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Brattleboro, Vermont Wednesday, November 3, 2010 • Vol. V, No. 27 • Issue #74
W ind h am C ounty ’ s A W A R D - W I N N I N G , I ndependent S ource for N ews and V iews
Brattleboro
Community Thanksgiving dinner needs volunteers page 2
Voices Memoir
The many trials of a small-town doctor page 6
Brattleboro charter plans keep evolving
ELECTION 2010
News
Charter Review Commission gathers public comment for final vote this winter By Olga Peters The Commons
Randolph T. Holhut/The Commons
Olive Anderson reminds Londonderry voters not to fold their ballots. The town uses an electronic scanner for tabulating votes.
The Arts Shumlin holds narrow lead in close gubernatorial race
making tracks
Forester tries her hand at novel writing for children
page 11
Life and Work Fall food
Celebrating the humble squash page 16 adventure
Student sets her sights on wilderness expedition page 14
By Randolph T. Holhut The Commons
C
(699–181). No results could be obtained from Wardsboro at press time. The closeness of the race raised the spectre of a recount, since Dubie and Shumlin are within 2 percent of each other — the threshold for a losing candidate to seek one. There is also a chance that the Legislature might have to officially decide the election. According to the state constitution, lawmakers have the final say if neither candidate wins more than 50 percent of
the vote. If Shumlin hangs on, it will be only the fourth time in the last 75 years that the governor of Vermont hails from Windham County. Shumlin, 54, could follow in the footsteps of Republicans George Aiken of Putney and Ernest W. Gibson of Brattleboro and Democrat Thomas P. Salmon of Bellows Falls. Aiken held the office from 1937 to 1941 before embarking
lose finishes are getting to be a habit with Peter Shumlin. After prevailing in one of the closest Democratic primaries in years, the Senate President Pro Tem from Putney held less than a 4,000-vote lead over his Republican challenger, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, in Tuesday’s gubernatorial election. n see governor, page 5 According to Vermont Public Radio, with 89 percent of the vote counted at press time early Wednesday morning, Shumlin held a 103,136– 99,533 lead on Dubie. In Windham County results, Shumlin won in Brattleboro (3,073–1,172), Rockingham (1,024–574), Guilford (565–279), Brookline (118–81), Windham (111– 59), Dummerston (636– 292), Townshend (288–199), Westminster (898–370), Marlboro (340–102), Newfane (550–236), Grafton (148–140), Halifax (184–113), and Putney (851–210). Dubie won in Athens (54– 47), Dover (334–208) Stratton (72–28), Wilmington (381– Randolph T. Holhut/The Commons 334), Whitingham (230–182), Peter Shumlin winds up his speech to local Londonderry (370–305), supporters at a campaign rally at the River Garden Jamaica (187–174) and Vernon in Brattleboro on Sunday.
Sports
BRATTLEBORO—Based on public suggestions and comments, the committee reviewing the town charter has altered some of the changes it has already proposed to the form and structure of town government. According to member Larry Bloch, the Charter Review Commission has been reviewing public comment from meetings held at the start of the month. Originally, the commission suggested the town manager oversee an annual report on the progress of the town plan, the document that defines the town’s long-range goals and provides a strategic basis for zoning and other regulations [The Commons, Sept. 22].
Terriers win ‘The Trophy’ and get home playoff game page 9
Wilmington keeps town manager gov’t Opponents said state law gave too much authority to unelected town employee By Olga Peters The Commons
WILMINGTON—Voters cast their ballots in favor of keeping the Town Manger form of government at the Nov. 2 election, 527 to 226. Wilmington approved the town manager form of government, as defined by state statute, in 1967. By state law, towns must also vote to dissolve the town manager form of government.
By Randolph T. Holhut
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n see CHARTER, page 2
In September, a group of citizens petitioned the Selectboard to do just that. According to Mary Jane Finnegan, owner of the Wilmington Village Pub on South Main Street, a group of a dozen people concerned with the amount of power given to the unelected position circulated the petition in early 2010, in time for the March annual town meeting. “The town manager position n see town manager, page 8
Rebels advance, Colonels fall in boys soccer semifinals
football
Vermont Independent Media
Based on public feedback, the commission will recommend that the Selectboard, as the representative body elected by the people and with the authority to approach various town departments, oversee the report on the document. The proposed alteration “resonated with us fairly quickly,” said Bloch. The commission has also removed its original suggestion to move the Representative Town Meeting to an earlier date. The group has also changed the proposed preamble language from “requiring” to “encouraging” compliance with the town plan. But, said Bloch, based on recent public comment, the language may change a third time. “We will continue the process
BRATTLEBORO—The Leland & Gray Rebels will play for their first state boys soccer championship in five years, while the Brattleboro Colonels playoff run ended abruptly. In a pair of Election Day soccer semifinals on Tuesday, the top-seeded Rebels knocked off Stowe, 2-1, in overtime in Division III play in Townshend. They will face BFA-Fairfax for Randolph T. Holhut/The Commons the state title on Saturday. Essex midfielder Nolan Frey, right, celebrates after knocking the ball past At Tenney Field, the sixthBrattleboro goalkeeper Evan Darling during the first half of their Division I seeded Essex Hornets upended boys soccer semifinal match Tuesday at Tenney Field. the No. 2 Colonels, 5-1, in a
Division I game that was much closer than the final score. The hero for Leland & Gray was Noah Chapin, who snapped the tie nine minutes into sudden death overtime. He gathered in a long kick from midfield at the 18-yard line, and one-timed a shot into the net to knock off the three-time defending Division III champs and send the Rebels into the final. “Noah had a quiet day up to that point,” said coach Chris Barton of his team’s leading scorer. “They did a good job defending him. But that goal was unbelievable.” n see SOCCER, page 2
PA I D A D V E R T I S I N G • T O P L A C E YO U R A D , C A L L ( 8 0 2 ) 2 4 6 - 6 3 9 7 O R V I S I T W W W . C O M M O N S N E W S . O R G A GREAT VERMONT GIFT!
Into the Wilderness
A novel by Deborah Lee Luskin www.deborahleeluskin.com
Nonprofit Board Training
FILM SCREENING
Happy Birthday, Sarah Cooper-Ellis!
Long Night’s Journey Into Day South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Council Tues, 11/9 @ 7 pm Brooks Memorial Library Meeting Room
HAPPY B I R T H D AY, LEO
Clarify Board roles and responsibilities Sat, Nov. 13–9am to noon nonprofit@marlboro.edu or 802-451-7510 Co-sponsored by Marlboro College and United Way of Windham County
Our Place (Diner)
& Family Restaurant 209 Canal St. Brattleboro, VT 802-254-4700 From Diner Classics to Seafood & Cocktails. Serving breakfast, lunch & dinner every day.
BUYING/SELLING
COINS/SPORTS POSTCARDS
Chester Stone House
Open 7 Days 802-379-2353
Pepsijoseph@yahoo.com
Second Chance Shoppe Celebrating 29 years of keeping your family affordably clothed! Kid’s Men’s Women’s Plus Sizes Rte. 35, Townshend Village M, W. Th, F. Sa. 9:30-4