Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017

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A Salute to

Veterans dent The Addison Indepen er 9, 2017 Thursday, Novemb

Duty pushed Art Howard during his years in Navy

Veterans Day Three local vets describe the highs and lows of their service. See our Salute to Veterans pull-out.

S at an By JOHN FLOWER — Art Howard knew MIDDLEBURY military. It going to join the early age he was previous generations of his was something that he wasn’t going to be the and family had done, rule. coaxed exception to the age of 17 Howard into the Therefore at the ing his entry his folks into green-lighteven graduated from hadn’t When he U.S. Navy. He High School yet. Howard Dover (N.H.) 18, diploma at age thought had secured his training with the shipped off to basic experience and interest in his he might further communications. kid on “I thought “I was the first trying a CB my block to have 73, about now out for the radio,” Howard, smile. a with but recalled had SEALs, But the Navy its I never had for different plans enough new recruit. part They made him ambition to Underwater the of Team go through Demolition charged that kind of (UDT), a unit and punishment.” finding with enemy — Art Howard destroying obstacles defensive prior to created near beaches years The UDT was Army for five landings. s the in operating amphibiou OF Waltham served II and continued Its PAM NORTON 1980s. Independent photo/Trent Campbell during World War and Vietnam Wars. the maneuvers in in the late 1970s and early in desert training through the Korean over by PARTICIPATES ultimately taken PAM NORTON Courtesy photo functions were California in 1982. SEALs, Navy SEALs. trying out for the to go about thought “I enough ambition but I never had punishment,” he said of of through that kind training required to be a the rigorous fitness force. member of that elite most of his early years in time a at spent came who Howard, first stationed from 1979 to 1982, last to Hampshire, was and do second was among the Ca. From Maine and New you’ve got to go in Long Beach, of transition: She Corps and “You go where in the early 1960s of his UDT colleagues said Norton. the Women’s Army EE you’ve got to do,” Ferrisburgh dairy belong to there, he and some didn’t get to By GAEN MURPHR Among the many what in Morse Code. on a in Hawaii. But he Union to train Norton grew up basic training shipped out to sunsets and MIDDLEBURY—the Independent have from Vergennes was Norton started drinks, gorgeous in farm and graduated and the WAC months, she shipmates enjoy many fruit veterans profiled in on D-Day or fought High School in 1976. Within began basic December 1976, Howard and his the Fort McClellan sandy beaches: and Army been ones who landed finding and defusing disbanded in 1978. the Bulge. Walthamkind of signed up for the Army she and all WAC were tasked with in the Battle of the base where Page 2) exemplifies a in Alabama. the Alabama, Page 8) (See Art Howard, veteran Pam Norton important in military training notes that her five years in a (See Pam Norton, also Norton to 1978 and at one 1976 quiet courage, all, from tour before duty Army, a first service, putting her new family. point even before

Norton is proud saw Ferrisburgh native

of her service to

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how women are

Activity guide

Scar-a-mouche

Middlebury Parks & Recreation has a slew of fun things planned. See our Winter Activity Guide.

A group of local musicians salutes the band Queen. See their story in Arts + Leisure.

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Winter Activity G uide Middlebury Park s Recreation Dep& artment

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Vol. 71 No. 45

ADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont

Thursday, November 9, 2017

74 Pages

November

2017 - Ma rch 2018

townofmid

dlebury.or

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$1.00

Health insurance registration deadline looms By JOHN FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY — Those seeking to obtain insurance through Vermont Health Connect (VHC) or who want to modify the plan in which they are currently enrolled have to act fast. That’s because state and federal officials have cut this year’s VHC “open enrollment period” in half,

from 12 weeks to a six-week period that began on Nov. 1 and will end on Dec. 15. At stake is health care coverage for 2018 — Vermonters who miss the Dec. 15 deadline might have to wait until 2019 to get their coverage, according to state officials. “It means squeezing in more

people in a shorter period of time,” said Melanie Clark of Middlebury’s Open Door Clinic. Clark is one of the most experienced in a shrinking number of part-time health care “navigators” tasked each year with helping people find the best VHC plan for them. Open Door Clinic officials

have been spending the past few weeks letting their uninsured and underinsured clients know about the shorter enrollment window and recent changes in VHC coverage options. “We really want to bring attention to that,” said Christiane Kokubo, the (See Health care, Page 16A)

ADDISON CENTRAL SCHOOL second-grader Addie Smith fills her tray in the school’s lunchroom Monday. Addison Northeast and Addison Northwest school districts have made Farm to School programs a centerpiece of their food service.

Independent photo/Trent Campbell

Farm-to-school success puts focus on finances Alexander keeps track of the details By GAEN MURPHREE BRISTOL — Even after close to two decades of efforts to get local foods into local educational institutions, words like “fresh” and “tasty” are not universally applied to school cafeteria food. Yet school nutrition guru Kathy

Alexander continues to make Farm to School a centerpiece at Bristol-area schools and this year expanded that work into Vergennes-area schools. “When people say ‘Oh my god, how do you do Farm to School?’ I (See Lunches, Page 13A)

Middlebury residents vote for gas easements By JOHN FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY — Roughly 9 percent of Middlebury’s 4,925 registered voters turned out at the polls on Tuesday to green-light three free easements on public land that Vermont Gas needs to serve roughly 15 potential downtown customers — including the municipal building and the Ilsley Public Library. Residents voted, 279 to 168, to affirm a Middlebury selectboard

decision this past August to award the free easements — one behind the town offices and Ilsley Library, one near Mr. Ups Restaurant, and one on Mill Street. Local resident Ross Conrad disagreed with the selectboard’s decision, and circulated a petition that forced Tuesday’s public vote on the easements. Opponents were hoping for a “No” (See Middlebury voters, Page 13A)

! o l el

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MIDDLEBURY UNION HIGH School freshman Chloe Clark, above, stars in the school’s production of “Hello, Dolly!” The show opens Friday. Also featured at right are Jack Waterman, left, Xavier Wyncoop and Theo Spackman-Wells. For more photos see Page 14A.

Independent photos /Trent Campbell

Trio takes the reins at Morgan Horse Farm

Facility to focus on education, tourism

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT Morgan Horse Farm Horse Specialist Sarah Fauver tends to UVM Willa, background, while UVM Xena looks on Wednesday morning in Weybridge. Fauver is part of a new administrative team at the farm. Independent photo/Trent Campbell

By JOHN FLOWERS over the Morgan Horse Farm for WEYBRIDGE — After losing its the past 32 years, has retired, UVM long-time director earlier this year, announced. He was succeeded this University of Vermont’s 139-year- past summer by a triumvirate of old Morgan Horse Kimberly Demars, Farm in Weybridge is “Steve Davis who serves as farm beginning a new chapter manager; Sarah with a new management has had an Fauver, equine team, a revitalized incredible impact specialist; and Margot educational mission and on the farm, Smithson, operations the prospect of some on the Morgan coordinator. capital improvements on community and Smithson gave high its 212-acre campus. praise to Davis. he leaves big New leadership is “Steve has had an beginning to change shoes to fill.” incredible impact the identity of the horse — Margot Smithson on the farm, on the farm from what has Morgan community primarily been a training and he leaves big and breeding facility for Morgans, shoes to fill,” Smithson said. to more of an educational asset and Smithson first became associated tourist magnet. with the Morgan Horse Farm while Stephen Davis, who had presided (See Horse farm, Page 16A)

By the way ACTR told us that it will start construction on a dedicated bus pullout and bus shelter on Middlebury’s Academy Street next Monday, Nov. 13. The project is expected to wrap up by Dec. 1, (See By the way, Page 16A)

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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