Dec 24, 2015 — A section

Page 1

Shop local

Success in six

On balance

Consumers sharing the spirit of the season tell us what gifts they found in local businesses. Page 2A.

It only took six days for Monkton kids to gather 1,300 items for their food drive. See Page 10A.

The MUHS gymnastics team scored points against powerhouse Essex on Saturday. See Page 1B.

ADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT Vol. 69 No. 52

Middlebury, Vermont

â—†

George  takes  pass  on  re-­election  bid

Thursday, December 24, 2015 â—† 26 Pages

75¢

No silent night

Middlebury  board  chair  caps  20  years By  JOHN  FLOWERS 0,''/(%85< ² 0LGGOHEXU\ VHOHFWERDUG &KDLUPDQ 'HDQ *HRUJH KDV GHFLGHG WR WDNH D SDVV RQ UH HOHFWLRQ DIWHU \HDUV RI VHUYLFH D GHFLVLRQ WKDW FUHDWHV DQ RSHQ VHDW IRU SURVSHFWLYH FDQGLGDWHV WKDW DUH DOUHDG\ EHJLQQLQJ WR VWHS IRUZDUG )RUPHU 6HOHFWPDQ 9LFWRU 1XRYR KDV FRQ¿UPHG KH ZLOO WRVV KLV KDW LQWR WKH ULQJ IRU RQH RI WKH WKUHH VHOHFWERDUG VHDWV WKDW ZLOO EH XS IRU JUDEV RQ 0DUFK $ORQJ ZLWK *HRUJHœV SRVW VHDWV KHOG E\ LQ-­ FXPEHQW 6HOHFWPHQ *DU\ %DNHU DQG 1LFN $UWLP ZLOO DOVR EH LQ SOD\ %DNHU DQG $UWLP KDYH FRQ-­ ¿UPHG WKDW WKH\ ZLOO EH VHHNLQJ UH election. (DVW 0LGGOHEXU\ UHVLGHQW 5LFK-­

DUG 7HUN KDV DOVR WDNHQ RXW D QRPL-­ QDWLRQ SHWLWLRQ IRU D VSRW RQ WKH ERDUG 7HUN LV OHDGHU RI WKH 0LGGOH-­ EXU\ $LUSRUW 1HLJKERUKRRG $VVR-­ FLDWLRQ D FLWL]HQVœ JURXS WKDW KDV EHHQ RSSRVLQJ H[SDQVLRQ DW WKH OR-­ cal  airport. &DQGLGDWHV IRU WRZQ DQG VFKRRO RI¿FHV KDYH XQWLO -DQ WR VXEPLW their  nomination  petitions  to  their  ORFDO WRZQ FOHUNV ,Q 0LGGOHEXU\ those  petitions  must  bear  the  signa-­ WXUHV RI DW OHDVW UHJLVWHUHG YRWHUV RI WKH WRZQ 7KH ORFDO HOHF-­ WLRQV ZLOO RIIHU DQ H[WUD ZULQNOH WKLV \HDU IRU WRZQV WKDW DUH SDUW RI a  supervisory  union  seeking  to  con-­ VROLGDWH LQWR D VLQJOH VFKRRO GLV-­ WULFW XQGHU $FW 7RZQV LQ VXFK (See  Dean  George,  Page  7A)

A  walk  in  the  woods  yields  more  than  a  perfect  Christmas  tree Editor’s  note:  Reporter  Gaen  DQG VR WKH\ÂśUH EULQJLQJ WKH NLGV ´ Murphree  covers  the  agriculture  VDLG 5HDG\ Âł,WÂśV UHDOO\ WKH H[SHUL-­ beat  for  this  newspaper.  In  this  HQFH ² WKDW ROG WLPH 9HUPRQW WUDGL-­ monthly  column  she  looks  at  Addison  WLRQ RI JHWWLQJ RXW LQ VHDUFK RI WKDW County  farm  and  forest  products  up  SHUIHFW &KULVWPDV WUHH , WKLQN D ORW RI SHRSOH HQMR\ WKH WUDGLWLRQ RI SDFNLQJ close  and  personal. RIPTON  â€”  This  year,  given  the  WKH NLGV LQ WKH FDU JUDEELQJ D ERZ VDZ DQG D VOHG DQG LQ GLVPDO UDLQ DQG XQVHD-­ D W\SLFDO \HDU WUXGJLQJ sonably  warm  weather,  WKURXJK WKH VQRZ DQG ZH QHHGHG D GLIIHU-­ getting  out  in  the  ele-­ HQW VRUW RI DGYHQWXUH PHQWV LQ VHDUFK RI WKDW IRU JHWWLQJ RXU IDPLO\ SHUIHFW WUHH ´ Christmas  tree,  so  we  5HDG\ DQG KLV RZQ SOXQNHG GRZQ DW WKH son  have  been  hiking  National  Forest  ranger  LQWR WKH IRUHVW WR ÂżQG VWDWLRQ LQ 0LGGOHEXU\ WKHLU WUHH IRU WKH SDVW DQG KHDGHG LQWR WKH several  years. hills. “This  year,  we  The  U.S.  Forest  SLFNHG WKH GDWH DQG Service’s  Christmas  ZH KDG RXU SHUPLW DQG tree  program  has  been  we  went  to  our  spot  DURXQG IRU GHFDGHV DF-­ DQG VSHQW D JRRG KRXU FRUGLQJ WR )RUHVW 6HU-­ DQG D KDOI RXW LQ WKH YLFH 3XEOLF $IIDLUV 2I-­ ZRRGV ´ VDLG 5HDG\ ÂżFHU (WKDQ 5HDG\ 7KLV by Gaen Murphree Âł:H JRW VRPH H[HUFLVH year,  the  governor’s  FKHFNHG RXW WKH EHDYHU RZQ WUHH ZDV D IRRW WDOO EDOVDP ÂżU KDUYHVWHG LQ D VHFWLRQ SRQG FKHFNHG RXW WKLV FRRO URRW RQ D RI WKH QDWLRQDO IRUHVW QHDU +DQFRFN WUHH WKDW KDG WRSSOHG RYHU VDZ VRPH WKHUHÂśV D IRRW OLPLW IRU WKH UHVW RI ELUGV JRW RXU IHHW FROG DQG ZHW ² DOO XV $QG WUHHV IURP WKH *UHHQ 0RXQ-­ WKH H[SHULHQFHV \RXÂśUH ORRNLQJ IRU ´ 7UXH DÂżFLRQDGRV 5HDG\ DQG WDLQ )RUHVW KDYH VXSSOLHG WKH 8 6 VRQ $EUDKDP KLNHG DURXQG DQG Capitol  as  recently  as  2007. Âł:H KDYH D ORW RI UHSHDW FXVWRP-­ SLFNHG RXW D OLNHO\ WUHH LQ D OLNHO\ HUV SHRSOH ZKRVH SDUHQWV XVHG WR spot  last  summer.  EULQJ WKHP DQG QRZ WKH\ÂśUH SDUHQWV (See  Christmas  tree,  Page  13A)

Local Harvest

CATHY  WALSH,  LEFT,  Tamar  Begley  and  Susan  Veguez  hold  onto  a  menagerie  of  animals  that  the  trio  have  been  preparing  for  appear-­ ances  in  the  St.  Stephen’s  Church  Christmas  pageant  on  Christmas  Eve. Independent  photos/Trent  Campbell

Live animals bring Christmas story to life reporter’s  notebook-­nibbling  Ni-­ GHEXW LQ D VKHHS FRVWXPH ([SHFW gerian  pygmy  goat,  will  appear  as  KHU WR EDUN DQG KHUG HYHU\RQH KLPVHOI 2I FRXUVH $OSDFDV 6YHQ DQG HYHU\WKLQJ LQ VLJKW 7KDW GRJ DQG :LOOLDP 7HOO ² DSSURSULDWHO\ means  business! UHJDO LQ EURZQ DQG FUHDP ² ZLOO +DYLQJ OLYH DQLPDOV DW WKH EH SRUWUD\LQJ WKH FDPHOV RI WKH Christmas  pageant  has  been  a  tra-­ 7KUHH :LVH 0HQ $QG /XQD D YHU\ GLWLRQ DW WKH (SLVFRSDO FKXUFK VLQFH By  GAEN  MURPHREE MIDDLEBURY  â€”  On  GHWHUPLQHG &RUJL DQG VHOI DSSRLQW-­ WKH V VDLG SDULVKLRQHU &DWK\ &KULVWPDV (YH D 0LGGOHEXU\ HG ÂłEDUQ PDQDJHU ´ ZLOO PDNH KHU :DOVK ZKRÂśV EHHQ D SDUW RI WKH OLYH church  will  host  its  most  un-­ XVXDO SDULVKLRQHUV RI WKH \HDU as  Smarty,  Jackson,  Sven,  Wil-­ OLDP 7HOO DQG /XOX WDNH WKHLU place  in  St.  Stephen’s  eagerly  DZDLWHG &KULVWPDV SDJHDQW 1R WKH\ DUH QRW FKLOGUHQ DO-­ though  the  worship  hall  on  the  WRZQ JUHHQ ZLOO EH IXOO WR EXUVW-­ ing  with  young  people  playing  SDUWV LQ WKH VWRU\ RI WKH ÂżUVW &KULVWPDV ² VKHSKHUGV VKHHS angels,  Mary,  Joseph,  cows,  D WLJHU PLFH D NDQJDURR DQG even  a  bunny  or  two. 7KHVH DUH IRXU OHJJHG DFWRUV playing  key  parts  in  the  Christ-­ mas  story. Smarty,  a  shaggy  â€œbarrel  on  OHJV´ RI D PLQLDWXUH KRUVH SHU-­ IRUPV DV WKH GRQNH\ WKDW FDU-­ SMARTY,  A  MINIATURE  horse  owned  by  Tamar  Begley  of  Weybridge,  ULHG 0DU\ DQG -RVHSK WR %HWK-­ will  have  a  featured  role  as  a  donkey  in  the  St.  Stephen’s  Church  annual  OHKHP -DFNVRQ D FXULRXV DQG Christmas  pageant  on  Dec.  24  at  4  p.m.

Parishioners and friends carry on a 30-year tradition

DQLPDO WUDGLWLRQ IRU GHFDGHV Âł7KURXJK WKH H\HV RI D FKLOG to  see  the  Christmas  story  en-­ DFWHG ZLWK UHDO OLYH DQLPDOV PDNHV LW VR LPPHGLDWH 7KH\ÂśUH MXVW VR KRQHVW DQG UHDO ´ VDLG Walsh. 7KH 1HZ +DYHQ UHVLGHQW brought  her  own  animals  to  WKH SDJHDQW IRU PDQ\ \HDUV DQG more  recently  has  taken  on  the  MRE RI FRRUGLQDWLQJ WKH DQLPDO HQG RI WKH &KULVWPDV SDJHDQW 7KLV \HDUÂśV PHQDJHULH RI VWDU SHUIRUPHUV LV RZQHG E\ 7DP-­ ar  Begley,  who’s  been  bring-­ LQJ GHQL]HQV IURP KHU ZHOO VWRFNHG EDUQ LQ :H\EULGJH WR the  St.  Stephen’s  Christmas  SDJHDQW IRU WKH SDVW VL[ RU seven  years.  Come  Christmas  (YH %HJOH\ DQG :DOVK ZLOO EH wrangling  animals,  with  help  IURP 6XVDQ 9HJXH] RI &RUQ-­ ZDOO 0ROO\ :LWKHUV RI 5LSWRQ $QDEHO +HUQDQGH] RI %ULGSRUW *DLO =XFN RI 1HZ +DYHQ DQG :DOVKÂśV GDXJKWHU (PLO\ $W DURXQG S P RQ WKH WK WKH WHDP ZLOO ORDG WKH animals  into  a  livestock  trailer,  (See  Pageant,  Page  16A)

New idea pitched to cut city truck traffic By  ANDY  KIRKALDY H[HFXWLYH RI WKH ÂżUP 7RROH 'HVLJQ 9(5*(11(6 ² $ERXW RQH WUXFN which  is  helping  the  city  come  up  GULYHV GRZQ 9HUJHQQHVÂś 0DLQ 6WUHHW ZLWK D 9HUJHQQHV 'RZQWRZQ %DVLQ every  minute,  rolling  past  historic  Master  Plan.  EXLOGLQJV FDUV SDUNHG RQ 97UDQV LV DSSDUHQWO\ ERWK VLGHV DQG FRQVLGHU-­ “It’s an taking  the  proposal  se-­ DEOH SHGHVWULDQ WUDIÂżF riously.  When  Benton  alternative 1RZ D ORQJ DEDQGRQHG DQG 7RROH 'HVLJQÂśV %LOO SURSRVDO IRU D E\SDVV that I think is 6FKXOWKHLVVH KDG D SUH-­ DURXQG GRZQWRZQ WKDW a moderate liminary  plan  put  togeth-­ ZRXOG UHGXFH WKH QXPEHU alternative. HU WKH\ VKDUHG LW ZLWK WKH RI ORQJ KDXO WUXFNV GULY-­ It doesn’t FLW\ÂśV UHSUHVHQWDWLYHV DQG LQJ WKURXJK 9HUJHQQHV have to be the  county’s  senators  in  KDV FRPH EDFN WR OLIH EXW Montpelier. expensive.â€? LQ D GLIIHUHQW DQG SRWHQ-­ 5HS :DUUHQ 9DQ :\FN — Mayor WLDOO\ PXFK FKHDSHU IRUP 5 )HUULVEXUJK IRUZDUGHG Bill Benton ,W ZRXOG FRQWLQXH WR DOORZ WKDW GUDIW WR 97UDQV 6HF-­ RQH ZD\ WUXFN WUDIÂżF VRXWKERXQG UHWDU\ &KULV &ROH DQG UHFHLYHG WKLV WKURXJK WKH FLW\ EXW VHQG QRUWK-­ UHVSRQVH ERXQG WUXFNV FRPLQJ XS 5RXWH $ Âł7KDQN \RX IRU WKH SURSRVDO ,ÂśYH RQ D GHWRXU HDVW RQ 5RXWH IURP IRUZDUGHG WKLV UHTXHVW WR 5LFK 7HW-­ $GGLVRQ WR 1HZ +DYHQ -XQFWLRQ WR UHDXOW 'HSXW\ 6HFUHWDU\ RI 97UDQV UHDFK 5RXWH ZKHUH WKH\ ZRXOG ZKR ZLOO DVVHPEOH D PXOWLGLVFL-­ continue  north.  SOLQDU\ WHDP WR HYDOXDWH WKH IHDVLELO-­ MEIGAN,  LEFT,  CHLOE  and  Gregor  Clark  spot  a  great  Christmas  0D\RU %LOO %HQWRQ KDV IRUZDUGHG LW\ RI WKH 0D\RUÂśV SURSRVDO :H ZLOO tree  â€”  an  eight-­foot-­plus  eastern  hemlock  â€”  that  they  harvested  in  the  WR WKH $JHQF\ RI 7UDQVSRUWDWLRQ WKDW JHW EDFN WR \RX RQFH WKDW IHDVLELOLW\ Green  Mountain  National  Forest  after  purchasing  a  $5  permit. SODQ EDVHG RQ DQ LGHD SLWFKHG E\ DQ HYDOXDWLRQ LV FRPSOHWHG ´ Independent  photo/Gaen  Murphree

9DQ :\FN VDLG KH ZDV QRW UHDG\ WR HQGRUVH WKH SODQ JLYHQ WKDW RWKHU WRZQV KDYH \HW WR EH LQYROYHG LQ WKH SURFHVV EXW EHOLHYHG DQ LGHD WKDW FRXOG UHOLHYH WKH FLW\ÂśV WUXFN D PLQ-­ XWH EXUGHQ GHVHUYHG VWXG\ Otter  Creek  Audubon  will  offer  â€œI  took  that  (response)  as  positive,  a  â€œFirst  Day  Bird  Walkâ€?  event  EH\RQG WKDW , ZRQÂśW VSHFXODWH RQ WKH SRVVLELOLW\ RI LWV DSSURYDO ,ÂśOO DVN on  Jan.  1,  beginning  at  9  a.m.,  VRPH PRUH TXHVWLRQV LQ 0RQWSHOLHU at  Button  Bay  State  Park  in  Fer-­ (See  By  the  way,  Page  16A) LQ -DQXDU\ ´ 9DQ :\FN ZURWH LQ DQ HPDLO Âł2EYLRXVO\ WKH WRZQV RI $G-­ GLVRQ :DOWKDP 1HZ +DYHQ DQG )HUULVEXUJK QHHG WR ZHLJK LQ DOVR , KDYH QRW VSHFLÂżFDOO\ HQGRUVHG WKH Âż-­ QDO RXWFRPH \HW VLQFH ,ÂśP LQWHUHVWHG LQ IXUWKHU ORFDO LQSXW DOVR WKRXJK , Obituaries  ................................ 6A &ODVVLÂżHGV  ......................... 4B-­7B VXSSRUW WKH HYDOXDWLRQ DV D ÂżUVW VWHS ´ %HQWRQ VDLG KH KRSHV WKH LGHD ZLOO Service  Directory  .............. 5B-­6B PHULW VHULRXV FRQVLGHUDWLRQ HYHQ LI LW Entertainment  ........................ 10A RQO\ UHPRYHV KDOI RI WKH WUXFN WUDIÂżF &RPPXQLW\ &DOHQGDU  ........ 8A-­9A Sports  ................................ 1B-­3B IURP GRZQWRZQ 9HUJHQQHV “It’s  an  alternative  that  I  think  is  a  PRGHUDWH DOWHUQDWLYH ,W GRHVQÂśW KDYH WR EH H[SHQVLYH ´ %HQWRQ VDLG 7KH FHQWUDO DGYDQWDJH WKDW WKLV (See  Vergennes,  Page  14A)

By the way

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