The Charlotte News | August 25, 2016

The

Charlotte News Charlotte’s award-winning community newspaper

Volume lIX Number 3

The VoIce of The TowN

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Thursday, augusT 25, 2016

WHAT’S INSIDE

Town Clerk denied back pay from state, page 1 School’s back in session! What’s new?, page 1

The Charlotte News welcomes a new editor, page 2

11th Annual Peter Coleman Photo Competition, page 14-15

Fire Power Charlotte Volunteer Fire looks beyond brawn Page 4

Charlotte News

The CharlotteNewsVt.org

Vol. 59, no. 3 August 25, 2016

Vermont’s oldest nonprofit community newspaper, bringing you local news and views since 1958.

Town clerk salary appeal denied by the state John Hammer THE CHARLOTTE NEWS

The long-running question regarding the salary for Mary Mead, Charlotte Town Clerk/Treasurer, came one step closer to resolution with a decision by the Vermont Department of Labor (DoL) denying her appeal for back pay. The DoL determined, “That Ms. Meade (sic) is an exempt, salaried employee and that no unpaid wages are owed.” A copy of the Department of Labor letter may be found at: goo.gl/WSYM5S.

Mead forwarded her copy of the letter from the DoL to the Selectboard by email saying, “Here you go kids—you can all celebrate.”

Several steps remain for full resolution.

First, an opportunity for appeal still exists.

Then, there is an outstanding issue regarding her pay grade and that of her assistant, Christina Booher. The regrading, using the Palmer Analysis method, will take place over “the next several weeks,” according to Selectboard Chair Lane Morrison.

The specific issue regarding Booher’s

pay grade was the topic of a discussion at the Selectboard meeting of August 22. Ms. Booher, who had recently been given her evaluation, formally grieved her pay grade by letter in accordance with the Town’s Salary Administration policy. It was determined after a long and circular discussion that the proper route was to informally discuss the matter. Accordingly she will meet with the Selectboard at a special public meeting at 3:30 p.m. on August 30.

Ms. Mead’s regrading session has not yet been determined.

Shirley Bean, we’ll miss you...

Beloved Charlotter Shirley Bessette Bean (right) passed away on Sunday, August 21. A wake to honor the “inspiration and guiding force behind the creation of the Senior Center,” according to its treasurer Wally Gates, will be held at St. Jude’s Church in Hinesburg on Friday, August 26, from 4–7 p.m. and the funeral will be held Saturday, August 27, at 11 a.m. Full obituary on page 10. Photo: Alex Bunten

Taxing issue Are Charlotte’s higher taxes linked to school consolidation – or not?

Geeda Searfoorce THE CHARLOTTE NEWS

As the municipal tax rate is set to increase from 14.39 cents to 17.67 cents per $100 assessed property value, taxpayers are struggling to understand if the recent consolidation of CSSU school districts under Act 46 is the culprit. After all, Town Administrator Dean Bloch said in reference to the three-cent increase, “The main driver in the increase was the state education tax rates.” But the facts, when examined a little more closely, don’t necessarily point an accusatory finger at unification for the jump.

Last year’s lower than normal tax rate was a bit of an anomaly and gave taxpayers some welcome and unexpected breathing room. The previous year’s total tax rates, which include municipal and state education taxes, were 16.58 cents (resident) and 16.05 cents (nonresident). A large surplus prompted last year’s anomaly.

Understanding complex property tax issues is a challenge for voters. As Bloch said, “The increase was anticipated when the municipal budget was approved at Town Meeting.” So presumably there should be no surprise when the approved budget moves toward implementation. But State Representative Mike Yantachka was compelled in April, after Town Meeting, to respond to grumblings about tax hikes.

“There are several pieces to the tax equation that work together so that we can’t just see tax time, page 7

Back to school New faces, new lobby, earlier dismissal time on Tuesdays Rowan Beck CONTRIBUTOR

Back to school is right around the corner, and Charlotte Central School is ready to welcome the 365 enrolled students this year. Those returning to CCS, “Where there’s no better place to learn,” might see a few changes around the building.

At first blush, you’ll notice the entrance has been given a facelift. Over the summer Facilities Director Dave Le Blanc oversaw the construction of a new lobby using a variety of vendors. The suggestion came

from three community-school partnerships: the Safety team, the Sustainability team and the Hopes and Dreams team. All had their reasons for wanting the improved lobby. The Safety team felt strongly a need for increased security. The additional glass doors tick that box while the second set of doors makes the school more energy efficient and pleased the Sustainability team.

Finally, as the Hopes and Dreams team wanted, the space is more welcoming, with a more visible staff member to greet visitors. After Jane Akin’s retirement, CCS students and visitors will now be welcomed

by Cynthia LaWare.

All funds for the updated lobby came from the “Facilities Updates” line item of the budget.

Another big change for CCS students will be the early dismissal on Tuesday.

Rather than the usual 2:55 p.m. dismissal, kids will be let loose on the town at 1:55 see Back to School, page 8

Hey, look!

Notice anything different about The Charlotte News? We’ve gussied up our layout to match the specs for our new printer in Vermont. As a nonprofit, we’re always looking for ways to streamline costs so we can focus on bringing you the stories and content that matter. Like the new look? Not so much? Let us know.

Email us at news@thecharlottenews.org or post your thoughts on our Facebook page.

And, of course, we’re always grateful for contributions that help us keep the presses running!

Send your tax-deductible gift to Friends of The Charlotte News, P.O. Box 211, Charlotte, VT 05445. Onward to the future!

We’re hiring a layout/ production manager You have a love of design, a knack with computers and can crank out work when deadlines loom. Working directly with the editor in chief, you’ll spend two days every other week doing layout (usually 20 pages) for The News.

You’ll obviously have some chops with InDesign and Photoshop, get a kick out of making newsprint shine and won’t mind writing captions, picking photos, finding photo credits, entering corrections, and so on, when the need arises.

If interested in becoming a member of the editorial team of Charlotte’s award-winning, nonprofit community newspaper, contact Vince Crockenberg, president of the Board of Directors of The Charlotte News at vince.crockenberg@gmail.com.

Library News 18 • Crossword & Sudoku 19 • Senior Center 20 • Community Events 22 • Around Town 23

2 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

Handing over the reins

Alex Bunten EDITOR IN CHIEF

After almost two years behind the wheel of this fiery animal of community spirit, it’s time to hand over the reins. I feel very proud to have served as editor of a paper I grew up reading and writing for, doing my best to capture the essence of what it means to live in Charlotte, Vermont.

And let’s be honest, that’s not an easy question. Life in our bucolic village on the outskirts of Chittenden County varies depending on who you ask—Thompson’s Pointers, Jackson Hillers, East Charlotte conservatives, West Charlotte “Louie liberals,” retirees, divorcees, commuters, sharp shooters, horse people, summer visitors, farmers, professors, stay-at-home moms/ dads, or young fragile minds at CCS. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter where you are from or where you’re at in life. Everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time and gets one vote at

TCN Archive clip from 1961. We are very happy to report the archive is live! See pages 12-13 for more from our past.

Town Meeting (some people talk more than others, though…ahyut). However, it’s worth remembering and appreciating that you’re living in a place many would give their first born child to call home.

Charlotte isn’t without complications, of course. What to do with the explosive rail cars? Do we need more security at the school? Are there too many dogs pooping near the lake? (page 11)? Should we install a park and ride at the old Citgo? How do I deal with these damn invasives (page 23)?

Why aren’t my kids achieving more at CCS? Why does CCS need so much money? Will my property taxes ever go down (page 1)? Why isn’t baseball popular anymore (page 3)? Why can’t Charlotte be more business-friendly?

And you’d get a different answer depending on which slice of life you asked.

News from The News

The editor is dead, long live the…editor!

Vince Crockenberg PRESIDENT, THE CHARLOTTE NEWS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Not really. He’s not dead. Just resigning, effective September 8. And will be succeeded by Lynn Monty, whose first issue will come out on September 22.

Since 1958 when Nancy Wood founded the paper, we have been in the hands of very good editors. We still are.

Though editor for only a bit more than a year and a half, Alex will leave behind a considerable legacy, including a thriving internship program, an expanded number of volunteer contributors to the paper (more than 100 last year) and, perhaps most important and lasting, a searchable digital archive of every issue published by The Charlotte News over the course of the last 59 years.

In addition to putting out what we believe is the best nonprofit community newspaper in the state every two weeks, Alex worked tirelessly to create the archives.

The completion of the project means that

Lynn Monty will take over as editor in chief from September 8.

Charlotters, young and old, near and far, sitting at home with our laptops and mobile devices can search the archives for stories about family and friends, local politics and property transfers, champion trees, the thrill of ice fishing and winter hiking, written by our favorite local writers and columnists. Alex has put the history of our town since 1958 into the hands of each and every one of us.

The board of The Charlotte News is very grateful for Alex’s stewardship of the paper over the past 20 months, and we wish him well in his future work and travels.

With his departure the care and safekeeping of the paper passes into Lynn Monty’s hands. Lynn was an award-winning community news reporter and photographer at the Burlington Free Press from 2008 to 2014 and currently provides

Sometimes I wonder how much locals care. Charlotters do have a knack for sticking to their own corners of town. But we are strangely very active on Front Porch Forum. How do you think we rank in terms of frequency of posts compared to other towns? It’s gotta be on the high end.

Other than our east/west stations of commerce and the school between, there isn’t much to allow communal interaction outside of a casual car wave. And some like that. Others say, we need a pub or small restaurant. For a young buck like myself, interested in seeing the town thrive a bit more, as it once did, that’s a wonderful idea. Turn the Citgo into a post-modern brew pub with gas pumps for taps. Someone. Please. We had a tavern in the past (brick house on Church Hill Road, right?). Why not ride the brew pub wave while it’s high? Very early editorials of our paper suggest the town has always been very loosely stitched together by a few local institutions, this paper being an important part of that mix (see clipping from 1961 above). Adding something besides the Senior Center and wedding venues would be beneficial for encouraging younger residents to move here, possibly avoiding the long-feared bedroom community curse.

Or you could just add someone like Geeda Searfoorce—erudite, tenacious, considerate and diplomatic—to dig into community politics with equal vigor as a profile of a local kid. I couldn’t have asked for a better assistant editor. Her excellent writing and sage council helped carry us through some tough transitions. We’ve worked very well together over the past year and I’m pained to see the paper lose her at this time as well. But new pastures call us both. I’ll let her loose in the editorial section to explain her moves next issue, which will be the last for both of us.

My proudest achievement? Other than getting every paper out on time (with no formal publishing experience before coming to the post), the archive is pretty high on the list. Read all about it on pages 12-13. Incredible what computers are capable of these days.

It’s also incredible what The Charlotte News board and staff are capable of. To get this paper out every other week is a labor of love. Thanks for all your support over the past couple years. Onward! To the next 60 years!

To close, thank you, everybody, for a great experience and the opportunity to reconnect with my hometown. I loved being the editor of The Charlotte News. website content, blogging and social media marketing services through her company, Vermont Songbird Communications.

She lives in Hinesburg, just, she notes, “a hop, skip and a jump down the road from Charlotte.”

We on the board are extraordinarily pleased to welcome Lynn to our town and to the community of volunteers and staffers who together produce The News. Lynn will introduce herself more fully in the September 22 issue of the paper.

Stay tuned.

The Charlotte News The Charlotte News is a nonprofit communitybased 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. For submission guidelines and deadlines, please visit our website or contact the editor at news@thecharlottenews.org.

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 more than 50 outlets in Shelburne, Hinesburg, North Ferrisburgh, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes and Burlington. The Charlotte News relies on the generous financial contributions of its readers, subscriptions and advertising revenue to sustain its operations.

Editorial Staff news@thecharlottenews.org / 425-4949 Editor in chief: Alex Bunten Assistant editor: Geeda Searfoorce Contributing editors: John Hammer, Edd Merritt, Ruah Swennerfelt Copy editors: Beth Merritt, Leslie Botjer, Vince Crockenberg, Carol Hanley

Business Staff ads@thecharlottenews.org / 343-0279 Ad manager: Monica Marshall Business manager: Shanley Hinge

Board Members President: Vince Crockenberg Secretary: John Hammer Treasurer: Patrice Machavern Board members: Bob Bloch, Gay Regan, Louisa Schibli

Carol

Hanley,

Contributors Elizabeth Bassett, Rowan Beck, Susan Blood, Vinny DeToma, Georgia Edwards, Larry Hamilton, Alice D. Outwater, Ph. D., Mary Recchia, Carol Snow, Margaret Woodruff, Mike Yantachka

On the Cover Catherine “Cat” Richard smiles as she gives out free tickets to the gun show. Photo: Ryan Wiklund

Subscription Information The Charlotte News is delivered at no cost to all Charlotte residences. Effective May 1, 2016, we will no longer offer bulk mail subscriptions.

Subscriptions are available for first-class delivery at $40 per calendar year. Want a subscription? Please send a check payable to The Charlotte News, PO Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445.

Postmaster Send address changes to: The Charlotte News P.O. Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445 Telephone: 425-4949 Circulation: 3,000 copies per issue.

Copyright © 2016 The Charlotte News, Inc. Printed in Burlington, Vermont, by Gannet Publishing Services Member of the New England Newspaper and Press Association and the Vermont Press Association.

The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 3

Letters to the Editor

Commentary Voter rights are at risk in Charlotte What haPPens if you shoW uP to vote in charLotte and are not on the checkList?

Here is what should happen. According to Vermont Voter Rights, if you find your name is not on the list, the town clerk or presiding officer will immediately investigate and either add your name to the list or explain why you cannot be added. If the town clerk or presiding officer cannot make a determination on Election Day, you may vote by provisional ballot.

here is What reaLLy haPPened on a recent eLection day (august 9) in charLotte A member of my family showed up at the local polling place to cast a vote in the primary elections. When he found that his name was not on the checklist he was surprised—he had registered years ago and had voted in Charlotte, although not recently.

The town clerk, Mary Mead, could not explain specifically why his name had been dropped, and she was unprepared and unwilling to investigate further. My husband witnessed this exchange between the prospective voter and the town clerk and subsequently asked the town clerk if she could provide a “provisional ballot” as stipulated in the Voter Rights document hanging on the wall nearby. The town clerk dismissed this request outright saying that she didn’t have any provisional ballots with her. She accused my husband of being a bully for asking why. The prospective (and previously registered) voter left without voting and without knowing why his name was not on the checklist.

I am deeply troubled by this. We all know the power of the “Keeper of the List” and the little insecurities we feel as we stand on the

other side of the table waiting for our name to be found. If we expect our name to be there and it isn’t, we are entitled by law to an immediate and thorough response to our concerns. This is the job of the town clerk.

Her duties at the polls are spelled out in great detail in the Vermont Notice to Voters and Vermont Voter Rights. She signs this document and it hangs prominently displayed on the wall at the polls. The process, if she were to follow it, safeguards and ensures maximum protection under the law of the right to vote. If we have a question, we are meant to speak up. In bold print it reads, “The Election Officials at the polling place are here to serve you. If you have any questions, or need assistance while voting, ask your town clerk or any election official to help you.”

Our town clerk, elected by all of us and paid well for her service, comes to the polls unprepared and is unwilling to answer key questions raised by voters. She makes no effort to “serve” those with questions and instead chases people away, leaving them feeling confused and disenfranchised.

These are serious violations of her duties as town clerk.

It is alarming to realize that even when all the best laws are all in place to empower everyone to vote and to safeguard the democratic process, the unprofessional behavior of the “Keeper of the List” can make or break what actually happens at the polls.

Thanks for the support Thank you for your support in the Democratic primary election. When I first ran for state representative six years ago, I promised to be available and responsive to you, to keep you informed and to support the values we Vermonters hold dear: a clean and safe environment, a high-quality educational system, a strong economy and a fair and affordable tax system. We have made progress on all of these fronts, but we still have a lot of work to do to achieve these goals, especially in the area of funding our education system with less reliance on property taxes. I will continue to work hard to make Vermont a great place to earn a living and raise a family.

Thank you again for your support, and I hope you will do so again in November.

Rep. Mike Yantachka Charlotte

No respect for the game

For the past few years, Little League baseball across the country has been losing players. Most people blame it on other sports, but I have a different theory.

Little League Baseball is losing kids to other sports because the game of baseball is not being taught by adults who have a respect for the game. With a couple of exceptions, it is being taught by baseball illiterate, incompetent and unknowledgeable adults Carol Snow who don’t have a basic understanding of the Charlotte game or its rules.

I’ve been involved in Charlotte/ Shelburne Little League in one way or another for 22 years. I’ve raised money, coached and umpired. I’ve volunteered in

Oh my! Pie!

Autumn: the sweetest time in Charlotte? Devotees of pie think so. On Friday, Sept. 2, from 3 to 5 p.m. the Charlotte Congregational Church will begin the annual pie sale that is the apple of the town’s eye. Pick one up and you’ll know why.

For details, contact Martha Perkins at msperkins@gmavt.net.

Bristol, Connecticut, as media coordinator, umpire and uncle. I’ve seen this over and over again.

However, nowhere have I seen a more political organization than in Shelburne— with personal agendas and little knowledge of the game. Board members and coaches blast the volunteer umpires for not making the call to their liking. They protest but don’t explain to the kids what just happened on the field because they themselves lack the knowledge and respect for the game.

I ask you, would you want a teacher at Shelburne Community School or Charlotte Central teaching your kids about a subject when they don’t have a grasp of the material? Maybe that’s why baseball is losing today’s youth to other sports—the adults can’t translate actually how exciting baseball truly is.

This year, the All Star teams from Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg (they are consolidated now) were able to have 14 players on the 9/10 and 11/12 year-old teams. However, the “insiders” who run this league decided to eliminate four kids and only have 12 on each team. Because of this, four children did not get to wear the shirt, the hat, the uniform and practice every day and be inspired to love baseball even more.

Instead it is the private agenda of these board members not to facilitate the game for the over 250 children that participate but only the 24 or so who are their children to participate in post-season play.

Little League is for all youth within the borders of Shelburne, Charlotte and Hinesburg who wish to participate. Playing in post-season games is how the less-skilled players get better so they too may have a love and respect for the game. But we must insist that teachers of the game have the basic tools and understanding and respect for the game first.

As the local Little League by-laws state, every September there has to be an advertised, open meeting of the public for elections for the board. Please participate in this process. Go to the meeting and let your voice be heard for ALL of the kids. Please don’t allow these few baseball illiterate board members to continue to ruin this game. Go to the open meeting and get involved!

Vinny DeToma Shelburne

Letters PoLicy: The Charlotte News welcomes signed letters to the editor and commentaries on any subject of interest to the community. To allow the publication of a diverse selection of views in each issue, please limit letters to a 300 word max. and commentaries to a 800 word max. Include your full name, town of residence and phone number. The editors reserve the right to edit for clarity, English usage and length or to publish submissions in full.

Have your say—email news@thecharlottenews.org.

4 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

Charlotte Volunteer Fire looks to recruit a few good women Rowan Beck CONTRIBUTOR

You don’t have to be a 6-foot-5 burly young man to be a firefighter, and the Charlotte Fire Department can prove it.

Three amazing young women have recently joined the squad. All three joined for different reasons, but they are perfect examples for why size doesn’t matter. All are under the age of 30, the youngest only 19.

There’s not much to Catherine Richards,

a.k.a. “Cat.” She’s a 5-foot, 2-inch wisp of a thing weighing in at 115 pounds soaking wet on a good day. Don’t let that fool you.

She has been trained as a level one interior fire fighter and plans to take her level two beginning this fall. She joined Charlotte Volunteer Fire department two years ago and lives in Vergennes. She volunteers here because she works quite a bit in town and is hoping to move here. Charlotters may recognize her as the friendly face behind the

(Above) Cat, Crystal and Brianna would love to see more women join Charlotte Volunteer Fire. They are proof, with their successes and commitment, that it is not all brawn behind local fire crews. Photo: Rowan Beck (Left) Cat Richards at the ready in a training exercise. Photo: Ryan Wiklund

counter at the Old Brick or see her coming out of Church Hill Landscaping. She began as a probationary member after leaving the Humane Society. She wanted to “give back [to society] in a bigger way—more than just walking a dog.” This required her to rely more on her physical fitness, which she enjoys. “Plus it’s a lot of fun,” she says. “You don’t have to be like one of those guys in the movies. There’s tons of stuff to do to help out. You don’t have to be the biggest or the strongest.”

Brianna Hanlon feels the same way. She grew up in town and began going to the

firehouse when she was only eight years old. Her best friend’s parents, Jen and Paul McAdam, were members, one in fire, the other in rescue. Brianna and one of her friends would sit and watch as the grownups attended training. “We would just sit and watch” she said, and that is when she got “bit by the bug.” She knew she wanted to help people when she grew up. She joined the department roughly three years ago and

Fire Power

continued on page 5

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The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 5

Fire Power

continued from page 4

is an exterior fire fighter managing hoses and pumps for the interior fire fighters. “One cannot exist without the other. We totally rely on each other,� she said.

Crystal Dykema lives in Ferrisburgh and at 28 is the most seasoned of the female fire crew. She is a mother of three small children and owns her own business, 802 Performance. She has three female fire fighters in her family and two brothers in the police department. To her, it was just in the atmosphere when she was growing up.

When she was about six her cousin died in a fire, leaving behind a four-year-old little boy. She garnered a great respect for the profession that day and signed up while still in high school in Indiana. She had both level one and two by the time she graduated. She spent two years in a department in Indiana before moving here with her husband and then two children. She served on the Ferrisburgh Fire Department for several years before switching to Charlotte, where she really feels at home.

All three joined for very different reasons, but it is clear that they really enjoy the effect they have on the community.

They do more than just fight fires and go to car accidents. Cat’s favorite part of the job is going to Charlotte Central School to teach fire safety. “We show the kids we are not scary,� she said. “A lot of kids are afraid of the gear. The last thing you want [in a fire] is a kid hiding from you.�

Crystal has similar feelings. She likes the training they do at CVU before the prom.

They put together a “mock crash� and one of the seniors dresses up in bloody clothes.

The student is hauled away in an ambulance and even misses school the next day. This raises awareness in students about making good choices and allows them to really think about what could happen. It really hit home for her this year when seniors put post-itnotes on the wall making commitments.

Brianna echoed both Cat and Crystal, saying, “Every call makes me feel good. I know I am helping in new ways and meeting people in the community.�

Since 1982, when Linda Foote was the assistant chief, there has always been a woman on the squad. Cat, Crystal and Brianna would love to see more women join. They are proof, with their successes and commitment, that it is not all brawn behind these fire fighters.

For more information on how to join CVF please contact either Dick St. George or Rob Mullin at at 425-3111 or send them a message on Facebook—facebook.com/ CVFRS/.

What’s in a name?

Larry Hamilton CHARLOTTE TREE WARDEN

Is it important to be able to recognize and pin a name on at least a few of our tree companions in the space we share? I believe it is. Some persons do have the opinion that labels, such as tree species names, are not only not important, but that naming them removes some of the mystery, that it fragments “nature� into individual parts and interferes with holistic thinking when you put a tree species into a box, labeled “sugar maple� or “hemlock.� Not true, if you ever want to feel comfortable with your specimen landscape tree, your grove or your forest and learn what it has to tell you. You need to be able to greet it (them) by name, just as you greet friends. Everyone likes to be called by their name—it adds an additional level of cordiality and companionship to a relationship.

The Latin names of trees very often give strong clues as to the appearance, functioning or behavior of trees (and other plants).

Take the mimosa tree whose leaflets on a leaf will all fold shut when that leaf is touched. Its name is Mimosa pudica, with pudica in Latin meaning “shy.� In popular parlance it is called sensitive tree in English, false-death tree in the West Indies, don’ttouch-me in Hebrew and shy-virgin in Bengali. The Populus grandidentata name, referring to the large teeth on the leaf, is called by us “large-toothed poplar or aspen�

RESIDENTIAL

and is a sure-fire recognition feature from all other poplars if you have the leaf. The common name, shagbark hickory, is appropriate for a tree whose bark, as it matures, hangs in long, stiff, bacon-like strips, distinguishing it from all of the other hickories—and incidentally providing summer nesting sites for our endangered cave-dwelling bats.

Other common tree names give us clues to recognition— blue spruce, hop hornbeam (also called ironwood), paper (or canoe) birch and trembling aspen.

However, most English tree common names do not provide sufficient hints to the identity of a tree species. In some cases, one can memorize the name and associate it with the appearance of the tree. This is what we do to recognize and greet people. It is what many people can do in naming the brand or make of a car. Long before a car is close enough to read the brand label or logo, what is called “gestalt perception� enables many persons to identify an automobile or truck from a distance. With practice, this can become true with tree identification.

Another approach is to single out a key distinct feature—a leaf, a bud or the seed/ fruit that aids in identification, or the crown shape like an elm’s vase-like appearance.

Most folks start with the leaves or needles, and there are many modestly priced guides to tree identification from leaves. Most of them also include pictures or descriptions of twigs, buds, fruit and bark. A good one is Trees of the Eastern and Central United States by William Harlow, priced at a modest $12-$15. It is also modestly sized and fits conveniently into a pocket.

But what does one do when the leaves are gone from deciduous trees? Then bark characteristics, gestalt perception or a twig sample come into play. Not long ago, a

handy-dandy book titled Bark was produced

by Michael Wojtech that filled a long-standing need (price $20). Another good way to learn tree names is to participate in a tree identification walk with a naturalist. Keep your eyes open for the occasional announcements of these outings.

We often hear “A rose is a rose is a rose.�

But don’t let anyone fool you—a pine is not a pine is not a pine. As a matter of fact we have four kinds that occur in Vermont in nature and at least two that have been introduced from elsewhere. Trees are our neighbors in a rural town like Charlotte.

Why not get to know some of your tree neighbors? It will enrich your life.

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6 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

Thirsty work

butterfly.

All the travel monarchs undertake explains why the individual I photographed There and back again – the and right) was not bothered by my incredible journey of monarchs (below very close proximity—it was too busy quenching four generations of thirst from a mini-puddle between the stones on my Alex Bunten driveway.

THE CHARLOTTE NEWS It’s worth remembering that Monarch populations have been in serious decline Did you know that monarch butterflies in recent years. So if you like seeing these are the only butterfly known to make a beautiful creatures, where possible try not two-way migration? They are like birds in to cut your milkweed. this respect. Their life cycle starts in Mexico and parts of California where overwintered adults lay eggs in spring, fly north and somehow get back to the south by autumn.

Unlike birds, however, it takes four generations for monarchs to get from Mexico to our backyard in Vermont.

Generations one, two and three mate, lay eggs and die within two to six weeks as they travel north, each generation taking a dent out of the whole journey. The last generation, born closer to northern United States and Canada, lives from six to eight months and flies all the way back to Mexico.

Monarchs can fly 50 to 100 miles a day.

Back in Mexico, they hibernate until it’s time to start the process all over again in spring.

This all neglects to mention that they are one of the most attractive butterflies in the world—hence the name monarch and surely one reason they are Vermont’s official state

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The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 7

Tax Time

continued from page 1

look at the words in a bill and know what effect it has locally,” Yantachka said.

But voters have a perception that Act 46 is still somehow responsible for our three-cent rise in municipal taxes. Detractors of Act 46, which passed on June 7 and will usher in a new unified school district by July 2017, are concerned that unseen costs will soon be headed our way. Does the three-cent rise in municipal taxes signal that the State is increasing taxes in order to be able to afford the tax breaks it is giving to towns like Charlotte that are early adopters of consolidation? Is this the fine print for the increases in educational costs associated with district unification?

At the Sept. 12 Selectboard meeting the public will be able to ask these questions directly to Mark McDermott, chair of the former CCS board and one of the two representatives for Charlotte on the new Champlain Valley School District board. Charlotter Moe Harvey requested McDermott attend the meeting to provide perspective on tax implications.

Yantachka brings up a complicated reality about the economics of the town, one that has consequences that extend beyond the walls of any school district, consolidated or otherwise. “Charlotte’s Common Level of Appraisal (CLA),” he said, “has

decreased from 105% to 102% because home sales prices in Charlotte have risen over the past year and are closer to their assessed values.”

But even as home sale prices have risen in Charlotte, there are around 80 properties on the market, and declining enrollment at CCS begs the question: can young families afford to live here and educate their children? Can a renowned school that is attempting to implement creative cuts to forestall budget woes protect itself from potential threats that school district unification may pose? The impact of the answers to these questions—on taxpayers and their own budgets—is complex, a fact with which Yantachka agrees. When it comes to taxes and education, he said, “A simple one-liner does not tell the whole story and can be misleading.”

Transition planning work for the new unified school district is already underway, and its board of directors will assume full responsibility for the entire operations of all schools in the newly created district beginning July 1, 2017.

For more information, visit act46.cssu. org and education.vermont.gov/laws/2015/ act-46.

Contact: Geeda@thecharlottenews.org

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Second, education tax rates would be adjusted for a credit of 10 cents the first year of a shared budget, starting July 1, 2017. In subsequent years, tax rates would be adjusted down 8 cents the second year, 6 in year three, 4 in year four, and 2 in year five.

hoW Would The common level of appraisal (cla) adjusTmenT be handled in a single disTricT model?

The CLA is an adjustment made by the state on a town by town basis to the education tax rate to account for the differences in property appraisals.

Under Act 46 legislation, each town continues to have its unique CLA.

Would There be any oTher changes To my Tax raTe? Property tax rates in support of schools are influenced by several factors: local school spending and student count, statewide school spending and student count, and local property assessments versus market values. These factors would continue to affect the tax rate whether or not school districts consolidate.

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8 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

Diamond Island Regatta raises over $1,000 for Lake Champlain Maritime Museum

Back to School

Continued from page 1

p.m. Buses will continue to run their normal routes but an hour earlier on Tuesdays. To ease this change there is a new after-school program on Tuesdays called Imagine Afterschool. See the CCS website for more information.

The new dismissal time on Tuesdays is district-wide. It is meant to allow for more professional development for the teachers. “CCS along with the rest of CSSU is committed to the professional growth of its teachers and recognizes that there is a correlation between the greatest student outcomes and the most highly skilled teachers,” Lead Principal Komons-Montroll said in an email. “CCS along with CSSU also recognizes the fact that the most significant teacher growth comes from short, frequent professional learning opportunities versus long, infrequent ones. For these reasons, the CSSU boards voted to replace four full days of professional development training for teachers with one hour of early dismissals that are tied to our regular staff meeting times on Tuesdays, for the purposes of professional development.”

Last, the school will be welcoming 13 new employees: Monica Littlefield (choral music teacher), Brian Brumley (technology integration teacher), Liz Jones (longterm substitute—K-2 physical education until November 18), Kate Woods (special education teacher), Galen Perkins (special education teacher), Caroline Homan (speech language pathologist), Cassandra Townshend (behavior systems coordinator), Linda Poirier (4th grade elementary classroom teacher), Matt Kent (Champlain

College TAP apprentice working in P.E. with Robyn Davis), Donna Ritchie (para-educator), Elaina Waite (paraeducator), Victoria Snyder (para-educator) and Cynthia LaWare (front office administrative assistant).

CCS would also like to send its deepest thanks for their dedicated service to CCS and best wishes in all of their future endeavors to the following retirees: Ed Bianchi (tech integrationist), Stephanie Barton (special education teacher), Rebecca Provost (behavior systems coordinator), Jane Akin (front office receptionist), Cher Feitelberg (4th grade teacher), Claire Aube (para-educator and library assistant), Barbara Ouimette (para-educator) and Martha Edwards (bookkeeper).

Remember that school starts August 31, so those of you driving should plan a little extra time for buses and watch for kids on the road. Keep following The News for future updates, and contact CCS with any questions or concerns at 425-2771.

Osprey from Royal Savage Yacht Club, winner in the Spinnaker D class, heads downwind during the 2016 Diamond Island Regatta on August 20. Photo: Buzz Kuhns The fourth annual Diamond Island Regatta drew a record 30 boats on Saturday, August 20. The benefit race, sponsored by the Royal Savage Yacht Club (RSYC) and Point Bay Marina, helped raise more than $1,000 for the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Ferrisburgh.

Just after 11 a.m., competitors took off south from the start/finish line in Town Farm Bay to the eponymous Diamond Island off Ferrisburgh, north to Sloop Island off Charlotte, back south to Diamond Island and then to the finish. The fastest time for the course of about 15 miles was a little more than 2 hours. The race began in a southerly breeze that built throughout the day, topping out above 15 knots by early afternoon.

The day began and ended under the RSYC tent at the marina, starting with a pre-race breakfast for racers and club members and wrapping up with the awards ceremony at the club’s annual Lobster Fest. More than 100 people attended this year’s dinner.

“Our thanks go to everyone who sailed and all those attending the Lobster Fest for their support of the club and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum,” said Roger Wallace, RSYC commodore and co-race director, with Steve Koch, for this year’s Diamond Island Regatta. “Thanks, too, to Point Bay Marina and the many RSYC volunteers who made the day’s events possible. And kudos to Dale Hyerstay, Keith Kennedy and John Harris from the Lake Champlain Yacht Club (LCYC), who headed up the committee boat crew—this year aboard the Nancy Ann, provided for the event by RSYC member Al Martin.”

As has been the case for all four editions of the race, entry was free, with money for the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum raised through the sale of Diamond Island Regatta and LCMM merchandise.

Additional money for the museum will come via profits from the Lobster Fest and the sale to competitors of race photos, taken by professional photographer Buzz Kuhns, as well as a donation to LCMM from the club.

In the race itself, competitors were divided into two general categories, those who sailed with spinnakers and those who sailed only with jib and mainsail (JaM).

Boats came from the local Royal Savage Yacht Club, Lake Champlain Yacht Club in Shelburne, Malletts Bay Boat Club in Colchester, Valcour Sailing Club in Plattsburgh, and elsewhere on the lake.

There were 18 boats in the four spinnaker fleets, A through D, and 12 in the two JaM fleets, A and B. The fleets were determined by each boat’s rating under the Performance Handicap Racing Fleet system that ranks boats based on their speed potential and is used for most sailing competitions on Lake Champlain. Winners are determined based on corrected time, with the faster boats “giving time” to the slower boats. The six fleet winners this year, receiving trophies at the awards ceremony: Spinnaker A: Dunder, a J-122 sailed by John Thouron of LCYC, with a corrected time of 2 hours, 33 minutes and 37 seconds Spinnaker B: Lady Falcon, International Etchells, Mark Downing, LCYC, 2:33:01 Spinnaker C: Mashnee, Buzzards Bay 30, Jan Rozendaal, RSYC, 2:34:55 Spinnaker D: Osprey, C&C 33 Mark II, Thomas Porter, RSYC, 2:38:47 JaM A: Troll, Tartan 10, Tim Britton, RSYC, 2:49:15 JaM B: Spirit, a Pearson Flyer, Steve Koch, RSYC, 2:51:52 Dunder was also the first boat to cross the finish line, with an elapsed time of 2:12:59.

RSYC sailors captured four of the six divisions, including the win in JaM B aboard Spirit for skipper Steve Koch, Susan DeSimone, Roger Wallace and Cynthia Wesson. Koch and Wallace were co-race directors for this year’s event.

Complete results can be found here: rsyc.org/2016-results-diamond-island-regatta. For more information about the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, visit lcmm.org.

The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 9

Much ado about a lot Thompson’s Point land use dispute rankles neighbors, stymies property owner and flummoxes Selectboard Geeda Searfoorce THE CHARLOTTE NEWS

On July 12, the dilapidated structure at 1012 Flat Rock Road on Thompson’s Point sat decaying while the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) denied its owner’s application to demolish and reconstruct it.

Originally an outbuilding for the adjacent property, the tumbledown structure sits on lot 128, which was erroneously, illegally subdivided from lot 127 by the Selectboard two years ago.

Paul Arthaud, the owner of the two lots, had completed renovations on the main structure, on lot 127, in 2001 and lived there for years. In 2014 he asked the town to terminate his lease and create two new leases—one for lot 127 and one for lot 128.

Arthaud then sold lot 127 to Nina Cucchiari and Norman Ernsting, keeping lot 128 and its dilapidated structure, which rankled neighbors enough that in 2015 they submitted a petition to the ZBA to demolish it.

In early 2016 Carrie and Peter Fenn signed a purchase agreement for lot 128 with the intention of rebuilding the structure in the same spot, slightly larger, and turn it into a camp. They applied for a zoning permit for the demolition and subsequent rebuilding. The ZBA denied their request, made on behalf of Arthaud, in July. The decision was based on the proposed new structure’s noncompliance with land use regulations.

Town attorney David Rugh, of the firm Stitzel, Page and Fletcher, agrees that lot 128 is not developable and should not be on its own lease. Since the 1930s, the lots were included in one leasehold. The zoning map of Thompson’s Point, drawn up in the 1930s, seems to show the two lots as separate.

But in town documentation they have always been joined. Page 16 of the Charlotte

(Above) The dilapidated structure on lot 128 on Flat Rock Road. (Right) The 1930s zoning map of Thompson’s Point. Photos: Geeda Searfoorce

Land Use Regulations states, “For the purposes of these regulations, leaseholds shall be considered lots. No further subdivision of leaseholds, other than boundary adjustments that do not result in the creation of additional leaseholds, is allowed.”

It’s clear that the lots should not have been divided into two leases. What’s less clear is how to proceed from here. On Thompson’s Point, residents own their houses but lease from the town the land on which the houses sit. The disposal of lot 128, which is currently leasing at $4,000 per year, will have to be studied by town attorneys and requires further review from the Selectboard. Should it become town land, be further divided between 127 and 129 or revert back into a consolidated Lot 127?

At the Selectboard meeting on August 22, the Fenns appeared to request a reimbursement for the $513.50 ZBA fee. Arthaud is requesting reimbursement for the amount of the proposed purchase price offered by the Fenns. Both requests were denied, pending further study of the matter, which is already underway and will lead to a determination in 30 to 60 days, according to Selectboard Chair Lane Morrison.

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Meanwhile, the dilapidated structure remains, much to the chagrin of abutting property owners Cucchiari and Ernsting, and Valerie and J.C. Biebuyck, who live on lot 129.

Leases on Thompson’s Point require that leaseholders maintain their property in good condition, and neighbors are united in their assessment of lot 128’s disheveled

state. The ultimate agreement about who is responsible for its disposal as yet remains unclear, but will undoubtedly highlight the need for a renewed respect for Land Use Regulations.

10 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

Shirley Bean speaks at a recent Veteran’s Day event at the Charlotte Senior Center.

Obituary: Shirley Bessette Bean Shirley Bessette Bean of Charlotte passed away on August 21, 2016. She was born April, 1924 in Hinesburg, VT. She grew up and resided almost her entire life in Charlotte. She is survived by her children Joe Bean (June), Victor Bean (Wanda), Mary Clark (Richard) and Elizabeth Bean, 19 grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister Blanch Dowd.

She was predeceased by her husband Charles and her siblings Dwight and Carlyle Bessette and Ellen Holcomb. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Hinesburg, VT on Saturday, August 27 at 11 a.m. Calling hours will be held Friday, August 26 from 4 - 7 p.m. at St. Jude’s Catholic Church.

Shirley married Charles Bean, Sr. in July, 1940 and purchased Twin Oaks Dairy Farm in 1944. She enjoyed farming and continued to maintain an interest in it after selling to their son Charles Bean, Jr. (Joe) and his wife June.

She excelled in her contributions to the community. The following list includes, but is not limited to, the contributions that she made with pure pleasure and dedication to the community that she loved:

• Active member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and served on the Parish Council for many years • Taught religious education in her farm house when her children were young • Active in Charlotte Central School PTA while her children were in school and served as Secretary and Vice President • Instrumental in establishing a school library that was located in a partitioned off area of the Charlotte Central School furnace room • Taught a 4-H Club for several years • Member of the Grange and served as Master of Charlotte Grange 398 for 10 years and State Grange Deputy for 6 years • Was a leading force behind establishing the Charlotte Senior Center and served as its board chairman for 5 years. The Senior Center was an integral part of her life She will also be remembered fondly for her generous spirit of providing knit goods, baked goods or whatever was needed for a vast variety of causes in the community, and for her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Charlotte Senior Center, 212 Ferry Road, Charlotte, VT 05445.

Kelly Brush ride rolls out on September 10 11th annual ride supports adaptive sports, ski racing safety More than 700 riders are expected to ride in the 11th Annual Kelly Brush Ride powered by VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations on September 10, in Middlebury, Vermont. Cyclists from across the country and Canada have signed up to ride and support the Kelly Brush Foundation’s mission to empower those living with paralysis through sport and recreation and to improve ski racing safety.

Charlotte residents can expect to see riders on the 100-mile route as they roll along Mt. Philo Road, Hinesburg Road, Spear Street, Greenbush Road and Lake Street.

The ride, Vermont’s largest charity ride, last year raised more than $385,000 for the Kelly Brush Foundation, a South Burlington-based nonprofit.

“The excitement is building as we

prepare for our eleventh Kelly Brush Ride.

We are always humbled by the fundraising efforts of the teams, individuals and, now, businesses that participate each year,” said Zeke Davisson, Kelly Brush Foundation executive director.

Online registration closes at midnight on September 7. Participants may also register at the event. For registration and information visit: kellybrushfoundation.org.

With the Kelly Brush Ride as its signature fundraising event, the Kelly Brush Foundation has raised more than $2.5 million, purchased more than 300 pieces of adaptive sports equipment and helped keep thousands of ski racers safe with hundreds of miles of safety netting, trail widening projects and awareness about ski racing safety.

Now in its fifth year as lead sponsor, “VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations is honored to once again support the foundation,” said Gregg Marston, chairman of VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations.

The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 11

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

CHARLOTTE CONSERVATION CURRENTS What do you do with your dog poo?

An exploration of dog poop and its effect on the lake Susan Blood CONTRIBUTOR

About six weeks ago, I finally made it to Town Hall with all the documentation needed to register my hound dog, Homer.

He was the 374th dog registered this year.

I mentioned to Mary Mead that I was going to write an article about dog poop, and she gave her two cents that more dogs were living in Charlotte than the town has registered. I’m sure that’s true, given I’ve been delinquent now and then! One tidbit of info I found in several places suggested that a typical ecosystem could handle two dogs per square mile. Charlotte is a little more than 40 square miles, and the town has many more dogs than that, even with just the registered ones!

We’ve all heard that it’s important to pick up dog poop. But why? Isn’t it natural? If I don’t pick it up will it end up in the lake or just on someone’s shoe?

First, let’s look at what’s in dog poop.

Although there are varying estimates, it’s safe to say that every gram of dog poop contains millions of fecal bacteria. When municipalities measure the levels of E. coli at various beaches in the area, including Charlotte Beach, they are looking for an indicator of fecal contamination. Until I researched this topic, I thought that E. coli was the primary concern and what could make us ill; however, I’ve come to find

acres with dwelling, 240 Vineyard View, $237,500.

Aug 1. William and Patricia Gardner to William Agnew, 3.0 acres with dwelling, 1102 Bean Road, $263,000.

out that it’s the fecal organisms that come with E. coli that are the problem. Bacteria, viruses and protozoa can give us diseases such as dysentery, gastrointestinal illness and giardia—and they travel with E. coli.

This explains why beaches are closed now and then when the E. coli counts are high.

No one wants to get sick!

The field where I walk Homer is about a half-mile from the lake as the crow flies. The only way for the microbes from his poop to reach the lake is for rain to push them there.

This could happen if he pooped on sloping land close to a stream and the rain then carried it into the lake. It makes sense that E. coli levels are higher after a hard rain, especially in larger towns where stormwater runoff from roads and sidewalks goes right into the lake. But that’s not the case here in Charlotte. When Homer poops in the woods, away from any streams, chances are most of his feces will break down and degrade in place over time.

Thanks to a Dog Poop Calculator I found online (yes, there’s an app for that—goo.gl/ zrWAqW), I learned that Homer produces about 410 pounds of poop each year.

Thankfully it comes in small doses every day! Here’s what I do with Homer’s poops: If they are in the woods or somewhere inconspicuous, I leave them. If he poops close to the road or anywhere where people might step on it, then I pick it up in a biodegradable bag and throw it in the garbage. I polled five dog-owning neighbors, and they all pretty much do the same thing. Unfortunately, once my nice neat bag is in a landfill, there is very little to no degradation occurring, so while the idea of using a biodegradable bag

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Aug 1. Charles Gluck and Darrilyn Peters to S. Garrett Sadler and Suzan Riggsbee White, 10.10 acres with dwelling, 5 Tamarack Lane, $675,000.

The author’s dog, Homer, thinking about effect his excrement has on the environment in town.

Photo: Susan Blood.

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Aug 5. Hilary Maslow to Eric Lampman and Janet Willa Lee, 13.28 acres with dwelling, 187 Holmes Road, $572,500.

July 25. Patricia Pelkey to David Seward and Melani Bui, 10.02 acres with dwelling, 600 Dolliver Drive, $751,500.

Aug 8. Josephine Leavitt and Elizabeth Bluemle to Nate Meloney and Amanda Young, 5 acres with dwelling, 247 Upper Old Town Road, $140,000.

July 25. Bradley and Julie Wade to Edward and Lynn Pitcavage, 3.0 acres with dwelling, 361 Dolliver Drive, $625,000.

Aug 15. Marcia McCauley to James Murphy, 1.09 acres with dwelling, 115 Elcy Lane, $480,000.

July 26. Jonathan Couture and Gerald and Virginia Couture to Jonathan R. Couture and Elisabeth A. Gerber, 14.94

Aug 19. William and Elizabeth Adams to Steven Hill, seasonal camp, 353 Lane’s Lane, $170,000.

might be nice, the reality is that conditions are not appropriate for it to break down.

I was hoping there was some way of disposing of poop that I hadn’t heard of when I started writing this article, and there is. Because of all the bacteria in dog waste, composting is not recommended. Even CSWD, which composts a wide variety of organic matter, will not take dog poop.

But according to the Lake Champlain Committee, you can bury it. This allows micro-organisms in the soil to break it down but keeps it from being washed away in the next rainstorm.

A “Doggie Dooley” is a contraption that

you bury in the ground and then deposit poop into it, along with a digester and regular additions of water. This dog-sized septic system will not work if your soil doesn’t drain well, and it sounds like keeping it functioning well can be a bit tricky. If you’re interested, there are also DIY versions you can find online. Is anyone else but me tempted to try it?

Our town has lots of wonderful canine residents. Picking up poop and disposing of it either by throwing it away or burying it so that none of it migrates to the lake (or onto your shoes) are the best options!

12 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

Search

me!

Here’s the link to The Charlotte News Digital Archive (right). Bookmark it and look up your friends and neighbors! Physical copies are (majestically) organized in our office. Stop by sometime and thumb through them!

If we’re not on deadline, we could have a cuppa and reminisce about old times. We’re at 823A Ferry Road in beautiful Charlotte.

1.

History in y

charlottenews.advanta

Sometime between the outbreak of t person in space (1961), a humble c The Charlotte News cranked out Through countless volunteer hours, c journalism, we are still he

Looking for that article you wrote 25 years ago o Doing research on local business development over the p Trying to find an obituary for a friend or family member w This project was made possible by a very generous anonym Appreciation goes to the TCN board members and Charlotte Lib course, this would have been possible without the tirele

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To announce the la new public, searc sample of ads from o this page.Your job is the ad was first run. to news@thecha Septem

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The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 13

your hands

ntage-preservation.com

of the Vietnam War (1957) and the first le community paper came into being. out its first issue on July 18, 1958. s, community support and a love of local l here. But now, searchable!

3.

4.

ago on biking acorss the country? Search the archive! the past 50 years in Charlotte? Search the ads in the archive! mber who lived in Charlotte in the 1960s? Just key in the name. onymous donor and the efforts of Alex Bunten and Kali Adams. te Library for their support of the project over the past year. And, of tireless efforts of all who came before us. Shoulders of giants.

Enjoy!

ng with history

he launch of The Charlotte News’ searchable archive, we’ve taken a om over the years and put them on ob is to figure out (or guess) when run. Send your numbered answers hecharlottenews.org by Tuesday, eptember 6 at 10 a.m.

ntered to win $10 to spend at e Little Garden Market just for playing!

5.

FAQs Why are the photos up until about 2006 so muddy?

The Charlotte News Archive was scanned bi-tonal (black and white) rather than greyscale. This is why the photos of early issues came out very hazy. It was for good reason, though—to save server space (which translates to money) and to have better text recognition when searching. If there is a photo you want to see better, you can always come to the office and look at it in hard copy.

Why does the search bar show 1901? The Charlotte News wasn’t around then.

Some early papers had their dates covered so the programmers at Advantage Preservation, while entering the 20,000 pages, just put any mysterious ones in 1901. We’ll hopefully have them properly arranged soon.

How do I get help using the archive?

Start with the “Help” menu at the top of the page: charlottenews.advantage-preservation.com/help If that doesn’t get what you need, call us anytime at 425-4949. We’ll do our best to help you get what you need.

Will this archive work in all internet browsers?

We were assured by our partners at Advantage Preservation that the database works on all browsers, but the experience will be a little different for each. For example on Safari, it seems when you try to use the cut feature, you can’t see the save box.You just have to trust it’s there. Like community spirit and the force.

To clip a piece of the paper, click on the scissors and move the box over the article you want to keep or print.

You will see a small box below the main box with a disk on it (mine is blank using safari, but when I click on it it still works).

14 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

11th Annual Peter Coleman Photo Competition

Strike a pose, Charlotte!

The Charlotte News is proud to present the work of amateur photographers of all ages in its 11th Annual Peter Coleman Photo Contest, held in honor of the renowned Charlotte photographer and one-time editor of The News who passed away in January 2006.

One winner was chosen in each of the four categories. These winning photographs grace the pages of The News here and will be displayed at Town Hall. Congratulations to everyone who submitted and thank you for capturing Charlotte in all its glory. Keep those cameras at the ready all year round!

Photo #3 (below) Category: Charlotte Faces Title: Friends Description: Livi Neilson and her baby goat, Little Debbie, born this spring at our farm.

Taken: June 21, 2016 Photographer: Tim Neilson

Photo #1 (above) Category: Charlotte Landscapes Title: Rainbow on Lake Road Description: Amira, circus enthusiast and Lake Road resident, enjoys a rainbow.

Taken: July 2016 Photographer: Martha Whitfield

Photo #2 (below) Category: What’s Hot in Charlotte Title: Friendly Dragonfly Description: A tiny flier takes a break in our front yard. Caught the image with an iPhone.

Taken: July, 2015 Photographer: Alexis Mittelstadt

Photo #4 (above) Category: Animals Title: Whooo are You Lookin’ At? Description: It’s a rare and special thing to connect with eyes like these.

Taken: August 1, 2016 Photographer: Catherine Richards

The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 15

Are you passionate about learning?

Do you enjoy writing?

Are you interested in journalism?

Thanks for submitting your photos! We look forward to seeing your photography develop!

If you answered YES to any (or all) of these questions, The Charlotte News wants YOU to be the next Outwater Intern. Be inspired to...

• Explore local history • Meet new people • Learn about community journalism • Think outside the box The Charlotte News is looking for a motivated, news-savvy fall semester intern with strong writing skills and a natural curiosity about the local area. Candidates should be creative, outgoing, dependable and comfortable in a fast-paced environment. A driver’s license and access to a car are highly desirable.

This is a 10-15 hour per week position that will start in mid-September and run through the end of December.

Interns who finish their working commitments will be paid a modest stipend on a per issue basis. The position can be extended for suitable candidates. The position will be open until filled. Email a letter of motivation to Alex Bunten at news@thecharlottenews.org.

Stipends for this internship were made possible by a generous donation from Alice D. Outwater, and in memory of her husband, John Outwater.

16 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

Out-Doors Busy beavers Elizabeth Bassett CONTRIBUTOR

If you’ve been paddling, sailing, swimming or motoring around Converse Bay of late, especially near dawn or dusk, you may have been splashed by the slapping tail of a beaver. The message: stay away from my food, my home and my family!

During summer’s long days and short nights, beavers’ nocturnal work often spills over into daylight. Even if you don’t spot North America’s largest rodent, evidence of their labors is not hard to find.

In early July, a waterfront poplar on Deer Point toppled into the lake, its 12-inch trunk gnawed to a point in a mere two nights. A few weeks later a neighboring poplar crashed beside it. Both trees were soon denuded of limbs, leaves and bark, leaving two pale, telephone-pole-like stumps If beavers don’t gnaw they will die because their incisors stretching toward the lake. So where, never stop growing. (Above and below right) Gnawed trees you might ask, did the rest of the trees bear the mark of beaver activity. go?

On a recent evening, Travis Titus, a keen spotter of wildlife, spied an adult beaver swimming toward a dock.

“The beaver was towing a big branch covered with poplar leaves. As it swam beneath the dock we heard the ‘squeak, squeak, squeak’ of little beavers as they ate their supper!” Nearby, broken branches, leaves and pointed sticks littered the water.

Like all rodents, the beaver has incisors that never stop growing. If it doesn’t gnaw it will die as its teeth grow into the opposite jaw. Beavers prefer poplar, willow and birch to the harder oak and maple but will chisel the latter if softer trees are not available. Family groups work together,

gnawing a groove around a trunk until it falls.

Beavers prefer running water. They drag downed trees to form a dam, packing it with mud and twigs. Water pools behind the dam creating a safe place for a lodge with underwater entrances where three generations of a family can live, safe from predators. In winter beavers swim and eat beneath the safety of the ice. A beaver may occasionally gnaw a hole in the ice near the dam allowing water to escape. With the lower water level beavers can enjoy meals at their raft of branches without returning to the lodge to breathe. The animals pass winter days grooming each other’s fur with special waterproofing oil. Invariably sediment fills their pond, turning it to swamp, and the beavers become vulnerable to predators. They swim upstream and repeat the building process.

Beavers have some interesting characteristics: lots of body fat for warmth, a nose and ears with special valves to keep water out, a special protective eyelid for seeing in water, and huge cheeks that close behind their teeth so they can work underwater without choking. Also, their five-fingered front feet are dexterous, like those of a raccoon, and the rear feet are webbed paddles for swimming. The leathery, flat oval tail is used as a balancing prop when gnawing, a sculling oar for swimming and a paddle for slapping the water to warn of danger.

Early Dutch settlers used pelts as currency, and beaver fur was a fashion statement

in Europe for years. Trapped nearly to extinction, first in Europe and later in the United States, the rodents were endangered everywhere by the end of the 19th century. Beavers were later reintroduced and have successfully colonized in every state but Hawaii.

Vermont’s beaver population is healthy and growing. They are no longer endangered. Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department endeavors to maintain populations in balance with human needs. Annually the department collects information on beavers in all of Vermont’s watersheds. A trapping season runs from December 1 through February.

Think about launching your craft at the Converse Bay Access some evening. Snoop around the shoreline and watch the sunset over the Adirondacks. You may also get to watch the beavers frolic!

Tell them you saw it in The Charlotte News!

The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 17

Book Review: To the Bright Edge of the World, by Eowyn Ivey Georgia Edwards CONTRIBUTOR

The late 19th century Alaskan wilderness is the setting for Eowyn Ivey’s second

novel, To the Bright Edge of the World. Based on an actual army expedition led by Lt. Henry T. Allen in 1885, it is the story of Col. Allen Forrester’s foray into one of the United States’ last frontiers. Accompanied by a motley team of soldiers, Native Americans and trappers, Forrester is charged with mapping out the uncharted and harsh environs of the Wolverine River and its surroundings.

Defying the traditional role of women and wives in 1885 America, Forrester’s plucky new bride, Sophie, was to join the expedition until she learned she was pregnant.

In separate but parallel journeys, Forrester will set off from his Vancouver starting point while Sophie stays behind at the army barracks.

The couple’s stories are told through a creative combination of formats: personal and army journals, newspaper articles, contemporary correspondence between museum curators, maps, diagrams and photographs.

The novel alternates between the hardships of Forrester’s expedition and Sophie’s life back at the fort. Forrester confronts the realities of the unforgiving Alaskan Territory—cold, snowstorms, scarce food supplies, suspicious natives—even a mysterious river beast. A former Apache fighter, he finds a gentler version of himself—a man who is continually awed

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by the scope and spirituality of this raw new landscape.

To fill the time away from her husband, the intrepid Sophie studies the physiology of pregnancy and takes up photography.

In an era where women were expected to know their place and limits, she admirably pursues her “wicked” interests in spite of fort gossip. While her husband is breaking new territory in Alaska, Sophie is breaking some boundaries back home.

By interweaving reality with spirituality, Ivey has also written a story of undiscovered realms beyond human knowledge. Her descriptions of the Alaskan landscape—its glaciers, rivers and mountains—are elegaic and breathtaking. Lending magic to this backdrop are characters from Native American lore: a raven that becomes a shaman, a husband who changes into an adulterous otter, and a baby who is born through the roots of a tree.

Wilderness and survival adventure, an enduring love story, myth and mysticism— all are contained in this stunning work of prose.

Ivey is a native Alaskan and well-poised to write about her state. Her first book, The Snow Child, also takes place in Alaska and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

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18 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

News from the Charlotte Library

Margaret Woodruff LIBRARY DIRECTOR

BOOK PARTY RESCHEDULED: Tuesday, August 30, at 10:30 a.m. Join us Tuesday, September 20: STORY to celebrate the release of Emerson Barks!

This delightful picture book sets the stage TIME BEGINS! Lunch Box Story Time for Preschoolers for kid-powered canine capers and delicious at noon. Pack your lunchbox and join us for doggie-style treats. Don’t miss the fun! stories, songs and fun. For 3- to 5-year-olds Upcoming @ the Charlotte who are comfortable in a story time setting with or without parent or caregiver.

Library After School Story Explorations at 3:15 Monday, August 29, 5:30 p.m. p.m. Take the bus from CCS and explore the Kindergarten Library Card Party! world of stories! For kindergarten and 1st Sign up for your very own library card and grade students. check out our cool back-to-school books.

Story time runs every week from 9/20 to Refreshments and recreation on the lawn, 11/16; no story time on 10/11. Registration weather permitting. required. Please call or email the library Monday, September 5: Library closed to sign up: 425-3864 or youth.charlottelifor Labor Day braryvt@gmail.com.

Saturday, September 17, 11:30 a.m.

Lego Saturday. Join in our building challenges as we see who can create what! All ages.

Great Decisions program continues...

Upcoming discussion topics: United Nations (9/27), Climate Change (10/11) and Cuba and the U.S. (10/25).

Reading materials and companion DVD available to check out at the circulation desk.

Popular Picks from the New Book Selections Night School (Jack Reacher #21) by Lee Child: It’s 1996, and Reacher is still in the army. In the morning they give him a medal, and in the afternoon they send him back to school. That night he’s off the grid. Out of sight, out of mind.

Falling by Jane Green: The New York Times bestselling author of The Beach

House, Jemima J and Summer Secrets presents a novel about the pleasure and meaning of finding a home—and family—where you least expect them.

A Great Reckoning (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #12) by Louise Penny: When an intricate old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines, it at first seems no more than a curiosity. But the closer the villagers look, the stranger it becomes.

Three Sisters, Three Queens by Philippa Gregory: As sisters they share an everlasting bond; as queens they can break each other’s hearts. “There is only one bond that I trust: between a woman and her sisters. We never take our eyes off each other. In love and in rivalry, we always think of each other.”

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead: Cora is a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia. Life is hellish for all slaves, but Cora is an outcast even among her fellow Africans, and she is coming into womanhood; even greater pain awaits.

Caesar, a recent arrival from Virginia, tells her of the Underground Railroad, and they plot their escape. Like Gulliver, Cora encounters different worlds on each leg of her journey. An Oprah’s Book Club Selection.

Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson: Running into a long-ago friend sets memories from the 1970s in motion for August, transporting her to a time and a place where friendship was everything—until it wasn’t. For August and her girls, sharing confidences as they ambled through neighborhood streets, Brooklyn was a place where they believed that they were beautiful, talented, brilliant—a part of a future that belonged to them.

(All descriptions courtesy of Goodreads goodreads.com.)

The Tax man cometh.

November 15

The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 19

Local Business Directory

Puzzles

• Walls • Walks • Patios • Custom Floors • Showers • Etc. • Manufactured and Natural Stone • Brick • Block • Ceramic • Slate • Quarry

rsak@gmavt.net Ď? rvgelectric. com

Rick Gomez

Master Electrician for over 25 years

4281 Shelburne Rd. P.O. Box 476 Shelburne, VT 05482

RVG Electrical Services, LLC 3317 Bristol Road, Bristol, VT 05443

rsak@gmavt.net rvgelectric.com

Phone: 802-453-3245 Cell: 802-233-9462

Mason Associates

Annette@titusinsurance.net Terrell@titusinsurance.net

Office: 985-2453 Fax: 985-8620

Educational Consultants

Benjamin Mason, MEd, CEP

P.O. Box 59 2687 Greenbush Rd Charlotte, VT 05445 Phone: 802-425-7600 Cell: 617-283-6010 ben@masonconsult.com www.masonconsult.com

Brush-Hogging by Adam Taking Your Bush to Brush

#SVTI )PHHJOH t $IBJO 4BXJOH Brush-Hogging • Chain-Sawing 3PUP 5JMMJOH t 8PPE $IJQQJOH Wood-Chipping • Roto-Tilling #BDL )PF

Contact: Adam at 802-578-8347 Email: adamdantzscher@aol.com

Across

Down

1. ___ Eaters 5. Mail place (abbr.)

8. Barely enough 13. Auld lang syne 14. Billy or night 15. Dungeon & Dragons creature 16. “Our Time in ___� (10,000 Maniacs album) 17. Mercury, for one 18. Absinthe flavoring 19. Fast airship 22. Egyptian fertility goddess 23. An end to sex?

24. Follower of Dionysus 27. “___ Loves You� (1964 hit) 29. Far from ruddy 33. Accused’s need 34. Civil rights org.

36. “MS. Found in a Bottle� writer 37. Devoted astrologers 40. Charlotte-to-Raleigh dir.

41. ___ Pudding 42. Cotton fabric 43. “Buona ___â€? (Italian greeting) 45. Doris or Alice 46. Polish rolls 47. Hawaiian dish 49. 007 50. Energetic scientists 58. Give extreme unction to 59. Ace 60. ÂŤO Sanctissima,Âť e.g.

61. Conundrum 62. Phone connection 63. Circular course 64. Arrogant ones 65. Ground cover 66. Beach, basically

1. Court call 2. Birdbrain 3. Sundae topper, perhaps 4. Chinese currency 5. Gurgling sounds 6. Idiot 7. “O� in old radio lingo 8. Comes (to) 9. Auteur’s art 10. Angle between the stem and the leaf 11. Not yet final, at law 12. Stripling 14. Jackal, e.g.

20. “Four Essays on Liberty� author Berlin 21. Allotment 24. Confusing places 25. “___ in the Dark�

26. Downy duck 27. Off-color 28. Unclear 30. Pamper too much 31. With intensity 32. Pro votes 34. Discovery grp.

35. Applying tar 38. Spain’s Gulf of ___ 39. Millstones 44. Computer term 46. Aqua vitae, e.g.

48. Bond inspections 49. ___ Melon 50. Nukes 51. Knowing, as a secret 52. 100 centavos 53. Hooters 54. Its quarter says “Birthplace of Aviation Pioneers�

55. ___ bean 56. Beach bird 57. Coaster

Crossword and sudoku by Myles M ellor. a nswers to our puzzles Can be found near the Classifieds.

20 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

Senior Center News

Mary Recchia

The September Art Exhibit will be an intergenerational show of works by Shirley Galliher and her son, John Walton. You can meet the artists and talk about their work after the luncheon on September 7 beginning at 1 p.m.

The Kayak Group on their July 22 paddle lead by Susan Hyde and Kate Mesaros.

Photo: Courtesy

CONTRIBUTOR

Reminder: the Senior Center will be closed on Monday, September 5, for Labor Day. As our building project starts its final phase, we will continue to offer our basic programs every week. Join us for our delicious lunches, yoga, bridge, strength maintenance, Spanish conversation, mahjong, Pilates, tai chi, fitness and Friday morning art. Happening outside the construction

zone are boating and kayak trips. For specific days and times, please call or stop in to chat about the possibilities.

For those of you planning ahead, please look for the new Fall Program of activities and events in the next issue of The Charlotte News. Here are a few early highlights to usher in the cooler temperatures.

Memoir Writing with Sandy Detwiler resumes Thursday mornings from 10–11:30 beginning September 8. Everyone has a story to tell and lessons to share—your life story from your own unique perspective.

Capture priceless memories in what is a once-a-week “write and share,� with some guidelines. Join us for the opportunity

Kerrie Pughe

of fresh vegetables, along with bread, milk, canned goods and meat.

We appreciate the donations from Laura White, Lee Minkler, the Morrison family, Margaret Berlin, Ann Castle, Deborah Cook, Jonathan and Michelle Peters, Charles and Elizabeth DesLauriers, and Lili Ruane. Thank you to the organizations that continue to support us: the Carmel Hill Fund, Charlotte Organic COOP, Charlotte Congregational Church members, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Charlotte Grange.

Our community recently raised $4,770 to cover our shortfall and safely bring us to last year’s financial position at this time.

The Food Shelf assisted 31 household visits in April, 24 in May and 21 in June.

Food Shelf News

CONTRIBUTOR

Thank you Thank you to Rita Murphy for the eggs and leeks. Thank you to Ron Purdum for dropping off tomatoes, green and yellow squash, green beans, beets and cucumbers.

All the families went home with a bag full

VolunTeers needed

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Can you help us harvest the garden at the Charlotte Congregational Church on the Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday of the week of food shelf distributions? Thank you to the gardeners who have been keeping the weeds down. This week’s harvest included cucumbers, eggplant, green peppers and beets. Call Karen 425-3252 if you can help weed or harvest.

Wish lisT The beginning of the school year is just around the corner. We appreciate donations of school supplies and after-school snacks this time of year. They may be dropped off at any of our drop-off locations (see below).

to reflect on your life, meet new folks and improve your writing. Registration required. Limit 10. No fee.

Exploring Methods of Writing Prose with Sabina Evarts continues every second and fourth Friday from 1–3 p.m.

Dates: September 9, 23, October 14, 28 and November 11. Let’s write it out!

Here’s your chance to express in writing whatever your passion is: fictional stories, the “story of you,� factual, humorous, poignant, entertaining pieces. We’ll cover the mechanics of writing and expressing your thoughts; you’ll set goals and share your work as a group. Currently writing stories and poetry herself, Sabina was a high school English teacher and has been published in a number of poetry magazines and in the Vermont Writers collection.

Please call Sabina at 985-4099 if you have any questions. Registration required. Limit 10. No fee.

Fitness At Any Age with Ginger Lambert has switched to Tuesday mornings from 9:15– 10, beginning September 13 and continuing through October 18. We all have different body types and fitness experience but know that being strong and fit helps us to live our lives to their full potential. Using timed intervals and a series of stations, this class will incorporate body weight, light weights and other cardio/strength-building tools to boost strength, cardiovascular fitness, agility and flexibility. Some active games will be included to make this a fun and interesting workout. Joint and ligament issues will be taken into account. Every exercise can be modified for any ability or level of fitness. If you have been looking for a class that challenges you but doesn’t leave you in the dust, then this is for you.

Registration required. Limit 10. Fee: $10 per class.

donaTions We are a volunteer organization, so all donations you make to the Food Shelf go directly for food or assistance to our local neighbors in need. Thank you so much for considering donating today. Checks may be mailed to Charlotte Food Shelf & Assistance, P.O. Box 83, Charlotte, VT 05445.

neW Facebook page “Like� us at our new Facebook page, Charlotte Community Food Shelf and Assistance, where you can see photos and get updates on all Food Shelf activities.

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 Thursday distribution mornings or before the Wednesday distribution hours. The Charlotte Food Shelf is located on the lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry. Distribution days and times are posted on page 21 and on the bulletin board in the Charlotte Congregational Church hall. You may also continued on page 21

The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 21 and that. My body is old and fragile, and only I know how it feels.

These two good people share more than they think: They both are trying to help each other to enjoy life and be close again, beyond the present roadblocks. Both care deeply about the other and are striving to understand and adjust.

My next article will suggest how both can continue to reach out and gain more compassion. Adapting to aging parents is, after all, just another one of life’s predictable transitions.

Contact: adoutwater@aol.com.

Taking Care Loving through a lifetime Alice D. Outwater CONTRIBUTOR

This week my mailbox was brimming with questions from daughters struggling to communicate with their aging mothers.

What struck me is the accompanying pain for both women.

A mother’s traditional role is to raise the children, which entails caring for them and making decisions for them when they are younger. Then as the child becomes more independent, a shift occurs. The mother has been in the lead, but as she ages and needs more help, mother and daughter need to swap places. It’s as if they are in a tandem kayak: the daughter must now be near the stern. She needs to take over the guiding.

This can be a distressful period because neither woman is clear about her role.

Jennifer writes: Changes in my mother started incrementally: forgetfulness, confusion, and lack of energy. I think she tried to mask these and just kept going. Her personality became prickly and demanding. As our relationship declined, I became impatient with her fatigue and repetition of questions.

I love my mother more than I can express, and I’m ashamed how annoyed I

get with her. She deserves better than this treatment. I don’t understand her needs or my own.

We seem to have entered new territory, but neither of us knows how to navigate it.

Friction and arguments are too frequent.

She’s stubborn about adjusting to our family schedules. She tells me, “I simply don’t have the energy or interest anymore.”

I can’t understand what this is all about.

It seems selfish on her part. We want to include her but she’s making it impossible for us.

Jennifer’s mother Agnes replies: I’m trying to figure myself out. My landscape keeps shifting. Do I make my bed today?

Who would notice if I skipped it? Everything is a big decision. What should I wear? What to eat for breakfast? It’ so complicated and tiring before the day even begins.

It’s as if I’ve become two people. I simply can’t juggle so many things. The grandchildren are in constant motion and noisy. I shut down when I get overwhelmed. Frankly, I’d prefer to have time with my daughter and quickly say hello to the grandchildren.

Jennifer says: Her inexplicable behavior changes scare me. It’s strange we can’t verbalize this to each other.

Agnes: I’m aware my world is narrowing down. I can’t drive, my walking is unsteady,

and I need so much help. No one understands me, so I pretend everything is all right.

Jennifer: It’s as if my mother has become a control freak. She wants everything her way and must have the last word. What is this about? And why does she make such a fuss all the time? She seems to think she’s the only one who counts.

Agnes: My daughter is constantly impatient with me and thinks she knows what I need. Can’t she understand my world has changed? I have to go slowly now and consider so many things. My balance is shaky and I’m scared of falling. I tire easily and need to rest. I wish she would give me leeway and let me select a few of the things she offers. Must we jam so much into every day? One or two things is all I can handle.

I seem controlling because I’m trying to protect myself physically.

Jennifer: My mother seems scared about little things and has lost her zest for living.

Her husband died a year ago, and she was devastated. She refuses to try anything new. Now she’s become boring. If she were more adventurous, she could be having so much more fun.

Agnes: The unknown scares me. I need to do things in my own time. My daughter has become too pushy, telling me to do this

Jane Kiley, REALTOR®

continued from page 20

call the Food Shelf number (425-3252) for a recording of the distribution times.

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 425-3130.

For emergency assistance (electricity, fuel) call Cindi at 425-3234.

For more information call Karen at 425-3252 or visit our website at https://sites. google.com/site/charlottefoodshelfvt/.

Important upcoming 2016 Charlotte Food Shelf distribution dates Thursdays, August 25, September 8 and 22, 7:30–9:30 a.m.

Wednesdays, September 7 and 21, 5–7 p.m.

Your Right Choice in Any Market Call or Text: (802) 343-9980 Jane@JaneKiley.com JaneKiley.com

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Enjoy the beauty & simplicity of life along Lewis Creek in this 20 acre Charlotte homestead with a total of 1,800 feet of river frontage. Walk the serene paths through the woods & meadows to the wonderful swimming holes, picnic, camping and fire pit areas.

22 • August 25, 2016 • the ChArlotte News

Community Events

Upcoming pUblic meetings Selectboard: Sept. 12 and 26, 7 p.m.

Planning Comm: Sept. 1 and 15, 7 p.m.

Energy Comm: Sept. 14, 7 p.m.

Conservation Comm.: Sept. 27, 7 p.m.

Charlotte Town office will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5 for Labor Day. We make every effort to give correct meeting times, however they are subject to change. Check the town website for more info: charlottevt.org.

Have yoUr say | Selectboard MeMberS | Chair, Lane Morrison, 425-2495 Matthew Krasnow, 922-2153 Carrie Spear, 425-4444 Jacob Spell, 425-6548 Fritz Tegatz, 425-5564

A cloudy day looking down Charlotte-Hinesburg road with Camel’s Hump and Mt. Mansfield in the background. Photo: Alex Bunten

FLY LIKE A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY, KNOW THE BUZZ LIKE A BEE? The Charlotte News is looking for an Events Calendar Editor to help spread the word about goings-on in town. You would work directly with the editor, helping to gather and format all events submitted to The News.

You should have word processing software and a computer or be able to come to the office to work. It takes about two hours every other week.

Send inquiries to Alex Bunten at news@thecharlottenews.org.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 gallery exHibit: GEOMORPH / Things Change and They Change Again.

Vermont Folklife Center, 88 Main Street in Middlebury. Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. This two-part exhibition showcases Chris Triebert’s Hurricane Irene–inspired artwork, along with an ethnographic case study of sorts that explores her motivations for creating this work in response to the storm. Free.

Info: vermontfolklifecenter.org.

seminar: Small Game Hunting. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Randolph Fish & Game Club, Randolph. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will be holding a series of free seminars to teach people more about hunting. This seminar will feature workshops on hunting rabbits with beagles, hunting ruffed grouse with dogs and squirrel hunting. All seminars are free and include lunch. Info: (802) 272-2909 and vtfishandwildlife.com. pop-Up food event: Almost Home Market at the Point Bay Marina. 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

1401 Thompson’s Point Rd, Charlotte.

BBQ, deli salads, salmon cakes and seared salmon. Info: pointbaymarina.com.

MONDAY, AUGUST 29 pUblic meeting: Restoration of Lake Champlain. DoubleTree Hotel, 1117 Williston Road, South Burlington. 1–3 p.m. The State of Vermont is seeking feedback on a draft implementation plan for the restoration of Lake Champlain.

Comments on the plan will be accepted through September 7, 2016. Those unable to attend a public meeting can send comments on the draft plan by email or mail. Info: anr.cleanwatervt@vermont.gov.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 clinic: Basics of Fishing. Shelburne Bay Fishing Access Area in Shelburne. 4:30 – 7 p.m. This Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department clinic will focus on general fishing techniques and equipment and is tailored toward those who have little to no fishing experience. Fishing equipment

will be available for use, or participants can bring their own. Preregistration is required. Info: letsgofishing@vermont.gov or 505-5562.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 volUnteer work party: Birds of Vermont Museum. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

900 Sherman Hollow Road Huntington.

Help with outdoor and indoor tasks like window netting, cleaning, trail work, prepping for Open Studio and more.

Lunch provided for preregistration. Info: museum@birdsofvermont.org. artist reception: “In Layers: The Art of the Egg.” Birds of Vermont Museum.

3 – 6 p.m. 900 Sherman Hollow Road Huntington. Meet and celebrate the art and artists exhibiting their work. Light refreshments. Donations welcome. Info: museum@birdsofvermont.org. clinic: Intro to Trout Fishing. Waterbury Public Library and on the Winooski River in Waterbury. 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. This Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department clinic will concentrate specifically on trout fishing tactics. Fishing equipment will be available for use, or participants can bring their own. Preregistration is required. Info: letsgofishing@vermont.gov or 505-5562.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 dinner/fUndraiser: Huntington Chicken BBQ. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Brewster-Pierce School, Huntington. Slow-roasted half chicken, baked beans, fresh dinner roll, homemade pie, beverage and a choice of seven fresh salads, made with local vegetables and fresh herbs. $12 half chicken dinner; $9 salads dinner; $6.50 child’s chicken dinner (under 12 years).

Takeout available. The proceeds benefit HELD, Huntington Endowment for Library Development, which supports the Huntington Public Library. Info: 434-4583 or 434-2690.

Selectboard Regular Meetings are usually at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. If you would like to bring an issue to the attention of the Selectboard, contact the board chair or administrator Dean Bloch at 425-3071, ext. 205.

| ccS School board | Chair, Mark McDermott, 425-4860 Vice Chair, Erik Beal, 425-2140 Clerk, Jeff Martin, 425-4319 Kristin Wright, 425-5105 Susan Nostrand, 425-4999

| cVU School board-charlotte | Lorna Jimerson, ljimerso@wcvt.com Lynne Jaunich, lmjau@gmavt.net

| Planning coMMiSSion | Zoning Administrator & Deputy Health Officer, Joe Rheaume, jrheaume@townofcharlotte.com Town Planner, Daryl Benoit, dbenoit@townofcharlotte.com Chair, Jeffrey McDonald, 425-4429 Vice Chair, Peter Joslin Members: Gerald Bouchard, Paul Landler, Charlie Pughe, Donna Stearns, Marty Illick

| Vt goVernMent | vt senate (cHittenden district) Tim Ashe, D/P-Burlington, 318-0903, tashe@leg.state.vt Philip Baruth, D-Burlington, 503-5266, pbaruth@leg.state.vt.us Virginia “Ginny” Lyons, D-Williston, 863-6129, vvlyons@leg.state.vt.us Diane Snelling, R-Hinesburg, 482-4382, dsnelling@leg.state.vt.us Michael Sirotkin, D-South Burlington, 999-4360, msirotkin@leg.state.vt.us David Zuckerman, P/D/W-Hinesburg, 598-1986, dzuckerman@leg.state.vt.us vermont HoUse Mike Yantachka, D-Charlotte, 425-3960, myantachka.dfa@gmail.com

| U.S. goVernMent | U.s. senators Patrick Leahy, 863-2525, leahy.senate.gov Bernie Sanders, 862-0697, sanders.senate.gov U.s. congressman Peter Welch, 652-2450, welch.house.gov

The CharloTTe News •augusT 25, 2016 • 23

Around Town Upcoming

Publication Deadlines PuBliCation date: sePt. 8 Columns/features deadline: Aug. 29 Letters due: Sept. 5 Ads deAdline: sept. 2 PuBliCation date: sePt. 22 Columns/features deadline: Sept. 12 Letters due: Sept. 19 Ads deAdline: sept. 16

Feeling snappy? Send us your photos! news@thecharlottenews.org

Congratulations to Lindsay Longe and her husband, Christopher Mack, who welcomed into the world a daughter, Brighton Byington LongeMack, on August 4. She arrived weighing 10 pounds and measuring 22 inches head to toe. to the following Champlain College students who earned placement on the school’s dean’s list for the spring semester, 2016: Curran McKee, majoring in digital filmmaking; Eric Naud, with an undeclared major in the department of communication and creative media; Daphne Plant, majoring in graphic design and digital media. to the following students at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, who earned placement on the dean’s list for the spring semester, 2016: Amanda Gellis of the class of 2018 and Alissa Stone of the class of 2019. Both are graduates of Champlain Valley Union High School. to former CVU history teacher and now “beer-book writer,” Bill Mares whose new book, Making Beer, was featured in the “Savorvore” section of the August 12 Burlington Free Press. Having started home brewing 40 years ago, Mares has written three books on the subject. The latest (fully titled Making Beer:From Homebrewing to the House of Fermentology, co-authored with Todd Haire and illustrated by Jeff Danziger) features work he and Haire are doing in their House of Fermentology in Burlington’s South End. According to the Free Press’ Sally Pollack, the fermenting takes place in 50 wooden barrels with a portrait of Miles Davis looking over the entire process. Maybe he’s humming a variation of his rendition of the old Porgy and Bess tune: “There’s a barrel that’s leaving soon for New York.”

Kathleen Ridge sent us this 23-inch root structure of a wild parsnip plant, Pastinaca sativa L., growing near her back porch.

She said, “It was a small new plant and barely noticeable among many other weeds. It grew in a sandy/stoney area and it had just rained so the digging was not too difficult. Imagine the root system of one of those big ones that grow 6 to 9 feet tall!”

Photo: Kathleen Ridge

Classifieds Reach your friends and neighbors for only $7 per issue. (Payment must be sent before issue date.) Please limit your ad to 35 words or fewer and send it to The Charlotte News Classifieds, P.O. Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445 or email ads@thecharlottenews.org.

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