FREE
Dinner Party The Logger heads to a dinner party at one of his friend’s pads. See page 4
TM
$GRAND PRIZE$
By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com MIDDLEBURY — Sixth-grader Meigan Clark of the Mary Hogan Elementary School in Middlebury became the Vermont state spelling champ on March 16. She successfully spelled the wor d “scurrilous”—making or spreading scandalous claims about someone—at the V ermont State Individual Spelling Bee competition held at the McCarthy Arts Center at St. Michael’s College in Colchester. In t he e nd, C lark o utdid h er c losest c ompetitor Samantha Storz of Kirby, a student at the Stevens School of Peacham, in the 31st round. When Storz stumbled on spelling the word “manteau”—a loose cloak or mantle —Clark became the victor. Clark was the winner of a new laptop, a trophy, and the chance to attend the Scripps National Spelling Bee in W ashington, D.C., held in May. The bee was sponsored by the V ermont Department of Education, V ermont Principals’ Association, V ermont Humanities Council, St. Michael’s College, B urlington F ree Press, FairPoint Communications and Dunkin Donuts. Elementary and middle school students (through grade 8) under the age of 16 were eligible to participate in this competition. Students fr om across Vermont who participated in the bee have already competed in their regional bees this winter. See SPELLING BEE, page 2
P.O. BOX 338 ELIZABETHTOWN, NY 12932 POSTAL PATRON
is out there... somewhere The fun begins in this edition! 72247
Serving Addison and Chittenden Counties
April 2, 2011
Middlebury girl wins state spelling bee
ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEW MARKET PRESS/ DENTON PUBLICATIONS
Take one
FBI arrests teacher on child porn charges
Spring
By Alice Dubenetsky
newmarketpress@denpubs.com
Cleaning TIMBER—Professional loggers tack le a big job b y removing a row of mature evergreen trees bordering the old Brist ol cemetery at the int ersection of Routes 17 and 116 last Satur day. The trees, removed by the landowner, had ac ted as a windscreen for more than 60 years. Photo by Lou Varricchio
STARKSBORO — W ill Parini, a 28-year old music teacher, who divided his teaching time between Bristol Elementary School and Robinson Elementary School, has been arrested by the FBI on federal child pornography charges. According to an FBI af fidavit, Parini — using the pseudonym “Bill Monday” — had been communicating with a 12-year-old boy in San Antonio, Texas who he met on a Russian W eb site. The unidentified boy sent pornographic images of himself and other children to 44 people, including Parini. Federal authorities have described the images as “horrific.” FBI a gents s earched P arini’s S tarksboro home on March 10 and seized a laptop computer. Parini insisted that no child pornography would be found, but he ended the interview and requested a lawyer when asked about the “Bill Monday” account. see TEACHER, page 3
Missing Middlebury student found in Syria Involved with Egypt protests
By Lou Varricchio
newmarketpress@denpubs.com MIDDLEBURY — A Middlebury College student who had been reported missing in rebelliontorn Syria was found in the custody of Syrian authorities over the weekend, his father reported. Pathik "Tik" Root, 21, of Ripton, was last heard from March 16. The Middlebury junior was studying Arabic overseas. He had been involved with anti-government pr otests in Egypt during the anti-Mubaric uprisings earlier this year. Root resumed his studies in Damascus, Syria’s second largest city and a hub of the anti-government protests there. Several of Root’s Middle East photographs appeared in a r ecent issue of the Middlebury campus magazine; the images accompanied a news ar-
ticle about the Middlebury College students who were evacuated from Alexandria, Egypt. Root’s video footage of the 201 1 Egypt uprisings appeared internationally on CNN-TV in January. Being visible in the news media, he may have been pegged as an anti-government sympathizer in Syria. College officials released a statement about the missing student: “Everyone at the college is anxious to hear that Tik is safe, and we look forward to r eceiving wor d when his family hears mor e about his status.” In an e-mail to the campus community, college President Ronald Liebowitz wr ote that “the college is doing everything it can to assist in the effort to locate T ik.” He noted that he had of fered his s upport t o R oot’s p arents a nd pr omised t o keep the campus updated if cir cumstances changed. According to Root family members, a U.S. State Department official said Root is most likely being
It’s time for a • CLEAN INSIDE & OUT • OIL • NEW NEEDLE • ADJUST TIMING • ADJUST TENSION • SEWING TEST
See MISSING STUDENT, page 2
72250
SPRING CLEANING of your sewing
held by Syrian authorities. That turned out to be the case, and family members wer e working closely with the Syrian embassy in W ashington to expedite his release. Prior to the news that Pathik was being held by Syrian authorities, Andi Lloyd and Tom Root, the student’s parents, released their public comments through Middlebury College: “We are very grateful for everyone’s concern and thoughts, but our energy at this time is fully committed to bringing our son home. We will therefore not be able to do any interviews at this time.” Tom Root, the missing student’s father, is a biology professor at the college. According to college off icials, emergency law in Syria has suspended most constitutional pr otections and the government may conduct arr ests without arrest warrants. Middlebury College continues to send students into the most violent areas of the Middle East.
machine at
Route 7 South • Middlebury • 388-3559 Mon.-Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-3 • middleburysewnvac.com
$10 OFF Spring Cleaning of your Sewing Machine (with coupon) - Good through 4/30/11 -