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{ Thursday, January 17, 2019 }
Trustees look to trim tax rate increase By COLIN FLANDERS Village officials are working to trim a tax rate increase of more than 4 percent in the proposed fiscal year 2020 budget after a plan to shift expenses into the town flopped. Trustees began their budget process with a general fund increase of 4.8 percent in a proposal that would have raised the tax rate by only 1.2 percent, thanks in large part to the town picking up the annual transfer into the village’s rolling stock fund of about $235,000. But while a majority of the selectboard supported the concept, members said they don’t believe now is the right time to make the change given impending merger talks. So the village must now decide whether to eat the increase or
See BUDGET, page 4
Plageman and Houghton won’t seek re-election Wrenner files for another term By COLIN FLANDERS Longtime selectwoman Irene Wrenner has filed a petition to seek re-election this Town Meeting Day while two other officials – selectman Michael Plageman and trustee Lori Houghton – confirmed they will step down at the end of their terms. Plageman, the current selectboard vice-chairman, said he wants to spend more time with family after 17 years serving the town of Essex, the last six on the selectboard. His other roles include stints on the planning commission, development review board and See INCUMBENTS, page 3
essexreporter.com
COURTESY PHOTO
The delegation representing Essex and Essex Jct. in the Vt. House of Representatives learned their committee placements last week during the kick-off to the 2019-20 biennium. L to R: Reps. Dylan Giambatista, Marybeth Redmond, Linda Myers, Lori Houghton and Bob Bancroft.
Local reps learn committee placements By COLIN FLANDERS Local legislators learned their committee assignments last week during the kick off to the 2019 legislative session in Montpelier. Rep. Dylan Giambatista (D) retained his spot on the Education Committee and was named one of three assistant majority leaders, a leadership role carrying a variety of new duties, like helping design a seating chart for freshman members who represent about a fourth of the body this year.
PHOTO BY COLIN FLANDERS
Village public works employees found this ornament on a tree during the annual pick-up services. The village is now looking for its owner.
“I have more roles in organizing things, in ensuring the process on the floor is clean and tidy, and in working through the difficult process of negotiation and trying to refine the bills that come through the process so that they’re ready for primetime,” he said. Rep. Linda Myers (R), entering her 19th year in the House, was surprised to learn she will be on the prestigious Appropriations Committee, tasked each year with drafting the state’s budget. Myers served her first 15 years on the Corrections and Institutions Committee
before a two-year stint on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee last biennium. Myers admitted the new assignment will be a “stretch” but the former Essex Reporter editor said she’s looking forward to the challenge. “For most of the time in my career … it’s been words. Now I’m going to deal with numbers,” she said. Rep. Marybeth Redmond (D), Essex’s only freshman rep, was placed on the Human Services Committee, which
See LEGISLATORS, page 2
Village still seeking owner of handmade ornament By COLIN FLANDERS The village of Essex Jct. is holding out hope it can find the owner of a lost handmade ornament picked up off a discarded tree. Public works employees found the ornament during the annual Christmas tree pick-up and, noticing a small handprint on the back, figured it was handmade and may have special meaning to someone. They brought it to the village offices for safe keeping, and
a post on the village’s Facebook page asking for help in finding its owner has been shared over 1,000 times over the last two weeks, with commenters commending public works for their thoughtfulness in keeping the ornament safe. The front of the all-white ornament shows a Christmas tree surrounded by the words, “Merry Christmas, Love Me,” and “Child to Cherish,” while the backside shows an indent
EssEx REpoRtER | THURSDAY, JAnUARY 17, 2019
See ORNAMENT, page 3
Vol. 18 no. 03
2 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019
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AOE misses self-imposed deadline to release test results Officials blame delay on learning curve for new data collection system By COLIN FLANDERS Vt. Agency of Education officials say a bumpy start to their new data collection system forced the state to miss a self-imposed deadline to report school-by-school test scores to the federal government. The deadline is contained in Vermont’s plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act, which spells out how the state will spend federal funds, track progress of schools and districts and support them when needed. One of ESSA’s requirements is that states must share standardized testing data with the U.S. Department of Education. Here, that includes the annual SBAC exams, administered to Grades 3-9 annually. The assessments help identify struggling schools and provide accountability for historically marginalized student populations in efforts to close the achievement gap, while also helping the state decide what schools receive additional funding. Parents and educators have access to individual test
scores and the AOE published statewide results last fall, but planned to release school-byschool results in December, a few months later than usual. Federal regulations previously required states to publish results by the end of the calendar year, a deadline Congress rescinded in 2017 along other Obama-era rules. But Vermont still identified that date in its ESSA plan, according to Michael Hock, the AOE’s state assessment director. “As a state, we still committed to that,” he said. Now, no one knows when that will happen. Hock’s team still hasn’t received annual school census data – used to aggregate district scores in a process that takes weeks – and the AOE says it’s still in the process of cleaning up the data. It’s unlikely the state will face any ramifications from missing its own deadline. A U.S. Department of Education spokesperson said the department wants states and districts to report testing results “as soon as possible,” but noted there’s no required
timeline. The delays haven’t sat well with the AOE’s asessment team, however. “I won’t hide my frustration that we haven’t been able to meet those dates,” Hock said. Vermont officials blame the hold up on their new statewide longitudinal data system, which they say will eventually streamline the process by letting the agency cull information from districts that, until now, manually uploaded the results. The system standardizes data reporting and helps the agency create the annual enrollment census, showing student population at the time of the tests. Vermont used a $4.9 million federal grant to implement the system. “It’s required a really big investment of personnel both here and in districts,” said Ted Fisher, an AOE spokesman who described the challenge of designing a system that “plays nice with everybody.” Fisher said the agency received all required data from districts earlier this month but found more errors than expected: Some submitted custom files instead of those provided by the AOE, or failed to include certain categories altogether. The agency is still combing the data to fix the errors, Fisher said, and in some
cases, contacting schools directly to remedy the mistakes. Though he acknowledged that process occurs every year, Fisher said the difference is the agency doesn’t know how long fixes in the new system will take in. “Down the road, this is going to be a lot easier to deal with,” he said. Passed in 2015, ESSA gave states more control over how to measure student achievement compared to its predecessor, the No Child Left Behind Act. But ESSA continues to emphasize closing the achievement gap by requiring states to track performance of historically marginalized groups, like students of color or low-income populations. But the hold up has impacted the AOE’s ability to perform accountability checks on all schools, districts and supervisory unions, work that was supposed to be completed in fall 2018, according to the ESSA plan. Hock said his team typically publishes the test results prior to the school year so struggling districts know their status and parents have a good indicator of their school’s performance. “You can’t make an accountability decision without having the test results available,” he said.
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from page 1
Meanwhile, on the local level, administrators use the data to see how their test scores match up with similar districts and better understand trends, said Amy Cole, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment for the Essex Westford School District. Cole uses an internal data system to view test scores within EWSD’s 10 schools, but the school-by-school data puts local performance into context. For example, if a particular cohort struggled or excelled, she can see whether t it was a statewide trend or unique to Essex. h She empathized with t the AOE’s workload and said s she expects the process to be smoother in the future, espe- p cially on her end. “We manual- m ly upload a lot of information h about our students and our E staff every year. It’s pretty ex- i tensive,” she said. “When they e get this up and running, our e system will be tighter, [and] all d our data will be cleaner.” l As for when, Fisher, the o AOE spokesman, said the b agency has no a firm timeline. w “We’re working with the s federal government to make a sure that we’re fulfilling our n requirements,” he said. e t
g t b a s m
she said was among her first choices because of its focus on ensuring “the most vulnerable Vermonters have laws and policies H that support their dignity.” t Redmond said she’s “deeply honored” to be representing herf community at the statehouse and recalled a “thrilling” first day, t with her husband and 16-year-old son attending the swearing-in d ceremony. A “I feel like every time I walk in and cross that threshold, I’m carrying the voices and concerns and positions of all of the folks of Essex whom I represent. I take it really seriously,” she said. Rep. Lori Houghton (D), in her second term, will again serve on the Healthcare Committee, but this time as a ranking member, or the second highest Democrat. Houghton said she’d hoped to stay on that committee because she fully understands the process after two years. She, too, will be tasked with more planning and prioritizing. She’ll be the liaison to Appropriations and will serve as a mentor to some of the newer members on the committee. “I’m nervous, as I am every day when I step in that building, I must admit. But I think I’ll be able to step up to the plate,” she said. And Rep. Bob Bancroft (R) – who represents part of Essex and all of Westford – will serve on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee. “Essex is very well represented by its delegation,” Giambatista said. “If you look at the positions that each member holds, they span a number of policy areas and include the top issues that face the state.”
The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 | 3
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InCUmBentS
Ornament
from page 1
from page 1 from a handprint – likely made by a very young child. Darby Mayville, the village’s economic development and community relations assistant, will store the ornament with the rest of the village ornaments for the office Christmas tree and will revive the post next December when residents will again be decorating their own trees. “They may not have realized they lost it,” Mayville said. Worst case scenario, she added, the ornament has found a new home with the village.
Irene Wrenner
MICHAeL PLAGeMAn
LOrI HOUGHTOn
the police station committee. “That’s a pretty good run,” he said. “It’s been my privilege to serve the town of Essex as a selectboard member.” Naming several of his proudest achievements, Plageman pointed to last year’s hiring of municipal manager Evan Teich and the onboarding of several other municipal employees to replace retirees (though he noted staff deserve all the credit for the latter). And he highlighted the ongoing consolidation efforts between the town and village, which he said have made great strides over the last five years as a handful of departments now operate under a single employee or have aligned practices across the municipalities. “Ultimately, that’s just going to be great for Essex to level out the tax burden in both of those municipalities and to get some economics of scale to the taxpayers,” Plageman said. Explaining her decision, Houghton also cited consolidation and said it’s a good time for someone new to join the trustees before the governance discussions advance too far. And, after just starting her
second term in Montpelier, she said she eventually decided to step back and “admit that I’m not superwoman.” “I just need to get something off my plate to focus on the state level, and it’s easy to do with the trustees because it’s still my responsibility to stay in touch,” she said. Asked for some of her proudest accomplishments, Houghton highlighted her role in helping to create a handful of local events, initiatives or committees, including the Five Corners Farmers’ Market, the bike/walk committee, the tree committee, the capital project ranking system and the Heart & Soul process. She also pointed to the trustees’ decision to cap building heights downtown at four stories, preserve Whitcomb Farms through the Vermont Land Trust and building a working relationship between the trustees and selectboard. For Wrenner, the decision to seek re-election means she will again look to continue her run as the longest tenured board member, dating back to her first election in 2007. Citing her dozen-plus years working on municipal issues
in town, she said she hopes to continue helping the town and village work together and communicate better. “I’m no longer learning the ropes but am instead listening for new information, putting it into context, and making what I hope are substantive contributions based on years of wrestling with many of the same issues,” she said. A campaign website outlines Wrenner’s platform for re-election, noting a focus on equal representation, fair taxation and trustworthy policymakers, among others. “I frequently speak up for the marginalized, the powerless, the under-informed,” she wrote. “I’m known for calling out behavior that doesn’t serve the greater good. I’ve been a scapegoat for people who have tried and failed to pull the wool over voters’ eyes.” Petitions to run for one of the two three-year seats are due in the town clerk’s office by 5 p.m. January 28. Elections are held on Town Meeting Day, March 5, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
High speed chase through Essex ends in arrest By amanDa BrOOKS Essex police arrested 23-year-old Benzel Hampton of Burlington on a warrant for illegal weapons charges out of New York, but not before a high speed vehicle chase spanned several towns Monday afternoon, a Vermont State Police press release said. Hampton was pulled over for a motor vehicle violation on Interstate 89 in Middlesex when the state trooper learned of the warrant. When the trooper ordered Hampton out of the vehicle, the man fled the scene, traveling northbound, the press release said. The trooper pursued Hampton at speeds
of over 100 mph until Exit 11 in Richmond. Hampton struck a vehicle operated by 49-yearold Walter Ward of Cambridge on the exit ramp and fled the scene, police said. Ward was not hurt, but his and Hampton’s vehicles were badly damaged. Richmond police picked up the chase soon after on Route 117 and attempted to stop Hampton. He failed to comply and continued on toward Essex where EPD began the pursuit near the intersection with Route 289, according to the press release. Hampton continued on 117 into the Five Corners intersection, where another trooper picked up the pursuit onto Route 15. Hampton See CHaSe, page 5
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BUDGET from page 1 find other places to trim. The trustees started their meeting last week facing down a proposal with a tax rate bump of 4.45 percent. Staff offered some modest ways to save, including transferring
$11,000 from the fund balance to cover fees for the merger attorney, delaying the start of a cleaning contract for Essex Jct. Parks and Recreation to save about $10,000 and trimming funding for village
Loca L community events by $1,000. That would lower the tax rate increase to 4 percent even. In lieu of further cuts, however, staff said the only other way to reduce increase is to secure more revenue. That’s where the town comes in. Macy said the village could get the increase down further – to 2.83 percent – if the town
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the hole in its own budget, Tyler said. “It’s like a constitutional crisis would occur,” he said. On Monday night, the selectboard agreed to include the $50,000 in its final budget proposal. But the scenario illustrates the ever-growing complexity of the relationship between the town and village as a result of ongoing consolidation efforts, further entangling the two municipalities through a series of temporary agreements and trust. It’s also why some, like trustee Lori Houghton, continue to stress the next step must be addressing governance. “If we keep moving money back and forth, someone might eventually stand up and say no,” she said. Municipal manager Evan Teich, in his first budget cycle here, said the move would just be another in the spirit of shared services and cooperation. Plus, he said, the two municipalities have transferred larger sums of money without much backlash. “If this year is another step in that direction, we will all find out at the town meeting where the public stands,” he said.
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contributes an additional $50,000, roughly half the salary and benefits of the unified clerk position. For the last several years, the village has paid the clerk’s salary while the town has picked up the office’s two assistants. That fact surprised village president George Tyler, who saw the transfer as “reasonable” and “equitable” but added, “You can’t disguise the fact that it has a political CLIENT component to it.” UVMHN The timing of it all could Home Health complicate matters. JOB NO. The town approves its 11619 budget in March, while the village does so a month later. DESCRIPTION Tyler said the village needs VNACHILD to finalize its proposal prior to Town Meeting Day, setting TACTIC a scenario in which residents Newspaper could vote to remove the additional $50,000 and leave a gap PUB(S) –in Colchester Sun, the budget. – Milton Independant Officials have stressed –that Essexwhile Reporter. voters can add or remove money from the budget INSERTION DATES from the floor, See Insertion Order the municipalities aren’t legally obligated to BUILT AT distribute that money toward 100% any specific line item. Because the trustees would have TRIM / Mech alreadyx 5.5”h legally warned their 5.925”w budget, however, the town COLOR would likely have to eat the CMYK cost and find a way to patch
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By COLIN FLANDERS Essex police are asking for help locating two dogs and their owner after a biting incident last weekend at the dog park on West Street. Police say the incident occurred around noon last Saturday, Jan. 12, and involved two dogs of unknown breeds. The bite victim was treated for puncture wounds to their left calf, police said. Police described the aggressive dog as older looking, brindle-colored with white fur on its chest, tail and between its eyes and describe the owner as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, about 160 pounds with black and gray hair and beard. The dog’s name is believed to be either “Jack” or “Billy,” as the owner called out those names during the incident. The owner and his dogs left the park in a dark-colored pickup truck of an unknown make. Police say the trio is believed to frequent the dog park on a regular basis. The bite incident comes about two years after EPD shared hopes to rewrite a local ordinance that would help enforce the town’s leash law – a response to a spike in vicious dog complaints and bite incidents. Police data at the time showed 19 reported incidents of bites or vicious dog complaints in 2015. Meanwhile, EPD data shows more than 40 bite complaints in each of the last three years, most of which involved a human victim. Police Chief Rick Garey said this week the department is in the “final review process” for a new ordinance in the town and village. The ordinance will need to go to the elected boards and pass through several public hearings before it can be enacted. Police ask anyone with information about this incident or the dogs and their owner to call 878-8331.
The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 | 5
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To engage, inspire and empower our youth! By DAVID VOEGELE Executive direector of ESSEX CHIPS Last week we heard from a homeschooled youth for the first time. This week we are hearing for the first time from a 6th grader. Katie Preston is 11 years old, and the youngest youth so far profiled in this column. Katie has many interests, and a lot to say. In regards to school she commented, “I enjoy learning more in all subjects. I participate in the sixth grade band… I’m planning to play school softball in the spring.” Katie has a very positive view of the Essex schools, and of how responsive they are to students. She feels that her voice is being heard. “For example, when I was in fifth grade at Founders, my friends and I thought it was important that we should have recess, then lunch, so we created a petition for people to sign if they were in agreement… My friend Kelsie and I went to some lunches to explain what we were doing, and we went to each table for signatures.” Over 200 students signed the petition, and the next year the school changed the schedule as requested! Outside of school, Katie also
has a lot going on. “I have lots of fun dancing at Infinity Dance Studio” Katie said. “I’ve also been involved in many softball activities such as indoor softball, and a softball clinic.” She also enjoys participating in community events, like the Vermont Birdie Bash. “The Birdie Bash was so much fun! I really enjoyed playing badminton with my friends and playing in an amazing planned event.” Hopefully we will see Katie and her friends at the 2019 Vermont Birdie Bash on January 27th! Even though she is only in Middle School, Katie is already thinking about the future. “I plan to go to college, and possibly go into the teaching field.” She also has given thought to the role that students can play in helping to shape the future of our community. She said, “I think students shouldn’t be afraid to show their opinion on what’s happening around the community…Students should have an easier way to express their ideas and get help with executing their ideas.” Katie believes youth can help strengthen our community, and that students have ideas about how to do this. She also believes youth need opportunities to articu-
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late those ideas, and support in bringing them to fruition. Perhaps a community youth council, or an annual youth Green Mountain MILTON • 857-5296 conference, would be ways 414 Route 7 South that youth could share their ideas for strengthening the WILLISTON • 872-8726 VERMONTHABITAT.ORG 528 Essex Road (Rt. 2A) community, and then identify Open W-F 10-6. Sat. &WILLISTON Sun 10-5 MILTON resources to help implement 414 Route 7 South Essex Road (Rt. 2A) FURNITURE • APPLIANCES • ARTOpen •528 HOUSEWARES • RUGS • TOOLS • BUILDING MATERIALS their ideas. A youth council Open W-F 10-6. Sat. & Sun 10-5 M-F 10-6. Sat. & Sun 10-5 857-5296 872-8726 and a youth conference are FURNITURE • APPLIANCES • ART • HOUSEWARES • RUGS • TOOLS • BUILDING MATERIALS two key components of a Quality Youth Development community. I concluded the interview by asking Katie to tell me who inspires her - outside of her ~ 14 years old Neutered male ~ family. “I admire Michelle Breed: American Shelter Dog Reason here: Lordeyes’ owner passed away Obama. I love how she came Arrival Date: 12/22/2018 Size/Weight: 57 lbs. from so little, but became You may have seen the recent story of a well-loved community member and his beloved dog who something so big, just by folwere tragically struck by a car on North Avenue. The dog was Lordeyes and he suffered serious injuries lowing her heart/dream.” including head trauma and shock, which were treated by the great people at BEVS. Ultimately, he was returned to HSCC, where he has been several times over A fine role model indeed.
CHASE from page 3 then crashed head-on into a vehicle driven by 49-year-old Michelle Bartlett of Essex, who was stopped at the Pearl St. and South Summit St. intersection, the press release said. Bartlett was uninjured in the crash. Hampton then crashed his vehicle into a tree, totalling the car. He fled on foot and was finally detained by off-duty Chittenden County deputy sheriff Everett Burns, sheriff Kevin McLaughlin confirmed. McLaughlin said Burns was on his way home from work when Hampton crossed in front of his vehicle. Burns heard the chase over his
radio and was able to detain the subject. Hampton’s passenger, 31-year-old Lucille Woodson, had exited the vehicle near Sand Hill Road in Essex and was unharmed, police said. EPD arrested Hampton on a series of citations including resisting arrest, attempting to elude, gross negligent operation, reckless endangerment, impeding law enforcement, two counts of leaving the scene of an accident and being a fugitive from justice, according to the press release. He was arraigned on Tuesday morning at Chittenden County Superior Court in Burlington.
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the years at no fault of his own. We placed him in foster care to recover from his trauma and regain his mobility. Lordeyes has proven himself to be a survivor and we are thrilled that he is now ready to find his new home. Despite his age, he adores playing with tennis balls, hanging with the staff, and yes, going for walks. He’ll surprise you with a pep in his step! Add in those soulful eyes and sweet graying face and you have the perfect recipe for a new family member. If you have room in your heart and home for a sweet older guy like Lordeyes, stop on in and meet this lovebug! Dogs: Lordeyes needs to be the only dog in his new home Cats: He has lived with cats many years ago and may do well with another with a proper and slow introduction. Children: He has lived with children and does well with them
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News tip? Email news@essexreporter.com or call us at 893-2028
6 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019
OB I TUA R I E s
Held in the love and care of his family and friends, Eric Richard Noël, 43, of Essex, Vt. died peacefully in his sleep at the UVM Medical Center on Dec. 18, 2018, ending his yearand-a-halfjourney with cancer. He never used the word “fight” to describe how he faced his disease, instead preferring to say that he met this part of his life determined to give and receive “love, support, and release.” This wise, peaceful, courageous perspective is a gift he leaves to his wife of 18 years, Hannah (Lambert) Noël, their children, Madeleine (14) and Calvin (12), and to all who knew him or who are touched by his story. Eric was born in St. Albans, Vt. on June 22, 1975, the son of Richard J. and Marguerite L. (Rainville) Noël. He grew up on the family farm on Gore Road in Highgate with his siblings, Norbert and Sarah, where a deep love of the land was instilled in him. He attended local public schools, graduating from Missisquoi Valley Union High School District 7 in 1993, and then attending Vermont Technical College where he studied Automotive Technology. Eric and Hannah first met in elementary school, and they displayed their sixth-grade
class picture at their wedding reception on Aug. 12, 2000. The photograph shows them standing side-by-side amongst other children, smiling but innocently oblivious to the love story they’d grow up to live out once Hannah returned to northern Vermont after moving away during childhood. And what a love story it was! Theirs was a marriage others admired for its easy companionability, its true sense of devotion and partnership, and its abiding commitment to living out their dreams and their values, together. They wed in the front yard of the Noël Family Farm, Eric’s family farm, with guests seated on hay bales, vows they wrote themselves, and a playful, celebratory recessional to the Peanuts theme song in acknowledgement of their childhood acquaintance. Soon after they married, Hannah and Eric moved to Indiana to pursue Eric’s lifelong dream of working on racecars. They lived there for two-and-ahalf years, and the excitement and camaraderie of the pit crew was something Eric would always treasure. But, a desire to live closer to family and to the landscape that nurtured them both as children led Eric and Hannah back to Vermont in 2003 as they envisioned raising a family. They moved in with Eric’s parents, and their daughter, Madeleine Elizabeth (named for Eric’s grandmothers and Hannah’s mother) was born at home the next year, with Eric catching her under a midwife’s care. Son, Calvin Jean-Maurice (named for Eric’s paternal grandfather), came along two-and-a-half years later, with Eric delivering him at home before the midwife arrived. Fatherhood was the very core of Eric’s life. He delighted in seeing his children grow up as he cheered on Maddy’s gymnastic feats and basked in Calvin’s own joy as a kart racer and ice
hockey goalie. His love for them and his hopes for their futures also fueled his devotion to healing the land that he worked as a farmer, and to educating countless people about soil science and sustainable practices. He wanted to give his children, and all children, the inheritance of a clean, healthy, sustainable environment. Together with Hannah, Eric ran a certified organic CSA farm, Maplewood Organics, on his family’s land, starting in 2004. They raised and sold organic produce, eggs, chickens, and beef cattle, while homeschooling their children and participating in local, regional, and national efforts to promote land stewardship. Eric’s knowledge about soil science, in particular, was something he passionately shared with others as he practiced diversified farming and grazing management techniques all aimed at rebuilding topsoil and healing the land. The family moved on to a new project in South Hero, Vt., Health Hero Farm, in 2013 and continued their work as organic farmers while their children transitioned into public school. At this time, Eric also began looking into other ways of sharing his knowledge and encouraging others in their paths. He decided to pursue a career as a life-coach and worked independently to develop this business. Then, in 2017 he found an opportunity too good to pass up and he signed on to be part of the founding team at BETA Technologies, where he helped to imagine, create, and fly the world’s largest zero carbon emission aircraft. The prototype vertical takeoff aircraft first flew in Burlington, Vt. less than a year later, and the company plans to develop a fleet of aircraft capable of delivering life-saving organs to transplant recipients. Eric provided inspirational vision, he constantly pushed the limits of the possible, he helped form the culture
of the team, and he drove the new technology to unbelievable heights. Eric’s friends and colleagues at BETA continue to find inspiration in his spirit every day. When the aircraft that Eric helped create earns a spot in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, his name, creation, and his signature will be proudly displayed on the fuselage, a testimony to his soaring intellect, inspiring vision, and love for all living things. Eric, whose very surname, Noël, means Christmas in the French language of his Québécois ancestors, had hoped to come home from the hospital to spend one more Christmas with his family. It’s a heartbreak that this didn’t come to pass, but a line of the old carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” can serve as testament to what Eric wished to give us all as he left this world. The lyrics speak of “tidings of comfort and joy” upon the birth of the Christ child, but Eric expressed those same tidings as he accepted his release into death: Toward the end of his life, Eric often spoke of how his experience of suffering helped him recognize and appreciate the purity and simplicity of true joy. He wanted so badly to lift up humanity and teach people how to transcend the oppressive assumptions and worldviews that harm us, and to embrace joyfulness. We who love him hold that message in our grieving hearts, determined to take joy and give comfort, to give joy and take comfort, and wishing this beloved, most gentle man rest, at last. Eric is survived by his beloved wife, Hannah (Lambert) Noël, and their two children, Madeleine (14) and Calvin (12), of Essex, Vt.; his parents, Richard John Noël and Marguerite (Rainville) Noël, of Highgate Ctr., VT.; his sister, Sarah Noël Larose, and her fiancé, Gordie
Richard of Franklin; his brother, Norbert John Noël, and wife, Sharon, of Oakridge, NJ; his sister-in-law and her husband, Heather and Brian Bessette of Highgate Ctr., Vt.; his brotherin-law, Jeffrey R. Pignona, of St. Albans, Vt.; his sister-in-law, Hilary Lambert, of Proctor, Vt.; his nieces, Adeleine Larose, Bailey Noël, and Alice Bushee; his nephews, Jake and Hunter Noël, Sawyer and Jeffrey R. Pignona, Jr., Ryan and Brendan Bessette, and Mason Bushee; his parentsin-law, Elizabeth Clark Miller and her husband, John, of Proctor, Vt., and Edward Lambert and his partner, Susan, of St. Albans, Vt.; and by many aunts, uncles, and cousins, and a wide circle of friends. Eric was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, John Maurice Noël and Madeleine (Viens) Noël, and his maternal grandparents, Norbert Rainville and Madeleine (Bouchard) Rainville. Visitation was held Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018 from 2-6 p.m. at Kidder Memorial Home, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton, Vt. with a tribute to Eric starting at 6 p.m. A celebration of life will be held for Eric in June of 2019. Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Eric to VGFA – Eric Noël Fund, c/o UVM Extension, 327 US Route 302, Suite 1, Barre, Vt. 05641. Checks may be made out to: Vermont Grass Farmers Association. Eric was an accomplished and remarkably skilled grazier, and generously shared his learning by teaching and supporting other graziers. The Eric Noël Memorial New Grazier Fund is established to carry on his work by supporting the training and peer-to-peer learning of grass farmers in Vermont and beyond. Condolences, photos and favorite memories may be shared through www.gossfs.com.
ARNE PEDERsEN May 29, 1931 – January 11, 2019
Arne Pedersen, 87, of Essex Jct. died peacefully on Jan. 11, 2019. Arne is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lillian; daughter, Sharon, and husband, Dale; son, Darren; granddaughter, Karey, and husband, John, and children Brody, Ayden and Maverick; stepchildren Dan and daughter Vanessa, Wendi and children Jessika and Jolina; brother John, sister-in-law Sophia, along with numerous beloved nieces, nephews, spouses, significant others and a host of dear friends. Arne was born in Princeton, N.J. to Viggo and Edel Pedersen who immigrated to the U.S. from Denmark. He grew up on a dairy farm with his four
siblings in Plainsboro, N.J. Arne is a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Army as a paratrooper receiving an honorable discharge in 1952. Arne started working for IBM in Dayton, N.J. before transferring his family to Essex Jct. in 1971 where he continued to work for IBM until retiring in 1990. Arne was an avid nature lover and sportsman enjoying hunting and fishing, often with son Darren, resulting in endless and humorous stories of his adventures. His love of the great outdoors took him on trips all over the U.S. including a memorable fishing trip to Alaska with
nephews Pete and Bill Chamberlin. An example of his love of animals was training a Chipmunk, appropriately named “Chippy,” who lived under the front steps of the Pedersen home for years. Chippy knew Arne’s footsteps and voice and would run to the door to get his daily ration of birdseed often out of Arne’s hands. Arne expressed how grateful he was each day for the life he had on this earth. His quick wit, sense of humor and kindness to others will remain in our hearts and minds forever. Arne was hard-working skilled craftsman always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed help
and as a result he was well-liked and respected by everyone who knew him. Arne’s motto in life was to “never look back at the bad times but look at the present and future for life is too short.” Per Arne’s wishes there will be no services held. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Mission of Hope, PO Box 11103, Wilmington, NC 28404. Mission of Hope is a hospital mission project in Sierra Leone Africa started by his son-in law and good friend Dale who Arne admired so very much. The family invites you to share your memories by visiting www.awrfh.com.
ERIC RICHARD Noël
K
The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 | 7
Opi ni On
THE ESSEX
REPORTER
MESSAGES FROM MONTPELIER chittenden 8-3
chittenden 8-1
chittenden 8-2
REP. LINdA MyERS (R)
REP. dyLAN GIAMBATISTA (d)
REP. BOB BANCROFT (R)
lindakmyers@comcast.net, 878-3514
dylan@vtdylan.com, 734-8841
bancroft.vt@gmail.com, 879-7386
REP. MARyBETH REdMONd (d)
REP. LORI HOUGHTON (d)
marybethredmond@comcast.net, 488-0531
houghton.lori@gmail.com, 373-0599
By REP. LINDA MYERS As you read this, the Vermont Legislature is in its second week of the 2019-2020 biennium. In the three days of the first week, members of the House of Representatives took their oath of office and were assigned to new or returning committees. Freshmen legislators went through the lottery of being assigned seats in the House Chamber. All members took part in sessions dealing with statehouse/legislator security and sexual harassment. And members honored those former legislators who had passed away since the last session. Gov. Phil Scott gave his second inaugural address on the second day of the session. The governor thanked the people of Vermont for the opportunity to continue to serve the State and “for their trust and support as we carry out the work ahead.” The governor asked for collaboration “to address Vermont’s most significant challenges.” He quoted former United States Sen. Jim Jeffords who said, “In no other job do you have both the freedom and obligation to solve problems and help people on a daily basis.” The governor asked House and Senate members in attendance to “put aside our differences to work together, come together, to solve problems and help people
each and every day.” In their efforts to help the people of Vermont, your five Essex legislators were assigned to the following committees: Dylan Giambatista will return the Education Committee; Lori Houghton will return to the Health Care Committee; Robert Bancroft has been moved from the Transportation Committee to the Commerce and Economic Development Committee; and new member Marybeth Redmond has been assigned to the Human Services Committee. I have the honor of being assigned to the Appropriations Committee. As a member of the tax-writing committee for the House, I will be spending five days a week in Montpelier (instead of the usual four days most members work) hearing tax proposals from the governor’s administration and monetary proposals that come from the various committees of the Legislature. We will present the state budget to the full House around mid-March, the “Big Bill” as it is referred to, which will then go to the Senate, and will return to the House at some point to reconcile differences between the House and Senate numbers. I am always happy to answer any questions about what is happening in Montpelier or with issues you may have. I look forward to hearing from you. You can call
CHITTENdEN COUNTy SENATORS Tim Ashe (D/P), Phil Baruth (D), Debbie Ingram (D), Ginny Lyons (D), Chris Pearson (D/P), Michael Sirotkin (D) email: firstinitial.lastname@leg.state.vt.us
Essex legislators to hold “Community Conversations” The legislators from the Essex districts will hold a series of “Community Conversations” in Essex over the next few months. The conversations are opportunities for residents to stay abreast of their legislators’ work, have some time for comments/ questions, as well as to hear an “expert” on a particular subject that is being discussed in the Legislature or news cycle. Legislators who will take part in the “Conversations” include Dylan Giambatista, Lori Houghton, Linda Myers and Marybeth Redmond. The “Conversations” will be held on the third Sunday of the month on the following schedule: Sunday, Jan. 20, 2-4 p.m., Nest, Essex Jct. Sunday, Feb. 17, 2-4 p.m., Sweet Alchemy, Essex Sunday, March 17, 2-4 p.m., Nest, Essex Jct. me at 878-3514 and leave a message, or email me at: lmyers@leg.state.vt.us, or lindakmyers@comcast.net. I will get back to you as soon as I can. I appreciate the faith you have given me to represent you in Montpelier for the past 17 years, and I will work diligently to maintain your trust.
281 North Main St. St. Albans, Vt. 05468 EDITORIAL: 893-2028 ADVERTISING: 524-9771 news@essexreporter.com www.essexreporter.com facebook.com/essexreporter twitter: @essexreporter
EDITORIAL EXECUTIVE EDITOR Courtney A. Lamdin courtney@essexreporter.com SPORTS EDITOR Josh Kaufmann josh@samessenger.com REPORTERS Colin Flanders colin@essexreporter.com Madeline Clark madeline@essexreporter.com Amanda Brooks amanda@essexreporter.com NEWS & SPORTS CLERK AND CALENDAR Ben Chiappinelli ben@essexreporter.com
Perspective
Keep rep contact information public By EMERSON LYNN Threats to Vermont legislators have prompted the Speaker of the House and the Capitol Police chief to remove the personal contact information from the state Legislature’s website. It’s a choice that begs for additional information. What sorts of threats? To whom and how many? What prompted the threats? It’s important to know because removing the legislators’ contact information also limits the public’s ability to communicate with their legislators. It’s a given there are far more people reaching out to their legislators in good faith than there are people who haven’t the decency to communicate sans threats. It’s important to encourage the former and discourage the later. The worry regarding the elimination of the personal contact information is the threat to the democratic process. The more difficult it is to communi-
cate with our representatives the less we communicate. The goal is to increase communication, not reduce it, and that goal is worth considerable latitude. It also would help to know if the threats were tied to a particular issue. Last session, for example, the emotional highlight was the governor’s proposal to change the state’s gun laws. The opposition turned out in force and, at times, it was ugly. And personal. Does that single issue account for most of the threats? If so, then removing the legislators’ personal contact information is an overreaction since we’re not expected to revisit the same issue. Additionally, even if the Legislature considers new legislation to create a waiting period before a gun can be purchased, people have the right to contact their representatives and legislators know in advance what to expect. We also deceive ourselves if we believe that removing one’s personal contact information
eliminates the ability of society’s cretins to lash out. Anyone so motivated can find ways to get in touch with their legislators in offensive ways. It’s the hiding of information that is the concern. If the legislators’ contact information is removed are we not yielding to the miscreants and driving them underground where it is more difficult to know what’s going on? The point here is not to encourage violence, or hate-filled speech, or to put our legislators at risk. The objective is to make things more transparent, not less. If people are exposed for casting threats, then perhaps they would do less of it. [What if a site were developed that allowed legislators - and/or the capitol police - to post all those comments found threatening?] Legislators can choose for themselves whether to have their personal contact information removed from the Legislature’s website [this doesn’t apply to
senators, whose personal contact information remains as is.] We would urge them to keep it public and we would also urge them to be transparent when the threats do come. Make the threats public. [Forward them to us and we’ll make them public.] When people communicate with their legislators there should be a disclaimer that whatever communication is exchanged is also part of the public record. That’s fighting back, not allowing hate-mongers to control the narrative. That’s what we have to do. We’ve been made painfully aware that social media outlets, unintended or not, skew the public dialogue to the extreme. Belatedly, we’re trying to fight back, but fighting back doesn’t include hiding, or making it more difficult to reach those whose job it is to advocate on our behalf. Fighting back means drawing the public discussion out in the open.
BUSINESS OFFICE CO-PUBLISHERS Emerson & Suzanne Lynn emerson@samessenger.com GENERAL MANAGER Suzanne Lynn suzanne@samessenger.com ADVERTISING John Kelley john.kelley@samessenger.com CLASSIFIEDS & LEGALS Gail Wells gail@samessenger.com Ben Letourneau ben.letourneau@samessenger.com
DEADLINES Fridays at 5 p.m.
Published Thursdays Circulation: 8,800 The Essex Reporter is owned by Vermont Publishing Corp Inc. and is a member of the Champlain Valley News Group.
Jan 17
8 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019
17 Thursday Food shelF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH - 61 Main St., Essex Jct., 878-8341. James Gangwer, pastor. Sunday School: 10 a.m., Worship Service: 11 a.m., Sunday evening worship: 6 p.m., Wednesday evening youth groups, Adult Bible study and prayer: 7 p.m.; Fundamental-Independent. CHRIST MEMORIAL CHURCH - Route 2A, Williston, just north of Industrial Ave. 878-7107. Wes Pastor, lead pastor, proclaiming Christ and Him crucified, Sundays: 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., www.cmcvermont.org. COVENANT COMMUNITY CHURCH - 1 Whitcomb Meadows Lane, Essex Jct. 879-4313. Rev. Jeannette Conver, pastor. Adult bible class: 9 a.m., Sunday service: 10 a.m. with fellowship following. Infant through pre-K childcare provided, cccpastorjeannette@gmail.com; Facebook page: bit.ly/2rDz4NE DAYBREAK COMMUNITY CHURCH - 67 Creek Farm Plaza, Colchester. 338-9118. Jesse Mark, lead pastor. Sunday service: 10:30 a.m., www.daybreakvermont.org; brentdaybreak@gmail.com ESSEX ALLIANCE CHURCH - 37 Old Stage Road, Essex Jct. 878-8213. Sunday services: 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am, www.essexalliance.org. ESSEX CENTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 119 Center Rd (Route 15), Essex. 878-8304. Rev. Mitchell Hay, pastor. Service 10:00 am with Sunday School and childcare provided. We offer a variety of small groups for prayer, Bible study, hands-on ministry, and studying contemporary faith issues. Please join us for worship that combines the best of traditional and contemporary music and spirituality. We are a safe and welcoming space for all people to celebrate, worship, ask questions and plant spiritual roots. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ESSEX JUNCTION - UCC, an Open and Affirming Congregation, embracing diversity and affirming the dignity and worth of every person, because we are all created by a loving God. 1 Church Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Telephone (802) 878-5745; Website: www.fccej.org Email: welcome@fccej.org Senior Pastor, Rev. Mark Mendes, Assoc. Pastor, Rev. Josh Simon. Sunday Worship Services: 8:30 and 10:15 am. Communion: first Sunday of every month. Faith Formation meets weekly at 10:15 am. Jr. & High School Youth Groups on Sundays. Heavenly Food Pantry – second Monday, 5:30-7:30pm; fourth Thursday, 2-6pm, except for Nov & Dec when it is the third Thursday. Essex Eats Out Community Dinner – 1st Friday of the month, 5:30 – 7pm. Music includes Sanctuary Choir, Finally @ First Band, Joyful Noise, Cherub Music, Handbell Choir, Men’s Acapella and Ladies’ Acapella groups. GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 130 Maple Street, Essex Jct., 1 mile south of the Five Corners on Maple Street / Route 117. 8788071. Worship Sundays: 9:30 a.m., with concurrent church school pre-K to grade 6. Handicapped-accessible facility. Adult choir, praise band, women’s fellowship, missionally active. Korean U.M.C. worship Sundays: 12 p.m., come explore what God might be offering you! HOLY FAMILY - ST. LAWRENCE PARISH - St. Lawrence: 158 West St., Essex Jct. 878.5331. Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.; Sunday Morning: 8:00 a.m. Holy Family: 36 Lincoln St., Essex Jct., Sundays: 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. For more information visit www.hfslvt.org. MT. MANSFIELD UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP - 195 Vermont Route 15, Jericho, the red barn across from Packard Road. 899-2558. Services are held 9:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from September through June. Visit www.mmuuf.org. ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH - 4 St. James Place, Essex Jct., off Rt. 2A at the Fairgrounds Gate F. 878-4014. Rev. Kim Hardy. Holy Eucharist, Sundays: 10 a.m. Visit www.stjamesvt.org; office@stjamesvt. com. ST. PIUS X CHURCH - 20 Jericho Road, Essex. 878-5997. Rev. Charles Ranges, pastor. Masses: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. & Sunday, 9:30 a.m. Confessions: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. or please call 878-5331 for an appointment.
9 - 11 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Aunt Dot’s Place, 51 Center Rd. Essex Jct. Serving the communities of Essex, Westford, Jericho and Underhill. Visit auntdotsplace.com for more information.
Preschool PlaygrouP
9:30 - 11 a.m., Maple Street Recreation Center, 75 Maple St., Essex Jct. Join other caregivers and children for play time. We ask that you bring a drink and indoor shoes.
seaTed yoga
10 - 10:30 a.m., Essex Area Senior Center. Seated yoga is a gentle form of exercise, designed to increase flexibility and balance and help reduce stress. Class is free for EASC members, $2/session for non-members. Please call 876-5087 to register.
senior cenTer Book cluB
10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Area Senior Center. This month’s discussion will be about “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” by Jamie Ford. New members are welcome!
Teen cenTer
2:30 - 5:45 p.m., Essex CHIPS, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. Open to students attending ADL and EMS. Free; open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
lego Fun
3 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Come build creatively with Legos and see what others build. Children under 8 years old must bring a responsible caregiver.
lego cluB
3 - 4 p.m., Essex Free Library. Step up to the weekly LEGO challenge and build awesome creations!
overdrive droP-in
5 - 6 p.m., Essex Free Library. Learn how to use your library card to download books to your smart device. Bring your library card and smart device or just stop by to get more information.
MounT MansField scale Modelers
6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library, Essex Jct. An informal gathering of scale model enthusiasts and model builders. Show off projects, discuss mod-
Community
eling tips and techniques and gain inspiration from fellow modelers. Call 879-0765 after 6 p.m. for more information.
propriate tunes. A pizza dinner will be provided to all participants from Little Caesar’s. Call 878-1372 for pre-registration.
Modern WesTern sTyle square dance
Wing nighT
7:30 - 9 p.m., Maple Street Park. “If you can walk to music you can learn to square dance.” Email Wayne or Susan Pierce at sewpie@aol. com.
5:30 - 7 p.m., VFW Post 6689, 73 Pearl St., Essex Jct. Open to the public.
FaMily Movie
6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell LIbrary. Enjoy “Peter Rabbit,” rated PG. Free popcorn and drinks.
18 Friday
19 saTurday
BaBy TiMe
aMnesTy inTernaTional MeeTing
9:30 - 10 a.m., Brownell LIbrary. Come to meet other families, read a board book, learn some sign language and play.
Mah Jongg
10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Brownell Library. All are welcome, even from neighboring towns and cities.
10 a.m. - noon, Essex Area Senior Ctr. Members play for free. Nonmembers pay $1/visit. Newcomers are always welcomed!
Weekend sTory TiMe
Musical sTory TiMe
Preschool oPen gyM
10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Rock ‘n’ read with Caitlin on Friday mornings with books, songs and instruments. All ages.
senior luncheon
11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Essex Area Senior Center. Soup and sandwich. $2, members; $4, nonmembers.
kniTTing and crocheTing
1 - 2 p.m., Essex Area Senior Ctr. For more information call Lou Ann Pioli at 876-5087.
sTeaM Fridays
3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Create and explore with science, technology, engineering, art and math. This month: print making and magic milk, air pressure experiments, design cardboard cars and paddle power. Call 878-6955 or check online for program details. For grades 1 and up.
essex eaTs ouT
5:30 - 7 p.m., St. James Episcopal Church, St. James Pl., Essex Jct. Free community dinners for all! If you need a ride, please email essexeatsout@ gmail.com.
ParenTs’ nighT ouT
5:30 - 9:30 p.m., Founders Memorial School, Essex Jct. Enjoy a night out, but still get your kids moving with organized activities and free choice options as well as dancing along to some preselected, kid ap-
10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Start off your weekend with books, rhymes and songs!
3 - 4:30 p.m., Maple Street Park Recreation Center. Come run around inside during the cold winter months. There will be a bouncy house, balls, trikes, a play hut, a mini-slide and push toys for ages 5 years and younger.
Music JaM session WiTh nerBak Bros
7 - 10 p.m., The Barns at Lang Farm, 51 Upper Main St., Essex Jct. Come enjoy a jam session with cash bar and Mediterranean mix food for purchase. Free event; $5 donation.
fungi unknown to most people today for food and medicine. Mike Ather of BackyardWilderness. com will explain how we can use these same native plants and mushrooms to heal ourselves, regenerate our ecosystem and clean our soil, air and water. Admission is free. Donations appreciated.
21 Monday essex village and ToWn oFFices, essex area senior cenTer, BroWnell and essex Free liBraries are closed and essex WesTFord school disTricT Will hold no clasees in oBservance oF MarTin luTher king, Jr. day MoPs evening MeeTing
6:30 - 8:45 p.m., Essex Alliance Church, 37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Jct. Mothers of Preschoolers exists to meet the needs of moms with different lifestyles who all share a similar desire to be the very best moms they can be!
22 Tuesday MoPs Morning MeeTing
6:30 - 8:45 p.m., Essex Alliance Church, 37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Jct. (See Monday, Jan. 21.)
sTory TiMe For Toddlers
20 sunday
9:10 - 9 :30 a.m., Brownell Library. Picture books, songs, rhymes and puppets for toddlers with an adult.
vFW auxiliary BreakFasT
Preschool PlaygrouP
9 - 11 a.m., VFW Post 6689, 73 Pearl St., Essex Jct. Open to the public. Bar will be open.
conversaTion WiTh essex rePresenTaTives
2 - 4 p.m., The Nest Coffee and Bakery, 17 Main St., Essex Jct. Share your thoughts with Reps. Giambatista, Myers and Redman.
living like original verMonTers oF The Winooski
2 p.m., Ethan Allen Homestead, Burlington. “Applying the Best of the Past for a Sustainable Future” For thousands of years, the first inhabitants of Vermont lived in harmony with nature, utilizing hundreds of plants and
9:30 - 11 a.m., Maple Street Recreation Center, 75 Maple St., Essex Jct. Join other caregivers and children for play time. We ask that you bring a drink and indoor shoes.
sTory TiMe For Preschoolers
10 - 10:45 a.m., Brownell Library. Picture books, sign language, songs, rhymes, flannel stories and early math activities for preschoolers.
Bingo
12:30 - 3:30 p.m., Essex Area Senior Ctr. Every card costs a penny, so if you play 10 cards, each game costs a dime.
read To ginger The dog 2 - 3 p.m., Essex Free Library. Read a story
yCalendar and snuggle with this adorable book-loving canine friend, Ginger!
always welcome.
MiNEcrafT cluB
Doors at 4 p.m., Early bird games 6:30 p.m., Champlain Valley Expo, 105 Pearl St., Essex Jct.
1 - 2 p.m., Brownell Library. Come play Minecraft creatively with other homeschoolers. Bring your own device with Minecraft pocket edition downloaded on it. For ages 7-12.
Build a POsTEr
OPEN sTudiO
rONald McdONald hOusE chariTiEs BiNgO
2:30 - 3:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Color knights and dragon coloring pages and build it into a poster for the library wall.
yOga wiTh JONah
5:30 - 6:30 p.m., First Congregational Church,1 Church St., Essex Jct. Wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing. Bring a mat or borrow one at the event. Donations welcome, but not required.
fiNaNcial issuEs Of diVOrcE
5:30 - 7 p.m., Maple Street Park. Let’s discuss the financial world of divorce and help address questions so you can make the best financial decision in the end. Free.
iNTErNaTiONal POTlucK
5:30 - 8 p.m., Founders Memorial School, 33 Founders Rd., Essex Jct. Join the annual International Potluck hosted by Leonora Dodge. Bring a dish to share; maybe an old family recipe or your family’s favorite dish!
3 - 4 p.m., Essex Free Library. The library supply the materials, you bring the creativity.
larP
3 - 5 p.m., Brownell Library. Live Action Role Play is open to all middle and high school students.
rEad TO daisy
3:15 - 4:15 p.m., Brownell Library. Daisy loves to listen to kids read. She is Certified by Therapy Dogs of Vermont. For all ages.
uNdErsTaNdiNg OPiaTE addicTiON
5:30 - 8:15 p.m., Essex High School, 2 Educational Dr., Essex Jct. In response to the impact of the opiate crisis on families and communities across Vermont, the Vermont Adult Career and Technical Education Association seeks to offer a proactive course on the topic that supports and empowers people to make a difference. This is a three week workshop.
jan 27 lOcal MEETiNgs Thursday, JaNuary 17 6 p.m., Village Planning commission, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.
wEdNEsday, JaNuary 23 6:30 p.m., school Board, Essex High School Library, 2 Educational Dr., Essex Jct. 6:30 p.m., Village Trustees, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.
wEdNEsday, JaNuary 23 7 p.m., Town selectboard, Town offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.
Thursday, JaNuary 24 6:30 p.m., Town Planning commission, Town offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct. Pantry is open to residents of Essex Junction, Essex Town and Westford. Clients will need an ID for each member of the household and a utility bill. Clients may only visit the Pantry once in each calendar month.
Library. (See Friday, Jan. 18)
lEgO cluB
duNgEONs aNd dragONs
3 - 4 p.m., Essex Free Library. Step up to the weekly LEGO challenge and build awesome creations!
fiEld guidE TO sOcial sEcuriTy
drOP-iN KNiTTiNg cluB
6:30 - 8 p.m., The Essex, Essex Way, Essex Jct. Guests are always welcome!
5:30 - 7 p.m., Maple Street Park. Helping answer some of the common questions you may have about social security and how it could benefit you. Free.
wriTErs’ grOuP
24 Thursday
25 friday
6:30 - 8 p.m., Essex Free Library.
6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. All levels and genres welcome as we come together to share our work and offer support to one another.
23 wEdNEsday TEch TiME
10 - 11 a.m., Essex Free Library. Drop in with your device and your questions!
sTOry TiME fOr PrEschOOlErs
10 - 10:45 a.m., Brownell Library.
sENiOr luNchEON
11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m., Essex Area Senior Center. Soup and sandwich. Presented by Hiawatha School third graders.
rOTary cluB Of EssEx Noon - 1:15 p.m., The Essex, 70 Essex Way, Essex Jct. Visitors are
liONs cluB sOcial MEETiNg
PrEschOOl PlaygrOuP
9:30 - 11 a.m., Maple Street Recreation Center, 75 Maple St., Essex Jct. (See Thursday, Jan. 17)
sEaTEd yOga
10 - 10:30 a.m., Essex Area Senior Center. (See Thursday, Jan. 17)
wOVEN wall haNgiNg wOrKshOP
10 - 11 a.m., Essex Area Senior Center. Beat the winter doldrums with a “back from the 70s” woven wall-hanging! Beth Abustan from the Essex Junction Lions Club, a self-taught weaver, will show you several basic weaving techniques to complete a sampler wall hanging.
hEaVENly PaNTry
2 - 6 p.m., First Congregational Church, 39 Main St., Essex Jct. The Food
Music wiTh raPh
9:30 - 10 a.m., Brownell Library. Come sing, dance and play with Raph. All ages.
EssEx EaTs OuT
6:30 - 9 p.m., Brownell LIbrary. Embark upon imaginary adventures. Our Dungeon Master serves as the game’s referee and storyteller. Grades 6 and up.
26 saTurday frEE icE fishiNg day
All day, statewide. Anyone, with or without a license, is allowed to go fishing in Vermont on this day. Visit vtfishandwildlife.com for suggested locations and tips.
wEEKENd sTOry TiME
10 a.m. - noon, Essex Area Senior Ctr.
Musical sTOry TiME
NaTiONal caKE day
10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library.
TEch hElP wiTh clif
Noon - 1 p.m., Brownell Library. Offering oneon-one technology help. Reservation required. Please call 878-6955 at least 24 hours in advance.
KNiTTiNg aNd crOchETiNg
1 - 2 p.m., Essex Area Senior Ctr.
sTEaM fridays
3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell
CALL EARLY FOR RESERVATIONS!
Bus Day Trip to
AKWESASNE MOHAWK CASINO Hogansburg, New York
[
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4
$38 PER PERSON
FREE extras include: $30 Free Slot Play Coffee
Donuts
Bottled Water
Free Buffet
Movies Aboard
[
Meet at Milton Park & Ride Off I89 Exit 17 between 6:35am-6:55am Bus Departs: 7:00am Depart the Casino: 4:30pm
Our Quality Service Cannot Be COPIED Printing: Call BARBARA at 802.829.7403 Black & White Our Quality Service Cannot Be COPIED Full Color Printing: & Offset Digital Our Cannot BeBe COPIED OurQuality QualityService Service Cannot COPIED Black &Copying: White Color FullPrinting: Printing: High Volume & Offset Digital &Service White Black & White Self Copying: Black FullUs Color Full High Volume Color Copies Let Print & Offset Digital Self Service & Offset Digital Format Large Copies Color Copying: & Banners SignsAnnual Copying: your Format Large Volume High Faxing &Volume Scanning High Signs & Banners Self Service Service Self Scanning Faxing &Reports. Full Bindery Copies Color Full Bindery Copies Color & Mailing Shipping Format Mailing Shipping &Large Format Large Notary Public & Banners Public NotarySigns Banners Signs && Scanning Faxing & Scanning Faxing Bindery 1Town Town Market 12FullEssex Jct. 1 Market Pl., Pl., Ste. Ste. 12 Essex Jct. Bindery Full Shipping & Mailing Shipping & Mailing Public Notary Public Notary 11Town Pl., Ste. 1212 Essex Jct. TownMarket Market Pl., Ste. Essex Jct.
5:30 - 7 p.m., Essex Center United Methodist Church, 119 Center Rd., Essex Jct. (See Friday, Jan. 18)
10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Start off your weekend with books, rhymes and songs!
Mah JONgg
The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 | 9
Noon - 2 p.m., Green Mountain Harley, 157 Pearl St., Essex Jct. Come celebrate cake day with samples from local vendors of northern Vermont.
27 suNday BirdiE Bash
9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Essex CHIPS, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. Come participate in this badminton tournament to fundraise for Essex CHIPS. Visit Facebook.com/EssexCHIPS for complete details.
Shelburne|Williston
WE HAVE CLASSES FOR ALL AGES, ATTITUDES AND ABILITIES:
New to Yoga?
Try Beginner Yoga Series, Men's Yoga Basics Series or, Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga or Yoga for the Stiff & Sore
Seasoned Yogi?
Check any of our Noon classes, Strong Flow, Morning Flow or Rise & Shine Yoga
Strong but Slower?
Try Hatha Yoga or Slow Flow
Alignment Focused?
Vibrant Warriors, Yoga for the Stiff & Sore
Stressed Out?
De-stress Yoga and Yoga and Self-care to the rescue! Or try any of our Sound Healing events. 373 Blair Park Road Suite 205 Williston, VT 05495
SCHEDULE JAN 1–MAY 31, 2019 MONDAY 9-10 ............Gentle Vinyasa 10:30-11:30 Yoga for the Stiff & Sore 12-1 ............Vinyasa Flow 1:30-2 .........Flow and Go 5:45-7 .........Slow Flow TUESDAY 9-10 ............Hatha Yoga 10:30-11:30 ...Yoga & Self Care 12-1 ............Core Yoga Flow 6-7..............Vibrant Warriors WEDNESDAY 6-7..............Rise & Shine Yoga 9-10 ............Energetic Flow 10:30-11:30 ...Gentle Yoga 12-1 ............Vinyasa Flow 5:45-7 .........Strong Flow THURSDAY 9-10 ............Hatha Yoga 10:30-11:30 ...Vibrant Warriors 12-1 ............Vinyasa Flow 1:30-2:30 ....Chair Yoga 5:45-7 .........De-stress Yoga FRIDAY 6:30-7:30 ....Morning Flow 9-10 ............Yoga for Self Care 10:30-11:30 ...Gentle Yoga 12–1............Core & More SATURDAY 9-10 ............Saturday Flow 10:30-11:30 ...Core & More SUNDAY 9-10 ............Vinyasa Flow For class schedule or to sign up for classes at either of our locations, visit our website www.yogarootsvt.com or call 985-0090.
10 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019
cla ssi f i e ds
FOR SALE Appliances
802-933-6194
Dishes/Pans/Cups/Etc. CLOTHES DRYER, ELECTRIC, GE Profile, extra large capacity CANNING JARS, ASSORTED with extra care settings. $150. sizes. Asking $8 for all. Call 802Call 802-582-4442 933-6194 RCA COOKING STOVE, proElectronics/Cameras/Etc. pane, 30” wide. Asking $100. Call 802-868-4194 AUDIO RECEIVER, REALISTIC, in good shape, works great. AskBooks/Reading Material ing $25. Call 802-868-6231 WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPE- BETA, COMES WITH remote, DIA, 1976, with yearbooks up to works great. Asking $35. Call 1987. In excellent shape. Free! 802-868-6231 Call 802-524-5688 SMALL RADIO, WORKS great, Clothing & Accessories
Movies/CDs/Tapes/Etc.
leGals
DVDS, TOTE FULL of different genres. $85 takes all. Call 802868-6231 Produce/Turkeys/HomemadeFood HOMEMADE TONGUE PICKLES and pickled beats. Great holiday gifts! $6 per pint. Call 802-782-4125 Tools/Accessories
POWER TOOLS PACKAGE, sawzall, skill saw, sander, grindplays CD’s and cassettes. Asking er, and jigsaw. Asking $100 for set. Call 802-868-6231 $20. Call 802-868-6231
MEN’S SUIT, HART Schaffiner VCR PLAYER, PORTABLE, Wanted to Buy and Marxs, Like new, just dry comes with case and hookups. cleaned, 30” inseam, 42” waist, Asking $50. Call 802-868-6231 BUYING ANTIQUES 46R Jacket. $30. 802-868-7613 Complete households, most anything old/of good quality. 45+ Holiday Items WINTER BOOTS, DICKIES, brand new, still in box, size 11. HAND CARVED SANTAS (7), years buying! Fair prices paid! Call Ed Lambert Asking $40. Call 802-868-6231 made in Vermont. $20 each. Call 802-528-5651 or 802-868-4365 Children’s Items & Toys 802-782-1223 St. Albans Musical Items INFANT SNOWSUITS (2), girls, one is 3-6 months, one is 12 KEYBOARD WITH STAND, like FREON R12 WANTED: CERTImonths. Asking $3.50 each. Call new, 100 rhythms, 100 timbers, FIED BUYER will PAY CA$H for R12 cylinders or cases of cans. 802-933-6194 in time for Christmas! $85. Call (312) 291-9169; ONZIES AND ZIP-UPS, girl’s 802-285-6204 www.refrigerant newborn - 6 months, 35 items. finders.com $.50 - $.75 each, or $35 for all.
EMPLOYMENT CHITTENDEN COUNTY ELDERLY Caregivers Available If you need a helping hand, we are here for you! All shift coverage available. With over 30 years experience. Experience in end of life care, Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Medical background, excellent references. We are a small group of elderly care providers and not associated with an agency. We work together as a team to help elderly live in their home. Betsy MaGee (802) 5858188 or lionbetsy2000@yahoo. com DRIVERS WANTED FT and PT position available, competitive wages, vacation, health insurance and retirement packages available. Requires Class A CDL with Tank Endorsement, clean driving record, 2 years’ experience. VAILLANCOURT TRANSPORT 802-933-4911 CARPENTERS Frame & Finish Tired of short work weeks, no overtime and layoffs? Then join our company today. 45+ hours/ week, secure employment, opportunity to advance. Call Sweeney & Belisle or 802-355-0836 or email: pfssnb@gmail.com
Looking to hire? Classifieds
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802-524-9771 ext. 122
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Providing all forms of residential carpentry from frame to finish. carpentry from frame to finish. BuILdING & ReNOVATION, LLC
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The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 | 11
Drywall, Siding, Finish Work, Pressure Washing
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Serving the Champlain Valley and surrounding areas.
Matt Levee • highstandards802@gmail.com
Call Ryan at (802) 316-6658 For a Free Estimate!
New Construction Remodeling Excavation Roofing Septic Systems Snow/ Ice Removal
(Residential & Commercial)
Serving the Champlain Valley and surrounding areas.
eState plannIng
DentISt
LAndscApinG
Wills–Trusts–Estate Planning–Medicaid–Elder Law–Probate
Cedric C Pecor D.D.S
Bethany K. Fitzgerald D.D.S
Edward R. Klingebiel D.D.S
Serving the community for over 33 years with the best dental care. Schedule a dental check-up today to maintain that beautiful smile! Most insurance plans accepted. Accepting new patients. miltonfamilydentistryvermont.com 157 River St., Milton • 893-4734
Condominium Associations Commercial Residential
Now Submitting Bids
Peace of mind for your family & loved ones 26 Railroad Ave. / Essex Jct., VT (802) 879-7133 / unsworthlaplante.com
LEGAL
pAintinG
HEHIR LAW OFFICE, PLLC Brian Hehir, Attorney
FULL INTERIOR & EXTERIOR Residential & Commercial
Serving the area for 22 years. Real Estate, including: • Sales and Purchases • Landlord/Tenant • Boundary Disputes • Zoning • Subdivision.
• Custom Trim • Custom Carpentry/ Crown Moulding
Also: Wills, Probate, Injury and Business Matters.
239 South Union St., Burlington 802-862-2006 • www.hehirlaw.com
REAL EstAtE
• Cathedral Entries • Sheetrock/Taping • FULLY INSURED
Living & Working in Essex Junction for over 40 years. Call TJ for your FREE ESTIMATE 802-355-0392 $100 off any job of $1000.00 or more, $250 off of any job $2000.00 or more. EXCLUDES MATERIALS
REstAuRAnt
Hedge Trimming / Landscape Projects Fall Clean Up / Winter Snow Services Professional quality service at great rates
pLumbinG
Adam’s Plumbing S E R V I C E 878 - 1002 The Reliable Local Pro! For all your residential plumbing repairs and installations
snowpLowinG
Authentic Mexican Cuisine IN THE HEART OF ESSEX JUNCTION 4 Park Street, Essex 802.662.4334 www.ElGatoCantina.com
PAINTING SERVICES
For 42 years, Lafayette Painting has provided top quality, fairly priced, painting services for Chittenden County. This winter, schedule your free estimate and see why we were voted the Best Household Painting Company in Vermont. Call 802-863-5397 or visit lafayettepaintinginc.com
MAPLE SYRUP Yates Family Farm Maple Syrup New 2018Crop All Grades Gallon $44.00 Half Gallon $24.00 Quart $15.00 Pint $10.00. Contact Garrys Barber Shop 89 Pearl Street Essex Junction 802-878-4010
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS
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tAx sERvicEs
25 Wentworth Drive, Williston, VT 05495 (802) 662-1214 ext. 304 • (802) 662-1215 fax rsinkewicz@gmcsusa.com
tree ServICeS
Living Curiously ProPerty Maintenance Tree Services including stump grinding, chipping, trimming and complete tree removal • Property Cleanups • Foreclosure and Rental Cleanups • Landscaping
802-752-5850
Free Estimates • Fully Insured
Military, First Responders and Seniors receive a 10% discount Accepting all major credit cards
12 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019
Essex High School EHS Winter Ball: The Essex High School Winter Ball will be held on Saturday, January 26 at the Hilton in Burlington. It will be from 8-11 p.m. Doors close at 9 p.m. Tickets are $18 and all EHS students are welcome. Swing Away the Winter Blues: The Essex High School band program will host its annual Swing Away the Winter Blues spaghetti dinner and dance on Saturday, January 26 at 5:30 p.m. in the EHS cafeteria. Tickets are $10 (kids six and under free of charge). See any band student to purchase tickets or email hfinlayson@ewsd.org. If you are unable to attend but would still like to support your hometown band program, purchased tickets can be donated back and we will deliver to local senior centers. EHS Boosters Web Store is Open: Essex Boosters is now selling Hornet gear online. Browse the store and place an order for next day pick-up at Sports Central in Essex Junction, or have the items shipped directly to your home. The new website is: http://ehsboosters.com/ehs_boosters/shop/home. EHS Penguin Plunge: Let’s all take the Plunge together to raise money for Special Olympics. We have two goals for the Penguin Plunge. One is to raise money for Special Olympics Vermont and the other is to raise more money than other area high schools. You can donate for the EHS team by going to the following link: https://give.specialolympicsvermont. org/team/204766 . Center for Technology Design & Creative Media Program Integrates Real World Learning At Center for Technology, Essex, in the Design & Creative Media (DCM) program we make Career Work Experience (CWE) placement a core component of the student experience. All second year students participate in CWEs at area businesses. Each experience immerses the student in authentic aspects of the creative industry. Students participate for up to 30 hours on the job site. Currently, students have engaged with the following employers; Lane Press and
SCHOOL & CO m m uni ty
COURTESY PHOTO
A senior at the Center for Technology, Essex in the Design and Creative Media program works at Lane Press in South Burlington as part of his Career Work Experience placement. Vermont Army National Guard (VANG). Both of these area employers have rich and
robust connections to the DCM program. VANG engages the student through the communication/ advertising/photography/videography/social media and graphic design departments, while students attending Lane Press are absorbed in the digital image services, marketing, color management, publication services pre-press, press, and bindery areas. Second year students in the Design & Creative Media program who choose to take advantage of the internship opportunities provided by the Center may even find themselves with paying work while they are earning school credit. CWE is important because it provides students with hands-on knowledge. The more experience a young person can accrue before graduation, the more likely they will be to find a lucrative job or get into a preferred college. CWEs allow a student to explore their chosen career, build relationships with employers, and provide a springboard into successful adult life. In addition, it allows the student to practice skills/craft learned in their technical program in an industry setting. Furthermore, career and technical education expands the career work connection through internships, co-op experiences and by students working for real world clients in the in-house design studio located at Center for Technology, Essex. Two area businesses, Pin Source and The UPS Store will be hosting our students in the upcoming semester. The Design Studio at CTE, is a full service design studio that can provide the following services; brand development, advertising, print media design, production & output, photography, web design, signage/banners and textile design. We work with local schools, town and non-profit community organizations and as our student’s skill sets continue to expand, we are always exploring different design opportunities. To find out more about our programs, visit: www. ewsd.org/Domain/1662 or visit the Center for Technology, Essex at Open House on Saturday, February, 9 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Lions Club donates more than Weekly Specials! 100 meals to food pantry COME ENJOY OUR MONDAY
Kids Eat Free WEDNESDAY
$5 Margaritas THURSDAY
1/2 price Nachos
authentic mexican cuisine
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH & DINNER
4 Park Street • Essex • 802.662.4334 169 Church St. • Burlington • 802.540.3095 ElGatoCantina.com
COURTESY PHOTO
The Essex Junction Lions packaged and donated 108 meals to the Heavenly Food Pantry January 12. L to R: Fern Henson, Betsy MaGee, Beth Abustan and Erin Connors, who were assisted by Essex Jct. Lions President Dianne Brochu.
News tip? Email news@essexreporter.com or call us at 893-2028
The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 | 13
Loca L
ESSEX POLICE REPORTS Emergency: 911 • Non-emergency: 878-8331 145 Maple St., Essex Jct., VT 05452 • www.epdvt.org
January 7 - 13 ArresTs
1 Unlawful trespass 1 Disorderly conduct 1 Resisting arrest
MondAy, JAnuAry 7
6:55 a.m., Citizen assist on Pearl St. 8:30 a.m., Accident with property damage on River Rd. 10:34 a.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Morse Dr. 11:17 a.m., Citizen assist on Londonderry Ln. 11:32 a.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld 1:19 p.m., Citizen assist on West St. 3:29 p.m., Suspicious event on Baker St. 5:43 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Essex Way 9:12 p.m., Citizen assist on Maple St.
TuesdAy, JAnuAry 8
2:29 a.m., Citizen assist on Osgood Hill Rd. 8:11 a.m., Citizen assist on Carmichael St. 8:12 a.m., Trespassing on Carmichael St. 11:32 a.m., Citizen assist on Maple St. 2:12 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Colchester Rd. 3:26 p.m., Citizen assist on Center Rd. 4:01 p.m., Animal problem on Maplelawn Dr. 5:26 p.m., Accident with property damage on Pinewood Dr. 5:48 p.m., Accident with property damage Center Rd. 5:53 p.m., Citizen assist on Pinecrest Dr. 6:19 p.m., Citizen assist on Ethan Allen Ave. 7:33 p.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld 10:55 p.m., Suspicious event on Oneida Ave. 11:20 p.m., Welfare check on Goodrich Ln.
WednesdAy, JAnuAry 9
12:33 a.m., Disorderly on Central St. 10:19 a.m., Domestic disturbance; location withheld 11:49 a.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Upper Main St. 12:01 p.m., Citizen assist on Park St. 12:55 p.m., Accident with property damage on Colchester Rd. 5:42 p.m., Citizen assist on Arbor Terr. 6:03 p.m., Citizen assist on Allen Martin Dr. 10:42 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Essex Way 11:25 p.m., Accident with property damage on Browns River Rd.
ThursdAy, JAnuAry 10
12:36 a.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Franklin St. 3:08 a.m., Trespassing on Central St. 8:44 a.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld
8:48 a.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Upper Main St. 11:14 a.m., Phone problem on Wenonah Ave. 3:12 p.m., Trespassing on Upper Main St. 5:06 p.m., Utility problem on I-289 9:35 p.m., Domestic disturbance; location withheld 10:31 p.m., Citizen assist on River Rd.
FridAy, JAnuAry 11
12:05 a.m., Citizen dispute on Central St. 1:54 a.m., Accident with property damage on Catella Rd. 10:40 a.m., Accident with property damage on River Rd. 12:05 p.m., Citizen dispute on Upper Main St. 12:25 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Center Rd. 12:48 p.m., Suspicious event on Maple St. 1:24 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Colchester Rd. 1:59 p.m., DLS on I-289 4:23 p.m., Citizen assist on River Rd. 4:47 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Center Rd. 6:39 p.m., Accident with property damage on Essex Way 10:21 p.m., Sex offender registration on Maple St. 11:14 p.m., Suspicious event on Park St.
sATurdAy, JAnuAry 12
6:35 a.m., Domestic disturbance; location withheld 11:42 a.m., Citizen assist on Central St. 12:03 p.m., Animal problem on West St. 1:50 p.m., Citizen assist on Saybrook Rd. 2:45 p.m., Theft on Susie Wilson Rd. 3:02 p.m., Accident with property damage on Essex Way 5:17 p.m., Accident with personal injury on Essex Way 8:46 p.m., Animal problem on Carmichael St.
sundAy, JAnuAry 13
2:34 a.m., Citizen dispute on River Rd. 9:26 a.m., Accident with property damage on Susie Wilson Rd. 10:17 a.m., Theft on Hawthorn Cir. 10:55 a.m., Domestic disturbance; location withheld 12:15 p.m., Domestic disturbance; location withheld 12:30 p.m., Suspicious event on Central St. 12:44 p.m., Citizen assist on Lincoln St. 1:02 p.m., Accident with property damage on Upper Main St. 1:24 p.m., Animal problem on Osgood Hill Rd. 1:53 p.m., Citizen dispute on Carmichael St. 2:16 p.m., Suspicious event on Loubier Dr. 6:12 p.m., Suspicious event on Countryside Dr. 8:29 p.m., Suspicious event on Gauthier Rd. 10:12 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Center Rd. 11:23 p.m., Suspicious event on Old Colchester Rd.
ToTAl cAlls: 144
This log represents a sample of incidents in the date range. For more information, call the non-emergency number: 878-8331
Nominations open for 10th Annual GMPZetterstrom Environmental Award Seeking to honor a leading Vermont environmentalist and the legacy of a legendary wildlife advocate, Green Mountain Power is calling for nominations for the 10th annual GMPZetterstrom Environmental Award. Named for famed osprey advocate Meeri Zetterstrom of Milton, the GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award is given to one person, business, group or non-profit that has made a significant contribution to Vermont’s environment. The award is accompanied by a $2,500 donation to the winner’s environmental cause. “Meeri’s example lives on in so many Vermonters who are working to protect and preserve our natural resources,” GMP President and CEO Mary Powell said in a news release. “Many of the past winners were inspired by Meeri, and they have all demonstrated incredible tenacity and foresight, just as Meeri did when working to protect endangered ospreys.” Zetterstrom’s wildlife advocacy was critical to a statewide initiative to restore ospreys in Vermont. Despite long odds, indifference by others and years of effort without success, Zetterstrom remained focused on her goal. Zetterstrom lived in a small cabin with a bird’s-eye view of Lake Arrowhead in Milton, and in the 1980s was among the first to notice when a couple of ospreys returned to fish the lake’s waters after their near extinction in Vermont in the 1940s. Her vision, collaboration and leadership prompted utilities, the state and private landowners to work together, and ultimately led to the resurgence of ospreys over the next 25 years. Thanks in part to Zetterstrom’s leadership, ospreys were removed from the endangered species list in 2005, and the Zetterstrom Award was created shortly before she died in 2010. GMP Vice President Steve Costello, who worked closely with Zetterstrom for years, said he was thrilled to continue to honor her legacy. “Meeri was by far the most focused and committed person I’ve met,” Costello said in a news release.“She would not let anything block her vision. Today, every time I see an osprey, I thank Meeri for her leadership and passion.” Nominations will be accepted through March 30, and the winner will be announced this spring. For an application and more information, visit www.greenmountainpower.com.
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14 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019
SportS
All out effort
Senior Brendan Brooks takes to the air against two South Burlington defenders. The 66-57 win over the Wolves put the Hornets’ record at 4-4 as they prepare for the second half of the season. The squad hits the hardwood against St. Johnsbury and North Country Union this week. UPPER LEFT: Junior Anthony DeCarvalho puts up a hook shot over a Wolves defender while Robert Meslin (1) looks on in EHS’s victory on Thursday, Jan. 10. We have more pictures from boys’ basketball online at EssexReporter. com.
Protect her future. Always. Let me help you navigate
Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Elder Law, Special Needs Planning and Probate Matters
Holly K. Lemieux, Esq., PLLC
PHOTOS COURTESY MICHAEL HOFFMAN
Attorney at Law
802-871-5410 21 Carmichael St., Ste. 201 Essex Jct., VT Holly@Lemieux-Law.com www.plantogetherlaw.com
Life in the fast Lane
FIRST HOME,
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we will not rest until we help you find the home that 68 Randall St, fits just right! South Burlington, VT 05403 donald@vtdwellings.com My Mobile: 802.238.7634 Office Phone: 802.654.8500 • www.VtDwellings.com
PHOTO COURTESY FINEST IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY
Five Green Mountain Aquatics big dog swimmers blast off the starting blocks, competing in the 400 Individual Medley event. Bottom to top are Cameron Marcus, Oliver Austin, Jake McIntyre, Jake Crock and Ross Macy. GMA hosted the Winter Knights Invitational Meet at St. Michael’s College over the weekend of January 4-6.
The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019 | 15
BeN STeWArT Senior: Wrestling
T
he captain and defending state champion helped lead the Hornets to first place in the Nashua South Hall of Fame Tournament in New Hampshire Jan. 12. Stewart, defending state champion at 106 lbs., took top honors in his class at Nashua for the second straight time, winning at 113 with a 4-0 record. Three of Stewart’s wins were by pin and the other by major decision as he improved to 26-4 on the season. Junior captain James Danis, also a defending Vermont champ, joined Stewart with a 182-lb. win in Nashua. Stewart was one of 12 statewide recipients of the Vermont State Athletic Directors Association Scholar/Athlete Award.
SPORT SHORTS By JOE GONILLO
Halfway through January. Still snowy and cold. Hope all are studying this week. Get out and support a team during your free time. Lots of opportunities. Give credit where credit is due as the New England Patriots are a model of consistency. The wrestlers traveled to Nashua Saturday to compete in the 2019 Nashua South Hall of Fame Tournament. Essex came home the champion, beating a few teams that placed ahead of them at the George Bossi Lowell Invitational back in December. Scores: 1. Essex High School 163.5; 2. Salem, N.H. 159; 3. Bishop Guertin 135. Hornet Individuals: 106 lbs. - Christian Stygles - 3rd; Elliot Powell - 4th; 113 lbs. - Ben Stewart - 1st; 120 lbs. - Jake Sunderland 4th; Eli Bonning - 6th; 126 lbs. - Noah Bonning - 4th; 132 lbs. - Calvin Leo - 2nd; 138 lbs. - Wyatt Lamell - 4th; 152 lbs. - Gil Stawinski - 3rd; 182 lbs. - James Danis 1st; and 285 lbs. - Dylan Jenot - 6th. The JVs Participated in the Mt. Abraham JV Tourney, no team scores, but individual results were: Dylan Sordiff-Shand - 1st; River Koval - 1st; Nevin Mack - 1st; Ben Middleton - 4th; Oliver Orvis - 2nd; and Kameron Cyr - 2nd. The Mt. Abe match was postponed. The prestigious Mike Baker Classic is this weekend. Rumor has it that the long-time former coach is on his way back from sunny, warm Fla. for the Invite. Girls’ hockey is still 7-1. Their Woodstock game
GrADY CrAm Senior: Hockey
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ess than 24 hours after losing for the first time this winter, the Hornets evened things up in their rematch with Potsdam, N.Y., taking a 6-1 victory behind Cram’s hat trick. After a 4-10 start to the season, Potsdam handed essex its first defeat in an overtime battle Jan. 11, winning 5-4. Cram, a senior captain, led essex in the Saturday contest with three goals and a pair of assists. He was one of four goal-scorers Friday night and finished the weekend trip with a team-high four goals. Charles Weigand picked up three goals and an assist in the two games, and Jonah Janaro scored twice with three assists.
was obviously postponed due to the weather. MVU is next on Saturday. Boys’ hockey is now 5-0-2 as they had one game postponed and then split two games up in Potsdam, N.Y. In the mini-tourney, Essex fell 5-4 in OT. Chuck Weigand and Jonah Janaro scored a goal and added an assist. Will Couture and Grady Cram notched a goal each to conclude the scoring. Paul Gordon and Sam Foster were between the pipes. The Hornets bounced back and drubbed Potsdam 6-1 on Saturday. Cram had a hat trick and two assists, Weigand scored twice and Janaro had a goal and two assists . Foster made 19 saves. BFA game was rescheduled to Monday, Feb. 4 at 5 p.m. Games this week vs Rutland and at Rice. The gymnastics team is back in action Wednesday hosting Milton and then hit the road to the Northeast Kingdom to battle St. Johnsbury on Saturday. With three wins in their last four games, our boys’ basketball team is now 4-4. Two wins last week vs Burlington area teams were impressive. Essex edged BHS 50-46 with a big third quarter at Buck Hard Gym. Robbie Meslin continued his strong play this winter with 15 pts., and Stephen Astor drained three 3s for 11. Anthony DeCarvalho added 10. Against the South Burlington Wolves, Essex pulled away in the second half for a 66-57 win. Meslin had a game-high 20. Brendan Brooks dropped 13, Astor 10 with three more 3s. The JVs improved to 7-1 with double wins, 45-29 and 51-36 respectively. St. J and North Country Union HS this week – away then home. The frosh are 8-0 with more wins in the New Year. Rice, Mt. Mansfield Union and SB next up. Girls’ basketball shut down SB 40-23 holding the Wolves to a mere four, second-half points and outscoring their hosts 24-4 over the last 16 minutes. This is the defense the Hornets have been known to play, especially over the final months of the regular season. Strong games from Sara Coulter with 10 pts, Lizzie Goodrich 8, and Noelle Lyon 7. They raised
their record to 6-3 with their third W in the last four games by defeating Spaulding 44-39 behind 14 more from Coulter, a balanced scoring attack and a decent defensive effort. The JVs simply keep winning games. Three more W’s this week – none even close: 46-17 over SB, 52-36 past SHS and 51-7 running by NCUHS. Big home game vs the 2018 state champs St. J Thursday evening. The track and field team enjoyed some major success down in N.H. at the annual Dartmouth Relays. The boys finished 6th with 25 pts. The girls scored 6.25 pts and placed 32nd. Ryan Guerino not only won the long jump but set school AND state records in the process. The highly talented senior flew 22’ 7” to defeat an impressive field. Michael Baker vaulted 12’ 6” in the pole vault for 3rd; the boys’ 4x200m relay finished 3rd; James Boldesser 5th in the 400m 52.20; Henry Farrington ran a quick 4:25.0 in the mile placing 5th; as did running mate Peter Alden 8th in the 2 mile 9:44.75; Jamal Hankey 14th in 55m 6.83; Jackson Baker 20th long jump 18’ 6”; Brady Martissus 32nd mile 4:47.75. Lizzie Martel sprinted to 3rd place in the 600m in 1:40.06; Hannah Neddo t:6th high jump 5’; the girls’ 4 x 200m relay 18th; Lilly Bulger 9th weight throw 31’ 8.5”; Hannah Brisson 20th 2 mile 12:23.34; Natalie Preston 20th mile 5:40.88; Morgan Marckres 41st mile 5:52.93; and Maria Campo 19th shot 30’ 1”. Next meet is at Plymouth State in N.H. on Saturday, Jan. 26. NFL championship games are set for Sunday. Rams at New Orleans and the Pats play the Chiefs. Clear your Sunday afternoon schedule. Embarrassing fact: I went 23-17 in an ESPN College Bowl contest. That placed me in about 212,000th place. I pick way too much with my heart over my head! Happy Birthday to Westford’s Josh Stark, all-star pickle baller Wayne Davis, Blaine Isham, Judi Galdi, Jeff Chalmers, Pastor Joe Murphy, Andrew Overfield, Ashley Wilson, Amanda Payne, Adam Rich, Maria Morgan, Katie Clark and Eli Devoid.
16 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Jan. 17, 2019
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Quilt of Valor given to one of Essex Jct.’s sons Submitted by Janice M. RouSSelle One of Essex Jct.’s favorite sons was awarded a ‘Quilt of Valor’ last November at the annual convention of the National Grange in Stowe. Harold Henry Bergeron was one of twenty veterans and Grange Members from around the United States who were given a quilt to commemorate their service in the armed forces. What are ‘Quilts of Valor’? A ‘Quilt of Valor’ is a quality-made quilt, not a “charity quilt.” A Quilt of Valor had to be quilted, not tied, which
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Harold Henry Bergeron meant hand or machine quilting. Quilts of Valor would be “awarded,” not just passed out like magazines or videos. A ‘Quilt of Valor’ would say unequivocally, “Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and valor” in serving our nation in combat.
More information about the ‘Quilts of Valor’ program can be found on the internet under Quilts of Valor. The following short history of Harold’s Service was provided by Harold’s daughter (Ann Yandow) and read at the presentation ceremony. Harold Henry Bergeron was drafted at the age of 28 in 1943 into the US Army and sent to Camp Blanding, Florida where the 66th Infantry was being activated. He was assigned to Company C of the 264th Regiment, known as the Black Panthers. After three weeks of basic training he was asked to assist the company clerk. He remained in the states for 18 moths moving to Little Rock, Arkansas and then to Camp Rucker, Alabama. In late October 1944 he received orders to go to Europe. He was assigned as mail clerk and made a list of all the men and what platoon they were in and kept the list in his pocket. On Dec. 23, 1944 he boarded the ship Leopoldville which was headed to the Battle of the
Bulge. Four miles from Cherbourg, a German torpedo hit the ship. Harold jumped onto a destroyer but 800 men from his unit lost their lives that night. The only records that survived were what was in Harold’s pocket and his memory! Harold recreated new records for all 150 men remaining in his unit and received a Bronze Star from General Kramer for his efforts. The 66th division was deactivated in Aries, France and Harold was the last men to leave Company C. In 2013 he was recognized by the State VFW as being the oldest vet in the state and in 2014 he was presented with the French Legion of Honor Medal. Harold first joined the Colchester Grange in 1930 and upon returning from war, joined the Essex Center Grange in 1946, and is presently a member of Blue Spruce Grange in Essex Jct.
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