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Vol. 26 • No. 48
{ Thursday, January 31 • 2019 }
Gingras released on furlough By COURTNEY LAMDIN
FREE PRESS/FILE
Lucas Gingras served 55 months for arson and reckless endangerment.
Lucas Gingras, the Milton man whose ruse about a bear attack incited his girlfriend to jump off a cliff four years ago, was released from prison to furlough status last week, according to the Vt. Department of Corrections. Gingras was sentenced to serve four to 10 years after pleading guilty to arson and reckless endan-
germent in spring 2016. Most prisoners who serve their minimum sentence are eligible for furlough, where the offender serves the remaining time in the community under DOC supervision, said Dale Crook, director of field services at the Vermont DOC. “They are more akin to an inmate without walls,” Crook said of furlough. “We will release u see GINGRAS, page 2
Most races uncontested on ballot By COURTNEY LAMDIN With the exception of the selectboard race, most seats on this year’s Town Meeting ballot are unchallenged, petitions filed with the town clerk’s office show. Four people are running for two one-year terms on the selectboard: Incumbents Brenda Steady and Chris Taylor plus newcomers David Ross and Dana Maxfield. Maxfield most recently ran an unsuccessful bid for one of six Chittenden County Senate seats in the November general election. Steady and Taylor also filed petitions for the lone three-
u see ELECTION, page 4
Town presents water projects By COURTNEY LAMDIN
MADELINE CLARK | MILTON INDEPENDENT
Jessie Swétel, the newly named executive director of the Milton Artists’ Guild, poses in front of Kim Forney’s Art in the .
Milton Artists’ Guild hires executive director By MADELINE CLARK The Milton Artists’ Guild has hired its fifth employee, Jessie Swétel, to take the reins as executive director. “We chose her because she has demonstrated leadership skills,” MAG president Gisela Alpert said. “She’s a great people person.” The interview process was a lengthy
Calendar highlights See pages 8 & 9
one, according to Alpert. The position attracted applicants from across the U.S., but MAG board members selected Swétel, a Miltonian who has chaired the guild’s workshop committee for a year. “Knowing her so well … she’s proven we can count on her,” Alpert said. Swétel’s position will see her engaging the community and marketing the
Friday, February 1 Northwest District Music Festival 7 p.m. Milton High School
Saturday, February 2 Winter Playgroup 9:30 - 11 a.m. Milton Family Community Center
guild to reach untapped markets. She’ll help with fundraising efforts and programming as well. Her main task will be growing the nonprofit which currently has 200 members and about 100 exhibiting artists. “It’s still kind of feeling a little surreal,” Swétel said. “But it’s sinking in that this is a real thing that’s happen-
Sunday, February 3 MAG Social Sundays 1 - 3 p.m. Milton Artists’ Guild Center & Gallery
u see MAG, page 9
Friday, February 8 Milton Winter Festival Begins 6:30 - 8 p.m. Bombardier Park West
The town is asking voters to approve two water projects on this year’s Town Meeting ballot in addition to the $5.98 million budget and a $1 million paving bond. When voters head to the polls on March 5, they’ll find two separate articles that town manager Don Turner says will fix water infrastructure needed most in emergencies. “If we do these two projects … our system is in really good shape, and that’s what we want: Invest dollars today so we don’t have big problems tomorrow,” he said. If approved, an $804,000 bond — to be financed at 3 percent over 20 years — will u see WATER, page 4
Saturday, February 9 Snow Ball Adult Prom 8 - 11 p.m. Georgia Mountain Maples