Thursday, May 10, 2018

Page 1

Broomcraft

Field Days

On track

A local entrepreneur makes brooms the old-fashioned way — by hand. See Arts + Leisure.

A new welcome center dedicated to Jim Foster is going up at the fairgrounds. See Page 12A.

In a sunny Monday Mount Abe track meet, Eagle and Tiger athletes fared well. See Sports, Page 1B.

ADDISON COUNTY

Vol. 72 No. 19

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont

Thursday, May 10, 2018

42 Pages

$1.00

Hardy announces state Senate bid

Middlebury Dem. stresses family issues By JOHN run successfully for FLOWERS the Mary Hogan EAST MIDDLE– Elementary and BURY — After Addison Central having spent several School District years serving her boards, Hardy has community on local spent the past few school boards, East years advising women Middlebury Democrat campaigning for spots Ruth Hardy hopes in state government. to graduate this fall Such is the mission to a state Senate seat of Emerge Vermont representing Addison — to get more women County, Huntington involved in decisionand Buel’s Gore. making in the Green Hardy, the executive Mountain State. director of Emerge When Hardy HARDY Vermont, confirmed decided to take a her candidacy for one of the county’s pass on re-election to the Addison two Senate seats on the same day Central School District board early as Sen. Claire Ayer announced on this year, she had no idea she’d be May 3 that she wouldn’t seek a ninth jumping into a different, much larger consecutive two-year term. campaign challenge. It will be the first statewide run “I didn’t know I was going to for Hardy, 48, but she’s no political run in 2018 until the middle of (See Hardy, Page 13A) neophyte. In addition to having

Former Rep. Paul Ralston eyes return to Montpelier By JOHN FLOWERS NEW HAVEN — Former State Rep. Paul Ralston told the Independent on Wednesday he’s seriously considering a run for one of the two state Senate seats representing Addison County, Huntington and Buel’s Gore. The entry of this third Democrat into the race would trigger a Democratic primary election on Aug. 14. Incumbent Sen. Christopher Bray, D-New Haven, and fellow

Democrat Ruth Hardy of Middlebury (see related story on Page 1A) have already confirmed their candidacies. The top two vote-getters in the primary would move on to face any Republican opposition in the Nov. 6 general election. Ralston, who recently moved to New Haven, is the founder and CEO of Middlebury-based Vermont Coffee Co. He represented Middlebury in the Vermont House (See Ralston, Page 13A)

Sweet race

WE COULDN’T HAVE asked for more beautiful conditions for the 10th annual Middlebury Maple Run this past Sunday. Above, Jamie Warner of Salisbury congratulates her seven-year-old daughter, Leah, as they approach the finish line of the 3-mile fun run; left, 12-year-old Riley Gagnon finishes up the 3-mile run in an impressive time of 22 minutes carrying the shoe he lost on the course; and, below, Middlebury College junior Diego Espino doesn’t slow down much to grab some water along Morgan Horse Farm Road. See more photos on Page 2A. Photos by Steve James and Angelo Lynn

Colleagues, constituents praise Ayer for her work By JOHN FLOWERS MONTPELIER — Longtime Addison County Democratic Committee officer Spence Putnam of Weybridge has attended many a political event during the past 16 years that featured testimony from Sen. Claire Ayer, D-Addison. And while Ayer has become

synonymous with health care reform in Vermont, Putnam will remember the county’s senior senator as much for her comportment while dealing with constituents as for her list of legislative accomplishments. Putnam recalled public meetings during which a few folks chastised (See Ayer, Page 11A)

Annual birthday bash: Pickin’ up trash Newton confirms he’ll run for county sheriff Starksboro girl Earns support from incumbent Keeler

blends party with Green Up Day

By CHRISTOPHER ROSS STARKSBORO — Last weekend Lux Tierney celebrated her ninth birthday by collecting trash. Along with her friends and family the Starksboro youngster filled up three green trash bags and loaded three tires into a “We found garden cart for a TV, but pickup. “We found a it was too TV, but it was big to pick too big to pick up.” up,” she said. — Lux Tierney In its fourth year, Tierney’s Green Up birthday party has become something of a tradition. Kids come over and play for awhile, and then the bags and gloves come out. It’s time for everyone to take part in a Vermont tradition — Green Up Day. Guests are encouraged to bring mud boots. Tierney’s actual birthday is May (See Green Up, Page 14A)

NINE-YEAR-OLD LUX TIERNEY leads her friends and family in picking up trash along a Starksboro road during her birthday party this past Saturday. The Robinson Elementary third-grader has made this kind of birthday party a Green Up Day tradition.

By JOHN FLOWERS for various emergency response MIDDLEBURY — Addison organizations from 1990 to 2003, County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Peter including Middlebury Volunteer Newton is hoping area voters give Ambulance Association (now known him a promotion this fall. Newton, as Middlebury Regional EMS) and 46, is running for sheriff, a position Fletcher Allen Coordinated Transport. that incumbent Don Keeler will be He is a former crew chief of MVAA’s vacating at the end of heavy rescue unit and this year. Keeler has “SROs are at a a past member of the endorsed his lieutenant, organization’s board of something Newton will minimum, and directors. undoubtedly reference we need more. If In 2003, Newton during a campaign that we could come began his law thus far includes former up with a way enforcement career, Bristol Police Chief to have one or starting off as a Kevin Gibbs. Police two SROs in the Middlebury “The sheriff early on Department officer. said he thought I would county and visit He joined the sheriff’s be a good replacement all the schools department in 2012, for him in the future,” each week, it climbing the ladder from Newton said during a would be great.” deputy to lieutenant. Monday interview at the Newton has more — Peter Newton department headquarters than 2,000 hours of law on Court Street in enforcement training Middlebury. “I have been planning and is himself an educator. He is a and thinking about it ever since.” patrol-procedures instructor and basic Newton, a Middlebury Democrat, training assistant at the Vermont Police has already logged 28 years in the Academy. public safety field. The Addison County Sheriff’s Certified as an advanced life Department has a staff of almost 20 support EMT, Newton worked (See Newton, Page 14A)

By the way The U.S. Postal Service on Saturday, May 12, will hold its annual food drive to help those less fortunate in our communities. Participants are asked to drop off donations of non-perishable food at their local Post Office on that date, or place them inside your rural mailbox for pickup. If your food items won’t fit into your mailbox, USPS officials ask that you place them in a plastic bag (See By the way, Page 11A)

Index Obituaries........................... 6A-7A Classifieds.......................... 5B-9B Service Directory............... 6B-7B Entertainment.........Arts + Leisure Community Calendar......... 8A-9A Arts Calendar.........Arts + Leisure Sports................................. 1B-4B


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