January 19, 2017 The Essex Reporter by Essex Reporter

Reporter

January 19, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •1

THE ESSEX

January 19, 2017

Vol. 37, no. 3

Prsrt Std ECRWSS U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 266 Burlington, VT 05401 Postal Patron-Residential

Village, town discuss potential charter change By COLIN FLANDERS

he Essex Jct. Board of Trustees and the Essex Selectboard will meet in the coming weeks to discuss the past, present and future of consolidation efforts between the town and village. They also plan to discuss a potential charter change, sparking hesitancy from members of both boards. Joint municipal manager Pat Scheidel introduced the topic last week in reference to his upcoming retirement

in summer 2018. Scheidel, who was previously town manager before assuming the joint manager role in 2013, pointed to his own position as one of the shared services initiative’s basic fiscal benefits. "It's been the easiest thing to go from two to one and save money," he said. The manager position is shared via a memorandum of understanding, which states the village hires Scheidel for a three-year contract that ends in June 2018. The village reimburses the town

for half of his salary, though he remains an employee of the town, from which he receives benefits. The agreement can be terminated at any time by either board, however, and there’s no process agreed upon by which the two will choose a future manager once Scheidel retires. So Scheidel suggested the two boards meet to discuss the possibility of codifying the role into the village and town charters. A charter change would serve as a

consolidation stop valve, he said, cementing the current make-up so it could only change by another voter-approved measure. It would also create a more stable environment for an incoming manager versus a memorandum of understanding, which Scheidel said is too big of a risk for the next manager to take. Scheidel has suggested hiring a recruitment firm to conduct the search, a very intensive process that can take up to five months, he said. Though June See chaRTER, page 10

Bias study includes Essex police data By COLIN FLANDERS A new study by the University of Vermont shows major disparities in how police treat drivers of different races. The study shows black drivers are twice as likely to be arrested after a traffic stop than white drivers in Vermont. Black and Hispanic drivers are also more likely to receive a citation once stopped and are three to four times as likely to be searched, even though white drivers were more likely to be found with serious contraband. Essex, however, was one

Got milk?

of only five departments statewide to pull over black drivers at a rate below its respective share of the population, based on data compiled over 201415. “It shows fair and impartial policing,” Police Chief Brad LaRose said. “There’s no glowing number that is of concern to me.” Co-authored by UVM economics professor Stephanie Seguino and visiting professor Nancy Brooks, the study cites Vermont’s long history of being a political outlier as the first state to outlaw slavery and legalize civil unions. See POLicE, page 4

Photos by KAYLEE SULLIVAN

Rise 'N Shine milkman grazes through the state

BY KAYLEE SULLIVAN

he loud rumbling of Peter Carreiro's delivery truck came to a slow halt last Thursday evening as he quickly jumped out, a boisterous “hello!” traveling across the yard to one of his many loyal customers. “Oh, we love milk!” Monica Aurigemma exclaimed as she scurried to give Carreiro an empty glass milk bottle. Carreiro is an old-fashioned milkman, the only one in the area. His company, Rise 'N Shine, is based on the premise of developing customer relationships and delivering fresh, locally based products directly to doorsteps. As the sun set on Essex Jct. last Thursday, Aurigemma – who normally doesn't catch Carreiro during his route – was ecstatic to see him. “We like local milk. It's delicious milk, and we just like to keep it in Vermont,” she said. The reusable bottles, all returned and then washed by Carreiro, is one factor that attracts Aurigemma to the business. Then there's the frozen pizza from Half Baked Pizza in South Burlington: A pie is always patiently waiting in her refrigerator, she said. See MiLk, page 3

Photo by COLIN FLANDERS Essex community development director Dana hanley looks over the Essex Town center Master Plan, which was created in 1991. hanley is spearheading efforts to revamp the plan.

Top, Rise 'N Shine glass milk bottles sit in the back of Peter carreiro's truck, waiting to be delivered. Left, carreiro makes a delivery to an Essex Jct. home last Thursday evening in the Five corners neighborhood. an old-fashioned milkman, carreiro makes 40 to 85 stops six days a week, amounting to 12-hour days. The milkman delivers to 12 local towns.

Town Center plan set for revision By COLIN FLANDERS For the first time in over a quarter-century, the Essex Town Center will have a new master plan to help facilitate growth. “This is a project for everyone,” said Essex community development director Dana Hanley, who’s spearheading a

yearlong effort with the help of three consulting firms. Considered the area around the outlets, the Essex Town Center has operated under its current master plan since 1991. Although it’s a useful guide for long-term planning, the plan didn’t See PLaN, page 2

Selectboard incumbents seek re-election By COLIN FLANDERS

Essex voters will have an incumbent candidate in both of the selectboard’s elections this Town Meeting Day. Chairman Max Levy and selectboard clerk Andy Watts both confirmed they’re seeking re-election to their three-year seats when voters hit the polls March 7. Petitions to run for the selectboard are due to the town clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on January 30. Candidates must obtain the signatures of 30 registered voters. Levy, a former engineer at

IBM, is entering his ninth year on the board, the last three serving as chairman. He pointed to his “excellent working relationships” with municipal staff as why he believes he’d be an effective leader to help guide the town and village toward further department consolidations. “I believe we are on the right path,” Levy wrote in an email. He named the upcoming consolidation of planning services, with one planning commission and two development review boards, as the next steps. Watts also brings IBM experience, having worked for the compa-

ny since 1983. He said he’s received much encouragement from voters to seek re-election, and also just simply enjoys the work. Like Levy, Watts touched on consolidation, including the potential for charter changes to codify previous efforts, like the sharing of a municipal manager and the merger of the street departments. The town and village are at a point where both need to start assessing how effective the consolidations have been, Watts said. He hopes to ensure further efforts aren’t done “for the sake of doing,” See BOaRD, page 10

Max Levy

Andy Watts

2• The Essex Reporter • January 19, 2017

local

Above and below left courtesy photos Right photo by COLIN FLANDERS Top, a drone image from above the Essex Town Center, which will be receiving a new master plan for the first time in over 25 years. Right, a logo for the new effort to revamp the Essex Town Center Master Plan, which has been branded ETC Next. Above, a sketch of the 1991 Essex Town Center Master Plan is pictured.

plan

from page 1 anticipate changes in the regional development market and housing pressures that exist today, Hanley said. Hanley looked over a sketch of the old plan Thursday afternoon. Signs of age show on the large poster board, its tattered corners folding inward. Some of

its vision has come true, like more development along Essex Way, she said. Other aspirations, like a more residentially developed area east of Old Stage Road, never did. Hanley cited obstacles like the circumferential highway cancellation, Tropical Storm Irene and America’s recent economic crisis as examples of reality interfering with planners’ vision. Still, since 25 years is a long time without retrospection, Hanley set forth after

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securing funding for FY17. The project — which has been branded “ETC Next” — aims to create a new vision for the town center that will inspire new zoning regulations and policies, Hanley said. Community development staff plan to heavily focus on the town center’s design. Beyond that, Hanley’s bringing no preconceived notions to the conversation. The public process will inform the community development department, she said. “What we may end up seeing here is a reconfigured town center in terms of its boundaries,” she said. “We may entertain different densities, different heights for structures or potentially different kinds of uses.” Hanley is aware of how these sensitive conversations can unfold. As proof, she pointed right down the road to the village center, where the board of trustees decided last September to cap building heights at four stories, much to many residents’ delight. In the same vein, Burlington residents are still grappling with their city council’s decision to allow up to a 14-story building in their town center. “When you talk about raising heights and increasing densities, it can, in any

community, raise some concerns,” Hanley said. “So the planning process surrounding those issues has to be extremely inclusive. “We need to get community members on the ground floor of this project in a big way,” she added. That door opens next week as the 10-person steering committee tasked with guiding the conversations meets for the first time. John Alden, Ned Daly, Sally Fleury, Sue Kurek, Paul O’Leary, Barbara Higgins, Christine Hammer, Justin St. James, Brian Waxler and Paula Duke are on the committee. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in the town offices. The committee will meet about eight times over the next year, and the community development department ains to have a final plan to present in December. The trio of firms supporting the efforts includes SE Group, Front Porch Community Planning and Design, and Wiemann Lamphere Architects. The last three months were spent collecting data and conducting drone flights above the town center to help create over 1,500 3D pictures, Hanley said. The next three will include a focus group workshop, two steering committee meetings and a community survey.

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January 19, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •3

local

milk

from page 1 About 80 percent of the milkman’s 200 products are from Vermont. “Milk gets us to the door every day,” he said, but people take advantage of his other offerings, such as Chobani and Stonyfield yogurt, Myers bagels, eggs, almond milk, Cabot cheese and snacks ranging from beef jerky to purple cornflakes. Chocolate milk is another favorite, he noted. Carreiro asks what customers want to see on the truck, allowing them to be a part of the process, he said as he gathered up a family's order and stepped out of his truck, crate in hand. Aurigemma isn't Carreiro's typical customer, he said. Families with children are more likely to use his services since parents want to provide healthy meals, including GMO-free, organic and glutenfree options, all of which Carreiro has on board. Last week, Carreiro transferred the

customer’s order to the doorstop box, closing it with a thump and quickly making his way back to the truck. Delivering to 12 towns, including Essex, Essex Jct. and Colchester, the milkman has his route down to a science, a component of which includes avoiding Five Corners whenever possible. Next up was a driveway down a semilengthy mud-filled road. Trudging along, the vrooming truck slowly made its way to complete the order. As Carreiro executed a five-point turn to head back, a customer waved from the window. Carreiro has graced Vermont doorsteps with milk for 12 years. He started as a milkman in Rhode Island in 1990 but sold his business to move to the Green Mountain State. “It's been in my blood ever since,” he said. As his business has grown, so have his clients. Many families have been with him since the start, he said, and he's watched their kids grow up. One moment they’re waiting on the curb with a doll in hand and the next they're behind the

wheel, he said. “I have some people on our routes, their kids have had nothing but our milk … that's all they know, is having a milkman,” he said, speedily walking down the street to his next stop. Carreiro puts in a 12-hour shift, starting at 5 a.m. and finishing around 5 or 6 p.m. He makes between 40 and 85 stops depending on the day, collecting as many as 200 bottles to refill. Carreiro figures he diverts a lot of waste from the landfill, or even recycling facilities. If the bottles he sold were plastic, he calculated that, crushed down, they’d be taller than Mt. Mansfield. “That's how many bottles we keep out of the system,” he said. Vermonters buy and support local business and products, Carreiro said. The availability of a great dairy industry and high quality food products are added perks, he explained. With comparable prices to markets like Healthy Living in South Burlington, Carreiro said people receive quality products with a $2.99 delivery fee.

Delivering the products and seeing his customers is his favorite part of the job, he said. After interviews with multiple television news outlets on National Milk Day, Wednesday, Jan. 11, he's received a spike in new customer inquiries. He’s had to break the news to some that they’re not in his delivery range, but he added others to his route. He’s already thinking about where to deliver next. For now, Carreiro is traversing the streets of Chittenden County and its outskirts, delivering goods to customers who he knows by name — children and pets included. “I love what I do. I really like it,” he said. And as he spoke, he slammed his truck's back door shut, bottles clinking in response. Photos by KAYLEE SULLIVAN Above left, milkman Peter Carreiro holds up a milk bottle before placing it in a customer's box. Above right, one-year client Monica Aurigemma poses with Carreiro in front of his truck last week.

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4• The Essex Reporter • January 19, 2017

local rests. LaRose said officers usually can’t identify a driver’s race before a stop, especially at night. Noting this, the study also looked into post-stop outcomes. In Essex, black drivers were ticketed 5 percent more often than white drivers, who were more likely to receive warnings. The 45 Hispanic drivers stopped were ticketed 40 percent of the time, twice as often as white drivers. Additionally, black males made up a much larger percentage of total stops on black drivers compared to white counterparts, about a 15 percent difference, Essex’s data shows. Statewide data is similar. Black drivers received tickets 3 percent more often than white drivers, while Hispanic drivers received tickets almost 5 percent more often. The gender breakdown mimicked Essex’s. Citing the disparities among gender based on race, the authors suggested black and Hispanic males are often the targets of heightened police scrutiny. The authors also examined officerspecific data from 12 agencies to see if the disparities were evident throughout the department. The study found eight EPD officers, or 40 percent of its officers with more than 50 stops, pulled over black drivers at a rate of more than 50 percent of the black population share.

police from page 1

Seguino wasn’t surprised at her findings but noted they may be at odds with Vermonters’ views of their state. “This is a problem that exists everywhere, including here,” she said. “I think it is very disturbing for Vermonters.” The study examined datasets from 29 Vermont police agencies, including 24 municipal departments, that police 78 percent of the population. A 2014 Vermont law required the agencies to start collecting traffic stop data by race. The statewide data represent 2015, when all 29 agencies had complete data. Essex’s data departed from statewide trends in overall traffic stops. At 2.6 percent, EPD’s percentage of black drivers stopped is lower than Chittenden County’s black population of 3 percent. On the other end of the spectrum, black drivers were about three times as likely to be pulled over in Vergennes versus its share of Addison County’s population, the study shows. Essex police arrested no black drivers after 118 stops and performed only one search that resulted in a ticket, the study shows. Similarly, EPD reported three searches over the course of 45 stops of Hispanic drivers resulting in no ar-

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“They tell me police don’t want to be doing harm, and I believe that,” she said. She recalled a conversation with one particular chief, who said he’s afraid when pulling over a black driver. “That was an important acknowledgement,” Seguino said. “We all have implicit bias … In some ways, [racial bias] is a disease we all have by living in this country.” LaRose said officers receive fair and impartial policing training at the academy, and EPD has a comprehensive policy. “Everyone here is familiar with that,” he said. “Certainly if there was an issue here with anyone being treated unfairly, we would deal with that swiftly and address that issue.” He added he maintains the utmost confidence in his officers. Seguino believes the idea of racial profiling conflicts with Vermonters’ value system and suggested the state could become a leader in combatting these practices. Doing so will require Vermonters to understand that racial bias, particularly against darker-skinned people, exists here, Seguino said. “Our job now is to unravel that,” she added. The University of Vermont study “Driving while black and brown in Vermont” can be found at http://bit. ly/2k1wah5.

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In other words, black drivers represented more than 4.5 percent of these officers’ total stops despite the county population of 3 percent. Comparatively, six agencies showed that more than half their officers with 50 stops pulled over black drivers at such rates, with Brandon showing the highest rate of 67 percent of officers. The authors note the statewide data indicates this behavior may be the result of “more pervasive cultural norms within agencies.” Yet LaRose urged caution when analyzing Essex’s results. “That’s three out of 100 stops. The numbers are so low, if one or two of those stops out of that 100 were not a person of color, that would really skew the numbers,” he said, adding this research is challenging because EPD has a small percentage of incidents involving black and Hispanic drivers — about 5 percent of total stops. LaRose anticipated additional analysis will be conducted with more comprehensive data collection. For Seguino, the statewide findings, which included over 3,000 black drivers, are more than enough for statistical reliability. She said she’s had very productive conversations with police chiefs, who want data to be assessed with an appropriate context to avoid being misunderstood.

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January 19, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •5

opinion PERSPECTIVE

MESSAGES FROM MONTPELIER R E P. L I N D A M Y E R S

(d)Chittenden 8-1 bets ydunn@co mcas t. net 878-6628

(R)Chittenden 8-3 bancro f t. vt@gmail. co m 879-7386

R E P. D Y L A N G I A M b AT I S TA

R E P. LO R I H O u G H T O N

Th e le g isla t ive e m a il co n ve n t io n is fir st in it ia l, la s t n a m e @ le g. st a te. v t . u s. E. g. , lm ye r s@ le g. s t a te. v t . u s

partment of Financial Regulation; Michael Schirling, the new secretary of Commerce and Community Development and the commissioners of the many departments included in CCD; Lindsay Kurrle, the new commissioner of the Department of Labor; T.J. Donovan, Vermont’s new attorney general; Beth Pearce, state treasurer; James Condos, secretary of state and Rebecca Holcombe, secretary of the Agency of Education. In addition to the agency leaders, we heard from many business organizations including the Vermont Business Roundtable, Associated Industries of Vermont, Vermont Business for Social Responsibility, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Vermont Chamber of Commerce,

Vermont Council on Rural Development, AFL-CIO and the State Workforce Development Board. Over 50 bills have already been introduced in the House of Representatives, with four assigned to Commerce. We will soon be talking to the sponsors of these bills and deciding if we will move them forward. There will be many more to come. 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. 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 15 years, and I will work diligently to maintain your trust.

our state. We will continue to push for renewables energy options and the cleanup and protection of our lakes, rivers and streams. Working Vermonters: We believe that hardworking Vermonters deserve a raise and that illness, a new baby or a sick family member should not be the cause of a lost paycheck. National Republican Party: Over the next few years, Vermont will not just face pressure internally, but increasingly from national politics as well. We expect you to have the strength to push back on policies that hurt our state and to reject the

out-of-touch views of the national GOP. Leading Vermont is a heavy responsibility. We are ready to work with your administration to find common ground. Together, we know that we can continue to improve our state and the lives of its residents.

(d)Chittenden 8-2 dy l a n@ v tdy l a n. co m 734- 8841

By Linda K. Myers R-Essex Town

s you read this column, the Vermont Legislature is in the third week of the 20172018 biennium. We have seen the farewell address of Gov. Peter Shumlin and the inaugural address of Gov. Phil Scott, the election of a new Speaker of the House and the announcement of committee assignments. As noted in last week’s Essex Reporter, I have been assigned to a new committee, Commerce and Economic Development. I am looking forward to my work on this committee. Gov. Scott has made affordability, workforce training and increasing business opportunities throughout Vermont as part of his agenda for his

R E P. b O b b A N C R O F T

R E P. b E T S Y D u N N

(R)Chittenden 8-1 l ind a kmye r s @ co m ca s t. ne t 878 - 3514

first term in office, issues that will be addressed by my committee. A new biennium is a beginning for freshmen legislators and an opportunity to renew friendships for us veterans. My committee of 11 has four members returning and seven of us new to Commerce. Four new members are freshmen who are learning the ropes, while three of us were reassigned from other committees. As part of the legislative learning process, in the past two weeks our committee agendas were filled with meeting new members of Gov. Scott’s administration, especially those whose departments will deal with issues that will be coming to Commerce for action. We met and heard from Michael Pieciak, commissioner of the De-

(d)Chittenden 8-2 ho ughto n. l o ri@gmail. co m 373-0599

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR An open letter from Vermont Democrats Dear Gov. Phil Scott, We want to congratulate you on your swearing in and offer a welcome to your administration. As your plans begin to take shape and priorities emerge, we want to lay out some of our priorities and the positions that we hope we can find common ground on, like building an economy that works for all Vermonters, moving Vermont forward and ensuring a strong state for future generations. But we also would like to make clear that we will continue to defend the values we believe are neither flexible

nor negotiable. Labor: Vermont labor and its unions need to be respected. We will continue to defend the retirement security of current and future employees and protect state pensions. Healthcare: All Vermonters deserve access to healthcare. We will push back on policies that leave Vermonters without coverage including any support from the administration for block grant proposals that could leave over 50,000 Vermonters without coverage or with limited access to necessary care. Environment: Global climate change is one of the biggest threats facing

Haste makes waste At the Jan. 9 meeting of the Essex Selectboard, joint municipal manager Pat Scheidel introduced the idea of codifying consolidation efforts by amending the town/village charters; the draft minutes provide no detail, and Channel 17 did not record the meeting. Included in the selectboard packet, however, is a proposed charter amendment

schedule, which suggests warning a special meeting (vote by Australian ballot) for April 11. The draft minutes of meeting state the manager will get back to the board with more information and arrange a joint meeting with the trustees to discuss the issue further. I understand the joint meeting is scheduled to take place at the trustees’ next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Even without knowing the

Best, Dottie Deans, Vermont Democratic Party chairwoman Tim Jerman of Essex, VDP vice-chairman Conor Casey, VDP executive director

specifics of any proposed charter charges, the idea of codifying consolidation efforts in such a manner seems premature, and the proposed schedule insufficient to provide voters with the opportunity for due consideration. Barbara Higgins Essex Jct.

Nancy Durham Robinson Nancy Durham Robinson, 74, of Essex, passed away peacefully in her home with her loving family and loyal kitties at her

and creating beautiful glass bead jewelry. A lifelong musician, she sang madrigals in high school, travelled with the Oberlin Choir in 1962, and performed with the St. James Episcopal Church Bell Choir, a group that meant the world to her over the past several years. Nancy is survived by her husband, Omar Saiyid; by her daughter, Laurie; her son-in-law, Michael; her two daughters Ainslee and Daela; her son, Steven; by her beloved Siamese kitties Maxie and Mischa who remained diligently at her side during her short illness; and by a world of loving friends near and far

By COURTNEY LAMDIN

nside this week’s paper, readers will find a flyer from Vermont Right to Life, a pro-life advocacy group that aims to inform public opinion on abortion and physician-assisted death. The last time our papers ran this flyer – a paid advertisement inserted into the newspaper – we got a lot of grief for it. Pro-choice advocates called and emailed, saying they’d never read or advertise in our papers again. Some asked to stop delivery of the paper. We recognize while some readers may appreciate this flyer, others may have a similar reaction as before. And we understand. This conundrum is not a new one, but it provides an opportunity to discuss a newspaper’s main role: protecting the freedom of speech and providing a venue for thoughtful discussion. Now more than ever, First Amendment rights need protection. President-elect Donald Trump has suggested jailing people for burning the American flag, an act the Supreme Court has ruled is protected speech. He’s made a hobby of trying to silence journalists with threats of lawsuits or just blatantly interrupting their questions at a news conference. And let’s not forget, at his own rally in Burlington last January, Trump’s campaign denied entry to the Flynn Theater to any undecided voter or to those supporting other candidates. This example, now coming from the nation’s

highest office, isn’t one our newspapers want to emulate. It isn’t our practice to quiet viewpoints that may or may not conflict with our own. In 2014, a group of three Minnesota newspapers dealt with this same question. An anti-LGBT organization there paid for full-page, color ads critical of a proposed policy to allow transgender students to play on athletic teams corresponding to their gender identity. The ads sparked outcry, according to misinformation watchdog Media Matters. Activists said the ad was “misleading, hurtful and based in ignorance.” The same could easily be said about this insert in your local paper. And just as the Minnesota newspapers did in the above case, we want to remind our readers that [The Essex Reporter/The Colchester Sun/Milton Independent]’s reporters and editors don’t necessarily agree with or endorse opinions expressed in paid advertising. They’re two separate departments for a reason. Especially given the national climate, we want to remind readers of our responsibility as a free press to uphold the First Amendment, one that all Americans hold dear. Your local paper has always hosted conflicting viewpoints, and we welcome them. To us, that’s preserving our democracy. If you're so moved, please exercise this right by submitting letters to the editor on this or any other topic. Courtney Lamdin is executive editor of The Essex Reporter.

Reporter THE ESSEX

ObITuARY side on Jan. 7, 2017, following a short and brave battle with pancreatic cancer. Born Sept. 21, 1942 in Washington, D.C., and growing up in Great Falls, Va., she was the only child of CJS “Jack” and Ethel Briggs Durham. Nancy graduated from McLean High School in 1960, and then Oberlin College in 1964, with a BA in sociology. She was an activist, artist, loving wife, mother and a proud and doting grandmother. She loved the mountains and the autumn foliage, and tapped her inner artist by taking stunning photographs of her beloved Vermont scenes,

Now more than ever, free speech is vital

who sent her messages of love and strength during this time. A celebration of Nancy’s life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. at St. James Episcopal Church in Essex with a brief reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Addison Counties, Hospice program. Arrange with your funeral home to send remembrances to news@essexreporter. com by Fridays at 5 p.m of desired week's publication.

ExEcutivE Editor Courtney A. Lamdin

AssociAtE Editor Abby Ledoux

sports Editor Colin Flanders

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Email: news@essexreporter.com Website: www.essexreporter.com

Phone: 878-5282 Fax: 651-9635

Barbara Brisson

Published Thursdays

Deadlines: News & Advertising – Friday at 5 p.m. Circulation: 8,800

6• The Essex Reporter • January 19, 2017

EssEx ArEA

Religious Directory

calendar Jan. 26

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: 7 p.m., Wednesday evening youth groups, Adult Bible study and prayer: 7 p.m.; FundamentalIndependent. CITYREACH CHURCH - 159 Pearl St., Essex Jct. Behind Subway, on the back side of the building. Pastor Brent Collins. Sunday worship service: 10 a.m. & 5 p.m. A casual, family-focused and friendly Christian Church with practical teaching, great music, a safe kids program (Nursery-5th grade) and an exciting and empowering church experience, www.essexjunction.cityreachnetwork. org; bcollins@cityreachnetwork.org; facebook: CityReach Church - Essex Junction. CHRIST MEMORIAL CHURCH - Route 2A, Williston, just north of Industrial Ave. 878-7107. Wes Pastor, senior minister, proclaiming Christ and Him crucified, Sundays: 9:30 a.m., www.cmcvermont.org. DAYBREAk COMMUnITY CHURCH - 67 Creek Farm Plaza, Colchester. 338-9118. Brent Devenney, lead pastor. Sunday service: 10:30 a.m., AWANA: Thursdays twice a month, www.daybreakvermont.org; brentdaybreak@gmail.com ESSEX ALLIAnCE CHURCH - 37 Old Stage Road, Essex Jct. 878-8213. Sunday services: 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m., www.essexalliance.org. ESSEX CEnTER UnITED METHODIST CHURCH - 119 Center Rd (Route 15), Essex. 878-8304. Rev. Mitchell Hay, pastor. Service 10:00 a.m. 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 - 1 Church Street, Essex Jct. 878-5745. Rev. Mark Mendes, senior pastor. Sunday Worship Services: 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. Communion: first Sunday of every month. Sunday School: 5th/6th Grade - 1st Sunday of the month, Jr. & Sr. high youth groups - every Sunday. Heavenly Food Pantry: fourth Thursday of the month, 2-6 p.m. except for Nov. & Dec. when it is the third Thursday. Essex Eats Out community dinner: 1st Friday of the month, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Music includes Sanctuary Choir, Praise Band, Junior Choir, Cherub Choir, Handbell Choir, Men’s Acapella & Ladies’ Acapella groups. 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. www.fccej.org; welcome@fccej.org gRACE UnITED METHODIST CHURCH - 130 Maple Street, Essex Jct., 1 mile south of the Five Corners on Maple Street / Route 117. 878-8071. Worship Sundays: 9:30 a.m., with concurrent church school pre-K to high school. Handicapped-accessible facility. Adult study group Sundays: 11:00 a.m; adult choir, praise band, women’s fellowship, missionally active. Korean U.M.C. worship Sundays: 12:30 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. 8784014. Rev. Kim Hardy. Holy Eucharist: 8:15 & 10:30 a.m. Adult study: 9:15 a.m. Visit www.stjamesvt.org; stjamesvtoffice@yahoo.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.

Photo courtesy of Brownell library

Archie loves to listen to kids read and is certified by Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Stop by the Brownell Library and read to him on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 3:15 - 4 p.m. See listing for more information.

19 ThurSdaY read To archie

3:15 - 4 p.m., Brownell Library. Archie loves to listen to kids read and is certified by Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Archie’s owner is Christine Packard, chair of Brownell Library Trustees. For all ages.

read To McKenzie The dog

3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Sign your young reader up for a 15-minute slot to read to our resident R.E.A.D. dog, McKenzie. McKenzie is a certified therapy and reading dog and loves to listen to stories! Reading to a dog is a wonderful way to work on reading skills in a comfortable atmosphere. To schedule a time, call 879-0313 or email Caitlin at ccorless@essex.org

children'S STorY TiMe 6 p.m., Rocky's Pizza, 39 Park St., Essex Jct. Mother Goose stories and Aesop's Fables.

20 fridaY all ageS STorYTiMe

10 - 10:30 a.m., Brownell Library. Come listen to picture book stories and have fun with puppets, finger plays & rhymes. For ages birth to 5.

Mah Jongg

10 a.m. - noon, Essex Area Senior Center, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. Two Mah Jongg sets are available for anyone who would like to come. New players are always welcome. For ages 50+. Call 876-5087 for more information.

MuSical STorYTiMe

10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Rock out and read on Friday mornings with books, songs and instruments. For all ages.

vinTage Movie MaTinee

Noon, Bayside Activity

Center, 2 West Lakeshore Dr., Colchester. Bring your lunch at noon to meet others, or justm come for the movie at 1 p.m. Beverages and popcorn provided. This week's movie is viewers' choice.

live acTion role PlaY

3:30 - 5 p.m., Brownell Library. LARP with Sydney is open to all middle and high school students who want to have adventures in a mythical land.

faMilY Movie

6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Free popcorn and drink provided. For all ages.

21 SaTurdaY SaTurdaY STorYTiMe

10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Start off your weekend with books, rhymes and songs every Saturday morning.

MonSTer concerT

4:30 p.m., Essex High School. A multi-piano and flute festival that provides an opportunity for students to share an experience as participants of an ensemble. Sponsored by the Burlington branch of the Vermont Music Teachers Association. For more information, call 878-9873 or email pcberg86@gmail.com. ESSEx JcT. KNighTS oF coLuMBuS

annual gaMe SuPPer

5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Holy Family Parish hall, Lincoln St., Essex Jct. A supper benefitting the Knights of columbus charity and scholarship funds. Tickets: adults/$18, kids under 12/$6. For tickets and reservations, call Barry Corbin at 878-8314 or contact any Essex Knights of columbus member.

Whole BooK aPProach

6 p.m., Phoenix Books, 21 Essex Way, Essex Jct. The stories we read with children are

important, now more than ever. Join children’s literature scholar and author Megan Dowd Lambert as she uses the "Whole Book Approach" to shake up storytime and get kids talking about what they see. Megan developed this approach in conjunction with the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Mass. She'll feature her own picture books, "A crow of his own" and "Real Sisters Pretend," as well as others that speak to themes of community, family and inclusion. All ages are welcome at this free event. For more information, call 872-7111 or visit www. phoenixbooks.biz

22 SundaY PicK-uP BaSKeTBall

5 - 7 p.m., Milton High School gym, 17 Rebecca Lander Dr., Milton. Fun, exercise and friendly competition in one place. Play is recreational with a 5 v. 5 pick-up game format. Players (both men and women) must be out of high school and ages 18 and over. $15/person/ eight-week session.

23 MondaY SPaniSh MuSical KidS

10:30 - 11:15 a.m., Brownell Library. Join Constancia Gomez, an experienced Spanish teacher, for this interactive Spanish musical class for kids. This class will have activities to keep little ones and parents moving.

STorYTiMe

10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Enjoy books, songs and crafts each week! For all ages.

Tech helP WiTh clif

Noon & 1 p.m., Brownell Library. offering one-on-one technology help. Bring in your new gadget or gizmo and clif will sit with you to help you learn its ways. Reservation required. Please call 878-6955 at least 24 hours in

advance.

lego cluB

3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. Build awesome creations using our collection of Legos!

STar WarS cluB

4:30 - 5:30 p.m., Brownell Library. our library trustee Max Holzman leads the Star Wars club. For all ages; popcorn and drink provided!

auThor aPPearance: "refinerY ToWn"

6:30 p.m., Phoenix Books Burlington, 191 Bank St., Burlington. Join Steve Early, author of "Refinery Town," to discover how a workingclass company town harnessed the power of local politics to reclaim their community. Steve Early has been active as a labor journalist, organizer and union representative for over 40 years. He is the author of three other books, including "Save our unions: Dispatches from a Movement in Distress." The author will be introduced by Phil Fiermonte, state director for the office of Sen. Bernie Sanders. Tickets are $3 per person and include a coupon for $5 off the featured book. For more information, visit www.phoenixbooks. biz or call 448-3350.

georgia WriTerS grouP

6:30 p.m., georgia Public Library, 1697 Ethan Allen Highway, Georgia. This is a thoughtful and experienced group giving you the opportunity to share your work for feedback. Email terryclevelandvt@gmail. com before attending in order to become familiar with the process.

a neW vieW on diSciPline: Toddler To Teen

7 - 8 p.m., Brownell Library. Everyday discipline can be done more effectively and with less stress. Learn how children best respond to discipline from adults in ways that nurture cooperation and reduce conflict. Beth Martell shares the

January 19, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •7

calendar local meetings mon., jan. 23

7:30 p.m., town selectboard, Town offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.

tues., jan. 24

6:30 - 8:30 p.m., village trustees/public hearing on fy18 budget, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.

thurs., jan. 26

6:30 p.m., town planning commission, Town offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.

latest research in child development to make parenting easier and more enjoyable.

please call 878-6955 at least 24 hours in advance.

24 tuesday

12:10 p.m., The Essex, 70 Essex Way, Essex Jct. The Rotary Club of Essex offers a superb lunch, featuring speakers on topics of interest to the community at large. Visitors welcome.

storytime for BaBies and toddlers

9:10 - 9:30 a.m., Brownell Library. Picture books, songs, rhymes and puppets for babies and toddlers with an adult.

storytime for Preschoolers

10 - 10:45 a.m., Brownell Library. Picture books, songs, rhymes, puppets, flannel stories and early math activities for preschoolers.

vermont genealogy liBrary

3 - 9:30 p.m., 377 Hegeman Ave., Fort Ethan Allen, Colchester. The Vt. Genealogy Library has the resources to help you find those elusive ancestors. For more information, visit www. vtgenlib.org.

read to daisy

3:15 - 4 p.m., Brownell Library. Daisy loves to listen to kids read and is certified by Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Daisy’s owner is Maddie Nash, retired school counselor. For all ages.

Knitting grouP

6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. Do you have a knitting project you are working on? Come join us and knit in the company of others.

25 wednesday tech time with traci

10 - 11 a.m., Essex Free Library. Need some tech help? Drop in with your device and your questions.

senior luncheon

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Maple Street Park. A potluck and celebration of January birthdays hosted by the Essex Area Senior Center. For ages 50+. For members, potlucks are free with a dish to pass and $4 without a dish. Non-members pay $1 with a dish to pass and $5 without a dish. EASC office opens at 2 p.m. Call 876-5087 for more information.

tech helP with clif

Noon & 1 p.m., Brownell Library. Offering one-on-one technology help! Bring in your new gadget or gizmo and Clif will sit with you to help you learn its ways. Reservation required;

essex rotary cluB meeting

lego fun

3 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Participate in fun and friendly building with Legos. For kids entering kindergarten and up. Children under 5 are welcome to participate with parental supervision.

tutoring

3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. A high school student offers after-school tutoring at the library. Math is the preferred subject, but others are available.

Building emPathy and addressing racism

6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Memorial Hall, Essex. This three-part program strives to give community members the opportunity to practice recognizing racism and addressing it. The three sessions focus on self, community and systems/ institutions. It is important to attend all three parts of this workshop. Participants are strongly encouraged to sign up with friends, colleagues, family members or anyone who will help continue work beyond the three sessions. The Essex Community Justice Center and Heart and Soul of Essex hope this will kick off a much larger conversation over the next couple years regarding issues of race in the Essex community. For more information, call 863-2345 ext. 6 or email program@pjcvt. org. Register at http:// tiny.cc/0ju5gy.

40th army Band

7:30 p.m., House chamber of the Vermont State House, Montpelier. This free concert will feature traditional patriotic American tunes as well as musical selections from David Holsinger and Gustav Holst. For more information, call the unit’s Colchester office at 338-3480.

26 thursday jazzercise lite

11 a.m. - noon, Essex Area Senior Center, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. Come and join the newest exercise program at EASC! For

all levels of fitness, Jazzercise Lite combines dance, yoga, pilates and strength training for an hour of laughter and health. For ages 50+. Call 876-5087 for more information.

read to archie

3:15 - 4 p.m., Brownell Library. Archie loves to listen to kids read and is certified by Therapy Dogs of Vermont. Archie’s owner is Christine Packard, Chair of Brownell Library Trustees. For all ages.

children's story time

6 p.m., Rocky's Pizza, 39 Park St., Essex Jct. Mother Goose stories and Aesop's Fables.

adult evening storytime

6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. Join us as we discuss "Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Book Store" by Robin Sloan.

author aPPearance: "the Bear and the nightingale"

6:30 p.m., Phoenix Books Burlington, 191 Bank St., Burlington. Escape to a version of medieval Russia where history and myth coexist. Novelist Katherine Arden visits to give a talk on her first novel. Tickets are $3 per person and include a coupon for $5 off the featured book. For more information, visit www.phoenixbooks. biz or call 448-3350.

27 friday songs and stories with matthew

10 - 10:45 a.m., Brownell Library. Matthew Witten performs songs about our world and tells adventurous tales. Funded by the Brownell Library Foundation. For all ages.

mah jongg

10 a.m. - noon, Essex Area Senior Center, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. (See Friday, Jan. 20.)

musical storytime

10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Rock out and read on Friday mornings with books, songs and instruments. For all ages.

vintage movie matinee

Noon, Bayside Activity Center, 2 West Lakeshore Dr., Colchester. Bring your lunch at noon to meet others, or justm come for the movie at 1 p.m. Beverages and popcorn provided. This week's movie is viewers' choice.

afternoon foreign film

2 - 4 p.m., Brownell Library. Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Vermont Italian Club.

maggie’s fiBer friday for adults

6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Maggie Loftus, veteran knitter, will be settled in front of the fireplace in the Main Reading Room.

She invites adult knitters and crocheters to join her with their projects and engage in conversation. Bring patterns to share if you’d like. For more information, email Maggie at 6maggie2@ myfairpoint.net.

dungeons and dragons

6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Embark upon imaginary adventures. Our Dungeon Master, Owen, serves as the game’s referee and storyteller. For grades 6 and up.

Submit your calendar events to michaela@essexreporter.com Bus Day Trip to

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28 saturday saturday storytime

10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Start off your weekend with books, rhymes and songs every Saturday morning.

whole BooK aPProach

11 a.m., Phoenix Books; 21 Essex Way, Essex. Calling all kids! Join us for our weekly "Whole Book Approach" story time. The approach explores the ways words, pictures and book design work together to tell a complete story. The adult leads the children through the book rather than reading the book at/to them. We’ll hold story time just about every week. Want to double check on a particular date? Call us at 872-7111.

time out for tea

2 - 3:30 p.m., Milton Public Library, 39 Bombardier Rd., Milton. Chase away the winter blues! Join us for a lovely tea with delicious scones and a make-andtakeaway craft. We will also raffle off a beautiful painting donated by Milton artist Mary Ann Duffy Godin. Call 893-4644 to sign up.

midwinter evening of Panceltic music & dance

7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Route 15, Jericho. Irish, Scottish, Quebecois and Appalachian tunes performed by a long list of recognized musicians. Also features the Scottish dancers from the Heather Morris School of Dance. Tickets at the door are $12 for adults, $10 for kids age 13-18 and free for kids 12 and under. Call 878-3840 for more information.

29 sunday PicK-uP BasKetBall

5 - 7 p.m., Milton High School gym, 17 Rebecca Lander Dr., Milton. (See Sunday, Jan. 22.)

ongoing easc activities

Essex Area Senior Center, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. A full list of activities happening at the EASC can be found at www. essexvtseniors.org. All activities for ages 50+. Call 876-5087 for more information.

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’06 Ford F350 ’06 Jeep Commander ’06 Nissan Altima ’06 Toyota Sequoia ’05 Ford Explorer ’05 Ford F-150 ’05 Honda Accord Subject to Change

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8• The Essex Reporter • January 19, 2017

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TOWN OF ESSEX SELECTBOARD MEETING MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 7:30 PM AGENDA PUBLIC HEARING ON ZONING AND SUBDIVISION REGULATION AMENDMENTS This meeting will be held at the Essex Town offices at 81 Main Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452. For information regarding this agenda, call the Municipal Manager’s office at 878-1341.

VILLAGE OF ESSEX JUNCTION BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2017 6:30 PM AGENDA PUBLIC HEARING FYE 18 PROPOSED BUDGET AND CAPITAL PROGRAMS This meeting will be held in the meeting room at the Village Municipal Building, 2 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Meetings of the Trustees are accessible to people with disabilities. For information on accessibility and/or this agenda, call the Municipal Manager’s office at 878-6944. ADVERTISE

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2. Continued Public Hearing-Sketch Plan: Daniel & Allison Morse- 4-lot residential subdivision-12 Old Pump Road- Conservation (C1) Zone. Tax Map 12, Parcel 16-1. 3. Site Plan-Public Hearing: Allen Brook Dev. Inc. (Al Senecal)- 4,747 s.f. commercial building & outdoor recreation facility-Lot 7, off Thompson Drive-Resource Preservation District-Industrial (RPD-I) Zone. Tax Map 72, Parcel 8. 4. Site Plan-Public Hearing: Allen Brook Dev. Inc. (Al Senecal)-20,000 s.f. building footprint-20,000 s.f. of light manufacturing/ storage distribution & 8,100 s.f. office space in a mezzanine-Lot 1, off Thompson Drive in the RPD-I Zone. Tax Map 72, Parcel 8. 5.

Minutes: January 26, 2017

Other Business

Note: Please visit our website at www.essex.org to view agendas, application materials, and minutes. You may visit the office to review materials or discuss any proposal with staff. We are located at 81 Main Street; second floor (7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.). Members of the public are encouraged to speak at the meeting when recognized by the chair. This meeting will be taped by Channel 17.

January 19, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •9

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10:25 a.m., Suspicious on Educational Dr. 10:35 a.m., Citizens Assist on Center Rd. 6:29 p.m., Citizens Assist on Williams St. 9:39 p.m., Theft on Market Pl. 10:13 p.m., Suspicious on Frederick Rd.

9:42 a.m., Citizens Assist on Pomfret Ln. 12:55 p.m., Citizens Assist on Kimberly Dr. 2:29 p.m., Suspicious on South St. 3:54 p.m., Suspicious on South St. 8:15 p.m., Suspicious on Pearl St. 10:33 p.m., Suspicious on Main St. 11:04 p.m., Suspicious on Brigham Hill Ln.

9:18 a.m., Citizens Assist on Maple St. 2:34 p.m., Citizens Assist on Franklin St. 4:05 p.m., Suspicious on Susie Wilson Rd. 5:56 p.m., Fraud on Pearl St. 9:04 p.m., Juvenile Problem on Partridge Dr. 9:46 p.m., Noise Complaint on Central St.

tUeSDay

tHUrSDay

1:34 a.m., Suspicious on Pearl St. 10:04 a.m., Citizens Assist on Essex Way.

WeDneSDay

10:43 a.m., Wanted Person on Main St. 11:39 a.m., Suspicious on Jericho Rd. 12:33 p.m., Citizens Assist on North St. 2:23 p.m., Suspicious on Clems Dr. 4:10 p.m., Property Damage on Maplewood Ln. 8:58 p.m., Family Fight on West St. 10:26 p.m., Suspicious on Carmichael St. 10:59 p.m., Suspicious on Susie Wilson Rd. 11:58 p.m., Arrest for Possession and Attempt to Distribute Marijuana on Center Rd.

FrIDay

7:10 a.m., Intoxicated Person on Lincoln St.

12:59 a.m., Suspicious on River Rd. 8:42 a.m., Citizens Assist on Indigo Ln. 9:26 a.m., Theft on Carmichael St. 10:02 a.m., Suspicious on Osgood Hill Rd.

10:45 a.m., Citizens Assist on Main St. 2:24 p.m., Citizens Assist on West St. 4:13 p.m., Citizens Assist on Margaret St. 4:48 p.m., Citizens Assist on Maple St. 6:45 p.m., Family Fight on River Rd. 6:59 p.m., Suspicious on North St.

SatUrDay

8:55 a.m., Suspicious on Discovery Rd. 11:20 a.m., Theft on Jericho Rd. 2:01 p.m., Juvenile Problem on Maple St. 4:00 p.m., Citizens Dispute on Tyler Dr. 4:49 p.m., Citizens Assist on Maple St. 9:06 p.m., Suspicious on Hagan Dr.

SUnDay

3:23 a.m., Suspicious on Pearl St. 4:04 a.m., Suspicious on Main St.

9:39 a.m., Suspicious on Susie Wilson Rd. 11:39 a.m., Citizens Dispute on Logwood Cir. 12:51 p.m., Family Fight on Autumn Pond Way 1:10 p.m., Fraud on Sydney Dr. 2:30 p.m., Theft on Susie Wilson Rd. 3:30 p.m., Suspicious on Kellogg Rd. 6:12 p.m., Family Fight on Kellogg Rd. 10:04 p.m., Theft on Carmichael St.

tIcketS ISSUeD: 8 WarnInGS ISSUeD: 34 FIre/eMS caLLS DISpatcHeD: 59

10• The Essex Reporter • January 19, 2017

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2018 may seem far away, timing will prove to be significant as the process unfolds. If voters passed the proposed change to both charters, the Vermont House Government Operations Committee must then approve the measure. Vermont’s legislative session usually ends sometime in May. Tyler suggested piggybacking on the school vote April 11, which would fulfill the House deadline and also address concerns of voter fatigue; town and village voters hit the polls four and five times last year, respectively. Scheidel provided a draft schedule to the selectboard last week. By law, municipalities must host two public hearings before putting charter changes to a vote. The first meeting must be warned at least 30 days in advance and must occur 30 days before the vote. Scheidel suggested holding a special meeting January 23 to warn the first charter hearing for February 27 and the second for late March

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or early April. The charter amendments must be filed with the town clerk 10 days before that day, putting the deadline at February 17. That gives the selectboard and trustees less than a month to agree on a uniform change proposed for both charters. Reached Tuesday, Scheidel said a joint meeting date hasn’t been finalized. Some trustees were concerned the limited window comes on the heels of the failed recreation district proposal. “Do we have the time in the next two weeks to have that conversation, make that agreement, and not make it look to the public that we are trying to rush something after a very divisive situation we've just come out of?” trustee Lori Houghton asked. Unlike the rec district, however, the charter changes wouldn’t propose anything that’s not already in place, Tyler said. “Nothing gets changed that the community hasn't been living with the past three years,” he said. Tyler favored pursuing the measure, noting the significant time and fiscal investment for a search

have an impact. Town Meeting Day will be the first town-wide vote in Essex since the failure of the recreation district proposal last De-

wouldn’t make sense without a commitment from both boards to recruit the same manager. He said while some village and town residents believe the boards should be addressing other issues, the shared manager role is “fundamental to everything else.” Trustee Elaine Sopchak likes the concept of codifying the current structure, believing it sends a message that even though the boards are divided on some issues, there is progress. Still, she was concerned about rushing the discussion. “I don't feel confident about it anymore,” she said. There was also some uncertainty among the selectboard. Last Friday, selectwoman Sue Cook said she wanted more information about the proposal prior to a joint meeting. Cook also wondered if the boards should discuss all the items that were pushed back due to the recreation saga, like firearms discharge ordinances or the suggestion to merge planning commissions. “We should be prioritizing them before we just dive into another thing that will consume us,” she said.

cember. Levy, who was on the recreation governance study committee, called the proposal’s failure a speed bump. “But that will not can-

cel out all the good work that has been done to strengthen our community over the past several years,” he wrote.

GENERAL FUND BUDGET SUMMARY FOR FYE 2018

Town of Essex FYE 2018 Budget Public Hearing

BUDGET FYE2016

ACTUAL FYE2016

BUDGET FYE2017

ESTIMATED FYE2017

PROPOSED FYE2018

PROPERTY TAXES LICENSES AND PERMITS INTERGOVERNMENTAL CHARGES FOR SERVICES FINES MISCELLANEOUS

$11,352,328 $58,000 $375,100 $457,035 $155,000 $67,001

$11,406,510 $64,480 $393,884 $467,891 $182,747 $74,013

$11,951,764 $71,500 $375,200 $434,425 $160,000 $65,001

$11,950,259 $60,900 $391,800 $433,775 $141,000 $65,001

$12,486,189 $66,300 $388,800 $436,350 $141,000 $65,001

TOTAL

$12,464,464

$12,589,525

$13,057,890

$13,042,735

$13,583,640

$125,000

$134,418

$125,000

REVENUES - SUMMARY

A public hearing on the 2017-18 municipal budget for the Town of Essex will be held Monday, January 23, 2017 at 7:35 PM in the conference room at 81 Main Street, Essex Junction. The public is invited to attend and offer comments regarding the proposed budget. The proposed FYE 2018 budget of $13,708,640 shows an increase in expenditures of $526,125 or 3.99% over the current budget. If approved, it is estimated that the proposed budget will result in a General Tax rate increase of $.0154 or 3.15% over the current year. Complete detail can be found at www.essex.org.

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$12,587,464

$12,176,201

$13,182,890

$13,177,153

$13,708,640

GENERAL GOVERNMENT SELECTBOARD TOWN MANAGER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ELECTIONS FINANCE TAX COLLECTION LEGAL SERVICES INFORMATION MANAGEMENT TOWN CLERK BUILDINGS AND PLANT R/E APPRAISAL PUBLIC WORKS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TOTAL GENERAL GOVERNMENT

$61,294 $421,341 $13,725 $6,000 $586,135 $6,020 $55,000 $51,000 $227,785 $327,020 $225,302 $116,042 $432,588 $2,529,252

$69,265 $427,654 $11,384 $6,336 $619,735 $6,648 $71,204 $52,536 $235,147 $322,833 $234,780 $118,340 $403,922 $2,579,784

$63,510 $648,054 $14,285 $20,000 $521,362 $6,850 $55,000 $61,000 $226,617 $285,340 $200,584 $135,924 $450,267 $2,688,793

$66,830 $647,954 $14,285 $20,000 $564,687 $6,650 $55,000 $61,000 $226,617 $251,650 $200,584 $132,288 $450,267 $2,697,812

$76,244 $412,851 $9,785 $6,000 $688,904 $6,850 $60,000 $388,581 $210,578 $264,585 $208,140 $141,632 $422,467 $2,896,617

PUBLIC SAFETY POLICE FIRE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TOTAL PUBLIC SAFETY

$4,028,123 $401,040 $50,163 $4,479,326

$3,664,361 $418,789 $46,628 $4,129,778

$4,011,006 $475,091 $0 $4,486,097

$4,009,256 $473,041 $0 $4,482,297

$4,108,617 $509,496 $0 $4,618,113

TOWN HIGHWAYS AND STREETS VILLAGE HIGHWAYS AND STREETS TOTAL HIGHWAYS AND STREETS

$2,091,226 $780,095 $2,871,321

$2,079,596 $780,070 $2,859,666

$2,185,036 $1,000,641 $3,185,677

$2,171,707 $1,000,641 $3,172,348

$2,223,079 $1,064,813 $3,287,892

$185,294 $96,975 $282,269

$196,525 $59,500 $256,025

$248,898 $59,352 $308,250

$239,948 $59,352 $299,300

$263,021 $61,537 $324,558

$12,500

$7,692

$12,500

$13,000

$14,500

$203,493

$208,825

$223,075

$228,075

$253,108

$315,394 $249,265 $121,398 $71,356 $398,336 $20,900 $1,176,649

$316,771 $221,395 $117,029 $71,103 $355,747 $11,659 $1,093,704

$301,727 $268,709 $135,346 $113,837 $397,030 $20,900 $1,237,549

$301,407 $267,254 $138,221 $113,837 $397,030 $20,900 $1,238,649

$312,481 $277,078 $145,185 $127,457 $412,285 $20,650 $1,295,136

DEBT SERVICE

$607,488

$602,765

$607,488

$560,318

INTERGOVERNMENTAL

$425,166

$434,616

$438,184

$458,398

$12,587,464

$12,177,578

$13,182,890

$13,177,153

$13,708,640

EXPENDITURES - SUMMARY

TOWN STORMWATER VILLAGE STORMWATER TOTAL STORMWATER SANITATION HEALTH AND WELFARE

BEADED

$123,000

CULTURE AND RECREATION RECREATION - ADMIN PARKS POOLS SENIOR BUS LIBRARIES CONSERVATION TOTAL CULTURE AND RECREATION

TOTAL EXPENDITURES

January 19, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •11

sports

SPORT SHORTS

by JOE GONILLO

Photo by COLIN FLANDERS Above: Dagan Thompson battles with an opponent during the Michael J. Baker Classic at Essex High School last Friday. Below: Danyeh Gutema lifts his opponent.

Essex hosts annual tournament

Hornets place third out of 31 teams at Michael J. Baker Classic Essex welcomed 31 teams to the high school gym for the annual Michael J. Baker Clssic last Friday and Saturday. The Hornets took third in the the tournament, scoring 158 points, good enough for first in Vermont, trailing only teams from Concord, N.H. and Maine. Jack Carney placed first in the 160-pound weight class, followed by John Stawinski in second at 170 pounds. Other top finishers included James Danis (third at 152 pounds), Seth Carney (fourth at 145 pounds), Ben Stewart (fourth at 106 pounds), Noah Bonning (fifth at 120 pounds) and Alex Riznavov (fifth at 195 pounds). Earlier in the week, Essex capped off dominant wins over Middlebury, 57-18, and St. Johnsbury, 54-18. They'll have a short week of rest before traveling to Mt. Anthony on Friday evening for a 6 p.m. start. They'll then hit the road Saturday for the Merrimack Duals at Merrimack High School in New Hampshire.

Courtesy photo Vermont Fish and Wildlife staff are encouraging visitors to the annual Yankee Sportsman's Classic show to stop by their exhibit and attend their seminars.

Yankee Sportsman's Classic back at Expo The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department invites you to the annual Yankee Sportsman’s Classic, held from Janu-

ary 20-22 at the Champlain Valley Expo. “We are looking forward to talking with as many people as possible

at the show,” said Nicole Meier, information and education specialist with the department, in a news release. “It’s a great

opportunity for us to share the latest information about fish and wildlife, and it gives people a chance to talk to us about fish and wildlife issues. Our wardens, biologists and other staff will be at our exhibits.” The 2017 hunting, fishing and trapping law books and optional Vermont big game tags will be available at Fish & Wildlife’s exhibit booth. The free tags are offered as a durable alternative to paper tags on licenses and may be used to tag deer, bear or turkeys. Hunters, anglers and trappers will also be able to buy their 2017 licenses. Fish & Wildlife’s deer biologist Nick Fortin will give a presentation on the deer herd at noon on Saturday. Show hours are noon to 7 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Learn more about the show at www.yankeeclassic.net.

xams about over! Hope you had a nice Martin Luther King Day weekend. The College Football National Championship game was the most exciting title game I have ever seen! NFL playoffs are in Conference Championships. The Mike Baker Classic was an incredible success. An SAT test happens Saturday here at EHS. The largest wrestling tourney in New England settled in our EHS gym last weekend. The Mike Baker Classic saw teams from N.E. and N.Y. battle. Concord, N.H. was first with 240.5 points while a Maine team finished second and the Hornets placed third, scoring 158 points, first in Vermont. Coaches Ira and Blaine Isham have done a fabulous job this season. Much thanks to all the workers, coaches, volunteers and parents who chipped in to make the weekend go smoothly. Great job to all involved. The Hornet hockey team is at it again. After their 3-1 win over a previously undefeated Rutland squad, the girls now should be the state’s No. 1 team. Olivia MillerJohnson scored two goals and Molly Bruyns had the other. Lindsay Hollowell made 13 saves. They host Middlebury in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at 3 p.m. Remember, their only loss is out of state. The boys hockey team is now 4-5 after an 8-3 clubbing of Rutland last Saturday. Essex rallied from three down in the second period, scoring eight straight! They host Middlebury on Saturday at 5 p.m. The boys basketball team is now 2-7 with a loss to top-ranked Burlington last week 68-41. The jv’s are 5-3 after a win at BHS. Behind a great team effort, Essex put three players in double figures led by Anthony DeCarvalho’s 20. Adin Peco added 16 and Burke Hoover had 15 on five treys. They play at North Country and host MMU this week. The freshmen are 5-3. They lost to CVU last week, played at Rutland last Saturday and play BFA and SHS next. The girls basketball team (4-3) fell Saturday 46-40 in an exciting game to Rice. They rallied with a pair of buckets inside and cut the lead to a single point late. Rice (6-0) hit their free throws down the stretch to clinch it. Emily Smith hit for 13 points. The JVs continued their undefeated run (70) with a thrilling overtime win over the Green Knights. Every single Hornet contributed with a stat of some sort to help out in the win. Noelle Lyon had 8 and Erin Mulchahy chipped in 7. They play one game this week, hosting North Country on Tuesday. The JVB girls team went 2-2 last week

playing to a solid 6-3 record this winter. They go against Fairfax, Enosburg and Richford this week. The indoor track team competed at UVM last Friday for the final time this season. First place finishers included Henry Farrington (1600m), Peter Alden (3200m), girls and boys relay teams (4x800m) and Jeremy Brennan (weight throw). Michael Baker hit a personal best in the pole vault at 10 feet, Katie James and Guilia Eddy took first and second in the 1000m, Valerie Bessett won the long jump, Claudia Bearman took first in weight throw and Hannah Neddo won high jump. The state’s first meet at Norwich starts at 8 a.m. There’s also a championship weight throw competition in St. Johnsbury. Good luck throwers. The gymnasts are looking forward to their Friday night matchup with CVU. The meet is at 5:30 p.m. in South Burlington. No results from the alpine ski race. The bowlers host three teams at Spare Time on Saturday morning. The Nordic ski race Saturday was cancelled. They are back in action Friday in Jericho. The cheerleaders will compete in St. Albans Saturday in the Academy Cheer Challenge with a 10 a.m. start time. Calcutta Night to benefit the varsity basketball programs is set for January 28 at 3 p.m. at the Catamount Club in Williston. Price is $100 for a ticket to admit two. There’s dinner and a cash bar with prizes for every 10th ball pulled and a grand prize of $2,000. Contact Jeff Greene, Jesse Coutrayer, Shawn Montague or Todd Herrington for tickets. Packers vs. Falcons and Steelers vs. Pats next week for the right to go to the Super Bowl. Dallas defense could not quite get it done late. Loved the emails, calls and cowardly texts I received from not Packer fans but from NYG fans, Eagles fans and non-Cowboys fans reminding me they lost (in an incredible game, by the way). Some people seriously love to hate, but if that's what makes them tick, so be it! Looking forward to Sunday’s games. Proud of nephew Gavin Rushford who placed second in his youth wrestling tourney (96-pound class) last Sunday. Lots of action in the EHS gym. Congratulations to newly named EWSD superintendent Beth Cobb. The committee had a hard job to do and some very good candidates to choose from, but did an excellent job making its choice. Just watch. Happy birthday wishes heading out to TJ Meade, Jeff Chalmers, Dave and Donna Bucke, Joe and Joan Murphy, Andrew Overfield, Maria Morgan, Katie Clark and Ashley Correia.

12• The Essex Reporter • January 19, 2017

school fOUnDers memOriAl sCHOOl Students at Founders Memorial School are experiencing the world in a multitude of ways through the use of technology. Colleen Williams, Essex Town School District’s technology integration specialist, and Anne Pius, technology instructional assistant, are doing great things to bring global awareness to the student body. Places they have “visited” include Cuba, Argentina, New Zealand, Taiwan

fleming flyer

and Mexico. They do this in a variety of ways, such as mystery hangouts with schools in Argentina. Each school asks one another 20 questions and tries to guess where their school is located using clues such as rivers, bordering countries and the capital. They ask questions about their culture, language, school customs and the typical questions kids are interested in learning about each other, such as, “How long is your recess time?” Pius, who traveled to Mexico and Cuba in the past year, brought her experiences back home. Classrooms have blogged with students in Taiwan

essex elemenTAry sCHOOl Peace and Friendship Food Drive During the month of November, Essex Elementary school families and staff collected items for our annual food drive. For every 10 items collected, classrooms placed a cut-out of a paper can on a bulletin board in the hallway that counted the number of items collected by each grade level and then as a whole school. The food drive results were amazing! Preschool students collected 50 items, kindergarten collected 350 items, first grade collected 280 items and second grade collected 370 items. There were a total of 1,050 items of food collected! Food was delivered to the Heavenly Pantry and other local food pantries. Thank you to all families and staff who participated in the food drive. It was a big success. Holiday giving In addition to our food drive, a number of generous businesses and community resources have donated to support families over the holidays. We are so

for two years. Several classrooms have pen pals in other countries, such as New Zealand and Taiwan. Students are learning to speak Chinese and video taping messages to students across the world, thanks to a thirdgrade parent, Aika Inoue. Students are developing friendships all over the world. Technology staff and faculty at Founders are working every day to bring global awareness to our students at a time when it is so important for all of us to understand, respect and value other cultures and what each of us bring to the world.

grateful to be a part of such a wonderful community! Our community supporters included St. Pius Church in Essex, First Congregational Church of Essex Jct., Optics Ltd. in Middlebury, Essex Fire Fighters Association, Essex Elementary School staff and families, Essex Alliance Church and Essex Physical Therapy. Big/Little Program The Big/Little Program is a mentoring program in the Essex Town School District where high school students volunteer to meet with elementary school children each week. This year we have five Bigs with us. In past years we have had between five and 15 high school students volunteer. Bigs and Littles play board games together, engage in art activities and enjoy each others’ company. High school students generally meet with their Littles once or twice per week throughout the school year. The Big/Little Program serves as an opportunity for high school students to give back to their community and to be a meaningful part of a young child’s life. Our Littles fully enjoy having oneon-one time with their Big and get a lot from these relationships. We are so excited to be a part of this wonderful program!

HiAWATHA HigHligHTs

any thanks to all who helped out and participated in our recent international potluck dinner, and to Kayla Johnson (ELL teacher) for orchestrating it. It was a special evening of good food, activities and conversation. Third-graders are gearing up for their annual Sharing Night. This year on February 1 at 6:30 p.m., they will share music and art inspired by a number of things - their new science unit about climate and weather, the African tale "Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain" and a recent trip to the Flynn for a performance by Cirque Mother Africa. Mark your calendars, too, for ice skating days with physical education teacher Joel Rasco on February 6 and 9. Parents are welcome to join us at the rink. Watch for more information soon. Students are having a dog-gone good time with the Learning Centers January theme: dogs. New non-fiction about many breeds has been added to our extensive collection of picture book dog stories. We've also begun to shine the spotlight on this year's Red Clover book nominees. To stay in tune with the Learning Center, be sure to follow us on Instagram (#hiawathalibrary).

Geo Bee Finals: We are looking forward to the Geo Bee Final Competition on January 18 at 7 p.m., when fourth-andfifth grade finalists will be competing against each other for the school Geo Bee Championship. The school champion will take a written exam provided by National Geographic and seek to qualify for the opportunity to compete at the State National Geographic Geo Bee held later this spring. Best of luck to our 10 finalists. We are halfway there: January 25 marks the midpoint in our second trimester and the midpoint of the school year. Our students have made progress in literacy, math and science, and they've invested creativity into art, music and fitness endeavors. We look forward to their continued efforts through the end of the school year. Student Council: The second trimester Student Council representatives have transitioned into their student leadership positions and have begun work on school service, spirit and safety. The bar has now been set at 550 accolade cards to earn the next school incentive celebration. These students lead and model the Fleming Falcon Fundamentals of kindness, respect, responsibility and safety. Last year, Student Council recommended we install a climbing wall, and we're happy to report one was just installed in the gym. The council plans to model unclaimed clothing from our lostnot-found clothing bins in a Lost Clothing Fashion Show. We hope this

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International Potluck & Latin Dance Night

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Share a dish of delicious food from around the world, Latin music and dance performances at Founders Memorial School.

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Potluck Dinner - bring a dish to share!

7:15 - 8:00 p.m.

Music & Dance Performances

will get attention and the clothing can be returned to the owners. Skating at the rink: Students will be taking to the ice on January 24 or 26 as Fleming PE classes head to the ice rink at EHS for about 45 minutes of skating time. We encourage all students to try it out. Skates will be available for students to use, but students are welcome to bring their own. Students are asked to bring helmets and to dress warmly. Winter concert: The school community is invited to our winter instrumental music concert on January 25 at 7 p.m. We celebrate that nearly 60 percent of our student enrollment is learning to play a musical instrument. The arts are alive at Fleming. Dance-Off: The Annual Fleming Dance-Off will take place on February 3 at 2 p.m. Each class will work with physical education teacher Kelly McClintock during gym periods to coordinate and practice a dance routine to compete against other classes within their grade. The Fleming Dance Team will showcase their routines, and Fleming staff may also bust a move or two. Families are welcome to attend and are encouraged to arrive early, as the dance-off will begin promptly at 2 p.m. Theater residency: In February, artist Trisha Denton will provide an artist-in-residence performing arts program involving all fourth-andfifth grade students. From February 9-22, Denton will work with students for 10 days to develop a student-generated performance of folklore vignettes. Students will be using folktales as inspiration and will demonstrate storytelling skills to create performances with classmates. Students will draw on literacy lessons as they work to construct characters, themes, story lines, narration and much more. The evening performance will take place on February 22 at 6:30 p.m. NAEP Assessment: Fourth-grade students will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress on February 13. An explanatory letter was sent home with students providing details about this literacy or math assessment. Please contact the school office if you have questions.

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January 19, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •13

food

Weekly meal plans may save money

eal plans provide a clever way to save money on food. Knowing the meals that will be made and which ingredients need to be purchased for these recipes eliminates floundering and impulse purchases at the supermarket. Knowing exactly what to buy and when can eliminate food waste and spoilage. According to research from the University of Pennsylvania, people who can avoid impulse spending can save up to 23 percent on their grocery bills. Planning meals can also provide a host of health benefits. When meals are planned in advance, shoppers have more control over the ingredients they choose and can tailor them to specific dietary needs or healthy eating plans. Fortunately, timepressed individuals have a number of resources at their disposal to help them plan and shop for meals. A quick online search for weekly meal plans will yield many results, including recipes and complementary shopping lists. People also can download apps that help with meal planning to their smartphones. Such apps include Yummly, Pepperplate and MealBoard, among others. Another way for individuals to plan meals more effectively is to

take a few moments on the weekend to think about which meals to make during the week ahead. Compare the necessary ingredients against those you may already have in your pantry. The rest can be purchased and saved for subsequent meals. Buying a week’s worth of groceries in one shopping trip is more efficient and can help to conserve fuel. When planning meals, try to use the most perishable items first. For example, prepare to use seafood, some dairy items and fresh vegetables early in the week, and more durable foods, such as frozen, boxed or canned goods, later in the week. When buying foods at the store, buy proteins in bulk and subdivide them into smaller packages to save money. Properly repackage foods so they will not spoil or become freezer burned, leading to waste. Post a weekly meal plan on or near the refrigerator so items can be thawed and ingredients prepared as needed. Building meals around slow cooker recipes can also help those who like to prep foods in the morning and then come home to completely cooked meals. On busy nights, arrange for fast meals, such as sandwiches or one-pot creations.

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Meanwhile, fill a large, shallow bowl or pie plate with a couple of inches of cold water and ice cubes, and set aside. Add the egg yolks, the granulated sugar and the moscato to the heatproof bowl over the boiling water. Use a wire whisk or a hand mixer to constantly whisk the ingredients until the mixture has turned pale yellow and is smooth: It will take about 7-10 minutes and the mixture will reach a temperature of 140°150 degrees F. Remove the bowl from the saucepan. Gently stir the chocolate pieces into the sabayon until the chocolate has melted and the sabayon is smooth. Set the bowl of sabayon onto the large bowl filled with ice water to begin to chill it. Pour out some cold water if it threatens to overflow. Stir the sabayon gently until the ice bath has cooled it. The volume will decrease ,and it will become thick and rich. Fold in the whipped cream. Cover with plastic wrap and chill the sabayon in the fridge for 30 minutes or longer. Divide the sabayon between five serving dishes. Sprinkle the tops of each sabayon with crushed shortbread cookies. Garnish each dish with sliced strawberries and serve immediately.

By NANCY MOCK, HungryEnoughToEatSix.com This dish feels like it should be an every-Friday-night dessert: Chocolate, strawberries and a splash of moscato. Why have them separately when you can combine them into this rich mousse?

• • • •

Ingredients:

6 egg yolks 1/3 c. granulated sugar 1/2 c. Moscato or sweet wine 4 oz. bittersweet or dark choco-

• • •

late, broken into small pieces 2 c. sweetened whipped cream 3 shortbread cookies, coarsely crushed 4-5 strawberries, hulled and sliced

Directions:

Place a few inches of water in a medium saucepan and set a medium heatproof bowl on top of the pan (the water should not touch the bottom of the bowl). Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat slightly to keep it simmering.

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Photo courtesy of NANCY MOCK Above, Nancy Mock's chocolate sabayon with strawberries is pictured. Served chilled in a tall, clear glass or dessert dish, it is an elegant dessert for dinner or cocktail parties or for a special dinner for two.

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14• The Essex Reporter • January 19, 2017

local Heavenly Food Pantry adds hours By COLIN FLANDERS

he Heavenly Food Pantry at the First Congregational Church in Essex Jct. will be offering an extra night a month to provide food for families in need. The modified offering will include all food in the cupboards plus meat, eggs and breads, and will be scheduled the second Monday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Church administrator Jen Dooley said the new hours are aimed at making the pantry more convenient, “so presumably somebody who’s working a day shift would be available to get to it after work," she said. Village trustee Lori Houghton informed the board of trustees that 20 families took advantage of the new hours on

January 9. The Monday offering will be in addition to the pantry’s regularly scheduled hours from 2 to 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month. Families can visit once a month. Hunger Free Vermont reports that as of May 2015, one in seven Chittenden County children and nearly one in eight Vermont households are food insecure, which is defined as lacking access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial resources. And according to the Vermont Agency of Education, just over 25 percent of Essex students last school year across the communities’ two school districts qualified for free or reduced lunch, an indicator of low family income.

Photo by COLIN FLANDERS Essex Jct.'s First Congreational Church is pictured, where the Heavenly Food Pantry will be offering an extra night a month to provide food for families in need. People can stop by on either the second Monday of each month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., or the fourth Thursday of each month from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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Essex woman arrested for violating conditions of release By COLIN FLANDERS South Burlington police arrested an Essex woman on the morning of January 12 who they say had an active arrest warrant for violating conditions of release, a news release said. Police conducted a traffic stop on Megan Potwin, 23, around 12:45 a.m. in the area of Interstate 89 near exit 14. Potwin was lodged at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility on $10,000 bail.