Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017

Page 1

Royal voices

Seasonal art

Tight finishes

The King’s Singers charmed audiences here in 2015; now they’re back. See Arts + Leisure.

We had lots of entries for our Halloween coloring contest. See who won on Page 10B.

Eagle field hockey played a onegoal game, while Tiger runners needed a tie-breaker. See Page 1B.

ADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT

Vol. 71 No. 44

Middlebury, Vermont

Thursday, November 2, 2017

40 Pages

$1.00

Lawmakers resume carbon tax debate

Bray: Fossil fuel use has many costs

By JOHN FLOWERS CEO Bram Kleppner, MIDDLEBURY and Karen Lafayette of — Vermont has made the Vermont Low Income great strides in boosting Advocacy Council. its renewable energy Monday’s forum portfolio during the past was the last of five codecade, and should now sponsored throughout consider a carbon tax to the state this fall by encourage consumers to the Vermont Natural move away from fossil Resources Council fuels and generate funds (VNRC) and Vermont to help low-income Businesses for Social residents make their Responsibility (VBSR). homes more weather “When we The forums were tight. intended to spur debate don’t look That position garnered among the state’s various at the full support from several stakeholders on how participants at an Oct. implications climate change — seen 30 forum in Middlebury of burning by most as a pressing titled, “Everyone’s fossil fuels, environmental challenge Economic Opportunity — could also serve in Climate Action.” Held we underas a major economic at Danforth Pewter, it appreciate development opportunity featured a four-person their costs.” for businesses specializing panel that included — Sen. in green energy products state Sen. Christopher Christopher Bray and policies. Bray, D-New Haven, VNRC will share and Rep. Amy Sheldon, feedback from the five D-Middlebury, both of whom offered forums with members of Gov. Phil their views on the state’s renewable Scott’s new Vermont Climate Action energy policies and where additional Commission, charged with, among progress could be made. other things, unifying the state’s Also on the panel were Danforth (See Carbon bill, Page 11A)

Personal ties connect locals to witch trials ‘Crucible’ puts our history in the spotlight By GAEN MURPHREE MIDDLEBURY — Threehundred-twenty-five years ago, in a farm village now just a three-and-ahalf-hour drive away, 14 women and five men were hanged and one man pressed to death with stones over accusations of witchcraft. The incident has long captured the imagination of writers, artists and observers of human nature, so much so that in many ways it is still with us today. This weekend’s Middlebury Community Players production of the 1953 Arthur Miller classic “The

Crucible” brings the Salem Witch Trials once again into focus. The play at Town Hall Theater features a modern setting but still promises to provide the flavor of the infamous McCarthy Hearings on UnAmerican Activities, where subjects were pressed to name names in exchange for their own exoneration and lives were ruined. The Salem Witch Trials have a strong resonance with a surprising number of Addison County residents; in a quick survey the Independent identified at least a dozen locals (See Witch trials, Page 13A)

A MASSIVE PINE tree, its trunk showing signs of rot, fell Sunday night near the intersection of Seminary and Washington streets in Middlebury. High winds overnight brought down trees all over the state — many on power lines — knocking out electricity to one-third of Vermonters.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

Wind knocks out power to thousands Storm makes record impact on state By ANDY KIRKALDY and JOHN S. McCRIGHT ADDISON COUNTY — Roughly one-third of Vermonters at least temporarily lost power due to the house-shaking, tree-felling windstorm late Sunday and early Monday as wind gusts reached 80 mph around here and topped 120 on Mount Mansfield. The gale resulted in more outages across Vermont than any storm in history, including

Tropical Storm Irene and the l998 ice storm, according to Green Mountain Power. Many brought out chainsaws to clean up their yards and in some cases clear impassable roads, while schools closed or delayed classes for a day or two, and neighbors checked on neighbors. Roughly 12,200 Addison County GMP customers were among the 115,000 Vermont homes and businesses that at least temporarily

lost power, GMP spokespeople said. By Tuesday more than 500 power company line workers and tree trimmers were working to restore power. About 100 more joined them by Wednesday. Still, as of early Tuesday morning 5,300 GMP customers in Addison County still didn’t have electricity. Across GMP’s large coverage area, the number without power was down to 8,620 on Wednesday morning — that included 3,140 county homes and businesses in Addison County, according to vtoutages.com.

Residents can track outages at that site or at greenmountainpower.com/ map/outages. Two people who were without electricity came into the Monkton town offices on Tuesday and asked where they could take a shower. That got Town Clerk Sharon Gomez thinking about how the town could help. After talking with other town officials, she decided to open the firehouse for awhile on Wednesday to provide a small measure of comfort to those who (See Windstorm, Page 14A)

Just another day in a year of strange weather

By ANDY KIRKALDY ADDISON COUNTY — Those who wonder if this past Monday morning’s freak windstorm was unusual or just the latest extreme weather in Addison County this year have good reason to do so.

Consider the following: • The average temperature in October in Burlington through Oct. 30, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), was 58.6 degrees — 10.5 degrees warmer

than typical and about 2 degrees warmer than the previous record for the month. Folks outdoors found themselves peeling off layers as late as Oct. 24, when temperatures reached a daily Burlington record 78 degrees, and

two days later, when it hit 69. • Eight of 10 months in 2017 in Burlington have seen aboveaverage temperatures, including January, with an average temperature that was 29.7, 11 (See Weather, Page 14A)

Middlebury to vote on gas pipeline By the way easements

Hittin’ the streets

KIDS LINE UP for candy from shopkeepers, some in costume, during Middlebury’s annual Spooktacular celebration Sunday afternoon. During the event kids enjoyed games on the green before trick-or-treating on Main Street. For more Spooktacular photos see Pages 4A & 12A. Independent photos/Trent Campbell

By JOHN FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury voters on Tuesday, Nov. 7, will be asked if they’re OK with Vermont Gas getting three free easements on town land to reach around 15 potential customers. Those who want to roll back the free easement want Vermont Gas to pay for the right to lay gas distribution pipe across three town parcels, saying it is a moneymaking venture. Citing concern over the potential precedent of charging a utility for infrastructure-related easements, Vermont Gas officials served notice that a “no” vote could prompt the company to abandon plans to extend its distribution line to the approximately 15 potential customers at the end of those easements — including the Middlebury town offices and the Ilsley Public Library. Future development of the socalled Economic Development Initiative parcel behind the Ilsley Library could also be affected, (See Pipeline vote, Page 11A)

The darkness is coming, but at least we get an extra hour of sleep. Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night — Eastern Standard Time returns at 2 a.m. on Sunday. The Middlebury Farmers’ Market has concluded its outdoor season, but a number of its vendors will be moving inside the VFW for the winter (See By the way, Page 7A)

Index Obituaries................................. 6A Classifieds.......................... 4B-8B Service Directory............... 5B-6B Entertainment.........Arts + Leisure Community Calendar......... 8A-9A Arts Calendar.........Arts + Leisure Sports................................. 1B-3B


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Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017 by AddisonPress - Issuu