Charlotte News The Hometown Paper Since 1958
Volume lVII Number 07
The VoIce of The TowN
Thursday, NoVember 6, 2014
The Charlotte News Hometown Paper Since 1958 Deliver to: LOCAL BOXHOLDER U.S. POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM Ă&#x;ZIP CODE 05482 PERMIT NO. 9
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CCS to Seek Bond? 1 Election Results 5 Redhawks Champs 14 Health Matters 17
The Charlotte News The VoIce of The TowN
Thursday, NoVember 6, 2014
2014 General Election Results
Photo by Karyn Lunde
Chittenden 4-1 Representative
MIKE YANTACHKA
ED STONE
DEMOCRAT
REPUBLICAN
901
571
CCS Board Likely to Seek Bond for School Repairs Roughly $360,000 in repairs urgently needed Brett Sigurdson
CCS Showcases Spooktacular Costumes
The charloTTe News
Aydan Forando, Gus Lunde, Peter Hyams and Ben Vincent dressed up as the Teletubbies for Halloween at CCS this year. They weren’t the only students to join in the fun at the school’s annual Halloween parade, though. Check out page 7 for more creative costumes.
As it prepares to enter its budget season next month, the CCS School Board will have another set of numbers on its collective mind: the cost of urgent repairs to the aging building, which it will likely seek to cover with a taxpayer-funded bond to be voted on at Town Meeting in March 2015. This likelihood was raised at the board’s Oct. 21 meeting, where members discussed a proposed seven-year capital improvement plan for the facility. A total of five projects on the plan are listed as “urgent,”
The Right Person at the Right Time John Snow has a deep knowledge of fire and rescue issues. As CVFRS’s new corporate board president, he’s hoping to lead the organization into an uncertain future. Brett Sigurdson
The charloTTe News Almost every day, John Snow hikes Mt. Philo. He’s a volunteer caretaker at Charlotte’s popular state park during its off season, a position that sees him replacing dog bags, tending the entrance gate and otherwise making sure the mountain is maintained for the future. It’s a position that dovetails nicely with another volunteer gig: the new president of the corporate board at Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue (CVFRS), where he is also a volunteer firefighter and ambulance driver. And while the latter two positions by nature expose him to difficult situations, Snow has assumed the top post at an organization that has lately experienced its own kind of difficulties: a shrinking volunteer base, a controversial financial audit and, most recently, restrictions on its rescue operations. Each of these illustrate an organization dealing with growth and changing in the midst of forces largely beyond its control. Similar to his job at Mt. Philo, Snow is now charged for preserving CVFRS’s present for the future.
A chAnging lAndscApe Snow’s tenure as president got off to a rocky start. When he was elected president of CVFRS’s corporate board in August, no one else vied for the other board positions. So he became the de facto vice president, secretary and treasurer (the positions have since been filled). Snow, who has a background in banking and entrepreneurship, was certainly well-suited to take on these roles.
Moreover, he has a deep knowledge of local and regional fire and rescue issues, and can speak in eloquent, unbroken paragraphs on the subject. So he’s aware of the obstacles CVFRS faces, starting with the people who fill its ranks, which are dwindling. Since 2005, Charlotte’s volunteer firefighter membership has dropped from 30 to 24. Rescue has experienced a more precipitous decline in the last nine years, from 36 members to 12. (Three members volunteer with both organizations, noted Snow, who is one of them). Because of the decline, both fire and rescue augment their volunteers with paid staff—fire has one, rescue three (though one position is currently unfilled)—to ensure adequate coverage 24/7. He’s also aware of the rising cost of the services CVFRS offers and the question of the town’s willingness to pay for the quality of care it receives. For its small size, CVFRS offers response capabilities that other fire and rescue organizations cannot, and it often gives mutual aid to regional responders. Given Charlotte’s topography and proximity to Lake Champlain, its fire and rescue crews need specialized skills for the range of responses (its members train once a week, more than other area operations). Moreover, rescue offers a paramedic-level ambulance service—the top care one can receive on an ambulance. Given these things, CVFRS offers a service that fits a community three times the size of Charlotte, Snow said. Yet the cost of maintaining these service is increasing, especially for rescue. More and more quality of service is linked to call volume, explained Rescue Chief Meg Modley,
John Snow continued on page 8
note: these are PreLiminary resuLts. see Page 5 for more resuLts
Volume lVII Number 07
with school administrators hoping to fund and complete the $359,000 in repairs by the 2015-16 school year. Of those projects, three center on the school’s roof, which consists of three sections built in 1939, 1969 and 1996. Estimates to replace the shingled roof of the north wing of the 1996 building are $120,000. Both the art atrium and gymnasium roofs are recommended to be replaced at a cost of $38,500 each. The other two urgent projects are a replacement of the lighting in the 1996 wing at a cost estimated at $62,000 and replacement of the main elevator at a cost of $100,000, though it could be as much as $300,000. McDermott explained the elevator is currently operational, but, due to
School Bond continued on page 10
Selectboard Receives Update on Police Calls John Hammer The charloTTe News While the agenda for the Oct. 27 Selectboard meeting called for a three-hour session, the number of approved items was short. The first hour was taken up with a review of the State Police semi-annual report and a review of the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service’s (CVFRS) quarterly report. To begin, the State Police liaison officer with Charlotte is now Trooper Matthew Daley, who coincidently lives on North Greenbush Road. Trooper Daley was unable to be present, but Selectboard member Matt Krasnow presented a table showing police calls that have been handled during the quarter. The table showed that there were relatively few incidents with the highest numbers being Agency Assist (5), Fish and Game (5), Suspicious (15) and 911 Hang-ups (5). Only two thefts were reported and one simple assault. In September there were 14
speeding tickets and 18 warnings issued. This follows from August’s 20 tickets and no warnings. Trooper Daley will be available for questions at the next Selectboard meeting. John Snow, president of the corporate board of the CVFRS, reported that, for the first quarter of this fiscal year, the financial reports probably overstate the income amounts by about five percent, mostly due to prior year carry overs. These will probably have to be moved back into the previous year’s accounts in accordance with the recommendation of the auditors. He suggested that most of the overages are in special and not operating funds. In his words, “In general, it looks like everything’s tracking reasonably well.” He went on to point out that the number of rescue and transport calls is lower this year, which may result in potential shortfalls for the current fiscal year’s total income.
Selectboard
continued on page 6
2 • November 6, 2014 • The
Charlotte News
25 Years Later Berlin Wall Still Resonates Barrie Dunsmore Contributor
The Charlotte News PublishEd by and for CharlottErs sinCE 1958 the Charlotte news is a nonprofit community-based newspaper dedicated to informing townspeople of current events and issues. It serves as a forum for the free exchange of views of town residents and celebrates the people, places and happenings that make the Town of Charlotte unique. Contributions in the form of articles, press releases and photographs pertaining to Charlotte-related people and events are accepted and encouraged from all townspeople and interested individuals. For submission guidelines and deadlines, please visit our website or contact the editor at news@charlottenewsvt.com. the Charlotte news is published in Charlotte by The Charlotte News, Inc., a Vermont domestic 501(c)4 nonprofit corporation. Distribution is made every other Thursday to all households and businesses in Charlotte and to selected outlets in Shelburne, Hinesburg, North Ferrisburgh, Ferrisburgh and Vergennes. It relies on the generous financial contributions of its readers, subscriptions and advertising revenue to sustain its operations. on the web at:
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On the night of Nov. 9, 1989, I stood on a camera platform at the Brandenburg Gate. The Berlin Wall, which for 27 years had separated West from East and cut an ugly scar across the city, loomed directly behind me. On most nights this west side of the wall would be shrouded in darkness, hiding behind it the “death strip” of mines and booby traps where border guards constantly patrolled with orders to shoot to kill. Over the years as many as 192 people were indeed killed while trying to escape over the wall. (About a thousand died fleeing across the full 300-mile East German border.) But on that particular night, the wall was bright with television lights as I and other correspondents did live reports describing the truly unbelievable scenes before us to viewers in the United States and throughout the world. On top of the wall, thousands of East Berliners were singing, dancing and drinking—euphorically celebrating their newly found freedom. Some with sledge hammers, axes, ice picks and even fingernails were trying to deface the dreaded wall. Young and old, men and women, could not stop embracing one another. It was as though a giant love-in had swept over an entire nation whose people had been imprisoned for all or most of their lives. They had suddenly stormed through and over their prison wall while the only shooting done by their notorious guards was with water cannons in an apparent attempt to dampen the crowd’s enthusiasm. That failed miserably. With the perspective of time it is now easy to say that was the most momentous night in the history of the second half of the 20th century. The night the Berlin Wall came down effectively ended the Cold War—the war that had threatened the entire world with nuclear annihilation for some four decades. But as the theme music for ABC News Nightline came into my earpiece and I awaited the first question from Ted Koppel, the moment was not as crystal clear as all that. Over the previous three years, reporting on the changes taking place in what was then the Soviet Bloc was my main assignment. I had seen Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev transform the politics of his country, heard him signal he would not intervene in the affairs of other countries of the bloc, and watched him establish an amicable and productive relationship with President Ronald Reagan, the man who once labeled the Soviet Union the “Evil Empire.” Already in 1989 I’d covered the Communist Party losing its stranglehold on power in Poland and Hungary. Since early September I had been reporting mainly in East Germany as tens of thousands of its citizens fled to the West, many through a new hole in the Iron Curtain opened up by the Hungarians. In October, the long-time East German communist strongman Erich Honecker had been deposed by his own politburo, and massive protests, once unheard of in this most repressive of police states, were now occurring almost daily. Extraordinary change was palpable. But still there was a burning question of doubt in the minds of top Eastern European reformers with whom I spoke regularly throughout 1989, namely, at what point might the Soviet Union suddenly decide to intervene militarily to save its crumbling empire? Even in November 1989 there were still many skeptics about Gorbachev’s true intentions, including in the White House of President George H.W. Bush. Others worried that Gorbachev could be overthrown by Soviet hardliners who would again crack down on reform movements in Poland, Hungary and East Germany as they had so brutally done in the past. One other reason for the element of uncertainty that night was that no one seemed to know exactly what had happened. At a news briefing in East Berlin that evening, televised live in both Germanys, Gunter Shabowski, the new politburo’s official spokesman, casually mentioned that for the first time every East German would have the
right to a passport and exit visa. When a chorus of reporters began shouting “When?” “When?” Shabowski didn’t seem to know. He looked back at his papers and finally responded, “Immediately.” Given that freedom to travel outside of the Iron Curtain was the most critical issue of the day, this was momentous news. But did this announcement, so off-handedly presented, really mean what it appeared to say? First, dozens, eventually thousands, decided to find out for themselves by gathering at the various checkpoints into West Berlin. It turned out the border guards had no new instructions regarding passports or visas and refused to let anyone pass. So a crisis began building. Guards were seen trying repeatedly to call for new guidance but apparently were unable to reach anyone in high authority. Meantime, the mood at places like Checkpoint Charlie was shifting from joyful to ugly as once docile East Germans began shouting at the guards and pressing hard against the barricades. Finally, after more than four hours, each nervous border commander on his own simply gave up and threw open the gates. With that, what seemed like much of the population of East Berlin began flooding into West Berlin, through the checkpoints and over the wall at the Brandenburg Gate. The Berlin Wall, at least for that night, was no more. We learned much later that spokesman Shabowski had made a mistake of literally historic proportions. The new regime had decided to grant passports for all and to issue new travel regulations to government ministries, passport officials and border guards. But on the night of Nov. 9, none of that had yet happened because the new policy was not to begin until Nov. 10. What was actually envisaged was a slow, orderly process that could take weeks or more. The calculation was that the promise of passports for all would take the steam out of the pent-up demand for freedom to travel. But when Shabowski mistakenly said the new policy was to begin immediately, instead of a controlled departure of East Berliners over days and weeks, that night the entire city of more than a million seemed virtually empty. Most people returned, but with that massive breach of the once invulnerable Berlin Wall, history had been made and forever changed. It’s satisfying to report that, when Ted asked me on the air that night if we were being carried away with the euphoria of the moment, I said “No,” adding that he and I would have other stories to cover but this one (the Cold War, which the two of us had reported on for 25 years) was basically over. In my closing thoughts, I mused that the gods sometimes punish us by giving us what we ask for. I wasn’t predicting anything—just expressing an anxious feeling I had that night. As I look at the world 20 years later, it appears my anxiety was not entirely misguided. It must be said that Bush the father’s administration deserves high marks for smoothly persuading Europe and Russia to accept German unification, for quietly getting perhaps half a million Russian troops and their weapons out of Eastern Europe, and especially for helping to secure the former Soviet Union’s nuclear arsenal. Nevertheless, the voices of American triumphalism— the boasts that “We won the Cold War” and “We are now the only Super Power” (and therefore we can do what we please)—were soon to be heard, and by the turn of the century they would once again dominate U.S. foreign policy. The lesson that the Cold War was not “won” but ended—in part because Reagan reversed course from confronting Gorbachev to seriously engaging him and supporting his reforms—remains totally lost on those who falsely claim victory for the policies of confrontation. No matter how many times these people are proven wrong, they keep coming back to haunt us. This commentary originally appeared in the Oct. 26, 2014 issue of The Rutland Herald/Montpelier Times Argus, where it was originally published Nov. 1, 2009, marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Barrie Dunsmore is a journalist who covered foreign affairs for ABC News for 30 years. His columns and commentaries are also featured on VPR. He lives in Charlotte.
On the cover DRIVERS, CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS RECEIVED A TASTE OF OZ’S YELLOW BRICK ROAD NEAR THE OLD BRICK STORE RECENTLY THANKS TO TED ROBERTS. JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN, ROBERTS TURNED AN OLD HOT WATER HEATER INTO THE TIN MAN AT THE WEST VILLAGE MONUMENT. PHOTO BY BETH ROBERTS
Next issue deadlines next issue date: thursday, nov. 20 Contributions: monday, nov. 10 by 5 p.m. letters: monday, nov. 17, by 10 a.m.
The Charlotte News • November 6, 2014 • 3
Commentary
A Change is Gonna Come I’ve been listening to a lot of Bob Dylan lately, and there’s a lyric I can’t get out of my head. It’s from “You’re a Big Girl Now,” and it quotes an oft-cited maxim: “What’s the sense of changing horses in midstream?” The line resonates with me right now because I’ve decided to step down as editor in chief of The News after our final issue of the year, scheduled for Dec. 18. The move will come at a time when this newspaper is pursuing making big changes to its operation and identity, and I can’t help but feel I’m leaving before my time. As the head of this paper for the last two years, I’ve put my shoulder to the wheel as I’ve worked with the staff and board of directors to make The News viable in a dire newspaper climate. We haven’t accomplished what we’ve set out to do yet: making The News an editorially rich, financially sustainable nonprofit publication for years to come. Yet. It’s for this reason, and because of my deep affection for this community, that the decision to step down as editor has not been made in haste. But the decision has been made for good reason. Due to several major life changes—including a move, another job, and impending fatherhood—I can no longer devote the time, attention, and care
A Poem for Gordon Brown
that this paper and this community deserves from its editor-in-chief. I’ve always told myself that if I couldn’t produce my best work for Charlotte I wouldn’t continue to do it. With all that’s going on in my life, my best is no longer possible. However, my plan is to stick around and contribute to the paper, though my role has not yet been determined. Much of that will be up to our next editor-in-chief, who we’ve just begun recruiting. So, if you know someone who has a way with words, a desire to lead, a stubborn misunderstanding of odds, a lot of gumption and a love of community, send them our way (the ad is on page 5). Tell them it’s the greatest-hardest-most-bewildering-wonderful job a writer could get, that it’s payment in itself just to do it—even during the moments one can’t be paid enough to do it. Tell ‘em the guy who had the gig before said it’s the best job he’s ever had.
Brett Sigurdson Editor in Chief
Letters Policy All opinions expressed in Letters and Commentaries are those of the writers and not of The Charlotte News, which is published as an independent, nonprofit, nonbiased community service and forum.
This a Haiku-ish sentiment in remeberence of the most endearing and gallant gentleman I have ever known, whom I affectionately refer to (and always will) as “my boyfriend” to my family and closest friends. Who else would wrestle a 100 poundplus piece of damp driftwood from a rocky Lake Champlain shore into his trunk to deliver just because he thought I might enjoy it? (How did he know? It has held a central place in my garden for many years.) Or have a smoked ham sent to my new place of employment as a welcome gift? His homemade cranberry relish with recipe last Thanksgiving will become a tradition I imagine for all the lucky folks he shared it with. We have all been blessed with his presence. I was not able to attend his memorial service this past Sunday but wanted to share a fond farewell: “In Remembrance of Gordon” Dear Gordon, The fabric of our little town (and the wider world for certain) is stronger…the colors brighter because you moved here not so long ago. I wish you were coming back in your checkered flannel shirt and green wool cap to share your stories and to sparkle among us, (because that is what you did) warming hearts. You are missed.
xo Deb Preston Charlotte
When Will Montpelier Politicians Admit They Were Wrong? Joseph P. Blanchette Contributor My wife recently mentioned that she again was unable to access Vermont Health Connect’s (VHC) website to download next month’s premium invoice. Such breakdowns have characterized our experience ever since we signed up for the state-run health plan last December. That experience foreshadowed ten months of disappointment with a program that politicians promised would offer simpler, more efficient and cost effective health plans that would quickly save Vermonters hundreds of millions of dollars. None of these benefits have been delivered. As happened with many Vermonters, the Internet enrollment process was complex and frustrating. The process took me an entire morning, and even then I was unsure of successful completion. My phone calls to VHC repeatedly put me into “voicemail jail.” My messages seeking help went unheeded for over a week. Responses to my emails were met with assurances of answers in a week. At the start of the new year, things still weren’t right, and I spent more time fixing problems. The plans we selected had higher premium costs, higher out-of-pocket copayments and deductibles, and reduced benefits compared to our previous BCBS plan. So we now pay thousands of dollars more for poorer coverage and inferior service. This summer we were informed that our premium would be due by the 26th of the month prior to the covered month, four to five days earlier than premiums are historically due. The stated reason? To allow more time to process payments. The unstated reason? To hold Vermonters’ money in VHC’s interest-bearing bank account, not ours. But things got even worse.
Given these experiences, I urged my wife to notify VHC in July that she would by moving to Medicare on Sept. 1. She was informed that VHC could process her request only within 30 days of the change date. So she called again in early August and asked to be removed from VHC coverage as of Sept. 1. She was told her request had been sent to a specialist and they were “working on it.” We received no further communication from VHC that month regarding the requested change. In early September, she called again for a status report and informed VHC that we would now send premiums only for my coverage as she was no longer on the VHC plan. She was startled to learn that this would not be acceptable. Due to processing backlogs, we would be required to continue paying her premium as well as mine for several more months until VHC’s processing backlog was eliminated. My wife presumed that we would then receive a timely refund of overpayments. Wrong again! VHC would keep our overpayment as a credit to be used against my future premium payments. “May we read this policy?” we asked the representative. “Sorry. I can’t send it to you. Things change daily.” Earlier in October we received two email messages directing us to the VHC website for our November invoice. The website was still not running, and two days later another email arrived saying, “Never mind.” Our most recent invoice arrived seeking both premium payments once again, but it included a mysterious $154 credit. After spending almost an hour on the phone with VHC, they conceded that they improperly credited someone else’s payment to our account. As of mid-October VHC still wants my wife’s premium as well as mine for November. When asked for a status report on this very costly
matter, we were told they are working it, perhaps they need more information, and we should call another department for an update. More time on hold, more dropped calls, more wasted time and more frustration with Vermont’s health care panacea. At month’s end, I received a letter directing me to call VHC within seven days about “my change.” After speaking with two of VHC’s outsourced representatives in North Carolina (they had no idea about why I was calling) and being on hold six times during the 40-minute call, I was told that last summer’s change request was never processed: “You and your wife will have to fill out change applications.” When I refused I was told they would fill out the forms and call me by the end of the day to confirm details and completion. You guessed it. That call never came. I recall the outrage from Montpelier and the media a few years back whenever a BCBS policyholder complained about the carrier’s slightest misstep. Yet, despite ten months of squandered millions, incompetence and confiscation of policyholder funds, politicians urge us
to be patient and trust that they know best. They’ll get their experiment right, eventually. Such incompetence and arrogance are what we get, and will be getting more of, as this growing state monopoly unaccountable to policyholders’ needs and concerns continues to take over all critical aspects of our health care system. And we haven’t even gotten to the serious stuff that will eventually impact every Vermonter, not just those stuck with VHC health plans. Single payer’s global budgets, higher costs, doctor shortages, longer wait times, limited access and an estimated two billion-plus annual price tag are on their way. I long for when I could have taken my business to competing, more responsive and competent health insurance providers. When will legislators admit their horrible failure? Joseph Blanchette was a Howard Dean appointee to the Public Oversight Commission as a labor/consumer representative. He formerly served as benefits director for VT-NEA and as a fiduciary and co-manager the Vermont Education Health Initiative. He lives in Charlotte.
Help $55,000 us Thrive $44,500 @ 55 OUR GOAL
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4 • November 6, 2014 • The
Charlotte News
Jaunich to Bring New Energy to Charlotte Committee Emma Slater
The CharloTTe News Laurel Jaunich, a Charlotter and junior at CVU, was appointed by the Charlotte Selectboard on Oct. 27 to fill the student position on the Charlotte Energy Committee for this year. Laurel is also a member of the leadership team for the CVU Environmental Action Club (EnACT) and is passionate about advocating for lifestyle changes that reduce waste. Her interest in environmental conservation is inspired by her experiences traveling to diverse ecosystems. For example, Laurel explained how she “visited the Galapagos Islands a few years ago and realized that it’s not going to stay the same because of all of the harm to the environment that is going on.” In response, Laurel has been involved with initiatives to provide compost bins in the CVU cafeteria, reduce the school’s electricity usage and cut down on idling in the parking lot. Idling is a topic that she is particularly interested in, as a Vermont Law enacted on May 5 states that idling for more than five minutes is now prohibited. She believes that spreading awareness about this law will help people to be more
Laurel Jaunich at Machu Picchu in Peru. Laurel is the newest member of Charlotte’s Energy Committee.
conscious of their impact on air quality. Laurel also hopes that joining the Charlotte Energy Committee will allow her to reach a broader audience with this message. “I’ve been in Environmental Action Club, and that’s here at school, so I thought that this could be a good way to expand my interest into something bigger,” she said. Laurel looks forward to learning more about the projects of the Charlotte Energy Committee and to working with like-minded people.
Art That Rocks Thanks to Chris Falk for sending us this picture showcasing recent creative use of rocks and driftwood at Town Beach.
CCS Craft Fair Nov. 22 Join over 60 talented local Vermont vendors at the CCS Artisan and Craft Fair at CCS on Nov. 22 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. There will be something for everyone: jewelry, decor, holiday gifts, handmade accessories, clothes, toys, art, photography, woodwork, gourmet food and more. All vendors certify their items are handmade. Proceeds from the craft fair will benefit CCS enrichment programs. For more information, visit ccsfairvt.com.
The Charlotte News • November 6, 2014 • 5
Help Plan the Future of The News at Nov. 10 Forum Vince Crockenberg
The CharloTTe News As part of our planning to ensure the financial and editorial health of The Charlotte News over the next decade, the board of directors would like to invite the community to attend a meeting to discuss the present and future of The News, to be held at the Charlotte Library on Monday, Nov. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. The mission of The News, a community-driven nonprofit newspaper, is “to inform townspeople of current events and issues, to serve as a forum for the free exchange of views of town residents and to celebrate the people, places and happenings that make the Town of Charlotte unique.” We need to know whether we are meeting that mission and, if not, what we should change about the content of the paper. We also need to ensure the financial health of The News over the next decade. Our current business model depends heavily on advertising ($75,000 of our $100,000 annual budget comes from it), and the advertising mar-
ket is increasingly competitive and difficult. We need to complement our ad revenues with other sources of income—especially enhanced contributions from our readers. At the community meeting on the 10th, we’ll be asking for your help is answering three questions: First, what can we do at The News to bring additional value to you, our readers and advertisers? What do you care about? Are we delivering the news, opinions and feature stories that you find valuable, that make you feel like a more informed and engaged member of the Charlotte community? What are we missing? Second, what can we do to increase the number of households that contribute to support The News? Every two weeks we deliver The News to 1,419 households in Charlotte. But so far in 2014 fewer than 250 households have contributed money to support the paper. Why do so few households contribute? What can we do to provide people with a paper worth paying for? Third, should we change the business model that has sustained The News since its founding in 1958? We focus our news cover-
age on Charlotte and Charlotters. Would you still consider The News as your community paper if we expanded coverage to neighboring communities? What’s the appropriate balance between coverage that is too broad to contribute to a sense of community in Charlotte and too narrow to ensure financial sustainability over time? We could, for example, conceivably generate more advertising revenue by increasing our coverage and readership to neighboring communities, but would that significantly undermine the value of the paper to Charlotters and their willingness to support it? At the meeting on the 10th we’ll discuss these and other questions, first in small groups than all together. It would help us if as many people as possible before the end of this week filled out the readership survey found in this issue on page 19 or online at http:// svy.mk/1x0x5uB. The data we get from that survey will help focus the conversations on the 10th. We promise to be done by 9 o’clock. Vince Crockenberg is co-chair of The Charlotte News board of directors.
Help Wanted: The Charlotte News Seeks New Editor in Chief Are you up for leading a newspaper that is on the cusp of great things? Adopt the community of Charlotte, Vermont, as the next editor in chief of The Charlotte News, a 3,000-circulation bimonthly. As the leader of The News’ small staff of paid employees and volunteers, you’ll wear a number of hats—writer, photographer, designer, even distributor—as you guide coverage of this town of farmers, retirees, commuters, artists, summer residents and folks in between. You won’t make a lot of money, but you will have the opportunity to lead an organization attempting to create a model for sustainable, nonprofit community journalism in a town that values The News’ work. We expect a candidate to have writing and editing experience—layout and design skills are a plus, though not required—and some background in newspaper management and administration. Most important, however, we’re looking for someone who is flexible, curious and driven to show that nonprofit community newspapers are indeed alive and well. Candidates interested in rising to the challenge are encouraged to send a cover letter, resume and three clips to News board co-chair Vince Crockenberg at vince.crockenberg@gmail.com.
General Election Results 2014 Charlotte Representative to Congress
Governor
Lieutenant Governor State Treasurer
Matthew Andrews: 14 Mark Donka: 419 Cris Ericson: 10 Randall Meyer: 10 Jerry Trudell: 6 Peter Welch: 1,043 Peter Diamondstone: 12 Cris Ericson: 4 Dan Feliciano: 76 Scott Milne: 619 Bernard Peters: 3 Emily Peyton: 15 Peter Shumlin: 784 Marina Brown: 13 Dean Corren: 627 Phil Scott: 870 Murray Ngoima: 72 Beth Pearce: 974 Don Schramm: 179
Secretary of State
Jim Condos: 1,072 Ben Eastwood: 130 Mary Alice Herbert: 91
Attorney General
Rosemarie Jackowski: 33 Shane McCormack: 491 William H. Sorrell: 987
Charlotte Justice of the Peace State Senator
(Choose not more than 12)
(Choose more than six)
Tim Ashe: 787 Phil Baruth: 814 John Cisar: 105 Christopher Coolidge: 117 Dawn Ellis: 599 Joy Limoge: 522 Virginia Lyons: 846 Ben Mayer: 103 Michael Sirotkin: 676 Diane B. Snelling: 849 Travis Spencer: 109 Paul Washburn: 138 Glyn Wilkinson: 90 David Zuckerman: 809
Jill Abilock 597 Gerald Bouchard 379 Stephen Brooks 379 Peter Carreiro 466 Greg Cluff 787 Moe Harvey 606 Lorna Jimerson 646 Michael Krasnow 952 Mike Kurt 455 Leo G. Laberge 587 Jill Lowery 503 Debbie Ramsdell 696 Bob Sanders 351 Jerry Schwarz 727 Carrie Spear 915 Ed Stone 697 Peter Trono 539 Richard Yandow 490 Mike Yantachka 931 Seth Zimmerman 614
Note: these results are uNofficial. for more results visit thecharlotteNews.org.
6 • November 6, 2014 • The
Charlotte News
Selectboard continued from page 1 CCRPC uPdate
Representatives of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC) reported on the three active projects currently underway that affect Charlotte. CCRPC is a federally and state-mandated commission coordinating county wide programs with an emphasis on transportation. The two Charlotte representatives, Jim Donovan and Marty Illick, were praised as being highly effective and active members. The three active projects are a park-andride analysis for southern Chittenden County, a study of the pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Ferry Road and Route 7 and a feasibility study to look at drainage and path along the edge of Ferry Road east of Greenbush Road. It was emphasized that any changes would be the subject of a public comment session. CCRPC is additionally working with United Way toward establishing a volunteer driving program called Neighbor Drivers to provide transportation for Charlotters who have inadequate transportation.
affoRdable housing gRant denied The effectiveness of the Charlotte Housing Trust Fund (CHTF) came into question as the result of a request by Habitat for Humanity in Chittenden County (H4H). The question arose when H4H requested the Selectboard support the use of the $30,000 grant to the Albert’s Way project to include purchase of land. H4H handles contri-
butions by adding to their general funds account, and thus this request represented only a movement of funds on paper. Just by agreement this would allow H4H to be able to recover $30,000 more from restrictive federal grants. Robin Reid, in the audience and one of the proponents in the early establishment of the CHTF, pointed out that the intent, while not explicitly stated, did not include provision for land purchase. Grants from the fund are to be used for feasibility and construction projects leading to creation of “perpetually affordable” housing. Comments from both the Selectboard and audience suggested that the performance of the CHTF has been less than successful in recent years and that a revisit to the program is needed. (The policy document for the CHTF can be found at http:// bit.ly/1ogHbYt). The Selectboard is the administrator of the program. In the end the Selectboard failed to support a change in intent and thereby did not grant the request of H4H.
otheR business • Dorothy Hill was appointed to the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge Oversight Committee. She fills one of the positions designated for abutting landowners. Jenny Cole followed with a presentation of the preliminary FY2016 budget request. She reviewed an extensive list of activities for this year and proposed that the next year’s budget be reduced by $500. • The Selectboard chair and town administrator have not as yet signed the Local Emergency Operations Plan passed at the last meeting pending completion of emergency management courses. • After a short executive session,
the Selectboard approved a boundary adjustment settlement on two lots associated with the solar array farm on Hinesburg Road. Nine conditions were agreed upon, one of which is a no-build zone extending 2,300 feet north from Hinesburg Road. Further, the applicant, the Clark W. Hinsdale Jr. Testamentary Trust, agreed that any further nonexempt development be governed by a master planning process. • Representatives of Child Care Resource made an appeal for $500-750 in next year’s budget to help them provide impoverished families with financial help in finding childcare. Eleven Charlotte families receive support from this program, which includes provisions for adequate nutrition to low-income families. • In a continuing action the Selectboard postponed purchase of a radar speed cart because of bid cost overruns. They decided to seek two additional bids. • The western approach to the Carpenter Road Bridge over the LaPlatte River will not accommodate larger tractortrailers. Accordingly, the board agreed to an additional $12,000 for design of a flared entrance and the widening of the western approach lanes. • Selectmen Lane Morrison and Charles Russell and Town Administrator Dean Bloch have been conducting discussions with the chief of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Stowe in an effort to better understand sharing of EMS costs with neighboring towns. The next regular Selectboard meeting will be held on Thursday, Nov. 13.
Vermont Architects Seek ‘People’s Choice’ on State Architecture Projects The Vermont chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIAVT), based in Charlotte, has placed on its website 35 architectural project photographs in a “People’s Choice Competition.” The goal of the online display is to increase public awareness of and appreciation for architecture. The online display features a voting tool where visitors may cast their vote until Nov.10 for their one favorite project based on any criteria they see fit. The People’s Choice Exhibit is part of a larger event that AIAVT is hosting at the State House in Montpelier on Dec. 4: the AIAVT Annual Meeting and Design Awards Program. The recipient of the People’s Choice Award will be announced at the larger event. Exhibit project entries are the work of AIAVT architects in Burlington, Montpelier, Manchester, Waitsfield, Wilmington and many other communities. While most of the projects are located throughout Vermont, projects located anywhere in the world and designed by AIAVT architects were eligible. Projects range from commercial (e.g., academic buildings, medical facilities, multi-use complexes) to residential (single-family and multifamily dwellings). The display is available at aiavt.org.
The Charlotte News • November 6, 2014 • 7
Sights and Frights at CCS Charlotte Central School held its annual Halloween Parade last Friday. And while the mysterious Pumpkin Man made an appearance, it was the costumes that really frightened and amazed. Photos by Karyn Lunde
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8 • November 6, 2014 • The
Charlotte News
John Snow continued from page 1 and Charlotte does not have the volume to offset its costs. “If call volume was higher we would get more in income for patient billing,” she said, referring to reimbursement for ambulance care. “If you’re in a low call volume area you don’t get as much to offset cost of service.” And then there’s the anomaly of CVFRS itself. Having fire and rescue operations under one roof is rare in Vermont, explained Snow. Rarer still is relying on a mixture of volunteers and paid staff to fill both operations. As CVFRS has evolved from an all-volunteer operation into its current identity, it has faced some growing pains, a fact that was illustrated publicly earlier this year.
An issue of communicAtion In a small corner of rescue’s ambulance there’s a safe with two locks on it. Stored within the safe is narcotic pain medication, which paramedics can use during a call. One lock allows entry with a key, the other through a code punched into a digital keypad. In April, three board members of EMS District 3—which oversees the paramedicine operations for most of Chittenden County—conducted a surprise inspection at the fire hall and noticed rescue personnel only entered the safe with the key. Months before, officials with the district issued protocols that mandated only the key pad can be used in order to audit who enters the safe. Further, the inspectors found one of rescue’s newest paramedics did not update its narcotics logs as frequently as required by District 3. For these reasons the district’s medical advisor, Dr. Laurel Plante, suspended rescue’s use of her medical license, under which it operates, for 90 days. This limited rescue from responding with paramedic-level service, meaning its paramedics could not intubate patients, manually operate a defibrillator or administer pain medications. Rescue worked immediately to implement changes to its procedures to meet
EMS District 3’s protocols, said Modley. communication to the board, a point that Satisfied with rescue’s progress, Dr. is further driven home by approved lanPlante extended her medical license to guage to the organization’s memorandum rescue for its paramedic service in July. of agreement with the town that requires The incident illustrated a communica- CVFRS to inform the Selectboard of any tion issue within CVFRS, explained then- change in status immediately. president Dave McNally, who said rescue For Modley, the issues highlighted by was unclear about using keys versus the license restrictions go beyond comelectronic keypads for the safe. Modley munication. alluded to an at-times strained relationship “Communication is a huge part of it, and misunderstanding with EMS 3 as a product of the miscommunication, but also noted former Fire and Rescue Operations Manager/ Head of Service Dave Stewart did not communicate the protocol changes with CVFRS leaders. (Stewart was excused from his position in July. Modley, along with Pam Dawson, has taken over his duties for the time being.) That communication issue was driven home with even more force again in April, when CVFRS’s corporate board learned that rescue had received a A volunteer for both fire and rescue, John Snow is the new president of CVFRS’s corporate board six-month “conditional license”—four months after it was issued in December of 2013 during its yearly but I think it’s also about maximizing license renewal. the staffing capabilities to the best of our The reason cited by state EMS officials abilities,” she said. “We have some chalwas the quality of post-response docu- lenges because staff isn’t easy to come mentation, called CQI, which is required by. We’re often operating with fewer staff of EMTs after each run to ensure standard than we need. There’s a lot of ground to procedures are being followed. cover.” While rescue worked to clear up the All the same, Modley said she’s taking post drop-off paperwork issues, the corpo- the response as “an opportunity to look at rate board worked to fix communication everything from training to documentaissues that left it unaware of the condi- tion and the way we do things,” she said. tional license. According to Snow, these It showed. After nine months of consisextended from an organization that had tent CQI reporting, CVFRS was issued a in the past not operated with a corporate full license Oct. 1. When the state gave the structure—everything of importance went organization a regular license through the to the fire or rescue chiefs. end of the year last week, Snow delivered “There wasn’t any history of bringing a copy of the license to Town Hall. these issues to the corporate board,” said Snow. the future of fire And rescue To address this, Snow explained Fire With this hurdle behind CVFRS, Snow & Rescue’s corporate board has made it clear that its new structure requires is looking toward short- and long-term
goals. First among them is to expand fire and rescue’s volunteer ranks, including adding community volunteers to its board of directors, something currently not allowed by the organization’s bylaws. But CVFRS members’ first duty is to answer calls when needed, not spend time in meetings, Snow said, and the organization could benefit from more voices. “We want to strike the right balance between being a member-run organization but find ways to draw from a bigger pool of interested people,” he said. “Maybe we need a more creative way to determine what a member is.” Longer term, with the changing economics of fire and rescue regionally, Snow could see a time when the organization’s relationship changes with the town, especially if taxpayers’ desire for top-quality care wanes. “We don’t necessarily expect it to be subsidized forever,” he said. Charlotte is still small enough to get feedback about what its residents want in a fire and rescue organization, Snow said, so as CVFRS determines what its future holds, he wants to involve the public as much as possible. But until then, Snow will contemplate how CVFRS can become a model organization now and into the future. “I see some great challenges, and there is an opportunity to thoughtfully anticipate and intentionally manage our way forward in an environment that is undergoing a very rapid change,” he said. “Whether it’s technology or demographics, there’s a lot of stuff that can benefit from people thinking about and doing things that can ultimately benefit the community. And maybe we can be a model that other communities benefit from.” It’s this kind of long-term thinking that gives Modley confidence Snow is the right person at the right time. “I’m very happy he is our corporate board president,” she said. “I think he has a very good higher level understanding of the problems fire and rescue face in our region and our nation. He is a good person to make things happen.” To get involved with fire and rescue or to find out about opportunities available, contact Snow at john@johnrsnow.com. To get involved in fire and rescue, call 425-3111.
The Charlotte News • November 6, 2014 • 9
The
BoardsCorner Update from CCS
Kristin Wright Contributor
Area students hold up signs urging motorists passing by a local CVS pharmacy to go smoke free. The students also thanked the pharmacy chain for discontinuing the sale of tobacco products in its stores.
CCS, CVU Students Urge Tobacco-Free Lifestyle On Oct. 28, students from CCS and CVU joined other area schools in taking a stand against tobacco products and advertising by visiting a local CVS pharmacy to thank the chain for going tobacco free and by holding up signs urging passing motorists to do the same. “The students here today are passionate about the impact of tobacco use and advertising on their lives and communities, and they should be because they could very well be the first smoke-free generation,” said Christine Lloyd-Newberry, director of Connecting Youth LEAD (Leadership Education the Anti-Drug), which spearheaded the event. “While we know that every day in the United States more than 3,000 youth under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette, we also know that the overall rate of youth smoking is the lowest it’s ever been. These students are right: it’s time to end tobacco’s influence on our kids!”
As of Oct. 1, all CVS stores nationwide stopped selling tobacco products. CVS is the first chain pharmacy to take this stand, and students wanted to thank them for leading by example. In addition, earlier this year Act 135 was signed into law, extending secondhand smoke protections to workplaces, motor vehicles, public places, school grounds and childcare settings. Included was a prohibition on smoking in a vehicle in the presence of a child 7 years old or younger. On Jan. 1, 2015, the law also takes a first step in protecting children from e-cigarette liquids poisoning. While at the rally, students helped passersby write postcards to Vermont legislators thanking them for their impact on this important issue.
The CCS Board will hold a budget forum on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. in the CCS library. A budget meeting will immediately follow the forum. The topics that will be covered at the budget meeting include our baseline budget (what it would cost to open the doors of CCS next year with exactly the same programming and staff), supervisory union assessments, instructional program costs and preliminary decision packets (items that the administration requests to have added or deleted from the baseline budget). This meeting is a great opportunity for Charlotte residents to learn about the budget process, hear about the items included therein, and offer feedback and suggestions. A second budget meeting will be held on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m. at the CCS library to consider additional decision packets. Final approval of the budget will occur on Jan. 13, 2015, at 6 p.m. in the CCS library. All budget materials will be posted as available on the CCS website. Any questions or suggestions regarding budgeting can be directed to the School Board at ccsschoolboard@cssu.org.
Capital improvements needed
future needs in our building and grounds. The problems that existed last year as evidenced in the feasibility study prepared by Dore & Whittier have grown. Rather than propose demolition of the 1939 building and constructing a new space in its place, the committee is investigating ways to close the 1939 building and reconfigure the remaining portions of the building to house the cafeteria and library. The board anticipates receiving a report regarding this possibility at its Nov. 18 meeting at 7 p.m. at CVU.
Public Input Sought as Budget Process Begins The Facilities Committee prepared a seven-year capital plan that sets forth a schedule for likely investment needed in our building. The most urgent concerns include roof replacements and elevator replacement, totaling $359,000. The board’s agenda on Nov. 18 will include an action item regarding seeking a bond on Town Meeting Day to allow us to make those repairs. The board will also consider the committee’s recommendation that we allocate $25,000 annually to a construction fund reserve to cover unanticipated repairs and provide funds to offset more expensive replacement/repairs needed going forward. A copy of the seven-year plan is available on the CCS website. Kristin Wright is chair of the CCS School Board.
The Facilities Committee has continued its efforts to identify current and
BREAKING NEWS! www.thecharlottenews.org
10 • November 6, 2014 • The Charlotte News
School Bond continued from page 1 age, companies no longer manufacture parts for it. If it breaks down—Co-Principal Greg Marino noted it could “fail at any day”—the school will be required by law to fix it. Not listed on the “urgent” list is the 1939 wing of the facility, which currently houses the school’s library and kitchen. So dire— and expensive—are its woes that the wing received its own category on the improvement plan. According to the list presented to school directors, almost the entirety of the building needs to be gutted and replaced, which could cost upward of $2.1 million. The wing’s mechanical systems, such as heat, fresh air, water and kitchen venting, need to be removed and replaced at an estimated cost of $410,000. The electrical system also needs to be brought to code at a cost of $293,000. Due to heat loss, the building needs to be re-insulated at a cost of $165,000. Finally, both the library carpet and the outside handrails and concrete ramp need fixing at a combined price of $50,000. Yet instead of requesting this amount through budget or bond, the school could take the 1939 wing out of service, noted McDermott. Due to declining enrollment and the high cost of repairs, the school could instead try to move the library and kitchen elsewhere in the school. “As our school population drops off, do we need that extra square footage?” McDermott said. “As a cost savings to the voters I think that’s something worth looking at. That building is not going to save anybody any money—we have to do something about it.” Added Marino, “We don’t see it as a viable option to invest $ 2 million in that building.” McDermott added that the School
Board would receive more information and possibly a request for money to hire an architect to study this option at its November meeting. Finally, as part of the seven-year capital improvement plan, funding for nine longterm building improvements has been set out from 2015 to 2022. The proposed projects for 2015-16 are a new school-to-bus communication system ($9,000) and new security cameras ($10,000). Each year after that the proposed expenditures rise to over $100,000. For instance, in 2016-17 projects to upgrade the fire alarm and address system and remove the Quonset hut are estimated to cost $131,000. (That cost does not include a new garage that would be needed to house the workshop and storage currently within the hut, noted Marino.) Marino told the board he’d bring more concrete numbers to its November meeting, when school directors will get their first glimpse of next year’s baseline budget. Part of that baseline budget will include $25,000 for a rolling construction fund earmarked for emergency repairs, like the elevator, he said. These numbers, as well as a discussion of a bond that would likely be presented to voters at Town Meeting Day in March, will be discussed at the board’s Nov. 18 meeting.
Bringing the Budget to voters The School Board will begin its budget process with a public forum on Dec. 2 beginning at 6 p.m. at the CCS library. The goal is to hear Charlotters’ thoughts on school spending matters and to discuss the baseline budget. The first of several budget meeting will follow directly after. Board member Clyde Baldwin urged the board to make every effort to inform voters on how the capital improvement plan will be an accessory to the budget vote. “As people begin to consider how much it’s going to take to run the school they’ll also want to know how much they’ll be asked to spend to make changes on the building,” he said.
The Charlotte News • November 6, 2014 • 11 This year, the board will do so without the help of budget buddies—community members who help educate community members about the budget—as several board members felt the process hasn’t been helpful. For more on the budget process, see board chair Kristin Wright’s “Board’s Corner” article on page 9.
Hands-on Hiring? The board finished with a long, often fascinating, discussion on its role in hiring teachers which illustrated the limits the board has in setting the level of education quality at the school. The issue was raised by board members Susan Nostrand and Baldwin, who wondered why board members were not considered options for the five- to eight-member hiring committee formed to interview teacher candidates. Currently the School Board is in charge of approving or denying candidates recommended by the administration, but it does so without any familiarity with the candidates, explained Nostrand. “We have so few hires,” she said. “It would be great to be part of the process.” For Baldwin, having more involvement in helping choose teachers is one of the most important duties the board has—it is the essence of local control over education. “The School Board doesn’t have any part in interviewing the most important people in the school?” he asked. “Outside of making no sense, it’s offensive to the electorate. They go to the polls thinking what they do will have some meaningful role in how their school is run.” But other board members wondered what they could actually contribute to the hiring process, given they lack the position-specific knowledge that teachers or administrators have. “It starts us down that path of micromanaging,” said Wright. “I think it’s more important for us to have people we trust and who we believe can do a good job in leading our school and choosing who will be teaching our kids in the classroom.” Superintendent Elaine Pinckney said having a board member on the committee could also sway the process unfairly, as that one member could help sink a candidate’s chances even if he or she is given a positive review by other committee members. After much back and forth, the board decided to discuss the matter again at its Nov. 18 meeting.
A seven-year capital improvement plan proposed by CCS's administration. The school board will discuss how to tackle the needed repairs to the school at its Nov. 18 meeting.
12 • November 6, 2014 • The Charlotte News
Park Oversight Committee Works to Promote Native Plants, View Corridor Larry Hamilton Contributor The gift of the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Preserve by Stephen Rockefeller had a major motivation in maintaining the view shed of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks that appealed so much to him and which was threatened by development. The acquisition by the town of a key area along Route 7 known as the “Overlook” has focused the attention of the Charlotte Park Oversight Committee on judicious cutting and invasives control in this area as requested by the Selectboard. Over the past two years the committee, under the leadership of Sue Smith and Jenny Cole, has been slowly (due to limited funds) doing this. Volunteer tree and brush cutters have been involved. During the past months we are pleased that we have lots of short native plants there to provide shelter and food for wildlife. There has been no soil erosion. Volunteer firewood cutters removed many cords of wood that would otherwise have been added to make giant brush piles that would add carbon to the atmosphere without providing the benefit of heat to homes. We still have a few trees to cut (that some of us hate to cut) to provide the view that the Selectboard has directed us to do. This will be carried out this winter. And finally, walking along this area, you will find it is beautiful, filled with birds and wild flowers in the summer and fall. The Oversight Committee hopes to give short reports in The News on the numerous activities that have recently been completed or are in progress in the preserve, so that Charlotters will be more aware of this jewel in our midst. Larry Hamilton is Charlotte’s volunteer tree warden.
Some Information from Your Trees and Tree Warden species and which leafs out much earlier. What an advantage for Larry Hamilton success in occupancy! Contributor It is now recognized that when in leaf trees “talk” to each other. Having done their best, given the cli- An attack of a leaf-defoliating mate, to show us their usual fantastic color insect, for instance, causes the display, Charlotte’s treescapes are now tree to produce and release into looking pretty bare bones. Incidentally, its environment volatile defense climate change is likely to result in less chemical “signals” that cause dramatic autumnal colors due to lower other leaves on the same tree to levels of anthocyanin production. Now mount a defense. Neighboring our deciduous (leaf-dropping) trees are trees of the same species receive almost bare, and many folks think they this signal and also respond have little more to say to us till spring sap defensively. The whole forest is flow and new leaves. Wait, though—trees chattering with chemical conver- Smooth, thin bark of large beech and saplings have a lot to tell us. sation as you walk through it. holding dead leaves For instance, some species continue And even the now apparto retain their leaves. Mostly these are ently lifeless (“dormant” is that can secure sun energy even without needle- or scale-like leaves of the spruces a better word) trees are active or the cedars that we collectively call underground. Root tips are sensing grav- leaves. Trembling aspen, paper and yelevergreens or ity, moisture, light, low birches, and beech show this in varyconifers or pressure, hardness, ing degrees. Underfoot the fallen leaves can provide softwoods. various nutrients, None of these toxins, microbes us with interesting information. Thicker appellations and signals from leaves with less vein density invest more are strictly neighboring roots energy in building and maintaining leaves. accurate. to plot the trajecto- They will decay more slowly. Thinner Larch, which ry of their growth. leaves with less vein density are rotting is a conifer, They may even faster, and these are from trees that invest does drop its encounter next-of- less energy in leaves. These trees are needles after kin roots and graft even able to divest their flimsier leaves turning a gloto them. Nutrients fast in response to stress, such as dryness, rious yellow/ may be transferred and then re-leaf swiftly. Denser networks gold color. from one tree to of veins can transport water and carbon Juniper red another by such faster to provide for growth. The large, cedar does A red oak holds its leaves well after other grafting. Oaks are conspicuous sycamore in Shelburne often not bear cones deciduous species have dropped theirs. particularly adept loses one crop of leaves but replaces them but rather proat effecting root to end the season in full magnificence. This is also the time of year when the duces a bright grafts. On encounblue berry-like tering strangers variety of seeds and fruits are seen in cone—the flavoring for gin. And the (other species), root tips generally veer the duff or leaves on the ground. At my home there are so many whole, half-eaten hardest “softwood” is harder than the away from contact or competition. softness of trembling aspen, a so-called The bark of trees has something to acorns and their caps from our red oak “hardwood.” say also. As trees age and grow larger, trees that it is like walking on marbles. Moreover, you may notice that some they protect the fragile cambium growth Nuts of hickory, beech, walnut and butdeciduous species seem to cling tena- layer by thickening and suberizing. The ternut—called hard mast—may be found ciously to their dried and brown leaves. way the bark develops is the best way and are a bonanza for deer, grouse, squirSome beeches and red oaks do this. It to identify trees in winter (and summer rels, chipmunks and several other forms seems that they have a distant memory also, but then most folks switch to leaf of animal life. Therefore, friends, let’s take advice in their genes from the earlier times ID). Note how thin and unfurrowed the when they were located in more southern bark of large American beech is com- from Elizabeth Bassett, author of The climes and were “evergreen.” There are pared to the thick ridges of large white News’s “Outdoors” column, and get out many evergreen oaks today in the South. ash. But note in our cold climate how among the trees. There is a lot going on Our oaks and our beech have shifted often beech bark is split open, making it out in nature at this time of year, and it is north as glaciers retreated and the climate susceptible to frost cracks and to invasion good for both body and mind. It would not be outrageous to hug or warmed. It is also hard to miss that pesky by beech bark disease. Some thin-barked invader buckthorn, whose green leaves trees reveal a greenish color underneath, even speak to a tree. persist way past our native deciduous which is actually photosynthesizing tissue
The Charlotte News • November 6, 2014 • 13
Charlotte Senior Center
The Café Menu
by Mary Recchia, Activities Coordinator
Please look for the new winter program in the next issue of The Charlotte News. Until then, come enjoy the November art exhibit by the Porch Group: Judy Tuttle, Betty Mayer, Cornelia Tierney, Denny Work, Bev Goodwin and Jill Kleinman. They paint in soft pastels or watercolor with subjects as varied as animals and people, waterscapes and flowers, and the occasional fruit or haystack. –––– Elizabeth Llewellyn will lead a stained glass window cling workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 11, from 9:30–11:30 a.m. Who doesn’t love the look of a stained glass window? In this two-hour workshop we will be using special window cling film and artists markers to create our own “mini stained glass window.” Use one of the templates provided or design your own. No drawing experience necessary. Registration required. Limit 10. Fee: $45 includes materials. ––––
MONDAY, NOV. 10: Tortellini soup, green salad and homemade dessert
Please join us Wednesday afternoons beginning at 1 p.m. for a collection of lectures, performances and special events that showcase the diverse interests of our community. No registration or fee.
Nov. 19: A Traditional Thanksgiving Nov. 12: The Four Obstetricians: Birth Dinner on the High Plains with Ken Wheeling Accepting reservations beginning Nov. Join Ken as he weaves a tale of medi- 1 with expanded seating for 100 at noon. cine, the building trades, immigration, Suggested donation: $4. transportation and sleigh bells ringing! A Participants in the Senior Center’s last kayak trip retired educaof the season traveled to Molly Falls Dam on a tor and lecturer/ perfect Vermont fall day. participant for 25 years in the annual Classical Association of New England Institute held at Dartmouth College, Ken has put together
Mountain State, it is the perfect time to visit the picture book bins and find some cheer. Some recent favorites here in the library collection include Circle, Square, Moose by Kelly Bingham, Dog vs. Cat by Chris Gall, And the Cars Go by William Bee, and Hermelin the Detective Mouse by Mini Grey. In addition, the art display for the next two months features the work of local children’s book illustrator and artist, Liza Woodruff. The illustrated panels, titled “How I Picture It,” walk through the picture book creation process, and Liza's whimsical pen and ink works provide a window into the world of illustration art.
by Margaret Woodruff November is National Picture Book Month. If you haven’t delved into the picture book genre lately, we encourage you to take look. The warmth, humor, ingenuity and overall sense of fun can lift your spirits on the darkest day. Since November is also known as the darkest month of the year here in the Green
a massive library and archives on this intriguing topic. Come discover who the four Vermonters were who play a major role in this mystery.
upCoMing aT The Library For kids Lunch Bunch Storytime, Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. Pack your lunch and join us to discover the world of stories through books, songs, play and dessert! For children ages 3 to 5 who are comfortable in a storytime setting. Registration required; please call or email the library to sign up: 425-3864 or youth.charlottelibraryvt@ gmail.com.
Explore Time, Tuesdays at 3:15 p.m. Explore the world around us through stories, puzzles, and creative projects of all kinds. For kindergarten and first grade students. Registration required; please call or email the library to sign up: 4253864 or youth.charlottelibraryvt@gmail. com. After School: Paper Crafts. Wednesday, Nov. 12, 3:15 p.m. Learn how to make magically folded books, origami castles, or just snip and paste to design your own work of art. Grades 2 and up. Registration required; please call or email the library to sign up: 425-3864 or youth.charlottelibraryvt@gmail.com.
For adults Mystery Book Group: Daughter of Time, Monday, Nov. 10, 10 a.m. Recent news about Richard III makes this Josephine Tey mystery all the more enticing. Copies of the book are available at the library and on the library’s Kindle & Nook devices. Join us for coffee, muffins and conversation provided! Alt-Pumpkin Possibilities, Friday, Nov. 14, 11 a.m–1 p.m. There’s a bum-
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 12: Smoked sausage, sauerkraut, baked potatoes and homemade dessert MONDAY, NOV. 17: Minestrone soup, mixed green salad, grapenut and tapioca pudding WEDNESDAY, NOV. 19: Annual Thanksgiving dinner
Senior LunCheonS are held every Wednesday at noon. Reservations are necessary in advance and can be made by calling the Senior Center at 425-6345. A $4 donation is requested. Reservations are not required for the Monday Munch.
per crop of pumpkins this year which is a great excuse to look beyond the pie potential. Stop in to sample some deliciously distinctive dishes using this fall favorite. Have your own pumpkin specialty to share? Send us your recipe: charlottelibraryvt@gmail.com.
Library Hours Mon, Wed: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Tues, Thurs, Fri: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat: 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Phone 425-3864 *** The Charlotte Library will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 and Dec. 31.
14 • November 6, 2014 • The Charlotte News
SPORTS
Charlotters help CVU take crosscountry crown The Redhawk girls cross-country team took home its sixth straight Division I championship Oct. 25 at Thetford by placing five runners in the top 10, including Charlotters Sophia Gorman and Meara Heininger, both sophomores. Gorman finished second in the race with a time of 19:44, while Heininger finished seventh with a time of 20:38. The boys cross-country team took second in the Division I race for the third straight year. This came despite two top-five finishers in Tyler Marshall (fourth, 17:24) and Calvin McClellan (fifth, 17:25). The team’s prospects for gaining that elusive state title should be intact next year, however, as Marshall, McClellan and the rest of the team’s top runners will return.
Lowery named Channel 44 ‘Athlete of the Week’ as CVU’s football season ends early Big games can bring out the best in a competitor. Certainly as much is true of Charlotte’s Charlotters on this year's Division I state champion girls socR i c h a r d cer team are (from left) Maddie Turnau, Audrey Alegretta, Ellie Lowery, who Blake, Naomi Burhans, Catherine Cazayoux, Melina Carrol and had a recordMichaela Flore. setting game against BFA But Head Coach Jim Provost cited St. Albans last week during the final Richard’s dedication to practice, telling game of the season. So big, in fact, the station Lowery works hard during the Lowery set a new CVU single-game season and out of it: “Anything positive rushing record with 284 yards on 36 carthat’s happening for him, or any accories, with four touchdowns. lades he’s receiving, he’s earned every While his powerhouse performance one of them.” brought CVU into the 4th quarter with a Despite the shoot out against BFA 34-33 lead, the team’s defense couldn’t St. Albans days before, CVU lost to hold back a big BFA drive that ended Middlebury 54-6 in the first round of the with a touchdown and two-point converDivision I playoffs. Lowery scored the sion. The game finished with BFA on top team’s only touchdown on a one-yard 41-34. bull rush after a 44-yard run by quarterLowery praised his offensive line in back Andrew Bortnick. But that’s all the a Channel 44 profile. “We have been team would get for the remainder of the playing really hard, the offensive line has game, as Middlebury put the kibosh on been doing a really good job for me,” he said, “so I’m really blessed that all of them have played hard this week and let me shine.”
Photo by Josh Flore
Girls soccer makes it four in a row Even though they weren’t the top seed, CVU’s girls soccer team showed it was the state’s best team by taking a 1-0 nailbiter against Burlington High School last Saturday, marking its fourth state championship in a row and its second straight undefeated season. The lone goal came from Mackenzie Buckman on an assist by senior Paige DuBrul. Burlington was largely relegated to playing defense, as CVU kept the ball deep in its end and away from Maddie Turnau, who made two saves in the contest. This is the second time the girls team has won four state trophies in a row—the first was 1995 through 1998—and it will try to top what it’s never done by taking a fifth home next year, this time without eight seniors.
CVU’s offense for three quarters, limiting the running attack to 68 yards on 31 carries. This was no small feat, as CVU was second in Division I in scoring with 33 touchdowns and 2,100 yards gained for the season. Leading the charge was Lowery, who scored 16 touchdowns and rushed for 1,058 yards.
Boys soccer suffers heartbreaking defeat Five minutes and 23 seconds into an overtime thriller against South Burlington High School, CVU ended up on the wrong side of a rebound that sent the Redhawks home with a 2-1 loss. Before that, however, CVU covered the field with 78 minutes of stellar defense to back up a first-half goal by Max Brown. The game was later tied on a surprise deflection on a free kick by the Rebels. First-year coach Katie Mack told the Burlington Free Press the loss was “heartbreaking” but chalked it up to the game itself: “That’s why sometimes soccer is an enigma,” she told the paper. CVU volleyball continues winning ways The CVU girls volleyball team continued its winning ways with a 3–0 quarterfinal win over Rice Oct. 29 in the Division I state tourney. The team now awaits a Nov. 8 showdown with Essex. The winner will take on either Burlington High School or Vermont Commons School for the state crown later that afternoon.
by Edd Merritt
Members of the state champion CVU girls crosscountry team smile after a big team performance at the contest in Thetford.
The Charlotte News • November 6, 2014 • 15
Food Shelf News Kerrie Pughe Contributor The holiday season is approaching Please join us Friday, Nov. 21, from 8–10 a.m. to put together the Thanksgiving baskets. We meet at the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry for a festive morning of assembling the wonderful food baskets distributed to families in need in our community. All are welcome and encouraged to come and
help out. Please also mark your calendar for Friday, Dec.19, from 8–10 a.m. for the Christmas/holiday basket set up. We hope you will plan to include the Food Shelf in your holiday giving plans—perhaps a donation in honor or memory of a friend, family member, coworker or teacher? The Charlotte Food Shelf is run entirely by volunteers so all donations go directly for food or assistance to our neighbors in need. If you are a customer of yourfarmstand.com, you may make a donation to the Food Shelf as part of your online order. Otherwise checks may be mailed to: Charlotte Food Shelf & Assistance 403 Church Hill Road P.O. Box 83 Charlotte, VT 05445
Space for Grace On the last Wednesday distribution each month, a meal is served by the Congregational Church at 6 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. there will be a service of song and prayer. All are welcome.
GranGe clothinG drive This year the Food Shelf partnered with the Charlotte Grange to collect and distribute clothing to families in need (children’s winter boots, coats, etc.). We appreciate all the donations, and we thank all of those who volunteered to help with collection and distribution. Twenty-two children were outfitted with winter apparel. A special thank you to SCHIP for the donations to help our efforts.
SAVE!
Important 2014 Charlotte Food Shelf Dates Food distribution: Wednesdays, Nov.19, Dec.3 and Dec. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, Sept. 25, Oct. 9, Oct. 23, Nov. 6, Nov. 20, Dec. 4 and Dec.18 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
callinG all knitterS We love those handmade gloves and hats. If you have some spare time and yarn, now is a good time to start the knitting so we have a good supply by cold weather. ____ Donated food drop-off locations: All nonperishable food donations may be dropped off at the Charlotte Library, the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (main entrance) or at the Food Shelf during the distribution mornings. We request that all fresh foods be dropped off at the Food Shelf by 7:30 a.m. on the distribution mornings or before the Wednesday distribution hours (see ongoing events calendar on pg. 18). The Charlotte Food Shelf is located on the lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry. Distribution days and times are posted in this newspaper and on the bulletin board in the Charlotte Congregational Church hall. You may also call the Food Shelf (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.
Holidays Friday, Nov. 21, 8 to 10 a.m., set up Thanksgiving baskets Saturday, Nov. 22, pick up Thanksgiving baskets Friday, Dec. 19, 8 to 10 a.m., set up Christmas/holiday baskets Saturday, Dec. 20, pick up Christmas/holiday baskets The Charlotte Food Shelf is located on the lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry.
For emergency food call John at 4253130. For emergency assistance (electricity, fuel) call the Food Shelf at 425-3252. For more information call Karen at 425-3252 or visit our website at https:// sites.google.com/site/charlottefoodshelfvt/.
Morse's Doodles & Jots
Mist on the Water Nina Cucchiari sent us this picture of mist over Town Farm Bay taken from the southern side of Thompson’s Point. Have a picture you’d like to share with readers? Send it to news@charlottenewsvt.com.
'Public opinion is the Word of God to half the population' Jim Morse is a former Vermont Supreme Court justice living in Charlotte. Find more of his Doodles & Jots in his book, available at the Flying Pig Bookstore or online.
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16 • November 6, 2014 • The Charlotte News
Taking Care
by Alice D. Outwater, Ph.D.
The Energy to Age Alice Outwater Contributor
Sometimes I ask my body if it knows how much I appreciate it: “Please don’t let me down. I’m truly trying to take as good care of you as I can.” One of my frustrations is uneven energy. During younger days it seemed endless. I could accomplish tasks when I was tired. After a full day I could sit at my desk, study material for a course, write letters, pay bills and balance the checkbook until late at night. Now all that has changed, and I must ration my energy judiciously. This con-
sists of tackling two, possibly three objectives a day. Some mornings I wake up tired, even after a good night’s sleep; other mornings I’m raring to go. I never know which it will be. So here’s where my lists come in. According to what I plan to accomplish, I portion the tasks out through the week. It‘s essential to remain as healthy as possible, and scheduling religiously and realistically seems the best way to address it. I must treat my body well. This means exercise and strength training: yoga twice a week to keep limber and walking 20-30 minutes a day. In the past that would have been nothing—but now it’s necessary to plan. So I’ve taken out a gym membership for the year and periodically work with a trainer. I don’t even like gyms, with all those machines, weights and gadgets, but decided for good posture and muscle strength, this was a necessity. That’s two more days a week. Supposedly I’ll gain a tad more energy or at least keep from sliding into a downward spiral. The last thing I want to do is spend time in waiting rooms for doctors’ appointments. It’s important for me to have schedules.
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I don’t like abrupt changes, and I’m not as nimble at adjusting. Oh my, this sounds so old-ladyish and dull. Now that’s the last thing I want to project, so how do I counter that? I keep up on the local and international news on radio and television and read. Bookstores are one of my passions, but then frustration creeps in. How can I ever read as many as I’d like? I am curious about new things and love unusual experiences but have to constrain myself not to delve in too deeply and get scattered. Yet I wish I were more daring and didn’t cling tenaciously to familiar territory. I remind myself that many achievements are still within reach. I must go step by step to get there, instead of taking them in one giant leap. Sometimes I pretend I’m a tourist in town and visit all the spots I’ve not seen. I take picnics to odd places and enjoy these mini-excursions with a friend or alone. I get a certain buzz from this—forget about living my life on a couch watching TV. I signed up for a cooking class at Chef Contos and realized my methods were 60 years old and certainly could use updating. This endeavor meant subscribing to a magazine or two, trying new recipes, and
looking more carefully at fresh produce at the farmers market. I garnish my dinner plate, even when eating alone. It adds a zip of color and enjoyment. You wouldn’t believe the pleasure this brings as my learning curve soars. I admire younger friends who are starting new projects and businesses, and I want to support them. I’m good at encouraging people, especially those who benefit the community. I can still see private counseling clients. As I write this I feel my energy mounting; there’s so much more I want to learn and accomplish. I may not be loading my kayak on the car with friends at the Charlotte Senior Center, or pulling up pounds of algae from the lake in a tippy canoe, or completing long bouts of gardening. Still, my modest garden, with Molly’s weekly help, bursts with color from shrubs and flowers of the season. I take pride in my gorgeous dark red hibiscus that had 20 flowers in bloom the size of saucers and my two outrageous cherry tomato plants that produce all I can use. No, I mustn’t complain. Just let me age as stylishly as possible and thrive on the journey.
The Charlotte News • November 6, 2014 • 17
Dietary Fats and Refined Carbohydrates: A Perspective Mary Anne Kyburz-Ladue Contributor
The debate over whether dietary saturated fats or white flour and sugars are worse for our health has been simmering for years. In March of this year the debate made major headlines after the publication in the Annals of Internal Medicine of a meta-analysis that looked at 76 studies, involving 600,000 people, on the link between eating saturated fats and developing coronary heart disease. The researchers concluded that saturated fat (found in high-fat meats, high-fat dairy and tropical oils) did not appear to significantly increase heart disease over diets with moderately less saturated fat and more polyunsaturated oils (found in seafood, soybean oil, mayo and salad dressing). Many of us heard about this study through front page articles in Time Magazine, “Eat Butter. Scientists labeled fat the enemy. Why they were wrong,” and The New York Times, which led with the headline “Butter is Back.” For many this was sufficient justification to throw out the old warnings and to eat more whole-fat dairy products and tropical oils, more eggs and fattier meats. As a nutritionist I wondered whether the recommendations I had been making to my clients over the years—that diets high in saturated fats were unhealthy— were in doubt. The Annals meta-analysis did show that more saturated fat in the diet raised both LDL (low-density lipoproteins, known as bad cholesterol) and HDL(high-density lipoproteins, or good cholesterol) lev-
els, in effect canceling each other out. And nothing in the meta-analysis contradicted earlier findings that trans fats from partially hydrogenated oils—found in stick margarines and in snack items such as cookies, crackers and microwave popcorn—increase cardiac risk factors through increasing the production of harmful LDL and decreasing that of heart-protective HDL. In addition, research by cardiologist Ronald Krauss has shown that LDL is made up of both small dense particles and large fluffy ones. The larger ones appear to not be as harmful and are raised by saturated fats. The smaller, denser LDL lipoproteins, which are “stickier” on vessel walls and increase the risk of heart disease through arteriosclerosis, are raised by dietary carbohydrates. What shouldn’t be lost in this debate are the benefits of other fats in the diet: the polyunsaturated fats found in fatty fish, walnuts and flax seed and in soybean, corn and sunflower oils, along with the monounsaturated fats found in avocados, nuts and seeds, and nut oils. These fatty acids have been shown to increase HDL and lower LDL levels in the blood. Nutrition science is complex, and the science around it is continually evolving. In the 1980s the first Surgeon General’s Report on Nutrition and Health was released, telling Americans that they were eating too much fat, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommendation that our diets needed to be richer
e t a t s E Real gs Listin
in carbohydrates, such as grains, breads, pasta, potatoes, crackers, fruits and vegetables. As people became leery over eating too much dietary fat, they also increased the consumption of processed carbohydrates, especially ones marketed as “low in fat.” The food industry didn’t miss a beat in providing snack foods that were low in fat but high in sugars and refined grains, such as crackers, cookies, low-fat ice creams and cakes. Flour products such as breads and pasta were advertised as healthy due to the lower fat profile. Along with this grocery store shift in available snack foods came an increase in portion sizes and greater availability of many convenience foods (soda, hamburgers, fries, baked bread products and pizza) that has helped fuel the 20-percent increase in the consumption of calories just since the 1970s—and a stunning increase in our consumption of high-fructose corn syrup, the primary “sugar” in sweetened beverages, up 8,853 percent since 1973! All of which are feeding an obesity and diabetes epidemic. So what should we be eating? The short answer is whole foods that are minimally processed. The longer answer is a diet rich in a variety of fruits and vegetables; healthy proteins such as fish, poultry, legumes and some beef; and minimally processed whole grains rich in fiber and B-vitamins, such as brown rice, whole wheat couscous, whole grain flours and quinoa. Most of the fats we consume
should be from the heart-healthy varieties that are mono- and polyunsaturated, such as nuts, vegetable and seed oils, fish, avocados, some eggs and soybeans. Saturated fats should make up no more than ten percent of daily caloric intake (which for a daily caloric intake of 1,500 calories is equal to roughly 15 grams per day—or for you butter lovers the amount found in two tablespoons of salted Cabot butter). When it comes to cow products select low-fat and unsweetened varieties of milk and yogurt. If you cannot tolerate the lactose in dairy, do bear in mind that many of the soy and almond alternatives can have a fair amount of added sugars. As a nutritionist and clinician since the 1980s, I continue to emphasize the importance of the whole diet perspective and for the foods we eat to be less rather than more processed. And I stand by my recommendations on the importance in the our daily food choices of lowering consumption of saturated fats, hydrogenated oils, sodium and added sweeteners—especially high fructose corn syrup. Mary Anne Kyburz-Ladue is a certified nutritionist/dietitian and a diabetes educator at Thomas Chittenden Health Center in Williston. She lives in Charlotte.
18 • November 6, 2014 • The Charlotte News
Places To Go & Things To Do
Regular Church Services SATURDAYS
St. Jude, Mass, Hinesburg, 4:30 p.m.
SUNDAYS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6 Planning Commission meeting, 7 p.m., Town Hall. Agenda and materials online at charlottevt.org. Help Design the Future of Transportation in Vermont, 6–8 p.m., UVM Waterman Building. The Vermont Transportation Board is coming to UVM h to ask for help in designing the future of transportation: biking, walking, car sharing, public transit, phone apps and more. This public hearing is one of eight the Board is hosting at Vermont colleges this fall to gather public comment from young adults about transportation-related decisions that factor into the choices they make when deciding where to live and work after graduation. Following the hearings, a report will be submitted to VTrans and the Vermont Legislature, and will also be made available online. More info: http://tboard.vermont.gov/.
servation efforts in both Vermont and the Caribbean to protect the habitat of this iconic bird of two worlds. Join us to learn more about conserving this embattled songbird. Cost: free. More info: greenmountainaudubon.org. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13 The Producers, 7:30 p.m., Flynn Center, Burlington. Based on the classic cult comedy film, this musical sets the standard for modern, outrageous, in-yourface humor. Runs through Nov. 16. Tickets: $23$38; student/senior discount at some performances. More info: flynntix.org. Lizzie Fox Poetry Reading, 7 p.m., Farrell Room, St. Michael’s College. Burlington poet Lizzy Fox’s roots are in spoken word and slam poetry; she currently is doing “quieter” work on the relationship between the physical and the ethereal, the body and nature. Cost: free. More info: 654-2392
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 Class: How to Find That Missing Ancestor, 10:30 a.m.–noon, Fort Ethan Allen, Colchester. There can be many obstacles to finding your ancestors including difficulties with spelling and handwriting, as well as cultural and religious differences. Tom DeVarney will share tips he has learned that can help you with these obstacles, including the use of wild cards on sites such as Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org etc. Cost: $5. More info: vtgenlib.org.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10 The Charlotte News Public Forum, 7 p.m., Charlotte Library. Help The News plan its future. See page 5 for more information. Presentation: “In Their Own Words: Veterans Share Their Stories,” 7–8 p.m., CCV-Winooski, Room 108. Through stories and a video they have crafted themselves, veterans tell what it is like to be in service to their country. Ranging from WWII battles to present-day combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, veterans share their experiences of being on the front lines. Cost: free. More info: John Devino, devino13@comcast.net. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 Town Hall closed in observance of Veterans Day. Of Mice and Men, Broadway Production Broadcast, 7 p.m., Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. The critically-acclaimed Broadway revival of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, starring James Franco and Chris O’Dowd. Tickets, $17/$10, are available at the THT Box Office: 802-382-9222, www.townhalltheater.org, or in person Monday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12 Bicknell’s Thrush: Conserving a Bird of Two Worlds, 6:30 p.m., Richmond Free Library. Breeding on northern New England’s mountaintops and wintering in Hispaniola, Bicknell’s thrush is a rare bird threatened by climate change, acid rain and human encroachment on its habitat. For the past 20 years Chris Rimmer has spearheaded con-
Classifieds The Charlotte News 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. Send to The Charlotte News Classifieds, P.O. Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445 or email your ad to ads@charlottenewsvt.com.
LAFAYETTE PAINTING can change the color of your interior space, repair your damaged walls or ceilings, remove wallpaper and refinish kitchen cabinets. All in just a few days. Call 863-5397 or visit LafayettePaintingInc.com (-07)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14 Shelburne Players Present: Wait Until Dark, 7:30 p.m., Shelburne Town Center. This Frederick Knott thriller is about a blind woman’s encounter with drug smugglers who’ve invaded her apartment, “The tension is terrific, the melodramatic action wild,” said The New York Times. Performances also Nov. 15, 16, 20, 21 and 22. Cost: $15/12, available at Shelburne Supermarket or at shelburnetownplayers. com. Contra Dance, 8 p.m., Shelburne Town Hall. Queen City Contras will hold its regular dance in Shelburne. Music will be provided by Kick’em Jenny and Rebecca Lay will be the caller. All are welcome, all dances taught, no partner or experience necessary. Beginners session at 7:45. Please bring clean, softsoled shoes for dancing. Cost: $8, 12 and under/ free. More info: queencitycontras.org.
Community Alliance Church, Hinesburg, Gathering Place, 9 a.m., Sunday School, 9 a.m., Worship, 10:15 a.m. Information: 482-2132. Charlotte Congregational Church, Worship, 10 a.m., Sunday School, 10 a.m. Information: 4253176. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mass, 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Information: 425-2637. St. Jude, Mass, Hinesburg, 9:30 a.m. Information: 482-2290. North Ferrisburgh United Methodist Church, Hollow Road, Worship, 10 a.m., Sunday School, 9:45 a.m. Information: 425-2770. Cross Roads Chapel, Relocated to the Brown Church on Route 7, Ferrisburgh. Worship, 11 a.m. Information: 425-3625. Assembly of God Christian Center, Rtes. 7 and 22A, Ferrisburgh, Sunday worship, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Sunday School, 9 a.m. Information: 8773903. All Souls Interfaith Gathering, 291 Bostwick Farm Road, Shelburne. Sunday Service 9 a.m., Evensong Service 5 p.m. 985-3819 Trinity Episcopal Church, 5171 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne, 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. “Space for Grace” (educational hour), 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist (with child care and Sunday School). 985-2269.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16 Presentation: The War of 1812 in the Champlain Valley, 2 p.m., Ethan Allen Homestead. Historian and author Willard Sterne Randall presents on the role the Champlain Valley played in the War of 1812, the last war between the United States and Great Britain. Cost: free. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15 Workshop: Parenting the Anxious Child, 3–5 p.m., Yoga Roots, Shelburne. Join Joanne Wolfe, licensed clinical psychologist, for a workshop aimed at helping parents and caregivers learn how to better understand and respond to common problems associated with childhood anxiety. In this workshop we will review strategies and tools for addressing the following: frequent stomach aches, intense need for reassurance, increased school absences, hyper self-consciousness, difficulty with separation, preoccupation, rumination and dread, extreme rigidity and frequent emotional meltdowns. Cost: $40 per person, $60 per parenting couple. More info/registration: yogarootsvt.com. Film: Brothers on the Line: The Reuthers and the Rise of the Autoworkers Union, 7:30 p.m., Whallonsburg Grange Hall, Whallonsburg, N.Y. An award-winning documentary, Brothers on the Line explores the extraordinary journey of the brothers Walter, Roy and Victor Reuther, whose union organizing work led an army of autoworkers into an epic struggle for social justice at the height of the Great Depression. Cost: $7; free for students. The Whallonsburg Grange Hall is located at 1610 NYS Route 22 at Whallons Bay Road, five miles south of the Essex ferry. More info: admin@thegrangehall info
RENEWABLE ENERGY. Heat your home with a Maxim Outdoor Wood Pellet Furnace by Central Boiler and gain energy independence. Boivin Farm Supply 802-475-4007. (-05) NEW AT THE MT. PHILO INN: Overnight accommodations, spacious 2-3 bedroom suites available by the day, week or month. Adjacent to Mt. Philo State Park, with panoramic views of Lake Champlain. Each "wing" in the historic inn has a private entrance, full kitchen, laundry and porch. MtPhiloInn.com 4253335. A burst of color can do wonders for your home this winter. The professionals at LAFAYETTE PAINTING have been transforming the interiors of Chittenden County since 1977. Call 863-5397 and check us out at LafayettePaintingInc.com (-08)
CCS School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., CVU, Room 162. Agenda and materials online at ccsvt.org. CVU School Board Meeting, 7 p.m., CVU. Agenda and materials online at cssu.org.
ONGOING EVENTS MONDAYS Senior Center Café, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Featuring soup, salads, bread and dessert. No reservations necessary. Charlotte Multi-Age Coed Pickup Basketball Open Gym, 7–9 p.m. at the CCS gym. High school students welcome. 425-3997 for info. WEDNESDAYS Charlotte/Shelburne Rotary Club, 7:30–8:30 a.m., Parish Hall, Trinity Episcopal Church, Shelburne. Newcomers Club of Charlotte, Shelburne and surrounding area meets once a month on the third Wednesday from September to June. Variety of programs, day trips and locations. Information: Orchard Corl, president, 985-3870. AA Meeting, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 7 p.m. Senior Luncheon, Senior Center, noon. For reservations, call 425-6345 before 2 p.m. on previous Monday. Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., 7:30 p.m., Fire Station. Charlotte Multi-Age Coed Pickup Basketball Open Gym, 7-9 p.m. at the CCS gym. High school students welcome. Call 425-3997 for information. Food Shelf, open from 5–7 p.m. June 11 and 25. Lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry. Information: Karen at 425-3252; for emergency food call John at 425-3130. THURSDAYS Food Shelf, open from 7:30-9:30 a.m. June 12 and 26. Lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry. Information: Karen at 425-3252; for emergency food call John at 425-3130. FRIDAYS AA Meeting, Congregational Church Vestry, 8 p.m. Charlotte Playgroup, 9:30–11 a.m., CCS MPR. Free, ages 0-5.
The Charlotte News • November 6, 2014 • 19
Around Town Congratulations to Zeke Davisson, who has been named executive director of the nonprofit Kelly Brush Foundation. Davisson, a lawyer and former collegiate ski racer, is husband of founder and Charlotter Kelly Brush Davisson. He succeeds Betsy Cabrera, who held the post for six years, transforming the foundation’s signature
event, the Kelly Brush Century Ride, into one of the region’s premier fundraising bicycling and handcycling events. The Kelly Brush Foundation is devoted to conquering the challenges of paralysis through adaptive sports and improving ski-racing safety. to Barrie Dunmore, who will be a featured guest at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 8 for a program devoted to the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Sympathy
and their children, Christian, Kyle and Laurel. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University of Michigan, in memory of Larry Telford, MEF Sponsored Student Team Projects Gifts, University of Michigan, College of Engineering, 1221 Beal Avenue, Suite G264, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2102 or to the USO, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1200, Arlington, VA 2220. is extended to the family and friends of Laurette “Laurie” Juliette Beaver, 84, of Burlington, who passed away Oct. 24 following a long illness. She is survived by two sisters, including Jeannette Thibault of Charlotte. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 55 Day Lane, Williston, VT 05495.
is extended to the family and friends of Larry Telford of Hinesburg, who passed away Oct. 27. He is survived by his wife, Diane, and his daughters and sonsin-law, including Lynne and Scott Jaunich of Charlotte
Please mail to The Charlotte News, Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445 Drop in box at Old Brick Store, Spear's Corner Store, Charlotte Library, Senior Center or Town Hall. Take online at surveymonkey.com/s/R5B9668
1) Unless otherwise indicated, circle or check the appropriate answer Age a) Under 18 b) 18 to 24 c) 25 to 34 d) 35 to 44 e) 45 to 54 f) 55 to 64 g) 65 to 74 h) 75 or older 2) How long have you lived in Charlotte? 1–4 years 5–9 years 10–19 years 20–29 years 30–49 years 50 years or more 3) Are you aware that The Charlotte News is a nonprofit publication that exists in large part due to financial and volunteer contributions from its readers? Yes I wasn’t, until just now
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10) The News regularly provides detailed coverage of Selectboard meetings and of upcoming events at the Senior Center and the library. Which other community institutions and town committees would you like The News to cover, either more regularly or in greater detail? The CCS School Board The CVU School Board The CSSU Board of Directors The Planning Commission The Conservation Commission Other [please specify]
4) Have you ever donated money to The Charlotte News? Yes No Why or why not?
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6) How long do you spend reading each issue of the News? More than an hour About an hour Between 30 minutes and an hour Between 15 and 30 minutes Less than 15 minutes 7) What parts of the paper do you regularly read? Circle/check all that apply. Local news coverage (Selectboard, Fire and Rescue, etc) Regular columns and columnists Commentaries Letters to the editor Ads Feature stories (for example, stories on local musicians, auto mechanics and detailers, and local farms and farmers) Other (If so, what?)
8) What area news coverage would you like to see in the News? Charlotte only Charlotte and Shelburne The towns in the Chittenden South School District (Charlotte, Shelburne, Hinesburg, Williston, St. George) Charlotte and towns south, including Ferrisburgh, Vergennes and Middlebury 9) Here’s a list of the columns and columnists regularly published in The News. Please rank them with a 1- indicating the column(s) you most value and look forward to reading; with a 2- indicating column(s) you read occasionally and 3- indicating the column(s) you least value and rarely if ever read. Outdoors by Elizabeth Bassett OutTake by Edd Merritt The Sacred Hunter by Bradley Carleton Conservation Currents by the Conservation Commission Health Matters by Charlotte medical and health professionals Barrie Dunsmore on foreign policy and international relations The Humbled Parent by Sera Anderson Tree Warden’s Report by Larry Hamilton What subjects would you be interested in having columns on?
13) What more could we offer in the paper (check as many as you’d like): More photography or Videos on the website A “Where Are They Now” feature on Charlotters, young and old, who have left the area and are leading interesting lives or doing interesting work elsewhere Profiles of Charlotters, young and old, who are doing important or interesting work in and for the community More feature stories on “the people, places and happenings that make the Town of Charlotte unique.” More investigative reporting similar to the lengthy investigation into the controversy over Fire and Rescue that appeared in The News just before Town Meeting 2013. More coverage of CVU and CCS matters and events, including academic matters, to complement our current coverage of sports. Other (Please be specific) 14) Would you be interested in volunteering for The News? If so, please circle or check what you would be interested in doing and include your email: Writing [time commitment varies] Distribution [one hour once every two weeks] Delivery drivers [once every two weeks; routes vary] Calendar [two hours every two weeks] Website sub [two hours every two weeks—will train] 15) Is there anything else you’d like us to know about the work we’re doing or what you’d like to see from the paper?
The Charlotte News Annual Fundraiser YES! I would like to support The Charlotte News! Enclosed is my check in the following amount: $__________ Name __________________________________________ E-mail__________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________ q I prefer to remain anonymous. Do not thank me publicly in The Charlotte News. Please make your check payable to: Friends of The Charlotte News and mail to P.O. Box 251,Charlotte, VT 05445
Charlotte News The Hometown Paper Since 1958
Volume lVII Number 07
The VoIce of The TowN
Thursday, NoVember 6, 2014
The Charlotte News Hometown Paper Since 1958 Deliver to: LOCAL BOXHOLDER U.S. POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM Ă&#x;ZIP CODE 05482 PERMIT NO. 9
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CCS to Seek Bond? 1 Election Results 5 Redhawks Champs 14 Health Matters 17