Thursday, July 5, 2018

Page 1

Arts + Leisure

Life forces?

Tough rehab

Wood carver Gary Starr tells of his career in avian artistry, born partly from his father’s passion.

A TV-watching wood duck? That can happen when animals imprint on humans. See Page 11A.

Andi Boe’s hard work to recover from a devastating knee injury saw a late challenge. See Page 1B.

ADDISON COUNTY

Vol. 72 No. 27

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont

Thursday, July 5, 2018

42 Pages

$1.00

Demic, Mullin court voters in Addison-4 House race

Bristol Democrat says stellar education system is key By JOHN FLOWERS BRISTOL — Robert Demic beat the odds in 2008 when he miraculously survived a more than 40-foot fall from the roof of a downtown Middlebury building. Now the Bristol Democrat is hoping his good fortune and tenacity will earn him a spot in the Vermont House in his first-ever campaign. He is seeking one of the

two seats representing the Addison-4 district, which includes the towns of Bristol, Monkton, Starksboro and Lincoln. Demic, a local building contractor and theater enthusiast, finds himself embroiled in the most hotly contested House race in Addison County. (See Demic, Page 14A)

Monkton Republican underscores ‘affordability’ in third run

By JOHN FLOWERS MONKTON — Monkton Republican Valerie Mullin is hoping the third time will be the charm when it comes to her latest effort to win one of two seats representing the Addison-4 district in the Vermont House. Mullin, 59, amassed respectable vote totals in both the 2014 and 2016 elections, but not enough to out-poll

$4 million grant will help program protect Lake Champlain waters

Bradley to take stage as new THT director

By JOHN FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY — Town Hall Theater (THT) officials cast a nationwide net in their search for a new executive director. They ended up hiring a man who currently lives around 90 minutes away from Middlebury. Mark Bradley, currently assistant director of the Lebanon (N.H.) Opera House, will on Aug. 8 begin his new job as the THT’s top administrator. He will succeed Doug Anderson, who will transition to a newly created position of “artistic director” for the historic performing arts center on Middlebury’s Merchants Row. “Coming to visit really sealed the deal for me,” Bradley said of his recent interview with THT officials. “(Middlebury) looked like a place where I would want to live and work. The people I met were amazing. I think the board and staff are exceptionally creative and smart. I was totally blown away by what they’ve been able to accomplish during the past 10 years the theater has been in operation.” Bradley, 35, has worked for the Lebanon Opera House for the past two-and-a-half years. His duties there include managing the box office, fundraising and overseeing the front of the house. The opera house is an 800-seat performing arts center and holds the distinction of being the largest proscenium theater in the Upper Connecticut River Valley. It was built in 1924 and began its life as a vaudeville theater, community gathering place, and city hall. The venue currently hosts an eclectic mix of entertainment, from (See Bradley, Page 13A)

Sen. Leahy aids restoration measures

By JAMES FINN GIS planning manager Kevin Behm MIDDLEBURY — In early said. “It’s great news for the area and June, U.S. Senate Appropriations for the state.” Committee Vice-Chair Patrick The Lake Champlain Basin Leahy (D-Vt.) secured $4 million Program (LCBP) will receive funding in additional funding for use by the in the amount of $8.399 million Lake Champlain Basin Program in for the fiscal year 2018, up from its work to protect and restore Lake $4.399 million in 2017, according Champlain. to a press release from As the EPA-funded “We are Leahy’s office. LCBP program works through lucky to have director Eric Howe how to best distribute incredible said the funding will be funds to organizations made available to the around the state, local leadership that organization on October environmentalists and really cares 1, 2018. staffers are excited about about water While some of the the potential the funding conservation funding will be directed will bring for new lake and cleanup.” toward projects already restoration projects devised by the LCBP, ­ — Elizabeth Lee around Addison County. such as a stormwater “We were concerned management and that there may not be additional phosphorus control plan in St. funding for watershed projects Albans, much of the new money will coming from Washington, and be up for grabs by municipal and Senator Leahy was able to get this educational organizations around the line item in the budget, so it’s good state. news for us,” Addison County Howe said that as the kinks of the Regional Planning Commission new budget are worked out, groups (ACRPC) Assistant Director and (See Lake funding, Page 12A)

Second search to replace Hawley seen as hopeful

Birthday boom!

FIREWORKS EXPLODE OVER the Vermont Philharmonic tent during the Sheldon Museum’s annual Fourth of July pops concert in Middlebury Monday night.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

By the way The annual St. Stephen’s Peasant Market will take place this Saturday, July 7, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. As usual, it will feature family fun, a silent auction, food and, of course, some major bargains on a variety of donated items. There will be a kayak raffle at 1 p.m. A shuttle bus will run a loop from Mary Hogan School to the Middlebury Green from 9 a.m. to noon for (See By the way, Page 12A)

Index Obituaries........................... 6A-7A Classifieds........................ 8B-10B Service Directory............... 6B-7B Entertainment.........Arts + Leisure Community Calendar......... 8A-9A Arts Calendar.........Arts + Leisure Sports................................. 1B-4B

incumbent Reps. Fred Baser, R-Bristol and Dave Sharpe, D-Bristol. But with Sharpe taking a pass on re-election after a 16-year run, Mullin believes this could be her year. She will again join Baser on the Republican side of the Nov. 6 general election ballot. Residents in the Addison-4 (See Mullin, Page 12A)

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — Vergennes Deputy Mayor Jeff Fritz on June 26 updated the Vergennes City Council on the search for a replacement for City Manager Mel Hawley. Hawley will retire July 24, and after the city committee led by Fritz came up empty-handed the council agreed to hire the Vermont League of Cities and Towns to handle the search for a new Vergennes manager. Fritz, head of the city manager search committee, reported that as of June 22 VLCT had received 23 applications that League officials

considered to be “qualifiable” to take over from Hawley. Council members said they considered that total to be good news. “If you have 23 candidates that’s very encouraging,” said Alderman David Austin. Fritz said VLCT officials also have contacted potential interim managers and that the search committee “expects names soon” for fill-ins until a permanent candidate can be found. Mayor Renny Perry, a former (See Search, Page 14A)

Trail tales

Goshen’s Britta Clark takes on ultra-distance races and soon a PhD By ABAGAEL GILES Since that time, she’s been GOSHEN – For most people, winning and placing well in it’s hard to imagine running a full Vermont ultra-marathons right and marathon. But for left. On June 23, Goshen resident “You will she set a women’s Britta Clark, running course record never have a an ultra-distance when she won the trail race of 50K or relationship with women’s division of more is as natural as a place like the the Catamount Ultra stepping out her back place where 50K at Trapp Family door. Outdoor Center in you grew up. In Clark is the Vermont, I think Stowe. That was daughter of Tony after winning a 50K Clark and Shari we’re lucky to race by headlamp Brown, co-owners understand that. through the jungles of Goshen-based For me, that’s of Malaysia called Blueberry Hill Inn the trails at the Penang Eco Race and Ski Center. The Blueberry Hill.” on May 12. 24-year-old returned As Clark tells it, — Britta Clark to Goshen this it was trail running spring after a yearand Nordic skiing at long Fulbright fellowship in New Blueberry Hill that introduced her Zealand, where she studied inter- to the project that became the focus generational justice. (See Clark, Page 13A)

BRITTA CLARK RUNS a trail in New Zealand.

Photo courtesy Britta Clark


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