Line to the audience 32. Needlepoint, e.g. 33. Ancient Andean 34. “Our Time in ___” (10,000 Maniacs album) 36. Speech of old Syria 37. Matinee ___ 38. Handel oratorio 42. “St. Elsewhere” singer, ____ Barkley 43. Eastern royal 44. Tip for the dealer 45. Court officer 46. Fit to be tied 47. Deep-six 48. Disloyal one 50. Cuckoos 52. Cheat, slangily 53. Lofty lines 55. Fair ___ doctrine 56. Engine speed, for short 57. Chinese dynasty
802-658-9336
257 PINE STREET, BURLINGTON • www.NEFCVT.COM
Crossword and sudoku by Myles Mellor. answers to our puzzles Can be found near the Classifieds.
20 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News
Senior Center News Beginning Spanish returns with Bernice Wesseling on Tuesday mornings from 10 to 11, March 8 to May 24. Let’s get into Spanish! We will read simple (1/2 page) selections, do some exercises and have conversation. No previous knowledge of Spanish is necessary. Registration required, limit 14, fee: $15 for textbook. A new offering with Sabina Evarts, Exploring Methods of Writing Prose, will take place on Fridays from 1–3 p.m. Dates: March 11, 25, April 8, 22, May 13, 27. Let’s write it out! Here’s your chance to express in writing whatever your passion is—fictional stories, the “story of you,” factual, humorous, poignant, entertaining pieces. We’ll cover the mechanics of writing and expressing your thoughts; you’ll set goals and share your work as a group. Currently writing stories and poetry herself, Sabina has been a high school English teacher and has been published in a number of poetry magazines and in the Vermont Writers collection. Please call Sabina at 985-4099 if you have any questions. Registration required, no fee. Join Susanna Kahn, Charlotte Tech Librarian, for a workshop titled Getting the Most Out of Your iPhone on Monday, March 14, from 1:30–3 p.m. In this hands-on workshop, Susanna will show you helpful apps, search and organization techniques, quick ways to connect to Wi-Fi, camera and photo tips, battery saving tricks and more! Please bring your iPhone and your Apple i.d. information. Registration required, no fee.
Mary Recchia CONTRIBUTOR
Please look for our new Spring Program of activities in this issue of The Charlotte News. A few early offerings are highlighted below. Let’s Just Sing! with Carlanne Herzog and Orchard Corl on Thursday afternoons from 1–2. Session I: March 3, 10, 17. Session II: April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19. Whether you have sung for years or quietly sing to yourself in the shower, choose whatever excuse you need to come join the fun. We will choose familiar tunes to lift your spirits, song sheets will be provided, and we hope to impart the simple joy of singing. Come when you can and sing yourself happy! Registration required, no fee. And The Oscar Goes To . . . Walk the red carpet on Friday, Feb. 26, into a vintage movie theater for a special screening of one of the 2016 Oscar-nominated films. Veteran actor Sean Moran will assume the role of MC, and the “stage” will be set as an old-fashioned Hollywood movie theater brimming with snacks and libations of days gone by. With the Oscar ceremony only two days away, all are welcome to our Hollywood event hosted by the Play Reading group beginning at 1 p.m. While black tie is optional, we hope you will come “dressed to impress.” After all, it is the Oscars! Registration required, suggested A collection of lectures, donation: $5 for refreshments. Several of the “other” 2015 Oscar performAnces And speciAl events nominated films that are our privilege to showcAsing the diverse interests show can be viewed on Friday afternoons of our community March 4, 11, and 18 from 1–3:30 p.m. Please call the Center for a list of the films. Wednesday afternoons beginning at 1 p.m. No registration or fee. Registration required, no fee.
Above: Shanley Hinge and Val Lebensohn distributing the Charlotte News. Below bottom: The Friday Morning Art Group with Sabina Evarts, Nancy Nelson, Frank Califano, Becky Kennedy and Judy Peabody. Below top: Yang Tai Chi Chaun with John Creech meets every Thursday from 10–11. 3/2: egypt with Judy tuttle Through stunning photos, Judy will take you down the Nile River by boat after showing off Old Cairo and Giza among other antiquities. She will also show photos of life along the river, her visit to Aswan marketplace, a ride in a felucca to Kitchener Island and her flight over the Sahara en route to Abu Simbel. Included will be the temples at Edfu and Aswan and a side trip to Alexandria. 3/9: Being mortAl with mAgAret woodruff And Alice outwAter Join library director Margaret Woodruff and Alice Outwater, Ph.D., for an introduction to Atul Gawande’s provactive book, Being Mortal. Full of eye-opening research and riveting storytelling, Being Mortal asserts that medicine can comfort and enhance our experience even to the end, providing not only a good life but also a good end. We will look at reviews and comments and then hope you will join us for a four-week discussion series beginning March 21.
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The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 21 TRENDY TITLES @ THE LIBRARY ADULT Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase (mystery) A Friend of Mr. Lincoln by Stephen Harrigan (historical fiction) Gratitude by Oliver Sacks (non-fiction essays) Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy (self-help) While the City Slept: A Love Lost to Violence and a Young Man’s Descent into Madness by Eli Sanders (culture, true crime)
Margaret Woodruff CONTRIBUTOR
WORLD READ ALOUD DAY: If anyone’s been paying attention, the international day to read aloud was Wednesday, Feb. 24. However, because that date falls during the winter vacation break for our community, the Charlotte Library is celebrating this event on Saturday, March 5. We invite you to join to read, listen and appreciate the power of the written word, right out loud. We know why we love to read aloud, but if you need any persuasion, experts across the education spectrum agree that reading aloud to your child brings the following benefits: school readiness, success in school, love of books, coping skills (source: kidcentraltn.com/ article/benefits-of-reading-to-your-child). The connection that reading aloud creates between caregivers and children is as important as the readiness for school that reading aloud provides. The American Academy of Pediatrics “recommends that doctors tell parents they should be ‘reading together as a daily fun family activity’ from infancy.” Elementary-age students in a survey (conducted for Scholastic Books) frequently cited reading aloud as a special bonding time with their parents” (source:
YOUTH New York Times, January 8, 2015). Dust off your Winnie the Pooh or War and Peace and share a selection with us on Saturday, March 5. You can sign up through the link on our website: charlottepubliclibrary.org. UPCOMING @ THE CHARLOTTE LIBRARY Thursday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. Movie Showing: The Maltese Falcon. A follow-up from the book discussion on Feb. 18 and the classic film featuring Humphrey Bogart. Wednesdays, beginning March 2, 3:15 p.m. TinkerBelles, Season 2: Our STEAM gals (and guys) will work with a doctor, river scientist, electrician, wind engineer and cryptologist during the six-week program introducing the working world of women in STEM careers. For 3rd-5th graders. Registration required. Call 425-3864 or email charlottelibraryvt@
gmail.com. Saturday, March 5: Charlotte Library’s World Read Aloud Day: Join us for a day to celebrate the written word, loud and clear. Sign up on our website to read from your favorite book or stop in to listen throughout our reading party. Wednesday, March 9, 1 p.m. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End book discussion. INTRODUCTION: Join library director Margaret Woodruff and psychologist Alice Outwater for an introduction to Atul Gawande’s provocative book, Being Mortal. We look at reviews and comments and plan for our 4-week discussion series. Copies of the book available at the circulation desk for checkout. Co-sponsored with the Charlotte Senior Center and meets at the Charlotte Senior Center. Wednesday, March 9, 7 p.m.: Children’s Art Showcase Reception.
Lincoln, VT Homeowner Recommends Bristol Electronics Have you been thinking you want to go solar? Bristol Electronics is the place to call. Over a year ago we met with another company and were so frustrated by the whole process that we decided to forget all about solar power. But when we met Bristol Electronics staff at the Bristol Harvest Festival they encouraged us to rethink it. We’re glad we did. Everyone at Bristol Electronics is friendly, courteous, professional and efficient. They are patient with questions and concerns and they go beyond what they have to do. The price was fair, the installation was completed on schedule, and even the cables and wiring were neatly done! The design met our power needs, gave us the latest, most powerful panels available, and the panels are barely visible high up on our rooftops but they are up there working away - - - LOVE watching the meter go backwards!
Celebrate Children’s Art Month and the wonderful masks created by Charlotte Central School 4th-grade students. The papier mache creations are inspired by favorite children’s books. Co-sponsored with CCS Art Program. Refreshments served. Monday, March 14, 10 a.m.: Mystery Book Group: Death of a Red Heroine. Set in Shanghai, this political mystery offers a peek into the tightly sealed, often crooked world of post-Tiananmen Square China.” Join us for coffee and conversation about this Chinese mystery by Qiu Xiaolong. Copies available at the circulation desk. Wednesday, March 16, 7 p.m.: The iConnected Parent: Staying Close to Your Kids in College (and Beyond) While Letting Them Grow Up. Looking for guidance about communicating with children in this world of instant interactions? Barbara Hofer, Professor of Psychology at Middlebury College, shares insight from her book and work with adolescents and families. Copies of the book available at the circulation desk for checkout.
Library ContaCt information
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Library Board Next meeting: March 10, 6 p.m.. Board members: Emily Ferris, Dorrice Hammer, Nan Mason, Danielle Menk, Jonathan Silverman.
22 • February 25, 2016 • The CharloTTe News
Community Events
Upcoming pUblic meetings Feb. 25–March 10, 2016
Selectboard: March 7, 7 p.m. Planning Commission: March 3, 7 p.m. Conservation Commission: Feb. 23, 7 p.m.
TUESDAY, MARCH 1
TOWN MEETING
Meeting times are subject to change. Check the town website for more info: charlottevt.org
Have yoUr say | Selectboard MeMberS |
Do you have a Charlotte event or an event close by that features a Charlotter? Send description, date, time and cost to Ruah Swennerfelt at calendar@ thecharlottenews.org. If it’s a public event, share what’s happening with your neighbors.
Events in Charlotte or including a Charlotter FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 Babysitting Event: Parents Night Out! Members of the CVU lacrosse team will babysit kids from 4–9 p.m. at the Shelburne Field House. Kids will enjoy pizza and games. $30 per kid and an additional $15 per sibling. No need to sign up. Proceeds go to charity. For information contact Kyle Jaunich at kylejaunich@cssu.org.
shelf/c862. Bake Sale: PTO Town Meeting Day Bake Sale. Help CCS PTO raise money for our school. Sign up to bring a baked good or come enjoy the treats. Sign up at http://vols.pt/7jRw7w. Children’s Crafts: Cooking and Crafting Seussical Fun. Starting on Dr. Seuss’s birthday and continuing through April 13, CCS welcomes grades K-3 to enjoy afternoons of crafts and food. Wednesdays 3–4:15 p.m. in the teacher’s room/staff kitchen. YMCA kids $60, others $70. Info: gbymca.org/charlotteafterschool-enrichment/, 802-652-8153.
others $60. Info: gbymca.org/charlotteafterschool-enrichment/, 802-652-8153. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 Children’s Yoga: Yoga for kids, Grades 2–4. Students learn movement and postures and take their own yoga mat home with them at the end of each session. 3–4 p.m. on Wednesdays through April 13, CCS Library. YMCA kids $60, others $70. Info: gbymca.org/charlotteafterschool-enrichment/, 802-652-8153. Children’s Club: Homework Club, 3–4:30 p.m. See Monday, March 7, for details.
FRIDAY, MARCH 3 Meeting: Planning Commission regular meeting, 7 p.m. Info: 802-425-3071 or 802-425-3533.
THURSDAY MARCH 10 Children’s Dance: Alternative Hip Hop classes. Students in grades 4–8 enjoy upbeat music while learning footwork and expression on Thursdays from 4–5 p.m. through April 14 in the music MONDAY, MARCH 7 Children’s Club: Homework Club, CCS room. YMCA kids $50, others $60. Info: gbymca.org/charlotte- afterschoolhosts Homework Club for grades 3-8 in MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29 enrichment/, 802-652-8153. room 310, 3–4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Meeting: Informational hearing for Wednesdays through April 13. YMCA Charlotte Municipal Charter at CCS, 6 kids $30, others $60. Info: gbymca.org/ p.m. Info: 802-425-3071 or 802-425charlotte- afterschool-enrichment/, 8023533. 652-8153. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Children’s Yoga: Yoga for Kids, grades TUESDAY, MARCH 1 Concert: It’s De-Lovely: a salute to the PreK–1, Students learn movement and music of Cole Porter. Enjoy this tribute Meeting: Town Meeting at CCS, 9 a.m. postures and take their own yoga mat given to by combined choirs of UVM. Info: 802-425-3071 or 802-425-3533. home with them at the end of each 3–4:30 p.m., UVM Music Building Voting: Australian Ballot voting at CCS, session. 3–4 p.m. on Mondays through Recital Hall. Free and open to the public. 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Info: 802-425-3071 or 802- April 11, CCS Library. YMCA kids $60, Info: 802-656-7776. 425-3533. others $70. Info: gbymca.org/charlotteFilm: Truth, 7 p.m., Town Hall Theater, afterschool-enrichment/, 802-652-8153. Food Drive: CCS Student-Sponsored Middlebury. Part of New Filmmakers Town Meeting Food Drive. Help students Festival Winter Screening Series, this TUESDAY MARCH 8 from Mrs. Muroski’s room collect nondrama presents the risks of interweaving perishable food for the Charlotte Food Children’s Dance: Creative dance journalism and government. Tickets, $12. Shelf. Bring your donations to Town classes. Students grades K-3 learn beat Information at townhalltheater.org, 802Meeting. The Food Shelf is looking for and coordination during these classes 382-9222. toiletries and snack foods in particular. from 4-5 p.m. on Tuesdays through April Info: charlotteucc.org/#!charlotte-food12 in the music room. YMCA kids $50, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 Event: March for Meals Kickoff, 5–8 p.m. Join the Champlain Valley Agency of Aging at Switchback Brewing Company in Burlington. Enjoy a night of music, food and good company in support of senior citizens in Vermont. Tickets, $25, include a beer, endless soup and live music. Only 100 tickets for sale so hurry! Purchase tickets at cvaa. org/march-for-meals-kickoff.html. Info: swool@cvaa.org, 802-662-5229.
Around the region
FRIDAY, MARCH 4 Concert: Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band. Enjoy dancing and the music of Wright, who has been described as a mix of Amy Winehouse and Bonnie Raitt. 8 p.m., Town Hall Theater, Middlebury.Tickets,$15. Tickets and info at townhalltheater.org. Event: Vermont Historical Society
Chair, Lane Morrison, 425-2495 Matthew Krasnow, 922-2153 Carrie Spear, 425-4444 Jacob Spell, 425-6548 Fritz Tegatz, 425-5564 Selectboard Regular Meetings are usually at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. If you would like to bring an issue to the attention of the Selectboard, contact the board chair or administrator Dean Bloch at 425-3071, ext. 205.
| ccS School board | Chair, Mark McDermott, 425-4860 Vice Chair Erik Beal, 425-2140 Kristin Wright, 425-5105 Clyde Baldwin, 425-3366 Susan Nostrand, 425-4999
| cVU School board-charlotte | Lorna Jimerson, ljimerso@wcvt.com Lynne Jaunich, lmjau@gmavt.net
| Planning coMMiSSion | Administrator, Jeannine McCrumb, 425-3071; jeannine@townofcharlotte.com Chair, Jeffrey McDonald, 425-4429 Vice Chair, Peter Joslin Members: Gerald Bouchard, Paul Landler, Charlie Pughe, Donna Stearns, Marty Illick
| Vt goVernMent | vt senate (cHittenden district) Tim Ashe, D/P-Burlington, 318-0903, tashe@leg.state.vt Philip Baruth, D-Burlington, 503-5266, pbaruth@leg.state.vt.us Virginia “Ginny” Lyons, D-Williston, 863-6129, vvlyons@leg.state.vt.us Diane Snelling, R-Hinesburg, 482-4382, dsnelling@leg.state.vt.us Michael Sirotkin, D-South Burlington, 999-4360, msirotkin@leg.state.vt.us David Zuckerman, P/D/W-Hinesburg, 598-1986, dzuckerman@leg.state.vt.us vermont HoUse Mike Yantachka, D-Charlotte, 425-3960, myantachka.dfa@gmail.com
| U.S. goVernMent | U.s. senators Patrick Leahy, 863-2525, leahy.senate.gov Bernie Sanders, 862-0697, sanders.senate.gov Us congressman Peter Welch, 652-2450, welch.house.gov
Party. Vermont celebrates 225 years of statehood. Enjoy good food and drink from all over Vermont, 5–8 p.m., Montpelier.. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Tickets: vermonthistory.org/visit/events-calendar/ happy-birthday-vt. For information, contact Amanda at 802-828-2180 or amanda.gustin@vermonthistory.org.
The CharloTTe News • February 25, 2016 • 23
Classifieds
Around Town Congratulations to Adriana and Michael Laclair of Charlotte on the birth of their daughter Brooklynn Michelle on Jan. 11. to Jeffrey Leduc and Teilya Brunet of Charlotte, whose son Remington Joseph Gerard Brassard was born Dec. 1. to the following students at Charlotte Central School who competed in the Regional Math Counts competition held at UVM on Feb. 6: the CCS “matheletes” were Ella Haire and Carolina Sicotte from grade 7 and Innogen Naylor and Tabby Auster from grade 6. to Louisa Schibli, a founder of the equity crowd-funding company Milk Money, on the announcement of a partnership with Vermont State Employees Credit Union (VESCU). See article on page 1. More info: milkmoneyvt.com.
major at Endicott College in Beverly, Mass., who earned placement on the Dean’s List for the fall term, 2015. Marie is the daughter of Keith and Carol Kittredge of Charlotte. to Avery Kidd of Charlotte, who earned placement on the Dean’s List for the fall term at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn. to Chase Weaver, a junior majoring in civil engineering at Clarkson University in Potsdam, NY. Chase earned recognition as a Presidential Scholar for the fall 2015 semester by maintaining a grade-point average higher than 3.8.
Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Warren Lutton of Shelburne who passed away February 21 at the age of 88. His surviving family in Charlotte includes his daughter Karen Tillson Lime.
A teacher’s work turned to torture Longtime teacher and educational specialist from Charlotte Susan Ohanian had a letter to the editor appear in the January 26 New York Times, in which she praised the column by David Gonzalez titled, “A Teacher, Beloved, but Disillusioned, Decides to Walk Away.” Susan says the decision to resign from his 45-year English teaching position at James Monroe High School in New York City’s Bronx neighborhood was the right thing for Tom Porton to do, and she thanked Gonzalez for “giving voice to the bizarre and capricious assaults on teacher professionalism that infect the many schools enforcing the dictum, ‘Common Core or die.’” Ohanian said that Porton “clearly offered unique gifts to students, but he is not alone in finding that work he so loved for decades has turned to torture.” According to the Times article, Porton clashed with his principal who disapproved of his distributing HIV/AIDS education flyers to students.
to Marie Kittredge, a sophomore history
Yardley recognized by National Geographic
Reach your friends and neighbors for only $7 per issue. (Payment must be sent before issue date.) Please limit your ad to 35 words or fewer and send it to The Charlotte News Classifieds, P.O. Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445 or email ads@thecharlottenews.org. For Sale: 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454, manual 4 Speed, red with black stripes, never in an accident, $14,500, malberts1959@gmail.com / 802-2761367 [58-16] Mt. Philo inn—A unique hotel situated at the base of Mt. Philo State Park with stunning panoramic views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Spacious 3 bedroom suites with 2 bathrooms and a complete kitchen. Thoughtfully designed for casual elegance. Privacy, space, tranquility. Bigger on the inside. MtPhiloInn.com, 425-3335. Buying or selling a home? laFayette Painting can make your property stand out with a beautiful, fresh paint job. Our professional, experienced crews are ready to help. Call 863-5397 or visit LafayettePaintingInc.com [58-15] Fruit tree Pruning SeaSon—Better distribute sun, flowers, and fruit. Minimize pests and storm damage, get back to a little each year. Dave 453-4992 [58-15] renewable energy. Heat your home with a Maxim Outdoor Wood Pellet Furnace by Central Boiler & gain energy independence. Boivin Farm Supply 802475-4007 [58-15]
Vermont Commons School students in front of the State House in Montpelier. From left to right: Sophia St. John-Lockridge ‘19 of Burlington, Clara Retzloff ‘21 of Underhill, Taegen Yardley ‘21 of Charlotte, Zoe Hecht ‘22 of Burlington and Lilah Neider ‘21 of Georgia. Photo: Courtesy Two issues ago we wrote about Vermont Commons School 7th grader Taegan Yardley’s video, which depicted her involvement with H.297 to ban ivory sale and trade in Vermont last year. Yardley appeared before the Vermont
State Legislature twice, and she and her advisory group raised enough money to adopt an elephant in Tsavo, Kenya. Since then, the school, Taegan and her advisor Mark Lucey received kudos from Dan Beaupre, Executive
Director of National Geographic magazine’s “Geography Competitions and Student Experiences.” Beaupre wrote, “Congratulations to Vermont Commons School and Taegen Yardley for the amazing Vermont Battles for Elephants video.”
Food Shelf News
Shelf. Thank you for the donation from Bill and Karen Doris in loving memory of Anne Doris. Thank you as well to Beverly Goodwin for the donation in memory in Anne Doris. A special thank you for support from Valerie and William Graham and Jeannette Thibault. We appreciate the ongoing food and cash donations from Our Lady of Mount Carmel, including the donations from the recent Souper Bowl of Caring drive.
cakes, peanut butter and crackers.
Kerrie Pughe CONTRIBUTOR
Thank you to Meredith Corporation Foundation/EatingWell for the matching funds from Paula Joslin, and to Emile and Diane Cote. We appreciate the support from Elizabeth Poulsen, DVM, and Shelburne Market. A big thank you to the Vermont Community Foundation for the grant for general support of the Food
looking For volunteerS We are still in need of additional volunteers, will you help us? We need substitutes to help us with the Wednesday evening and Thursday morning food distributions. Please call Nancy at 425-6116 if you can help.
DonationS
DonateD FooD DroP-oFF locationS
wiSh liSt
Please consider a donation to the Food Shelf. All donations go directly for food and/or assistance to our neighbors in need. If you are a customer of yourfarmstand. com, you may make a donation to the Food Shelf as part of your online order, otherwise checks may be mailed to:
We need healthy after-school snacks for kids, such as raisins and other dried fruit, fruit cups, pretzels, granola bars, rice
Charlotte Food Shelf & Assistance P.O. Box 83 Charlotte, VT 05445
All non-perishable food donations may be dropped off at the Charlotte Library, The Charlotte Congregational Church vestry, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (main entrance) or at the Food Shelf during the distribution mornings. We request that all fresh foods be dropped off at the Food Shelf by 7:30 a.m. on the Thursday distribution mornings or before the Wednesday distribution hours.
new Facebook Page Like us at our new Facebook page “Charlotte Community Food Shelf and Assistance” to see photos and get updates on all the Food Shelf activities.
T he C harloTTe N ews
Voice of the town since 1958
COOKING & SAILING ADVENTURES EVERY DAY!
Charlotte’s award-winning community newspaper
Volume lVIII Number 15
The VoIce of The TowN
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2016 CHANGE ON THE HORIZON? Meet the Candidates – Page 12
All elected positions on the town ballot are uncontested or vacant. Where do you fall on the political scale of happy with status quo, apathetic, or unwilling to serve? More on page 12-13
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Sports – Page 18
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Tell them you s The Charlotte aw it in News!
Thursday, february 25, 2016
TOWN MEETING
deliver To:
Our!camp!brings!together!the!best!of!summer"!cooking!up!its!bounty! and!sailing!on!Lake!Champlain!!Campers!aged!#-%&!will!take!on!BOTH! each!day!during!this!week-long!camp'!starting!their!days!off!in!the! Learning!Center!at!Healthy!Living!Market!then!joining!Lake! Champlain!Community!Sailing!Center!out!on!the!water!!Lots!of! learning-!and!even!more!fun-!guaranteed!!Plus'!lunch!provided!
Charlotte News
The