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Turn to page 8 to see how you can support community journalism. VERMONT
January 4, 2020
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
Serving Addison, Rutland & Chittenden Counties
Downtown construction resumes Jan. 2 Middlebury Bridge & Tunnel Project in its third year. By Lou Varricchio EDITOR
MIDDLEBURY | Middlebury merchants and shoppers will get a reprieve when the multiyear-long downtown rail and bridge project takes a well-deserved holiday break. “For the first time since early August, including four long weekends, construction activity in downtown Middlebury will halt for an extended period,” according to Middlebury Community Liaison Jim Gish’s weekly public newsletter report. “All work will cease Christmas Eve morning and then resume on Thursday, Jan. 2.” Gish reported that disruption of downtown streets quieted down during December, although construction is active within the rail corridor. “...As we wrap up our third year of construction, with one big one still to go, I’d like to acknowledge all the members of our community who have volunteered their time and energy to help get Middlebury through this project,” Gish reported. “Between July 1 and Oct. 31, as Neighbors Together and the Better Middlebury Partnership recently reported, more than 300 Middlebury citizens volunteered some 1,500 hours in a range of activities designed to manage the impact of construction on our town.” Gish noted that Maine Drilling & Blasting
is installing minipiles and tiebacks along the rail corridor between the Bourdon building and Main Street Bridge. “The Maine crew expects to finish the months-long process of drilling 300-plus minipiles in the rail corridor this week and will likely work on Saturday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. in order to complete that work before year’s end. During the week you may have noticed that Nop’s and Carrara were up on Merchants Row to support Maine in grouting the minipiles installed behind the Bourdon building.” Gish added that the Maine crew returns to work on Jan. 2. “(Jan. 6...,) that’s the date on which Vermont Rail reverts to its normal schedule of sending northbound and southbound trains through Middlebury during the day. Water Street and Seymour Street residents will be happy to hear that trains idling for hours outside their homes in the middle of the night will soon come to an end,” he reported. ■ Jim Gish: “...As we wrap up our third year of construction, with one big one still to go, I’d like to acknowledge all the members of our community who have volunteered their time and energy to help get Middlebury through this project.” Pictured: Gish (left) talks with a worker during the summer construction season. Photo by Lou Varricchio
Remembering Kampersville’s James Wisnowski
Local groups receive generous Cerf Fund grants
EAST MIDDLEBURY | James Wisnowski, 62, of East Middlebury died after a long battle with cancer on Dec. 1, 2019. He passed away in the home that he built on Main Street with family by his side. The business of managing Kampersville on Lake Dunmore in Salisbury was his life with woodworking a close second. Family, friends and customers alike described Wisnowski as a strong, gentle soul. As soon as you met him, you knew you had an instant friend, according to a family member. Wisnowski was a graduate of Middlebury Union High School and Ohio State University where he studied equine management. After college, he returned to Middlebury to join the family business at Kampersville on James Wisnowski. Lake Dunmore. He was successful in horse racing where he spent long hours with his grandfather training and racing trotters and pacers. Wisnowski was also a member of the Masons. Wisnowski leaves behind his wife of 21 years, Melissa (Johnson) Wisnowski, two daughters Taylor and Mason Wisnowski, mother Jean Wisnowski, aunt Joan Clark (second “mom”), brother Tom Wisnowski and wife Marcy Wisnowski, sister Holly Hathaway and husband Eric Hathaway. Others in Wisnowski’s life include godchildren Macy Woodburn, Heather Wisnoswki and Derek Hathaway along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. Services were held at St. Mary’s Church in Middlebury on Dec. 7. The family thanks Addison County Home Health and Hospice for kindness and support. Donations may be made to Home Health and Hospice. Arrangements were under the direction of Sanderson-Ducharme Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.Sandersonfuneralservice.com ■
Established by the late Walter Cerf. From Staff & News Reports
Columbus Smith Estate Trust, dba Shard Villa, received $5,000 to support restoration of a historic balustrade.
THE EAGLE
MIDDLEBURY | Officials of the M iddlebur y-baed Walter Cerf Community Fund (WCCF), a component fund of the Vermont Community Foundation, announced $112,380 in 2019 grants to 29 organizations to support work through summer 2020.
Corner School Resource Center of Granville received $9,000 to help rehabilitate Granville’s iconic 1871 historic Corner School as an educational, entrepreneurship, cultural, and social community center. Endof Life Services, dba Hospice Volunteer Services, received $5,000 to support general operations.
T h e Ve r m o nt C o m mu n it y Foundation and its Cerf Community Fund partner have focused on the Addison County region. The following new grants have been awarded: Addison Central Teens received $5,000 to support general operations of the Middleury Teen Center. Addison County Community Action Group, doing -business-as (dba) HOPE received $5,000 to support their food access programs in partnership with local elementary schools that enable groceries to be sent home with children during school vacations. Addison County Community Trust received $2,000 to support Support and Services at Home (SASH) which enables seniors to age safely in their own homes. The Addison County Humane Society, dba Homeward Bound, received $2,000 to bring multiple programs supporting low-income pet owners under the umbrella of its Pet CORE (Community Outreach, Resources & Education) program.
GET A
Bra ndon A rea Cha mber of Commerce received $5,000 to support construction of the new Brandon Summer Concert Series Pavilion.
The legacy of the late Walter Cerf, a resident of Leicester, continues to assist various non-profit groups in Addison County. Brandon Area Toy Project received $2,500 to support “Project Play!”— the construction play place that will encourage exercise, community involvement and outdoor activity opportunities for children in Brandon and surrounding towns. Bridport Grange received $5,000 to support exterior remodeling to the building. C ha mpla in Ph ilha r mon ic Orchestra received $1,500 to support the position of Concertmaster. Chandler Center for the Arts received $2,500 to support the Vermont Issues Play Contest & Readings program which encourages Vermont playwrights to develop current-issue-focused scripts. Changing Perspectives received $2,500 to suppor t Disabilit y Awareness in Addison County Schools.
The Fort Ticonderoga Association received $2,880 to bring a team of educators into 10 classrooms in Addison County to teach students about the life of a soldier on the frontier during the American Revolution through hands-on activities. The Henry Sheldon Museum received $2,500 to help upgrade their heating system. L a ke C ha mpla i n M a r it i me Museum received $2,500 to make campus accessibility improvements, including ADA compliant ramp entrances, pathway improvements, and staff training on accessible interpretation techniques. Leicester Central School received $5,000 to support safety upgrades to the playground structure, development of an outdoor “eco classroom,” and cultural experience field trips. Opera Company of Middlebury received $5,000 to support local and regional performances of Tour of Tosca. Preservation Trust of Vermont received $5,000 to support the Robert Sincerbeaux Seed Grant Funding program which supports See CERF GRANTS » pg. 2
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