The Charlotte News Volume lVI Number 11
The VoIce of The TowN
Thursday, JaNuary 16, 2014
Who Owns What? At Monday’s Selectboard meeting, debate centered around who owns CVFRS’s equipment—the town or the organization John Hammer The charloTTe News
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Purple Skies Over Pond Hockey Noah Kiernan, 17, of Charlotte, captured a beautiful purple sunset over Charlotte’s ice rink after a game of pickup hockey with Henri Provost (black jersey) of Williston and Alex Kent of Shelburne.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place The story of this year’s proposed CCS budget isn’t as much about increasing costs as it is about the conflict between providing a quality education and paying for it. Brett Sigurdson The charloTTe News
While the weather in Charlotte was cold through the holidays into early January, the proceedings at two CCS School Board budget talks in the school library were anything but. With a baseline budget already three percent higher than last year’s approved budget, proposals to eliminate teaching positions and questions over the price tag—and the need—for some proposed expenditures, the meetings on Dec. 17 and Jan. 7 were filled with sometimes heated conversations about everything from the ever-rising cost of taxes in Charlotte to the future of education in the country. When all was said and done at the final budget meeting Jan. 14—compared to the other two meetings, it was brief and routine—the board voted to send a $7.5 million budget to voters. If passed at Town Meeting in March, the measure would result in a homestead rate of $1.0665, a property tax increase of roughly 5.3 percent over last year. While the overall budget number is up just over two percent from last year, mostly due to higher costs passed on to CCS from Chittenden South Supervisory Union (CSSU) in the baseline budget, the school board actually okayed more cuts to spending than it did additional expenditures. In total, the school board reduced the baseline budget by $89,064. By far the biggest portion of those cuts is in staffing, including the reduction of a full-time pri-
he Selectboard meeting of Jan. 13 was generally split into three parts. The first part was spent finalizing the town’s 201415 budget. The second part consisted of the first twenty minutes of the formal session beginning at 7 p.m. The third part was dominated by discussion of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the town and the Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service (CVFRS). The first hour of the meeting and a subsequent meeting on Jan. 14 were consumed with finalizing the town’s budget. The sharp pencils were out and the Selectboard was addressing big-ticket items. Its members began with a projected drop in budgeted revenues of $152,490 from last year, while budgeted expenses rose by $268,238. In their deliberations they added $55,000 as a place holder for the approaches or repairs to Bridges 31, 31, and 32, cut the contribution to the Conservation Fund to $90,000, added about $14,000 to the library for increased salaries and added $3,000 to grade and drain the Town Green. An additional $40,000 was added to the Town Maintenance and Repair Fund. The result was a growth in the overall town tax rate for next year of 17.57 cents compared to 16.7 cents this year. The latter part of the meeting dealing with the MOA between the town and CVFRS could be characterized by an often-heated discussion between two camps on the subject of the ownership of the assets of the CVFRS. One camp was led by Town Clerk/ Treasurer Mary Mead and two of the town’s elected
mary teacher, providing a savings of $77,082, and two middle-level content teachers at a savings of $126,298. Because of these reductions, the school Selectboard will also see a corresponding savings of roughly continued on page 5 $27,000 in full-time equivalent staffing in art, world languages and physical education. While some at the Dec.17 meeting complained the school board wasn’t going far enough in curtailing staff costs, the audience received a taste of what the board’s economic decisions mean. Art teacher Alice Trageser Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service will host its annual appeared at the meeting to express Fire & Ice Winter Party on Friday, Jan. 17, at the Old Lantern. dismay at the recommended 0.1 According to Corporate Board President David McNally, the FTE reduction in art, the equivaparty is a chance for the community to spend a fun evening with lent of a loss of a half-day. She CVFRS. Central to the night’s events will be an awards ceremony told the board that despite losing for CVFRS members. The party will also feature a cash bar beginteaching time she would still have ning at 6:30 p.m., a buffet dinner served at 7:30 p.m. and live the same amount of work but less music by classic-rock cover band The Hitmen until 11 p.m. time do it in. The party is open to all community members. There will be a Said board member Erik Beal $15 entry fee at the door. Children five and under are free. at the meeting, “I want to be on According to McNally, money raised from the event will offset the record as saying that none costs in next year’s budget. of us is going to be particularly Said McNally, “Any funds raised will be divided between the pleased with the particular personFire and Rescue Department Special Funds to support operational nel outcomes. I will hold my nose expenses in our FY14-15 budget.” and vote for that based on budget For more information on this event, contact CVFRS at 4253111 or info@cvfrs.org.
CVFRS to Host ‘Fire & Ice’ Party Jan. 17
CCS Budget
continued on page 9
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The Charlotte News
Legislative Report by Representative Mike Yantachka
Legislative Work Out of Session Offers a Preview of What’s to Come in Session
The Charlotte News PublishEd by and for CharlottErs sinCE 1958 The CharloTTe News is a nonprofit community-based newspaper dedicated to informing townspeople of current events and issues. It serves as a forum for the free exchange of views of town residents and celebrates the people, places and happenings that make the Town of Charlotte unique. Contributions in the form of articles, press releases and photographs pertaining to Charlotte-related people and events are accepted and encouraged from all townspeople and interested individuals. For submission guidelines and deadlines, please visit our website or contact the editor at news@charlottenewsvt.com The CharloTTe News is published in Charlotte by The Charlotte News, Inc., a Vermont domestic 501(c)4 nonprofit corporation. Distribution is made every other Thursday to all households and businesses in Charlotte and to selected outlets in Shelburne, Hinesburg, North Ferrisburgh, Ferrisburgh and Vergennes. It relies on the generous financial contributions of its readers, subscriptions and advertising revenue to sustain its operations. oN The weB aT:
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While the Legislature is out of session from June through December, some members still have work to do as members of oversight committees or of special study committees. These committees review the work of various departments or agencies of the state or research via hearings certain issues that the Legislature will have to deal with in the second half of the legislative term. Here’s a brief account of some of that work.
Energy Generation Siting Policy Committee Act 38 of 2013 required the House and Senate committees on Natural Resources and Energy to meet jointly during adjournment to review the report submitted in April 2013 by the governor’s Energy Generation Siting Policy Commission. In two joint hearings held in the fall, the committees heard from the director of the Siting Commission, the secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources, the commissioner of the Public Service Department and over 20 members of the public. The Siting Commission’s 28 recommendations fell into three broad categories: (1) planning, (2) improved public process and (3) greater protections for the environment, agriculture and health in the energy siting process. Many of the commission’s recommendations sought to improve the transparency and efficiency of the Public Service Board (PSB), including an improved PSB website, a new case manager position to provide a point of contact with the general public, and a tiered permitting process that would set requirements based on the complexity of a project. The commission’s planning suggestions focused on the role of regional and municipal planning commissions in energy siting. And finally, the commission sought greater weight for environmental, agricultural and health considerations in the PSB permitting process. By unanimous consent the committees deferred action on the reports to the legislative session.
Lake Shoreland Protection Commission The Lake Shoreland Protection Commission was created by the 2013 appropriations bill (Act 50). The commission was comprised of the Senate Natural Resources Committee and five representatives from the House Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources Committee. Six public meetings were held, in Newport, Fairlee, Bomoseen, Middlebury, North Hero and Burlington, and included collaboration with regional and municipal planning commissions and the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The creation of the commission was in part due to the passage of H.526 in the House, a bill crafted to establish shoreland protection standards for Vermont lakes and ponds in excess of ten acres.
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The Senate needed additional time to collect more input from the public, including lakeshore owners and businesses, and to provide more outreach and education regarding the current health and vitality of Vermont’s lakes. There was also a demonstrated need to summarize current regulations, to investigate the need for additional regulation, and to revisit antidegradation policies with regard to Lake Champlain. More than 300 public comments from more than 700 attendees were received, logged and categorized. The final commission report is due to the Legislature on Jan. 15. The draft report and public comments can be found at https://leg2.vermont.gov/sites/legislature/ LSP/default.aspx. Work will continue on this subject in the Senate in this session.
Mental Health Oversight Committee The Mental Health Oversight Committee’s principal focus was in monitoring the ongoing creation of the mental health system of care, which continues to be in crisis. This system relies on three facilities—Green Mountain Psychiatric Care in Morrisville, Rutland Regional Hospital and the Brattleboro Retreat—to provide “level one care,” with other hospitals, Fletcher Allen in particular, providing backup. Level one care is acute, or emergency/crisis care. The result is occasional long waits for some patients in hospital emergency rooms with a negative cascading effect on the delivery of care throughout the system. While the Oversight Committee and the Joint Health Care Committee strongly recommend that the State Psychiatric Care Hospital in Berlin open all 25 beds as soon as possible and no later than July 1, the Shumlin administration currently plans to open only 16 beds in the facility when it moves patients currently in the temporary facility in Morrisville at the end of June, resulting in a net gain of one bed. Until all 25 beds are opened, currently planned for mid-August, the burden on patients and the hospitals will persist. Ongoing issues within the system include managing a decentralized system to ensure that seclusion and restraint policies meet state standards, maintaining sufficient facilities and well-trained staff and sufficient funding of designated agencies, and returning focus to the needs of children within the mental health system of care. The committee’s report will be released in January. I continue to welcome your thoughts and questions and can be reached by phone (425-3960) or by email (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com). You can find my website at MikeYantachka.com. Representative Mike Yantachka represents Charlotte and portions of Hinesburg in the Vermont House of Representatives.
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PUBLIC MEETINGS Selectboard Regular Meetings are usually at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. Sometimes they begin earlier; check online at charlottevt.org or with the Town Clerk (425-3071). Chair: Charles Russell (4254757), Ellie Russell (425-5276), Winslow Ladue (425-2275), John Owen (425-4632), Lane Morrison (425-2495). CCS School Board Regular Meetings are usually at 6:30 p.m. in the CCS Library on the third Tuesday of each month. Clyde Baldwin (4253366), Edorah Frazer (425-4937), Kristin Wright
(425-5105). Erik Beal (425-2140), Mark McDermott (425-4860). Planning Commission Regular Meetings are usually at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Chair Jeffrey McDonald (425-4429), Vice Chair Jim Donovan, Gerald Bouchard, Peter Joslin, Paul Landler, Linda Radimer, Ellie Russell. Committee meetings are listed on the town website. Check times and agendas online or by phone; for the town: charlottevt.org, Town Hall, 425-3071 or 4253533; for CCS: ccsvt.us, CSSU office, 383-1234.
The Charlotte News
Letters What Is the Town’s Breaking Point?
Mead’s CVFRS Comments Not Factual
Not many people go to the Selectboard meetings, but it is budget-planning time and these meetings will impact your taxes directly. Fire & Rescue is an ever-increasing part of our budget, both for operating and capital expenses. Last year, CVFRS requested an additional $60,000 to hire a paid fireman/ EMT, a position that it was adamant about needing immediately, and the town agreed and supported that in its budget. As of today, there is still no paid fireman/EMT, and yet the Selectboard continues to fund CVFRS for that position. If CVFRS were any other department in town, unspent monies from its budget would be returned to the taxpayers— not the case for Fire & Rescue. The Selectboard is drafting an agreement with Fire and Rescue that allows it to keep its surplus, so it really doesn’t matter if there’s a $60,000 paid fireman or not because that money will be spent. At the start of each fiscal year, CVFRS is provided with enough town funds to pay its bills, whatever they are, so why is the Selectboard creating yet another “contingency” fund for it with taxpayer money? CVFRS has four special funds already that it spends on whatever it wants to, whenever it wants to—why would a fifth special fund be necessary? CVFRS took back its books in July of this year, which is fine except for the fact that there is no free flow of financials from CVFRS to the town. Why is that? It is the fiduciary responsibility of the Selectboard to make sure taxpayer dollars are being spent according to their budget, just like any other town monies for any other department, and this requires monthly financial statements—budget versus actuals, detail expenditure/revenue reports, bank reconciliations. The Selectboard is not receiving those reports, nor is it demanding them—why is that? Add to this the latest curious decision by the Selectboard that the fire station and all of the equipment that the town paid or bonded for is now all owned by CVFRS and will be written into the Memorandum of Agreement to finalize, with no input from the town that paid those dollars. The town bonded for the $450,000 fire station in 1998 and $450,000 in 2004 for the pumper (those notes have not been paid off yet). Town tax dollars purchased numerous pieces of equipment over the years, including ambulances and heavy-rescue, quick-attack and pumper trucks. This past year, over $405,000 was spent for the new heavyrescue truck and another $189,000 for the new ambulance—all taxpayer dollars. Your taxes will be impacted by these decisions. When will it be enough? The next Selectboard meeting is Jan. 27.
Frankly, as the Selectboard representative on the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue (CVFRS) corporate board of directors, I am getting tired of correcting our town clerk’s diatribes against CVFRS. Mary’s concern about taxpayer money is admirable, but her facts are incorrect. Such attacks have resulted in low morale and resignations among our volunteer firefighters and EMTs. This requires the hiring of more paid staff, resulting in increased costs for taxpayers. Trust in CVFRS is called for, not more inaccurate and biased attacks. The following is another attempt to set the record straight. 1. Ever-rising costs. CVFRS has proposed a flat budget this year. The primary cause of previous increases in expenses has been the need to hire paid EMTs due to the lack of a sufficient number of volunteers. I have personally witnessed the efforts of the CVFRS leadership to control expenses. We should be grateful for the dedication and many hours that these volunteer CVFRS board members spend in responsibly managing CVFRS. They are fully aware of their fiduciary and service responsibility to taxpayers, and they should be appreciated for the time they spend in providing the citizens of Charlotte with a very high quality and responsive fire and rescue service. 2. Keeping the surplus. The proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Town of Charlotte and CVFRS does allow CVFRS to keep any surplus up to 10 percent of its operating budget. The MOA also makes CVFRS responsible for any deficit up to 10 percent of its operating budget. This is intended to encourage responsible budgeting. The MOA requires any surplus be applied to future CVFRS operating expenses. 3. The cost of the missing firefighter. At this time CVFRS is recruit-
ing to hire the budgeted firefighter. The savings from having the position vacant will be carried over toward expenses for the next fiscal year or applied to other unanticipated CVFRS operating expenses. 4. Spending special funds however it wants. The special funds from the CVFRS Barrows Fund and Tower Fund have been used for operating expenses and equipment purchases that would otherwise be paid for by the town. Last year’s annual report shows these expenses, as do CVFRS monthly financial reports. The Tower Fund also pays for expenses related to the operation of the communication tower on Mt. Philo. The Rescue Fund and the Fire Fund holdings are small and are used toward the purpose for which they were contributed by donors and for volunteer morale-building purposes. The town receives a monthly accounting of income and expenses for all of the CVFRS special funds. 5. The missing financial reports. I receive monthly financial reports, which are public documents available to anyone who would like to see them. These include a detailed tracking of patient billing, a report on all revenue and expenses including special funds, as noted above, a budget vs. actual report and a listing of all fund balances. CVFRS is audited annually by a professional auditor, whose report appears in the Town Meeting Report, and includes a budget vs. actual report. A small number of documents are not made public because they contain confidential, personally identifiable information. CVFRS is a private corporation and as such has no legal requirement to share its internal business documents with the town. Its members share them because they understand their responsibility to taxpayers and to build trust through open communications. 6. Giving away town assets. In doing our research in preparing the MOA, both CVFRS and the Select-
board were surprised to discover that there is no documentation that the town owns the CVFRS building. The original old building was owned by Fire and Rescue, and the existing building is considered a reconstruction of that building and thus belongs to CVFRS. CVFRS holds title to all but two of their vehicles. For consistency and simplicity the Selectboard is proposing that CVFRS take title of the two vehicles now titled to the town. All vehicles are now serviced and insured through CVFRS. The MOA will stipulate that in the event of termination of the agreement with the town the value of all CVFRS assets paid for by the town, or the assets themselves, will be returned to the town. I am happy to discuss any of the above with anyone who has questions (425-5276). The town intends to have a signed MOA with CVFRS by the end of January. Ellie Russell Selectboard member CVFRS board member
Prindle Was a True Vermonter It is with sadness that I have learned of the death of Charlotter Hazel Prindle. I knew Hazel for more than 40 years. She epitomized for me a true Vermonter. She was a farmer, neighbor, friend, town clerk and so many other things. But two things especially stand in my mind about Hazel: good common sense in abundance, and modesty. My children knew her as “Missus Prindle” and I see her as clerk in the tiny office beneath the old town hall. I imagine Hazel now as being in charge of the celestial voter check list. I hope I am on it. (Hon.) J. Dennis Delaney Charlotte
Mary A. Mead Clerk/Treasurer Leslie Lewis posted this photo of an ice jam on Roscoe Road near the Sequin Covered Bridge to the News’s Facebook page. Due to a sudden warmup in temperatures, ice and water from Lewis Creek breached the banks and blocked the road during the evening of Jan. 11. Roscoe Road was closed until Road Commissioner Jr Lewis cleared the jam with a loader. Have a great Charlotte picture? Post it on our Facebook page or send it to news@charlottenewsvt.com for publication in our pages.
The Charlotte News
Three Selectboard Seats to See Contested Races at Town Meeting Candidates invited for open town offices. Petitions due Jan. 27 Nancy Wood
Photo by Eric hunt
The CharloTTe News
Fade to White A blistering crosswind engulfs a Town of Charlotte snowplow in a fine mist of snow along Hinesburg Road. A wild winter by any measure, the first few weeks of the year have presented Charlotters with weather ranging from below-zero temperatures to spring-like rain.
Charlotte Town Meeting will be here soon. Several incumbents are retiring, leaving open seats. Others have expressed an intention to run and, in most cases, are circulating petitions to be on the ballot. Following is a list of town office positions that will be on the ballot, with information about which incumbents are planning to run for reelection and about other residents who are circulating petitions as of Jan. 9: Selectboard (two-year term): Incumbent Winslow Ladue has taken out a petition for the 3-year term. As of Jan. 9, petitions for this two-year term have been taken out by Bonnie Christie and Ed Stone. Selectboard (two years remaining of three-year term): Incumbent Lane Morrison is planning to run and has filed a petition for this term. Seth Zimmerman is also circulating a petition for this seat. Selectboard (three-year term): Incumbent John Owen is retiring. As of Jan. 9, petitions for this term have been taken out by Winslow Ladue and Fritz Tegatz. CCS School Director (three-year term): Incumbent Edorah Frazer is retiring. No candidate has yet to take out a petition. Cemetery Commissioner (three-year term): Incumbent Carrie Mackillop is retiring. No candidate has yet to take out a petition. Auditor (three-year term): Incumbent Robert Mack, Jr. is planning to run. Cemetery Commissioner (two years remaining of three-year term): Incumbent Jim Dickerson is planning to run. CVU School Director (three-year term): Incumbent Lorna Jimerson is planning to run and has taken out a petition. CCS School Director (two-year term): Incumbent Kristin C. Wright is planning to run. Charlotte Library Trustee (five-year term): Incumbent Bonnie Ayer is retiring. Delinquent Tax Collector (one-year term): Incumbent Mary A. Mead is planning to run and has taken out a petition. Lister (three-year term): Incumbent Betsi Oliver is planning to run and has taken out a petition. Town Moderator (one-year term): Incumbent Jerry L. Schwarz is planning to run and has taken out a petition. School Moderator (one-year term): Incumbent Jerry L. Schwarz is planning to run and has taken out a petition. Road Commissioner (one-year term): Incumbent Jr Lewis is planning to run and has taken out a petition. Town Agent (one-year term): Incumbent Edd Merritt is planning to run and is circulating a petition. Town Grand Juror (one-year term): Incumbent Ted Braun is planning to run and has a petition. Trustee of Public Funds (three-year term): Incumbent Ed Stone is retiring. Trustee of Public Funds—(one year remaining of three-year term): No incumbent. Petitions to run for office are available at the Town Clerk’s Office. According to Town Clerk Mary Mead, candidates need 30 signatures on their petitions to appear on the ballot. Those petitions are due back at the Clerk’s office by Monday, Jan. 27. According to Mead, “If you are an incumbent and ready to run again or brand new and would like to step into the game, the time is now!” Petition signers must be registered voters in Charlotte and may sign only one petition for each office or position. For example, a voter can sign a petition for each of the three different Selectboard positions but may sign the petition of only one candidate for each particular position.
Charlotte Dog Licenses Now Available The time for licensing your dog is between Jan. 1 and April 1 each year. To register dogs, bring a current rabies vaccination certificate to the town clerk’s office at Town Hall. Feel free to call ahead of time to see if the town already has documentation on file for your dog. The prices remain the same: just $8 for neutered and spayed animals and $12 for intact males and females. Licensing your dog annually is required by Charlotte’s animal ordinance. It is also much easier to reunite a lost dog with its owner when that dog is registered with the town and there is a tag number that can be easily looked up. The town clerk’s office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.–4 p.m. You can register by mail if the office hours aren’t convenient. For more information, call the town clerk’s office at 425-3071.
The Charlotte News
Charlotte Home Among Rash of Monkton Break-Ins
Selectboard continued from page 1
auditors, Robert Mack and Peter Trono. This group and a number of townspeople in the audience came to argue that the assets, since they were paid for with tax dollars, should belong to the town and not CVFRS, which is a private nonprofit corporation. Their argument was fundamentally that if the ownership was not clearly spelled out, then the voters should at least be given a chance to vote on that ownership. Mead and Mack reiterated the fact that in previous bond votes for the purchase of equipment there was no explicit explanation that it would be given to CVFRS. This led to a natural conclusion that the equipment purchased would become the property of the town, not CVFRS. The other camp, consisting mostly of members of the Selectboard, maintained that even though no specific documentation exists giving ownership of buildings and equipment to CVFRS, there are peripheral documents suggesting this to be true. Chief among these is page 54 of the Town Report of March 7, 2006. The page presents a list of all capital assets belonging to the town and to CVFRS. It is clearly stated here that the building, as well as seven vehicles, a collection of expensive equipment and the Pease Mountain radio tower belong to CVFRS. The central issue was completion of the MOA, which has a history of arising from the contentious Town Meeting of March 2013, during which the finances and bookkeeping of CVFRS came under fire. The MOA, originally scheduled for completion in the summer of 2013, has been shunted back and forth between the town, CVFRS and attorneys for both sides. Much of the MOA was agreed to during the autumn, and now the only sticking point seems to be the asset ownership issue. This meeting’s discussion, though often heated, was for the most part orderly and tempered by a number of moderate voices. The discussion began when the newest Selectboard member, Lane Morrison, recommended that the town formally acknowledge the fact that ownership of the building and equipment assets belong to CVFRS and that they be annually inventoried and reported formally to the town. Then began the earnest discussion that would last for more than an hour. While no final decision was reached, many good points were made and changes were suggested, which will be included in the draft for further discussion at the next full Selectboard meeting on Jan. 27. The two paragraphs in question were eight and ten in the draft MOA, which
can be found at http://bit.ly/Kg8O0u. Both of these paragraphs bear on the ownership of assets and what would become of them were CVFRS to be dissolved or become separated from the town. The ownership of the assets has a long history beginning in 1951 with the building of the first fire station. At that time, according to Morrison, “ownership of the capital equipment wasn’t clear or was not even addressed.” Over time CVFRS has become incorporated as a private nonprofit corporation to protect its members from legal action, to buffer the town from liability and to allow for tax-exempt status under Title 27 of the U.S. Code. This position was acknowledged in a letter from the town attorney to the Selectboard on Sept. 28, 1998. At issue in many people’s minds in the audience, led by Mead, was the need to leave the final determination of ownership to a town-wide vote. It was her contention that the Selectboard had made a determination that would “give everything away and the question remains, why wouldn’t you want the town to vote on that? If the town votes to give it to Fire & Rescue, so be it.” The impassioned debate was moderated by two heartfelt inputs worthy of note. Past Fire Chief Jonathon Davis in the 41st minute of discussion pointed out that, “(In the) Charlotte Fire and Rescue, we exist to provide fire and rescue services to the Town of Charlotte… That’s what we exist for… That’s our purpose, that’s our only situation. We’re not planning to take this private, to rent it to somebody, have somebody come in to provide services to the Town of Charlotte. We, all the members, all the trucks over there, have the goal of providing fire services for your town. There’s no hidden agenda. We’re not trying to take things and sell them out… The thing that makes us exist, the thing that defines our only purpose (is) providing fire services for the town.” The second was made by Nancy Wood, one of the town’s elected auditors. She admitted that she and other auditors had failed in their responsibilities over time because no one had insisted on a clearcut statement of ownership and inventory despite numerous prodding’s from contracted auditors. Some questions were asked pertaining to what benefits accrued to the town with CVFRS ownership of the equipment. Morrison pointed out that liability falls on the owners, CVFRS. Further, there are the challenges and costs of maintenance and administration of equipment, which, if belonging to the town, would require considerable costs and effort. Currently this is done by the volunteers and staff of CVFRS, who are know the equipment. The next Selectboard meeting is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 28.
Photo and text by edd Merritt
Vermont State Police are currently investigating a string of larcenies and two burglaries that took place in Monkton recently. A burglary that took place along Prindle Road in Charlotte is deemed connected to the others in Addison County. According to authorities, personal property, including change from unlocked cars, a Sirius radio, a child’s school bag, as well as multiple five-gallon cans of fuel were stolen. State police were able successful in recovering two of the five-gallon gas cans from a wooded area on Pond Road in Monkton. The gas cans have been returned to one of the victims. Vermont State Police continue to encourage citizens to lock their vehicles, storm doors and primary residential doors to help prevent this type of criminal activity. Anyone with information is asked to contact the New Haven or Williston State Police Barracks. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at vtips.info or text “CRIMES” (274637) to keyword VTIPS.
Despite the blistering cold, Lee Boynton, an artist from Annapolis, Md., set up his easel outside CCS in early January, put on his ear muffs and kept his pallet warm enough to paint from in sub-zero weather. Boynton was in town visiting his brother, Clark. Last November, Boynton’s show “Vermont Landscapes” appeared indoors at Shelburne’s Village Wine and Coffee.
Charlotte Library to Benefit from VHC Grant Thanks to a generous $1,500 grant from the Vermont Humanities Council, the Green Mountain Library Consortium (GMLC), which includes the Charlotte Library, can put more e-books on the digital bookshelf of Listen Up Vermont. This platform for accessing digital resources already serves more than 150 libraries in schools and towns around Vermont. While the primary goal of the e-book expansion project is to add to the GMLC collection, the secondary goals add weight and significance to the project’s merits: namely, to increase access to reading materials at a variety of age levels, to raise awareness of issues and ideas and to provide opportunities for life-long learning inside libraries and out. “Charlotte Library patrons have enjoyed the access to reading and listening materials through Listen Up Vermont for over five years,” said Margaret Woodruff, director of the library. “The new additions available thanks to the Vermont Humanities Council grant will boost the quantity and quality of literary offerings for all Charlotters.” Titles already in the GMLC collection fall under every humanities
discipline described on the Vermont Humanities Council’s website, and the new content will bolster the offerings in history, philosophy, archaeology and literature. Beyond meeting the goal of an expanded collection, the grant funds help support GMLC’s wider mission of building a more robust digital library and improving the literary culture across the state. This mission aligns with the Vermont Humanities Council’s objective to “promote greater public awareness, appreciation and understanding of literature, history, art history, religion and other humanities disciplines.” The Listen Up Vermont platform is perfectly positioned to bring these disciplines onto people’s laptops, e-readers and other digital devices. The access to information and the range of information provide real-life application of the commitment to freedom of information that remains a cornerstone of libraries everywhere. Interested in exploring the new offerings? All of these and more are available free with your library card. To find out more, visit the Charlotte Library or check out the Listen Up! Vermont website, http://listenupvermont.org.
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The Charlotte News
Stay Safe with CVFRS Fire and Ice Advice Chris Davis Contributor
The Charlotte volunteer fire department has already responded to three chimney fires in the past seven days. These steps can prevent one from happening to you if you burn wood as a heat source:
Introducing Irene Barrows Meg Modley Contributor
One of our most recent additions to Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue is Irene Barrows of North Ferrisburgh. Irene graduated from the University of Vermont in 2011 with a degree in psychology. She continued on to the post-baccalaureate pre-med program at UVM and will finish this year. She is currently applying to physician assistant programs. Irene traveled to Lima, Peru, last year to help Medlife provide care on a mobile medical clinic. Medlife’s mission is to provide medical care and education to low-income communities in Latin America. Along with the mobile clinic, the group she traveled with helped a community in Lima build a cement staircase. The staircase project was the most important part of the trip for her because of how much it helped the community. Medlife’s staircase projects began after a pregnant woman fell down a steep hillside that leads to her home and delivered her baby prematurely. To this day, Medlife has completed 75 staircases in Lima to help individuals get to and from their homes.
Irene Barrows After coming back from this trip Irene wanted to give back to her own community and decided to join the squad. She completed her EMT course in July and was certified in August 2013. In her free time Irene enjoys snowboarding, hiking, kayaking, running and many other outdoor activities. She has recently explored the challenges of growing hops and brewing beer. She loves Vermont for its creative inhabitants, beautiful landscape and amazing small communities like Charlotte.
cleaned. If you have been using it, it is probably overdue. A chimney fire may damage your flue or stovepipe, requiring replacement. Worse, a chimney fire can cause a house fire. An annual cleaning followed by an inspection/cleaning after every 2-4 cords of wood burned can prevent serious trouble. Please follow the recommended operation guidelines from the manufacturer of the stove you are using. Failure to do so will likely result in a build-up of creosote that typically results in a chimney fire. think something is not right with your stove or chimney while it is in use— such as a roaring noise, interior smoke, hot tar dripping from the flue pipe or a red flue pipe—call 911 immediately. The recent cold and warm shifts can cause a rapid buildup of creosote, increasing the chance of a chimney fire. Please have your chimney checked now; don’t wait for a chimney fire to occur. Ice safety basIcs Please use extreme caution if you explore the ice on ponds, streams or the lake.
a person or a pet goes through the ice, call 911 first before attempting any type of rescue. Assist Rescue personnel by leading them to the victim(s). Fire Department members are only minutes away from any location in this area, and we have the equipment and training. Immediate notification and then leading rescuers to the victim are essential and the best way you can help the person in danger. falls through the ice. Do not try to rescue the animal yourself; instead lead the emergency responders to the location. We will respond quickly and have special rescue equipment designed for dogs. Please resist going in after your pet, as this usually results in the pet and owner needing to be rescued. person can lead the rescuers to the victim, another can remain a safe distance from the victim and encourage them to the stay calm, keep their arms up on the ice and not to struggle. Remaining still conserves body heat and keeps air trapped in the clothing, which aids flotation. This increases chances of a successful rescue. Please contact us if you have any questions or if you would like some additional information. The station number is 425-3111. For burn permits call 985-8051 between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Chris Davis is Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue’s fire chief.
Hands to Honduras Celebrates Tenth Year with New Projects Linda Gilbert Contributor
year of providing humanitarian service projects. Thirty-six volunteers who pay all their own expenses depart during the first weeks of February to undertake a number of ambitious projects. Among them will be the construction of the first neonatal intensive care unit in the Tela area. It replaces a 12’x14’ room serving 100,000 Teleños. Other medical projects will include five days of free women’s health clinics for the poor, fluoride clinics for school children, delivery of large quantities of medical and dental
supplies, and a teaching visit by an orthopedic surgeon. In addition, two schools will be renovated, electrified and painted, while six high school students will receive support scholarships and an on-going literacy project will be continued. Meanwhile donated soccer and baseball uniforms and equipment will be distributed and a recreation park renovated. Last but not least, continued support and guidance will be provided to the ongoing and burgeoning rehabilitation center started and supported over the last nine years. would like to thank the community that has helped make this such a successful program.
Hands to Honduras-Tela team leaders at the Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary Club meeting. They are (from left) Sam Feitelberg, Al Gilbert, Colleen Haag, Dave Jonah, John Hammer and Linda Gilbert.
Hands to Honduras-Tela team leaders at the Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary Club meeting. They are (from left) Sam Feitelberg, Al Gilbert, Colleen Haag, Dave Jonah, John Hammer and Linda Gilbert.
The Charlotte News
Board Moves Budget Along, Fends Off Accusations at Jan. 6 Meeting Susan Crockenberg The CharloTTe News
For the most part, the Selectboard meeting of Jan. 6 was efficient and civil as the board continued to discuss the budget and other town business, though much of the last ten minutes were anything but. Town Clerk/Treasurer Mary Mead and Auditor Robert Mack challenged the board’s decision to issue a check for the new ambulance to Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue (CVFRS) to be forwarded to the provider, rather than paying the provider directly. Mead inquired why this route was taken in view of the town auditors’ position that the town should make direct payments to providers. Board members responded that CVFRS would hold title to the new ambulance, and therefore it made sense for CVFRS to submit payment. This prompted Mead to accuse the board of giving away town property and failing to consider in its decision-making the taxpayers who foot the bill for the ambulance. Mack then claimed that the town held title to all other CVFRS equipment, along with the building, intimating that the board had not done its homework on this matter, to which Charles Russell, chair of the Selectboard, replied “False!” As the board reported earlier in the meeting, when Mack was not in attendance, the town holds title to two fire and rescue vehicles; CVFRS holds title to the others. Russell corrected Mack further on the issue of ownership of the CVFRS building, which he explained the town attorney had determined was owned by CVFRS. The basis for ownership is that the earlier, smaller building had belonged to CVFRS, which then retained ownership when the original building was reconstructed to create the existing building. According to Russell, no documentation indicates that the Town of Charlotte owns the existing building. Mack, who served on the Selectboard when the new building was planned and built, contended that
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that was not the case, to which Russell responded, “Show me what you have in writing.” In response to a query from Fritz Tegatz, Russell explained further that the taxpayer investment in CVFRS assets is protected in the proposed Memorandum of Agreement with CVFRS that provides for the value of CVFRS assets purchased by the Town of Charlotte to be returned to the town if CVFRS services to the town are terminated. Russell also said that he would check with the auditors to determine if indirect payment of the provider for the new ambulance is acceptable practice under existing circumstances.
Budget talks
Budget discussions centered on five issues: bridge repair, the town lawn, computer expenditures, maintenance of the water system for the town hall and library, and the library roof. Based on the recommendations of the Vermont Agency of Transportation, a subcommittee headed by Winslow Ladue identified higher priority repairs for five bridges in Charlotte. Considering the funds available from various grants, the FY14 highway fund and the highway reserve fund, the board estimated that an additional $50,000$100,000 will be needed to complete the work. Ladue will propose a more precise figure after he investigates grant availability and other funding sources. Anyone who attended the Town Party last July is aware of the low spots in the town green that accumulate substantial amounts of water after heavy rains and make the lawn unsuitable for town events. Winslow Ladue reported on a proposal he received from David Marshall of Civil Engineering Associates for rectifying the problem. Marshall identified a two-pronged approach: a relatively quick fix by filling and seeding the low points in the lawn at a cost of $1,400, followed by the installation of curtain drains ($7,600) and re-contouring the lawn area ($8,700) to address the underlying problem, if the initial fix is insufficient. There appeared to be consensus that
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filling and reseeding would likely be insufficient to resolve the problem, leading Ellie Russell to propose that the lawn be re-contoured, obviating the need for and eliminating the cost of filling and seeding, and curtain drains be installed later if necessary. Jenny Cole reminded the board that $4,000 is available in the current budget earmarked for this project, which would reduce the amount needed in the FY14 budget to $4,700 to complete the re-contouring. Dean Bloch presented a proposal from Troy Tsounis, the town’s computer support person, for an additional $4,200 to support the creation of a firewall for the computer system ($1,200), replace the backup system (at least $2,000) and provide training for town employees. The board questioned the need for training and tentatively approved an additional $3,200 for the first two items. It also approved the addition of $500 to the town budget for maintenance of the Town Hall and library water system, with the cost to be shared with the library. On a final budget issue, Vince Crockenberg reported that, based on phone inquiries, the estimated cost of installing a metal roof on the library would be at least 25 percent higher than the $25,000 estimate for an asphalt shingle roof. Board members requested an estimate for a standing seam metal roof, recognizing that the cost of the metal roof could be twice that of an asphalt roof. Crockenberg will contact several area roofing firms to obtain estimates. The library roof must be replaced this year.
a change to town purchasing policy
Lane Morrison submitted a proposal for a major purchase policy based on a model provided by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns. The policy identifies the threshold dollar amount that requires the town to obtain bids on purchases and thus provides oversight on expenditures. Morrison requested feedback from board members on whether to identify a single purchasing agent
or to create a three-person committee composed of a Selectboard member, the town clerk and the town administrator. Ellie Russell questioned whether a committee is necessary for the task; no firm decision was reached. Mary Mead agreed to serve if the committee approach is approved. In any event, the decision to award contracts and make purchases resides with the Selectboard.
other Business
In other business, the Selectboard interviewed, then voted unanimously to hire Cali Griswold as interim animal control officer to March 31 and to instruct the town attorney to pursue the Oct. 7 notice of violation on William Posey for his unpermitted structure at 121 Ethan Allen Highway to which he has not yet responded (i.e., to have him either remove the structure or apply for a permit). On a third issue, the Selectboard again voted unanimously to authorize the town attorney to enter an appearance in Superior Court in relation to Clark Hinsdale, Jr.’s appeal of the town Planning Commission’s denial of his requested boundary adjustment for his solar panel project. In response to concern about the number of utility poles installed as part of the Charlotte Solar project, the Selectboard will ask GMP if it is possible to have two rather than three poles. This issue is contentious in part because, although the decision stipulated that Charlotte Solar could erect one or two poles in addition to one already in place, the additional poles were not included in the proposal site plan. This left Tom Nola wondering publicly how the project would be monitored to avoid further surprises. In one of the lighter moments of the evening, Moe Harvey introduced a second concern by inviting the Charlotte Solar representative to “man-up” and acknowledge to the people of Charlotte—who he explained care a great deal about the beauty of their community—that the poles are indeed ugly.
The Charlotte News
SCHIP Celebrates 10 Years of Building Community
Rotary Provides Holiday Dinners, Inducts New Members
Next round of grant applications due Jan. 31 Ten years ago, the faith communities in Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg united in an effort to meet the needs of their three communities, and thus the nonprofit SCHIP, the Shelburne Charlotte Hinesburg Interfaith Project, was formed. The group rented space in the old Noonan House, a yellow Victorian home located in the center of Shelburne Village on Route 7. SCHIP’S Treasure Re-Sale Shop was begun as a boutiquelike store where the sale of donated quality used clothing, jewelry and home goods generates funds to grant to other nonprofits. To date, over $450,000 has been distributed to schools, churches, fire departments, scholarships, food shelves and many, many community organizations and programs. To commemorate the anniversary, SCHIP has planned a year-long celebration to thank those who have donated, volunteered and contributed to the organization’s success. Each month in 2014, SCHIP’s Treasure Re-Sale Shop will feature discounts for residents of a town the organization serves as well as raffles with
the proceeds going to area food shelves. Beginning in January, SCHIP will host Shelburne month, in which all residents of Shelburne will receive ten percent off in the store. May and September will also see the same deal. Hinesburg residents will receive ten percent off in February, June and October, and Charlotte residents in March, July and November. April, August and December will see raffles for the Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg food shelves, respectively. SCHIP is also accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for its next round of grants. Applications are due by January 31, 2014. Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations or submit their applications through such organizations. Projects must serve residents of the communities of Shelburne, Charlotte or Hinesburg. Funds may not be applied to annual operating budgets or permanent staffing. Grants may not exceed $5,000. To obtain an application,email schipgrant@myfairpoint.net or stop by the shop at 5404 Shelburne Road in Shelburne.
The Charlotte Shelburne Rotary Club welcomed two new members at its Dec. 18 meeting. (Left to right) Membership Chair Ric Flood, who officiated at the induction ceremony, stands with Linda Gilbert, new member Evan Webster of Charlotte, who was sponsored by Gilbert, new member Lara Keenan of Essex, Director of the Pierson Library, and her sponsor Rosalyn Graham.
Also in December, the Rotary continued its tradition of providing turkeys for holiday dinners, donating turkeys to families who are clients of the food shelves in Shelburne, Hinesburg and Charlotte. The donations for Christmas were almost the same as for Thanksgiving: more than 150 turkeys at each holiday. Dave Jonah, president of Charlotte Shelburne Rotary, presented turkeys to Shelburne Food Shelf Coordinator Val Martel.
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CCS Budget continued from page 1
constraints and classroom-size norms.” Such scenes occurred throughout the budget meetings, illustrating the tension between a public growing weary of increases in spending and a board trying to maintain costs as much as possible while providing for a solid educational experience at CCS. This dynamic provided for sometimes lengthy debates throughout the two meetings in which each argument seemed to have a counterargument, each example a corresponding counapparent than in the debate over moving from a hybrid model of kindergarten to a full-day model at a cost of $32,500, something every school in Chittenden Greg Marino, who spoke passionately about the proposal. Marino, who sought support for the decision last year, cited an in-house Kindergarten Study Committee report conducted at the school last year that recommended moving to such a model. consisted of Marino, three CCS staff members, four CCS teachers and a parfrom a hybrid model to a full-day model because of the opportunities it afforded students to access a “diverse pallet of school resources and experience” and the increased opportunities for early intervention it offered staff members. The committee cited reading proficiency data from 2010 to 2012 that showed CCS students lagged behind a K-8 program similar to CCS, though 2010-11 term, for example, just 23 percent of CCS kindergarten students were considered proficient compared to
41 percent of CCS first graders were considered proficient readers compared Marino cited these comparisons to justify the move to full-day kindergarten. He also noted that kindergarten students are missing out on important opportunities to socialize with each other, and kindergarten teachers were having to meet education standards with 180 fewer hours than full-day programs. For this reason, second-grade teacher Colleen Brady spoke in favor of moving to the full-day model. “When the children are not here for a full day the expectations get crammed into a shorter period of a time which, in my opinion, adds to greater intensity to get the kids to meet those expectations,” she said. However, others in the audience disagreed, and they offered credentials to back up their assessments. Susan Crockenberg, a retired psychology prochild development, urged the board to vote against full-day kindergarten as an unnecessary expense that would show little benefit for students. Citing peer-reviewed studies that show “statistically significant but very small benefits academically at the end of kindergarten for a full day program relative to half day programs,” Crockenberg noted that the benefits would be eliminated by third grade. Studies also show students can develop behavioral problems in full-day kindergarten as well as negative attitudes toward school, she added. ogist who specializes in language-based learning skills and reading development, told the board, “There is very, very little evidence over the last 70
CCS Budget
continued on page 11
The
BoardsCorner Update from CCS
Kristin Wright Contributor
The CCS Board has spent the last few months carefully reviewing the baseline budget and proposed reductions and additions thereto. As is the case every year, there are variables that remain until after Town Meeting that are a function of the way the State of Vermont funds education. Therefore, we fashion our budget using our best calculation of what the base education amount and the state tax rate will be. When first presented, our baseline budget (the amount needed to open the doors next year with the exact same programs and staff as we have presently) was up over three percent. A few changes in projected costs have reduced that percentage a bit. The administration proposed reductions and additions to the budget. These recommendations were the result of carefully looking for cost savings while ensuring that we are providing our students with the tools necessary to meet our mission. To that end, the board approved the following changes to the baseline budget: Reductions ing positions. physical education and world language. tenance costs due to staffing changes. incReases
CVU Honor Society to Host Lasagna Dinner Jan. 30
5th grade class sizes.
specialist [fully funded with Medicaid funds, with no net impact on our budget or property taxes]. cross country team. and science supplies and materials.
tractions to the budget noted above, the baseline budget was reduced by $89,064. What does this mean foR youR pRopeRty tax bill? As mentioned above, we cannot state the exact impact with certainty, as the Legislature typically finalizes its decisions in May. That being said, we ommendation for the base education amount (an increase of seven cents) and Common Level of Appraisal (favorable for the town this year). The likely legislative passage of an increase in the base education amount is expected to increase property tax bills across Vermont by about five percent. Together with local changes, this will likely result in a property tax increase in Charlotte of 5.3 percent. For a homeowner not eligible for the income sensitivity provision of Act 60, a home valued at $300,000 would see a tax increase of approximately $169 for next year. All budget materials are posted to the school website: ccsvt.org (School Board/FY 14 Budget).
to all-day kindergarten. Honor Society is hosting a lasagna dinner on Thursday, Jan. 30, from 6–8 p.m. Temporary Shelter,. Tickets are $8. For more information, contact Fiona Higgins at fionahiggins@cvuhs.org.
puters and two computer carts. four-and-a-half days to five days/week.
Kristin Wright is the chair of the CCS School Board.
Looking up to Charlotte’s Newest Big Trees Larry Hamilton Contributor
Larry HamiLton
Charlotte has some new trees on its Big and Significant Trees Roster. A notable new one is near the corner of Mt. Philo Road and the Charlotte-Hinesburg Road on the McCargoSwift property (formerly the Foote Farm). This cottonwood has a circumference of 174 inches. On the way to and from Town Hall and West Charlotte, your tree warden has driven past this large specimen many times but has refrained from fighting his way into the stem through the dense tangle of shrubs that cluster around it. Now, thanks to Diane and Peter, these have been cleared out, and I was able to measure The largest American elm in Charlotte is on Stockbridge Road. it. The largest cottonwood in Vermont is in Hubbardton, at 296 inches, truly a giant. In anticipation, the recent Charlotte roadside Another change is that the tree-planting project included some sycamore. black cherry on Donna and Gary Pittman’s place has been surpassed by the 89-inch-girth The biggest of these (four years since planttree on the Lewis Creek property of Mary ing) is by the lake-view bench across Lake Cheney. Mary also has the new large red oak, Road from the Charlotte Beach Park. Its girth coming in at 151 inches, according to finder is about three inches and looking good. It was planted to honor the late town constable “CowMarty Illick. While large American elm trees continue boy” Lewis. Our Big and Significant Trees Roster is to succumb to Dutch elm disease, our current posted in Town Hall and was assembled and largest one, at 138 inches, is at Stockbridge Road in a hedgerow visible from Mt. Philo revised over the last ten years by reports of Road (see photo). One almost as large (134 new “champs” that are sent to me by sharpinches) looks healthy and graceful in a hedge- eyed, interested Charlotters. New candidates are welcome. Measure the circumference at row at 481 Dorset Street Extension. Many Charlotters who pass by the large, a height of four and a half feet above average spectacular sycamore on Falls Road, just into ground level and send details. Now, if we are really going for “big trees,” the village of Shelburne, ask about sycamore let us look to the very biggest. The most masin Charlotte. While it occurs naturally in Vermont in river valleys, including a few examples sive tree accurately measured is the General along the LaPlatte Falls trail in Shelburne, we Sherman Tree, the sequoia species on the westare just north of its regular range. With climate ern slope of California’s Sierra Nevada. It is 79 change shifting the climatic plant hardiness feet in circumference (though about 102 feet just above ground level) and 275 feet in height. zones north, we may yet do better. Sometimes for trees the Latin scientific name provides information, and in this case Sequoiadendron giganteum certainly does. Incidentally, in total height it is dwarfed by its coastal redwood cousin at 378 feet. The reported tree with the largest girth at 296 feet is the famous Tule cypress near Oaxaca, Mexico. It was a humbling experience when Linda and I visited and circumnavigated this giant two years ago. We have no world, national or Vermont champions in Charlotte. But we do have impressive large specimens that we will hopefully cherish and try to maintain in healthy condition, for now and the future.
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CCS Budget
continued from page 9
years to support either preschool or early ed,” she said. “We are not making really good decisions for the future generation of our kids,” said Hyer. “I don’t think throwing more money is the answer. I think we have to look at what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.” But not all audience members wanted to base the decision on statistics. Susan Nostrand, parent of a future kindergartener, said her son, who thrived in CCS’s early education program, would similarly do so in fullday kindergarten. “He’s so psyched,” she said. “He’s so into this school.” Yet, to this, Heather Kanshagen disagreed, saying the transition to CCS’s kindergarten program had been hard on her son and could be for other Charlotte kids. In the end, the board voted in favor of leaving the decision packet in the final budget proposal by a vote of 3 to 2. In other votes regarding decision packets, the board coach at a salary of $4,037, a figure that some in the audience questioned as exorbitant, especially in light of the potential for volunteerism. According to Bob Mason, chief operations officer for CSSU, this number is the product of an agreement in the teachers contract in which a coach is given a certain percentage of his or her overall salary for the position. Mason told the audience CCS’s current cross-country head coach makes $4,313, making the total over $8,000 in coach’s salaries. This caused one audience member to theatrically mouth the word “Wow.” cators to assist with the two large fifth-grade classes expected next year at a cost of $63,322. This number could end up being lower, Mason said, depending on the health care benefits candidates select. related expenditures. This money will buy 18 laptop computers and a middle-level mobile cart with 20 laptops. Some audience members questioned the school’s computer-purchasing policy. Marino told the audience the school would look for “the best deal for a computer that is durable and will run reliably on our network.” This could include leasing computers at a cheaper cost, he said. In response to the question of what the school would do with the computers being replaced, Marino said the school would salvage or sell what it could but that most of the computers, which wouldn’t be worth much, would be e-cycled. guage arts specialist at a cost of $51,082. However, $26,000 of this position would be funded from Medicaid funds allocated to wellness, noted Marino.
level guided reading books. materials. The only decision packet that was not passed by the board was a $1,000 request for new athletic uniforms. The school board received an affirmation from PTO co-president Mandy Koskinen that the group would consider providing the uniforms despite earlier in the meeting expressing apprehension at the school board’s past insistence on asking the PTO to take up the line items that are voted down. In light of the school board’s single cut to the budget proposal at its Jan. 7 meeting, some in the audience expressed outrage. Several members of the audience accused the board of failing to consider the increasing burden its budget decisions were placing on town taxpayers. Citing the difficult decisions before the board at the close of the
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Beal said, “We cut $240,000 tonight, and the vast majority of that was teachers. Those are the decisions that we’ve had to make in this budget cycle. We’ve had to remove a lot of teaching capacity. Some people aren’t going to be comfortable with that. And some people on the other hand aren’t going to be comfortable even after taking those sacrifices with the amount we’re spending.” Beal urged dissatisfied taxpayers to contact the Legislature about fixing the state budget system and to call on the Selectboard to address local spending. But the last word went to resident Bob Mosaris, who presented a solution for those who agree or disagree on the school board’s budget: “This is going to the voters,” he said. “You can vote down the budget on Town Meeting day.” budget, turn to this week’s Board’s
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OutTakes Commentary by Edd Merritt
The New Year Generates Random Thoughts The only things I know are Road signs and rock songs —“Road Signs and Rock Songs,” The Ataris Well, the end of the year brings on a plethora of topics to write about, doesn’t it? I was thinking about starting off with “dumb bowls,” the 35 socalled bowl football games from Dec. 21 through the BCS championship Jan, 6. Absolutely zero of the teams playing in them were any I cared about, nor did any have a geographic connection to New England. Oh, I apologize—Boston College lost to Arizona horrendously in the AdvoCare V100 Bowl. And please spare me other names— Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl, the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Of course the list did include standbys such as Rose, Orange, Sugar, Cotton, Liberty. Five of the bowl contenders had not won more games than they lost during the regular season, so what earned them a bowl bid? Maybe an extra shot of “Belk,” whatever the hell that is.
My wife, who knows all, tells me it’s clothing for ages and sizes from baby to big-and-tall. Well, maybe the company supplied helmets, cleats and shoulder pads for the Belk Bowl. Sounds more, though, like what a defensive lineman with whom I played in high school used to do: “belking” in the face of the opposing center. Well, I have managed so far to miss every game, including what used to be the meal-scheduling event in my parents’ house on New Year’s Day, the Rose Bowl Parade. Let me think what other things I missed in 2013. One that struck me as I was driving on Spear Street from Shelburne not long ago was the reasoning behind the curious limits to speed and lack of signage as I drove around East Charlotte. Now, I’ve mentioned before that the variety of speed limits within what basically amounts to a three-block radius requires an attention-getting tuning fork to keep you on course and at speed. As bimonthly newspaper people tend to do when they have time on their hands, I decided to check the signs posted around my village. I even made notes I could recheck in case I was mistaken. First of all, East Charlotte is a flythrough zone. The limit increases from 35 mph to 50 mph the minute you cross the town line from Shelburne. Now, one of every kid’s first pieces of info when she gets her license is where speed “traps” exist and the attention required depending on the time of month, because towns can always use some extra income from speeding tick-
ets to fill holes in the budget. I never checked the veracity of these warnings and didn’t necessarily buy the budget reason, but I usually complied – with one exception in college when five of us were driving in my VW Beetle with five bags of hockey equipment. We were stopped in a dinky Wisconsin town, probably ten miles beyond anything even resembling a village center. I tried to convince the local cop that, as loaded as we were, my four cylinders couldn’t climb to the speed he claimed. He suggested I tell it to his brother, the judge, if I wanted to contest it. You
You couldn’t fool me. I knew incestuous government when I saw it. ... My fine provided good Wisconsin brew to the natives west of Milwaukee. couldn’t fool me. I knew incestuous government when I saw it. I didn’t have to fly to Saudi Arabia to help pay for the sheik’s wine. My fine provided good Wisconsin brew to the natives west of Milwaukee. I haven’t run into that problem in Charlotte, but I have discovered difficulty in knowing exactly how fast I can go in response to signs—or lack thereof. Back on Spear Street heading south, there’s a 40 mph sign at the old graveyard, which will take you to Spear’s Corner. There it drops to 30
mph, and there are no more posted limits as you head south. I assume that means the 30 mph limit holds nearly to Route 7. If you turn right onto Bingham Brook Road, you will discover that the limit on this snow-and-ice encrusted dirt road increases to 35. Then, of course, there’s the curiosity caused by the limits on my own street, Hinesburg Road. Coming from the west, you can go past our house at 50 mph and, hopefully, find your brakes working at the blinking light. A number of drivers that don’t make the connection from the west may redeem themselves coming out of their skids at the posted 45 east of the light. So what we have in the center of East Charlotte are four roads coming together with four different speed limits. I often can’t handle this while listening to the Crash Test Dummies on my CD player. What bothers me more, though, is the fact that those who set and post the limits don’t seem to be able to take the next step, which is to make them legible to the driving public. If road signs aren’t to be read, what good are they? In school we were taught to be effective communicators. Apparently the art has been lost when it comes to speed signs on a number of our roads. Over the holidays at our house, however, the issue of effectively communicating his wants didn’t seem to be a problem for my one-year-old grandson, Archie, as long as he got his “baba.” His request for milk was a sign nobody missed. Yes, speed was of the essence, and an empty bottle was a sign everyone read. If you missed it the first time,”baba” soon became a mantra. In this case it’s one strike and you’re out. Happy New Year.
The Charlotte News
Food Shelf News by Kerrie Pughe Thank you A few more thank-you’s to those who helped organize, assemble and distribute the holiday baskets this season. We assisted 118 neighbors (including 39 children). Thank you to Josie Kaestner, Janet Schwarz, Rosemary Raszka, Connor Gorman, Janet Landrigan, Peggy Sharpe, Laura Iglehart, John and Wolfie Davis, Carol Cherevet, Stephanie Wells, Licia Brown, Avery Kidd, Tracy Beaudin, Ken Oboz, Nina Falsen, Nancy Bloch, Anne Mollo, Kerrie Pughe, Diane Cote, Cindy Tyler, Meg Berlin, Joan Braun, Stiles and Lynn Alpeter, Liz Anderson, Lisa Sturtevant, Pat and Vince Far, Bob Chutter, Heather Karshagen, Cindi Robinson, Nancy Barnes, Karen and Bill Doris, Lisa Beal, Marilyn Holmberg, Sharon Richards Weaver, Betsi Oliver, Heather Post, Mike, Thomas and Stuart Robinson,
by Margaret Woodruff, director Happy New Year! We are ringing in 2014 with a few new features at the library: Maker series, e-newsletters, and our first-ever Charlotte Library Book List. Electrifying programs at the Charlotte Library: We are very excited to start a Maker Series program that will take us on engineering adventures. We hope to spark the imagination by becoming a place where patrons come together to build, craft, create and have fun. Check out the details below on programs for this month, and stay tuned for information about programs throughout the year. E-newsletter debuts this month: Want to keep up with the details about Charlotte Library programs and services? Eager to learn current library news such as book launches and author info? Sign up for the Charlotte Library e-newsletter and you will! Simply send us your email address and request, and we’ll add you to the monthly newsletter list. upcoming aT The library Friday Free for All Story Time for Preschoolers, Friday, Jan. 17, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. From rocks, blocks and
Calvin and Liam Morse, Andrew Gray, Richard Tegatz, Ethan Karshagen, Sam Zimmerman, Scout leaders Seth Zimmerman, Chuck Post and Fritz Tegatz. We appreciate all the work! We appreciate the turkeys from the Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary, and thank you to Linda and George Shivone for coordinating this. Thank you again to Ark Veterinary Hospital for matching gifts of dog and cat food from their customers and delivering the many cans and bags of food right to our door. Thank you to the Flying Pig Bookstore and their customers for the beautifully wrapped children’s books. We also appreciate the wonderful Charlotte calendars provided by Bob Chutter for all the holiday baskets. Thank you for the support from Shelburne Supermarket’s Steve, Sara and the staff, as well as the Shelburne Coffee Bar patrons. We appreciate the support from Matthew Metz and family, Henry and Carleen Tufo, Josie Kaestner, Robin Coleburn, Sharon Richards Weaver and Doug Weaver, Eleanor Cusson, Elizabeth Vigil, Eileen Cataldo, ShelburneCharlotte Garden Club, Evelyn Turner, Sara Smith Blake, Elizabeth and Tom Scatchard, Deborah Ramsdell, Gary and Janet Landrigan, the Bunbury Company, Denise Cavalier, William Bruett, Jr., Valerie and William Graham, Global Maritime Transportation Services, Inc., Barry and Susan Cluff for the donation in honor of the Greg Cluff family, and Lori Racha and Damon Silverman in honor of CCS teachers Kathy Lara, Monica Lubic, Les-
lie Williams, Kristen Rathbun and Andy Smith from their children Kate, Chloe, Matthew and Andrew Silverman., We thank the Vermont Community Foundation for the grant to continue to provide community service to those in our community in need. Thank you to Marilyn Richardson for the support, and we appreciate all the dental hygiene products Spin (Dr. Richardson) provided over the years to the families using the Food Shelf. Spin will be greatly missed by our community. A big thank you to John, Christy, Olivia, Greta and Ray Hagios for the donation of the proceeds from the sale of blackberries, jams and muffins at their Greenbush Road berry stand. This has become a wonderful family tradition for them, and the Food Shelf appreciates the support. We appreciate the food and cash donations from the Cluff-Naritomi food drive/ holiday cookie party, another wonderful and generous holiday tradition. We thank Hank Bissell of Lewis Creek Farm and Linda Hamilton for the very generous donations of potatoes. And finally, thank you to our Charlotte Grange for the many bags of non-perishable food and the large box of knitted hats and mittens and to Anne Kelton and family for the Omaha Steaks.
socks to babies, bugs and hairy bread, we’ll investigate it all. Join us for discovery and diversion every Friday morning through Feb. 14. Suitable for ages 3 to 5 who are comfortable in a story time setting without parent or caregiver. Parent/caregiver must remain in library. Please call 4253864 or email youthservices@charlottepubliclibrary.org to sign up.
follows the presentation. on Display Dan Falby: Vermont Terrain. Dan primarily does landscape photography as he hikes the beautiful Vermont terrain. From originally taking shots with his iPhone and posting them on Facebook, he has evolved to the artistic side of creating pictures. He loves to use editing technology that allows him to put his own touch on things, so viewers of his work will see many different shades, colors and contrasts that accent the original scenes.
Spark Fun Workshop Vacation Day Program, Monday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Spend the day with Arduino! Introduction to the Arduino is a program offered in partnership with Sparkfun Electronics and the Vermont Department of Libraries. Using the Arduino, a simple microcontroller, you can learn basic skills to make creative interactive electronic objects. Lunch and all necessary equipment will be provided (laptops welcome). For ages 12 and up. Please call or email the library to sign up. Squishy Circuits Afterschool, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. Light up an LED with play dough? Come to the library and find out how. We’ll create circuits and explore electronics with squishy play dough. All necessary equipment provided. For grades 2 and up. Please call or email the library to sign up. Imaging the World: Radiologist Kristen DeStigter in Uganda, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m. For the past five years, Dr. Kristen DeStigter, a radiologist living in Charlotte, has traveled to Uganda, bringing critical prenatal diagnosis techniques to remote areas of this African country. Join us as Kristen shares her experiences setting up the foundation “Imaging the World” and training frontline health workers in order to bring medical expertise and quality healthcare to the world’s most underserved communities. Refreshments served, and time for discussion
DonaTions We welcome donations any time of the year. The Charlotte Food Shelf is run entirely by volunteers, so all donations go directly for food or assistance to our
library boarD Meeting: Thursday, Jan. 16, at 5:30
neighbors in need. If you are a customer of yourfarmstand.com, you may make a donation to the Food Shelf as part of your online order, otherwise checks may be mailed to: Charlotte Food Shelf & Assistance 403 Church Hill Road P. O. Box 83 Charlotte, VT 05445 Donated food drop-off locations: All nonperishable food donations may be dropped off at the Charlotte Library, the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (main entrance) or at the Food Shelf during the distribution mornings. We request that all fresh foods be dropped off at the Food Shelf by 7:30 a.m. on the distribution mornings. The Food Shelf is located on the lower level of the Congregational Church vestry. We are open for food distribution from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23 and Feb. 6, as well as the Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. before each Thursday distribution morning. We are open to all community residents. Privacy is very important and respected in our mission of neighbor helping neighbor. For emergency food call John at 4253130. For emergency assistance (electricity, fuel), call Karen at 425-3252. For more information call Karen at 425-3252, or visit our website at https://sites.google. com/site/charlottefoodshelfvt/.
p.m. Board members: Bonnie Ayer, member-at-large; Bonnie Christie, chair; Vince Crockenberg, treasurer; Emily Ferris, vice chair; Dorrice Hammer, secretary.
Library Hours Mon, Wed: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Phone 425-3864 charlottelibraryvt@gmail.com charlottepubliclibrary.org
Charlotte Library Book List 2013: We polled and we posited and we prevailed! Here’s the list of most fascinating, entertaining and interesting books read around town in the past year in alphabetical order by author: Longbourn by Jo Baker Beyond the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo Speaking from Among the Bones by Alan Bradley The Boys in the Boat by Daniel Brown The Bartender’s Tale by Ivan Doig The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code by M. Fox Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith Papertowns by John Green The Ghost Map by Stephen Johnson The Curiosity by Stephen Kiernan The Good House by Ann Leary Let the Great World Spin by Collum McCann How to Create the Perfect Wife by Wendy Moore IQ84 by Haruki Murakami Citizens of London by Lynne Olsen Bel Canto by Ann Patchett How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny The Wild Trees by Richard Preston Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Still need more book tips? Check out the “Best Books” cart in the library lobby for the annual top fiction and nonfiction picks from critics around the country. Have a title you’d like to recommend? Drop us a line at charlottelibraryvt@gmail.com.
Charlotte Senior Center
The Café Menu
by Mary Recchia, Activities Coordinator
Snow days! If there is ever a question whether the Senior Center is closed due to weather, know that we will follow the CSSU school closings that are posted on local TV and radio stations as well as at cssu.org. –––– Opera, live on the big screen, will be shown on Thursday afternoon. Jan. 23, from 1–3 p.m. Harriett Brainard will share with us a DVD recording on loan from the Academy of Vocal Arts of Philadelphia, which has a mission to be the world’s premier institution for training young artists as international opera soloists. Distinguished by its reputation for high quality performances, the Academy of Vocal Arts has given many renowned Metropolitan opera singers a start. Graduates include James Morris and recent graduate Angela Meade. Cheer up the winter, chase the blues away and come get lost in our presentation of favorite opera arias by talented artists in recital. Registration required. No fee. –––– Do you love theater? Do you appreciate the spoken word? All The World’s a Stage is our play reading group that meets once a month and is for people who enjoy—or suspect they might enjoy—reading plays aloud with others. Parts have been assigned for our reading on Jan. 24 from 1 –3 p.m., when we will hear Lovers and Other Strangers by Renee Taylor and Joseph Bologna. As a participant or a listener, all are welcome to join as we continue to broaden our exposure to this rich and poignant form of literature. Sean Moran, recently relocated to Charlotte from Los Angeles where he spent 35 years in the TV, film and theater business, promises a good time for anyone interested. A sign-up sheet is in the registration book at the host desk, where you can let us know if you would like to be given a part for our next reading on Feb. 28. ––––
MONDAY, JANUARY 20: Pumpkin black bean soup with curry, fruit salad, chocolate cupcakes
On behalf of the Vermont Watercolor Society, Lynn Cummings will be showing several short DVDs by internationally renowned Australian watercolor artist John Lovett on Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 9:30–11:30 a.m. In between each DVD there will be a brief discussion. Depending on the size of the group attending, we may try some of his techniques after the viewing. Please register so we can anticipate the number of people attending. Come, and bring a friend. No fee. –––– Also join Lynn for two half-day sessions on painting snow in watercolor, also known as saving your whites! On Thursday, Jan. 30, and Thursday, Feb. 6, from 12:30–3:30 p.m., bring in one or more photos you have taken of a snowy scene you’d like to paint. If you have taken a class from Lynn before, bring the materials you usually use. If you have not, please ask for a supply list when you register. Registration required. Fee: $70. –––– Elizabeth Llewellyn’s classes continue with Colored Pencils, Beyond the Basics on Thursday mornings Feb. 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 10–11:30 a.m. Colored pencil painting is affordable and requires a minimum of supplies when compared with other painting mediums. Colored pencil is a clean, non-toxic medium that does not require complicated setup and cleanup time. In this more advanced class, students will be introduced to working with an embossing tool, using colorless blending markers, and working on toned paper. All levels of skill are welcome. Materials: same as above plus Prismacolor Premier Colorless Blending Marker (1) and an embossing tool (1). Registration required. Limit 10. Fee: $48. –––– New sessions of Pilates, chair yoga and gentle yoga begin the week of Jan. 27. Please call for exact times and details.
ASK US HOW
IMPROVED NUTRITION
CAN AFFECT THE LONG TERM HEALTH OF YOUR CAT.
–––– Events following the Wednesday luncheon at 1 p.m. Those who do not share lunch with us are welcome to drop in around 1 p.m. to enjoy the after lunch offerings: Jan. 22: Wings of Thunder with Norman and Betsy Silcox. A must-see for bird lovers, this DVD depicts bird life over the course of a year in the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, which is composed of 41,000 acres of freshwater wetlands in Northern Utah where the Bear River flows into the Great Salt Lake and multitudes of waterfowl gather. Wings, which was filmed by an award-winning cinematographer and is narrated by actor Peter Coyote, will be augmented with commentary from the Silcox’s recent visit. Jan. 29: Exploring Montenegro and Croatia. John and Dorrice Hammer will share their photos of Croatia, where they traveled with Charlotters Larry and Linda Hamilton and Vince and Susan Crockenberg this past September. They will also include the three days they spent in Montenegro, which they visited prior to meeting in Croatia. Come see their gorgeous pictures and learn why Croatia has become the favorite European destination of travelers in recent years.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22: Stuffed cabbage rolls, homemade dessert MONDAY, JANUARY 27: Lumberjack mixed vegetable soup, Parisian salad, mixed selection of bread, dessert WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29: Croatian casserole, tossed salad, homemade dessert
Senior LunCheonS are held every Wednesday at noon. Reservations are necessary in advance and can be made by calling the Senior Center at 425-6345. A $4 donation is requested. Reservations are not required for the Monday Munch.
BREAKING NEWS!
www.thecharlottenews. org
Root to Host Health Care and Retirement Seminar Jan. 16 Edward Jones financial advisor Bill Root of Charlotte is hosting a free seminar titled “Health Care and Your Retirement” at 6 p.m. on Jan. 16 in Shelburne. At the presentation Root will discuss Medicare coverage and traditional medical expenses, long-term medical care expenses and strategies for addressing uncovered expenses. The seminar will take place at 3762 Shelburne Road, suite four. Refreshments will be served. While the presentation is free, space is limited. To make a reserva-
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The Charlotte News
SPORTS
Twin-school women’s hockey team is panning out for CVU Having joined forces with South Burlington because neither Redhawks nor Rebels could dress a full varsity team, the CVU/SB venture has sent a competitive squad onto the rink in each game. The Rebel/Hawks stand at four wins and five losses two weeks into the new year. Just before Christmas break, CVU/ SB helped christen Stowe’s new arena by handing the Raiders a 5-1 loss. The team returned to Cairns Arena on January 4 to face North Country, losing to the Falcons by a goal, 3-2. Molly Dunphy and Sarah Fisher scored for the Rebel/Hawks. Five days later BFA-St. Albans built an early four-goal lead then hung on for a 5-3 victory. South Burlington senior Courtney Barrett scored all of the Rebel/Hawk goals in that game and the later 4-1 loss to Rutland. Nine wins without a loss mark the start of men’s hockey Since the last issue of the News, the Redhawk men’s hockey team has topped Rice, South Burlington, Spaulding, Colchester and North Country, teams that in recent years have put strong squads on the ice. CVU won the five games with a total of 25 goals to their opponents’ three. The Redhawks began by shutting out Rice 5-0. Charlotte’s Elliot Mitchell netted one of the early goals, which led to CVU entering the third period with a three-goal lead. Ryan Keelan, the leading Redhawk goal scorer so far this season, finished CVU’s scoring with two goals in the third frame. Keelan added to his total against South Burlington by scoring twice in a 3-1 Redhawk victory. He turned to assisting his mates against Spaulding as Brendan Gannon hit for two, and freshman Thomas Samuelsen, senior Will Bernicke and junior Elliot Mitchell added to the 6-1 win. Defenseman Oscar Kelly stepped up to the scoring table with a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win over Colchester. Six skaters celebrated the new year by scoring in a 7-0 shutout of North Country, demonstrating once again the breadth of the CVU attack. BFA-St. Albans, a perennial hockey power since John LeClair days, tied CVU 1-1 on first-period goals by each team. CVU later showed its breadth of talent by spreading scoring among five players in an 8-2 defeat of Rutland. CVU wrestlers place third at Hubie Wagner Seventeen Vermont, New York, Maine and Massachusetts high schools sent wrestling teams to Middlebury for the annual two-day Hubie Wagner Tournament. The Redhawks placed second among Vermont schools and third overall, close behind Hartford, Vt., and Shaker High School of New York. CVU individuals racked up the highest team score in its relatively short history by winning many matches through pins. Coach Gunnar Olson asked his team before the matches began to look toward pins if they wanted to be competitive, due to the fact
that they did not have a full fourteen-man varsity squad on hand. Charlotte’s Kienan Kittredge won his first high school tournament championship by pinning every opponent at 195 pounds. He, Alex Legg at 132 and Grant Poston at 170 won first-place finishes. Charlotter Brandon Tieso took third at 113 pounds. Freshman Jaret Legg also claimed third in his weight class. Later in the week CVU again took on a multi-state contingent in Peru. N.Y., finishing sixth Charlotter Brandon Tieso grapples with an opponent at the recent Peru Invitational. among 19 schools. Legg and Poston won their weight classes, while Kittredge took third. Poston earned the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award.
Photos by Carol Kittredge
Women’s basketball finishes 2013 without a loss A positive sign for both present and future teams, the CVU women hoopsters are getting scoring punch from sophomores as well as seniors. Upperclassmen Emily Kinneston and Amanda Beatty, joined by Charlotte sophomores Laurel Jaunich and Sadie Otley, provided the shooting touches needed to win. The team finished 2013 with a perfect 6-0 record, including a 20-point victory over another of last year’s state champions, Mount Abraham. The Redhawks are not limited to a strong offense, though, as they displayed in their 19-point win over Mount Anthony, a game in which they held MAU to just two points in the final quarter. Two days before New Year’s Day, Kinneston (17 points), Jaunich (14 points) and Beatty (14 points) led the Redhawks to a second victory over Mt. Abe, 57-34. These three wins were wedged around a 52-32 defeat of Rice, with Jaunich contributing 13 points and seven rebounds in addition to Otley’s eight and Kinneston’s 18. The new year began the way 2013 left off—with two victories. Kinneston again paved the way to a 35-point win over BFA-St. Albans (65-30), and Otley’s 14 points, six steals and four assists gave the Redhawks a 53-point win over North Country, 73-20.
Men’s basketball looks for an expanded scoring punch CVU men’s basketball has struggled this season, winning two and losing four so far. The latest was a 51-42 defeat at the hands of South Burlington. Charlotte’s Lucas Aube led the Redhawks with Kienan Kittredge prepares to pin an opponent during a recent match. The Charlotte 10 points and 15 wrestler won his first high school tournament recently. rebounds. In mid December the soccer program at CVU in the fall, replacing TJ Mead. Charlotte duo of Aube and Brandon O’Connell carried the Redhawks past A director of the Alliance of Women’s Coaches, BFA-St. Albans 43-27, a game in which Aube had based in Florida, is quoted by Molly Walsh in the Free a double-double that helped CVU come back in the Press as saying, “Whether she knows it or not, [Katie] second half. Aube and O’Connell also led the Hawks is a trailblazer.” over Missisquoi 44-23 with each player netting nine points. Despite Aube’s 26 points in the last two Nordic skiers take Day 1 one at Sleepy Hollow Both CVU men’s and women’s Nordic ski teams games, CVU could not pull out wins over BFA and placed first on day one of the Tour de Chittenden, a Colchester. 5K Classic race. Charlie Maitland, Thomas Clayton, Casey Silk and Will Kay led the men. Autumn Gymnasts climb the beam CVU gymnasts won three dual-school tournaments Eastman and Charlotte’s Cally Braun led the women over Milton, Middlebury and Randolph by convincing with Cally’s sister Tatum, Rachel Slimovitch and margins. Against Milton in mid December, nine Evelyn Needham placing among the top ten Day two saw both men and women paving the way. Redhawks placed among the top finishers in all Eastman, Slimovitch, Needham, Tatum and Calley events. Near the end of 2013 they duplicated the feat against Middlebury, placing 11 and winning all Braun and Anna Franceschetti, another Charlotter, events. Freshman Julia Higa won all-around honors finished among the top ten. as well as the vault competition. At home against Randolph, CVU names appeared eight times among Alpine skiers hit the gates at Cochran’s Charlotte’s Leandro Vazquez’ first-place finish in top finishers. slalom, followed by a third spot from Cole Bartlett, brought the Redhawk men’s team home in third place CVU hits the sports pages Of the top ten sporting stories carried in last year’s behind South Burlington and Mount Mansfield. Burlington Free Press, CVU clicked on three of them. Its state championships in baseball and women’s CVU winners at indoor track meet The Redhawk winter track people headed into soccer were two. Graduate and Redhawk athlete Konner Fleming, who gained national attention on UVM on Saturday, and a number of them won their YouTube and ESPN with a flipping grab of a wiffle events. Haliana Burhans was first in the 55-meter ball in the Travis Roy Wiffle Ball Tournament at dash. The 4x200 relay team took its event, Emily Geske pole-vaulted over nine feet, and Tawn Tomasi Essex’ “Little Fenway,” was the third. won the men’s 300-meter run. Congratulations to Katie Mack Katie Mack , social studies teacher and former soccer player and coach, will take over the men’s
Softball Clinics Available in Shelburne The Shelburne Little League Softball Committee will be holding free pitching clinics at the Shelburne Town Gym in January and February for softball players ages eight to 12. This will give players a chance for extra pitching practice and one-on-one instruction prior to the start of the 2014 season. League age is defined as a player’s age on December 31, 2013. Returning pitchers (any player who has pitched in a game) and beginning pitchers (any player who has never pitched in a game) should choose a time slot for each of the six dates in the appropriate sessions to reserve a slot. Due to space limitations we can have only six pitchers at each time slot, so reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone who signs up after the slots are full will be put on a waiting list and will be notified if spots become available. If your daughter is an inexperienced catcher, please choose time slots for the beginning pitcher sessions. Experienced players/catchers can choose any of the returning pitcher time slots listed below, and catchers will be paired up with a pitcher accordingly. If your daughter
Iroquois Soccer Club Sign-up and Prize Give-away Jan. 25
is a pitcher as well as a catcher she may do both. If your daughter would like to try both, select a time slot for pitching and also a time slot for catching, making sure that you list which position the reservation is for. Catchers do not have to attend all sessions—just sign up for those your daughter can attend. What happens if sessions fill up and your daughter doesn’t get a slot? We have indoor dates available in March and are considering adding additional pitching sessions depending upon interest. For more information, or to reserve a spot, contact Lisa O’Day via email at odayvt@ gmail.com or phone at 802-233-1577.
Kevin Lewis Contributor Charlotters are invited to Hinesburg Town Hall between 10 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25, to sign up for the Iroquois Soccer Club 2014 season. Iroquois Soccer Club is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a rich soccer experience for youth ages 7 to 14 from Hinesburg, Charlotte, Williston and Shelburne. Those who sign up will automatically qualify to win a refund of registration fees. You may also sign up for Iroquois Soccer Club any time online at iroquoissoccer. org. The first 25 kids to register get free Tt-shirts. Regardless of how you register, you will be entered to win one of many prizes, including refund of registration fee (up to $155 value), a tire rotation at Nokian Tire, a Munson Auto oil change, an Annette’s Club House gift certificate for a birthday party or a gift certificate to
Returning-pitcher sessions Fri., Jan. 17, 3:30–4:15 p.m. and 4:15–5 p.m. Wed., Jan. 22, 5:30–6:15 p.m. and 6:15–7 p.m. Fri., Jan. 24, 3:30–4:15 p.m. and 4:15–5 p.m. Wed., Jan. 29, 5:30–6:15 p.m. and 6:15–7 p.m. Beginner-pitcher sessions Fri., Jan. 31, 3:30–4:15 p.m. and 4:15–5 p.m. Fri., Feb. 7, 3:30–4:15 p.m. and 4:15–5 p.m. Wed., Feb. 12, 5:30–6:15 p.m. and 6:15–7 p.m.
Business Directory Linda H. Sparks
Julie Elitzer
Broker, GRI, CRS Senior Associate
550 Hinesburg Road So. Burlington, VT 05403
Direct:
802-846-7860
Cell:
802-734-2930
Hinesburgh Public House. The Iroquois Soccer Club welcomes participation from Charlotte, Shelburne, Williston and any area town and, of course, from Hinesburg as well. Sponsors this year will again be Nokian Tire, Munson Auto, Annette’s Club House and Hinesburgh Public House. Their generous support nearly pays in full the cost of Iroquois Soccer Club jerseys. Parents who volunteer to help (and it’s not just coaches we need) get a $50 break on registration. Come join in the fun: it’s a great group of people, and helping run a soccer program is a reward unto itself. Scholarships are available. For more information about Iroquois Soccer Club, including how to participate as a player, volunteer, coach or sponsor, contact club president Kevin Lewis at 482-4705 or visit iroquoissoccer.org. Iroquois Soccer Club standing meetings are open to the public. The next one is Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. All are welcome!
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The Charlotte News
Hardwater Miracles Bradley Carleton Contributor It is nothing short of a miracle that, at this time of year, the water that embraces us with warmth during the summer months turns as hard as a cement floor, daring adventurous souls to walk, drive or creep across its crystalline surface. To my merry band of outdoorsmen, we feel as though we have been invited to a winter ball. We drag all the accoutrements for our adventure across the frozen shield of the lake. We haul two sleds full of pickle buckets containing tip-ups, bait, bubblers, ultra light rods, bibbits of every size, shape and color, heaters, creepers, scoops, ice spuds, thermoses full of hot coffee, donuts and beverages, and a third sled carrying a portable shanty. We are a caravan of jovial souls in search of a good time in an Arctic wonderland. Using a GPS we determine the exact spot upon which we will pitch camp. We are on about 12 inches of clear, black, solid crystal. We pitch the big red portable shanty and begin drilling holes with the hand auger. Within minutes, we are
Coach House Capital Announces Fund Launch Charlotte-based equity firm to focus on collector vehicles Investors dream about markets with expanding global demand, finite supply, little or no competition and returns that are uncorrelated with traditional financial assets. Coach House Capital, a Charlottebased private equity firm specializing in the investment-grade collector vehicle market, is out to turn that dream into a reality with the launch of its new fund, Coach House Private Equity Fund, L.P.
sitting in a circle, jigging underneath the ice, intent on getting that first nibble. There are six of us today. Eric Champney of Charlotte, past mentee and now serving in the Marines and just home from Afghanistan, his girlfriend, Sara Marquez, from San Diego—who has never even seen snow, let alone walked on ice, Zack and Ethan, our current mentees in the Traditions Outdoor Mentoring program, my evil twin and confidante Chris Thayer from Charlotte and myself. We play a game of “Who’s on the Board First” by furiously concentrating on catching the first fish. The winner will loudly proclaim “One!” This often leads to fierce competition, but today it’s just for fun. Ethan, the youngest member of our tribe, calls out the challenge to the group. “I got one! I mean ‘One!’” Crestfallen, Chris and I hear the call to arms and begin drilling new holes, trying to guess where the school of perch might be headed. After auguring a dozen holes, a pattern develops. The perch are moving in schools, in and out of the shallow water to a drop-off about 50 yards away. When one site turns off the other turns on and we all shift out buckets and seats to follow them. By late afternoon we have them figured out. As the sun sets over the Adirondacks, Chris now has over 100 fish in his bucket, and Zack has more than 50. Ethan has about 40, and me, well, I’m struggling to keep up with just 16 in my bucket. I am being out-fished by everyone, even the youngsters. I take a lot of ribbing, and According to Andrew Haigney, managing director of Coach House Capital, the fund will target very low production sports, touring and competition vehicles, mainly from the late 1950s through the early 1970s. “We expect to have between 20 and 30 vehicles in this portfolio,” Haigney said, and, calling on his background in trading the illiquid securities of closely held companies, he added, “We see the sweet spot in the collector vehicle market between $800,000 to $1.5 million from both a capital appreciation and liquidity perspective.” The investment-grade collector-vehicle market has outperformed many asset classes in recent years, and Mr. Haigney sees the trend continuing for the foreseeable future, explaining, “You have a market with fixed supply and expanding global demand, economics 101 tells us
Early-season ice fishing nets these fisherman dozens of perch. Vermonters are welcome to join in on the fun with a free ice-fishing day Jan. 25. when I am confronted with another jab, I reply, “Every dog has its day.” Packing up in the twilight, we are all laughing and patting each other on the back, talking about what a fantastic day we had on the ice. And we did. Even from the perspective of the “Low Hook for the Day” – me. This year Vermont will host its inaugural “Free Ice Fishing Day” on Saturday, Jan. 25. No one will need a license to participate in one of Vermont’s oldest and most revered traditional sports, ice fishing. So gather up your grandfather’s old auger and tip-ups, hand lines and lures and join us for a day of laughter and
learning on the Big Pond. For more information on Free Ice Fishing Day, visit the VT Fish & Wildlife website at vtfishandwildlife.com. Under the banner for “Fishing” click “Ice Fishing in VT” or contact us at sacredhunter. org@gmail.com.
that this leads to rising prices.” With the launch of the fund, Coach House is opening up an asset class that was previously reserved only for the ultra wealthy. Haigney, who has personally owned more than 50 vehicles and is a third- generation Wall Street veteran with extensive capital markets experience, stated that his “passion for this asset class is only surpassed by his passion for investment management.” He continued, “This is an investment product, run by experienced investment professionals who understand that at the end of the day what matters is the investment return.” An outspoken critic of the investment management industry fee structure, Mr. Haigney is putting his money where his
mouth is by forgoing carried interest fees, saying, “It’s our fundamental belief that the investment returns belong to the investors, not the investment managers.” He adding, “As an asset manager we have a fiduciary duty to protect our investors’ returns, not take them for ourselves.” The fund, which will have a ten-year term, is being offered only to “Accredited Investors” as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933 or “Qualified Purchasers” under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The fund is expected to close in the first quarter of 2014. For more information, visit coachhousecorp.com or email info@coachhousecorp.com.
George & Pam Darling P.O. Box 32 Ferry Road, Charlotte, VT gdarling@gmavt.net
BREAKING NEWS!
www.thecharlottenews.org
Bradley Carleton is executive director of Sacred Hunter.org, a nonprofit organization that is being formed to educate the public on the spiritual connection of man to nature and raises funds for Traditions Outdoor Mentoring.org, which mentors at-risk young men in outdoor pursuits.
Places To Go & Things To Do THURSDAY, JANUARY 16 Traditional Celebration of Orchard Trees, 5–9 p.m., Champlain Orchards, Shoreham. The usually quiet and serene winter orchard will come to life as revelers celebrate the wassail with hearty food, traditional songs and wassail drinks for all ages. Champlain Orchards will have child-friendly activities, including sledding and snowshoeing, as well as strolling through the orchard serenading our trees with song and celebration. Afterwards, there will be a bonfire on the hill for warm drinks and merriment. Free. More info: ChamplainOrchards.com or call 897-2777. Speaking from Experience: Michael Claudon, 7 p.m., Champlain College. What do you do after a distinguished 42-year career as an economics professor at MiddleburyCollege and mentor to countless Vermont entrepreneurs? If you are Michael Claudon, you start your own business in the arcane field of restoring old wooden powerboats. Learn more about Michael’s latest venture and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone with a dream or two left. Free. More info: champlain.edu. If Only You People Could Follow Directions Book Launch, 7 p.m., Phoenix Books, Burlington. Discover Jessica Hendry Nelson’s new memoir, If Only You People Could Follow Directions. Kirkus Reviews calls it “an unforgettable debut.” Publishers Weekly says, “Although her family’s struggle to break out of the pattern of addiction and enabling is not an easy one, as Nelson strives to find balance and peace, she manages to offer hope that survival is possible.” A Burlington local, Nelson is the cofounder of Renegade Writers Collective. Free. FRIDAY, JANUARY 17 Community Safety Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 Celtic Winter Gathering, All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 7 p.m. The Celtic Winter Gathering (CWG) will include performances by Young Traditions Vermont Touring Group, Vermont’s own Celtic Company, and an eclectic mix of Celtic dancers from throughout the northeastern U.S. and Canada. Event will also take place Jan. 19. More info: celticheather.com. Storytime, 11 a.m., Phoenix Books, Burlington. Listen to and enjoy stories with your little ones. Free. More info: phoenixbooks.biz SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 “All Rise: Standing up to Vermont Judicial History,” 2–3 p.m., Ethan Allen Homestead, Colchester. This presentation by Paul Gillies, lawyer and author, will offer a look at historical, unusual, (and at times comical) Vermont court cases from 1779 to the present, which have laid the foundation for our judicial system of today. Free. For more information call the Ethan Allen Homestead at 8654556 or visit www.ethanallenhomestead.org MONDAY, JANUARY 20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. No School: CCS, CVU TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 Rivers and Tides Film Screening, 6 p.m., Main Street Landing, Burlington. Depicting the magical
relationship between art and nature while painting a visually intoxicating portrait of artist Andy Goldsworthy, Rivers and Tides follows the bohemian free spirit all over the world as he demonstrates and discusses his creative process and artistic philosophies. From his long, winding rock walls and icicle sculptures to his interlocking leaf chains and multicolored pools of flowers, Goldsworthy’s painstakingly intricate masterpieces are made entirely of materials found in Mother Nature. Free. More info: burlingtoncityarts.org. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22 Community Safety Committee Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall THURSDAY, JANUARY 23 CCS 5/6 Winter Concert, 7 p.m., CCS Multi-Purpose Room Financial Aid Forms Workshop, CVU, 5:30–8 p.m. VSAC (the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation) invites you to an informal workshop to fill out your FAFSA & Vermont grant forms, ask questions and learn about the college financial aid process, including scholarships. We will have internet access and plenty of time for questions and answers. Space is limited. Please contact the Direction Center to reserve a spot. More info: vsac.org. Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy? Film Screening, 7 p.m., Main Street Landing, Burlington. The Burlington Film Society and Main Street Landing are pleased to present an exclusive Burlington area theatrical screening of Michel Gondry’s latest film Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy?, an animated conversation with linguist, philosopher, political commentator and activist Noam Chomsky. Discussion will follow the screening, led by Emily Manetta, Associate Professor of Anthropology in the program of Linguistics at The University of Vermont. Free. More info: burlingtonfilmsociety.org. FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 Local Legends, an Evening of Acoustic Music, CVU, 7 p.m. “Local Legends, an Evening of Acoustic Music” brings together a collection of outstanding local musicians who have made significant contributions to our musical landscape. Funds raised by this exciting concert will support the continuing efforts of Responsible Growth Hinesburg. This grassroots organization promotes right-sized commercial and residential development balanced with space to build community in Hinesburg. Lineup includes Jamie Masefield with Doug Perkins, Tyler Bolles, and Jon Fishman, Pete’s Posse and Michael Chorney and Maryse Smith. Tickets: $20 adults, $15 for age 18 and under. Charge by phone at 86-FLYNN; in person at Brown Dog Books and Gifts. MONDAY, JANUARY 27 Selectboard meeting, Town Hall, 7 p.m. TUESDAY, JANUARY 28 Annual Vermont Farm Show, all day, Essex Junction. The Annual Vermont Farm Show returns to the Champlain Valley Fair Grounds in Essex Junction for another exciting year. For agriculture professionals, it is an opportunity to meet with vendors, preview products and machinery and network with the farm community. For consumers, it’s a great venue to learn about technological advances in agriculture that benefit all sizes and all kinds of farms. Event runs through Jan. 30. For more infor-
St. Jude, Mass, Hinesburg, 4:30 p.m. Community Alliance Church, Hinesburg, Gathering Place, 9 a.m., Sunday School, 9 a.m., Worship, 10:15 a.m. Information: 482-2132. Charlotte Congregational Church, Worship, 10 a.m., Sunday School, 10 a.m. Information: 4253176. Lighthouse Baptist Church, 90 Mechanicsville Rd., Hinesburg, 10:30 a.m., Evening Service, 6 p.m. Information: 482-2588. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mass, 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Information: 425-2637. St. Jude, Mass, Hinesburg, 9:30 a.m. Information: 482-2290. North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church, Hollow Road, Worship, 10 a.m., Sunday School, 9:45 a.m. Information: 425-2770. Cross Roads Chapel, Relocated to the Brown Church on Route 7, Ferrisburgh. Worship, 11 a.m. Information: 425-3625. Assembly of God Christian Center, Rtes. 7 and 22A, Ferrisburgh, Sunday worship, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday School, 9 a.m. Information: 8773903. All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne. Sunday Service 9 a.m., Evensong Service 5 p.m. 985-3819 Trinity Episcopal Church, 5171 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, 9:15 10:15 a.m. “Space for Grace” (educational hour), 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (with child care and Sunday School). 985-2269. United Church of Hinesburg, 10570 Route 116. Sunday service 10 a.m. September through June; 9 a.m. July through August. Sunday School during services. 482-3352
mation, including a list of scheduled 2014 exhibitors, visit www.vtfarmshow.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29 Burlington Writers Workshop Fiction Writing Workshop, 6:30 p.m., Burlington. Join local writers in reading and responding to selected work by BWW members. At Burlington Writers Workshop Headquarters on Pine Street. Free. Must preregister via meetup.com. More info: burlingtonwritersworkshop.com. THURSDAY, JANUARY 30 8th Grade Student and Parent Night, CVU gym, 6–8 p.m. This evening will provide future high school students and their parents an introduction to the academic and elective programs they will experience in the 9th grade. More info: Sue Jipner at sjipner@ cvuhs.org.
Have an event you'd like to share? Send it to the News at news@charlottenewsvt.com.
ONGOING EVENTS MONDAYS Senior Center Café, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Featuring soup, salads, homemade bread and dessert. No reservations necessary. Charlotte Multi-Age Coed Pickup Basketball Open Gym, 7–9 p.m. at the CCS gym. High school students welcome. Call 425-3997. WEDNESDAYS Charlotte/Shelburne Rotary Club, 7:30–8:30 a.m., Parish Hall, Trinity Episcopal Church, Shelburne. Newcomers Club of Charlotte, Shelburne and sur-
rounding area meets once a month on the third Wednesday from September to June. Variety of programs, day trips and locations. Information: Orchard Corl, president, 985-3870. AA Meeting, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 7 p.m. Senior Luncheon, Senior Center, noon. For reservations, call 425-6345 before 2 p.m. on previous Monday. Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., 7:30 p.m., Fire Station. Charlotte Multi-Age Coed Pickup Basketball Open Gym, 7-9 p.m. at the CCS gym. High school students welcome. Call 425-3997 for information.
THURSDAYS Food Shelf, open from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Dec. 5 and 19. Lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry. Information: Karen at 425-3252; for emergency food call John at 425-3130. FRIDAYS AA Meeting, Congregational Church Vestry, 8 p.m. Charlotte Playgroup, 9:30–11 a.m., CCS MPR. Free, ages 0-5.
The Charlotte News
Around Town Congratulations to Lois McClure who was named “2013 Vermonter of the Year” by the Burlington Free Press editorial board. Lois and major philanthropic ventures in Vermont have gone hand in hand for many years. The article notes that she has “built a legacy of generosity and caring, started decades ago with her late husband, J. Warren “Mac” McClure, former owner of the Free Press.” A director of the J. Warren and Lois McClure Foundation, she has been a benefactor for the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, the Shelburne Museum, the Visiting Nurse Association, the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge adjacent to Fletcher Allen Hospital, and many other socially significant organizations—not to mention the Lake Champlain schooner named in her honor, the “Lois McClure.” A longtime resident of Charlotte, she was a major contributor to the construction of the Charlotte Library. She, according to Free Press editor Aki Soga, “has lived a life that embodies the best qualities of a Vermonter who looks out for her neighbor and lives for the betterment of the community.” to David and Lisabeth Sewell McCann, chief storytellers on “Sparkle Stories,” an independent media company they started in Charlotte that was named an iTunes Best of 2013 podcast. “Sparkle Stories” was among 12 podcasts in the “New-ThisYear” category and one of only 42 that made it onto the “Best of 2013” list. David said he fell in love with storytelling early in life and has engaged himself through art, film-making, teaching and performing. Lisabeth is a playwright and director who works with people of all ages on and off the stage. to Andrew Beerworth who was named a director at Paul Frank + Collins, Attorneys at Law. Beerworth has nearly ten years of civil litigation experience and has worked with Paul Frank + Collins since 2010. He practices in the areas of general liability, workers’ compensation and insurance litigation. to Jessie Price, the newly appointed executive editor of EatingWell magazine who was featured in an article titled “Healthy Cooking Simple” by Candace Page in the December 27 Burlington Free Press. In the last 10 years, Jessie has moved up in the magazine from a part-time freelance recipe tester through assistant and primary food editor to deputy editor and then executive editor as of June 2013. In the course of that time, the number of EatingWell subscribers has more than doubled to a current 750,000, while advertising sales are also now twice
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what they were last year. Jessie offers several simple suggestions for better eating in the article, an initial one being simply to cook more. Don’t go out to eat as often as you may want to. Eat more vegetables and less meat. Page says that Price is a big fan of roasted vegetables. If you are going out to eat, Jessie recommends two of her favorite restaurants that are close to Charlotte: Starry Night in North Ferrisburgh and the Kitchen Table in Richmond. to Robert Gibson, who was named vice president for marketing and business development by the Vermont Information Technology Leaders (VITL). Robert joined VITL in September 2013 in an interim capacity. His recent appointment makes him responsible for promoting VITL’s health exchange and eHealth consulting services to healthcare organizations in Vermont. He will also oversee public relations and media activities, education and outreach to the stakeholders as well as guide the development of new business opportunities. to Sarah Loomis, a student at Robert Morris University, Moon Township, Penn., who is majoring in nursing and who earned a place on the dean’s list for the fall semester, 2013. to Charlotte artist Jean Luc Dushime, a photographer and videographer who moved to Charlotte from the Republic of the Congo eight years ago and who was featured in the Jan. 5 Burlington Free Press as one of those who “shaped Vermont’s art-scape in 2013.” After surviving the genocide in Rwanda, he came to the U.S. He is quoted in the article saying that he became a photographer because he wants “to make something that transcends languages and cultures, and withstands time.” to Edsel Hammond who was featured in the Jan. 8 Seven Days in an article about his Charlotte auto mechanic business. As the News reported in a story on Edsel in its Oct. 10, 2013, issue, Hammond has been legally blind for the past 20 years, yet his early interest in cars has remained with him. He runs a shop out of his garage on Mount Philo Road just south of the Hinesburg Road intersection. While still in school he helped his father at Nordic (now Heritage) Ford in South Burlington. Five years after discovering his blindness he opened his own garage in Charlotte, working on most of his equipment and cars by feel. A visitor from Washington, D.C., recently had the opportunity to have Edsel restore his car’s carburetor effectiveness on the spur of the moment. Timeliness is a positive aspect of his business.
to freshman Chennah Sharpe and senior Taylor Thibault, students at Providence College, Providence, RI, who earned placement on the Dean’s List for the fall semester, 2013. to Johnson State College senior Bianca Moureau who earned placement on the President’s List for the fall semester, 2013. to Jefferey Hollender and his daughter Meika who were featured in a Burlington Free Press article on January 12 describing their launch of a toxinfree, latex condom made from material from rubber plantations in India. Citing studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and the Guttmacher Institute in New York City, which suggest that while a quarter of teens contract a sexually transmitted disease and that relatively few 20- to 40-year-old women use condoms, Hollenders feel the need to increase condom use is being demonstrated. Their plan would utilize wild rubber trees that would be environmentally sound while, at the same time, treating workers fairly. to Tad Cooke and Erick Crockenberg whose redevelopment plan for the Moran Plant on Burlington's waterfront is a major piece in the renewal of the area in line for tax increment financing (TIF) to improve public infrastructure. As reported in the January 14, Burlington Free Press, Tad and Erick said that their success so far “has been a result of partnerships with other organizations that have worked in Burlington in the past.” Mayor Weinberger spoke in favor of using public monies to help finance the proposal as long as the remaining funds could be raised by the developers. He also gave a timeline to the process.
Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Bertha Lucienne Delaricheliere of Hyde Park, who passed away Dec. 27 at the age of 96. Bertha was the tenth of 19 children born to Francis and Euphrosine Meilleur in Charlotte. After marrying Rodolphe Delarichaliere, she lived most of her life in Hyde Park. is extended to family and friends of Alex “Axel” Priest of Hinesburg who passed away December 23 at the age of 60. His surviving family includes his mother, Mary, brother Michael and Michael’s wife, Shirley, all of Charlotte.
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Firefighters with Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue filled the skating rink at CCS and tested their equipment early in January. Pictured are (from left) Joe Cianciola, Dustin St. George and Brianna Hanlon. Photo by Chris Falk.