Top 10 for 2012

Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013 — PAGE 15

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INDEPOEN COUNTY NDENT Lawmak ers cap ’12 Vol. 66

ytelling tal stor and digi th of January. mon re writing pbell nt Cam ing the an adventu red dur pendent photo/Tre rt during ses offe Inde ah Barnhatraditional clas senior Sar y non College is one of man ury Middleb rie’s class works with rnoon. Lou RIE afte ER LOU Tuesday ege CTOR PET world-class INSTRU class at the coll ahue, a in Addison winter term Miles Don

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Wom team en’s lax in ac tion

The MU HS held off Bu girls’ lacrosse team day; tougherr & Burton on Monr tests aw ait. Page 1B.

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• Form Madele er Gov. Kunin ine her in shares with sights th “Wom e Wisd en of om our Ve .” See news, rgennes Page 14.

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By AN 26, 20 DR 12 EAST EW ST  membe MIDDL EIN 36 Pa — co rs of the EBURY — ges officialmprised of Middlebur On Thursd 75¢ Fund East s — spok citizens, y River ay night, in Middl tas e with scien g river k fo of th appear for an en e riv ebury abou more th tists and rce a gi s neer Tropica an er to be loca riv t l Stor that flood the conten50 people l comm er scientis on its wa ing analy m Ire By in ed y, sis iss tio t and sa ANDR ion us the vi of th ne. force.

Middl id Amy Sh e EA SU llage future But ad member M eld ID eb flo durin wh nity Te DLEBUR OZZO g an od hazard ditional fu o is he ury plan on, ning ad d prop s nd brary levision (MY — Midd erty owdidn’t co ing to miti of the tas m k in seekare becomi CTV) and lebury Co (See M ners who e through, gate future mm ar iddleb conte ing to no ng more an Ilsley Publi unt, ury Ri e calling foshe said, ute the but to he t only dis d more ali c Liver, Pa r tribu lp ir gn ge 25 speedy “We’r own conte people cre te publish ed ) ate an nt. e loo d distri ed king b(See M to the fu ture, CTV, and we Page 13) ’re

pa Pl opera intings to ayers brin ho on Pa use stage life on the g ge 10, . photos See Arts Be at on Pa ge 24.

A Middlebu screen his ry native returns a rite of pasdocumentary film to about sage for boy s. Page 2A .

No. 7

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Thes imita pians te art • The great Little City

s; er resign arch r se dget offic view of ACSU bu ces yet anothe iss her in rrfa t ed to dism onded to her supe e pois ric resp dist calls sinc having not WERS and phone

% eks 3.18 UD-3 se g boost in current offerings spend s dget keep

need felt the er, directors even low School erty increase hold the deference to prop rict RS UD-3 to r, in the dist N FLOWE

By JOH BURY — The present howeve rs and to ensure laws that e to DLE aye stat taxp MID l of agreed or Tuesday budget of does not run afou ncial penalties 13 2-20 board on ents fina a 201 ose esenting requirem voters with.1 million, repr increase can imp two-vote s that ding plan about $16 cent spending for spen ain education a 3.18-perto this year. exceed cert sholds. were d compare school officials Ò We ding thre cipal Bill spen to e prin While er stat trying final MUHS iting firm said the are awa rmation from keep it ion Lawson cts eliminat are aid info they budget refleclasses (but not der 3.4 Montpelier, the budget un of dance team) and one nt. estimating ire a homestead perce re the dance class. It also would requ property These we ion of art n of sect ctio redu ts a ial education of $1.506 per careful ns.Ó represen -time spec se tax rate property value, three full tio s. Tho percent reduc ACSU education aide cuts are $100 in Ñ ting a 1.4- to this essional represen d sible by tendent paraprof compare Superin Conley being made posof fewer increase of $1.503.

Gail year’s rate re does not expectation next year, an figu services This entary requiring . the elem each students son r include enses for

by UD-3, according to Law was able to stee school exp n towns served cuts get that Union It’s a bud iously suggested ers’ of the seve udes Middlebury driv prev clear of ign language and noted. which incl high schools. draft in fore cials middle and rd’s first budget percent in the rams, offi p it under prog on to kee The boa reflected a 4.1- ttled educati e trying whi er 18A) “We wer Novemb which officials hike in -3, Page (See UD increase, a 3.35-percent down to December.

Vol. 24

75¢

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By JOHN BURY — Add SU) visors’ e-m 0 get wou ow that due MIDDLE sory Union (AC os Dec. 22.

The bud about $175,00 first deep sorr that ervi , Min “It is with circumstances resding by Central Sup ager Paula Van ing ks the ut $42,000 ate of hav Man et, spen and mar e to abo HS in at Business Wednesday after more to unfortunsubmit my letter tely,” efits cam t the board’s targ approved increase at VU on for rd ben e to mee ned job boa immedia hav to osed I the resig HS prop effective the VU k their enough said. ) sing from Union years. board at which ignation been mis Page 13A bac e said the ible least four ch, the Vergennes a little U, ks. sam ACS rien wee 3 meeting inistrators to cut -percent O’Brien O’B (See respons than two nation came at the been Last Mar board’s budget of solid Overall, another asked adm ation of a 2.47 LDY had resig ed ool KA ers osed nes Her earn Sch h gen KIR end prop ACSU lead past Hig than $8.8 million munities the

By ANDY NES — The Ver nday recommless than 2 percent.ent Tom has time that com Mo get. over the less VERGEN the five board on budget hike to spending met bud e board has made focused Superintend h School support in es; it decreased “Th ANwSU request was e years rams, Union Hig an $8.97 million ) Addison O’Brien said that services required two and thre t maintain prog its school serv S, Page 18A the settled on to put before on (See VUH ents and aluating rts to at leas on voters burdens proposal Supervisory Uni increase by reev ial education stud t school effo realizing the nex while said.

Northwest The plan would e less by spectwo aides for the he rs,” aye littl in March. at VUHS by a back to cutting and taxp salaries year. spending ent — essentially ngs in l.

The savi than 2 perc 2007-2008 leve a Jan. d the school’s action followe Monday’s

Vol. 66

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BU Scho RLINGTON arts ol studen TAIKO to th e studt Molly Al MASTER len las ents. dr t Thurummer St sday ua morni rt Paton ng. Pa uses ton wa a Japa s in re nese go siden od lu cy at ck the sc lion pu pp hool last weet to nibb le ek te achingon the he ad tradi tiona of Ripton l Japa pornog

By JO nese Elementa Indep perfo HN ry of the raphy offe ende rmin MIDDL FLOW nt ph nd fa g ct ers, oto/Tr ER ab th EB

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By JOH legisl out for a her locals Pages N FLO at ADDISON WERS lives See Pa ive lunch farm-them private teaching n who COUNTY ed last w lawmakers ge 3.

House winter is therapy. musicia g and provides ne, is — eek. who this pho session as hailed the 2012 legi Local examplmajority whip. He 75¢ College on wilderness it gives Countin in saxo town ething in recent one of the most prodslative made e, a reapportionm cited, as an instructiona class about Mo es e, and take som a class to nsiv Dem erse sub ent ng mem inte com time ucti stantial cha ocra e imm a bill that ethi wel ory, prod ve and they said teaching “J-term is the ordinary, som rse “It’s mor opportunity to to-one majts hold an alm nges to ucin winter. He who Senate wer House of ost ority ove in fortifyi e some major g what That district music this to teach students the their cou , students an in the KALDY the a little out bill, adv r Republi twoboundaries into YN KIR inely in Pozatek selves.” bridges, ng the state’s road ances Addison which in part cans the chance to really get . in the House (and a sim By

By KAITL BURY — For ury not routents,” said Kristine dlebury them JOH dev call time ilar majorit County s for the N FLOWE sena torney rescue poli ising a new sear s and swap S le to this at law ent Ca have the irem of Mid UR y MIDDLE ks most Middleb cooperation te), but Jewett RS MIDDLE ause Brandon senatorial district mpbe enforc in view ying requ1996 graduate of su pursue on said wee BURY — care refo cy and advancingch-and- Buel’s t idea bec ll ing th General Y — Verm between for Hun to this topic.

Shumlin ’t be stud ch ca a emen an intervie next few diso ly a rm. is a grea effort in just ting Gor year was Gov. Pete major part the Bill So e state health on ents won on Tuesday s like “J-term w with $200,00 It was a ies 10 “no” e, passed with fewton and the 2012 rrell t At- constraints.ses under small fractit is to n Independ Legi College stud emic subject That coo exemplary. centrated commen r Independen vote er ou curre acad ded rebu t on Tuethe Addison a lot of busy session that it’s a con ,” he said. economics. to in 0 for ad slature to is askSorre initiatives Legislature for “We pass s, according to Jew than for a sear peration was also nt bu on in br tline Ve ent on typical class is or feat bipartisa ilt vestiga ll, sday. “We di ado all ed the bud Mar dget ch-and-r in place istry rm n about passing maj n coopera ured votes in one subjecte’s Motown II tions current roof a firm founhe said place the pting found better than the te an tional man ocate ing a re-e a 15-year escu by get with 18 ett. biochem will lear enture and the to justi ging child ont’s ch ch 21 tion in ding. The to the extent way Iren us. The state on d pros incum dation for lectio Donahu history, race rela powe ‘no’ Ducthe tragic loss of e bill inspired , they fee bill wen from to Willem or legislation, acco adv all m g, ead on cha ce e fisc MUMS buil on atin en Inst a lens and from y po llen 19-y n al r ec voic bent job crea and on los of t Ya the ges safe ge we ch rn Ch t through earsolv ing ute ch e job. e vote,” Jewett, rding and deteriorbe patched annuall touches through Vernon nkee nu (fisc D-Ripton Jew health care ency and sust tion, going did a lot of thin was met, ild Attorney ittenden allenge th fac- go ty official the tools purveyor of hypotheNew Haven. Duc old Levi RS topics rang rage full-timMiddlebury - leaky to ic theory re. But students clear gs to Motown. from their and eve al year 2013) cap ett said. “The is fa s ing ba . los Co th s rmia duri N FLOWE an ison Cen than an ave and mus it has had years.

Dono the powe crippling costs — in spit ainable growing make a real diff that are that writing to Rip n go to con ital Sorre

By JOH BURY — Add s that town gen ttle. are using at public ng a trek died return van, d fellow Deunty State ll vot- that five r plan week are pare of the effects of erence in Instead, jobs ZZO ll, term clas from ference combill didn’t Januton trail in frig of the Mo n the tools of jazz play in the sat do As they k, students this wn t in Irene. ’s cu The attor RE MIDDLE on (ACSU)to ap- for the past ’s shortcomings Tropical EA SUO id weather on a January lear n, He explain.” when ary. His mittee.” on- the state 65, has wn wi mocrat T. sory Uni brea d Storm

By ANDR BURY — MiddCO It’s College will also loyed by Motow ately 32 students med fam last The roof ent in the winter, classes, kno ek undersc for th holiday J. an ssed his ney genera been was extreme ed that the cha “Overal tral Supervich 6 will be aske bond to s. th th r drew in sum ter term (See Sess ily voiced concern -we evid chunks of MIDDLE e lit e Ad were emp genre and ultim ents college clas ics, this yea erent fields is ion, Pag ticularly 2012 sess l, in my judgmen began Win J-term. In a four on a crack oring Ve past few touring nym: ors large ers converg ly daunting as llenge — ers on Mar ear, $1,012,491 - th d recent fe igation tral also di diff e 19A) the stud ic in the t a typical, math, econom ion) was as lawmakt, (the on Mid- the surface harb chipped away RE acro and s21 rm 20-y isn’ mus rses do with e de a ally ed Uni CO we e cou ck sta ont’s cert wn — ra on succ ury casu an be nce the s past Janu prov and di l cour te’s ef Montpelier extr a con ess,” Shu e to , Risk y of Middleb ents take e 13A) ’s exits. efforts eks not a scie or English clas skills up by perform stribut on those t setb record forts mlin saidaordinary in flux ary. With the this ice that havnear the building the posspan stud ety of topics, man lore Opportunity replace the roof.

J-term, Pag ac ity, s niwh to ) to eco e use He (See ativ una ks ines , ch nom exp 16A ly the o during close into Cre bus may y tab Page wide vari are not able to dle School -3 board on Tuesday d issue especial rict has looked ey through the Ve in comm explained ild pornog possess students classes. And it (See Shu for road, bridge still classes (See CORE, though the m mlin, Pag ra only rThe dist such e the bon The UD which they semester. The much larger uping monthe original ateria phy. e 20A) and sh ed to plac full mitment ballots of sibility of reco learned from from rs a week, esterduring a (See So ared on pe l is mos mously agren Meeting Day a time com GOV. PET eight hou ranty and is already at the t towns afrequires er-to rrel, Pa meet for than a typical sem is on the TowACSU-member the job. the war ER SHU

By ANDY to n ge 23 -peer But the roof the roofer MLIN KIRKA wing them more ofte ) the seven been opened for y sub- roofer. its warranty and LD VERGEN rse, allo c more deeply.

NES — Y long cou e ter bids had ed Quinn Compan metal edge of er in business. topi five wer le Vot Add sing ers ison Tuesday ng no long explore a Addison Rutland-baslowest bid for a new Union tow Northwest Sup in the bers on orsi County Board mem the option of end mitted the em for MUMS. asked in ns will almost cert ervisory ) d with new roof either Nov ainly be roofing syst d by voters, the asphalt- presente MUMS, Page 13A to emb sup er or port (See If approve the existing, Union Hig a $2 million Ver March ace the 1997 will repl el original to also, in theoh School bond thatgennes could shingle mod the $2 ry, approach $5 e calling ofThe million. who wer r, and leader Sup willtend million, said ds, the rive t erin ury River, ANwSU ent Middleb dredging of the Bud Lee Jazz band tha busnigh s, who inesst man Tom O’Brien Friday ieland for further tal conservationist .

IN age and Dix this — STE ter r earl ing Kat ging ier this Cen EW men week, wou hy Cannon

By ANDR MIDDLEBURY e and environ want any more dred ernment be perform ter MedicallongBlues” Por gov ld list stat T the not pay k of the 10 did ral, EAS r at what they for a Bac sday, es met and othe y’s “Beat , Pagterm p of fede called e 6A)building On Tue esentativ ineers A grou ted Auxiliar way safety” item needs and “he longBy ANDY ge middle ury repr uss the future of scientists, eng three hours, visi e alth and (See By the s.

Middleb KIRKA College mentors encoura to disc of the everyon met for That list s LDY get tch VERGEN sday and cial to stre Tue offi includes on ury football insulatio proceed school girls to try new things and worked Middleb moved clos NES — Ald new roofi The Mount Abe/VUHS n the river e page for how to d the the East ng, the clas and related with a usse wake of s urge sam a final polier on Tuesday to ermen ury River. grow. See Page 12B. wor sroom team earned a playoff berth They disc planning Middleb ting came in the Irene, on the Master gardener graduate wing, aud k to and ......

6A three-memb cy that will estacreating 1B. the river. ers, class The mee s Tropical Storm ...... mid..dle...... big win. See Sports, Page l paramet ury with and the others to apply for garden and 9Bschool gym; itorium ust’ on a yea er committee to blish a . 5Bies ............ ...... of Middleb the town’s legafunding sources . ......ven tilation tuar n hea 20A. last Aug r-ro Obi Page tow ting han See ...... und 8B upgrade auditor..ium dle, ...... ch the basis, app scholarships. for disp s to the ipment in ir problems, tal issues involved ram ...... 6B- and after whi lays on Classifieds ctory ...... ving equ prog 15A cafe...... the city lications possibly including ging to repa ; wiring environmenAbair, senior ...... teria......

Service Direent ......kitc put earthmo gree ps of the upgrades started dredagainst future 8A-10A Christian the popular, dec n — ......and Marty Army Cor the arhen Entertainm river and rd to the aud nati ades-old 4B itorium; of for the new ........ 1Bity Calend and gua and possibl The com vity scene. hen manager the tone Commun ..................kitc damage not y with a Engineers, set That’s wheequipment. that poli mittee that is call the town the Sports ...... damage. n was slapped cy — a fina re the disc ed ordering een what O’Brien remains ussion beg l draft of for in The tow Act violation for ineers discussion, the river — betwBridges, said. to an, be writ which l on er “The prim — will to work Grist Mil ps of Eng l Clean Wat consist of ten and approved continues ary motivation Army Cor dredging (see Lower Plains and occurred — unti r Devine the U.S. and one City Clerk Joan safety,” he to be about heawas and excessive e 18A). Town where dredging to see how the rive the city’s member called lth and said Pag work spring article, The VU . recreation planning commis each of red to stopcaught after the on its own. related sion and com ) administrato HS board, were orde Critically, mittee. r, Page 18A officials d themselves interests recovers ANwSU rs, scho it does and arch (See Rive member ol offi ded and foun peting not itec floo com the incl ts of the city cials also ude a the O’Brien er that allowing g along ury Riv y to discuss between council, and Can developed wha alde ners livin Middleb non t thus list” of 75¢ of a decisio rmen to hear s of the who met Tuesda of homeow improvemen called “a wish an app l n ts out area ST. MA cials Campbel ts that The fact to deny a display. eal ner poin and local offi (See VUH o/Trent ber 1, 2012  40 Pages perform RY’S SCHOOL ent phot e Dan Wer that alde S, Page 3A) could ing a skit to allow kinderg Independ t  Thursday, Novem rations of federal, stat rmen artn in front OF Ope Middlebury, Vermon of the sch er Grace Led applicationthe committee to agreed ECTOR to a gathering uc is e ool last BURY DIR 66 No. 44 Vol. also answ s on a year-roundhandle Friday moall smiles as MIDDLE pical Storm Irenthe river. she sits ers rning.

Tro s for basis with clas drafts, whi critics of earl during gation plan smates ier flood miti Maggie would han ch stated that policy Lane, far left, and and alde dle the winter Devine Mason McAdam applicationrmen would dea months s before Independ months. s in the busier l with ent phot o/Trent summer Campbel Som l e resi arrangemen dents have said Vol. 24 the spli t cou No. 20 (See Crè ld have led to t che, Pag an e 20A) Middl ebury, home when Duclos had not returned Verm

By JOHN FLOWERS By ont JOHN FLO

By CINDY ELLEN HILL Search expected from an afternoon hike.

By ANDR — The  EW STE ADDISON COUNTY PROPOSAL NEW HAV WERS MONTPELIER — The Addison Monda three IN BRISTO Develop- COMMITTEE’S recommendations EN — Ed County math to Nov. 6 ballot will feature and Rescue Strategic Plan y, June McG to discuss L — How do you The adopted races, a Mo its

By JO before retir unt Abraham uire spent 18 yea contested Vermont House 25, 20 ment Committee has completed HN the Vermont State Police awkward and learn about get a group of Union Hig county’s rs teaching ing in 200 12 topic of sex? recommendations designate as the primary entity the socially teens EAST FLOWER three-way runoff for the h approving Now 8.

Sch work, ool and a Give them McGuire  students taboo and Theresa MIDDLEB S , a New reaching two seats in the state Senate races $100.

36 Pa and proposed statutory — Agency Having JuTha out work An Hav UR federal t’s and to “The ge en man de the Y statewide for Grist M earn thei s rson bo bevy of — Jo changes to be presented risdiction or AHJ — Hub teen strategy Jim Loc r votes as y of those same, Democrat, will by the 75¢ now-adu Amon ill Road aro ught their hn and he embarks House seat that is, of course, headlined of the to the upcoming Legisla- done was backcountry search and coordinator center, and Rya kridge, director lt students be g y on a race that of to Weybrid cious en its many assund seven home off showdown for the presidenc for the The • A Be away tive session. Rep. Willem good and it rescue throughout Veryoung adu at the Bristol cenn Krushenick, prog The ge and Newrepresents the ye ter, towns of Addison-5 Transp Vermont Age lts in a ram United States. with the ough for a ets: A back ars ago.

“I do kno Hav Jewett, D-Ripton, and moved the birth onnson mothe swath a 300-footfunded mont. State police could ortation ncy of federally are taking to eng anticipatBridport ann w a lot of en. ya Middleb horse rin r Monday, age Area town clerks are , sent out up to four regional ouncem young peo former state police search program sexual g and rd spaThe few ye of their back long, 60-fo the Ferrisb the side of gave education ury usually the forward, createteams . a borde an ars. Th will beg ent this week yard du ing a hefty turnout as is “But they official kick-off of ple,” McGuire ot-wide comprised of mixed river, howeve River. and rescue team leader ball teens to To encourage loca SAR the r year. tha in e are city po urgh with heRoute 7 in election said his t Ò al re. rin ho they Parents major ble distinctly first foray r, has on — with rses ca g l case in a presidenti McGuire liceman Jocelyn Stohl abstained but it’s not course, whiparticipate in state police along with absent on lp into politics and now be A ser ssing. speed rest construction n no lonthe past of Addison “We the societ

By AN the voter ch begins a lengthy will encourage . See Pa from a . Route 7 come In 2008, 52.5 percent rictions ger ru from the vote taken at the enough …

May 14, y often

by Tropies of soakin any volunteer resources che you DREA out at Monda a as far knew what ge 2. at n g leather. campaign that will ng voters to regi ck lists.” scheduledin Brandon. The — on County’s 23,152 voters turnedby the as MID SUOZ and KrushenThe Hub, Lockrid y, donÕ t want Committee’s fourth and This doesn’t they deem necessary. at times ical Storm storms — pu ster wor see him to last unt property the erosio we were ge ge Ire ick are earm Police DLEBURY ZO burn a lot during “There are the polls for a ballot topped Mcil June 29. k is tting int for part final meeting in MontpeThe Committee envi),” John n of that ing jug turned the ne last year nctuated diving n John of shoe arking to think or 1,440 hou — A did icip the Republica co o kno make ants n’t between Search pla ge co An race rne Tea ck on all — seholds in team Verm expe vered cid riv one the $30 chers lier Oct. 24. de sioned a Vermont r Deming int rnaut, car the district, and scho 0-per-person -third of talk about er into have AMY SH of a one-on- those doors, at Anderso ct it to happ rson said. “B(or our members een o po Cain and the eventual winner, in Otter the body on Friday moont State The Committee was grade yet.” provided ELDO and Rescue Resource ol boa and leas of en this ut we n is on from The An rtions of the ing against its a ragby the feds funding teens havin successful one campaigning t once,” McGuire I plan to Northea N bury ne ocrat Barack Obama. the Add rd lice ide Creek on a man wh rning ree of fas • Ben created by the Vermont — Willem Jewett Working Group to ad.

When st East g dersons for form bank Thursd o ison sex, an er who ighbors along several Ea t.” er Addison style that he note , 69, said hope to reac Supervisory LOCAL HOUSE RACES 55, of ntified the giving teenquestioned abo estimateMiddlebury s and spilld ay evendrowned Legislature to re-think the vise the state police as to st of Mid Wilson Dd proved on -5 Rep. Chr Union h a contrac ma M (See McG by the have become the Middleb Middleing. Po Locally, Rep. Willem Jewett,from course the riv community Mo istopher completion s money for theiut this $100 t agreeme state’s search and rescue and qualification stanuire, Pag The iddlebury. n as Yadji Collegedlebury pictur ury inc an Bray, negotia nday when . er ha the death of the training r e 22A) of the Moussa Ripton, is facing a challenge small they resu nt Krushen s shor response protocols after tions. The ceived Middlebury Some d growing rag esque wa reasingly ala Rivprogram is meant necessary for any volunteera dards and , nt ick Haover as took me New of n ter independe ¢ teac was , wor rm of tho way’s 75 king under Salisbury hers unw his belief to tear 19-year-old Levi Duclos in these regional teams; man ha a call at 7:2 Police Depa se neighe. in the changined s imposed have been that the $10avering in dent of presilast January. resources June 30, 7 business owner Tim Ryan enough ince Council to evaluate term g ven on a trail in Ripton down the 0 will and the d gone unde p.m. Thur rtment re32 Page (See Ri bors belie for their SAR Advisory strike in 2010, and thre s since sday tha  ter M the Betve the y respo r and (See Election, Page 15A) ver, Pa bring the ntive to effectiv be cla Page 15A) State police were criticized Feb rescue, aten and bu iddleb ruar 12 ed Search no that t (See nd ely ry sta ge nd y 20 a report a t res in contrac 2011. An ed te and , 28) Police estine 30, Partn ury risks into issue of teen untimely response to the Chief to the scen urfaced, sex natur er y, July last Octobet negotiations wasimpasse e of youngsters the open and driv See Pa ship.

Monda (See Dr Tom Hanle e. Middler, and called to e ge 20. ownin n sex (See By the last month doz t .Ó  “It’s not learn about them tee g, Page y said due ens

By LEE . rmon way, Pag Ve incentive,” a bribe eb J. KAHR , 3) e 22A) Ñ Ryan it’sy,an S BRAND dl. —“Inur he id said life there’s M Krushe BRISTO teen nick Acinapura, ON — It was with Parents and a clandestine elem Ryan Kru L HUB DIRECT mix R-B 25 . ed rand feel will not seek No OR Jim on, official ings that federally shenick are givi Lockrid about teen society often don ent to sexual acti Rep. Joe Vol. 24 ge, funded Local mur a fourth term in ly announced this sex edu ng $100 to eve left, and Program Day, down the s having sex, and ’t want to think vity. cation pro ry for months, murs about the the Vermont Hou week he this or talk clandestine •AM Obituaries approved by voters on Election$47 in gram star teen who part Coordinator Vermon nature of $100 is meant to $41 and

By AN

By ANDY KIRKALDY icipates ting nex Park Stre and in an intervie decision had bee se.

Classifieds .......................... tear teen sex.

Works iddlebury Ac of the would add between per $100,000 in a Stalberg t Department t week.

DY n 6A” Independ taxes ho VERGENNES — Residents of is confirmed et home Monda w on the steps of rumbling Service Dire....................... 7B- 7A VERG KIRKAL ent phot inside p productiotors Supervisory annual property value in the ANAci called the the state adminis Health employe y mor o/Trent that DY Campbel five Addison Northwest home blankets ENNES e Ilisa Personal Entertainm ctory ............ 8B- 11B trator for “Last sum he had made his ning, the 73-ynapura’s l

By XIAN CHIANG-WAREN of will decide of assessed — Fr Res Arts Belook at the th n takes an the mer pon cho earyears program Union towns on Tuesday , I kne ice old his wife, courtesy downtow ee wifi Commun ent ........................ 10B wSU towns. eater at on Pa BRISTOL — After eight , (See Sex sibility Education Lois, a Flor w,” he said, exp some time ago. ity Calend 13A to support a $6.5 million ed, Page translate to between discord, the whether Pro figures nea Spo ge 10. . See city wo of the eV n Verge now gram ar Those lain ida rly ...... rts major ing debate, discussion and 22A) nati and as ..................

8Athat he and nn be on the bond that will fund repairs in additional annual taxwinter monmuch time in the ve, have not gott .............. 10A Memori n in 2010 ermont grant es, Bristol Town Plan will Union High $82 and $94 assessed at $200,000, en to spen 1B-4B ths as they Sun . hands upgrades to Vergennes d es for a home applica al Library The Bixby the would like shine State duri ballot and back in the voters’ Brisserved ng the are not eligible nt Fr The .

6.

School.

(See owners Aci its Nov. ee for Day, nap assuming Acin from the ura added that gra on Election as are imapura, Pag of EIN More than half of The biggest ticket items on and the that nt, with the lead e 22A) EW ST beginningeast audito- for tax prebates. tol Planning Commissi Wifi Vergennes supp added 42

By ANDROL — At the provements to the school’s and an ANwSU homeowners were eligible rth Bristol selectboard, which Street service ex partnership ort IST n of a track dison Notendent to the most by installatio them BR Ad to according rium, . given fro ten draft prebates the changes to erin upgrades for City Ha m just ea ds on nth, new state data. based on artificial turf playing field, M this mo ry Union Sup the ANeSU the planning commission and roof recently available calculations do and als ll westward st of Verge ain of unanito the kitchen and cafeteria, buildwho Cannon said her Supervisoams took hold input from public hearings, of the Street o southwa past the Bi nnes Howard individual version. repairs to several areas to near rd not take into account xb David Ad lacing Evelyn mously approved the latest rs. partm the Ve down Gr y, ing.

Festival h reworked and imCommon Levels of Appraisal m, rep ition for 12 yea ent. been towns’ er a wit has imin hel “It een rgennes site hole a mm some eSU most ANwSU n, digs deep into pos was put rks Equip Also included are dd Su fire de archaeology field techniciafor Native American artifacts proved from the plan that held the comes to AN the floor (CLAs). Currently,ts are near fair teaching • The Mi the Marble Wo vice wa ment that digging A University of Vermont Bristol Seprovements, work to level to 7.

COLIN MCCORMICK, technicians have been more photos, see Page11A. Adams years of ence. His out two years ago,” said put new car- towns’ assessmentheir CLAs are not week. Teams of field For Campbell Foote’s s recently provides the returns nd. See Page n 30 “The planof the school library and eri field in New Haven last of a Vermont Gas natural gas pipeline.

Independent photo/Trent for the market value, and lectwoman Carol Wells. more thainistrative exp the assistant path at the Insurance installed in serin a lot of pet on it, and new bleachers this weeke along the proposed pushing taxes higher. ning commission has put board and adm ith Adams, is Bennington as has the streets. corner of Agency bu the middle school gym. t on a School administrators and DE Kathy time, effort and thought, ild M at ding ou ry as wife, Jud ndent . The 22A) ANwSU business manager Page hea Hawley Insurance ain and Gr ing coup NNIS WARI ion VUHS, (See d.”

Un bu ore if selectboar project, dle bef een da le of brok NG WO superinte Supervisory rently is intenddents visiting Mid Cannon has estimated the the Ve and his bro firm head y mo RK In Vermont, a town plan is cur and en gu Do are rge ll inese stu charting Rutland doorsman itar str S with Am that bu nnes city ther Mel Ha ug many surning. Warin t Campbe with Ch se students ed as a visionary document ntington, to/Tren wl meets mmer ine g’s de ings and anda Ke avid out home in Hu and three 23A) dent pho cast us ilding and agmanager, co ey, irty Ch librar ey, right, (See Bristol Plan, Page a Indepen -own y progmonstratioa large ca arns, 8, of ura Ril afternoon. Th. renting two daughters said. e the struc reed to let rd OR Ma n rams Mi ay nal ture, M Co scheduof a varie board box ddlebury ernatio BASSAD Wednesd t the he has dren. el Hawl mdurin to ma Addition led thr ty of mu ENT AMdlebury last gh SPIRAL Int ams lef ory hil UD Ad g ke ndc ST or, sic a ey ou L gra pr mu al ins ghou repeater al broad educat pervis LOCA m throu nt in Mid t the trume esentation sic with cast no s are ger hu hange progra A career Southwest Su ing run co a nts ven bu at r. un wo de on ild sca • The Ils made ty. s calle od e, hav exc ing an the ou summe mostl ley Librar en stick Ve d By KAITLY Windsor the end of Jun nt for the part of an d on said. ina next y given , y y out outpoin rgennes Ch Addison City Hatside of the nde N ADDI

By JOHN FLOWERS to visit Ch ead of tra last Thur a Union at as superinte County Ripll, Ha SON KIRKALDY Hawl ssh is are slated gram has alr teachers a Middl ted visiting amps w Indepe wley year-old MIDDLEBURY — Former COUN one of s to ndent the sho years. eb the fre ey cited as Student ry College m TY The pro students and Na photo said, wa watch season ury as the e ton resident and Middlebu ding the se /Trent ernational dents and ed De than Stefan –– Four- reading pro past two son he left, he ry union — ting in wifi servic logical users worked to Camp nn stu the Chine rmont life, sen h Middlema lwell Int i graduate Randy Brock has e bell Sports, splashed off summer Public gram.

The rea d superviso the Sti Program, the ers tak the park,” res “people jus of pla de out of is Waring pla eagerly policy as the Vermont liked the vince and taste of Ve hunts throug oss state Page 18 . See pro goo He lib influence acr ply nge t a co y ing ou sti rar tau sit ter. a un wood c buck as a state rant cu Excha from Guizh advanta s and make — even bet seatin . venger part of roaming and a banjo ing ty run summies through et.

Auditor of Accounts and g, STEIN st Monday, sto rs lity are with on sca t week and de on visits to rk, policie ased lic che eSU EW ipa wo ou cheap progra tea nic er and tra riders waitinge of sidew m- yo The perfo AN DR sch me t m las mu ysi senator. on some al fra rmance

By AN ONT — La Bristol-b fun loc ms to he events and the push ool librar ung teachers Chongqing ge prograSchool. bury rmont countr isbury and the alk VerIf you need to catch up or inf velers lookin g at bus education ent that the d. lp ian reading Now he wants to become end, for you. h VERM ral exchan a thumbaudience, an delighted in Sal the Ve orm sto and two ont to academal activities kids learn ILSLEYkids to partis who are To that sleep, this is the weekend d Stefan and bu ation ab g for direc ps, s-up rev commitm ry union showe was most 30 students ived in Verm rning an inaugu ry Union Hig one more Lake Dunmore ts, Page 13) ab and ma the ic de mont’s chief executive. really cip out loc OFFE siness tio “I sch den ebu i gave intain out arr ve lea is taking on Daylight Savings Time spend to the The es. llege is RING ate.” al servic ns de liked it!” iew. superviso said he (See Stu their He the Swanton Republican it Sa ool year, ex lopment r Middlstudents will m China part of ts of life and ication Dnt said. the M cture, ends this coming Sunday aft plaine overs Ilsley’s pro S lebury Co es rah La , and, as Adams by the ded t he saw fro erience a way thing they’ve eve servic believes the The incumbent Gov. Peter Shumlin, iddleb d Ilsley er the fro wt • Midd some infrastru athgra e, Vermont ddlebury studen Stefan ury res at 2 a.m., at which time “Kids on. librarian Thursda m past summ m has ca pressed education tha teachers, expferent from any ferent. ing new cently which is co free Verge week in Putney, on Nov. 6. i and Mi im idat hour. jor wh one 16 nrry ch y up back ma y go Franko d installed dif dif nnes perform mpara a book ildren ers, inc clocks nit more go home parent for a Brock, 69, has represente Burlingto exchange, ble commu administrators, s and the known — very than 80 an lud all su an an Senate for prepping y. See Page 3.

It’s your choice whether (See Ve one in Brist to a re- Thursday d parents new proyoga classes. ces and tod ing nal and ted by other loss not on mmer lon d don’t rea lin County in the state ff, parent ilit from ol, rgenne ga at They als dlerg have gramm d to that, he ly in lite 12 Coordina L Internatio you reset your clock nce sta the sk letic fac s, Page is part Middlebury the Ilsley thered las the past four years. Prior “T ing on a o adde SPIRA maintena one term, , 7) Tunes, to watch before you go to Library t room ills that yo racy skills, huge da uesdays we . d contributi based served as state auditor for students. dy makes a 30) Vermont sleep or first thing the Ils one of ma From Trash in tradit situations,” u develop in but all a y Try-Its,” La ’re doing the defeating then-incumbent Lincoln ley ho differen ionall wton se Tu “Everybo Adams, Page classshe to a in the morning; eilds as ny perform Auditor Elizabeth Ready, (See part of ances have summy why pu said. “That’s the comm t person cosaid. “We haeswas dether way Saturday blic its summ ve er mi un a Democrat, in 2004. Brock an hour be bid will in er Wwonderful thireading pro libraries skills or tal ity who has ng in from night re-election Studios 2006 feated in his grams established LionTone e have ng t an Thomas M. . It’s with the fouents that the programs or longer this weekend. and John Wallace have such gre in our comm will hos by current state Auditor RANDY BROCK CLINT Bierman, left, recording and mixing facilities.

Campbell y will kids. rth-th at teach LOCAL MUSICIANS Independent photo/Trent un that election se(See By the way, Page 23A) dbusters ry. The new studio offers Salmon, who ran during ers and ity. works Those will rough-sixth share • The So professional horn. See tly downtown Middlebu be mo pubhops.”

I commuted back and as a Democrat. Salmon subsequen re interagrade to Re- in Boston, unusual ng competitio day.

(See Lib ctive changed his party affiliation to Vermont every single chi S raries, running for forth my family. shoe pit OWER “One man’s publican and will not be Page, It’s a place where I raised FL .

18 HN s 35) Page place, has a tremendou

By JO INGTON — treasure” is re-election on Tuesday. veteran, It is a great has outstanding poten6A-7A have never had any HUNT ther man’s A decorated Vietnam itava Obituaries .......................... with the terview. “We vice environment, ano 6B-10B very b for Am perform it and walk out s or problems.”

Classifieds .......................

Brock is a retired executive ts, tial, and a future for which I am trash is n an old prover foundation 7B-9B

By JOHN FLOWERS on a newly minted complaint came together rather Investmen Making tunes etched .”

Service Directory .............. 17A LionTone president for Fidelity more tha It is literally the e that he make sure to MIDDLEBURY — financial optimistic ........ is someusly through a collaborary compact disc. Just Entertainment ................ one of the world’s largest But Brock’s optimism Biswas. ultra-green homat Saelim, ce for be- serendipito noise late at night in Middlebu ty Calendar ...... 8A-10A two musician friends. companies. by what he believes local time your performan between the Communi services tempered tion from what visit a because you of a new wife, Phetchare of a hill in a.m., hed 1B-4B can earn developed course that tween 6 p.m. and 10 He explained he has Sports ................................

Wallace is an accomplis is a perilous economic and his ng into the sid sleeping neighcalled no constabulary. local has are he such Shumlin there state with the the while by night for by makcharted an affinity twoUnless, of course, you’re and said has been are buildi ntington. there are businesses drummeras The Horse Traders. By tion and the DemocraticStudios bors to rouse, home for the past 42 years, re than downstairs — groups ing music at LionTone in making it administra Legislature. rustic Hu sday saw mo the Autumn Gold of them Mendy’s). — such as Mendy’s he wants to play a role controlled customers to day, he operates at 66 Main St. (above Wedne ple — many ent and from Liwe have Clint that might want their stronger. jewelry store, right across cem “It is a direction in which peo Operated by local musicians Li- shop to a different tune. the St. dozen pouring but I love Vermont,” in many cases in government disMain 61 corny, for at “It’s — onTone, Wallace, s roll John ing can the Bierman and for so many “Any time at night we volunteer g the plumb sive solar at which Wallace had been renting Brock said. “That’s why, (See Brock, Page 24A) pas office onTone is a new studio guitars and drums,” organizin“Earthship,” a ycled years, when I had a (business) artists can full-on with (See Studio, Page 22A) and rec 00 established or aspiring during a recent incouple’s de of natural 1,0 concept, Wallace said re than come in with a musical house ma, including mo ciency Page 2) r materials rgy effi House, perform its ene grid to powe e ll ize (Se wi xim a oj Plyos m to ma nt from the Flowers • Zolot c Russian songs nts. into a bersmall amou to/John me a nestled dent pho authenti d with instru . ton, is — except for Indepen an 10 Hunting ds capella Beat on Page built in ctricity nee being ele See Arts , A home n heat and RTHSHIPall of its ow EA E te TH l genera and wil i. a Jacuzz

nds stud

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bond ets $1M Board s MUMS roof for new

liberal RE takes MiddCOof the classroom t ou arts

er spar ov Officials f river work r o impacstt royed in Middlebury Rive Habitat

By the way

form, Ire

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ANwSU bond to eyes projects fund high sc at hool

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Attorn asks ey genera for $2 00K l

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City pane to overse l park disp e lays

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Index

Like siblings

Crunch time

Think gardens

TY ADDISON COUN

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ADD

Baby o board n !

Busin chang ess group es lea ders

Play sh in a d ows dram rama a class

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Bristol’s H New Ha furnishes UB to run foven man for sex ed cash r House ucation

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COUN DISON

IN

Servic funde e installatio d by g n rant

up su mmer fun

eSU New AN ndent superintee reins grabs th

working College ades on upgr

t rnamen Pro tou to Midd coming

ts usic ge Folk m n twist a Russia

Panel puts VSP at s lead in searctehe decision

Candidates ready for final stretch Four House races headline local ballots

Legislature to make ultima

By the way

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Librar ies co ok

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EDITIO

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INDEPENDENT

a differe

Acinapu seek re-era will not Brando lection to n House seat

Index

ANwSU towns to vote on $6.5M VUHS bond

After gravel compromise, Bristol plan goes to vote

Head in the sand

‘Moderation’ stressed

by Brock in campaign

udents inese st h C s e t aw Vermon

GOP Senator challenges

Gov. Shumlin

By the way

ip’ ‘Earthsh in il a s ts se ton Huntinge a model od Rustic ab efficiency in energy

studio Rockers launch recording

Index

PAGE 16 — Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013

MONDAY

ADDISON

Farmers deal with more challenges

EDITION

COUNTY

Addison County’s dairy farmers, long the backbone of the region’s economy, experienced a difficult year in 2012. After months of watching Con75¢ 48 Pages 9, 2012 gress stall on the 2012 Farm Bill, dairy farmers nday, July Mo , Vermont Middlebury lost a critical safety net when the federal milk . 22 Vol. 24 No amplain h C subsidies program known as Milk Income Loss it h ff s no ru m us o rd phosphor co re of e Algae iabbrlo Contract, or MILC, expired on Sept. ak w eaks out in Cyanobacter 30, leaving farmers without help First time s if and when wholesale milk er y home bu low and prices fall below the breakrates are • Mortgage ke rting to ma buyers are sta d about the Rea . even cost of producves mo their l real estate state of the loca16-page pull-out. tion. Meanwhile, grain market in our brate prices skyrocketed as City to cele age French herit Western and Midrs, cto ena • Relive music western states exl and food wil all have a perienced drought French flair this Saturday . in Vergennes and wildfires 14 es See Pag and 15. throughout the e air summer.

In AddiMusic in th y ur in Middleb offers son County, several the-Green • Festival on- formances this per ng many great re is more goi longstanding famweek, but the t on Page 11.

Bea on. See Arts ily-run dairy farms closed their doors this fall, citing market conditions, age and lack of interest in farming from younger genOn parade erations. ning n ru Dairy farmers, fairly or not, also came in ck a Holzapfel b House seat e rg u under fire throughout the summer months, rs -3 n e o is rm d s for Ad Dairy fa Berry cousinory bill as several Vermont beaches closed after st rm fa roll into hibor in n as the was reform • A dynasty fourth straight dangerous amounts of E. coli and cyair duo won the Brisuse Race in 18. e Great Outho Pag rth. See nobacteria (blue-green algae) appeared tol on the Fou in Lake Champlain, Otter Creek, the Winooski River and other Vermont waterways. Scientists determined runoff of cow manure and agricultural fertilizers were among the culprits. Some county dairy farms, including the Audets’ Blue Spruce Farm in Bridport and Eric Clifford’s Clifford Farm in Starksboro,

T

N E D N E P E IND 



isolated is not an Oven Bay ner year in middle school incident. After a ban the who teaches ve phosphorus, e Windhausen, cho, watched from abo for runoff of 1 favorit 201 a’s of teri l bac science in Jeri STEIN from a poo tosynthetic along Lake

By ANDREW — Jeff Severson has as Oven Bay turned nky green sludge pho major parks to close their T d, his chu ON at foo to s s RM VE had summer ng glas mplain have nth. of the past 50 camp in West glisteni rs. thing Cha spent much mo e Champlain ks within hou e never witnessed any she waters this past Ferrisburgh’s family’s Lak it wasn’t until two wee week, “We hav ed its sed on Friday,” Last Addison. But n-and-raised Vermonter like what we witnes r Friday morning State Park clos South Bay nd bor gsla clea ally s, and Kin ago that the blooms of the potenti “It was crystal hours it was thick heavy bloom 5) . to said due e, n ch e six had ever see e Algae, Pag blue-green alga t. ... and then within r, it just kept getting bea or (Se ria, acte fishing spo Every hou toxic cyanob orite swim and son were pea soup. thicker and thicker.” engulf his fav n and his thicker and While Seversoe 29, his wife Lisa Jun fishing on

N

more rning. For dnesday mo y parade We Campbell Fourth of Jul photo/Trent in Bristol’s Independent es rch ma Drum Corps nce Fife and Independe 17.

WARNER Mt. Pages 16 and THE SETH Bristol, see photos from

SUOZZO

By ANDREA RY — If market MIDDLEBU do not pass in this res reform measu farm bill, Vermont l era fed r’s yea hard time will have a dairy dairy farms iness, local lch, bus in staying . Peter We Rep told farmers morning. ay rsd Thu D-Vt., last

Ma ry refo rm, said Wi tho ut dai e Spr uce Far m in Blu rie Au det of und ers tan d ’t don t jus Bri dpo rt, “I l sur viv e e farm s wil how our littl farm s tha t wer e on this fall . The e mo nth s ago , I thre loo k to the brin k can y how the don ’t kno w , Page 7) (See Farm bill

OWERS

By JOHN FL H — Vermont’s FERRISBURGpe has changed sca political land since Ferrisburgh bit fel ran quite a bella Holzap Democrat Ara nt House back in mo for the Ver which 2000. ing dur r yea That was a

decisive claimed a owing the GOP the House foll majority in saw passage of the a session that l union law. civi the nation’s first shed out of Holzapfel fini 2000 election in the that running in -area district nes gen Ver a urgh, Page 22) (See Ferrisb

are taking conscientious measures to reduce pollution.

Four Hills Farm in Bristol, one of the county’s largest dairy farms, got approval for a $2.5 million, 300-kilowatthour methane digester to convert cow manure into electricity. Four Hills joined other Vermont farms participating in Cow Power, a manure-to-energy program started by Central Vermont Public Service Corp. and now managed

by Green Mountain Power. Eventually, the methane digester at Four Hills will power 18 percent of energy needs in Ripton, Lincoln, Starksboro, New Haven, Huntington, Bristol and Buel’s Gore, which are all served by the same substation.

Ferrisburgh’s Kimball Brook Farm fired up the pasteurizers at the former Saputo cheese plant in Hinesburg in May and began selling its own brand of organic milk in Vermont.

Dairy operations weren’t the only local food businesses making news. Two new slaughterhouses were proposed in Middlebury: one from local entrepreneur Mark Smith, which would be mobile, and another from the owners of Ferrisburgh-based Vermont Livestock Slaughter, to be based in the industrial park on Exchange Street. For its part, the Patricia A. Hannaford Career Center outfitted a mobile chicken slaughterhouse and launched a butter and meat cutters program in conjunction with Vermont Technical College.

As the year ended, a new pool of state money began to become available for funding new local food enterprises.

The Working Lands Enterprise Board, at the Financing the Working Landscape Conference in Middlebury, announced that the state had made a generous $1 million grant fund available to support food, agriculture and forestry entrepreneurship.

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Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013 — PAGE 17

Towns upgrade buildings and roads

Addison County’s largest population centers either embarked on or contemplated major construction projects in 2012. Most notable was Middlebury’s $4.6 million effort to replace its East Middlebury fire station and renovate and expand its Seymour Street fire department headquarters.

Voters backed that plan in March, and by October the smaller East Middlebury building stood complete y Late fees no longer appl with huge improvements in energy efficiency.

TY ADDISON COUN By year’s end, work on the larger Seymour Street effort looked on track for completion by its February 2013 target date. t Middlebury selectmen and a Feds won’t renew pac r SU AC . s suit vs for Northlands operato Former school head file board subcommittee spent many meetings discussing and studying a new town office building and d fun to ks State loo community center to replace the s air rep ad ro w ne plan boosts aging former high school that Transportation spending very efforts local paving, Irene reco now serves as the town’s municipal building. Selectmen at year’s end were edging closer and closer to making a proposal for an energyefficient structure that would retain, with renovations, the existing gym, but were still exploring alternatives and funding.

Young students embrace Also in Middlebury, the delayed major rebuild y classic Shakespeare pla sed without a smile You’re never fully dres of Buttolph Drive’s infrastructure, sidewalk and road surface was finally finished, as was a major renovation of the $6 million Middlebury to undertake historic Pulp Mill Bridge that spans Otter Creek between des street upgra By in water, sewer, Middlebury and Weybridge. Other major water and road the way infrastructure projects were also completed over the summer. But high cost estimates delayed major work to South Street, including traffic-calming measures and resurfacing.

Index Speaking of road work, Route 17 between Routes 7 pick er pap top Eagle Worship Directory and 22A was torn up down to its foundations this past summer and kept in a constant state of repair from July to November. Some complained that the rough gravel used as an interim surface had popped their vehicle tires. However, the rough road didn’t scare too many away from Field Days. in Middlebury’s Marble nt Video store building of the former Waterfro THE LAST REMAINS demolished over the course of several days. was deemed unsafe and

Works are scooped into

a dump truck Monday

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont

Vol. 66 No. 13



 44 Pages Thursday, March 29, 2012

intent notice of the ACSU board’sfor the package (salary and contract was not compensation to not to renew his Sease further claims he of $127,321, according 2011-2012 academic year. his termination and benefits)

By JOHN FLOWERS confusing.

Former given reasons for given a chance to court records.

— And that’s where it gets eightMIDDLEBURY not contract The foundation of Sease’s ory Union alleges he was matter. He is urging One clause in Sease’s March Addison Central Supervis on the on filed notified t, heard has filed a be page complain that “unless award him damages, Superintendent Lee Sease the date by specifies employer the court to 20, appears to hinge on (See Sease, Page 17A) lawsuit against his former lost wages and benefits. which he was supposed to receive claiming he including annual in U.S. District Court, Sease received a total spring. was unlawfully fired last

By ANDY KIRKALDY U.S. VERGENNES — The not will Department of Labor to renew Alutiiq LLC’s contract Corps, operate Northlands Job

afternoon. The building Independent photo/Tren

was

t Campbell

75¢

center in the federal job training Vergennes. d, the However, Ted Fitzgeral for DOL’s Regional Director (See Northlands, Page 17A)

the tune Also rebounding — to spending —

By JOHN FLOWERS rs of $104 million in new tation Bill, a $658 BRISTOL — Local lawmake Vermont is the Transpor on Monday hailed the of pro- million budget that includes $1.5 l funding for House’s passage last week additiona in million General posed fiscal year 2013 town highway aid. AdFund and transportation dison County and Branbudgets, spending plans don’s cut of that $1.5 milthey said would mainlion amounts to just under tain key services for Ver$123,000 (see chart), with up beefing monters while Middlebury, Ferrisburgh, ’s repairs to the Vermont Bridport and Lincoln netroads and bridges. ting some of the largest The $5.01 billion state increases. per6.4 budget reflects a This is the first time in spending in hike cent seven years that the state but will not require any has increased town highsed increase in broad-ba way aid, noted Rep. Diane ER Jewa LANPH taxes, Rep. Willem Lanpher, D-Vergennes, ve taett said at the Legislati of the House Transpor The Ripton member Breakfast in Bristol. ma- tion Committee.

Democrat serves as assistant explained the state’s fisJewett is benefiting jority leader of the House. ng a cal year 2013 budget “The economy is reboundi that greatly from federal funds associg bit,” Jewett said in explaininunder- ated with Tropical Storm Irene reare 18A) increased state revenues (See Transportation, Page writing the spending increase.

N

um ber

2

last the Town Hall Theater For 1. rehearse on stage at production of “Annie” March 29, 30 and 31 and a matinee on April Community Players’ on from the Middlebury s with evening shows t Campbell Independent photo/Tren MANY OF THE orphans opened last Thursday night and continue week. The classic musical see Page 2A. show, the from more photos

Addison County

says the A disease ecologist for a Northeast should prepare spring. this surge in Lyme disease that carry Researchers say ticks voracious the disease will be more to bite. ls in looking for mamma your Cover up and check yourself, deer tiny kids and your pets for the (See By the way, Page 3A)

6A-7A Obituaries..........................

6B-10B Classifieds .......................

7B-8B Service Directory .............. 15A ....

Entertainment....................

8A-10A ......

Calendar ity Commun .... 1B-3B Sports ............................

s to ing for South Street neighbortheir ion plans for

By JOHN FLOWERS Rolling go over construct MIDDLEBURY — The will include upgrading Butternut road, which paving, portions of the Acres, Buttolph Drive, neighbor- sewer, water, Street wellthe South along and curbing Ridge resonate sidewalk and hoods of Middlebury will spring traveled road. this problems) with construction activity “We looked at (all the will initiate it was time to do and summer as the town $6 mil- and decided Werner said, a combined total of almost ents the whole thing,” you have to when lion in infrastructure improvem that g explainin of the road anyway to those areas. portions up dig ocwill The most dramatic work slated to get to water and sewer conduits, is sense to address cur on South Street, which r that will it makes financialsurface needs at the for a $3.5 million makeove other seasons, ac- paving and span two construction Director of same time.

Street will cording to Middlebury Specific work on South Werner.

Operations Dan of Pub- include: force Middlebury Department • Replacement of the sewer host a meetlic Works officials will

featured lessons Weekly vocal exercises,

By XIAN CHIANG-WAREN On improvisation — s, found-art MIDDLEBURY ry’s and physical warm-up Wednesday, April 4, Middlebu its sculpture, sword fighting for the stage, host s Town Hall Theater will and, finally, rehearsal to n ons for the largest productio Ò ItÕ s a known and preparati g performance. date. One hundred six educa- upcomin cast members will present fact in “I’ve seen a tremendous in William Shakespeare’s tional circles amount of engagement one “Hamlet” — and not that drama my students, a real interest is more than 12 is a good in what Shakespeare has north drive of them main that runs from the g tool to say,” said Linda Horn, (Collins years old. de production learnin of Porter Medical Center The the fifth- and sixth-gra Chipman The more Drive) north to the south ed sani- marks the culmination É teacher at Leicester. “The Park entrance. The gravity-f point. of “Shakespeare: It’s senses one way that Lindsay and the at that a tary sewer system starts ry,” the Town can involve, THT instructors broke be replaced Elementa n This gravity system will better play like Hamlet down the to Hall Theater Educatio way the all Park from Chipman Program’s first project chances you made it manageable, elementary Main Street. and very interesting. We storm with Led have of stuinto the • The water main and dive students. to got school really be replaced n Director dents actual- material.” sewer infrastructure will way to the by Educatio from Main Street all the Lindsay Pontius, THT ly learning.Ó The THT Education last two hospital. Ñ Linda Horn Program is less than a year on staff spent the • Curbing will be replaced will months leading theater old, but it has already set as both sides of the street, that are workshops at three area high. With “Shakespeare: sidewalk Mary Hogan in its sights is driving some areas of the Crews elementary schools: It’s Elementary,” THT ry shape. rough Elementa rly particula Shoreham in ry, (See Hamlet, Page 18A) sections of Middlebu will try and level out and Leicester Central.

(See Middlebury, Page 17A)

religious organizations Find out more about local services at area houses of and see a complete list of t directory. worship in our special pull-ou

In Vergennes, aldermen after a months-long process whittled down a list of a dozen possible sites for a new police station to one: A parcel of a little less than an acre on North Main Street that was the former home of Vergennes Auto Sales.

Aldermen worked with Bread Loaf Corp. to come up with a tentative plan for a 24-room station of just about 6,000 square feet, with an all-inclusive preliminary estimated price tag of about $1.8 million.

Most at a public forum backed the plan, albeit with some reservations about the need for a building that large for a department of 10 fulland part-time officers. All agreed, however, it was time to move police — who most have praised in the past two years — out of their tiny, two-and-half-room, City Hall headquarters. At year’s end, aldermen were set to meet with Bread Loaf to go over the details, and were preparing for a Town Meeting Day bond vote.

Also in Vergennes, school officials asked for a $6.5 million bond to fund major improvements at Vergennes Union High School, notably to its auditorium, kitchen, cafeteria and roof, plus a track and an artificial turf field.

Voters in Vergennes, Ferrisburgh, Panton, Addison and Waltham said no in November, and the VUHS board in December came back with a two-part, split-ballot plan for a February vote: $4.2 million for the building improvements, with an option for $2 million more for the track and field work.

That $2 million can only be approved if voters back the larger $4.2 request, however.

By year’s end, nothing was as far along in Bristol — but there were persistent rumblings that the town’s fire department could use more spacious and efficient headquarters.

Monkton voters again shot down a plan to renovate the town offices. In Lincoln, the community celebrated completion of a $2 million renovation to the school.

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PAGE 18 — Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013

Duclos tragedy spurs state action

Residents of the five-town area were devastated upon learning of the death of 19-year-old Levi Duclos from exposure ADDISON COUNTY to frigid temperatures during a Jan. 9 hike along the Emily Proctor Trail in Rip Ripton.

The New Haven youth’s tragic death 75¢ 40 Pages  2012 27, st Augu Monday, Middlebury, Vermont  Vol. 24 No. 29 would also serve as a catalyst for the state to re-examine its search-and-rescue pro prols goa elopment Changes await pupils Business devtrib cedures, which officials conceded ght sou ns utio and con ar opens set new rector charged with bringing as school ye were ineffective in Duclos’

By JOHN FLOWERS at the jobs to town.

8. That’s the most enrollees MIDDLEBURY — A local adnoted, he

By JOHN FLOWERS 008, It was at town meeting this past - school since 2007-2 board has been collecting case. d the visory endorse ts class residen MIDDLEBURY — Middle that -grade slug- March hool and the largest seventh facts and figures about the Locals beat bury-area middle- and high-sc creation of a business develop on since 2002-2003. gish regional economy in an effort ment fund that would in large part students will return to classes The Duclos famto greet those incoming busibury Helping Middle the e teachnew convinc directo a day to find some new hires, im- be used to recruit and hire dread disease Wednes . students will be several ness community about the dean ers and new campus improvements tor. That person will be charged including Jennefer Eaton, the ily had reported the portance of contributing toward • See our special Health & Page 39) Middlebury Union Middle School of students/director of athletics and bury, Middle (See diment antica new business develop Well-being section on surviv Interim Principal Patrick Reen Justin Marclass activities; P.E. teacher young man missing ipates an incoming 2012-2013 ing cancer on Pages 17-24.

(See Students, Page 16) 7 and grades for s student 311 of during the evening of Jan. 9. His body was recovered along the trail the next morning. Ver Vermont State Police ‘Stray Birds’ land drew widespread at coffeehouse criticism for its re re• Ripton venue to host folk, Americana band on Saturday. sponse time following See Arts Beat on Page 10. the family’s 911 call and for its lack of coordination with local rescue teams that had been available to participate in the search.

State lawmakers quickly drafted legislation to produce a new plan for rePeak performance sponding to hikers who are missing or That legislation, signed into ue roleAult inlawdistress.

Ps. resc VS High school on s ue by Gov. Peter Shumlin as Act 155, in nt co the watchful presence of Carol te ba warden De game two are Department on and Kathy Duclos. The sports arrive in Montpelier last Wednesday.

19-yearOn a golden August afterno the created a 13-member “Search and Resit aunts of Levi Duclos, the Tensions remained high over t who was Group mulls role ultimat beneath the Statehouse dome, residen commit Haven the New for • Three football games and a n old questio e n an athletic r the was hard to envisio on a Ripton hiking trail, dead wardens tee’s consideration: Whethe cross-country event are set for e gam of freezing to death on the found cue Strategic Plan Development Comman police state young area after rescue the all ermia, and this weekend, and lead agency for search in hiking trails of hypoth

By CINDY ELLEN HILL State should same Green Mounta d with sea- failed to initiate a ground search teams play soon. See Page 26. and in the Green Mountain he was are now crowde MONTPELIER — The Search mittee.”

Among those named to the for more than 12 hours after the aegis of the Ver- that the under of rs remain membe ttee For .

Commi night tourists on a frigid presently sonal Rescue Strategic Plan Strategic Plan reported missing. Public criticisms ive mont State Police, which through its Search and Rescue pressed forward with its legislat provided this past January and funds that role primarily committee were Rep. Willem Jewett, , Page 6) to the Committee, that image Rescue mandate to restructure search transfer (See or by budget, e ed prompt t at the overtim Wildlife focus for their work, rescue management in Vermon s purview of the Fish and D-Ripton, and David Shaw, assistant second of its five scheduled meeting chief of the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department.

The committee began convening in July to tackle 12 tasks, including reviewing the existing structure for search and rescue operations in Vermont and what might be its advantages and shortcomings; considering models used in other states for managing search and rescue operations; and determining whether the Vermont Department of Public Safety or a different state MONDAY EDITION

INDEPENDENT

N

uction Mike McKee of F.B. Constr JOHN QUESNEL, LEFT, andFriday. on ley Orchard in Middlebury

work on the peak of a new

cold storage and cider press

barn for Happy Val-

Independent photo/Trent

Campbell

agency should be responsible for supervising search and rescue operations for people who are missing, lost, or stranded in the outdoors on Vermont’s land or inland waterways.

It was in October that the panel issued a report in which it recommended that Vermont State Police take the lead as the primary entity responsible for backcountry search and rescue (SAR) throughout Vermont. State police could then create up to four regional SAR teams comprised of state police along with any volunteer resources they deem necessary.

The committee also envisioned a Vermont Search and Rescue Resource Working Group to advise the state police as to the training and qualification standards necessary for any volunteer resources in these regional teams; a SAR Advisory Council to evaluate the recommendations of the Working Group and make an annual report to the Legislature; and creation of a new civilian position of SAR Coordinator, to be located within the department of public safety and tasked to work with the state police Public Information Officer on distributing safe-hiking messages to the public. The committee also supported close coordination between state police and Vermont Fish and Wildlife wardens who have unique backcountry skills.

Freelance writer Cindy Hill reported in the Independent that Addison County’s two members of the committee were split on the recommendations.

“There’s certainly holes in it and areas that are gray, but you have to start somewhere,” Shaw said of the report. “We had nothing a year ago, now we have the interim protocol and this report.”

Jewett abstained from the vote approving the committee’s report. He expressed concern that issues of transparency, accountability and oversight had not been adequately resolved in the recommended plan. He noted that the creation of two entities, the SAR Working Group and a SAR Advisory Council, creates confusion, while the anticipated coordination between the state police and Fish and Wildlife was not formalized.

The Legislature is expected to take up specific recommendations during the 2013 session.

b m er u

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Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013 — PAGE 19

Throne game

Working OT

Election 2012

will stage A local acting troupe III.” See a rd Shakespeare’s “Richa preview on Page 15A.

e goal gave A remarkable overtim team a berth the Eagle boys’ soccer . See 1B. in the D-II quarterfinals

With the national economy making hopeful steps toward recovery from the recession, Addison County experienced TY a mixed bag on the business front.

ADDISON COUN The biggest disappointment came from the closing of eCorp English in Middlebury, which closed its doors in late September after receiving a lot of state aid and private ahead l investment money. The company, which taught English Pressing dea er sold in $305M Woodchuck Hard Cid skills to business professionals, relocated to Middlebury two years ago promising to create more than 100 well-paying jobs by 2013. Founder and President Deborah Schwartz said that the closure had been sparked by an inability to raise funds to launch WordFortune, a language software the company il route had been counting on for its State commits to ra by 2017 future success. At the time through Middlebury of its closing, eCorp owed local vendors a reported $150,000 for odds and ends like furniture and electricity, a sum that did not include the amount owed to investors, creditors, lawyers, the state of Vermont and some former employees. ve a Halloween alternati The demise of eCorp came only a Aldermen set forum on n Towns trying tio Candy doled out 6,000-sq.-ft. police sta month after magazine sales promotion compaat ‘Trunk or Treat’ ny RetailVision announced it would close its Middlebury office, sacrificing 25 local jobs.

On the flip side, just weeks later the Vermont Hard Cider Co., maker of Woodchuck Hard Cider, d eye district Bigger Bristol police announced that the company had been sold to Irish cidery C&C Group for around $305 million. President and CEO Brett Williams said at the time of the announcement that the company’s 125 employees would all keep their jobs and benefits. Vermont Hard Cider, the national leader in its market, was on target to add 30 jobs in 2013, and to break ground on a

for the See who is running locallyviews on Legislature and read their t. pull-ou the issues in a special

INDEPENDENT October ont  Thursday,

Middlebury, Verm

Vol. 66 No. 43

25, 2012  42 Pages

By ANGELO LYNN a company MIDDLEBURY — For deathbed” in that had been “on its Cider has 2003, Woodchuck Hard nd. The made a remarkable turnarouhas 125 y now Middlebury compan in annual employees, $70 million of the percent 60 than sales, more in the United hard cider market growth of 29 States, and sales annually in percent and 25 percent the past two years. it is part of a And, as of Monday, y based in global hard cider compan

warmthilluminates a white fence and a golden tree in New Haven Tuesday.

Autumn AFTERNOON sun

nt Campbell

Independent photo/Tre

By the way

Addison County

along Main If you’re ambling on Friday you Street in Vergennes in the landmay notice a change lifting the be scape. Workers will ul Italianate cupola off the beautif 2011 by home owned since August and placFritz Jeff and Andrew the new “Back ing it on the roof of a Duffy of Barn.” Designer Rebecc marks the ofVergennes said this tion of the ficial start of the restora Shelburne of home. Perkins/Smith is the builder.

By ANDY KIRKALDY Vergennes VERGENNES — Tuesday to aldermen agreed on t, 24-room adopt a 6,076-square-foo model for a building as a working they set a Nov. new police station, and meeting to tional 27 public informa city officials explain to residents why is necessary and believe the building rs. hear feedback from taxpaye George Vergennes Police Chief has won plan draft the said Merkel enforcement approval from law t and is officials around Vermon

iry farmer Literary agent-turned-da 16A) (See By the way, Page

Index

.. 6A-7A Obituaries ........................ 8B-12B Classifieds ....................... 9B-11B Service Directory ............ ............ 15A Entertainment ............ r ...... 8A-10A Community Calenda ........ 1B-4B Sports ........................

75¢

uck and Williams said the Woodch other for each C&C were a good fit expertise. in terms of culture and global brew“They’re not a large a new revenue er that is looking at that they don’t stream in a category Williams know anything about,” emphasizing said of C&C Group, nce with hard the company’s experie out Ireland cider making through “They’ve m. and the United Kingdo — Bret Williams and some of been at it for 85 years, England are in uck.” the brands they own ture will bring for Woodch the new older than this country, starting back are true believWilliams stressed that to keepin the 1700s. So they ted company is fully commitury, will re- ers in cider, as are we, and they are ing the plant in Middleb benefits for the innovations experts throughout tain all jobs and current and intends Europe, and we’ve been innovatthe foreseeable future, plans for a ing in the hard cider category here to follow through with or bigger, since 2008 with a lot of new styles -foot, Putting those two new 100,000-square on Exchange at Woodchuck … cider-making facility e together, it’s going Bridge School areas of expertis Street between the Plans for add- to be exciting.” sell, Williams and Maple Landmark. in 2013 are Still, the decision to jobs Page 16A) ing an additional 30 uck, Woodch (See also on target.

“Woodchuck was born in Vermont and it needs to stay here, and they know that.”

Ireland. nce at the In a press confere ury plant 64,000-square-foot Middleb t Hard Cider on Tuesday, Vermon and CEO Bret Company President the sale to C&C Williams announced million.

Group of Ireland for $305 Williams “It’s an exciting time,” for the great said of the sale. “It’s right, and employees, the timing’swhat the fuabout we’re real excited

THE LATE

By JOHN FLOWERS Vermont will MIDDLEBURY — nt rail improveproceed with sufficie passenger train ments to re-establish through Midtraffic from Rutland by 2017, and dlebury to Burlington on that westthe state will proceed ss of the ern corridor track regardle . funding prospects for federal e in MiddleThat was the messag Chris Cole, bury on Tuesday from and Intermothe Policy, Planning for the dal Development director rtation Transpo Vermont Agency of (VTrans). the Vermont Cole was speaking at (VRAN) annuRail Action Network bury Colal meeting held at Middle where he lege’s Kirk Alumni Center,ing agreealso confirmed an impend of Middlebury ment with the town of two ment replace to manage the overpasses deteriorating railroad within its downtown. those overThe replacement of Merand passes, on Main Street component of chants Row, is a key plan to enan overall improvement r rail line to able the western corrido er passeng rail accommodate Amtrak

N

ledging the it,” Cole said, acknow funding. “A uncertainty of federal do are statelot of the projects we funded projects only.” received Cole’s comments were e “who’s who” warmly by a veritabl ing present at of Vermont railroad , conspicuVRAN’s annual meeting to underbury ously held in Middle collective score the membership’stion of passupport for the resurrec Vermont. senger rail in western facilities and Expansion of rail be a priority of service continues to and his adminGov. Peter Shumlin He noted the istration, Cole said.

States is population of the United million by the likely to grow by 100 transportation year 2050. He said air to be able to is probably not going . demand greater with keep up a country and “For our mobility as CHRIS COLE r’s belief, as a state, it is our governo nt’s bepreside and heavier freight loads. have and it is the current Cole said rail officials ng the lief, that in order for our state and upgradi to succeed economically pegged the cost of to Burling- our country rail line from Rutland million, an and to be competitive in the global sig$45 ton at $35 million to lace, rail is the next ,” probably “have marketp our country amount he said will nificant investment in Page 5A) chunks.” er train, to be knocked off in Passeng (See g away at “We will keep pluggin

needs for a 10designed to meet the now and for the man city department foreseeable future. aldermen and On Tuesday, he urged proposal he and a support to s resident ury’s Bread city officials said Middleb its awardafter Loaf Corp. modeled station. police winning Middlebury build this the “My fear is we don’t out with half right way, and we come a building,” Merkel said. agree the All city officials m office in department’s tiny two-roo 14A) (See Vergennes, Page

By JOHN FLOWERS be chalcan VERGENNES — It in rural Addilenging for parents to scare son County communities for their fun up some Halloween or treating kids every year. Trick little ghouls often means piling the car for a seand goblins into the homes spread ries of short jaunts to nity, or takthroughout the commu neighboring them to high density up their to fill hoods in other towns bags in short order. handful of a in parents Well, believe Addison County towns solution for they have found a safe their fill of press release. trick-or-treaters to get advisory board, in a EN survey fun, superG-WAR a the in if and CHIAN that

By XIAN sweets locally Quaglino said Police parents, allows that BRISTOL — The take a results indicated that the public setting vised to to get in on such an expansion, Advisory Board plans seniors and businesses support supported a first step to gauge public district the next steps would include the act, too. ard, treat,” an on with the selectbo s for expanding the police It’s called “trunk or parents, to include discussi limits resident which village Bristol the give through beyond event which would in. organizations the entire town of Bristol. opportunity to weigh schools and/or civic announced ample e their veparticipation public’s The board this week invite people to decorat trappings The a of Bristol the it will conduct a survey Hall on will help the board “make of hicle trunks with all g candy, feelings residents outside of Holley of Halloween — includin out to determination as to the pertaining is passed Bristol which of s Election Day. course, resident of the expansion o. central loca“If the residents feel trick-or-treaters at a this matter,” said Quaglin Board to then will ent for the y is a viable idea, the board discuss tion. It’s not a replacem 31, but The Police Advisor to the take Oct. s forums on d that resident conduct public “real” Halloween an expansion requestefill out the survey as they to share in the cost of such to allows kids and adults mean to the time 2A) voting booths at Holley and what it would (See Halloween, Page the future,” exit the Nov. 6. residents of Bristol for chair of the Hall on wrote Jim Quaglino,

“Trunk nities will be holdingoff their N COUNTY commu SEVERAL ADDISO local children to safely gather, show en. for leading up to Hallowe or Treat” events candy in the days er. costumes and collect “Trunk or Treat” event in Leicestof Heather LaPorte Photo courtesy Pictured is last year’s

Celebrating 125 years...

125

1

Campaign Goal: $700,000

2

Volunteer Programs: Volunteer Center & Days of Caring

3

Impact Areas: Health , Education & Financial Stability

4

Programs: Agency Funding, Volunteerism, Technical Assistance, Collaborations & Initiatives

4

years

Back Office Support: Addison County Readers, Back to School Shop, Field Service Director’s Help Fund, & Foster Camp Fund

new $30 million facility off Middlebury’s Exchange Street that Williams said would more than double its production capacity and add even more jobs.

Also this past year, Hartford, Conn.-based United Technologies Company purchased Goodrich Corp., including a major defense manufacturing plant in Vergennes. The Little City’s plant was part of Goodrich’s Sensors and Integrated Systems Division, which provided new equipment and spare parts, and offered repairs, modernization and retrofitting of existing aircraft and equipment to both commercial and military clients. Company spokespeople offered assurances at the time the sale was announced that all would be “business as usual” for the Vergennes plant’s 850 employees, though 15 workers were laid off in 2012.

The revitalization of Bristol Works, the “smart-growth, mixed-use” redevelopment project in the industrial park on Munsill Avenue and Pine Street in Bristol, made great strides in 2012.

In February, Bristol Internal Medicine announced that it would move in, giving the 47,000-square-foot space its first major tenant. Over the summer, local kombucha company Aqua Vitea followed suit, using a 3,000-square-foot space at Bristol Works to ramp up its production. In November, organizers of a proposed Addison County Dental Center applied for a $300,000 grant to equip a dental facility in Bristol Works that would provide dental care to people of all incomes in Addison County.

In the county’s shire town, Middlebury College, local businesses and townspeople pledged to put money in an economic development fund and hire a director to recruit new businesses to the area. At year’s end the search for a director was narrowing.

um ber

4

Addy Indy Numbers Quiz Take this little numbers quiz to test how well you know what we do at the Addison Independent!

5

Easy Ways to Give: Payroll Deduction, Monthly Electronic Payment, Credit Card, Stock gift, Check

1. How many readers pore over each Addison Independent issue?

6

Financial Literacy Classes: Earn it, Keep it, Grow it - 40 participants at 6 different employment sites

2. How many towns do we regularly cover?

7

Initiatives Supported: 2-1-1, Housing Solutions, Workplace Financial Literacy Program, Everybody Wins!, Dental Days, AARP/RSVP free tax preparation, FamilyWize prescription discount cards

28

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After setbacks, biz scene on rebound

Funding: Local agencies funded in the 2012-13 Community Impact Funding process

65

New Volunteers: Matched to volunteer opportunities through the Volunteer Center last year

125

Celebrating 125 years of United Way! www.unitedwayaddisoncounty.org

3. How many “sister publications” do we partner with across Vermont?

4. How many special sections do we feature throughout each year?

5. How many different user platforms does the Addy Indy provide to help you keep up with the news anywhere you are?

(Answers on page 39)

ADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT

VERMONT’S TWICE-WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Middlebury, VT 05753 • (802) 388-4944 • www.AddisonIndependent.com

Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013 — PAGE 21

t’s To n e

P

r

p

T

PAGE 20 — Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013

icks

of

2012

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP left: I froze Woodhead in the middle of the hilarious mayhem that was the big finish of Waldo and Woodhead’s performance at Middlebury’s Festival on-the-Green in July. In April I stumbled upon a crew cleaning dozens of Middlebury College carpet runners that had been laid out on the floor of Chip Kenyon Arena; I liked the graphic element of the runners and the color-coordinated outfit worn by one of the cleaners. The Bridge School in February brought a National Geographic giant map to the school gym for its students to explore; Lucy Ursitti took a moment to rest on Eastern Europe and the Middle East. In June Vergennes Union High School staged a mock accident to teach students the dangers of inattentive driving; after the event some of the student actors, still dripping fake blood, relaxed in the school gym. For a different take on election coverage in November I rode along with some Lodge at Otter Creek residents as they took a bus into town to cast their ballots; Mary Stuart, pictured, and others had a grand time and so did I. And finally, in April the great actor Ed Asner came to town for a one-night performance as F.D.R. at the Town Hall Theater; Vergennes residents Peter and Liz Markowski happen to own a classic car used by the real F.D.R. and they brought it into Middlebury for the actor to pose with. Asner was scrappy, funny and generous, just like I expected.

ANOTHER YEAR’S PASSING affords me the chance to meander through the archives and find some of my favorite photos from the year. In June I visited the Addison County Parent/Child Center, top, and was eyed curiously and suspiciously by Dalvin Newman and Jordyn Ringey. In August I caught Dylan Frost, above, taking full advantage of a foam pool set up by the Vergennes Fire Department for Vergennes Day festivities. In late May Middlebury College students, stressed out by exam week, were given a chance to unwind with a visit from local dogs and puppies; this little guy, left, was the star attraction. After photographing fall colors in Ripton one glorious October day I came down the mountain and spotted two fishermen, above left, in the Middlebury River and it made for a postcard moment.

Independent photos/Trent Campbell

PAGE 22 — Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013

‘ZoneThree’ is a new Middlebury gallery for modern and experimental art. See Page 2A.

The county Legion team suffered its first setbacks, but bounced back with two wins. See Page 1B.

The Bristol teen center is getting ready for the BYOBacon Skateboard Competition. See Page 18A.

Natural gas pipeline plan advances

In the ‘zone’

Contenders

Cowabunga!

After two years of planning and several public meetings in Addison County, Vermont Gas Systems on Dec. 20 announced that it had formally applied to the Vermont Public Service Board for a Certificate of Public Good to launch a $70 million pipeline project to connect Middlebury and Middlebury, Lodge settle up ts cos d Vergennes to Canadian natural gas reserves that are albon S property appraisal dispute Auditorium, track push VUH to $7M ready flowing into Chittenden and Franklin counties.

Plans could range from $5M The South Burlington company also announced in 2012 a related deal to install a Path cleared separate, 10.5-mile pipeline extension to develop Local grad to provide natural gas to the Internafile s -pro high discover tional Paper Co. plant in Ticondcity property planets in Deal on Shade Roller star cluster eroga, N.Y. lawsuit to fund clean-up The “Addison Natural Gas Project,” slated for completion by 2015, calls for the installation of 43 miles of underground pipeline through 11 communities. The pipeline extension would begin in ColSummer fun chester and follow existing rights-of-way along a path once proposed for the Circumferential Highway in Chittenden County and then a series of utility and public road corridors to Middlebury and Vergennes through Monkton and New Haven.

By the Advocates for the pipeline pointed to potential draway matic savings for area businesses and homes. Don Gilbert, president and CEO of Vermont Gas, estimated that more than 3,000 homes and businesses in Addison County would save $1,500 to $1,900 per year by switching to natural gas from fuel oil or propane. He ard claimed that in total, the project would reduce Addison forw s ’ takes new step ‘Addison Natural Gas Project Index County’s energy bills by more than $200 million over the next 20 years and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by almost 300,000 tons over that same period.

Vermont Gas officials acknowledged their longADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT

75¢

y, July 12, 2012  30 Pages Middlebury, Vermont  Thursda

Vol. 66 No. 28

but rounding an artificial turf field — final said they had not begun to make decisions. its auditorium and athletic facilities. entire board has not had a “The and

By ANDY KIRKALDY before both members Board in chance to discuss the entire project VERGENNES — Vergennes during a 90-minute public forum Union High School board members, the VUHS library spoke favorably together,” said VUHS board member and Kamman. administrators, department heads about parts of the plan — including Neil Earlier in May, Addison Northwest a dozen local residents on Monday complete makeovers of the auditobeand Supervisory Union business manager heard details about what could be roofing needed kitchen, and rium the tween a $5.7 million and $7 million wiring upgrades, and a new track sur- Kathy Corcoran said if voters in project to upgrade the school, notably

By KAITLYN KIRKALDY VERGENNES –– Two Jupiterrecently were planets sized led discovered by a research group and

by Waltham native Sam Quinn his adviser, Russel White.

Quinn, 26, graduated from Harvard University in 2005 with a degree and in astronomy and astrophysics is now a PhD candidate at Georgia State University.

After college on re Ò WeÕ worked Quinn our way at the HarvardSmithsonian now to É for starting to Center Astrophysics. learn how worked He these giant on NASA’s planets Kepler Mission, come to be. which identifies IÕ m hoping possible planets stars. orbiting this will The experience energize the influenced people 2003 Vergennes High to start Union School graduate’s looking to decision in (star) continue that line clusters of work. because really “That me thereÕ s a invigorated lot to be to make that field into my career,” learned.Ó Ñ Sam Quinn he said.

In his work an Quinn began researching star unresolved dilemma concerning the clusters that ultimately sparked

milfive union towns backed a $3.5 be lion project about 4.5 cents would adadded to school tax rates, before justments for towns’ common levels (CLAs). of appraisal $5 On Monday, Cannon said a 6.5 million project would add about cents, while a $7 million project CLA would add 9.0 cents, also before 18A) Page VUHS, (See

off Lodge Road.

By JOHN FLOWERS The selectboard on Tuesday The — MIDDLBURY a and unanimously agreed to accept selectboard Middlebury settlement offer from the Lodge the Lodge at Otter Creek have that its property be assessed by the settled a property assessment at $17 million, according to town retirement the to dispute relating (See Lodge, Page 15A) community’s land and buildings

Harry H, above left, Carol Forsey, n duo CONCERTGOERS RON SLABAUG take the stage with the Vaudevillia en Forsey and Nigel Wormser night at the Festival on-the-Gre Waldo and Woodhead on Monday eclectic performance. Andy Karmusical, and the and share in the comedic, Slim City River of right, below lok, below left, and Robin Bean,musical gumbo. For Trent Campbell’s the first Zydeco Hogs serve up a little Page 4A; for more photos from thoughts on the festival see 13A. see Page few days of the week-long event photos/Trent Campbell Independent

discovery.

“We started looking in clusters (See Quinn, Page 15A)

Addison County

a The month of July will be homecoming of sorts for Laureen Oxley Carson. The former Middlebe bury resident’s oil paintings will where on display at 51 Main, a spot Port Carson — now a resident of her Henry, N.Y. — routinely brings trumpet for jazz and blues jams.

The opening reception for Carson’s from show will be held this Friday daughter the is Carson p.m.

5 to 9 of the late Richard Oxley, former music teacher at Middlebury Union High School. She performed beside her father in the Vermont Symshe phony Orchestra from the time (See By the way, Page 12A)

Obituaries ................................ 6A Classifieds ......................... 5B-9B Service Directory .............. 6B-8B Entertainment ........................ 14A Community Calendar ...... 8A-10A Sports ................................ 1B-2B

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By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — A settlement of a site-contamination case should soon pave the way for the restoration of prominent, but long vacant, buildin ings next to the Otter Creek falls Vergennes, according to the structures’ owner.

Ferrisburgh resident David Shlansky, the principal in Shenandoah LLC, the company that owns the former its Haviland Shade Roller Mill and in nearby Annex, said he now hopes to the months to come to revive plans put shops, office space and condominiums in the two historic Canal Street

By JOHN FLOWERS has hired MIDDLEBURY — Vermont Gas its plans an engineering firm to further refine Chittenden to extend natural gas service from and County into Middlebury and Vergennes affected potentially contact to has begun route in property owners along the project with anticipation of filing its final applicationbefore (PSB) Vermont Public Service Board the end of the year. the hiring of Vermont Gas officials confirmed

Gas “The clock is running,” Vermont the Albany, N.Y., J. Wark said of Clough, Harbour & Associates of management, spokesman Stephen “We’ve got a project.” to do the design, construction cal and Addison County plans. from survey, environmental, archaeologi It’s a project that has drawn interest and called the Middlebury in cultural work on what is now being households The plan calls businesses and “Addison Natural Gas Project.” have been seeking a cheaper Gas pipeline Vergennes that than oil. Vermont for an extension of the Vermont Haven, then heating fuel alternative from Colchester into New Monday announced plans Vergennes. Gas officials on branching out into Middlebury and ultimate for an overall rate reduction of 3.6 percent, to It is the first phase in the company’s County take effect on July 21. This will be the 13th on to goal of serving customers in Rutland decrease Vermont Gas has passed rate within around seven years.

properties.

Shlansky said the timetable remains will a bit uncertain. His primary focus remain operating the law firm headIsquartered in the nearby Grist Mill Shland that lies in the falls itself. But lansky said he will be devoting some reof his and his employees’ time to the filing for state and local permits for Shade Roller project.

“One of our biggest limits is staffing, bandwidth in terms of people.

We have to get an Act 250 permit it too, which will take some time. But Act shouldn’t be a complex project for it 250,” he said. “It’s already July, and ... would be great to start this year, but I’ve got a day job.”

The project was stalled when enviperformed ronmental site assessments in 2007 and 2008 revealed contaminaby tion in both buildings, most notably poly-chlorinated byphenyls (PCBs) are that had leaked into flooring. PCBs found in transformers, among other equipment. of pieces Shlansky purchased the property from Green Mountain Power (GMP) for $150,000 in 2004. Both build20 ings have been empty for almost by years, but had previously been used Simmonds Precision, now Goodrich Corp., to store materials.

The contamination from the PCBs, petroleum some plus solvents and products, meant Shlansky’s firm could plan. not proceed with its development In 2010, he filed suit in U.S. District Court in Burlington against GMP claiming the company did or should on. have known about the contaminati The civil suit sought a jury trial.

GMP maintained that Shlansky knew of potential contamination when sale and purchase the he entered into agreement, and that he failed to inspect Shthe property before the purchase. aslansky, in turn, said he received that surances from a GMP manager bethere were no serious problems fore he waived his inspection rights.

The recent settlement of that suit (See Vergennes, Page 18A)

resulting in its 45,000 customers since 2008, fuel oil and prices that are 40 percent less than according to 51 percent lower than propane, company officials.

Gas The PSB has already given Vermont revenue permission to use some of its ratepayer million $58 to help bankroll its proposed expansion project in Addison County. are very “It is obviously something we on,” Wark excited about entering the next phase (See Gas pipeline, Page 15A)

range plan is to expand the Addison Natural Gas Project into Rutland County and ultimately connect with domestic natural gas reserves in New York to provide redundancy for the system.

The pipeline proposal earned high marks from many business leaders but was met with trepidation by some residents who voiced concerns about the project route near homes, the volatility of natural gas and the hydraulic fracturing method sometimes used in its extraction. Property owners along the proposed pipeline route asked how the massive construction project would affect their land and whether their safety was at risk from potential natural gas explosions.

More than 100 Monkton residents signed a petition stating concerns about the pipeline and its proposed route along portions of Pond Road and Monkton Road. The Addison County Regional Planning Commission also signaled its reservations to Vermont Gas and the Public Service Board. In Bristol, town officials wondered if they could get access to gas from the pipeline.

In Middlebury, the selectboard drafted a qualified letter of support for the project based on the savings that natural gas could provide for local businesses and homeowners.

But the board also heard from residents concerned about hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking), a practice that involves using highly pressurized water and unspecified chemicals to free hard-to-get-at pockets of natural gas from the ground.

Local environmentalists said they feared the increasing availability of natural gas could forestall the development of green, renewable energy alternatives.

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Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013 — PAGE 23

Big season

Saving grace

In the woods

beat The 7-1 Panther football team a recordTufts on Saturday to cap off setting campaign. See Page 1B.

a tops Eagle goalie Lizzie Huizeng Hockthe 2012 Independent Field 1B. ey All-Star Team. See Page

a Youth Hunting Weekend was off got big success, but rifle season to a slow start. See Page 1B.

ADDISON COUNTY

Vol. 66 No. 46

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont



Thursday, November 15,

75¢

2012  34 Pages

ent

on Weybridge clerk admits to embezzlem Debate hits fever pitch cap Middlebury retail store can that the town’s zoning ordinance protection against square feet. has rec- provide adequate

By JOHN FLOWERS while the The planning commission Middleto mirror mega-retail proposals MIDDLEBURY — The got ommended such language that has community debates the wisdom of a Tuesday on rd selectboa cap bury cap and whether residents a 50,000-square-foot ry’s zon- 50,000-square-foot expanded, lowanother earful from area plan, been included in Middlebu that limit should be about the newly revised town the ing ordinances since 2005. for large rd ered, or possibly softened specifically about whether But a majority of the selectboa language (See Middlebury, Page 12A) document should include such a move, arguing to 50,000 has balked at size store retail limiting

By JOHN FLOWERS WEYBRIDGE — Longtime TreaWeybridge Town Clerk and Monday surer Karen Brisson on admitresigned from her job after rd that ting to the local selectboa town ng embezzli been she had years, funds during the past several attorney an amount that the town’s said could range between $100,000

prelimand $150,000, according to inary estimates. they Selectboard members said of will not know the exact amount outside the missing funds until an town’s independent audit of the meanbooks is conducted. In the Attime, Addison County State’s review torney David Fenster will posdetails of the case and weigh

Survey shows some favor bigger Bristol police district

Addison County

By the way

The East Middlebury Memory its Tree Lighting will celebrate at 4 g 20th year on Dec. 2. Beginnin to come p.m., the public is invited of enjoy a sing-along and blessing Methodthe memory tree at the the East ist Church across from RefreshMiddlebury Post Office. follow ments in the church will Organizthe lighting of the tree. in dediers said that lights given can be cation to particular people of $1 had for a suggested donation s to per name. Send the donationEast 225, Sandy Hayes, PO BOX Middlebury VT 05740.

High The Vergennes Union teams School rowing team hosted Verover from schools from all at the Otmont in a series of races (See By the way, Page 18A)

Index

.. 6A Obituaries ..............................

8B-12B Classifieds .......................

9B-11B Service Directory ............

15A Entertainment ........................

8A-10A ......

Calendar Community 1B-4B Sports ................................

City picks N. Main St. for police

By ANDY KIRKALDY s alVERGENNES — Vergenne a 0.6dermen on Tuesday revealed that is acre North Main Street parcel Auto s the former home of Vergenne which to Sales as their choice on city’s pobuild a new station for the lice department.

Vergennes of- “We would ficials said they not want discussed anyone to have the purchasing prejudge land with its owner, but discussed the details Tuesday outcome closed behind of the only doors at the end of building their open session. ... Give They also acit a full knowledged the . lot is too small to chance accommodate the Hear it 6,076-square-foot out … If station aldermen something are considering, needs and that the city would have to buy to be more land from changed, Vermont Indus- it will be.” trial Parks, which — Mayor owns a 14.4-acre Michael parcel that borders Daniels the 0.6-acre lot to the north and west. a comVermont Industrial Parks is Carrry’s pany owned by Middlebu & Carrara the of owner ara family, .

Sons Inc. concrete company said City Manager Mel Hawley in the Carraras were not interested the to land simply selling an acre of lack road city because they would lot, but a frontage for their larger purrecent meeting about a smaller chase went well. losing “They’re not interested in work 200 feet of frontage, but they’ll some needs city the if city the with said. additional frontage,” Hawley with In the meantime, he said talks — parcel the owner of the smaller h criteria which meets the site-searc neighl residentia a in being of not access to a borhood and having good and a major road — have gone well, now t is purchase and sale agreemen undergoing legal review. d“There certainly is an understan Hawley ing, if you will, about that,” 14A) (See City police site, Page

By XIAN CHIANG-WAREN sura BRISTOL — The results of Police vey distributed by the Bristol polls the Advisory Board outside a slim on Election Day indicate that an favor majority of Bristol voters to a expansion of the police district town-wide police force. police Jim Quaglino, chair of the next steps advisory board, said that nt would include the police departme into what and selectboard looking Bristol the expansion would cost taxpayers. are “When the facts and figures be will completed, public forums costs) held to explain what (the in a would entail,” Quaglino wrote process, press release. “After that to the the results would be brought public for a vote.” had inQuaglino said the survey cluded five questions: current • Do you live within the

police district? police • Have you ever called for police or services? If yes, did Bristol Were Vermont State Police respond? you satisfied with the response? the • Those who lived outside asked, current police district were you as a yes or no question: “Were service, aware, if you needed police Police you would need to call State respond, and wait for a Trooper to police ofeven if there was a Bristol ficer available?” e • Are you in favor of a town-wid (See Bristol, Page 12A)

against sible prosecution options ay Brisson — who as of Wednesd Fenhad not been cited for a crime. for comster could not be reached ent ment as the Addison Independ went to press.

Gale Weybridge Selectwoman culHurd said Brisson admitted give a pability and has offered to (See Brisson, Page 16A)

Legally Oz

STUDENTS FROM BOTH Mount Abraham and Otter Valley union high schools will stage plays this weekend.

Above from left, Mount Abe’s Tyler Jewett, Adeline Crosthwait, Ethan Allred and Taylor Allred portray the classic team of Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow during Tuesday’s rehearsal of the school’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Right, Otter Valley students, including Meghann Patten, on left, as Elle Woods — rehearse a scene from the school’s production of “Legally Blonde” Monday night. For more photos see Pages 2A and 14A.

Photos by Trent Campbell and Alyssa Zollman

Vermonters lend a hand

s Ripton first responder help ss Cro on night shift at N.J.and Red incessant rain.

By JOHN FLOWERS RIPTON — Like many Addison n AlexCounty residents, Ceredwy moments ander spent some tense the in front of her television during potenpast few weeks tracking the Sandy tial path of “super storm” do to and wondering if it would Irene Storm Tropical what Vermont did to the state last year. much Fortunately, Sandy spared But the of Vermont from her wrath. coastal, same could not be said for of New densely populated sections Sandy York and New Jersey, where that fury unleashed a wet, gusty away killed 20 people and swept crashing countless homes under

waves for Alexander’s sense of relief to empaVermont quickly turned were thy for those to the south who Alnot so fortunate. That’s when of member and EMT an exander, Departthe Ripton Volunteer Fire to lend a ment, decided she wanted Garden helping hand to folks in the lost State, many of whom had either out forced been had or everything electricof their homes by a lack of ity and heat. scale “I was just floored by the volunof it,” Alexander, who has said teered in places like Haiti, damage of the images she saw of (See Ripton, Page 16A)

after Hurricane Sandcey

CEREDWYN ALEXANDER

Vergennes EMTs, ambulan e ey shor provide relief oner forJers a second time.

By XIAN CHIANG-WAREN on VERGENNES — At 6 p.m. m Nov. 6, one week after Superstorof Sandy devastated long stretches of the Eastern seaboard, a convoy e crews seven Vermont ambulanc State left the Green Mountain bound for New Jersey.

The convoy, which included s Area personnel from Vergenne d Rescue Squad (VARS), responde on of a to a call made in anticipati 7 hit second storm, which on Nov. crippled stretches of coast already wind, more with by the hurricane rain and snow.

New Some towns in New York, powJersey and Massachusetts lost

Bristol, Middlebury pass town plans Bristol and Middlebury passed hotly debated town plans in 2012, each one stalling at times over issues of development and, in Bristol’s case, resource extraction. Town plans are visionary documents in Vermont, charting a municipality’s priorities on energy, housing, transportation and resource stewardship, and are also the basis on which zoning rules are written. Town plans are typically updated every five years.

Bristol’s plan passed with nearly 70 percent of the vote on Election Day after an unusually lengthy eightyear period of debate and compromise. Bristol’s bounty of gravel resources turned out to be somewhat a burden to the town plan, which found itself entwined in disagreements over proposed gravel extraction projects in town. Some citizens, notably the environmentally inclined group Smart Growth for Bristol, opposed drafts of the town plan that would have allowed gravel extraction near Bristol village. Proponents of those operations cited opportunities for economic growth, as well as personal property rights.

After a version of the plan was soundly defeated

N

in 2010, the Bristol Planning Commission went back to the drawing board and in 2012, with leadership from planners Kris Perlee and John Elder, was able to broker a compromise. A single no-extraction zone was drawn up, preventing resource extraction in the downtown and surrounding areas while allowing for economic development opportunities in areas north and south of the village.

In Middlebury, a debate ensued after the planning commission produced a draft of the town plan with a 50,000-squarefoot cap on future retail establishments. The selectboard balked at the cap; some noted that the absence of a department store since the closing of Ames over a decade ago meant Middlebury residents took some of their shopping out of town.

Those who favored the size cap countered that a “big-box” store would take business away from downtown retailers and change the town’s character. At several well-attended public meetings, it became clear that all parties were divided over how best to keep spending local. The selectboard adopted the town plan without a retail cap in early December, noting that the 50,000-squarefoot cap already existed in town zoning ordinances, which they said was an adequate protection.

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6

AlVARS, along with Fletcher Amcare len Coordinated Transport, Albans, Ambulance Service of St. nt, the Williston Fire Departme City Lyndon Rescue, and the Barre services and Glover ambulance and two each sent an ambulance from the EMTs after a call came AssisEmergency Management tance Compact. diThat compact is a national the saster-relief agreement among to pool lower 48 states; it pledges -deresources in times of governor clared emergencies.

Rivers Elizabeth Clark and Ann (See Vergennes, Page 18A)

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PAGE 24 — Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013

2012 Addison County

TY ADDISON COUN

Fair & Field Days 11 7 - Saturday, August Tuesday, August • August 2, 2012

INDEPENDENT

of the Addison Independent A Special publication

August ont  Thursday,

Middlebury, Verm

Vol. 66 No. 31

Bristol gathers to gr

By ANDREW STEIN ble rise BRISTOL — A noticea ies and burglar in armed robberies, have plagued drug-related crimes Bristol this past year. s behind problem the identify To solutions, more these crimes and find enforcement than 100 citizens, law workers packed officials and social nt of Bristol’s into the muggy baseme on Tuesday Church se Ambro St.

of Japanese A Monkton institute logy marks philosophy and psycho 20 years. See Page 3A.

ll team The county Legion baseba y aftourne took third in the state Page 1B. ter a strong season. See

Field Days Check out the official then atProgram inside the paper,week. tend the county fair next

Communities confront drug crimes

Eastern views

AC wraps up

Field Days

OFFICIAL PROGRAM

apple with drug crim

officers did evening. While police in local not quantify the increaseattendance in drug activity, those and Addison agreed that Bristol , and it’s County have a drug problem getting worse.

Kevin Gibbs, Bristol Police Chief meeting, said who organized the a new issue in that drugs are not volume and Bristol, but their high is. widespread accessibility

Critical farm bill stalled in House

O

By ANDREA SUOZZ — The WASHINGTON, D.C. which deter2012 federal farm bill, agriculture and mines five years of be postponed nutrition policy, could ng to U.S. for another year, accordi s majority House of Representative leaders.

Rep. Peter That prospect left ed by the Welch, D-Vt., concern r extension of prospect of a one-yea policies and its current agricultural potential effects on Vermont farmers. would “This be very harmful to Vermont dairy farmers and others around the said county,” Welch on Tuesday.

He said it’s very WELCH likely that the would include one-year extension the dairy no new programs, notably es promeasur price stabilization of the farm bill posed in the versions and the House passed by the Senate ttee. Vermont Agriculture Commi hailed those dairy farmers have hope for a measures as their best system. less volatile milk pricing policies And although existing the renewal of would continue with another year, the 2008 farm bill for would drop sigWelch said funding Loss Income Milk the for nificantly crop insurance Contract (MILC), a protect dairy program that aims to drops in price. farmers from sudden acinto takes A 2008 program that along with the count the cost of feed also likely fall price of milk would

by the wayside. e floor The movement to postpon nation as the debate on the bill comes November elecis gearing up for the 14A) (See Farm bill, Page

over the last “What we’ve noticed a surge in drug two to three years is prescription crimes dealing with most recently, medications and, reason heroin heroin,” he said. “The is that you now is jumping up right than you can buy heroin for cheaper can buy marijuana.”

Tuesday’s at Discussion stories of forum ranged from a lack of opiate addiction to

75¢

2, 2012  74 Pages

e

facilities to an Vermont treatment force. Local overstretched police many of their officials also shared personal observations.

Deputy State’s County Addison Perkett told pher Christo y Attorne of the heroin the crowd that many younger than addicts he’s seeing are most might imagine. as 14young as kids “I’m seeing Page 12A) (See Bristol meeting,

rged Burlington man cha rder mu just before Ferrisburgh withKIRKA Ferrisburgh bonfire LDY 27.

By ANDY A midnight on July — n arraignFERRISBURGH At a Monday afternoo ties to Burlington man with y was ment in Rutland Superior Court, inFerrisburgh on Monda second- Joseph Bolduc, 25, pleaded a with charge as well as officially charged the life nocent to that charges stemming other of degree murder for taking of Vergennes number Bolduc, Page 14A) of Conrad Bell, 40, (See a tation at during a confron

MVAA will stop asking for town aid

Increase in calls gives service more stability

By JOHN FLOWERS — The MIDDLEBURY er Ambulance Middlebury Volunte ) has announced Association (MVAA ing Town it will cease request from the ns donatio Day g Meetin serves in light 10 communities it s practices” of “improved busines calls that in and a steady increase the nonprofit have helped solidify budget. g operatin ation’s organiz operations Bill Edson, chief , said the move officer for the MVAA association a — which will cost the in Town combined total of $32,000 — will utions Meeting Day contrib for the 2013 be done on a trial basis a jarring effect budget year. Barring bottom line, the on the association’s ent in 2014. shift will become perman of archaic “We felt it was a kind into the built practice that was was run,” way the organization County Meeting n Town Addiso g at Edson said of the she will be showin annually in the t with Claire, the calf the annual fair.

Day requests, made nt Campbell shares a tender momen horses for of Middlebury, Independent photo/Tre Weybridge 4-H Club,are prepping their cows, sheep and towns the of r service membe MVAA A the county ADDY PARSON, Weybridge, Ripton, next week. Kids across Salisbury, Fair and Field Days ll, Bridport, New Haven, Cornwa Orwell. “It and Whiting, Shoreham hed before the was originally establis bill for what Chuck — and, was able to Dusty ation the organiz stand, food s as the sheep Youth county 4-H educator, we do.” work with their trimmer stanchions said Martha Seifert, the course, now since there are so into The MVAA is, of O y sleeping very little, bleated, heads fastened the $32,000

By ANDREA SUOZZ — 4-H club Ò Once IÕ m keep them still. probabl billing for services, and on a metal platform to to trim all of many other things to do. covers around ADDISON COUNTY were hard in the show g 4-H members, the week in town contributions g Siri, who was hurryin Seifert said for most members around the county g for their ring, thatÕ s back to of its total operatin a full-time job.” headed much she percent pretty 3 before “is her sheep which has at work this week preparin Addison the best looking of Field Days showing events are “Fitting and budget. The organization,tion, has 12 year: 4-H for a week, said she’s she’ll the main camp of The first event biggest where “Conformation.” The earned statewide recogni Days. feeling, forward to Field Days, g Showmanship” and based on their composure another eight County Fair and Field full-time employees, itors the 350 4-H whether you spend much of the week preparin and the and dozens of the evaluates compet During the week, is ring, diem, the said, per she around work That, county who the for competition. while leading an animal . works out members in 18 clubs aroundcompete in come in first work. volunteers. The MVAA square-foot , judges the animals payoff for all the hard will show their animals trate their or last.Ó ring, that’s second own events during the of a newly built, 11,860- Medical “Once I’m in the show Each 4-H group has its e in on Porter other events, and demons you come in with sheep can compet facility just north of lead-up to the Ñ Siri Swans the best feeling, whether week, too. Members where ongoing projects. In the Center off South Street. ation had contest or a special show Siri. were doing the join a wool-blocking dressed in organiz e next week, members that first or last,” said will the Siri someon said animals by camp, the led Edson of be g the Town Once she returns from ute the sheep must final grooming and training barns. been considering droppin the past nds’ 4-H members in last-min wool clothing. s for will soon fill the fairgrou Riley and Gabrielle the other county e to trim an animal, Meeting Day request heading to Field Days, Dairy members can compet believe they are In Orwell last Friday, vely, trimmed their preparations before other 4-H members and can participate three years. Officials rs in the horse shows where they will meet Ochs, 10 and 12, respecti n, 13. the youth and membe (See 4-H, Page 16A) (See MVAA, Page 14A) display projects in County sheep alongside Siri Swanso rs of Orwell’s Ewe their animals, Addison the at work That day, the three membegroup were hard at exhibition hall and 4-H and Me Sheep Peeps

4-H kids ready animals

for star turns at fair

Day seat at V-J Miss lls front-rowe witn ouri essed surrender on

ca World War II vet re

Drak

Addison County

By the way

n F. Drake, He is Capt. Sherma Drake served aboard

By JOHN FLOWERS It’s a USNR (Ret.). three years MIDDLEBURY — Missouri for almost Pearl Harbor, the l Naval career picturesque day in during a very eventfu nd glimpse couple High young a and hted by a first-ha Hawaii, in 2007 The Vergennes Union are among the highlig of the ceremonial end to s of Music has and their two children in School Friend — and anyone the bloodiest conflict scores of people fanning invited music lovers USS The a summer world history. across the deck of the likes a cold drink on who I nes the ing “It was someth Japanese to enjoy the Vergen Missouri, admiring rest evening — hosted gent this Monday at 7 p.m. would remember the iconic battleship that s 90, City Band ny for contin of my life,” Drake, now at on the City Green. The Friend the surrender ceremo ely at the an interview Page 6A) during way, said the Japanese forces, effectiv By (See surrender Creek the Lodge at Otter ending World War II. at a was Ò a sad in Middlebury, where he The family pauses a wife his upon g with gaze to lookin now resides bulkhead y. The of the lot, IÕ ll tell of 67 years, Doroth posted photograph not that passing years have surrender ceremony that. ........ 6A nding 1945, you Obituaries ........................ 6B-10B diminished a comma occurred on Sept. 2, come Day. They were Classifieds ....................... .. 7B-9B voice that must have also known as V-J y in years their utterl his notes during Service Directory ............ man in handy An older ............ 15A and defeated.Ó Entertainment ............ the service. interest, walks up, ...... 8A-10A of see Ñ Capt.

Community Calendar A 1944 graduate asks, “You want to ........ 1B-3B points Sherman the U.S. Naval Academy Sports ........................ my picture?” then d Drake at Annapolis, Drake’s to a face in the crowde as photo first assignment was black-and-white newly minted a aboard that includes such military ensign s MacArthur an the last of the Iowa class, giants as Gen. Dougla l Chester Missouri, battleships in and U.S. Navy Fleet Admira among the biggest War II and W. Nimitz.

(See Drake, Page 12A) nces during World says. y about his experie “There I am,” the man (Ret.), speaks Monda USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945. nt Campbell F. DRAKE, USNR er aboard the Independent photo/Tre CAPT. SHERMAN surrend se t for the Japane

Index

Drug crime loomed larger than usual in the news in Addison County in 2012. On the heels of forums in Vergennes in late 2011, Bristol residents gathered several times in 2012 at forums to hear law enforcement officials talk about the topic of illicit drugs and related criminal activity here, and to discuss what as citizens they might do about a problem that seemed to grow in magnitude.

As police said in the forums, drug addiction affects everyone. Not only do most residents know someone who suffers from the ailment, but also police offer compelling statistics that those seeking to feed their habits commit most thefts and break-ins.

Law enforcement agencies were not just talking about drug crime, they were busy with a number of drug investigations and subsequent arrests and citations. In 2012, the Vermont State, Vergennes and Bristol police collectively made arrests in three higher-profile cases for trafficking in or distribution of heroin, and another eight arrests or citations in eight cases for heroin possession.

VSP also in November busted what they alleged to be a methamphetamine laboratory at a Route 125 home in Hancock, arresting three on felony charges in what officials said was the first substantial meth case to be prosecuted in Addison County.

Some of the other cases were significant, too. In December, Vergennes police led authorities in the

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arrest of three at a Leicester home, one of them a Brooklyn, N.Y., man who they alleged brought with him 700 bags of heroin worth about $25 apiece and ready to sell. He allegedly still had more than 300 with him when he was busted, police said.

Informants were used in both those cases, which ended with arrests after lengthy investigations. The Vergennes police probe — it was theirs because one of the suspects lived in the Little City — was ongoing for 18 months and involved extensive cooperation with VSP. Many of the other cases were also the result of Bristol, Middlebury and Vergennes and state police working together.

“Cooperation between agencies is key,” said Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel. “There is no room for professional jealousy, and there is none.”

Citizens at forums talked about what they could do to help police and create healthy communities. One issue that cropped up in the forums was the shortage of treatment options for those with drug problems.

Maybe that was why late in the year when a proposal surfaced late in 2012 to convert the former Briarwood Nursing Home in Vergennes into a residential treatment center for teenage girls and young women with substance abuse issues, it found only a little opposition in the neighborhood and community, and support among city officials and a number of residents.

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Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013 — PAGE 25

nt is feaThe work of Pat Olipha political t of tured in a local exhibi cartoons. See Page 10B.

hockey and The Middlebury field will host women’s soccer teams Page 1B. NCAA regionals. See

s a sailor Our special section featurefrom recalling D-Day and vets service. various wars talking about

Elections return incumbents to capitol

Drawing a bead

Panthers rule

Veterans Day

NTY ADDISON COU

INDEPENDENT November ont  Thursday,

Middlebury, Verm

Vol. 66 No. 45

ats in Senate

Ayer, Bray grab se

By JOHN FLOWERS Addison MIDDLEBURY — Buel’s Gore County, Huntington and elming envoters on Tuesday overwh Claire Ayer, dorsed incumbent Sen. term in office fifth a for son, D-Addi Haven Demoand also elected New nt them in crat Chris Bray to represechamber. the Legislature’s highest

Smith tops McGuire in Addison-5 House race

Ripton indeRobert Wagner, a majority of the Ayer, the former Senate t, placed third and out man of the penden in this, his whip and current chairwo Commit- running with 5,073 tallies state consecutive bid for the Senate Health and Welfare tter, notch- second tee, was the top vote-ge the former Senate. back to ing 12,943 tallies. Bray, ntative and “I am happy to be goingher elec” Ayer said of Addison-5 state represe as nt gov- the Senate, task lieutena main for her te citing 2010 candida with 9,915 tion victory,Senate, Page 19A) (See ernor, finished second, votes.

By JOHN FLOWERS Rep. HarMIDDLEBURY — Haven, won revey Smith, R-New representing election to a sixth term t House on Addison-5 in the Vermon Democrat g Tuesday after defeatin of New Hare McGui Ed challenger ven, 1,145-959. farmer and Smith, 67, is a lifelong representing is in his second stint n-5, a disAddiso trict that includes the towns of New Haven, Bridport and Weybridge.

Smith defeated McGuire 523-433 in New Haven and by a 390-226 margin in Bridport.

McGuire, 69, had a strong showing as a first-time canSMITH didate. The retired High School Mount Abraham Union Guard offiteacher and U.S. Coast of Weybridge by town the cer won but was unable a 300-232 margin, Smith had reto overcome the edge and Bridport. corded in New Haven e when you “It’s always a pleasur on Wednesday. win,” Smith said really appreci“It is humbling. You g with you, ate all the folks workin helping you get supporting you and elected.” unsolicited some got also Smith political acassistance from the nters First,” tion committee “Vermo campaign which circulated several the weeks during fliers on his behalf (See Smith, Page 22A)

75¢

8, 2012  46 Pages

’ to VUHS bond ANwSU residents say ‘no

roof repairs kitchen and cafeteria, and areas of the building, School, 2,244-1,653. ow voters said to several

By ANDY KIRKALDY sidewalk and traffic-fl In percentage terms, ts of to a plan parking, VERGENNES — Residen by 57.6 to 42.4 percent to the improvements. no Superest assisthe five Addison Northw Tuesday that included improvements ANwSU administrative tion on d installa towns receive visory Union s auditorium, Martin, who $6.5 million school’ artificial tant Glory an and 19A) track Page rejected a proposed six-lane (See VUHS, and major up- of a field, upgrades to its bond to fund repairs Union High turf playing grades to Vergennes

Bristol backs new town plan Compromises vital to document

EN

By XIAN CHIANG-WAR d new BRISTOL — The propose a deciwith Bristol town plan passed vote on Tuessive 68.7 percent of the process that ar day, ending an eight-ye divide the town at times seemed to ls and reon issues of zoning proposa source extraction. ecstatic,” said “In all honesty, I’m Planning Kris Perlee of the Bristol was done work Commission. “A lot of make a plan that by a lot of people to the town as a reflects the desires of whole.” are visionary In Vermont, town plans a community’s documents that chart transportation, priorities for growth, natural resource housing, energy and things. They stewardship, among other on which zoning also serve as the basis rules are written. atop a wealth In Bristol, which sits t s, the town election. Voter turnou resource y’s gravel Tuesda of natural cast her ballot during wrapped up in nt Campbell Thompson how to Independent photo/Tre plan quickly became instructs voter Lisa when to permit WATCHER John Meakin the issue of where and WEYBRIDGE POLL in many county towns. were made t extraction, and changes the at-times was above 70 percen along the way to address contentious question. sion is a re“The planning commis worked hard to ally diverse group that represented,” fewer areas see that all sides we well “There are fewer and 58 chairman of the be considered easily won, garnering said Peeker Heffernan, of Vermont that can made a lot l analyst ter Shumlin (as of Wednesday Bristol selectboard. “They point.” can,” Davis said. tests. Eric Davis, a politica l percent of votes of votes solidly Republithe Vermont Republito get to this mises percent 95

By ANDY KIRKALDY Addison and a professor emeritus of politica compro with of Davis said — , noted morning of the plan, aphic diADDISON COUNTY at Middlebury College 38 percent for Republi The latest incarnation party faces a demogr Presidential science tracked counted) to , 1,061-484, to Brock. Davis can County balloting in the statewide how closely local balloting which passed on Tuesday mises, inin broadening its appeal can challenger Randy he lemma d what mirrore typiin compro the e results won only current solid race on Tuesday incorporated major the first with statewid across noted that Brock counties of Caledo- state residents: Its only voters and Village Planning voting, as Vermont becamein Demo- called a big day for Democrats cluding creation of a cally Republican support comes from older lack postland around the state in the nation placed Obama’s Vermont. and Orleans.

Area that protected r voters who yesterday is nia, Franklin Brock failed to win in from younge resource extraccratic President Barack a second “The big story from village from natural education, and those But, he said, atic wave Rut- high school column in his march toward can-leaning Essex and simply there was a Democr (See Bristol, Page 22A) (See Races, Page 13A) Republi said.

Davis over the state,” term. voters also that swept of the ticket, Gov. Pe- land counties.

Meanwhile, county top At the statewide conbacked winners in all

tide ocratic in Dem votersstrojo Vermont’s victors Local nty king for president, bac ng ides prov Addison Cou

cted as Lanpher, Clark re-ele kers ma Vergennes-area law 56, was the top vote-get-

Lanpher, tive

By JOHN FLOWERS Incumbent ter in securing her third consecu nting the communities VERGENNES — ennes, and term represe Ferrisburgh, Panton, n, Reps. Greg Clark, R-Verg ennes, easily of Addiso She finDiane Lanpher, D-Verg respective Vergennes and Waltham. ed compar their to votes, ion with 2,635 won re-elect his nting the Addi- ished for Clark, who secured House seats represe voting in to 2,355 20A) son-3 district amid heavyn.

(See Vergennes, Page Tuesday’s General Electio

Jewett wins, to vie for House majority leader

Addison County

By the way

By JOHN FLOWERS Willem JewHampel RIPTON — Rep. Oops! Apologies to Betty ed her tably won his ett, D-Ripton, comfor tive term of Middlebury. We publish 11A of contest for a fifth consecu n-2 House poem “Haunted” on Page forgot representing the Addiso dent chalbut we last Thursday’s paper, the author district, defeating indepen 1,400-882 as name her a to include lenger Tim Ryan by mistake. Thanks Our poem. y. the of Tuesda margin in voting on 19A) were count(See By the way, Page And after the ballots to the Addison ed, Jewett confirmed will run for the Independent that he y Leader when post of House Majorit Jewett 8.

Dec. ........ 6A on s his party caucuse Obituaries ........................ . 4B-8B House Majority currently serves as Classifieds .......................... 5B-7B ned their Whip. Democrats maintai Vermont Service Directory ............ the ........................ 12A inment sizable majority in Enterta in turnout ...... 8A-10A House amid heavy voter n.

Community Calendar ........ 1B-3B the Nov. 6 General Electioto get the Sports ........................ d “I’m always gratifie rs on election support of my neighbo the results. of day,” Jewett, 49, said means It by it.

“I’m always humbled to do going that there is a lot of work (See Jewett, Page 22A)

Index

ght s open muDouble deli nes union high school EBURY AND Vergen ed “White Christ-

BOTH MIDDL above, rehears Elliot d. Alix Kauffman, nes castmates, while sicals this weeken with fellow Vergen through the second act of mas” Tuesday night and DJ Piper worked photographs, Franklin, far right, tion of “Anything Goes.” For more l Middlebury’s produc and Trent Campbel 16A. Photos by Keith Darwin see Pages 2A and

The decennial reapportionment of the state’s legislative districts brought an interesting change in Addison County’s two-seat senatorial district in the spring, but that change did not fuel much intrigue for the November elections that were to come.

Reapportionment — done every 10 years to ensure legislative districts reflect the Constitutional standard of one person, one vote — resulted in re-drawn House and Senate maps. A special committee, which included former Democratic Sen. Gerry Gossens of Salisbury, recommended no changes to Addison County’s House districts. But it produced a Senate map that initially suggested the Addison County senatorial district shed the town of Brandon to the south and instead absorb Charlotte to the north. Charlotte residents opposed the move, which was taken off the table in place of a new scenario that eventually won bipartisan approval: Swapping Brandon instead for the communities of Huntington and Buel’s Gore.

It is a swap that did not generate widespread opposition from the affected communities. Some Huntington officials in fact said the change might result in their community getting better representation in the Senate than they had been getting from the Chittenden County delegation.

Political observers noted the newly constituted

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Addison County senatorial district would benefit Democratic candidates over Republicans. That’s because the district was shedding the largely conservative voting bloc of Brandon and replacing it with the more left-leaning electorate of Huntington and Buel’s Gore.

That shift in demographics apparently resonated with prospective Republican candidates during the ensuing months, as not one GOP hopeful would file papers to run for the county’s two state Senate seats. That was even more surprising in light of an open seat; incumbent Sen. Harold Giard, DBridport, had announced he would not seek re-election.

Indeed, there weren’t a lot of fireworks on election night in Addison County. All of the incumbent Addison County lawmakers on the ballot won re-election, most of them Democrats who ran unopposed. The county did add one new-but-familiar face to its legislative delegation: New Haven Democrat Chris Bray, who won election to the state Senate. Bray had previously represented the Addison-5 House district for four years. He joins longtime incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire Ayer of Addison in the state’s highest chamber.

Among those returned to office, following a win against Salisbury independent Tim Ryan, was Rep. Willem Jewett. In December, Jewett, a Ripton Democrat, ran successfully for the post of House majority leader.

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PAGE 26 — Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013

Coons dies at 59 Addison County Sheriff Jim

Paul Munson came in 1982, when Sheriff ranks and served briefly for re-election. Lt. the elected not to run easily beat his high bailiff, Keeler will Ò He was very fair, as acting chief prior to Jim Coons, a Republican, of

By JOHN FLOWERS Taylor of hiring of former Chief Al County perform the functions that challenger, independent Robert MIDDLEBURY — Addison until Gov. Peter and I think Watson. And while Coons sheriff 1,147. to Monday 6,741 on died Haven, New a replace- was the way he Sheriff Jim Coons, who electoral would’ve been a prime was recalled Shumlin picks He would never face a serious career, the balance evening at the age of 59, of his candidate for the Middleofficials as a ment to serve which ex- treated everyone threat during the balance that vacancy, by fellow law enforcement term, himself chief’s bury .I ve public of Coons’ which he would establish gregarious, savvy and cooperati ed his pires in February of 2015. in the county was not in his career during on the Addison the post as a formidable presence servant who dramatically transform plans.

“I never took the posi- think that was ent scene. in enforcem decades law three his County department during “He didn’t want to be tion (of high bailiff) really reason he was so as the new kid on the block started “He be to someday office. chief; he wanted Keeler said. face of law thinking I would said, as respected.Ó and he became the dean,” “Jim Coons was the iconic Keeler Keeler said. along the County and a be sheriff,” Ñ Judge Frank sheriff,” the reasons was And he accomplished a lot in Coons’ enforcement in Addison One of Broughton present,” said he sat pensively way, according to Keeler. bridge between the past and e of that his late father, Moroffice in the sheriff’s deHanley.

Perhaps the most impressiv was headquarters Middlebury Police Chief Tom ton, had served as sheriff partment follow.” achievements, officials said, Coons’ would Street, Coons “He will be a tough act to Court on from 1955 to 1961. Morton a booming and jail ing and expanding the sheriff’s Coons, a bear of a man with that was substantially refur- later go on to serve as an Addison County moderniz d service ry home after a building department. He negotiate voice, died at his Middlebu under Coons’ watch. that did not bished towns judge. flagged county assistant with health me his to depart- contracts battling cancer. Even as “Jim Coons was like a brother “He grew up in this building,” of Jim have their own police forces but wanted continued to said during recent months, Coons him tremendously.” thieves running of his and I’ll miss his career with the Middle- ment Capt. Charlie Clark some protection against speeders, make key decisions in the Coons began a 40-year (See Coons, Page 20A) nt in 1972, serving Coons.

Jim Coons, shown department, noted Don Keeler, sheriff’s job found bury Police Departme Coons’ chance at the ADDISON COUNTY SHERIFF three ascended the of the force who suddenly after serving more than for 10 years. Coons quickly As in 2010, died April 16 top law enforcement officer. veteran Tuesday. on job the himself thrust into decades as the county’s Independent file photo/Trent

Vol. 66 No. 16

Campbell

ADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont



Thursday, April 19, 2012



75¢

58 Pages

Mobile slaughter ed business pitchlivest ock

By JOHN FLOWERS area to serve as a base of Ò The humane s and butcher NEW HAVEN — way to process operationprocessin g and A Weybridge man is shop for ter proposing to establish or slaugh sales of meat. s, the state’s first mobile these animal If OK’d by state and large , for opinion house authorities, in my slaughter federal animals, a business he is to bring that Smith’s business — said will bring services component to called Green Pasture would — directly to producers the farm, or as Meats the second meat and help fill a sizable become it as void of meat processing close to processing facility to possible.Ó facilities in Vermont. lay down roots in the Ñ Mark Smith Middlebury area this Mark Smith, a former farm worker and current year. As reported last Independent, alpine skiing coach at has month in the Addison Vermont Green Mountain Valley School, first phase Ferrisburgh-based permission to secured financing for the the Livestock is seeking of his plan, which will include its operation with a new, expand slaughter house purchase of a mobile 11,442-square-foot slaughter as-yetan of lease the 17A) unit and (See Slaughterhouse, Page in the to-be-determined building

By ANDY KIRKALDY new VERGENNES — The Elementary Union Vergennes degrees School principal has and the from Middlebury College is now Vermont, of y Universit of the serving as the president on Vermont Principals’ Associati ative and has nine years of administr Abraham experience at Mount nior Union and Proctor Junior/Se

high schools. e bullet Those and other impressiv résumé points on June Sargent’s 16 helped her stand out among the for candidates and three finalists an job, said VUES board chairwom Tara Brooks. ions qualificat her of But on top of all ties and came Sargent’s community

said.

To start with, Sargent — a Brandon replace resident who as of July 1 will Sandy retiring longtime Principal Vergennes Bassett — is a VUES and whose Union High School graduate Larrabee, Helen and Bill parents, still live in Vergennes.

“We were looking for someone and an who really had an interest ty,” investment in our communi ... wanted Brooks said. “She really of our to come in and be part community.”

Sargent, , In a Tuesday interview printhe Proctor middle/high school she said cipal for the past five years, working was looking forward to (See Sargent, Page 20A)

Addison County in 2012 bade farewell to two wellrespected, veteran public servants — one following illness, the other very unexpectedly after a tragic accident on Route 7.

Addison County Sheriff Jim Coons died in April at age 59 after a battle with cancer. He had spent almost four decades in local law enforcement, including 30 years as sheriff. Hundreds of people packed Middlebury College’s Mead Chapel to give Coons a moving send-off. Among those present were former police colleagues, firefighters, emergency responders, past and present judges, state and municipal officials, and a lot of regular folks, some of whom had broken from a criminal past thanks to Coons’ guidance.

Coons was remembered as a dedicated leader who would go out of his way to assist others.

He was also credited with having dramatically transformed the Addison County Sheriff’s Department, both physically and bureaucratically, since taking its helm in 1982.

Addison County High Bailiff Don Keeler — himself a 40-year veteran of the sheriff’s department — was picked by Gov. Peter Shumlin to serve out Coons’ term. Keeler quickly immersed himself in the rigors of job while dealing with the major task of closing of the county jail following the expiration of a federal contract.

Nov. 30 proved a very dark day at Mount Abraham Union High School, the Vermont Statehouse and in the city of Vergennes. That’s the day when

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large Would be first targeted for Middlebury/New Haven

il VUES picks former pup l principa to be new school Brooks her commitment to students,

County mourns loss of Clark, Coons

Bergmans, , Tyah Zimmerman, Tyler Amelia Spahr, Natalie Jackman class-written play about the legend Ryder Messinger, left, mostly in one night by g presentation of their L SCHOOL kindergartners it that the canal was dug FERRISBURGH CENTRA their costumes for an upcomin Champlain. Legend has Fonte strike a pose in ng Otter Creek to Lake Cal Gramling and Owen Campbell ly man-made canal connecti a British blockade.

Independent photo/Trent evade to of the Dugway, an apparent War nary the Revolutio American troops during

ts local legend

Kindergarten class presen the Thomas MacDonough outfoxed Otter Creek.

By ANDY KIRKALDY of British at the mouth of play, FERRISBURGH — A part a In the pupils’ short at least help from, the nation’s history — or legend MacDonough receives farm boy, fanciful version of a local fictional a others, among gh Ethan — will come to life at Ferrisbur George Washington, and Mountain Central School on Friday morning. of Allen and the Green At 10:30 a.m., the 17 members Brooks’ Boys.

Mackindergarten teacher Josh And the pupils show version class will present their his troops digging and Donough ore of how American Commod

s, and making use of a mysteriou natural 454-foot canal — or moat or identity geographic feature; its true joins the is a topic of debate — that and exriver with Lake Champlain ists to this day.

The story of how Brooks’ students back came to put on the play starts , when with his Panton childhood of the his dad passed on the legend

18-foot-wide, 150-yard waterway or the known as the “dugway” Otter “dugout.” It runs west from south of Creek to Fields Bay, just site Fort Revolutionary War battle

Cassin Point. go “(My father and I) would and fishing down in that area, the past we would always go (See Ferrisburgh, Page 20A)

Bristol farm approved for Cow Power project

Addison County

By the way

to of electricity per year, according e of renewabl

By JOHN FLOWERS Public David Dunne, manager That 3 million BRISTOL — The Vermont the green projects for CVPS. roughly 18 perService Board has given i- kWh would supply needs will energy light to a major methane-to-electric combined the of Jo LaFontaine of Bristol an larg- cent Haven, be ty facility at one of the county’s of Bristol, Monkton, New Hun- deliver what we expect to y, Lincoln, est dairy farms. exciting presentation Thursda Four Starksboro, Ripton, It was this past Jan. 6 that tington and Buel’s Gore, April 19, on her experiences at The served all are Hills Farm requested a Africa. which in traveling certificate of public good Ò Even if it one central substation, presentation is titled “Lessons from the Public Service just cut our Volunteering With Dunne noted.

Zambia: from opventure repBorders.”

Board to install and Without Mothers g costs The new erate a 525kW methane beddin resents around a $2.5 Unfortunately we gave the wrong electrical generating fa- in half, we million investment for location for the talk in a photo cility at its 722 Burpee would be Four Hills, a payout caption in Monday’s paper.

Road headquarters in happy.Ó the farm owners will LaFontaine will speak at Bristol’s has Bristol. Four Hills be able to gradually reMemorial Library Ñ Shannon Hill coup through a couple Lawrence at the 2,500 head of cattle, beginning at 7 p.m. — not Farm around 1,250 of which of Four Hills of sources, according to (See By the way, Page 20A) being currently are Dunne. enrolled milked.

First, the project will be VerCentral of part as Enng ly Priced Functioni “Cow in the state’s Sustainab mont Public Service Corp.’s soon ergy Enterprise Development promethane-fired Power” program, the farm will (known as SPEED), through that is part of 525-kW 6A-7A long manure digester to generate 3 be able to repurpose its manure into gram Obituaries ..........................

16A) on top of the 200-footThe facility is designed 9B-13B (See Four Hills Farm, Page hours SHANNON HILL STANDS being built at Four Hills Farm in Bristol.

Classifieds ....................... an estimated 3 million kilowatt facility Campbell Independent photo/Trent electricity-generating year. per y Service Directory .......... 10B-12B of electricit 13A million kilowatt-hours Entertainment ........................

Community Calendar ...... 8A-10A 1B-4B ..

Sports ..............................

Index

Sports report

a A special section inside takes teams look at all the spring varsity at the four local high schools.

World tourney

cancer A trio of Addison County boats survivors will race in dragon in Hong Kong. See Page 2A.

veteran teacher and state Rep. Greg Clark, a Republican representing Vergennes, died after being struck by a car while clearing his icy windshield at the side of Route 7 in Waltham.

Clark’s death at age 65 touched many people of many age groups and walks of life.

For almost two decades, Clark had taught the “Age of Legality” class at Mount Abraham, where he was recalled as a warm-hearted educator, always quick with a smile and a playful nickname to assign to his young charges.

More than 600 students, teachers and friends packed the Mount Abe auditorium on the day of his funeral to pay tribute to their beloved teacher. A similar outpouring came at Vergennes Union High School, where Clark’s wife, Eileen, has long worked.

Clark’s death also stunned people at the Statehouse, where Clark had represented the Addison-3 House district for a decade.

Legislative colleagues remembered Clark, who served on the House Education Committee, as a hard working lawmaker who could always deliver a quip that could break the tension of an acrimonious floor debate.

The Vergennes community also mourned Clark for his contributions on the city council, as past deputy major, and at his local church.

“Greg elevated the moment, and those moments are what we should be living in,” said the Rev. Gary Lewis, pastor of the Congregational Church of Vergennes, in eulogizing Clark.

Vergennes-area Republicans are expected to soon forward Gov. Peter Shumlin the names of candidates interested in filling out the two-year term that Clark won in the November elections.

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Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013 — PAGE 27

Dragonhearts

Skateboarders

Shine a light

A Vermont team of dragon boat competitors takes world honors in Hong Kong races. See page 15A.

Bristol’s skateboard park hosts the BYOBacon competition, drawing many top competitors. Page 1B.

A dream prompts a fundraising campaign by area artists to combat domestic violence. Page 3A.

ADDISON COUNTY

INDEPENDENT Middlebury, Vermont

Vol. 66 No. 29



Bristol plan enters final stretchs

selectboard revision Planning Commission approves discussions meeting, the and a handful of public

By ANDREW STEIN BRISTOL — After almost a decade of helping shape a proposed town plan, the Bristol Planning Commission may have considered the document for the last time on Tuesday.

At its monthly planning commission unanimously OK’d the 42 revisions proposed by the selectboard.

For the past two months, the selectboard has scrutinized the document. After a public hearing

about the proposed plan, the board proposed 42 revisions to the document. In keeping with state statutes, the selectboard sent it back to the planning commission for its (See Bristol, Page 16A)

75¢

Thursday, July 19, 2012  32 Pages

y for park displays City OK’s newfor polic on municipal property at placement of such features as crèche

By JOHN FLOWERS Christmastime and whether that The the longstanding Christian nativity — VERGENNES display could be construed as the a particular religion.

Vergennes City Council on scene.

The new policy, some four city endorsing Tuesday unanimously approved a The city council last April hosted caps making, the in months on the issue that new rules for use of the city green debate on use of the a public meeting city-wide special and displays 140 people who for religious after a resident questioned drew around Page 16A) events, a policy that sets a specific green policy, (See City decades-old display of a application process and timeline the

ACSU fills 25 positions, prepares for school year

New dental center eyed for Bristol’s downtown Nonprofit seeks community support

By ANDREW STEIN BRISTOL — For roughly half a decade, a local nonprofit has sought to set up the Addison County Dental Center, a dental facility for low- to moderate-income citizens. Now, with Bristol health facilities shifting spaces and one clinic applying for special federal status, chair of the center’s board, Peg Martin, thinks the nonprofit’s stars might finally align in Bristol.

Martin and the center’s board want to work with town officials to obtain federal funding to set up a dental center in the Park Street building that Bristol Internal Medicine is leaving.

Around five years ago, the dental center received $200,000 in federal funds to set up a Middlebury facility.

But the board still needed one thing: a dentist. Over a several-year period, four prospective dentists turned away from the job due to what board members said were tough economic times. Martin explained that typical for reimbursements Medicaid dentists are very slim.

“If you had an all Medicaid practice you’d be out of business not does simply Medicaid because pay enough,” she said.

The organization wasn’t able to fill the space its board had planned to occupy, and the space was rented out to another eager tenant.

Around the same time, the Five Town Health Alliance (5THA) — a Bristol-based nonprofit dedicated to (See Dental clinic, Page 14A)

Addison County

By the way

Middlebury College is holding a benefit golf tournament this Sunday for the family of Jonah Rule of Starksboro, who died June 26 in an automobile accident. Tournament organizers say there are about 16 teams of four signed up, but they’d like to have 32. One hundred percent of the money raised will go to the Jonah Rule Memorial Fund and Jonah’s family. To sign up call Jason Quenneville at 802-9890478 or Tony Emilo at 802-9898760 and enjoy a great day of golf (See By the way, Page 2A)

Swingin’

NIKKI JUVAN, ABOVE left, Lisa Powell, Meg Guilfoy, Liz Cleveland and Julie Banach, and Cleveland, left photo, rehearse for the Middlebury Community Players production of “Swingtime Canteen.” The show, which was performed five years ago in Bristol, is back by popular demand for the Town Hall Theater’s MiddSummer Nights Theater Festival. For more photos and information, see Page 2A.

Independent photos/Trent Campbell

Claudon’s boatworks business runs like

he said. “Boats are

By KAITLYN Snake Mounjust really big clocks.

KIRKALDY It’s that same urge to BoatW E Y B R I D G E tain preserve.”

–– Michael Claudon works is one Mountain Snake managed to combine of the featured Boatworks, which is three of his passions sponsors of the located in Weybridge clocks, –– antique annual Small at Claudon’s expansive economics and wooden homestead, got its Boat Festival boats –– into one he when genesis business at Basin Harsuccessful purchased a wooden bor this Saturventure. boat to restore. He knew started day and SunClaudon he would be retiring Mountain day, July 21Snake from the college soon Boatworks in 2008, 22. The event and wanted something for it opening to do afterward. held at the customers in 2011. is “I bought an old Before that, he worked Lake Chamwooden boat with the 6A-7A clocks ...

Maritime antique plain ....................... with Obituaries intent of just restoring and taught economics Museum.

Classifieds ....................... 8B-12B it as a hobby,” he said. at Middlebury College.

Service Directory ............ 9B-10B I realized I “Then He explained that Entertainment .................... 6B-7B restore the boat unless I had the jump from restoring clocks to couldn’t Community Calendar ...... 8A-10A which meant I had to have wooden boats is not as farfetched as a shop, Sports ................................ 1B-4B a real shop with real woodworking it seems.

So we transformed half the “Long ago I ran one of the largest tools. into a state-of-the-art boat antique clock businesses in northern barn facility. Then I retired Vermont. I’d restore them, fix them restoration (See Claudon, Page 16A) mechanically and buy and sell them,”

By JOHN FLOWERS MIDDLEBURY — The Addison Central Supervisory Union (ACSU) will start the 2012-2013 academic year with 25 new faces, including a substantially revamped central office that will soon be led by a new superintendent.

New central Ò As I look office hires inforward to clude Assistant S u p e r i n t e n - my second dent of Cur- year, and riculum there is a t Developmen Feni- positive Carol Busi- excitement more; ness Manager because of Laura Nassau; some of the Linda Darrow, coordinator of talented early childhood people services; Jason who will LaMora, direcbe joining tor of technology; and Susan usÉ Ó Ñ ACSU English, associate director Superintendent of student ser- Dr. Gail Conley vices.

Two of these positions (assistant superintendent, business manager) were vacated amid controversy; others became open due to routine turnover.

The new hires give ACSU Superintendent Dr. Gail Conley a full team for the first time since he joined the district a year ago.

“As I look forward to my second year, there is a positive excitement because of some of the talented people who will be joining us…”

Conley said on Monday.

A variety of other new faces will join the ACSU, which includes Middlebury Union Middle School, Middlebury Union High School and the elementary schools in Bridport, Cornwall, Salisbury, Shoreham, Ripton, Middlebury and Weybridge.

Bridport Central School will welcome four new faculty members, including student services director (See ACSU, Page 14A)

clockwork

Index

City resolves crèche display policy In an decision that required the Vergennes City Council to navigate the tricky wider questions of free speech, religious freedom and the separation of church and state, aldermen in July adopted a new policy that allowed groups to install religious and other displays on the city’s central downtown green.

Aldermen created that policy after a citizen complained about the popular Christian nativity scene that has been displayed on the green for decades with tacit city approval.

The crèche was not stored on city property or maintained or erected by Vergennes personnel, but the city retained a small fund to help pay to maintain it. That fund was cleared from the city’s books this past summer.

Vergennes aldermen adopted their new policy after a four-month process that included a number of drafts; a public forum attended by about 140 area residents, most of whom wanted to preserve that crèche; residents sending a flood of emails to city officials, or pulling them aside for informal chats; social media posts, and letters to the Independent; and extensive research by aldermen into the legal issues and precedents established elsewhere.

The result, which incorporated some of that extensive public feedback, was a policy that sets a specific application process and timeline for placement of any

is the owner of Snake Mountain to a restored 1959 Cutter Jet deVille, at MICHAEL CLAUDON, STANDING next 2010 as an economics professor opened the shop after retiring in Boatworks in Weybridge. Claudon Independent photo/Trent Campbell Middlebury College.

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display desired by any group, not only the longstanding Christian crèche.

The new policy: • Stipulates that except for for-profit entities or other organized groups, all activities for the city green must be scheduled through the city clerk, who will schedule uses on a “first-come, first-served” basis.

Any use by a for-profit entity or organized groups must be approved by the city council.

• Requires groups or individuals seeking to place a display on the green to apply at city offices no more than 90 days in advance. The application must include a photo or sketch with dimensions, which are limited to 400 square feet and 10 feet tall. Applicants must also put a sign on or near the display stating the name of its owner or sponsor.

• Sets up a three-person committee to review display applications.

• In addition to allowing the crèche and other similar proposals that meet the city’s criteria, requires that displays be removed within 45 days.

• Calls for the city to place a sign on the green stating that it neither endorses nor sponsors any private display placed there.

City officials and residents, including the original complainant, were pleased with the final policy, and by the holiday season the crèche stood again on the green.

um ber

10 N

PAGE 28 — Addison Independent, Monday, January 7, 2013

Top online stories, plus more news

MONDAY EDITION

TY ADDISON COUN

INDEPENDENT

The preceding Top 10 catalogs what the news Addison County saw ever so many important, interesting, staff of the Addison Independent chose as the most touching and fun stories last year that the Independent staff kept 36 Pages 2012 Monday, December 3, y, Vermont important stories of 2012, but readers have their own going after compiling the first 10. Here are some of the other lebur Midd Vol. 24 No. 42 nt opinions about what interested them most last year. stories of 2012 that caught our eyes. de ci ac ute 7 Rep. Clark killed in Ro To get one indication of that, look at the top 10 stories • The Eastern equine encephalitis scare that started in late Fiscal blow Colleagues and on our website.

Here are the headlines for the mostAugust and lasted until hard frosts in late fall finally killed ned stun to city youth students read stories of 2012 on addisonindependent.com, the mosquitoes that carried it just missed making our top 10. with their page views according to Google Analytics. Tragically, EEE killed two men in the area — Richard Breen of We’ll post this list with links to the stories at Brandon and Scott Sgorbati of Sudbury. State Local woman addisonindependent.com.

Health Department officials moved into shares memories 1. Despite new policies, rural action and sprayed parts of Addison and phone calls often dropped Rutland counties. Planning is under ANwSU page views: 7,034 way for fighting the mosquitoes school head 2.

EEE takes life of second and the disease next summer. sets date for Men’s hockey area man • George Demarais, 57, was back at Kenyon retirement page views: 3,759 shot and killed by Middlebury Second, part-time 3. Rep. Greg Clark killed police outside his Case Street superintendent on tap in Route 7 car accident home after an armed standoff. page views: 3,214 Demarais told police he 4. Man badly burned in “wanted to die via suicide by truck crash on Route 116 cop.” addisonindependent.com Reading buddies page views: 3,212 • A lot was going on at 5.

Community rallies after Middlebury College this past ng State creates $1M rsi nu es nn rge dad dies year, but we didn’t manage to Ve t can va Nowd for food center gradntforfun t en atm page views: 2,860 get any particular story into the top s tre as firm ry ed est ey me an ho Seasonal show of 6.

Police jail Bristol woman for 10.

Certainly the successful effort by re sweet sculptu 60-plus bags of heroin a group of college students this past fall to page views: 2,550 get Middlebury College decision makers to begin 7. Route 7 reopens after seven-hour standoff discussing divestment of the endowment from companies dealing with drunken shooter in fossil fuels and weapons was important news. page views: 2,460 • College officials also began to air plans and raise funds for a 8. Police recover body of drowned man in replacement to the “Bubble,” an inflated dome over indoor sports Otter Creek facilities. The 10-year-old structure was always meant to be page views: 2,289 temporary. Now the college envisions a permanent replacement 9. Robot blurs biological boundaries that is twice the size (100,000 square feet) that will feature a page views: 2,206 200-meter track and squash courts. Current price tag: $46 million.

10. Rep. Greg Clark mourned by colleagues, friends • A college story that really affected the broader community page views: 2,151 was the visit to campus of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Thousands attended the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s two talks Picking only 10 top stories in 2012 proved to be a challenge. at Nelson Arena this past October. 

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• The Vergennes Area Boys to & Girls Club must adjust the loss of $70,000 of federal funds. See Page 3.

O

ay the • On Friday and Saturd for Panthers skated at home . See the first time this season 18.

Page what happened on

• Dozens of entries in the ’s Vermont Folklife Center are on gingerbread competition display. See Page 2.

By ANDY KIRKALDY n NorthVERGENNES — Addiso Superintenwest Supervisory Union followdent Tom O’Brien will retire after year school 014 2013-2 ing the and on Nov. 13 years in Vergennes, board’s U ANwS the d receive 28 he full-time approval to work less than during — — on a 60-percent basis year. ic academ ing the upcom ANwSU Last Wednesday the to O’Brien board also gave approval e Addison to negotiate with longtim Principal (ACS) School l Centra aboard Wayne Howe about coming (See O’Brien, Page 22)

n

the We

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• Middlebury’s Lazarus is interviewed on Vermont Public TV about an old Burlington neighborhood.

See Page 17.

nt that floor, he would make a comme benefits debate in Mont- was not only germane to the issue, a city councilor — and at pelier. First elected to the but that also made everyone laugh,” Mount Abraham Union House in 2002, Clark had said Lanpher of her colleague. Clark he ive where , legislat High School re-election spent his entire and Lanpher easily won had taught since 1994. career on the House Edu- to new two-year terms earlier this “It is shocking,” said cation Committee. month.

By JOHN FLOWERS Lanpher, D“Oh my God, he was me state Rep. Diane leader of the Vermont House The been she had VERGENNES — Longti man,” who nes, recalled such a nice ennes, Vergen of Representatives also Rep. Greg Clark, R-Verg be- Clark’s colleague in the said. after Clark’s easygoing style. died on Friday, Nov. 30, vehicle two-seat Addison-3 Verthat Indeed, Clark was “With Greg, the first thing for ous, district ing struck by a southbound gregari a House as known was that quick smile; windshield mont both at comes to mind years. while scraping ice off his ,” Vermont GREG CLARK conscientious man Woodman the past four he was great to be around D-Morhow the in about at the side of Route 7 on He was and use talked She the Stateho r Shap Smith, nes. he built House Speake Hill just south of Vergen she and Clark had apa phone interhalls of Mount Abe, where kers risville, said during y, caring and r less than 24 hours 65. solid rapport with other lawma reverber- peared togethe view. “He was friendl to members of the a News of Clark’s death s. n County, earlier talking (See Clark, Page 14) Teachers’ and his student Retired House ated throughout Addiso the County on n up “When he stood Vergennes Addiso employee the about but particularly in the ation served as Associ area — where Clark had

Library in n’s room at the Bixby books in the childre left, and Lily Kidde read ent Campbell Independent photo/Tr FRIENDS LIOR TODD, morning. ay Vergennes last Thursd

By JOHN FLOWERS former Briarwood VERGENNES — The 1 Alden Place in VerManor nursing home at headquarters of a 19gennes could soon be the facility for adolesbed residential treatment who are battling cent girls and young women jury behaviors.” drug addiction and/or “self-inValley Vista — a d Owners of Bradford-base and chemical depenprivate, 80-bed alcohol serving men, women dency treatment center ed on Thursday and adolescents — confirm quare-foot Al9,146-s their plans to acquire the acres, a property curden Place building on 3.9 ne at $1.2 million. rently listed for sale by Redsto

ing we need,” Val“It has just about everyth DiStefano said of the ley Vista co-owner Rick has been vacant for former nursing home, which g is extremely ataround two years. “The buildinwant to do.” we tractive and ideal for what Others Pursue EmOperating as the Helping , the facility would powerment (HOPE) program nurses, clinicians, , employ more than 20 doctors ionals to help adocounselors and other profess 13 to 22) move (ages lescent girls and women behavior — primaraway from self-destructive the practice of selfily drug addiction and/or through cutting and injury, usually manifested (See Valley Vista, Page 7)

REN

By XIAN CHIANG-WA officials late last week MIDDLEBURY — State ng applications from soliciti announced that they are a portion of nearly $1 milentrepreneurs who want aside for food and forestry lion in grant funds set businesses. to $100,000 will be Grants ranging from $3,000 Vermont’s Working by awarded later this winter a $986,5000 fund defrom Lands Enterprise Board y Mountain State’s econom signed to fuel the Green while maintaining its and build its local food system Page 15) (See Working lands,

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