Mountain Times December 26, 2018 - January 1, 2019 by Polly Lynn

M ou nta i n T i m e s

Volume 47, Number 52

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Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Alleged MUMS Tourism report shows growth, shooting highlights Vermont ski areas scheme foiled By Anne Wallace Allen/VTDigger

By John Flowers/Addison Independent

YEAR IN REVIEW Remembering 2018 in the Killington and surroundin g region. At a glance, it was a year of big change. Section B

MIDDLEBURY — Two 14-year-old Middlebury Union Middle School students have been indefinitely pulled from classes and face juvenile court citations after allegedly cooperating on a plan to shoot another student, and possibly others, on campus on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Middlebury police are still investigating the case and are withholding the names of the two suspects because they are both juveniles. They are also not disclosing the names of the alleged target(s) in this case, nor the identity of a heroic student who tipped off adults about the alleged shooting plot. Details of the alleged MUMS shooting plan might never come to public light. All proceedings in juvenile court are confidential. “You had one juvenile making a very specific threat, another juvenile who was going to provide the guns for him to carry it out,” Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley told the Independent on Tuesday. “There are relationship issues between all the people involved. We’re still getting through a lot of that.” The youth who allegedly wanted to do the shooting has been placed in the custody of the Vermont Department for Children & Families and is receiving mental health counseling, while the juvenile who allegedly offered to supply the firearms is out of school and awaiting possible punishment once Middlebury police Plot, page 24A

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Out with the old, in with the new – year, that is. Wondering what to do on New Year’s Eve? Check out the Music Scene and the ads for venues and acts to send out 2019 in style. It’s also customary to make a resolution. Page 11A

Living a de

LIVING ADE What’s happening? Find local Arts, Dining & Entertainment Pages 14A-21A

Mounta in Times is a community newspaper covering Central Vermont that aims to engage and inform as well as empower community members to have a voice.

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Huebner, former Rutland hospital chief, to oversee Springfield recovery By Colin Meyn/VTDigger

Gov. Phil Scott has appointed Tom Huebner, who stepped down in March as the head of Rutland Regional Medical Center, to “evaluate, monitor and assist Springfield Hospital as it confronts serious financial challenges.” The governor’s office released a statement announcing the appointment Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 19, a week after Springfield’s CEO, Tim Ford, abruptly resigned in the wake of Valley News and VTDigger reports on the dire financial situation at the medical group. Physicians, community members and local business owners said the hospital was leaving bills unpaid. In some cases, doctors had to buy their own supplies and heating oil. Hospital employees were having trouble getting health care because their insurance payments weren’t coming through. The hospital also switched emergency room contractors, severely cutting physician hours and leaving a few dozen people out of work. “This is a very serious situation that requires immediate attention, experienced leadership, the oversight and collaboration of state government, and a competent and fully transparent response,” Scott said in the Huebner, page 21A

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It’s the season for superlatives at Vermont ski areas, thanks to early snowfall and below-average temperatures. Killington Resort opened Oct. 19 and will boast 75 days of operation before the year closes on 2018. The ski areas have been making the most of the cold – making snow early before being flooded with visitors over Christmas and New Year’s weeks. “They lay down their base now, and a weather event like tomorrow’s (rain and thaw) isn’t going to affect them that much because they have built such a thick base and can regroom the top,” said Adam Smith, the director of communications for the Vermont Ski Areas Association in advance of the past weekend rains. Several Vermont ski areas had their earliest opening days in history this Tourism, page 10A

New Yorker cartoonist introduces book to fans in Woodstock By Curt Peterson

It’s true, a lot of people read the New York“Where do I get my ideas? Observation er, at least in part, for the cartoons, and about and eavesdropping. Cartoons are a conver70 of them showed up for Edward Koren’s sation,” Koren said. introduction of his new book, “Koren in the Koren’s career as a cartoonist started when Wild” at the Norman Williams Library in he got a submission accepted by New Yorker Woodstock Tuesday, Dec. magazine in April 1962. “MY CARTOONS ARE 11. The book consists of A college classmate in200 Koren cartoons. It is troduced him to the art FROZEN THEATER PIECES, Koren’s 11th book. editor. He took a pencil AND I AM THE DIRECTOR,” Koren has produced sketch of a cartoon idea 28 covers for the New with him, and it was KOREN SAID. Yorker and over 1,100 accepted. of his cartoons have been published in the “For 35 years we hand-carried pencil magazine. sketches to a Tuesday morning meeting,” His figures will be immediately recognized Koren said. “The editor would accept or by anyone who has seen even one of his crereject each submission. If we were rejected, ations – they have squiggly lines, huge noses we would work our way down a list of other and unaggressive expressions. The cover of publications ranked by prestige, hoping to his new book displays a good example. find an editor with the right sense of humor.” Edward Koren, page 4A

Submitted

Edward Koren stands next to one of his cartoons published in the New Yorker magazine.

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2A • LOCAL

NEWS

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Hartland volunteers unite to repair Puerto Rico storm damage

By Curt Peterson

HARTLAND—In the face of finger-pointing, local fiscal problems and political turmoil in Puerto Rico, two Hartland churches have banded together under the project title Hartland Churches United in Service, to help residents of the island repair Hurricane Maria’s September 2017 damage to their homes. Vicki Lawrence and her husband, Jim, of Hartland are among 24 volunteers that are headed for Puerto Rico Jan. 6- 13. The participants were given a list of team responsibilities, including

with weekends off to rest and absorb Puerto Rican culture. The United Church of Christ Disaster Relief organization organized the trip. Lucia Jackson, pastor of the First Congregational Church (UCC) of Hartland, said 10 of the volunteers are young adults who have been active in the Hartland Churches Youth United in Service, a cooperative program with the First Universalist Society of Hartland. “I put out the word and all the youth slots were filled immediately,” Rev.

24 VOLUNTEERS ARE HEADED FOR PUERTO RICO JAN. 6- 13. cooking, and asked to rate their skill levels from One (“Haven’t done, but willing to try”) to Five (“Perform professionally”). The skills include everything from concrete repair and framing to HVAC installation and debris removal. The volunteers also had to complete medical history and condition forms, and obtain various immunization and booster shots. Yuquiyu Camp and Conference Center, owned by Iglesia Evangelica Unida of Puerto Rico, will provide bunkhouse accommodations for the group, who will drive daily to various worksites in rented vans. Work days will be eight hours long,

Jackson said. The First Universalist Society of Hartland is the other partner in Hartland Churches United in Service. After 14 months many Puerto Ricans are still living with severe storm damage, said David Britton and his wife Birdie, who own a small bed and breakfast inn on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. Britton said damage on the main island was mitigated by storm-resilient reconstruction after 1989 Hurricane Hugo wiped out many frame structures. “Almost no one built or rebuilt with wood,” Britton wrote in an email to The Mountain Times. Although many house

walls remain intact post-Maria, “Unless it was made of poured concrete, the roof today is a blue tarp. Looking down when flying in over Fajardo and Condado (east of San Juan) we saw a blue tarp for probably two of every five roofs,” Britton wrote. Skunk Hollow Tavern in Hartland Four Corners hosted a successful fundraiser dinner for 140 people at two sittings on Dec. 9. Co-owner Carlos Ocasio, originally from the island, prepared Puerto Rican dishes, including roast pork and an island vegetarian bean dish that earned Ms. Lawrence’s rave reviews, and Ocasio’s wife, Gretchen, made coconut ice cream with real coconut shavings on top. The event netted over $2,000 to help finance the work mission. The Lawrences volunteered to wait on tables during the first sitting. A GoFundMe Facebook page and special donations made at the two sponsoring churches contributed significantly to achieving the group’s goal. According to Pastor Jackson, the total raised for the mission is $10,000, half of which will be donated to agencies working on disaster relief. “We were able to raise that entire amount easily, due to the incredible generosity of the people of Hartland,” Rev. Jackson said, adding, “What that tells me is that people want to be a part of helping in bad times.”

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The sign for a new restaurant, Crux, is erected. It is located at the former On the Rocs.

Roots owner expands to Killington By Katy Savage

Donald Billings doesn’t like to sit still. his businesses in Rutland and Killington. After relocating his Rutland restaurant, Besides Roots, he also owns The Bakery on Roots, to Washington Street and reopening West Street, downtown. Dec. 7 with double the seating, Billings, He’s busy but Billings said the restaurant the owner and chef, opened a market and business is easy for him. Billings, 43, said deli in Killington. Now he’s ready to open his grandparents drove from California another restaurant. to Vermont in 1973 and opened an inn, Crux was scheduled to open on Killingsimply because they liked it here. ton Road this past weekend. Like his family, Billings makes quick Billings purchased the building, fordecisions. merly On the Rocs, on a whim about three As part of the purchase from the weeks ago from Ron and Jamie Amadeo. Amadeos, Billings opened Mountain After about 12 years, the Amadeos said Merchant (formerly the Phat Italian Deli they were looking for a change. & Market), three weeks ago, selling coffee, “Taxes are too high and I can’t get workdeli items and beer. ers,” Ron said. Though Billings has decades of experiRon Amadeo said he spoke with two ence in restaurants, the market and deli, business owners which includes a gas about purchasing station, is new to him. BILLINGS IS TRYING TO the building after “The Phat Italian MAKE THE BEER GARDEN struggling for years to was known for sandattract locals. Billings wiches,”he said. “ We ONE OF THE LARGEST IN seemed like the best want to be known for SOUTHERN VERMONT. fit to Ron and Jamie. more than just that. “Hopefully they do We want to get that well here,” Jamie said. local clientele coming in. We’re trying to get Ron and Jamie spent part of the day that quick flow for people.” Thursday, Dec. 20, packing their belongBillings is trying to make the beer garden ings. Their uncle, Richard Baur, loaded a one of the largest in southern Vermont, pick-up truck with a moose head that hung with 500 different craft beers. from the restaurant’s walls. Baur shot the Billings is also using items from his 1700-pound moose in British Columbia in bakery, like homemade English muffins, to the 1980s. Meanwhile, Billings was moving make healthy grab-and-go food options. his staff inside. General Manager John Pisanelli, who Billings plans to have 10 employees worked at the Phat Italian for 11 years, during the peak season. New staff were will continue his role at the Mountain getting used to Billings fast-paced style. Merchant. “There are a lot of new ideas,” “He’s high-energy,” said Scott O’Connor, Pisanelli, said. who worked in the kitchen.”He’s not afraid Billings said the menu for Crux will be to get his hands dirty.” similar to Roots, with homemade pastas Billings spends his days driving between and locally sourced meats and vegetables.

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LOCAL NEWS

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26., 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

• 3A

To get out of debt, Killington could see significant tax hike Town manager, Select Board discuss tax options

By Katy Savage

KILLINGTON—The town could see a significant tax increase in the future. Town Manager Chet Hagenbarth said the town has accumulated about $2.2 million worth of debt, coming partly from about $588,000 of unfunded expenses from Tropical Storm Irene, and about $286,000 in golf course debt along with $250,000 in a repayment to FEMA. Hagenbarth also expects about $14 million of future expenses, including the construction of a new $4 million public safety building, about $1.2 million in golf course upgrades, $3 million in recreation expenses and $7 million in road work. “I don’t want to scare everybody,” Hagenbarth said. “There are significant projects that are going to have to happen. These are things that we are going to have to address.” Hagenbarth presented options for borrowing money at a meeting Monday, Dec. 17. He projected tax implications for the next 10 years under different loan scenarios. “Should we go borrow the money now while the money is cheap?” Hagenbarth asked. Hagenbarth plans show taxes would see the largest increase in fiscal year 2021—the year loan payments would begin. If the town borrowed money as needed, the current .40 tax rate per $100 of assessed property value would jump to .46 next year and to .51 in 2021. If the town borrowed money to pay for the projects up front and paid it back over 15 years, taxes would jump to .46 next year and then to .62 in 2021. If the town borrowed money up front and paid some of it back over 15 years and some of it back over 30 years, taxes would be .46 next year, then .62 in 2021. A .46 tax rate would increase a resident’s property taxes on a $150,000 house by $148 while a .63 tax increase would increase taxes about $325 for the owner of a $150,000 home. After years of fluctuating tax rates, Hagenbarth wants to put the town on a sustainable path moving forward. “We’re trying to account for all the things we have to account for,” Hagenbarth said. Hagenbarth said the town could earn interest on money it borrowed early. The Select Board also considered bringing back the 1 percent sales option tax to offset costs. The option tax was established in October in 2008 and rescinded in 2017. “We really don’t want to kick the can anymore,” Select Board chair Steve Finneron told the audience. “On the front end it looks oppressive but it’s not. Everything that he’s presented—the town’s going to end up paying for it.” The Select Board has not yet decided on a budget to send to voters on Town Meeting Day. “It doesn’t seem to me completely exorbitant,” said resident Roger Rivera. “We have to get it done. Whatever way the voters approve it, I’m good with it.” Some questioned if voters would support a budget with a size-able tax increase. Select Board member Jim Haff said it was up to voters to decide. “It doesn’t matter, that’s what a vote is,” he said.

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4A â&#x20AC;˘ LOCAL

NEWS

The Mountain Times â&#x20AC;˘ Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

WCMUSD proposes 2.5 percent budget increase By Curt Peterson

The Windsor Central Modified Unified School District Board met at 6 p.m. Dec. 10 for a 2020 budget workshop prior to the regular board meeting. This meeting, in the Killington Elementary School gym, was the first of a rotating schedule of meetings in each of the six participating districts. Superintendent Mary Beth Banios presented what she calls â&#x20AC;&#x153;Portrait of a Graduate,â&#x20AC;? describing the desired educational outcome for district elementary and second-

ary school students. The education would include self-direction skills, critical problem-solving, academic excellence, communications skills, and a strong sense of stewardship. Baniosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proposed investments would increase the 2020 district budget by approximately 2.5 percent over the 2019 budget, which is over $20 million. At the elementary level, Banios proposes adding a full-time curriculum coordinator ($70,000), creating innovations

laboratories ($30,000), and evolving the existing pre-K program to a full-time, free facility (reduction in revenue, $160,000). For secondary level goals, Banios would like an advanced math coach for grades 7-12 ($90,000), additional music, laboratory, literature and technology materials and equipment ($52,000), a post-secondary counselor ($60,000), funding for SAT and AP exams ($25,000), and an SAT preparation course

($10,000). Banios also proposes engaging a consultant to implement safety and security upgrades recommended by a team of facility and system auditors ($50,000), and an increase in capital spending because of security equipment costs and a new roof on Killington Elementary School. The total cost for her proposals is $1,382,000, including $685,000 for increased contractual obligations including a health insurance cost increase of 11 percent. WCMUSD budget, page 7A

Edward Koren:

A 1970s transplant, Ed Koren fits right in here

continued from page 1A

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Koren said all the other magazines are gone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the New Yorker being the only surviving buyer. Artists no longer deliver submissions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the magazine insists they be scanned and sent through the internet. Still due Tuesday morning, Koren said, they are usually accepted or not by Friday. Once accepted, sometimes with editorial input, the artist has as much time as needed to finished his cartoon and email it to the editor. Koren said he was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;doodlerâ&#x20AC;? as a student, â&#x20AC;&#x153;much to the despair of my teachers.â&#x20AC;? In many of his cartoons the juxtaposition of local, real Vermont culture and that of visitors, vacation home owners and newcomers is the basis for humor. In several slides of his work he pointed out wine glasses, Bermuda shorts, sandals and wicker furniture in the same frame with overalls, boots, straw hats and baskets full of fresh vegetables. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And my cartoons often depict porches. I love to draw porches,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Porches are a place of community.â&#x20AC;? On Tuesday, his entrance was dramatic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Koren, 83, is a captain on the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department, and responded to a fire call before he left for Woodstock â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the crowd waited patiently. The cartoonist has been a fireman in his adopted hometown for over 24 years. He and his wife Curtis have lived in Vermont since the 1970s.

Courtesy edwardkoren.com

The cover of Korenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new book illustrates the artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous style. His education is impressive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Columbia, private study in Paris, Masters in Fine Arts from Pratt Institute, and several yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; teaching at Brown University. He was the third Vermont Cartoonist Laureate, a designation awarded by the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River and formalized in a state house ceremony. Koren describes cartoons as a specific moment in historyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an

instant in time implying the moments before and after as part of the set-up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been the same for 2,000 years,â&#x20AC;? Koren said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;from the very beginning of graphic satire. My cartoons are frozen theater pieces, and I am the director.â&#x20AC;? At the end of the event Mr. Koren signed books for his fans, drawing one of his characters with each signature.

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STATE NEWS

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26., 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

33 school districts file appeal against board of education

A group of Vermont school districts, community leaders, and citizens will filed an appeal Thursday, Dec. 20 against the State Board of Education, the Vermont Agency of Education, and the Secretary of Education. Attorneys for the appeal say that a preliminary injunction and a stay will also be filed imminently. The appeal is being put forward by 31 school boards, seven select boards, one planning commission, and 15 taxpayers, parents and students. It challenges the Nov. 28, 2018 State Board of Education decision to forcibly merge 45 democratically elected school boards under Act 46. In the final Order, the state board stated that “the Board has chosen to hew as closely to the intent of the Act as that authority will allow, creating preferred structures wherever possible.” (Final Order at 6 (emphasis added).) The Board’s position reveals a breathtaking misunderstanding of the law. The Board’s mandate was not to realign districts wherever “possible,” but to do so only where it was deemed “necessary.” The appeal argues that the board’s action is unconstitutional, and “ignored the plain text” of education laws. The appeal states, “If upheld, the board’s ‘casual dismissal of statute’ will have lasting impacts for decades, perhaps even centuries, to come. It is already tearing communities apart and pitting towns against each other. It is harming our students, our schools, the very fabric of rural life, the democratic process, checks and balances, and the foundational notion that governance requires consent of the governed.” Ines McGillion, one of the attorneys presenting the legal challenge, noted,“We hope the Vermont courts will recognize that plaintiffs are entitled to relief from the Agency’s and the Board’s breathtaking departure from longstanding statutory processes that require the consent of, and respect the wisdom of, our voters.” This is the second legal challenge filed to date in response to the Act 46 forced mergers. On Dec. 13, the Elmore-Morristown Unified Union and the Stowe School District filed suit. Alternatives to merger were allowed under Act 46, the 2015 school merger. Dummerston School Board member Kristina Naylor noted, “Many dedicated board members and citizens worked on an Alternative Governance Structure to meet the Act 46 requirements, yet there was no evaluation of the ability of the AGS proposals to meet the goals as required by law.” According to Carin Ewing Park, a member of the Barnard School Board, “Many districts turned down hefty financial incentives and committed themselves to the arduous Act 46 Section 9 process because they knew merger would undermine the ability of their districts to best serve their students and taxpayers.” Westminster School Board member Rick Gordon said that their alternative governance structure proposal met all the goals of Act 46 and increased their collaboration and efficiency. “To have this plan rejected without even consideration by the State Board of Education, and then to be forced to merge with a district geographically removed and thus more inefficient and less transparent, is an affront to democracy and common sense.” Plaintiffs are deeply concerned about the effects of forced mergers on students. Grafton School Board member Jack Bryar noted, “The AOE simply ignored half the law that allowed communities to create their own governance structures, and have instead created absurd, gerrymandered districts where school children cannot travel from end to end without driving miles into other school districts.” The appellant/plaintiffs are:Athens School District; Barnard School District; Barnard Select Board; Bellows Falls Union High School; Berlin School District; Brighton School District; Brownington Select Board; Calais School District; Calais Select Board; Charleston School District; Coventry School District; Craftsbury School District; Dummerston School District; Franklin School District; Franklin Select Board; Glover School District; Grafton School District; Greensboro School District; Greensboro Select Board; Highgate School District; Irasburg Planning Commission; Irasburg School District; Irasburg Select Board; Jay School District; Lakeview Union School District; Lowell School District; Montgomery School District; Montgomery Select Board; Newbury School District; Newport Town School District; Richford School District; Sheldon School District; Stannard School District; Troy School District; Westfield School District; Westminster School District; Windham School District; Worcester School District.

New year, new rates

Minimum wage rises, employers get continued unemployment insurance tax relief Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, the state’s minimum wage will increase to $10.78 per hour. Also beginning Jan. 1, 2019, employers will see a reduction in the taxable wage base amount that they pay on unemployment taxes by $2,000. Nearly 22,600 employers remit state unemployment taxes to the Vermont Department of Labor on an annual basis. These taxes are deposited into the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and are used for the payment of unemployment insurance benefits to eligible claimants. The unemployment trust fund is “forward-funded,” meaning tax schedules are designed to raise more funds during periods of economic growth to ensure that there is adequate funding during economic recessions. The department moved to Tax Rate Schedule III [3] in July 2018, which triggered a reduction in those tax rates for employers starting July 1,

2018. The additional reduction in the taxable wage base for Jan. 1, 2019, was also triggered by that move to the Tax Rate Schedule III. Per legislation passed in 2014, for the last four years the state’s minimum wage was mandatorily set by statute. As that legislation has run its course, pre-existing legislation related to the annual change in the minimum wage resumed. The increase for 2019, and in years to come, will now be determined by a calculation of inflation set in statute using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The recent increase of 2.7 percent to the CPI applied to last year’s minimum raised the rate by $0.28 per hour to the new level of $10.78 per hour starting Jan. 1, 2019. This change also impacts the minimum wage of “tipped employees.” The Basic Tipped Wage Rate equals 50 percent of the full minimum wage or $5.39 per hour starting Jan. 1, 2019.

Marijuana panel wants roadside testing before regulated market opens By Xander Landen/VTDigger

The governor’s Marijuana Advisory Commission is recommending that before Vermont moves to legalize a commercial cannabis market, the state needs to find a consistent way to test drivers for cannabis impairment. The panel also urges policymakers in its report to pave the way for law enforcement to use roadside saliva tests to determine the presence of cannabis in drivers ahead of legalizing a cannabis market. While the commission had previously been split on whether to suggest the state allow law enforcement to use saliva testing – which has been criticized because it can not currently determine impairment – the recommendation was included in its final report to the governor. The commission had been working for more than a year to determine how the state should design a market for marijuana sales. Along with recommendations about roadside testing, the panel is suggesting the state levy a 26 percent tax on cannabis purchases. The report calls for the state to create a Cannabis Board of Control, embedded within the Dept. of Liquor and Lottery, to oversee the private cannabis industry and establish standards for product cultivation, testing and sales. The commission’s final report comes as lawmakers are poised to introduce tax and regulate legislation in the coming months to pave the way for a legal marijuana market. The Senate has already passed similar legislation on three occasions, but it has not made it through the House. There is still uncertainty about whether a tax-and-regulate proposal would have the support to pass the House, where lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, D-South Hero, have reservations about the impact further marijuana legalization could have on road safety and youth usage. Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe, D-Chittenden, said in an interview Wednesday, Dec. 19, that he is in favor of passing a tax-and-regulate bill, even though roadside tests for cannabis impairment haven’t been perfected. “My own view is that I’m ready to advance a full legal tax and regulate system even while we wait for the technology to improve,” he said. “The question is do we wait possibly for a decade until the technology is superior to have a more rational system? I would say no way.” Both Maine and Massachusetts have already established legal markets, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his plans this week to do the same.

Pot panel, page10A

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Table of contents Opinion....................................................................6A Calendar...................................................................8A Music Scene...........................................................11A Just for Fun.............................................................12A Rockin’ the Region.................................................13A Living A.D.E............................................................14A Food Matters..........................................................17A Lift Lines.................................................................22A Columns.................................................................23A Service Directory...................................................24A Pets.........................................................................26A Mother of the Skye.................................................27A Classifieds..............................................................28A News Briefs............................................................30A Living ADE...............................................................1B Food Matters..........................................................11B Rockin’ the Region.................................................14B 2018 Year in Review.................................................1B Real Estate................................................................9B

Mounta in Times The Mountain Times is an independently owned weekly newspaper serving residents of, and visitors to Central Vermont Region. Our offices are located at 5465 Route 4, Sherburne Flats, Killington, Vt. ©The Mountain Times 2015 The Mountain Times • P.O. Box 183 Killington, VT 05751

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Polly Lynn-Mikula ----------------------- Editor & Co-Publisher Jason Mikula ---------------------- Ad Manager & Co-Publisher Erica Harrington ------------------------------ Business Manager

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Cal Garrison Dom Cioffi Mary Ellen Shaw Lani Duke Paul Holmes Lee Crawford Marguerite Jill Dye Dave Hoffenberg Robin Alberti Flag photo by Richard Podlesney

Opinion

6A •

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

OP-ED

Just over the edge to receive financial help By Jan Demers

What happens when you are 1 percent over the eligibility limit? You need help and help is so close but the edge of the cliff is crumbling underneath you. She had come to our office 10 years ago and needed help paying for fuel. Year after year the cold of winter brought her back. She just didn’t have enough money to get her through the cold times. That is one face of poverty. After obtaining a new, higher paying job, fuel assistance wasn’t necessary. We hadn’t seen her for the last five years. This year, however, she became ill and a little bit later her child became ill. She still had her job but was on unpaid medical leave. Her new position held future security. But it didn’t pay the present bills. She came to our community action ofice one more time. Just dollars over the income limit, she was ineligible. That is where Warmth funding took over. We have the flexibility to extend the limit in certain circumstances and this was one. She came crying and shaking, not from cold but from fear. She left with a certain amount of peace. Whitney Cassell is CVOEO’s fuel coordinator. As we were talking the other day she said “Adhering to a rigid $100 per visit may not solve the client’s immediate need and will only push the issue further into the winter, making it more challenging to address later on. It is not a misuse of funds issue, it is truly a poverty issue.” There is a $300 limit per family for Warmth funding. The Warmth program is in its 32nd year and is administered by CVOEO. It is intended to supplement Vermont’s Seasonal and Crisis Fuel Assistance services. Warmth funds are always paid directly to the fuel or energy vendor on behalf of Vermonters with low income. For this emergency or crisis program applicants must be within five to seven days of running out of bulk fuel or in danger of having their utility service disconnected in order to be considered for financial assis-

Nate Beeler, The Columbus Dispatch, OH

LETTERS

Thank you, emergency responders

prohibits slavery in the U.S. So the flaws in the Vermont language have no practical, legal impact, and amending them will not actually change anything. But the language is especially important historical language, and its presence in our constitution is part of the record of the founding of the independent State of Vermont, often called the Republic of Vermont. The founding language of our constitution reflects the characters and values of Vermont’s founders, including freedom, equality, human dignity. Vermonters continue to respect these values which define our view of ourselves. Being the first North American polity to outlaw slavery is a point of pride for all Vermonters. Whatever flaws may be in the language, it is best understood in the context of 1777, at which time it was a major step forward. The prohibition of slavery was a good thing,

Dear Editor, Throughout the course of this year I have had the opportunity to meet many first-responders in the fire service, emergency medical services, law enforcement, and emergency management through the governor’s Capitol for a Day initiative. I continue to be humbled and awed by your service and commitment to you communities. As 2018 ends, I would like to say thank you to responders and those who support them for all they do. No one becomes an emergency responder to get rich. In fact, most responders are not paid for the time they spend responding to emergencies, nor for the countless hours they spend training for that purpose. Most people know there are very few paid firefighters or emergency medical technicians (EMTs) in Vermont. Most departments are run by volunteer chiefs and staffed with volunteers who are willing to donate their time. Volunteer and career firefighters, police, EMTs and other professionals not only respond to emergencies, but go through hours upon hours of training to ensure their own safety and the safety of those they serve.

Revising history, page 7A

Responders, page 7A

The edge, page 7A

An unfortunate law By Dick McCormack

When the Legislature convenes in January, there will be an effort to amend the Vermont Constitution to alter the 1777 language prohibiting slavery, the first prohibition of slavery in North America. I think doing this is a bad idea. As I understand it, supporters of amending object to the anti-slavery language because it limits protection from slavery to persons over 21 years old, and because the language is silent on the de facto servitude of women under 18th century laws. I agree that these are indeed flaws. I also agree that the Vermont Constitution is a living document and that amendment is authorized by the constitution itself. Other early language has been amended, but to change the law, not to rewrite history. The language in question has not been actual law since preemption by the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which

ALTERING THE HISTORIC RECORD TO MAKE IT WORTHIER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS WOULD BE DISHONEST REVISIONISM.

Killington Public Safety Building revised Dear Editor, The committee for the new public safety building along with representatives from each department and the design team met again after receiving the drawings which were presented in the Mountain Times. The main discussion was to assess the drawings which were according to our previous discussions. At this meeting we looked for ways to have a slightly smaller facility while still meeting the needs of each department. As a group we were able to make some agreed upon changes. The biggest change was to double up or reconfigure how the ap-

paratus bays would work. We found that we could eliminate one entire bay by doubling how the trucks were parked. The other main change was to lower the roof. Initially we had a higher ceiling/roof in the areas not over the bays. This would have allowed for future use as additional storage or potential living space if and when we needed a full time Fire Department. These were both seen as something which could be eliminated at this time as there is no immediate need. While these two areas were eliminated from the present design, the overall

layout allows for either of these to be added, when needed, on the ground level right next to the existing facilities on either side with minimal effect on the existing structure and layout. His action has resulted in approximately 2,000 sq. ft. of space reduction, which cuts roughly $500,000 off the construction cost. These are best guess estimates by the design team. The group will continue to review and assess the structure and costs at each meeting. Thank you, Stephen Finneron, Killington, Chair of the Citizen Committee

Accept and help all the children Dear Editor, My heart is breaking for the child who felt so alone in our community that the only answer they could come to was violence. We need to wrap that child, and every child, in love. We need to do better. As grateful as I am for the advocacy (mostly by our youth) that gave us one of the tools that prevented this tragedy from becoming deadly, I also am desperately aware of how much we need to do to ensure that our youth know that our community knows them, loves them, and cares about them. I don’t pretend to know what to do. But here are some things I’m aspiring to do: Look every child I see in the eyes. Give them

a smile. Say hello. Ask how they are and mean it. Know that every mistake is them learning to be a person. See every error as their struggle. Correct with love. See them all. Gay kids, straight kids, pan kids, bi kids, trans kids, kids of color, white kids, preps, A/V nerds, punks, athletes, mathletes, spellers, farmers, artists, introverts, extroverts, conservatives, liberals, fundamentalists, atheists ... Every kid. See them and care. I’m starting with my own, and moving out from there. I can also be there for parents. Some of us are always on time. Some of us are always late. Some of us pack elaborate lunches for our kids. Some of us hope they can get lunch

at school. Some of us are housed. Some of us are not. Some of us are healthy. Some of us are not. Some of our work is at home. Some of our work is out of the house. We are all parents struggling not to mess our kids up. We are fortunate that they are so resilient. None of us is better for being judged. None of us is doing it all right. This is not a competition, it’s a community. We do better when we help each other. What happens to anyone in our small community reverberates through our community. We are in this together. We have so very far to go. Will you help? Jason Duquette-Hoffman, Middlebury

CAPITOL QUOTES

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26., 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

NAL O I T A P ON N LE SYRU MAP EC. 17 D DAY

CAPITOL QUOTES “Happy National Maple Syrup Day! Vermont is the biggest producer of maple syrup in America—producing nearly 2 million gallons of maple syrup last year alone. That’s a lot of syrup,” Said Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“Vermont led the U.S. in maple syrup production this year— a whopping 2 million gallons!” Said Gov. Phil Scott.

“Vermont maple syrup is nothing but pure, boiled down sap. Grateful to my colleagues who signed my letter to the FDA demanding they back off and to all the Vermonters who weighed in during the FDA comment period. Victory is sweet,” Said Rep. Peter Welch.

“The sap won’t start flowing for a few months, but VT maple will continue to be the Gold Standard thanks to the new Farm Bill: 1) Pure maple syrup won’t need an “added sugar” label, and 2) continued ACER grants for maple syrup R&D,” Said Sen. Patrick Leahy.

“We don’t mean to be sappy, but today’s National Maple Syrup Day and when you boil it down, it’s pretty much a celebration of how awesome VT is - that’s pretty sweet!” Said Sec. of State Jim Condos.

The edge:

• 7A

Income rise can push those in need over the benefits cliff

continued from page 6A tance. CVOEO staff work with applicants to examine their monthly income and expenses, their available resources, and their capacity to make realistic repayment arrangements (for past-due metered services) or to cover part of the cost of a delivery of bulk fuel. Community Action staff also screen applicants for eligibility in other supportive programs, such as the state Seasonal Fuel Assistance Program, 3SquaresVT, and weatherization services. Warmth funds are donated. CVOEO uses 100 percent of all donations to keep people warm. During last year’s heating season

Revising history:

CVOEO helped 1,747 “unduplicated households” 2,486 times through $309,253 in donations. CVOEO is in the business of helping people step back from the edge of cliffs. Community Action offices in Middlebury, Burlington and St. Albans will help those needing fuel. Warmth donations can be sent to CVOEO, PO Box 1603, Burlington, VT 05402. “A little bit of mercy makes the world less cold and more just.” —Pope Francis Jan F. Demers is the executive director of Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO.)

Don’t bury the historical record

continued from page 6A deserving of preservation. But, yes, the failure to prohibit all slavery was a flaw. Our history is flawed. The Emancipation Proclamation didn’t actually free a single slave at the time, but it did proclaim emancipation. The Declaration of Independence claimed certain “unalienable rights” for “all men,” but not for women, and it was blatantly racist regarding “the savage Indians.” But it was and is a thunderclap for freedom. The Magna Carta did very little for common people, mainly serving the wealthy nobles, but it established the consent of the governed as the authority for the just powers of government. So too Vermont’s ban on slavery failed to do what it failed to do, yet did what it did. Then why not just delete the obnoxious part? If it were current law it should be deleted. But altering the historic record to make it worthier than it actually is would be dishonest revisionism. Making historical figures appear to say what we wish they’d said, instead of what they did say, puts a smiley face on the darker side of our history. The good of our history, like Vermont’s first-in-America prohibition of slavery, deserves our respect. The darker side is something to which we must face up frankly. Respect for the good is often denigrated as jingoist. Frankness about the bad is condemned as unpatriotic. But actually, both are simply respect for the truth. Legislators need to hear from the folks at home before the Legislature convenes in January. Dick McCormack is a senator for Windsor County.

Responders: continued from page 6A The same goes for the voices on the other end of the line when you call 911. Emergency communication dispatchers work in a high stress environment every day; and these highly trained professionals perform their duties with distinction. The families of these responders also play an important role, holding down the fort at home during emergencies that sometimes happen at night, on weekends, or during holidays, often without much notice. Others give their time in the name of public safety in other ways. Every municipality in Vermont has an emergency management director (EMD) or coordinator who is directly responsible for the organization, administration, and coordination of local

Public safety commissioner salutes first responders emergency management. EMDs work to ensure disaster responses in their town are coordinated, and that the town has the physical tools it needs to respond to any number of emergencies. The Department of Public Safety understands the sacrifices of responders and the importance of supporting them. Vermont Emergency Management and the Division of Fire Safety facilitate and conduct free trainings throughout the year and administer federal grants for response organizations. The Vermont State Police, through the state Homeland Security Unit, also provides funding so response agencies can equip themselves to protect the lives of the public. Most firefighters and EMTs in Vermont are

WCMUSD budget:

volunteers, and more are always needed. I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage anyone who has ever thought about finding a role in emergency response to reach out to her or his local fire department or ambulance squad. You could support the department administratively, work on vehicles, maintain equipment, or attend to other duties depending upon your department’s specific needs. Once again, on behalf of the entire Department of Public Safety, I express my sincere gratitude to all emergency responders for the work you do and the sacrifices you make. We are all better off for your efforts. Thomas Anderson, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Public Safety

Superintendent presents ‘Portrait of a Grad’

continued from page 4A In the long run the effect of the successful pre-K program in Barnard is a significant reduction in special education costs as students advance through the grades, Barnard representative Pamela Fraser said. Banios applauded the Barnard program for its quality and sustainability, as well as its results. Sherry Sousa, district director of instructional support, said early pre-K identification of learning issues and intervention has reduced the district’s need for expensive support as well.

Banios said she would like to offset the costs of investments. She would reduce the number of elementary level classrooms, eliminate arts positions on the staff, realize savings in building administration costs, reduce the cost of nursing as well as the cost of teaching woodworking skills , realize elimination of facility costs at the dormant Prosper Valley School and make reductions in special education costs. Voters will have their say about the budget on Town Meeting Day in March.

8A •

Calendar

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

** denotes multiple times and/or locations.

Playgroup

10 a.m. Maclure Library offers playgroup, Thursdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Birth to 5 years old. Stories, crafts, snacks, singing, dancing. 802-483-2792. 840 Arch St., Pittsford.

CHRISTMAS AT THE FARM AT BILLING FARM & MUSEUM DEC. 26-JAN. 2, 10 A.M.-4 P.M.

Story Time

10 a.m. Story time at West Rutland Public Library. Thursdays,10 a.m. Bring young children to enjoy stories, crafts, and playtime. 802-4382964.

Killington Bone Builders

10 a.m. Bone builders meets at Sherburne Memorial Library, 2998 River Rd., Killington, 10-11 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Free, weights supplied. 802-422-3368.

Mendon Bone Builders

10 a.m. Mendon bone builders meets Thursdays at Roadside Chapel, 1680 Townline Rd, Rutland Town. 802-773-2694.

All Levels Yoga

Co ur tes yB FM

WEDNESDAY DEC. 26

Bikram Yoga **

6 a.m. Bikram Yoga holds classes Wednesdays: 6 a.m. 60-min. Bikram; 11 a.m. inferno hot pilates; 4:30 p.m. 60-min. hot power flow; 6:15 p.m. 90-min Bikram. 1360 US-4, Mendon. bikramyogamendon.com.

Ski Bum Races

10 a.m. No race this week, Dec. 26! Killington Ski Bum races held on Highline trail at K-1, Killington Resort, Wednesdays, Dec. 12-March 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Post party weekly. This week, at Casey’s Caboose. Racers only; $5 extra for guest. killington.com.

Christmas at the Farm

10 a.m. Billings Farm & Museum, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Historic ornament making, candle dipping, decorated farm house, interactive programs, holiday activities, “A Place in this Land” showing, horse-drawn wagon rides, more. Admission. 69 Old River Road, Woodstock. billingsfarm.org.

Active Seniors Lunch

12 p.m. Killington Active Seniors meet for a meal Wednesdays at the Lookout Bar & Grille. Town sponsored. Come have lunch with this well-traveled group of men and women. $5/ person. 802-422-2921. 2910 Killington Road, Killington.

Tobacco Cessation Group

5 p.m. Castleton Community Center, 2108 Main St., Castleton. Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. Free nicotine replacement therapy and other resources and supports. 802-747-3768.

Rotary Meeting

6 p.m. The Killington-Pico Rotary club cordially invites visiting Rotarians, friends and guests to attend weekly meeting. Meets Wednesdays at Summit Lodge 6-8 p.m. for full dinner and fellowship. 802-773-0600 to make a reservation. Dinner fee $19. KillingtonPicoRotary.org

Free Knitting Class

6:30 p.m. Free knitting classes at Plymouth Community Center, by Barbara Wanamaker. Bring yarn and needles, U.S. size 7 or 8 bamboo needles recommended, one skein of medium weight yarn in light or medium color. RSVP to bewanamaker@gmail.com, 802-396-0130. 35 School Drive, Plymouth.

THURSDAY Bikram Yoga **

DEC. 27

6 a.m. Bikram Yoga holds classes Thursdays: 6 a.m. & 6:15 p.m. inferno hot pilates; 9 a.m. & 4:30 p.m. 90-min. Bikram. 1360 US-4, Mendon. bikramyogamendon.com.

Open Swim **

8 a.m. Enjoy the warm water at Mitchell Therapy Pool at Vermont Achievement Center, 88 Park St., Rutland: 8-9 a.m.; 5-7 p.m. 802-773-7187.

10 a.m. Chaffee Art Center offers all level yoga class with Stefanie DeSimone, 50 minute practice. $5/ class, drop-ins welcome. 16 South Main St., Rutland.

WHAT TO DO IN CENTRAL VERMONT Christmas at the Farm

Story Time

10:30 a.m. Sherburne Memorial Library holds story time Fridays, 10:30-11 a.m. Stories, songs, activities. Babies and toddlers welcome! 802-422-9765.

Cheetah Conservation Talk

3 p.m. Join VINS to learn about the fascinating efforts by Action for Cheetahs in Kenya to understand the cheetah population as well as the specific techniques to decrease conflicts. Included with general admissions to the VINS Nature Center. VINS, 149 Nature’s Way, Quechee. vinsweb.org.

Magic: the Gathering

3:15 p.m. Sherburne Memorial Library holds Magic: the Gathering Fridays, 3:15-4:15 p.m. Ages 8+, all levels welcome. 2998 River Rd., Killington. 802-422-9765.

Shake ‘N’ Skate

6 p.m. Ice skating at Jackson Gore’s Ice House with live DJ and family games. 6-9 p.m. Rentals $7; $8-$10 admission. Jackson Gore Village at Okemo Mountain Resort. okemo.com, 802-228-1600.

Paint & Sip

7 p.m. Paint & Sip with a local artist at Jackson Gore Roundhouse Cafe at Okemo Mountain Resort. $50 includes all materials and instruction. Cash bar on site, no outside alcohol. RSVP at okemo.com.

SATURDAY

Christmas at the Farm

Tobacco Cessation Group

4:30 p.m. Old Brandon Town Hall, Brandon. Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free nicotine replacement therapy and other resources and supports. 802-747-3768.

Torchlight Parade & Fireworks

5 p.m. Okemo hosts a light show! 5 p.m. torchlight parade of skiers and riders traversing Open Slope trail. Then, fireworks show at 5:30 p.m. at the Clock Tower Base. Take a guided snowshoe tour to see them! RSVP at 802228-1956 for the snowshoe tour - meet at 4 p.m. for rentals, or 4:30 p.m. at South Ridge Quad A with your own. 77 Okemo Ridge Road, Ludlow. okemo.com.

All Levels Yoga

5:30 p.m. All levels flow at Killington Yoga with Karen Dalury, RYT 500. 3744 River Rd, Killington. killingtonyoga.com, 802-770-4101.

Bridge Club

6 p.m. Marble Valley Duplicate Bridge Club meets at Godnick Center Thursdays, 6 p.m. Sanctioned duplicate bridge games. 1 Deer St., Rutland. 802-2286276.

DEC. 29

Christmas Bird Count

Be a part of a local bird count, that counts towards a world-wide count. Join Rutland County Audubon society for its Christmas Bird Count and potluck. Spot birds within 7.5 mile radius of Mead Falls, Center Rutland. Participate from dawn to dusk, as little or as an hour or two. Sign up or get more info at 802-287-9338.

Bikram Yoga **

7:30 a.m. Bikram Yoga holds classes Saturdays: 7:30 a.m. 60-min. Bikram; 9 a.m. 90min. Bikram; 4:30 p.m. inferno hot pilates. 1360 US-4, Mendon. bikramyogamendon.com.

Christmas at the Farm

Open Gym

11 a.m. Saturday morning open gym at Head Over Heels, 152 North Main St., Rutland. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. All ages welcome. Practice current skills, create gymnastic routines, learn new tricks, socialize with friends. $5/ hour members; $8/ hour non-members. Discount punch cards available. 802-773-1404.

International Folk Dancing

6:30 p.m. Simple Israeli and European dances taught by Judy. Free. All welcome. Bring friends and BYOB. Dress comfortable, wear solid shoes with nonskid soles. at Rutland Jewish Center. Rutland Jewish Center, 96 Grove St., Rutland. 802-773-3455, rutlandjewishcenter.org.

Adult Soccer

7 p.m. Thursday night soccer at Killington Elementary School Gym, 7-9 p.m. Bring $3 and indoor shoes. Adults. Schoolhouse Road, Killington.

FRIDAY

DEC. 28

Bikram Yoga **

6 a.m. Bikram Yoga holds classes Fridays: 6 a.m. 60-min. hot power flow; 11 a.m. 60-min. Bikram; 4:30 p.m. inferno hot pilates. 1360 US-4, Mendon. bikramyogamendon.com.

Open Swim **

8 a.m. Enjoy the warm water at Mitchell Therapy Pool at Vermont Achievement Center, 88 Park St., Rutland: 8-9 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. 802-773-7187.

Level 1 Yoga

8:30 a.m. Level 1 Hatha Yoga at Killington Yoga with Karen Dalury, RYT 500. 3744 River Rd, Killington. killingtonyoga.com, 802-770-4101.

BOW THAYER WITH VAL MCCALLUM AT WOBBLY BARN THURSDAY, DEC. 27, 8 P.M.

CALENDAR

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26., 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

TUESDAY

Met Opera Live in HD

12:55 p.m. Live screening, in HD on the big screen at Paramount Theatre, of performances at the Metropolitan Opera. This week, encore production: Verdi’s “La Traviata.” Run time 3 hours, two 30-minute intermissions. Tickets $23 adults, $10 students. 30 Center St., Rutland. paramountvt.org.

Warren Miller’s “Face of Winter”

6 p.m. See Warren Miller Entertainment’s latest ski film, “Face of Winter,” at Jackson Gore Inn, Cornerstone Room, Okemo Mountain Resort. Tickets $20, all ages. Limited tickets available at okemo. com; or at the door if not sold out. Showtimes 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

MONDAY DEC. 31

Bikram Yoga **

6 a.m. “THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER” SCREENING Bikram Yoga holds classes Mondays: 6 a.m. and 11 a.m., 60 min. Bikram; 4:30 p.m. 60-min. hot power WITH MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL IN MIDDLEBURY flow; 6:15 p.m. 90-min. Bikram. 1360 US-4, Mendon. bikramyogamendon. SATURDAY, DEC. 29, 7 P.M. com.

Bridge Club

12 p.m. Marble Valley Duplicate Bridge Club meets at Godnick Center Saturdays, 12-4 p.m. Sanctioned duplicate bridge games. 1 Deer St., Rutland. 802228-6276.

Open Swim

Killington Yoga

8:30 a.m. All Level Flow Yoga, 8:30 a.m. at Killington Yoga with Karen Dalury, RYT 500. 3744 River Rd, Killington. killingtonyoga.com, 802-770-4101.

Killington Bone Builders

10 a.m. Bone builders meets at Sherburne Memorial Library, 2998 River Rd., Killington, 10-11 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Free, weights supplied. 802-422-3368.

Christmas at the Farm

5 p.m. Enjoy the warm water at Mitchell Therapy Pool at Vermont Achievement Center, 88 Park St., Rutland: Tues., Thurs., Saturday 5-7 p.m. 802-7737187.

Bingo

Open Swim

5:30 p.m. Bridgewater Grange Bingo, Saturday nights, doors open at 5:30 p.m. Games start 6:30 p.m. Route 100A, Bridgewater Corners. Just across bridge from Junction Country Store. All welcome. Refreshments available.

Open Gym

6 p.m. Friday night open gym at Head Over Heels, 152 North Main St., Rutland. 6-8 p.m. Ages 6+. Practice current skills, create gymnastic routines, learn new tricks, socialize with friends! $5/ hour members; $8/ hour non-members. Discount punch cards available. 802-773-1404.

“The Kindergarten Teacher”

7 p.m. Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival holds special screening of “The Kindergarten Teacher” at Middlebury Town Hall Theater. Film’s star Maggie Gyllenhaal will appear for Q&A after the screening, moderated by her husband, actor Peter Sarsgaard. $15 tickets, townhalltheater.org or at the box office. 69 S. Pleasant St., Middlebury.

VINS Presentation

7 p.m. First-hand encounter with live falcons, hawks, and owls plus natural history and ecology lessons. Roundhouse Cafe at Jackson Gore, Okemo Mountai Resort. Free. okemo.com.

SUNDAY DEC. 30

Heartfulness Meditation

7:45 a.m. Free group meditation Sundays, Rochester Town Office, School St. Dane, 802-767-6010. heartfulness.org.

Bikram Yoga **

9 a.m. Bikram Yoga holds classes Sundays: 9 a.m. 90-min. Bikram; 11 a.m. inferno hot pilates; 4:30 p.m. 60-min. Bikram. 1360 US-4, Mendon. bikramyogamendon.com.

Christmas at the Farm

Yoga with Dawn

10:30 a.m. Yoga class with Dawn resumes at Plymouth Community Center. All levels welcome, please bring your own mat. $12 per class or $90 for 10 classes. 35 School Drive, Plymouth.

All Levels Yoga

12 p.m. All levels flow at Killington Yoga with Cristy Murphy. 3744 River Rd, Killington. killingtonyoga.com, 802-770-4101.

11:30 a.m. Enjoy the warm water at Mitchell Therapy Pool at Vermont Achievement Center, 88 Park St., Rutland: 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 802-773-7187.

Monday Meals

12 p.m. Every Monday meals at Chittenden Town Hall at 12 noon. Open to public, RSVP call by Friday prior, 483-6244. Gene Sargent. Bring your own place settings. Seniors $3.50 for 60+. Under 60, $5. No holidays. 337 Holden Rd., Chittenden.

Rutland Rotary

JAN. 1

Bikram Yoga ** 6 a.m. Bikram Yoga holds classes Tuesdays: 6 a.m. & 6:15 p.m. Inferno hot pilates; 9 a.m. & 4:30 p.m. 90-min. Bikram. 1360 US-4, Mendon. bikramyogamendon.com.

Open Swim **

8 a.m. Enjoy the warm water at Mitchell Therapy Pool at Vermont Achievement Center, 88 Park St., Rutland: 8-9 a.m.; 12-1 p.m.; 5-7 p.m. 802-773-7187.

Art Workshop

10 a.m. Hand-in-Hand open art workshop, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Tuesdays at Sherburne Memorial Library, Killington. Open art workshop - all levels, interests, mediums. Free. Ann Wallen Community Room. 802-299-1777.

Mendon Bone Builders

10 a.m. Mendon bone builders meets Tuesdays at Roadside Chapel, 1680 Townline Rd, Rutland Town. 802-773-2694.

Tobacco Cessation Group

11 a.m. Free tobacco cessation group. Free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges. Every Tuesday, 11-12 p.m. at Heart Center, 12 Commons St., Rutland. 802-747-3768.

TOPS Meeting

4:45 p.m. TOPS meets Tuesday nights at Trinity Church in Rutland (corner of West and Church streets). Side entrance. Weight in 4:45-5:30 p.m. Meeting 6-6:30 p.m. All welcome, stress free environment, take off pounds sensibly. 802-293-5279.

Level 1 Yoga

5:30 p.m. Level 1 Hatha Yoga at Killington Yoga with Karen Dalury, RYT 500. 3744 River Rd, Killington. killingtonyoga.com, 802-770-4101.

Heartfulness Meditation

5:45 p.m. Free group meditation Tuesdays, Mountain Yoga, 135 N Main St #8, Rutland. Margery, 802-775-1795. heartfulness.org.

Bereavement Group

6 p.m. VNAHSR’s weekly bereavement group, Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Grace Congregational Church, 8 Court St., Rutland. Rev. Andrew Carlson facilitates. Free, open to the public. 802-770-1613.

FAMILY NEW YEAR’S EVE AT OKEMO RESORT MONDAY, DEC. 31, 5 P.M.

12:15 p.m. Rotary Club of Rutland meets Mondays for lunch at The Palms Restaurant. Learn more or become a member, journal@sover.net.

Tobacco Cessation Group

5 p.m. Free tobacco cessation group. Mondays, 5-6 p.m. at CVPS/Leahy Community Health Ed Center at RRMC, 160 Allen St., Rutland. Free nicotine replacement therapy and other resources and supports. 802-747-3768.

Family New Year’s Eve

5 p.m. Family-friendly, early New Year’s party including mountain coaster, horse-drawn wagon rides, magic show, bingo, trivia, and DJ Dance Party. Be in bed early for a New Year’s day on the slopes. Tickets at okemo.com. Okemo Mountain Resort, 77 Okemo Ridge Road, Ludlow.

All Levels Yoga

oM ou nt ain Res ort

Co ur tes yT ow nH all T heat er

• 9A

6:30 p.m. Chaffee Art Center offers all level yoga class with Stefanie DeSimone, 50 minute practice. $5/ class, drop-ins welcome. 16 South Main St., Rutland.

NY Eve Dance Party

m ke yO s e urt Co

8 p.m. The Horse Traders, rock/pop band, take the stage at Middlebury Town Hall Theater for a New Year’s Eve Dance Party. Doors open 8 p.m. for 8:30 p.m. show start. $15/$18 at the door. 68 S. Pleasant St., Middlebury. townhalltheater.org.

First Night of Funny

8 p.m. New Year’s Eve comedy at Paramount Theatre featuring four pro comedians with non-stop laughter. $35 through Dec. 30, $40 day of show. 30 Center St., Rutland. Show ends by 10 p.m., with time to enjoy a couple hours before midnight. paramountvt.org.

Citizenship Classes

Vermont Adult Learning will offers free citizenship classes. Call Marcy Green, 802-775-0617, and learn if you may qualify for citizenship at no cost. 16 Evelyn St., Rutland. Also, free classes in reading, writing, and speaking for English speakers of other languages. Ongoing.

Legion Bingo

6:15 p.m. Brandon American Legion, Tuesdays. Warm ups 6:15 p.m., regular games 7 p.m. Open to the public. Bring a friend! Franklin St., Brandon.

Chess Club

7 p.m. Rutland Rec Dept. holds chess club at Godnick Adult Center, providing a mind-enhancing skill for youth and adults. All ages are welcome; open to the public. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. 1 Deer St., Rutland.

Adult Basketball

7 p.m. Tuesday night basketball at Killington Elementary School Gym, 7-9 p.m. Bring $3 and indoor shoes. Adults. Schoolhouse Road, Killington.

10A • JUMPS

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Tourism:

Year-round tourism is the second biggest Vermont economic driver

continued from page 1A autumn, including Magic Mountain, Mad River Valley, and Mount Snow. Smugglers Notch had the most terrain available on an opening day in its history. Smith was at Sugarbush ski resort Thursday, Dec. 20, for Gov. Phil Scott’s weekly press conference, an event that was dedicated to the release of the latest tourism data for the state and a shout-out for the industry. After manufacturing, tourism contributes the most money to Vermont’s economy, Scott said. The industry generates more than $1 billion in wages and $391 million in taxes per year, he said. And the Scott administration is hoping that tourism will help the state address its population decline. “When we increase the number of visitors to Vermont, we introduce more people to all we have to offer,” Scott said. “Good jobs, opportunities for investment, a safe place to raise and have a family.” Scott and Wendy Knight, commissioner of the state Department of Tourism and Marketing, released a study carried out every two years that shows some data about visitors to Vermont and where they spend their money. The most visitors (21 percent) come from Massachusetts; next are New York (17 percent), Connecticut (9 percent), New Jersey (7 percent) and New Hampshire (7 percent). Among second home owners, 25 percent have a primary residence in New York, 19 percent in Massa-

chusetts, 9 percent in Connecticut, 8 percent in Florida, and 6 percent in New Jersey, the report showed. A full 20 percent of Vermont housing is second home ownership, the report said. Of that, 50 percent of second home property tax is generated from Vermont’s southernmost four counties: Rutland, Windsor, Bennington and Windham. Second home stays rose 3 percent between 2015 and 2017. Knight said rooms receipts show a growing number of tourist stays, with a 14 percent increase between 2015 and 2017 – a jump due in part to Airbnb and other short-term rentals, which were included in the category for the first time. The report also showed that southbound traffic volume on Vermont’s interstates on Sundays and holidays has increased 30 percent since 2008. About 13.1 million people visited Vermont in 2017, with 7.8 million overnight stays, 42 percent of them at lodging, 30 percent at second homes, 24 percent with friends and family, and 4 percent at campgrounds. An analysis of credit card spending in 35 ski towns shows that outsiders are spending more than Vermonters in every season except spring, according to the study. “While all four seasons are important, winter really sets Vermont apart,” said Scott. “New Hampshire and the New York Adirondacks and the Catskills don’t show the strength we do. The Vermont brand is known and

respected throughout the world.” Both Scott and Win Smith, the owner of Sugarbush, spoke of factors that are slowing growth: a lack of employees and a shortage of housing. Vermont has 15,000 fewer workers now than it did in 2009, Scott said. “The first thing people are asking in job interviews is, ‘Do you have housing? Housing I can afford?’” said Smith, adding that the resort has created housing for 130 employees. Scott said the state’s Stay to Stay program, launched this year as a way to show Vermont visitors their options for moving to the state, will continue in the coming year. Rutland was one of the first towns to launch the program. He said of 140 visitors who participated this year, 44 have moved to Vermont or say they plan to. “What it tells me is those types of incentives work,” Scott said. “We want to build upon that. We should use that as an example of what we can do as we think outside the box, and find creative ways to attract people to the state.” Meanwhile, ski area operators and tourism officials were looking ahead. Unseasonably warm temperatures and rain were forecast just before Christmas followed by colder temperatures and (hopefully) snow. “We’ve had a really good five-week run, but this is northern New England and it’s volatile,” said Smith. “We’re going to see that this weekend, unfortunately. It’s coming early enough so I think we can recover in time for the Christmas holidays.”

Pot panel: Roadside test would help prevent highway deaths continued from page 5A On Oct. 17, 2018, Canada also legalized pot, becoming the second nation (after Uruguay) to legalize the drug. After some Vermont lawmakers moved to legalize limited possession and cultivation of cannabis earlier this year, they rejected a proposal to authorize the use of saliva tests to determine presence of the drug in drivers. Saliva testing was opposed by both the Defender General’s Office and the ACLU, who argued that detecting a certain drug in a person’s system cannot prove impairment at the time the test is administered. During a meeting of the panel last week, Tom Anderson, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, said Vermont must have a roadside impaired-driving test before a recreational cannabis market is created. He said the state will likely see impaired driving rates and roadway deaths increase. Anderson recommended that law enforcement be given the ability to collect and test saliva both as a roadside and evidentiary test through legislative action. Sen. Joe Benning, R-Caledonia, was among those who argued there is little consensus in the scientific community regarding the relationship between impairment and THC levels in the bloodstream, which can be detected for weeks after consumption of marijuana. Laura Subin, the director of the Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana, said she was disappointed to see the saliva test end up as a recommendation in the report. Using the test would raise civil liberty and due process concerns, according to Subin, who also sat on the commission’s subcommittee on taxation and regulation. “As much as everyone would like to wave a magic wand and test for impairment, the science is just not there,” she said. In its report, the commission also recommends that Vermont work with Canada and other New England states to come up with a “scientifically defensible region-

al impairment standard” for cannabis. Canada has also legalized marijuana sales. If lawmakers moved forward with a 26 percent combined tax on cannabis sales, the state’s tax rate would fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, compared to rates in other legal markets. Washington state has the highest cannabis tax rate at 37 percent, and Colorado has a combined tax rate of 30 percent. California’s rate is 27 percent, but in Massachusetts, the combined tax rate on marijuana sales is 20 percent. In Oregon, it’s only 17 percent. Lawmakers will be reexamining the proposed tax rate in the upcoming session. In its first three years, state agencies estimate that the total cost for Vermont to implement a legal market is between $16 million and 20 million annually. The Agency of Agriculture says it needs $1.1 million and the Department of Taxes requested just over $2 million. The Department of Public Safety requested about $4.6 million. The largest estimate was for education and prevention programs in public schools at a cost of $8 million to $12 million a year, according to a draft report by the subcommittee on taxation and regulation released last month. Ashe said that the commission has assumed establishing a legal market will require a series of new expenses that may not be necessary. “We have to think about what the appropriations actually need to be on public health and public safety pieces,” Ashe said. “If you’re operating under the assumption that this is a massive new expense, well then, the tax rate logically moves to a much higher rate.” The commission had also been split on whether to legalize the sale of edible cannabis products, with the Vermont Department of Health arguing edibles, which have high potency, could be attractive to children.

Après Ski Acts ys Doors open 6 p.m. Thursday & Fridays 5 p.m. Saturdays Rick Redington Is A Native Vermonter. He has shared the stage and recorded with many musical legends and appeared and had music placed in film. 2229 Killington Road, Killington

FRIDAY RICK REDINGTON

MUSIC SCENE • 11A

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26., 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Music scene by dj dave hoffenberg

WEDNESDAY DEC. 26

CHITTENDEN

6 p.m. Mountain Top Inn Wayne Canney

KILLINGTON 2 p.m. Snowshed’s Long Trail Pub Daniel Brown

5 p.m. Charity’s 1887 Saloon Gyasi on piano

5 p.m. The Foundry Ryan Fuller

6 p.m. Liquid Art

Open Mic with Fiddlewitch

8 p.m. Pickle Barrel

Joey Leone and Brandon “Taz” Niederauer

[MUSIC Scene] 6 p.m. Charity’s 1887 Saloon

7:30 p.m. McGrath’s Irish Pub

6 p.m. Rutland Beer Works

8 p.m. Pickle Barrel

Brad Morgan on Piano

Ryan Fuller

Brother’s Flynn

Goodman Fiske

6 p.m. Wobbly Barn

9 p.m. JAX Food & Games

7 p.m. The Foundry

9 p.m. Moguls Sports Pub

7 p.m. Summit Lodge

9 p.m. Wobbly Barn

7:30 p.m. McGrath’s Irish Pub

LUDLOW

Rick Redington

Ktown’s Finest R&B Band Daniel Brown

Brother’s Flynn

8 p.m. Pickle Barrel Goodman Fiske

Joey Leone Duo

Duane Carleton with DC3 Lifespeed

MONDAY DEC. 31

KILLINGTON

2 p.m. K1 Base Lodge Duane Carleton

4 p.m. Pickle Barrel Nightclub Jamie’s Junk Show

4 p.m. Summit Lodge

RUTLAND

7:30 p.m. McGrath’s Irish Pub

Super Stash Bros

9 p.m. Center Street Alley

9 p.m. Moguls Sports Pub

Whisper Band

DJ Dave’s All Request Night

The People’s Jam

9 p.m. Mangiamo’s

9 p.m. JAX Food & Games Jamie’s Junk Show

1 p.m. Wild Fern

DJ Mega

9 p.m. Holiday Inn

The County Down

Shananagans

8 p.m. Pickle Barrel Never in Vegas

9 p.m. Moguls Sports Pub

9 p.m. Wobbly Barn

9:30 p.m. Hide-A-Way Tavern

PAWLET

LUDLOW

STOCKBRIDGE

7 p.m. The Barn Restaurant and Tavern

6 p.m. Okemo’s Icehouse Shake ‘n’ Skate DJ Party

7 p.m. Wild Fern

9 p.m. The Foundry

8 p.m. Mangiamo’s Ristorante

WOODSTOCK

9 p.m. Wobbly Barn

9 p.m. JAX Food & Games Tony Lee Thomas

“Pickin’ in Pawlet”

RUTLAND 9:30 p.m. Hide-A-Way Tavern College Night with DJ Mega

THURSDAY

DEC. 27 KILLINGTON

Lifespeed

Fabs Beatles Tribute Band

PAWLET 7 p.m. The Barn Restaurant and Tavern Nancy Carey Johnson and Co

PITTSFIELD 9 p.m. Clear River Tavern Jarv with guest opener Nahte Renmus

5:30 p.m. Moguls Sports Pub Duane Carleton

6 p.m. The Foundry Ryan Fuller

8 p.m. Pickle Barrel

Haley Jane and the Primates

8 p.m. Wobbly Barn

Bow Thayer with Special Guest Val McCallum

9 p.m. JAX Food & Games

Tony Lee and Jenny Porter

PITTSFIELD 8 p.m. Clear River Tavern Open Mic Jam with The Bubsies

RUTLAND 9:30 p.m. Hide-A-Way Tavern

Full Backline Open Mic with Robby Smolinski

FRIDAY

DEC. 28 KILLINGTON

Family New Year’s Eve

9 p.m. Mangiamo’s

New Year’s Eve DJ Dance Party

PITTSFIELD 7 p.m. Clear River Tavern The Gully Boys

RUTLAND

9 p.m. Center Street Alley 9:30 p.m. Hide-A-Way Tavern

1 p.m. Pico’s Last Run Lounge

9 p.m. Hide-A-Way Tavern

WOODSTOCK

2 p.m. K1 Base Lodge

10 p.m. Bentley’s

4 p.m. Pickle Barrel

DJ Dirty D

DJ Mega

Ugly Sweater Contest and Dance Party

SATURDAY

DEC. 29 KILLINGTON

Brunch with Jordan Snow

Wayne Canney

Duane Carleton Daniel Brown

Jamie’s Junk Show, Nikki Adams

5 p.m. The Foundry

Jazz Night: Summit Pond Quartet

6 p.m. Preston’s Wayne Canney

6 p.m. Summit Lodge Duane Carleton

10 a.m. Killington Bubble Chair

7:30 p.m. McGrath’s Irish Pub

1 p.m. Bear Mountain Base Lodge

8 p.m. Pickle Barrel

DJ Dave

Daniel Brown

1 p.m. Killington’s Skyeship Bar Wayne Canney

4 p.m. Killington Beer Company Supply and Demand Duo

4 p.m. Pickle Barrel

Jamie’s Junk Show with guest opener Jenny Porter

5 p.m. Wobbly Barn Krishna Guthrie

1 p.m. Bear Mountain Base Lodge

6 p.m. Preston’s

4:30 p.m. The Foundry

The County Down

Jamie’s Junk Show

10 a.m. Killington Bubble Chair

5 p.m. Jackson Gore Inn

1 p.m. Killington’s Skyeship Bar

10 a.m. Killington Bubble Chair

Duane Carleton

DEC. 30

KILLINGTON

LUDLOW

Aaron Audet

7 p.m. Draught Room in Diamond Run Mall

5:30 p.m. Charity’s 1887 Saloon

DJ Dave

SUNDAY

New Year’s Eve Party with JJ Rupp

7 p.m. Taps Tavern

Duane Carleton

Gyasi on piano

83 Brotherhood

Jamie’s Junk Show

11 a.m. The Foundry

2 p.m. Snowshed’s Long Trail Pub 5 p.m. Charity’s 1887 Saloon

9:30 p.m. Bentley’s

The Idiots

POULTNEY

RUTLAND

Duane Carleton

Rick Redington and The Luv

9 p.m. JAX Food & Games

DJ Dave

2 p.m. Pico’s Last Run Lounge Daniel Brown

Karaoke 101 with Tenacious T

Super Stash Bros

Brad Morgan on Piano Ryan Fuller

7 p.m. Summit Lodge

Shananagans

Never in Vegas

9 p.m. JAX Food & Games Rick Webb

9 p.m. Wobbly Barn JJ Rupp

10 p.m. Moguls

Local’s Night with Duane Carleton

LUDLOW 8 p.m. Mangiamo’s Aaron Audet

RUTLAND 7 p.m. Hide-A-Way Tavern Eli King

9:30 p.m. The Venue Open Mic

STOCKBRIDGE 12 p.m. Wild Fern

Cigar Box Brunch w/ Rick Redington

9 p.m. Center Street Alley

New Year’s Eve Party with DJ Mega New Year’s Eve Party with DJ Craig

WOODSTOCK 7:30 p.m. Bentley’s Jim Yeager

10 p.m. Bentley’s

Dance Party with Jam Man Entertainment

TUESDAY JAN. 1

CASTLETON

6 p.m. Third Place Pizzeria Josh Jakab

KILLINGTON 2 p.m. K1 Base Lodge Daniel Brown

6:30 p.m. Killington Beer Company Open Mic Night Hosted by The Bubsies

9 p.m. JAX Food & Games Jenny Porter

RUTLAND 6:30 p.m. Rick and Kat’s Howlin’ Mouse All Ages Open Mic

9:30 p.m. Hide-A-Way Tavern

Open Mic with Krishna Guthrie

9:30 p.m. The Venue Karaoke

12A • PUZZLES

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

• SUDOKU

• MOVIE TIMES

• CROSSWORD

• MOVIE DIARY

just for fun

SUDOKU

the MOVIE diary

By Dom Cioffi

Each block is divided by its own matrix of nine cells. The rule for solving Sudoku puzzles are very simple. Each row, column and block, must contain one of the numbers from “1” to “9”. No number may appear more than once in any row, column, or block. When you’ve filled the entire grid the puzzle is solved.

Solutions on page 27A

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

CLUES ACROSS 1. Thick piece of something 5. Engine additive 8. Anticipated arrival time 11. French commune 13. Cigarette (slang) 14. Nobleman 15. Ghana capital 16. Adam’s wife 17. Most popular student 18. Where you currently are 20. Increase motor speed 21. Queen of Sparta 22. North, South and Central 25. Churchgoer 30. Russian empress 31. Female daredevils organization 32. Relating to music 33. Female body part 38. Tyrion Lannister 41. Honored 43. Argentine footballer 45. Novices 47. Wings 49. Doctors’ group 50. Packers’ QB 55. Qatar capital 56. Unpleasant noise 57. Lovable elephant 59. Sleeping 60. Lute 61. Weight of a liter of hydrogen 62. Crimson 63. Returned material authorization (abbr.) 64. Employee plan

CLUES DOWN 1. Helps little firms 2. Type of curtain 3. Online stock exchange 4. Irish castle 5. Audio-system 6. Places to grab a drink 7. What’s coming 8. Designed chairs 9. Stepped on 10. Genus of birds 12. Consume 14. Ancient Syrian city 19. Australian brewery 23. Not present 24. Necktie 25. What part of (abbr.) 26. Type of compound 27. Jogged quickly 28. Roth is one type 29. Mineral 34. Purpose 35. Financial term (abbr.) 36. Orange is the New Black character 37. Used to cut and shape wood 39. Bullfighter 40. Top of the line 41. Hill 42. Greek mountain 44. Angola’s capital 45. Expressed pleasure 46. Fermented honey beverage 47. Month in the Jewish calendar 48. Frontal is one type 51. Basics 52. Uncommon 53. Broad kimono sashes 54. European defense organization 58. Box score term Solutions on page 27A

Resolving to change

The New Year is upon us and with it comes the inevitable pressure to make an annual resolution. This is the time of year when smokers vow to quit (or at least cut back), foodies resolve to lose weight (or at least eat healthier), and couch potatoes decide to get in shape (or at least use the stairs instead of the elevator). Personally, I’ve wavered on the idea of New Year’s resolutions throughout my life. As a teenager, I felt it necessary to give up something I considered negative whenever January 1 rolled around, like cutting out sugary cereals or my favorite candy bars. During my 20s, my resolutions centered around partying less. Unfortunately, these approaches normally resulted in a complete breakdown within a few weeks. Later in life I switched my resolution-making to adding something positive. I found this approach a little easier to stick with. This is how I began jogging and reading classic novels. However, even with the best intentions, these positive additions to my life only lasted until early summer at the best, and then interest always seems to wane. The one time I did keep a resolution from January 1 to December 31 happened about 15 years ago when I resolved to keep a diary. I had attempted to keep a diary many times in my life, but always confronted the “several missed days” phenomenon. This led to blank pages, which then led to lack of interest, which then led to completely disregarding THE MULE the idea. Anyone who has kept a diary knows how this works. You start out gung-ho, writing down the days’ or playing basketball, others of having dinner with events with ferocious detail. Then, as you begin friends or celebrating holidays. to bore with your mundane lifestyle, you morph While I have been a doodler throughout my life, your journal into a sort of philosophical manifesto. many of the drawings were far from accomplished. Eventually you expound on every subject you deem But they always represented the day’s events coherimportant and are left with little more to say. This ently so I knew what I had been up to. usually occurs about mid-February. However, the most amazing thing about this Knowing this, I decatalog of activities was cided to take a different how so many of the pages ON THE YEAR THAT I MADE IT approach to my journreminded me of the 365 DAYS, I TRIED TO TAKE THE aling. actual event. I would no On the year that I sooner look at a sketch PRESSURE OFF... made it 365 days, I tried of an Easter celebration to take the pressure off at my grandmother’s by resolving to make a daily entry that simply reprehouse where my older brother ran into a tree during sented how that day went. This entry could be a few a flag football game when the actual memory came simple sentences or a picture that reflected someflooding back. thing I did that day. If I felt like writing more, I would, Our brains are amazing organs and apparently but I didn’t force myself to recollect a page worth of have the capacity to hold all of our memories intact details. – even if they are located in the deepest recesses of I dug this diary out recently and flipped through this giant muscle. The trick is jogging the memory the pages. More than three quarters of the entries loose so we can enjoy it again. My little sketchbook were sketches, some of me doing things like golfing did that beautifully. So, as another year begins to take shape, I am once again considering what positive addition I can institute into my life. I’m less motivated these days so I doubt I’ll undertake the diary resolution, but I am fast at work trying to come up with ways that I can better the world around me. The main character in this week’s feature resolved to right some wrongs that he committed in his younger years. Now an ageing 90-year-old man at the end of his life, he decides to use his unique position to run drugs for a powerful cartel. Directed and starring Clint Eastwood with support from Bradley Cooper, “The Mule” is another intense drama from a true cinematic legend. This is Clint Eastwood’s 41st directorial offering and while it may not rank as one of his best, it still contains enough tension and intrigue to make it a worthwhile endeavor. If you love a good story told with grit and flavor, give this one a shot. There’s an appeal to Clint Eastwood films that never seems to fade and this one does nothing to change that. A “B-” for “The Mule.” Got a question or comment for Dom? You can email him at moviediary@att.net.

ROCKIN’ THE REGION

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26., 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

• 13A

n o i g e R e h T ’ n R ock i w ith Jar v

Flights - Pints - Beer to Go

OPEN MIC NIGHT All welcome - sign up at 6:30

Rockin’ the Region, page 25A

TUES

VINYL NIGHT bring your own or spin ours 7-10pm GRATEFUL DEAD NIGHT

we play a full show from opener to encore 7-10pm

TRIVIA 7PM

THUR

biggest act to ever hit the floor of the Clear River Tavern. With over 45,000 Facebook likes, he probably has more “Likes” than all the acts that have played there combined. He’s bringing his friend Ethan Sumner, who goes by Nahte Renmus, to open the show. You see what he did there? Jarv will be performing classic hip-hop. He said, “Most of it’s fun and funky.” He’ll be performing over a beat machine, but the beats are all made by him. The show is 100 percent originals, everything he does is made by him and everything Renmus does is made by Renmus. “Basically, I’ll be DJing for myself,” said Jarv. His musical influences which reflect in his performance are Tribe Called Quest, Del the Funky Homosapien, De la Soul, Brother Ali, Atmosphere and A$AP Rocky. Jarv was born Nathan Jarvis and he has lived in Windsor, Vermont his entire 25 years of life. He started making music when he was 15, got his first professional gig when he was 20 and now, for the past three years, he’s been doing this full-time. That first pro gig was at “A Fest For Wes” in Hartland. He performed with the “Lynguistic

KILLINGTON’S BREWERY

MON

by dj dave hoffenberg

album, ‘Overcast!’ I was like, ‘Oh wow, I want to do this.’” Now he is doing it full-time. He regularly tours and has played in places in the middle of nowhere, like in Montgomery, Vermont; bigger venues like the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts; and also in famous clubs like the Troubadour in Los Angeles. That place has hosted the best musical acts of all time. Jarv recalled, “That was sick.” He mostly tours around New England, but has been down

WED

rockin’ the region

Civilians.” An old high school teacher recommended them and got them on the show. “From there they were like,‘You guys are really good,’ and then they helped us get a bunch of shows. That’s pretty much how it all started.” Jarv said when he first started rapping, it was more comedic. “I would make funny little songs for my friends. I started taking it more seriously when I was a junior in high school. The thing that made me want to start rapping, like really rapping, was Atmosphere’s

SAT

This Friday, Dec. 28, the place to be is the Clear River Tavern at 9 p.m. for the hip hop stylings of rapper Jarv. He is definitely the

Supply and Demand Duo

4-7PM Happy Hour Upcoming Events: 12/28 Aaron Audet Band 1/5 Lo Fi 3 1/12 Birds of a Feather 1/19 & 1/20 Reckoning 1/26 Jellyband

www.killingtonbeercompany.com Courtesy Dave Hoffenberg

Jarv

53 Woods Rd. Killington, VT 05751 in the Spa Building at the Woods Resort

BALLOONS PARTY KITS FOR 10 TO 100 HATS HORNS NOISEMAKERS DECORATIONS PARTYWARE DISPOSABLE CHAFING SETS AND MORE!! 129 Strongs Ave. Rutland www.thepartystores.com | 802-773-3155 Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6; Sat. 9-5; Sunday 11-3

14A •

Living

a de

DEC.

By David Clode

This cheetah was photographed in its native habitat in Kenya.

VINS welcomes Yale student Sarah Omusula for talk on cheetah conservation Friday, Dec. 28, 3 p.m.—QUECHEE— Cheetahs live in landscapes quite different from those that surround the VINS Nature Center, but on Friday, Dec. 28, the lives and future of cheetahs will be taking center stage among VINS’ birds. Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Master student Sarah Omusula will be discussing her work with Action for Cheetahs in Kenya, where she was a senior research scientist before graduate school. The presentation will be at 3 p.m. “Action for Cheetahs in Kenya undertakes many conservation projects with goals including cutting down on conflicts between cheetahs and humans, and studying the cheetahs’ habitat selection,” Omusula said. And a national survey of cheetahs is currently underway in Kenya.

One important source of data,” Omusula said, “is cheetah scat. The fur the scat contains tells researchers about the cheetahs’ diet, and the scat also has genetic information that scientists can use to understand how cheetah populations are changing. Action for Cheetahs in Kenya has also undertaken efforts to educate local populations about conservation to prevent the killing of these magnificent predators.” Join the program from 3-4:15 p.m. at the VINS Nature Center to hear Sarah Omusula share her fascinating work with these incredible creatures. This event is free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $10. VINS is located at 149 Nature’s Way, Quechee, just off Route 4.

HOME TO:

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. LIVING ADE1, 2019

Say goodbye to 2018 with a laugh Monday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.—RUTLAND— If ever there was a year that needed to end with a laugh, it’s this year. Say “goodbye” to 2018 with a hilarious night of laughter that everyone will enjoy, but that won’t break the bank. Paramount Theatre hosts the “First Night of Funny” on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m., showcasing four professional comedians with four unique and hilarious perspectives. With a lineup of comics from Netflix, HBO and Comedy Central, this show provides non-stop laughter. Ticket prices are $35 through Dec. 30; $40 on the day of the show. Plus, the show ends by 10 p.m. in time to get in a couple extra hours of fun before midnight. Get tickets at the box office, located at 30 Center St., Rutland, or on the website at firstnightoffunny.com.

Courtesy Rutland Free Library

Alexander Hamilton

Presidential biographer discusses hit Hamilton musical Wednesday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m.—RUTLAND—Presidential biographer Willard Sterne Randall will discuss how the life of Alexander Hamilton inspired a major Broadway musical in a talk at Rutland Free Library on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. His talk, “Hamilton: The Man and the Musical,” is part of the Vermont Humanities Council’s First Wednesdays lecture series and is free and open to the public. From his birth in the Caribbean to his death in a duel, Alexander Hamilton’s life was part romance, part tragedy – and the inspiration for the blockbuster Broadway musical. Randall will discuss the man and the musical, with excerpts from its score. Willard Sterne Randall is the author of 13 books, including “Benjamin Franklin and His Son,” which won a Frank Luther Mott Award for research from University of Missouri Graduate School of Journalism; “Benedict Arnold, Patriot and Traitor,” a runner-up for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; “Thomas Jefferson, A Life,” selected as one of Publishers Weekly’s best biographies of 1993; “George Washington, A Life,” included in Readers Digest’s Best Nonfiction of 1997; and “Alexander Hamilton: A Life.” He teaches American history at Champlain College in Burlington. The Vermont Humanities Council’s First Wednesdays series is held on the first Wednesday of every month from October through May in nine communities statewide, featuring speakers of national and regional renown. Talks in Rutland are held at Rutland Free Library unless otherwise noted. All First Wednesdays talks are free and open to the public. Rutland Free Library is located at 10 Center St., Rutland. For more information, call 802-773-1860 or visit vermonthumanities.org.

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Serving Dinner Every Night & New Year’s Eve Call for Reserva ons 802-775-7181

Irish Pub

PUB OPEN: DECEMBER 26TH THROUGH NEW YEAR’S DAY AT 11:30 AM

Delicious pub menu with an Irish flavor

LIVE MUSIC Dec. 26th & 27th at 7:30 p.m.

CURRAGH’S FANCY

BROTHER’S FLYNN

Memberships & Day Passes Available

Dec. 30th & 31st at 7:30 p.m.

Massages & Treatments also make great gifts!

Dec. 28th & 29th at 7:30 p.m.

Route 4, Between Killington & Pico 802-775-7181 • innatlongtrail.com Rooms & Suites available

Give Yourself the Gift of Relaxation at the Spa at The Woods

SHANANAGANS

53 Woods Lane, Killington, VT 05751 - 802.422.3139

LIVING ADE

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

• 15A

DEC.

Courtesy D. Andrew Saunders

The cardinal is affectionaely called “the Christmas bird.”

Join Audubon Society for annual Christmas Bird Count Submitted

Alfredo and Violetta set the stage in “La Traviata,” broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera.

New production of Verdi’s ‘La Traviata’ broadcast live at Paramount Sunday, Dec. 30, 12:55 p.m.—RUTLAND—Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Michael Mayer’s richly textured new production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera, at the Paramount Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 30 for a 12:55 p.m. encore performance screening. The show features a dazzling 19th-century setting that changes with the seasons. Soprano Diana Damrau plays the tragic heroine, Violetta, and tenor Juan Diego Flórez returns to the Met for the first time since 2015 to sing the role of Alfredo, Violetta’s hapless lover. Baritone Quinn Kelsey is Alfredo’s father, Germont, who destroys their love.

With “La Traviata,” Verdi and Piave fashioned an opera from a play by Alexander Dumas called “La Dame aux Camélias.” “La Dame” was a meditation on the author’s youthful affair with the celebrated prostitute Marie Duplessis, known as a sophisticated and well-read woman whose charms and tact far surpassed her station. The play is still staged today in its original form and exists in several film incarnations, most notably Greta Garbo’s “Camille” (1936). Verdi’s “La Traviata” survived a notoriously unsuccessful opening night to become one of the best-loved operas in the repertoire. Following the larger-scale dramas of “Rigolet-

to” and “Il Trovatore,” its intimate scope and subject matter inspired the composer to create some of his most profound and heartfelt music. The title role of the fallen woman has captured the imaginations of audiences and performers alike with its inexhaustible vocal and dramatic possibilities—and challenges. Violetta is considered a pinnacle of the soprano repertoire. Run time is just over three hours. There will be two intermissions, about 30 minutes each. Tickets are $23 for adults, and $10 for students, available online at paramountvt.org. The Paramount Theatre is located at 30 Center St., Rutland.

Now Serving Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER & CELEBRATION

December 31, 2018 Seating begins at 5 pm • Gourmet four-course prix fixe menu • Champagne Toast • Live jazz through midnight with the Glendon Ingalls Red Clover Inn Trio $95/person, tax and gratuity additional. Reservations required. Space is filling fast! Restaurant open Thursday-Monday, 5:30-9 pm Reservations: 802.775.2290 www.redcloverinn.com innkeepers@redcloverinn.com 7 Woodward Road, Mendon, VT Just off Route 4 in the heart of the Killington Valley

Saturday, Dec. 29—RUTLAND—Rutland County Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count and potluck will take place this year on Saturday, Dec. 29. Birds spotted within a 7.5 mile radius of Meads Falls in Center Rutland will be counted by teams of birders and feeder-watchers in this count circle. Counters may participate from dawn to dusk, or for as little as an hour or two. Data collected will be used to study bird populations around the world. This count is the longest running citizen science program world-wide and is sponsored by Audubon. It has occurred yearly for 119 years and was begun to counter the unethical holiday bird hunts of the 19th century. Interested persons can contact 802-287-9338 for more information or to sign up.

Full Service Vape Shop Humidified Premium Cigars • Hand Blown Glass Pipes Hookahs & Shisha Roll Your Own Tobacco & Supplies • CBD Products • Smoking Accessories 131 Strongs Avenue Rutland, VT Like us on (802) 775-2552 Facebook! Call For Shuttle Schedule

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The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Okemo is host to week of mid-winter activities

506 506 Bistro and Bar

Serving a seasonal menu featuring VT highlights Live Jazz Pianist Every Wednesday 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Jazz Trio New Years Eve 8-11 p.m.

802.457.5000 | ontheriverwoodstock.com Located in On The River Inn, Woodstock VT A short scenic drive from Killington

LUDLOW—Okemo Mountain Resort is hosting a plethora of activities each day, as families are visiting for the holiday week. On Thursday, Dec. 27, skiers and riders will traverse Okemo’s Open Slope trail with lights, in a torchlight parade. Following the parade, the light show continues with a fireworks display at 6:30 p.m. in the Okemo Clock Tower base area. Want to see the show from a high point? Join a guided snowshoe tour that head’s up to Bull Run trail to watch the fireworks. Meet inside the Okemo Express Rental Shop (Main Base) at 4 p.m. to be fitted for snowshoes (or bring your own). Tours depart the Okemo Base Area beside South Ridge Quad A at 4:30 p.m. Snowshoe Rental is $15. The snowshoe tour is first come first served, reservations are recommended. Call 802-228-1956 to reserve a spot. Friday, Dec. 28 sees two different events: First, there’s the Shake ‘N’ Skate from 6-9 p.m. in the Ice House at Jackson Gore including a live DJ and games for the whole family. Rentals are available on a first come, first served basis.

winter lights and much more...

Then, from 7-9 p.m., join a Paint and Sip with a local artist in the Roundhouse Cafe at Jackson Gore Village. There’s full instruction, so no experience is needed, and all materials are provided. Grab a drink early at the in-studio bar. Sorry, no outside alcohol allowed. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., and the cost is $50. Limited space is available. RSVP at okemo.com. VINS will be at the Roundhouse Cafe on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. for a first-hand encounter with live falcons, hawks and owls. Learn about the natural history, ecology and adaptations of these efficient predators. It’s a free presentation that kids will love. On Sunday, Dec. 30, catch the latest ski film from Warren Miller Entertainment – “Face of Winter” – in the Cornerstone Room at Jackson Gore Inn. The 69th installment from the iconic ski film company brings new and veteran athletes alike together to pay tribute to the man who started it all. Watch as the world’s best skiers and riders cover ground in some of the most legendary destinations to honor a face that launched a thousand quips and got us

DEC.

By Donald Dill

The torchlight parade at Okemo is a preview to the fireworks show that follows. all started on this long, crazy ride. Tickets are $20 each, and it’s open to all ages. Get tickets at okemo.com, or at the door if not sold out. To end the year, take the whole family to the

Glassware Pottery Wood ware Flatware Linens Gifts Custom Tables Fine Art Jewelry

The art of living well

Visit us in our newly renovated historic General Store on Rt 103 between Chester and Ludlow

7 Days 10 - 5 802 875 3109 smokeshiredesign.com

New Year’s Eve bash, an Okemo family tradition. Midnight arrives early for friends and family enjoying a whole host of activities: a magic show, horse wagon rides, bingo games and trivia. Families can ring in the New Year early with a DJ dance party and still get the kids to bed in time for a full day on the slopes the next day. Balloons, photo booth, and fireworks add to the New Year celebration, complete with a kid’s dinner party including pizza, mac and cheese and a few other chef selections in the Roundhouse at Jackson Gore. Get tickets at 802-228-1600, or okemo.com.

MOUNTA IN TIMES mountaintimes.info

SEEN.

LIVING ADE

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

FOOD

Culinary Institute of America Alum

MATTERS The 506 Bistro serves a simple, seasonal menu featuring Vermont highlights. Set in the open bar and lounge, the atmosphere is casual and warm. Your are likely to be served a yankee pot roast, a great organic burger from a nearby farm or fresh strawberry shortcake with Vermont berries. Local, simple, home cooked is what we are all about. (802) 457-5000

Back Country Café

The Back Country Café is a hot spot for delicious breakfast foods. Choose from farm fresh eggs, multiple kinds of pancakes and waffles, omelet’s or daily specials to make your breakfast one of a kind. Just the right heat Bloody Marys, Mimosas, Bellini, VT Craft Brews, Coffee and hot chocolate drinks. Maple Syrup and VT products for sale Check our Facebook for daily specials. (802) 422-4411

Charitys

This 1887 Saloon features burgers, its famous French Onion Soup, craft beer and so much more. Find 1887 SALOON something for everyone on the expansive menu. The live music line up includes live piano Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights. So come chill out and fill up after skiing or riding and get a taste of the renovated Saloon style that’s been 131 years in the making! (802) 422-3800

PIANO P L AY E R

Choices Restaurant and Rotisserie

Chef-owned, Choices Restaurant and Rotisserie was named 2012 ski F R I D A Y & S AT U R D A Y magazines favorite restaurant. Choices may be the name of the restaurant but it is also what you get. Soup of the CRAFT BEER day, shrimp cockatil, steak, hamburgers, pan seared chicken, a variety of salads and pastas, scallops, sole, lamb and more await you. An extensive wine list and in house made desserts are also available. www.choicesrestaurant.com (802) 422-4030

BRAD MORGAN

506 506 Butternut Inn 506 Bistro

and Bar

If you’re craving a good home Serving a seasonal menu featuring VT highlights Clear River Tavern cooked style breakfast, the Headed north from Killington on Butternut Inn and Pancake house Jazz Pianist Every Wednesday 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Serving a Live seasonal menu featuring VT highlights Route 100? Stop in to the Clear is the spot to be. Featuring local River Tavern to sample chef Tim bacon, ham and sausage the p.m. Live Jazz Pianist Every Wednesday 6:30 -from 8:30 802.457.5000 | ontheriverwoodstock.com Galvin’s handcrafted tavern menu Green Mountain Smoke house, all the meat is guaranteed delicious. Eggs featuring burgers, pizza, salads, Located in On The River Inn, Woodstock VT and omelets are also on the menu. Not in the mood for eggs? Try out the 802.457.5000 | ontheriverwoodstock.com steak and more. We’re nestled on A short scenic drive from Killington all you can eatLocated pancakesinoption. butternutinnkillington.com (802)VT 422-5660 10 wooded acres in Pittsfield, 8 miles from the Killington Road. Our live On The River Inn, Woodstock music schedule featuring regional acts will keep you entertained, and our A short scenic drive from Killington friendly service will leave you with a smile. We’re sure you’ll agree that Birch Ridge  “When You’re Here, You’re in the Clear.” www.clearrivertavern.com (802) Serving locals and visitors alike 746-8999 since 1998, dinner at the Birch

506 Bistro and Bar

Ridge Inn is a delicious way to complete your day in Killington. Featuring Vermont inspired New American cuisine in the inns dining room and Great Room Lounge, you will also find a nicely stocked bar, hand crafted cocktails, fine wines, seafood and vegetarian options, and wonderful house made desserts. www.birchridge.com (802) 422-4293 LL IN

GTO N D I N

Killington Diner

Highline Lodge

Visit the Highline lodge. Join us in our newly renovated fireplace lounge featuring craft cocktails, local brews, small plates and lively conversation. Our in-house restaurant offers fresh, seasonal local fare with a menu changing monthly. The intimate dining room and outside patio are the perfect spots for private events, conferences and weddings. Contact Kristen Anderson at kristen@highlinelodge.com.

OPEN SUN. 5-10P.M., MON. 5-11P.M., TUES. 5-9P.M., THURS. 5-10P.M, FRI.-SAT. 5PM-11P.M Sunday Brunch 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. • A Farm to Table Restaurant • Handcut Steaks, Filets & Fish • All Baking Done on Premises

• Over 20 wines by the glass • Great Bar Dining • Freshly made pasta

All entrées include two sides and soup or salad

“

“The locally favored spot for consistently good, unpretentious fare.” -N.Y. Times, 2008

422-4030 • 2820 KILLINGTON RD. WWW.CHOICES-RESTAURANT.COM

Looking for an ALL DAY Breakfast Spot? How about a ‘GRAB and GO’ egg sandwich on your way up the hill? We’ve got you covered with local 02 eggs, bacon and coffee. Come check out our -422-84 cool DINER vibe, grab a Bloody Mary and enjoy OPEN THURS-SUN 7:30-2 some classic comfort food. Serving lunch too! 802.422.8422

Open Daily, Happy Holidays!

“

506 Bistro

• 17A

Classic Italian Cuisine Old World Tradition

~ Since

1992

fresh. simple.

delicious!

1/2 price appetizers & flaTbreads from 4-5 p.m.

GET YOUR BASS IN HERE FOR THE NEW YEAR!

SUNDAY DINNER specials Choose any Entree from sunday dinner menu plus soup or salad and includes 2 meatballs per person 4-6 p.m. sunday only $20 each adult; $10 each child

Mid-way up Killington Access Rd. Sun - Thurs 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. • Fri & Sat 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. vermontsushi.com • 802.422.4241

HIBACHI | SUSHI | ASIAN

pasta | veal | Chicken seafood | steak | flatbreads

422-3293 First on the Killington Road

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The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Inn at Long Trail

cGrat

Looking for something a little different? Hit up McGrath’s Irish Pub for a perfectly poured pint of Guinness, live music on the weekends and delicious food. Guinness not your favorite? They also have Vermont’s largest Irish Whiskey selection. innatlongtrail.

Inn at

h’s

com/Home.html 802-775-7181

The Foundry

The Foundry, Killington’s premier dining destination, offers fine cuisine in a stunning scenic setting. Waterside seating welcomes you to relax and enjoy craft beer and wines selected by the house sommelier. Impeccable, chef-driven cuisine features locally sourced meats and cheeses, the freshest seafood, homemade pastas and so much more. www.foundrykillington.com (802) 422-5335

JAX

JAX Food & Games, Killington’s hometown bar, offers weekly live entertainment, incredible food and an extensive selection of locally crafted beers. Locals favorite menu items include homemade soups of the day, burgers, nachos, salads and daily specials. JAX offers $.50 wings and $1 corn dogs from 3-6pm and serves late night food until last call. www.supportinglocalmusic.com (802) 422-5334

Jones’ Donuts

Offering donuts and a bakery, with a community reputation as being the best! Closed Monday and Tuesday. 23 West Street, Rutland. See what’s on special at Facebook.com/ JonesDonuts/. Call (802) 773-7810

Killington Market

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY

GASSI

Take breakfast, lunch or dinner on the go at Killington Market, Killington’s onmountain grocery store for the last 30 years. Choose from breakfast sandwiches, hand carved dinners, pizza, daily fresh hot panini, roast chicken, salad and specialty sandwiches. Vermont products, maple syrup, fresh meat and produce along with wine and beer are also for sale. www.killingtonmarket.com (802) 422-7736 or (802) 422-7594.

Lake Bomoseen Lodge

The Taproom at Lake Bomoseen Lodge, Vermont’s newest lakeside resort & restaurant. Delicious Chef prepared, family friendly, pub fare; appetizers, salads, burgers, pizzas, entrees, kid’s menu, a great craft brew selection & more. Newly renovated restaurant, lodge & condos. lakebomoseenlodge.com, 802468-5251.

FRIDAY•SATURDAY•SUNDAY

BRAD MORGAN

With a free shuttle, take away and call ahead seating, Lookout Tavern is a solid choice. Nachos, quesadillas, sweet potato fries, salads, soups, sandwiches and dinner options are always a good selection and happy hour is from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Open daily at noon and serving until midnight. on Friday. www.lookoutvt.com (802) 422-5665 Voted the best ribs and burger in Killington, Moguls is a great place for the whole family. Soups, onion rings, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, buckets of chicken wings, salads, subs and pasta are just some of the food that’s on the menu. Free shuttle and take away and delivery options are available. (802) 422-4777

Mountain Top Inn & Resort

Whether staying overnight or visiting for the day, Mountain Top’s Dining Room & Tavern serve delicious cuisine amidst one of Vermont’s best views. A mix of locally inspired and International cuisine – including salads, seafood, poultry and a new steakhouse menu - your taste buds are sure to be satisfied. Choose from 12 Vermont craft brews on tap.Warm up by the terrace fire pit after dinner! Just a short drive from Killington. mountaintopinn.com, 802-483-2311.

Outback Pizza

The best wood fired pizza on the mountain, and other Italian dishes. & N I G H T C L U B Please come in and sit by the fireplace and enjoy pizza and other dishes. Cozy atmosphere. Located in the Killington Mall - look for the bears. Open daily at 3 p.m. 2841 Killington Road, Killington. 802-422-9885.

N I G H T C L U B

Pickle Barrel

The house that rocks Killington is the largest and most exciting venue in town. With 4 bars, 3 levels and 2 stages, The Pickle Barrel offers 1 legendary party featuring live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday & NDining I G options H T C L Upizza, B chicken wings, chicken tenders and nights. include French fries.

Peppinos

Chef-owned since 1992, Peppino’s offers Neapolitan cuisine at its finest: pasta, veal, chicken, seafood, steak, and flatbreads. If you want it, Peppino’s has it! Aprés-hour daily features half price appetizers and flatbreads. For reservations, call 802-422-3293. peppinosvt.com.

WOOD FIRED

PIZZA

OPEN DAILY AT 3 P.M.

HAPPY HOUR

DAILY 3-6 AT ANY ONE OF OUR 3 BARS

BAR FOOD MENU

DRAFT BEER MUGS

LL I N GTO N D I N

CRAFT BEER

Lookout Tavern

DRAFT BEER PITCHERS

802.422.9885 2841 KILLINGTON ROAD

- 42 2 - 842

LIVE PIANO

Forget about the polar vortex for a while and relax in the warm atmosphere at Liquid Art. Look for artfully served lattes from their La Marzocco espresso machine, or if you want something stronger, try their signature cocktails. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, they focus on healthy fare and provide you with a delicious meal different than anything else on the mountain.

L ng Trail

Irish Pub

1887 SALOON

Liquid Art

FOOD

OPEN

AT 6:30AM H ap p y H oli day s ! K IL L IN GTO N DIN E R .C O M

Celebrate the holidays at the Birch Ridge Inn Serving Dinner from 6:00 PM Nightly thru the Holiday Season 20 Years Serving Guests At the Covered Carriageway 37 Butler Road, Killington birchridge.com - 802.422.4293

Enjoy a beverage by the inn's Christmas Tree in the Great Room

LIVING ADE

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

• 19A

MATTERS Red Clover

Farm to Table Vermont Food and Drinks. Thursday night Live Jazz. Monday night Chef Specials. Open Thursday to Monday, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. 7 Woodward Road, Mendon, VT. 802-775-2290, redcloverinn.com

Rosemary’s

Rosemary’s the casual fine dining restaurant at the Inn at Long Trail is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 6-9pm; and later this fall also Thursdays. Chef Reggie Serafin’s uses a host of fresh local Vermont and New England products. The menu highlights comfort foods., and Gluten free entrees are available.Please call for reservations 802.775.7181

Seward’s Dairy

If you’re looking for something truly unique and Vermont, check out Seward Dairy Bar. Serving classic homemade food including hamburgers, steaks, chicken, sandwiches and seafood. Craving something a little sweeter? Check out their own homemade 39 flavors of ice cream. Vermont products also sold. (802) 773-2738.

Sugar and Spice

Stop on by to Sugar and Spice for a home style breakfast or lunch served up right. Try six different kinds of pancakes and/or waffles or order up some eggs and home fries. For lunch they offer a Filmore salad, grilled roast beef, burgers and sandwiches. Take away and deck dining available. www.vtsugarandspice.com (802) 773-7832.

O’Dwyers Public House

Whether you are looking to enjoy a wholesome pint of the ‘black stuff’, or a local brew or a tasty meal while listening to some great live music, O’ Dwyer’s Pub has something for you. We endeavor to provide the freshest ingredients, the friendliest of service, & the very best of live entertainment in the most unique and authentic setting. Great food comes from great ingredients, and it is for this reason that customers are drawn to O’ Dwyer’s Pub “There are no strangers here, only people who have not yet met.” (802) 422-3535

Sushi Yoshi

Sushi Yoshi is Killington’s true culinary adventure. With Hibachi, Sushi, Chinese and Japanese, we have something for every age and palate. Private Tatame rooms and large party seating available. We boast a full bar with 20 craft beers on draft. Lunch and dinner available seven days a week. We are chef-owned and operated. Delivery or take away option available. Now open year round. www.vermontsushi.com (802) 422-4241

STEAKHOUSE AND NIGHTCLUB

Since opening our doors in 1963, the Wobbly Barn has raised the standard of excellence for steakhouses and nightclubs in Killington to a whole new level, winning awards for outstanding food and après in the northeast. Our well-known, distinguished dining is the trademark of the Wobbly Barn. As our name implies, our restaurant was created by collecting pieces of barns from across New England, ten in total and we feature the finest beef, enhanced by a tempting variety of chops, entrees, seafood and our world famous soup, salad and fresh bread bar. Plus, our celebrated nightclub boasts the best live entertainment, parties and dancing on the mountain.The Wobbly Barn is truly Killington’s home for Good Time Dining & High Altitude Entertainment! 2229 Killington Rd, Killington, VT 0575. (802) 422-6171 www.killington.com/wobbly

Vermont Butcher Shop

Vermont Butcher ShopAs Vermont’s only sustainable whole animal butcher, we are passionate about our craft and delivering the highest quality meats. Each cut of meat you select comes from a partner that shares our commitment of respect for the environment, the animals and our customers. We are here to ensure that you know where your food comes from and guarantee that you’ll be able to see and taste the difference.

La Tavola

35 years of experience cooking in the finest restaurants throughout the North East and Florida, our chef is excited to introduce his family recipes to you and your guests. Come enjoy our ambiance and dine the night away. Buon Appetito! latavoladining.com (802) 228-8000

Craft Beer HQ

RUTLAND

CO-OP

produce grocery household goods health and beauty

77 Wales St

Open 7 a.m. starting December 26

steakhouse FARM TO NIGHTCLUB SINCE OPENING OUR DOORS IN 1963, T H E WO B B LY BA R N H A S RAISED THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR STEAKHOUSES AND NIGHTCLUBS IN KILLINGTON TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL.

BEST FOOD & APRÈS IN THE NORTHEAST 2229 Killington Rd. Open Tuesday - Sunday 4 p.m. (802) 422-6171 killington.com/wobbly

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The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Great Breakfast Menu Mimosas ~ Bellinis ~ Bloody Marys

Pancake House

Mtn Breakfast Submitted

Bow Thayer (left) and Val McCallum (right) will perform together Thursday, Dec. 27.

EGGS • OMELETTES PANCAKES • WAFFLES Open 7 days a week at 7 a.m. Mountain Grove Coffee of VT Local Hot Sauces

923 KILLINGTON RD. | 802-422-4411

Val McCallum to join Bow Thayer on stage at Wobbly Barn Thursday, Dec. 27, 8 p.m.—KILLINGTON—Bow Thayer kicks off the first night of his Wobbly Barn winter residency with a very special guest: the indomitable Val McCallum, Thursday, Dec. 27. Even those that may not know him by name, have probably heard his music. McCallum has played with Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams, Randy Newman, and Warren Zevon. Thayer said of McCallum, “The guy is one of the most sought after session six string slingers in the biz! I have been lucky enough to hook up with this guitar monster and have formed a songwriting partnership that is taking us both into uncharted territory.”

Come check out some of these new co-writes as well as McCallum’s blazing guitar work on Thayer’s old standards. Thayer is part of the Wobbly Barn’s rotation of winter residency performers playing at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights during the season. Bow Thayer performs on Thursdays, Rick Redington on Fridays, and Krishna Guthrie on Saturdays. Later this week, bands include Life Speed on Dec. 28-29, JJ Rupp on Dec. 30, and a New Year’s Eve party with JJ Rupp on Dec. 31. Wobbly Barn is located at 2229 Killington Road, Killington. Fore more information, visit killington.com.

Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal makes appearance at screening of ‘The Kindergarten Teacher’

WE HAVE ALL YOUR HOLIDAY DINNER NEEDS Catering, Champagne, and Largest Selection of Craft Beer

GROCERY MEATS AND SEAFOOD • beer and wine delicatessen • BAKED GOODS pizza • CATERING

Vermont Products, Cheeses, Maple Syrup, Local Craft Brews, Ciders, Wine 2023 Killington Road www.killingtonmarket.com

ATM

Winter Hours: Sun. - Thurs. 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m., Fri. - Sat. 6:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.

802-422-7736

Deli 422-7594

Saturday, Dec. 29, 7 p.m.—MIDDLEBURY—The Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival is pleased to announce a special screening of the compelling drama “The Kindergarten Teacher” on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. The film’s star, Maggie Gyllenhaal, will appear at Town Hall Theater for a Q&A session following the screening. The Q&A will be moderated by Ms. Gyllenhaal’s husband, actor Peter Sarsgaard. The Town Hall Theater is located at 68 S. Pleasant St., Middlebury. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the Town Hall Theater Box Office in person, by calling 802-382-9222, or online at townhalltheater.org/calendar-and-tickets/.

LIVING ADE

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

• 21A

ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Courtesy Town Hall Theater

The Horse Traders

Town Hall Theater throws New Year’s Eve dance party with The Horse Traders Monday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m.—MIDDLEBURY—Say goodbye to 2018 as Middlebury’s upbeat rock/ pop band takes the stage to rock New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31 at the Town Hall Theater. It’s a dance party where everyone’s welcome to come boogie down. There’s a cash bar as well as a champagne toast at midnight on the grand steps for those age 21 and over. Veteran performers with a wide and rollicking repertoire, The Horse Traders have lit up just about every Addison County venue in recent years. Their music ranges from modern pop and oldies to classic rock, soul and country,

Huebner:

from artists like The Pretenders, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, Pink, Blondie, Fleetwood Mac, Meghan Trainor, Neil Young, 4 Non Blondes and many many more. The band includes Deb Brisson on vocals, keyboards and percussion; Jon Rooney, vocals and guitar; Rick Marshall, guitar, mandolin and harmonica; Mark Pelletier, bass and vocals; and John Wallace, drums. The Town Hall Theater is located at 68 S. Pleasant St.. Middlebury. The house opens at 8 p.m., and the band kicks in at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15/$18 at the door; or purchase in advance at townhalltheater.org.

To oversee Springfield Hospital mismanagement

continued from page 1A statement. “Tom will work with officials in Springfield and ensure that they complete a thorough assessment and communicate fully, clearly and regularly to patients, employees, the community and the state as they determine what went wrong and how to fix it,” he added. Huebner worked at Rutland Regional for 27 years, 20 as the chief executive. He also serves on the board of directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and previously served as the New England representative to the American Hospital Association. In an interview Wednesday, Huebner said he had already spoken with representatives of Quorum Health, a consulting firm that has been hired to help

turn around the financial situation, about his role and planned to meet with them in the coming days. “They have done a smart thing in hiring Quorum Health to bring in the resources to do a deep dive and evaluate the situation,” he said. “Everybody wants the organization to survive and uncertainty is not helpful to anybody in this situation.” Kevin Mullin, the head of the Green Mountain Care Board, said Tuesday that Springfield executives had not been forthcoming about their financial situation during their presentations to the regulator earlier this year. He said the board was looking over the transcripts of their budget testimony, which was delivered under oath, to determine whether any misrepresentations

occurred. At the moment, he said, there was no evidence of misconduct by anyone at the hospital. Mullin said he would be pushing for new rules that penalized organizations that failed to make such disclosures in the future. Human Services Secretary Al Gobeille said he was still trying to figure out why Springfield’s CEO and CFO were abruptly shown the door. He also said that once the immediate concerns were addressed, a conversation needed to take place about why there wasn’t better communication between the hospital and regulators, and whether reporting

rules need to change. Huebner said hospitals were already required to provide a great deal of information, and that the first question should be whether Springfield followed existing regulations. “Surprises are bad for everybody and most importantly for the community and for the patients,” he said. Huebner said he’s been traveling in his retirement. “When the governor and secretary of the agency of human services calls and asks if you might help out in a situation that’s very important to the state and the community, if you can do it you say yes,” he said.

PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 24, CHAPTER 117, V.S.A. AND THE TOWN OF KILLINGTON ZONING BYLAWS, THE KILLINGTON ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING BEGINNING AT 6:00 P.M. ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019 AT THE TOWN OFFICE BUILDING ON RIVER ROAD IN KILLINGTON, THE PURPOSE OF WHICH WILL BE TO ALLOW INTERESTED PARTIES AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE FOLLOWING: Application 18-049 by Vincent Connolly, Killington Mountain House LLC, to appeal a decision by the Killington Zoning Administrative Officer. The violation is for change of use of a single-family dwelling unit into a commercial facility without a Zoning Permit. The property is located at 287 Estabrook Road.

FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE TOWN OFFICE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9:00 A.M. AND 3:00 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. WRITTEN STATEMENTS OR MATERIALS ARE REQUESTED TO BE SUBMITTED AT THE TOWN OFFICES AT LEAST SEVEN (7) DAYS PRIOR TO THE HEARING FOR REVIEW BY ALL PARTIES. ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT TOWN OF KILLINGTON Participation in the hearing by adjacent property owners is a prerequisite to the right to take any subsequent appeal.

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22A â&#x20AC;˘ SKI

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Columns The disappearing, reappearing,

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

By Susie Spikol

American marten

Some people keep lifelong birding lists. I’ve tried, but birds and I have never really hit it off. Too many colors, too many species, and I’m tone deaf, so birding by ear is completely beyond me. I do keep a lifelong weasel list. I can

Maine, and northern New Hampshire, the researchers have been able to shed light on this tangled tale. According to Kilpatrick, the story of the American marten in Vermont is complicated. The data suggest that the newly discovered southern population does have genetic lineage with the marten that were reintroduced back in the 1990s. The northern population has markers that tie it to populations in northern New Hampshire, with a dash of genes from the southern Vermont population. This suggests connectivity betell you exactly where I was when I tween the two populations and saw my first white-coated ermine invites Vermonters to consider and how many times I’ve seen how to continue protecting land a mink. My best fisher sighting to increase this landscape connecwas particularly memorable: I tion. “The marten is a window on watched in awe as it jumped from what is possible,” says Dr. Kilpattree to tree in pursuit of a gray rick. squirrel. I’m not a mustelid proThe last thing Dr. Kilpatrick fessional, a weasel guide, trapper, shared was, to me, the most inor even a dachshund. I’m just a triguing: there is some suggestion naturalist completely fascinated that the southern Vermont popuby this family of animals. Perhaps lation has genes from a relic popit’s because I can relate to their ulation. Could it be that martens body design: a long torso and had actually managed to survive short legs; or maybe it’s their unin the Green Mountain National stoppable appetite, something else Forest, tucked quietly out of our I personally understand. I’ve seen view, ever since pre-colonial days? all the mustelids New England has I like to think this is possible. I to offer except for one – the elusive like to imagine myself, out in the American marten. deep soft snow of the The American marGreen Mountain NaTHE STORY OF THE AMERICAN MARTEN ten (Martes americana), tional Forest, following IN VERMONT IS COMPLICATED. sometimes referred to as the bounding slink of the pine marten, is rare in a marten. I see myself our region, though prior to coloin southern Vermont, and another reaching my hand into the track, nization, this smaller-than-a-cat population was discovered in the touching impressions of the five mammal was widely distributed northern part of the state. These teardrop-shaped toes. It would be and considered common across two distinct pockets of marten like touching hope. New England, at least as far south raised some intriguing questions: Susie Spikol is community as western Massachusetts. The Were these the offspring of the program director for the Harris forces that led to it becoming a original reintroduced martens? Center for Conservation Education species of high concern are not Are the populations related? Or in Hancock, New Hampshire. The unusual: habitat loss and fragmen- did these new arrivals come from illustration for this column was tation, as well as overtrapping. The another place? drawn by Adelaide Tyrol. The Outglossy, golden-brown pelt made To answer these questions, Dr. side Story is assigned and edthis animal’s fur highly desirable. C. William Kilpatrick and a team of ited by Northern Woodlands By the early 1900s, it was considscientists at the University of Vermagazine and sponsored ered extinct in Vermont and barely mont’s biology department looked by the Wellborn Ecology existed in New Hampshire. Only into the genetic makeup of the Fund of the New Hampshire in the Adirondacks and remote two populations. By examining Charitable Foundation: northern Maine did populations the DNA of both populations, and wellborn@nhcf.org. manage to persist. comparing them to each other Efforts began in the 20th century and the other surrounding to repair the damage we’d done. populations from Marten were reintroduced in New the AdironHampshire in the 1950s and again dacks, in the 1970s, and populations were northnoticeably bolstered by the 1990s. ern The comeback continued, and in 2016, the marten was removed from the state Threatened and Endangered Species List. Things didn’t go so well in Vermont; at first, anyway.

THE OUTSIDE STORY

From 1989 to 1991, Vermont’s Fish and Wildlife Department and the US Fish and Wildlife Service reintroduced 115 American martens into southern Vermont’s Green Mountain National Forest. The vast majority of these pioneer martens came from Maine, and the rest were from the Adirondacks. Hopes ran high, but by the mid-1990s, the reintroduction was considered a failure. No evidence could be found that any of the martens had survived. One theory as to what happened points the finger at another member of the mustelid family: the fisher. A larger cousin to the marten, the fisher had been successfully reintroduced to Vermont in 1959 as a way to control an over-abundance of porcupine. Fishers compete with and hunt marten. Perhaps the failure of the marten reintroduction had something to do with the success of the fisher recovery – a reminder that everything in nature is connected. Yet it’s also a truism that wildness often finds a way to persist. For 15 years, marten went undetected in Vermont. But then several were accidentally caught in fisher traps in the southern Greens, which spurred a whole new search for them. A small but stable population was discovered

• 23A

New Year wishes It’s a time for new visions, hopes, and dreams, and to focus attention on the New Year. It’s a time to reassess our lives, and raise our vibrations to attract more joy. I want to invite newness into my life, and let go of old ways that are not beneficial. Out with the old, and in with the new! I have several New Year wishes, and I imagine that you may have some too. I’d like to: • Stay on course and not be swayed by cross winds and squalls. I’d like my emotions to be more consistent. Balance is preferable to extreme ups and downs. Mountain • Focus on the on Meditation positive because By Marguerite te like attracts like in Jill Dye the Law of Attraction. Focusing on joy, gratitude, empowerment, love, passion, enthusiasm, belief, and optimism put a smile on my face (and yours too—it’s contagious!). These feelings raise the mood and emotions. Negative feelings like worry and blame, anger, hatred, jealousy, fear sap us all of energy. They should be avoided like the plague! • De-clutter the extras in my life that don’t contribute to my happiness or life purpose: objects, clothes, papers, “shoulds” that no longer serve my home or life. William Morris recommended keeping only what we love, what is useful and/or beautiful. • Do good deeds and good work, but not in a way that causes me stress. I plan to allow for extra time between activities and deadlines. Mountain Meditation, page 25A

Mistletoe and medicines By Leonard Perry

Most people associate mistletoe with kissing, as it’s customary for anyone caught standing under a sprig of this plant (often strategically placed in a doorway) to receive a kiss. But did you know that mistletoe, now considered a Christmas plant, was used as a religious symbol in pagan rites centuries before the time of Christ? These ancient people believed mistletoe could cure diseases, make animals and humans more fertile, provide protection from witches, and bring good luck. In fact, mistletoe was so sacred to the Druids that if two enemies met beneath a tree on which it was growing, they would lay down their weapons, exchange greetings, and observe a truce until the following day. When the Druids found mistletoe growing on an oak tree, they used a golden knife to remove it, taking care that the sacred plant did not touch the ground to protect its special powers. They then sacrificed a white ox to consecrate the event. Mistletoe was not allowed in Christian places of worship for many years because of its widespread acceptance in pagan ceremonies. But it is not clear just how it became part of the Christmas holiday season. Before getting carried away with this symbol of love, be aware that the European mistletoe has been used medicinally for many centuries, and still is. It has been used as a general cure for most ailments, particularly in Korean and Chinese medicine. Consult your pharmacist or doctor before using this plant for other than decoration. Leonard Perry is a Horticulture Professor Emeritus at UVM.

24A • SERVICE

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The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Plot:

Another potential school shooting is thwarted with help from eavesdropping student

continued from page 1A have wrapped up their inquiry, which towns of Bridport, Cornwall, Middlebegan Saturday. bury, Ripton, Salisbury, Shoreham It’s a case that for the first time and Weybridge. brings an Addison County school into Addison County Deputy State’s the agonizing conversation of school Attorney Chris Perkett said this was shootings, and it put into practice one the first case involving an alleged of the key provisions of a much-deschool violence plan that he had seen bated gun safety law signed by Gov. brought forward since he joined the Phil Scott this past spring. Middleoffice 15 years ago. bury police investigators successPerkett said the young suspects fully applied to a court official for an had “a date, a time and a plan,” “extreme risk protection order” that though he added, “I wouldn’t call it a allowed them to temporarily remove sophisticated plan.” firearms from the home from which But any plan to perpetrate violence one of the youths was going to access has to be taken seriously, he stressed. guns to use in the planned shooting. “Whenever you put a firearm in the This is a potential tragedy fortuhands of someone who’s prepared nately averted, and a lesson for eduto use it, you don’t need an elaborate cators to invite more frank discussion By John Flowers/Addison Independent plan for tragedy to occur,” he said. from students about safety issues in Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley “All that has to happen is for someone and out of school. on Wednesday, Dec. 19, provided deto pull the trigger and we can have a “We really appreciate the quick tails on the alleged shooting plot. grieving family. And if this had gone and thorough work of the Middleforward, that’s what we would have bury Police Department in investiFamilies (DCF) and the Counseling had.” gating this, and the board is confident Service of Addison County (CSAC) Perkett praised the boy whose inin our schools’ ability to keep kids involved in the investigation. formation led to an unraveling of the safe and make the right decisions to After confirming the whereabouts alleged shooting plan. continue that,” said Addison Central and establishing short-term plans for “I think this is one of those circumSchool District Board Chairman both young suspects, police turned stances where we see a young man Peter Conlon. their attention to securing their who was scared, but did the right EVOLVING SITUATION alleged source of guns. thing… As a result, lives were saved.” On Saturday, Dec. 15, Middlebury “We executed what is called an SCHOOL ALERTS PARENTS police received a call from a person ‘extreme risk order’ (Monday) night Members of the MUMS commuwhom Hanley described as a MUMS at a relative’s house who had all these nity first learned of the investigation parent whose student at the school firearms,” Hanley said. “They were through an email they received had expressed “concern over some locked up [in the home], but one on Monday from Addison Central conversations this student was of these kids said he had access to School District Superintendent Peter privy to, where there was talk about them and could get them. So we took Burrows. using firearms to harm people in the advantage of that extreme risk order A copy of that email was obtained school.” statute that was passed. We needed to by The Addison Independent, it reads Police, including School Resource separate the person from their ability in part: “We learned over the weekend Officer Connor Sousa, immediately to do this.” that a group of middle school stulaunched a probe that dents had discussed and lasted most of the weekmade threats of violence “ALL THAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS FOR end and spilled into involving Middlebury SOMEONE TO PULL THE TRIGGER AND Monday, during which Union Middle School. they rounded up people “There is an ongoing WE CAN HAVE A GRIEVING FAMILY. AND IF – including the heroic police investigation,” THIS HAD GONE FORWARD, THAT’S WHAT informant – with knowlBurrows adds in his letedge of the case for interter. “We cannot identify WE WOULD HAVE HAD,” SAID PERKETT. views and statements. the students because of “By early Monday, we had idenHanley on Tuesday morning federal privacy laws. However, I can tified two people, one of whom had wasn’t sure of the exact inventory of assure you that safety is our highest made a specific threat against a the more than 10 confiscated weappriority. We have worked collabospecific person in the school, with a ons, but said they largely consisted ratively with law enforcement, and date and time on when this was going of hunting rifles and handguns. He MUMS has security procedures in to happen,” Hanley said. doesn’t believe any semi-automatic place to protect our students. Further, “Once we determined this threat assault rifles or shotguns were among we will not permit the students who was specific, included specific targets, the bunch. made the threats to return to the and was to be executed at a specific Spearheading the investigation middle school until the students are time and date, that raised the level are Middlebury police Officer Nick found to be safe by someone with ex[of concern],” Hanley said. “It was Stewart, School Resource Officer pertise in making those assessments.” more than idle chatter from someone Connor Sousa, Det. Kris Bowdish and Burrows concluded his letter by blowing off steam.” Sgt. Mike Christopher. emphasizing the importance of Police quickly got officials from the MUMS serves students in grades 7 children voicing their concerns about Vermont Department for Children & and 8 hailing from the ACSD-member safety on or off campus.

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SERVICE DIRECTORY • 25A

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Mountain meditation: Achieving goals, one step at a time continued from page 23A • Meditate and explore feelings and thoughts that provide insight and lead to growth. I’ll seek out new experiences that expand my mind, sharing thoughts and inspiration in my weekly “Mountain Meditation” column. • Complete Part III of my book on the Camino de Santiago, the final section which is about our last pilgrimage on the Camino del Norte; insert the plein air paintings and drawings I did along the Camino Frances and the Northern Camino. • Paint en plein air, sew, and create art with objects from nature I discover outside. • Eat living foods that nurture and heal—mostly vegetables and fruits from the earth. • Spend as much time as possible with our grandson Silas—each day with him brings us joy. I love seeing the world through his wonder-filled eyes. Like our son, he’s a blessing in our lives. • Hike, bike, and walk with my hubby, Duane; hold hands, hug, and kiss every day. Do my physical therapy exercises twice a day as prescribed. • Enjoy being with dear friends who enrich our lives and help us

Rockin’ the Region:

grow. • Celebrate life every day, and remember how great a gift it is. It certainly sounds like a busy year and I may have already overbooked myself. I don’t want to be so busy I lose spontaneity and joy, or constantly feel pressured to accomplish things. I find that to be a challenging combination, but I also realize attitude is key in distinguishing between stress and activity. I may need to reassess my plans. Not everything must be accomplished at once! What would you like to experience this year? What are your priorities, wishes, and dreams? What changes would you like to make in your life? The more precisely we envision them, the more quickly they can become reality. Writing them down helps define them and gives them more power for manifestation. When I feel overwhelmed by my to-do list and have no idea where to start, I like to use a technique taught by LearnDoBecome: limit your current projects to no more than seven, then determine the next action step for the project at hand (LearnDoBecome.com). For example, if I want to improve my eating habits to include foods with the greatest health benefits, my next action step might be

to look for the healthiest foods people eat that live to be 100 across the globe (bluezones.com). I could also print Dr. Daniel Amen’s list of the 50 Best Brain Foods and use it as my everyday shopping list. If my intention is to meditate for twenty minutes each day, I may need to find a quiet corner in my home, then set it up for inspiration and comfort. Gathering a few pillows, a matchbox and candle, or tranquil music might be the next action step. By breaking the project down into one small task after another makes the goal seem less overwhelming and more easily achievable. You may not be sure of just want you want. Sometimes the noise and brain clutter confuse our wishes with what we think we must do. But always remember what matters the most: the answers are always inside yourself. “The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” I wish you abundant blessings and joy throughout 2019. May we each demonstrate the peace that we crave, in our lives, our families, our nation, and world. Marguerite Jill Dye is an artist and writer who divides her time between the Green Mountains of Vermont and Florida’s Gulf Coast.

continued from page 13A

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the East Coast and had one tour across the country. The bigger tours and best shows he’s done have been with R.A. the Rugged Man who Jarv said is “super dope.” Jarv entered an online rap contest that R.A. was running and he placed in the Top 10. R.A. then invited him to his apartment in New York City to film a little freestyle video for his YouTube channel. “From there we became friends and he invited me out on his tour.” He has a video on Urban Leak that went viral and has over four million views – it’s only him rapping in front of a mic. That helped him grow on Facebook, but he said that with all those likes, it’s tough because they’re all spread out. People ask if he’ll come to Germany, but he said he probably only has like 12 German fans, so probably not worth it. Jarv just opened for KRS-One in Greenfield, Massachusetts at the Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center. He said that was crazy. He also opened for RJD2 there. Jarv has three albums to his credit and just released “Jarvage Vol. 2 (Full Mixtape)” in October. He also has “Jarvage Vol. 1 (Full Mixtape)” and “The Boiler Room” with Thief. He has three albums in three years which is quite impressive. He threw together “Vol. 1” just so he could have something to sell on his first tour with R.A. He said, “The reason I call it ‘Jarvage’ is because it was mostly garbage throw away songs that weren’t going to be on an album.” He considers “The Boiler Room” to be his first real album. “‘Jarvage Vol. 2’ I look at like ‘Vol. 1,’ but I definitely put more time into it. It has more of an album feel than ‘Vol. 1.’” When making his music, Jarv starts making the beats first. “However that makes me feel or whatever I picture is what I will write about. If it’s a dope, classic hip-hop beat, maybe I’ll write some rhymes. Certain beats will make me want to write more of a concept thing or I’ll write a story. The beat will dictate whether it’s funny or serious or braggadocios.” Jarv loves all of it. “When people are moving or engaged, it’s a feeling unlike anything else. I guess it just makes me feel really cool [laughing]. I’m probably seeking attention to make me feel good about myself. What’s cool is that I make music first – I’m a recording artist. That’s what I’m

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26A • PETS

ZEEK - 2 -year-old. Neutered male. Pit Bull. I’m a super handsome fella and when we meet before you know it you’ll have a smile on your face! That tends to happen to people when they meet me. I’m a fun, silly, goofy guy!

PETPersonals WILLA - 2 -year-old. Spayed female. Domestic Short Hair. Torbie. Hello world! My name is Willa! I arrived at RCHS on November 29 as a stray from Rutland City. Have you ever seen a cat as unique as me!? My markings and coloring are simply amazing.

MISTY - 1 -year-old. Spayed female. Domestic Medium Hair. Brown tiger. Hi, I am a current resident at RCHS after wandering the streets of Rutland City. I am happy that I am here and safe, but would rather have a family to call my own. I am a calm, loving cat.

BIRDY - 1 -year-old. Spayed female. Labrador Retriever mix. I’m a curious, outgoing gal who will keep you on your toes! I’m on the go so I’ll need a lot of exercise and play time to keep me happy. Walks, hikes and other adventures sound great!

KATE - 14 -year-old. Spayed female. Domestic Short Hair. Gray. Hi! My name is Kate, but you can call me Katie. That’s what the ladies in the adoption center call me. A few of my favorite activities are snuggles, ear rubs and lap time! I can’t get enough.

MOUNTIE - 1 -year-old. Neutered male. Domestic Short Hair. Brown tiger. My name is Mountie. I arrived at RCHS as a stray from Rutland City. A very nice person found me wandering around and brought me here. I like it here! Everyone is so nice to me!

LUCY - 1 -year-old. Spayed female. Domestic Short Hair. Brown and white tiger. Hello Everyone. My name is Lucy. I am on the independent side but I also like lap and snuggle time. I was strictly an indoor cat and prefer to stay that way. I’m cute! Stop by and meet me!

BOBO - 6 -year-old. Neutered male. Labrador Retriever mix. I’m happy go lucky, fun fella with a little gray on my muzzle that makes me look distinguished! I love being with people and getting lots of attention and being spoiled. And do I like treats.

PRIMROSE - 2 -year-old. Spayed female. Labrador Retriever mix. Adorable? Check. A joy to be around? Check. Loves to ride in the car? Check. Well, as you can see, I have a lot going for me. The staff adores me and I hear them say how terrific I am.

MISTER - 2-Year-Old. Neutered male. Domestic Short Hair. Brown tiger. Hello world! My name is Mister. I arrived at the shelter on October 13 as a stray from Rutland City. A few of my likes are ear rubs, toy mice, and lap time. My dislikes include being outside!

HERMES - 2 -year-old. Neutered male. Domestic Short Hair. Brown and white tiger. Hello, Hermes is my name and getting myself adopted is my game! I arrived at RCHS on October 25 as a stray from Rutland City. Thank you, kind person for getting me off the streets!

SNOWFLAKE - 6 -year-old. Spayed female. Pomeranian mix. If you like to give belly rubs I will be your new best friend! I have to admit getting belly rubs and sitting on the lap of my favorite person are my 2 most favorite things to do! I’m adorable!

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Featuring pets from:

RUTLAND COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY LUCY MACKENZIE HUMANE SOCIETY SPRINGFIELD HUMANE SOCIETY

Springfield Humane Society

BUNNIES Looking for somebunny to love?! How about 2 bunnies? We have four 3 month old house rabbits for adoption. They are being adopted as pairs only as rabbits do best with a friend. They are spayed, microchipped and litterbox trained. Their bonded mothers Miffy and Trixie are also looking for somebunny to love, too. Stop by 401 Skitchewaug Trail, Springfield, Wednesday through Saturday from 12-4:30 p.m. Call 802-885-3997 for more information.

Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society

All of these pets are available for adoption at

Rutland County Humane Society

765 Stevens Road, Pittsford, VT • (802) 483-6700 Tues. - Sat. 12-5p.m., Closed Sun. & Mon. • www.rchsvt.org

MOUNTA IN TIMES mountaintimes.info

BAILEY Hi! My name’s Bailey and I’m a 7-year-old spayed female Mixed Breed. I’m a big beautiful girl that is very big on love! I came to Lucy Mackenzie when my dad died. I was lost without him at first, but then I made lots of new friends. Making new friends is one of my most favorite things! Since I’ve been here, lots of good things have happened. I’ve always had really red itchy skin, but not anymore! In my former life, I really loved human food…. like really, really loved it. I can’t have it anymore, because it makes me feel horrible. I also eat a special hypoallergenic food that has made such a difference! In my new home, I would like very comfy beds, a nice fenced in area I can play in and people that will make sure I lead a healthy life. My new home would have no cats or small dogs. I could probably live with another larger dog, as long as we got along. I’m a fun-loving girl that promises to bring lots of smiles and laughs to my new family. Oh, and I LOVE car rides! If you think we’d be a good match, stop in and meet me today! Lucy Mackenzie Humane Society is located at 4832 Route 44, West Windsor, VT. We’re open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 12 - 4 p.m. Reach us daily at 802-484-LUCY. Visit us at www.lucymac.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We hope to see you soon!

HOROSCOPES • 27A

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

It’s time to wait and see By Cal Garrison a.k.a. Mother of the Skye

This week’s horoscopes are coming out under the light of a Cancer Moon that turned void of course for a couple of hours until it entered Leo at around noon on Christmas Eve. With the winds of change bearing down on us like gangbusters, the usual holiday platitudes seem out of place this year. Still, as much as all of us are in the throes of changes, the likes of which we have never seen before, there has to be something eternal and unchanging that we can use to tie ourselves to the mast and call upon to steer us through the uncertainty that fills the air this Christmas. Thinking about what to say and how to word things, after much thought, I have come to realize that any one of us could look into our hearts and come up with an answer or two. I am pretty sure that the truth about everything is known to all of us, and that what we assume is written in the stars is actually written in our hearts. The only reason we look outside of ourselves for answers is because we have been totally distracted and confused by things that have tricked us into believing that truth and light can only be found “out there.” Without relying too heavily on the current aspect list, I have decided to focus on the fact that we are living through the last gasps of the Lucifer Rebellion. If you have no reference point for this, check out the biblical version of the tale, or read The Urantia Book. In a nutshell, the Lucifer Rebellion is another name for the epic battle between the Darkness and the Light. At the tail end of the Grand Cycle the two polarities always wind up duking it out to see who’s in charge. The forces of Light are always victorious, but until the last gun is fired, the Darkness always appears to have the upper hand because it is intrinsically diabolical, ruthless in its approach, and doesn’t know how to do anything but fight. Back in 2010, I got asked to write a book about the 2012 phenomenon. In the “Astrology of 2012 and Beyond” my editors wanted me to come up with an explanation for the myths surrounding the idea that the world would end on the 2012 Winter Solstice. They wanted me to put forth my take on the subject, because it was written in many of the ancient texts that this ending would actually be a new beginning that would mark humanities’ entrance into The Age of Light. In the course of writing that book, I came to realize that if the world was going to end, there were a number of dates upon which that possibility could become real. In and around that concept, many of those dates hinged upon major transits to what is known as The Aries Point. Examining this in more detail, I speculated that because The Aries Point governs all of humanity it might follow that planetary conjunctions to that point would serve as a wake-up call to the sleeping masses that would stir all of us to open eyes and see the light. Since 2012, a number of big transits to the Aries Point have greased that wheel with enough truth and light to open the possibility that yes, indeed, after 13,000 years in the dark, the heart of humanity is ready to embrace the idea that nothing out there is going to save us – that in truth, it is something in us that will rise up from the depths and turn us on to the fact that “We are the ones we have been waiting for.” I feel safe enough to say this, because after a number of planets have laid the groundwork for major changes and turnarounds in human consciousness, it is currently Chiron, the cosmic maverick’s turn, to move back and forth over The Aries Point. He has been retrograding and moving direct in that section of the sky since June 2018, Mother of the Skye, page 28A

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Aries

Cancer

Libra

Capricorn

March 21 - April 20

June 21 - July 20

September 21 - October 20

December 21 - January 20

hings are a little nuts, but what else is new? This is better than you’ve had it in a long time. Without leading you to think that this will hold steady, at the moment, you are on a roll, and it’s time to get out there and work it. If you can do this without letting your ego get out of control it could take you straight to the top. In some cases, it’s almost as if you’ve arrived at the terminal where the rest of your life is getting ready to take off. Don’t let your attachments tie you down, or hold you back. Let them go, and trust that the people and things that matter will be there forever.

on’t go crazy thinking that all of your ducks have to be in a row. Big plans and major changes are never airtight. You want what’s best for everyone but when your input falls on deaf ears, or when those who pretend to listen have an agenda that makes it hard to know where they’re coming from, you’re foolish to think you’re getting anywhere. Sometimes we’re better off keeping our mouth shut and watching the show. Walk softly and carry a big stick, my friend. In this situation, taking the position of witness-observer will show you what to do and where to go.

ou’re a little too gun shy to go for what’s behind the curtain. At the same time, something tells you it’s safe to let out all the stops and go for it because it feels right. For someone who’s new to listening to their heart, you’re doing better with it than most; and this is the key to everything right now. Be less concerned with what other people think. Don’t worry so much about what makes sense. You’re at a point where you can move forward to embrace things that will deepen your connection to yourself and open possibilities for success that are bound to blow you away.

he way things are going the best you can do is keep your foot in the door and make sure every other option is open. The see-saw is at a balance point after a tremendous amount of upheaval, and what you are wondering is: should I be doing something about this, or do I just hang in there and see how the chips fall? You can never know too many things with absolute surety but this is one of those times when it’s your gut that will tell you exactly what to do when the time comes. Worry less, pray more and hold steady with whatever it is that needs your strength and support.

Taurus

Leo

Scorpio

Aquarius

April 21 - May 20

July 21 - August 20

October 21 - November 20

January 21 - February 20

ou are so filled with a desire to make a difference in the world you would go to any lengths for it. Going the distance on every level forms the bigger part of your philosophy. If taking your principles to the street winds up costing you a fortune, try to understand that it doesn’t cost a dime to stay on your path. The “more” that you crave exists to inspire a search for depth and intensity that is meant to draw you deeper into your life at the Soul level. That’s where you need to go. Once you get there, you will know exactly what it means, as well as “how”, to make a difference.

ou don’t quite understand why this is happening but who said you needed to figure it out? Most things wither under too much analysis. And it’s a weird twist of fate that whenever we think we know what’s going on we’re oftentimes totally clueless. So while you may have a way to pigeonhole this, good luck knowing as much about where it’s going! At this point you would be far better off taking one day at a time and waiting for others to prove themselves – or giving yourself more time to see if you need to get too involved with anyone or anything that might hold you back.

oubts about things that have come to pass because you’re too damned suspicious are your own creation. Don’t assume that everyone has an angle. In this situation, whoever you’re not in the mood to trust is totally straight up; they have done nothing to warrant this level of mistrust. It’s one thing to be able to see past appearances but you’re digging too deep. If you can back off enough to realize that you’ve over reacted to something that bears no resemblance to the way you see it, you might be able to rescue a situation that will ultimately benefit every aspect of your life.

ou could do this with your eyes closed. Somehow you’ve gotten into a comfortable rut and you can’t figure out why you feel like you’re sleepwalking. Believe me when I tell you could use a transfusion because this isn’t your thing. It’s time to sweep the dust off whatever you don’t want to see and clear the decks for a new beginning. You may not be feeling it now, but trust me; it’s coming. In situations like this, it’s always better to break free before the universe does it for you. Look around. Any signs of imbalance are there to show you exactly how much needs to change.

Gemini

Virgo

Sagittarius

Pisces

May 21 - June 20

August 21 - September 20

November 21 - December 20

February 21 - March 20

ou could ease up a little. Relative to work and your boundaries, it’s time to loosen up. If you’ve shut people off, forgive them and get over it. You need all the allies you can get right now. When it comes to putting your work before everything else, you’re crazy to think that anything grows under this much pressure. While I understand your need to stay on top of things, the inner stuff has to be nurtured or there will be nothing to support those visions. Maybe it comes down to “all work and no play” is no good for anyone. Give yourself a break and go do something unexpected.

ou aren’t as driven, and you don’t need to be, so whatever comes out of the next few months looks like it will be a product of things that got going long before now. You see enough goodness coming out of your efforts to make it worth it to keep it up. As you assess the situation and try to figure out how to manage it, give yourself permission to be inventive in your approach and find ways to make your own life as fun as you can. The more you give yourself better things to do the more the people who depend on you and your life as a whole will flourish and be there for you.

olding steady is a theme. Many of you are getting whacked by things that have overwhelmed your defenses. Thankfully, your heart is up to the challenge. A sense of humor and a good handle on the idea that ‘this too shall pass’ are essential qualities right now. So is the need to be careful about your financial affairs. Believe it or not, those of you who rely mainly on your instincts to tell you what to do will make better choices than those of you who go by the book. Stay loose. As much as you appear to be safe and sound, keep a head’s up and be prepared for anything.

Mother of the Skye

ou are so happy about the way things are going, it’s amazing to see how good it can get when everyone has the right attitude. For such a long time you have had more than enough of the kinds of things that make the rest of us want to curl up and die. Now that you are in safer territory the possibilities are endless and you’re wondering where to go next. Depending on your situation, it looks like the outer limits of success will require you to rearrange some of the mundane stuff, revamp the systems that power the infrastructure, and get out of the box as far as you can.

Mother of the Skye has 40 years of experience as an astrologer and tarot consultant. She may be reached by email to cal.garrison@gmail.com

Classifieds

28A • NEWS

BRIEFS

REAL ESTATE LOG CABIN 3 br 1400 sq ft plus 4000 sq ft 4 level warehouse, 2.3 ac, many possibilities, 20 minutes from Killington. $225K. https:// www.vtheritagerealestate. com/listing/4728961/5612-vtrt-107-highway-stockbridgevt-05772/. ROBINWOOD BUILDING LOT on 1.2 acres. On Sewer. Corner of Overbrook and Round Robin. Excellent view. Across from Pico. 516-2411879. KILLINGTON RENTAL house for sale. Why pay mortgage, taxes and expenses for your home when the rental income pays all of the above? House located on the mountain, Killington, VT. Contact 781749-5873, toughfl@aol.com. NEW LISTING: Killington ski village location, mountain v i e w. P i n n a c l e 1 b d r m condo, $116K. Furnished, never rented, deck, stone fireplace, kitchen upgrade, ski locker, health club, shuttle to mountain. Owner, waynekay@ gmail.com, 802-775-5111. KILLINGTON—2 BDRM 1.5 bath condo, Mountain Green bldg. 2. FP, ski lockers, health club membership. $92K. Owner, 800-576-5696. TAKE OCCUPANCY NOW! 3 BR, 2 BA chalet on East Mountain Rd, open living room/kitchen/dining, Master Suite with loft and vaulted ceiling, den with built in Queen bed, 520 sq ft DECK, workshop, wood stove, storage, laundry. $325,000 Louise Harrison Real Estate,802-747-8444. LAND: Killington: ANTHONY WAY, 1.4 acres with access to sewer line, $59,900. UPPER REBECCA LANE, 1 acre with winter views of mountain tops, $85K; lot has a Vt. engineered 4-BR mound septic system design, lot is on a cul de sac of a private road with a written road maintenance agreement. Ski Country Real Estate, 335 Killington Rd, 802-775-5111. PITTSFIELD LAND: River View Trail Road: 8AC for $69,900 with State septic permit for a 4BR home. Lot 5. Private Location. Ski Country Real Estate, 335 Killington Rd, 802-775-5111. LAND FOR SALE: Improved building lot in Killington neighborhood with ski home benefits. Views. Call 802-4229500.

ERA MOUNTAIN Real Estate, 1913 US Rt. 4, Killington— killingtonvermontrealestate. com or call one of our real estate experts for all of your real estate needs including Short Term & Long Term Rentals & Sales. 802-7750340. KILLINGTON PICO REALTY Our Realtors have special training in buyer representation to ensure a positive buying experience. Looking to sell? Our unique marketing plan features your very own website. 802-4223600, KillingtonPicoRealty. com 2814 Killington Rd., Killington. (next to Choices Restaurant).

KILLINGTON VALLEY REAL ESTATE Specializing in the Killington region for Sales and Listings for Homes, Condos & Land as well as Winter seasonal rentals. Call, email or stop in. We are the red farm house located next to the Wobbly Barn. PO Box 236, 2281 Killington Rd., Killington. 802-422-3610, bret@ killingtonvalleyrealestate.com. LOUISE HARRISON REAL ESTATE: An independent broker offering professional guidance and representation to buyers and sellers in the greater Killington, Mendon, Rutland area. 30 years experience. Available by appointment 7 days a week at the location of your choice. 8 Mountain Top Rd, Chittenden. LouiseHarrison.com, 802747-8444. PEAK PROPERTY GROUP at KW Vermont. VTproperties. net. 802-353-1604. Marni@ peakpropertyrealestate.com. Specializing in homes/condos/ land/commercial/investments. Representing sellers & buyers all over Central Vt. THE PERFORMANCE GROUP real estate 1810 Killington Rd., Killington. 802422-3244 or 800-338-3735, vthomes.com, email info@ vthomes.com. As the name implies “WE PERFORM FOR YOU!” PRESTIGE REAL Estate of Killington, 2922 Killington Rd., Killington. Specializing in the listing & sales of Killington Condos, Homes, & Land. Call 802-4223923. prestigekillington.com. SKI COUNTRY Real Estate, 335 Killington Rd., Killington. 8 0 2 - 7 7 5 - 5 111 , 8 0 0 - 8 7 7 5111. SkiCountryRealEstate. com - 8 agents to service: K i l l i n g t o n , B r i d g e w a t e r, Mendon, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Rochester, Stockbridge & Woodstock areas. Sales & Winter Seasonal Rentals. Open 7 days/wk, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES QUECHEE RESTAURANT for sale - Dana’s by the Gorge. Turnkey with real estate. Profitable. Rt. 4 frontage. Info at Equitygrouprealtors.com or 603-448-8000. JUST DO IT!, established deli w/ apartment(live in or rent out) on main route near Rutland. By owner, serious inquires only please. 802451-8301. MAPLE SYRUP farm for sale. 64.8 acres. 802-235-9276. OWN A BUSINESS IN VERMONT! www.bizvt.com 802-775-6251. OUTBACK PIZZA shopping center for sale, 4-acre land parcel w/ building. 4 apartments, 2 stores, 1 diner, 1 restaurant and night club — on access road. Call 800-6942250, or cell 914-217-4390. Ron Viccari.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate and rentals advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968 as amended which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, family status, national origin, sexual orientation, or persons receiving public assistance, or an intention to make such preferences, limitation or discrimination.” This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertisement which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. If you feel you’ve been discrimination against, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-6699777.

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

Email classifieds@mountaintimes.info or call 802-422-2399.

Rates are 50 cents per word, per week; free ads are free. R E N TA L P R O P E R T Y CLEANING Responsible, detail-oriented professional couple has two remaining spots open for winter rental cleanings. We only take a limited number of clients so we can provide the best possible service. The fact that we own a rental property in SC, we understand the importance of good communication and having someone you can count on and trust to take care of all your needs. Along with high quality cleaning, our attention to detail, ability to assess damage and check inventory will help you get positive reviews and build your clientele. References available. 802-345-1205 or 914-262-1415.

WANTED

FOR SALE

STILL BUYING and appraising coins, stamps, precious metals, watches, art and historical items. I have moved from VT, but can easily help new and existing clients through email and US Postal Service. Member ANA, APS, NAWCC and New England Appraisers Association. Royal Barnard 802-775-0085 or email rbarn64850@aol.com.

RENTALS

FIREWOOD for sale, we stack. Rudi, 802-672-3719.

EMPLOYMENT

SKI SNOWBIRD, Utah, Cliff Club/Studio, week of Feb. 9. 917-693-9773.

FREE

KILLINGTON SEASONAL rental 2 BR, 1 BA, woodstove, excellent location. $8,000 seasonal + utilities. 781-7495873, toughfl@aol.com.

DREWSKI’S is hiring P/T waitstaff AM and PM shifts available. Please call, email or stop by 802-422-3816.

FREE REMOVAL of scrap metal & car batteries. Matty, 802-353-5617.

C O M M E R C I A L S PA C E AVAILABLE with another well established business. Small or large square footage. Close to ski shop, restaurant and lodging. Great location for any business. Call 802-345-5867.

SKI SHARES/Full rooms available. Prime location in the heart of Killington. 2B per room/singles. Lots of amenities. 917-796-4289, outdoordiva7@yahoo.com. KILLINGTON SEASONAL rental 3 BR, 2 BA, fireplace, dishwasher. $9,000, Nov. 1-April 30, + utilities. 781-7495873, toughfl@aol.com. WINTER RENTAL avail. Jan. 1: 3 BR 2 BA furnished chalet w/ open living room/kitchen/ dining, Master Suite with loft & vaulted ceiling, DEN w/ platform for queen, NEW efficient VT Castings wood stove, DECK, workshop, storage, new laundry. $8,500, Jan. 1 thru May, + utilities and plowing. Louise Harrison Real Estate, 802-747-8444. S E A S O N A L R E N TA L . 4 bedroom, 2 bath, fireplace, hot tub, 1 mile to Skyeship Gondola. $12,000. Please contact: 516-993-3799. K I L L I N G T O N R O YA L FLUSH Rentals/Property management. Specializing in condos/winter & summer rentals. Andrea Weymouth, Owner. www. killingtonroyalflush.com, 802746-4040.

SERVICES SNOW SHOVELING roofs, walkways, etc. 802-558-6172. SNOW PLOWING sanding, seasonal or per time. Call Ryan, 802-291-2271. WEEKLY HOUSE CLEANING services - We’ll help you tackle, one room or the whole house! Bathrooms, kitchens & even windows. We are fully insured & we do background checks on all of our employees... No jobs too big or small. Call Disaster Recovery, Inc. 877-765-6340. ELECTRICIAN: Licensed/ insured, 35 years experience. Email BoiseElectric@outlook. com or call 802-747-4481. CHIMNEYS CLEANED, lined, built, repaired. 802-349-0339.

www.LouiseHarrison.com Realtor / Independent Broker since 1998 Country cabin 2 BR on pond 20 min to Killington $5K+U

Louise Harrison Real Estate 3 BR Available Now thru Winter $8500 plus utilities and plowing. Louise@LouiseHarrison.com | 802-747-8444

NIGHT AUDITOR (FRONT DESK) needed at Killington/ Pico Ski Resort to prepare, balance, print reports and perform activities of the front desk at the Grand Hotel. For the full description and to apply go to Killington.com/ jobs or in person at 4763 Killington Rd., Killington VT 05701. Open daily 8-4. 800300-9095. EOE. HOUSECLEANER WANTED to clean condo at the Topridge condominiums on Sunrise Mountain. Hours are flexible but mainly needed on Sunday afternoons and Thursday afternoons. Rate would Be $25 per hour. Please email me at saltair777@gmail.com.

HOUSEKEEPING POSITION through end of April. 40 hours per week guaranteed; Sundays a must. Butternut Inn, Killington. Call to apply: 802422-5660. MOGULS: WAITSTAFF, P/T bar staff, dishwasher, line cook needed to work at fun locals bar. Apply in person: see Sal at Moguls. SOUS CHEF: The Birch Ridge Inn at Killington seeks sous chef to work with our chef on prep and evening dinner service. To arrange interview call 802-422-4293. EXCITING NEW restaurant and lounge on the Killington access road looking for reliable, well organized help who can multi task. Positions include Front desk, kitchen prep and dishes, weekend breakfast service; flexible days hours and shifts. Contact Kristen@ highlinelodge.com. D AY T I M E C U S T O D I A N needed at Killington/Pico Ski Resort to clean and maintain the Snowshed Lodge. Empty trash and recycling containers and maintain cafeteria area cleanliness. Apply online at Killington.com/jobs or in person at 4763 Killington Rd., Killington VT 05751 800-3009095. HR is open 7 days a week 8-4. EOE. PROMOTIONAL HELP NEEDED: Looking for responsible, outgoing, professional candidates to promote Anheuser Busch Products in a bar/ restaurant environment during the Winter season. Ideal person is punctual, friendly, knowledgeable about products and comfortable with large crowds. Responsibilities include: Arriving on time, setting up t-shirts, hats, and other prizes, and executing games/activities. Anheuser Busch is a premium company that does promotions for brands such as Bud, Bud Light, Rolling Rock and many others. Candidates must be 21 years of age, and be willing to converse with strangers. Pay is fifteen dollars an hour with a flexible schedule, most promotions will be held in the Killington Mountain Area, must be available to work some nights during the week, and weekends for aprés. Email Don.sady@fdcvt.com.

Mother of the Skye: continued from page 27A and will sweep over it for the last time during the Spring Equinox of 2019. Chiron is the archetype that holds sway over anything that relates to taking the road less travelled. He is also directly related to indigenous wisdom, indigenous practices, and alternative approaches to healing. When he is active in transit he brings up ancient truths and a depth of understanding about who we really are in the universe. In the midst of a huge amount of artificially engineered doubletalk and confusion, if I am not mistaken, the next few weeks will clear the air, and the decks, for a huge turnaround. As a critical mass of people awaken to the truth, the need to be prepared for anything is what it comes down to. Chiron transforms our deepest wounds on levels of consciousness that allow us to cut past our blind spots and be instantly transformed by facts that up until that moment, we were unwilling or unable to see. Between now and Jan. 6, more than one epiphany will pave the way for this. Get ready for years of darkness to make room for what happens when all of us awaken to the pure light of truth. There is more that I could say, but let’s leave it at that – because Chiron, the enlightened maverick, is at the wheel, it’s wait and see time, and this will have to do for now. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and invite you to take what you can from this week’s ‘scopes.

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

• 29A

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30A • NEWS

BRIEFS

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

By Lani Duke

New staff named at RRMC

Oldest business in Rutland closes Gus’ Tobacco Shop, the oldest business in downtown Rutland, is closing. Owner Val Fothergill said her family had already sold its wholesale candy operation, Sam Frank Inc. Gus Louras started the business in 1951 when he purchased the building on Center Street.

Matthew Sommons has joined the staff of Rutland Regional Medical Center to offer psychiatric inpatient services. He received his B.S. in biological sciences from Muhlenberg College, his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine; he completed his internship and residency in psychi-

atry at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. His experience covers substance abuse and geriatric psychiatry. Rutland Regional Medical Center has been celebrating its volunteers with a series of festive lunches. The main one was held at Southside. Of 240 invited, 150 attended. Thirty-five attended a

lunch at Sweet Caroline’s in honor of those who volunteer in the Bridges and Beyond program, and 12 attended la unch at Rutland Country Club to honor their participation in the Patient Family Advisory Council. Forty-five more volunteers, these in the teen program, were planning a celebration the week of Dec. 17.

New business organization for women Female business owners and hopeful entrepreneurs now have their own support system, the Women Business Owners Network. Meeting while attending a WBON conference in Burlington, Christie Garofano and Erin Anderson decided to start a Rutland chapter in September. Garafano, owner of Body Essentials Personal Training and Wellness, already had formed a network of women working in wellness. Conversations with Anderson brought her to see that a WBON chapter would be good for both her own business and for the community’s business owners. The organization educates and supports women who are or hope to become business owners by creating

community and economic stability for women-owned businesses, and encourage public policies that encourage women entrepreneurs. At meetings, participants introduce themselves and their businesses, and listen to a keynote speaker discussing various topics such as personal balance, bookkeeping, taxes, marketing, personal development, and business planning. The local organization currently has about 40 members, with eight to 15 attending most meetings, Anderson said. The Rutland WBON will hold its next monthly meeting noon to 1:30 p.m. Jan.7 at Green Mountain Power Energy Innovation Center in Rutland.

Wallingford voters to decide rec director position Although the exact wording of the ballot article is yet to be drafted, Wallingford voters will be asked whether they approve spending $50,000 including salary and benefits for a new recreation director. Select Board Chair Bill Brooks said the board was working with the Vermont League of Cities and Towns to craft the exact wording. The VLCT insists that hiring decisions be made by the board, so the voters will not determine whether the position is full- or part-time. Michelle Kenny of the Recreation Committee facilitated the bulk of the discussion during the Dec. 4 meeting. Kenny explained that adding the 450,000 expense to the budget would add an extra $25 per $100,000 assessment for each taxpayer. The proposed position would be for a $35,000 salary with the benefits estimated as consuming the remaining $15,000. The recreation director would supervise town recreation staff including lifeguards as well as watch over programming for all ages. A more robust rec program would attract more people to town, both new residents

and people coming to enjoy the activities, generating increased economic benefit. Recreation Committee member/volunteer Bastian Auer said there is demand for activities but volunteers are hard to find and coordinate for existing programs. He said the town is slow in recognizing recreation-related infrastructure needs when they arise, thereby costing more dollars overall. Wallingford residents frequently travel to other towns for recreation, fellow Recreation Committee member Diane Baker said. Resident Carol McCloud said she approves of the idea but is concerned about the cost. Lynn Edmunds suggested Wallingford partner with other towns to hire a rec director, or assign current town employees hours to apply to recreation duties. For someone on a fixed income, adding $25 to the tax bill is significant. Board member Rose Regula felt a full-time position isn’t needed, while board member Nelson Tift felt the town might be unable to fill the position for the pay it would offer. He would prefer a part-time position to start

Rutland Town tackles poorly maintained properties A new state law, enacted in July, declaring salvage yards require regulation as a public health issue has stimulated Rutland Town’s Select Board to issue citations to three property owners, Public Health Officer John Paul Faignant commented at a Board of Health meeting Dec. 11. The town already had a public nuisance ordinance that the town could use to declare properties kept “in an unkempt manner” to be injurious to public health and human welfare, Faignant explained. The entire Select Board met as the Board of Health was on recess from the Select Board meeting. In his capacity as public health officer, Faignant plans to give owners a predetermined length of time in which to clean up their properties. Failure to take action will bring clean-up from the town and a lien to cover the clean-up cost placed on the property. The three properties in front of the board were 282 Perkins Rd., 2442 North. Grove St., and 118 Rt. 4 East. The Perkins Road property requires debris removal so that it conforms to the character of the neighborhood. Tenant George Foster and owner Greg Whitehorne both appeared to discuss the North Grove St. property. At the meeting, Faignant described the offending materials which included garbage, scrap, junk vehicles, parts, and pallets. Whitehorne said much of the garbage and scrap material had been cleared since Faignant visited the property. The board decided that Faignant would visit the property within the next 10 days to determine what must be removed and gave Whitehorne 90 days to do it. The deadline for this property to be cleared is Mar. 11. John Ruggiero owns the third property and agreed that he could have the building secured by Feb. 1 and repaired by May 1. He intends to refurbish the building so that it may be used to store vehicles inside; it will have restored electrical service, and the roof, windows and doors will all be repaired.

Xmas contest sees success

The Rutland Downtown Partnership Christmas window decorating contest was a major success, with Make it Sew winning. People say they delight in the variety and color of the displays. Participating stores had the opportunity to win $250, while voters who designated their favorite were also eligible for numerous prizes.

Fairground forgery comes to light in court Former Vermont State Fair employee Leslie B. Ashcroft, 36, pled not guilty to four felony counts of forgery in Rutland Criminal Court Dec. 17. Police say she forged $6,000 in checks drawn on the fair’s account to pay rent in 2016. Then-treasurer John Maniery and fair secretary Christy Davis apparently discovered receipts for several checks they had not signed. Officer Sean Maguire was sent to the fairgrounds Sept. 7, 2016, to speak with Maniery, Davis, and fair groundskeeper Mia Hendricks, Rutland City Detective Daniel Meytin wrote in an affidavit. Although the normal practice was to use a check printer, the checks were handwritten; one of them had Ashcroft’s name on it, Maniery said, according to the affidavit. The bank that issued the checks produced four checks, totaling $6,320, that might have been forged. Three were signed by “Luey Clough,” but Clough denied signing them. Ashcroft had apparently moved from her Brandon address when police searched for her that January. Meytin found her in September when she appeared as a complainant in another case, the detective said. He met with her at her Rutland workplace Oct. 10, where she admitted writing checks from the fair to her landlord, but her landlord did not know the checks were stolen or forged, she said – as fair secretary in 2016, she handled incoming funds and made deposit slips for the treasurer. She had access to the checks and a key to the locker that held them. Oct. 12, in an meeting at the Rutland police station, Ashcroft’s landlord verified she had been as much as three months behind on her $900-a-month rent. He believed her employer was helping her get caught up on her rent, and saw nothing unusual in the manner he was paid.

Fair association begins new year with new officers The Rutland County Agricultural Society recently elected Robert Congdon, 30, as its president, replacing Luey Clough as the organization’s leader. Clough ran and won one of the RCAS’ two vice president positions. During the meeting, the fair board reviewed its financial status and regulations. Following the leadership of the Tunbridge World’s Fair, the Rutland board decided to bar the vendor sale of weapons such as swords and knives but continue to allow gun raffles. Fair attendance totaled about 20,000, lower than last year’s 30,000, but bad weather over three days caused the attendance drop, Clough told the Rutland Herald. Even with the lowered attendance, the fair showed a profit of $50,000— less than the 2017 profit of $93,000, but a respectable figure. The RCAS has been concentrating on getting the fair out of debt during the last three years, and has paid off half its loan. There are no delinquent bills for the second year in a row, Clough said. He believes Congdon, grandson of Ed Congdon, president of RCAS in the 1960s and later the fair’s general manager until the senior Congdon’s 1998 retirement, will be successful at leading the fair. Congdon said the fair will improve its social media presence while increasing the number of exhibits and vendors. One planned exhibit will be one of agricultural toys.The fair board has several vacancies and is looking for applicants, Congdon said.

Rutland Town sees changes Rutland Town will add another full-time police officer, and Capt. Ted Washburn will be promoted to deputy chief. Recent applications for funding an additional officer through grants have been unfruitful. Without grant funds, the added position is too expensive. The Select Board is considering possible alternatives. The Select Board approved the police budget with the part-time officer’s hours cut back to 16 hours a week and the reduction of overtime funding from $6,000 to $5,000. Plans are also underway to remodel the town clerk’s office. The town’s information handling needs have outstripped its current computer system, according to the technology committee. The Select Board agreed to spend $2,449 with VT Digital for the necessary hardware. Furthermore, park use in Center Rutland will be safer with expansion of the parking area at Richard J. Del Bianco Memorial Park. Having adequate parking space for cars inside the park will eliminate the need to park along the road; the result will be improved traffic on East Proctor Road as well as increased safety for pedestrians and vehicles. The park also will benefit from renovated asphalt basketball and tennis courts. The $40,000-$50,000 expense is being drawn from the Recreation Department.

NEWS BRIEFS

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

• 31A

By Lani Duke

Shrewsbury man’s car catches fire after crash

GMC looks for collaboration

Principal completes leadership project Brooke DeBonis, principal of Mettawee Community School recently completed the Vermont School Leadership Project Class of 2018, offered by the Snelling Center for Government. She and her 23 classmates began the course in July 2017, evaluating concepts for education systems, organizational change, and leadership, then integrating the information into their schools. The Snelling Center is located in Williston. It was established in 1992 in memory of Gov. Richard Snelling. The center works to foster, ethical civic leadership and public service.

Green Mountain College is actively searching to partner with another institution of higher learning by fall 2019, president Bob Allen said Dec. 18 after a closed meeting with staff and faculty in Withey Hall’s Green Room. The meeting was merely a monthly update, he commented, but noted that prospects for collaboration are both in and outside the state. The Vermont Department of Education accredits Green Mountain’s education department, and the Council on Accreditation of the National Recreation and Park Association and the Association for Leisure and Recreation ac-

credit Green Mountain’s recreation and outdoor programs, the Rutland Herald noted. GM is already working with the Northeast Organic Farmers Association to plan future conferences at the University of Vermont. A previous interview with Provost Thomas Maubs-Pugh revealed steady student retention and auspicious numbers for the 2018 fall semester. At a time when many higher education facilities seem facing an uncertain future, Green Mountain seems to have its niche well carved out and stable.

Castleton denies discrimination The town of Castleton and its police chief Peter Mantello, officially denied allegations that former Castleton Police Officer Cheryl McDermott had been treated unfairly because she is female and that she was fired without justification. In addition, attorney Kerin E. Stackpole of Paul Frank and Collins PC asked the U.S. District Court to dismiss the civil rights discrimination complaint Dec. 18. McDermott, represented by James G. Levins of Tepper Dardeck Levins & Fitzsimons, had been working for the Castleton Police Department since 2005 when Mantello was hired to be police

chief in September 2014. Mantello believes women should not be police officers and began a three-year campaign to be rid of her, she complained. She butted heads with the department when she reported to Mantello that a male officer was being paid for time he hadn’t worked because he recorded his hours incorrectly. That complaint became the pretext under which she was fired, she said Instead, Mantello and the town claim that before McDermott filed her report against the male officer, another male officer reported McDermott had taken material from another

officer’s employee mailbox and examined the timesheets therein. That action violated department policy in accessing another’s mailboxes, accessing another’s timesheet, stealing another officer’s personal property, using information from the Vermont Incident Based Reporting System without authorization and disseminating it over an unsecured network, and defying Mantello’s order to case her investigation of another officer, VTDigger reported. McDermott’s suit also asserts that she was not hired by the town of Killington because Castleton gave false information to Killington.

Castleton Town works on preliminary budget The Town of Castleton did well with less in the previous year, according to the previous year’s town report, Jim Leamy told the Select Board as it prepared to discuss the upcoming year’s budget Dec. 4. The previous report showed a 5.1 percent decrease, or $167,000, without eliminating any departments or reducing any services.

The proposed budget is 8 percent higher than the current year, while the cost of living has risen 2.3 percent. Leamy proposed level funding across the budget other than a 2.3-2.5 percent cost of living increase for all. Richard Combs noted that the budget decrease was the result of the town having made the third

payment for the Town Office building. Joseph Bruno advocated continuing through the budget and that level funding is not always possible, although the submitted preliminary budget does appear to be level funded. Further discussions will occur before the budget is finalized for the March ballot.

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WALLINGFORD—A man’s car became engulfed in flame after hitting a telephone pole on Route 7, near Cook Drive, in the Wallingford around 5:30 a.m. Dec. 20. Through investigation it was learned that Jeremy Chadburn , 34, of Shrewsbury was operating a gray 2011 Subaru Outback, traveling north on Route 7. Chadburn advised he swerved to avoid a headon collision with another vehicle. After leaving the roadway Chadburn’s vehicle struck a telephone pole and the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames. The vehicle was a total loss. Chadburn suffered injury to his lower back and was transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center. Chadburn has active pre-trial conditions of release for a 24/7 curfew at his residence in Shrewsbury. The state police were assisted on scene by Wallingford Fire Department and Regional Ambulance Service. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Trooper Charles Gardner at 802-773-9101.

Underhill man falls asleep, drives over lawns, driveways MOUNT TABOR—A man who fell asleep at the wheel with a trailer in tow had minor injuries in a crash on 450 Route 7 in Mount Tabor Dec. 19 around 5 a.m. Investigation revealed that Brandon Davis, 24, of Underhill, was traveling south on Route 7 at approximately 50 mph in a Volvo truck with a trailer in tow. Davis fell asleep while driving and woke up after he had crossed the white fog line on the west side of the roadway. Davis was unable to regain control of the vehicle or maneuver it back onto the road. He traveled down a short embankment, then approximately 250 feet through a lawn before going over a driveway. He then went down several feet before colliding with a second driveway and coming to an uncontrolled rest. The trailer hitch snapped on impact and the trailer came forward damaging the rear of the truck’s cab. Davis had lower back pain, and minor cuts on his hand. The state police were assisted on the scene by Manchester Rescue, Danby / Mt. Tabor Fire Department, and the Department of Motor Vehicle Commercial Enforcement.

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32A •

The Mountain Times • Dec. 26, 2018-Jan. 1, 2019

FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS

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