MONDAY Â Â EDITION
ADDISON COUNTY
INDEPENDENT
Vol. 27 No. 8
Middlebury, Vermont
X
Monday, May 11, 2015
X
36 Pages
75¢
Senate  considers  solar  siting  rules Mure to sing in Brandon ‡ 6DWXUGD\ SHUIRUPDQFH WR WDNH SODFH DW &RPSDVV 0XVLF DQG $UWV &HQWHU 6HH $UWV %HDW 3DJH
H.40  would  create minimum  setbacks By  JOHN  FLOWERS MONTPELIER  —  The  Senate  Natural  Resources  &  Energy  Committee  has  passed  out  a  bill  that  would  among  other  things  set  up  minimum  setback  requirements  for Â
solar  energy  projects  and  require  the  Vermont  Public  Service  Board  to  ensure  the  projects  comply  with  screening  requirements  that  would  be  established  by  host  communities. Sen.  Chris  Bray,  D-ÂNew  Haven,  and  chairman  of  the  committee,  called  the  proposed  legislation  “a  sea-Âchange  for  the  relationship  between  municipalities  and  the Â
PSB  on  energy.  (Municipalities)  are  given  deference  and  control  that  they’ve  never  had  before  in  this  sort  of  development.  It’s  my  hope  that  this  gives  them  some  comfort  as  these  things  develop,  that  they  are  not  just  going  to  be  consulted,  that  they  are  going  to  be  able  to  shape  how  these  things  are  built  in  their  communities.�
%XW VRPH WRZQ RI¿FLDOV DUH YHU\ concerned  about  the  language  in  bill  H.40,  saying  the  prescribed  minimum  setback  requirements  are  far  too  small  and  that  many  communities  would  have  a  tough  time  devising  screening  plans  that  ZRXOG XOWLPDWHO\ EH GLI¿FXOW WR enforce  and  could  be  disregarded  (See  Solar,  Page  7)
‘Pop-up’ park taking shape ‡ 7HPSRUDU\ JDWKHULQJ VSRW LQ 0LGGOHEXU\ WR RIIHU UHFUHDWLRQ UHOD[DWLRQ RSSRUWXQLWLHV 6HH 3DJH
Grants to help plan city’s future ‡ 9HUJHQQHV KDV KLUHG D ÀUP WR VWXG\ KRZ WR XSJUDGH WKH ULYHU EDVLQ FDOP GRZQWRZQ WUDIÀF DQG OLQN WKH WZR DUHDV 2IÀFLDOV H[SHFW LW WR UHVXOW LQ FRQFUHWH FKDQJHV 6HH 3DJH
Strike  up  the  bands Tennis teams take to the court ‡ %RWK 0LGGOHEXU\ VTXDGV DQG WKH 2WWHU 9DOOH\ JLUOV VDZ DFWLRQ ODWH ODVW ZHHN 6HH ZKDW KDSSHQHG LQ 6SRUWV 3DJHV WR
THE  VERGENNES  UNION  High  School  band  marches  down  Middlebury’s  Main  Street  during  the  Vermont  All  State  Music  Festival  parade  last  Wednesday  evening.  The  festival  brought  hundreds  of  band,  orchestra  and  chorus  students  from  around  the  state  to  Middlebury  for  four  days  of  instruction  and  performances. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
Longtime MUHS teachers stepping down After 44 years, Seubert ready to move on Forman, 2001 Teacher of the Year, reflects By  JOHN  FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY  —  Longtime  English  teacher  Richard  “Doc�  Seu- bert  has  become  part  of  the  com- mencement  tradition  at  Middlebury  Union  High  School,  assisting  with  graduation  rehearsal  and  Project  Graduation.
Next  month,  he’ll  be  among  those  passing  on  to  the  next  phase  of  life. Âł,ÂśP ÂżQDOO\ JRLQJ WR EH DEOH WR graduate,â€?  Seubert  said  with  a  broad  smile.  “And  the  beat  will  go  on.â€? He  has  certainly  earned  it,  after  44  years  as  an  MUHS  educator.  (See  Seubert,  Page  26)
By  JOHN  FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY  —  Michele  For- man  was  three  years  old  when  she  knew  she  wanted  to  be  a  teacher.  She  recalled  enviously  watching  her  ¿YH \HDU ROG VLVWHU JR WR VFKRRO LQ the  morning.  When  she  came  home  in  the  afternoon,  big  sister  would Â
play  teacher  and  Michele  would  as- sume  the  role  of  student. “I  always  wanted  to  be  the  teach- er,�  Forman  said. And  wow,  did  her  dream  come  true. Forman,  69,  is  retiring  this  year  af- (See  Forman,  Page  35)