March 2, 2017 The Essex Reporter by Essex Reporter

Reporter THE ESSEX

March 2, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •1

March 2, 2017

Vol. 37, No. 10

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

Essex Jct. Fab plans to hire hundreds

GlobalFoundries at full capacity By COLIN FLANDERS

Above photo by COURTNEY LAMDIN, below photo by KAYLEE SULLIVAN Above, senior airman Marissa Van Zee of Essex Jct. was greeted last Thursday at the Vermont Air Natinal Guard base by her family, who traveled from South Dakota for the 158th Figher Wing's homecoming. Below, Sloane Tumilowicz, 4, and her brother Luke, 6, clutch a poster filled with drawings and well wishes from Sloane’s preschool classmates. Their dad, deputy commander Col. Christopher Tumilowicz was among the 310 airmen who returned home from the Middle East after a three-month deployment.

Home, sweet home

Essex airmen return from Middle East By MICHAELA HALNON With additional reporting by COURTNEY LAMDIN and KAYLEE SULLIVAN

enior Airman Marissa Van Zee of Essex Jct. wasn’t sure what to expect when her bus pulled up to the hangar at the Vermont Air National Guard base in South Burlington last Thursday night. Members of her family couldn’t make it to the sendoff in the same spot last December, when she boarded a massive plane with 310 fellow airmen for a mission in the Middle East called Operation Inherent Resolve. Waiting for Van Zee this time, though, were parents Jennifer and Lonny Grathwohl. The couple lives in South Dakota and had embarked on a threeday, 2,050-mile road trip to welcome their only daughter home. “I got a little bit excited,” Jennifer Grathwohl said. “This is what she loves to do, and I was nervous, but I know that this

is what she loves to do.” Grathwohl stayed in touch with her daughter and sent care packages regularly. Christmas was tough, she said, admitting with a laugh that she hid in a room alone for a time. A VTANG press release said members of the 158th Fighter Wing provided precision air-toground attacks against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, flying over 600 combat missions and deploying over 800 weapons, according to the release. Called a short-notice deployment, the airmen departed just after Thanksgiving, less than 30 days after they learned of the mission. Van Zee has served for three and a half years and works in the weapons division. She called the deployment a good experience, noting this mission was the first time she could work directly in her area of expertise. Still, she was excited to get her own shower and bedroom

GlobalFoundries announced plans to hire around 200 additional people, a departure from the Essex Jct. facility's usual narrative of layoffs and reductions. The fab plans to hire both full-time and long-term supplemental staff over the next few months, spokesman Jim Keller said. Those jobs will range from engineering and technician jobs, including electrical, lab test and process engineers, as well as some internship and coop jobs, Keller said. “We’re running at full capacity. So in order to maintain that, you have to have the right manpower,” he said. GlobalFoundries Fab 9 currently employs about 2,800 people. That number has remained mostly stagnant since GlobalFoundries’ acquisition of IBM in 2015, save for a handful of layoffs after the news was first announced. See GLOBALFOUNDRIES, page 2

New zoning regulations protect views By COLIN FLANDERS Essex’s picturesque views now have an added layer of protection thanks to a new round of zoning and subdivision amendments that went into effect late last month. The most notable change is a scenic overlay district, which community development director Dana Hanley said covers about 15 scenic areas on Essex’s public roadways. She laid out the issue at the selectboard’s Feb. 6 meeting. Development on town roads has resulted in increasingly blocked views of Mt. Mansfield and Camel’s Hump, as houses have cropped up close to roadsides, Hanley said. “Using traditional subdivision regs, our scenic views were just literally getting eaten up over time by smaller developments,” Hanley said last month. See ZONING, page 2

See VTANG, page 4

CUSI seeks lower lease rate after sharp increase By MICHAELA HALNON

Photo by MICHAELA HALNON A playroom in the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigation's downtown Burlington office. Representatives from the nonprofit are currently working to negotiate a lower lease agreement.

Vickie Rathgeb emptied a container of colorful clay on a table, sitting in a kid-sized wooden chair no more than a foot above the floor. “Play-doh is an intricate part of working with little people,” said Rathgeb, director of the Children’s Advocacy Center in downtown Burlington.

From Rathgeb’s viewpoint, the small space shared by the CAC and the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations looks like a typical playroom. A basket of skinny markers rests on a knee-high table next to an easel with clean, white sheets of paper. A closer look identifies some obscure features. In the corner of the ceiling there’s a See CUSI, page 16

2• The Essex Reporter • March 2, 2017

local zoning from page 1

Photo by COLIN FLANDERS Views of Mt. Mansfield, like this one pictured from Old Stage Road, have an added layer of protection thanks to the new scenic overlay district.

ther disrupt historically open lands. “As much as a barn would look out of place in a neighborhood of brickfaçade storefronts, those storefronts would look out of place along the edge of an open field,” the manual reads. “And a suburban split-level ranch would look wrong in both places.” The manual provides preferences for siting, landscaping, lighting and building design. When development comes into these areas, the planning commission can refer to the manual and apply the

gLoBALFoUnDRiES from page 1

The increase is to keep up with customer demand, Keller said. “That’s a good statement for the way business is going for us there at the Essex Jct. facility and that we have a nicelooking future for GlobalFoundries in Vermont,” he said. That outlook is welcome news for those like village president George Tyler, who noted that local officials are always concerned about the future of the Fab 9 facility. With GlobalFoundries still poised as one of the state’s largest employers, if the company ever decided to leave the area,

new regulations as it sees fit, Hanley said. Hanley also views the district as defense for the town itself, protecting challenges in environmental court from anyone who claims the town’s regulations on scenic views are vague. She stressed growth won’t come to a halt, but would rather be funneled through a lens aligned with residents’ vision. “People in Essex want thoughtful growth,” Hanley said. “They love their open space. They love their views.”

Hanley called most of the other zoning and subdivision amendments “nerdy, technical tweaks” only a zoning administrator would enjoy. Yet there’s a few notables, including signage regulation changes made to comply with a Supreme Court decision in the 2015 case Reed v. Town of Gilbert. The town of Gilbert, Ariz. adopted code restricting the size, number, duration and location of temporary signs. In a 9-0 decision, justices agreed the regulations violated

the First Amendment’s free speech clause since the restrictions were applied differently depending on the sign’s message. At the Feb. 6 meeting, zoning administrator Sharon Kelley said the town planned to revisit its signage regulations after being involved in a lawsuit a few years ago. After the Supreme Court decision came down, however, the town asked its legal counsel to “cleanse” its current regulations to ensure compliance, Hanley said. One of the removed

regulations said signs can only state an establishment’s name, logo or activity it conducts. It also said signs can’t be used for “the purpose of making advertising claims,” like signs that read: “Vermont lottery tickets sold here.” The regulations now dictate the size, duration, location and appearance of signs, not what’s written on them. The town will now also allow residents to keep up to six chickens in their backyard, an addition Hanley said came at the urging of some residents.

Brownell Library to host first ever pun-off

it would be devastating to the local economy, Tyler said, both in terms of jobs and tax support. He pointed to the type of jobs being created — high level technology positions, which the company has previously struggled to fill locally — as a signal that GlobalFounries intends to stay in the area. “We see that they’re making an investment in Essex Jct. and this community,” Tyler said. Joint municipal manager Pat Scheidel put it a tad more poetically. “News of hiring from the standpoint of our local economy is like a 70-degree day in the middle of the winter,” he said.

By COLIN FLANDERS

alling all punsters: A group of teens at the Brownell Library are hosting the inaugural “pun-off” to weed out those rooted in their dad-joke ways. The event will kick off at 7 p.m. on March 31, and organizers say anyone from 12 to 102 can apply. Participants will spin a wheel, get a category and go head-to-head with another puntestant in search of the most groan-worthy phrases. Three strikes — whether from repetition of a pun or taking more than 10 seconds — and it’s

batter luck next year! There’s no entry fee; contest organizers say donations to the Heavenly Food Pantry would be much appreciated. There will also be some homemade goodies like “BrownEs, SaMostas and pun-kin cakes,” organizers say. Plus, a representative from The Reporter will be on hand, since we’d be lion if we didn’t take pride in our ability to pontificate. You can sign up by calling the library at 878-6956, by emailing Mary K. Dennison at Maryk@brownelllibrary. org or by registering at the youth desk.

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Overlay districts help control this “erosion” by applying stringent standards that are supplements to the existing zoning requirements, Hanley said. The district is years in the making. In 2009, the town began a collaboration with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, the town of Jericho and Smart Growth Vermont to plot out local views. Volunteers took 180-degree panorama photos every 500 feet along Essex roads to rate views on a scale of 1 to 10. Those photos were used in a 76page scenic overlay manual page that ranks Essex’s views from least to most scenic. The full manual can be found on the community development’s page on the town website. Locations were judged on their extent of view, sense of depth, focal points, quality of natural and built landscape elements, mountain views as well as if they included traditional landscape patterns, like barns, farmhouses, fields and woods. The manual noted three categories face the greatest threat: roads at the margin of existing suburban development like Old Stage and Bixby Hill roads; highway corridors like Jericho Road where new construction may obscure views; and roads through farm valleys like Browns River Road where single-family homes with small setbacks might fur-

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March 2, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •3

local

esseX PoLiCe rePorts

emergency: 911 non-emergency: 878-8331 145 Maple st., essex Jct., Vt 05452 • www.epdvt.org

February 20-26 Monday

8:24 a.m., Animal problem on Brigham Hill Rd. 8:39 a.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Main St. 11:58 a.m., Found property on North St. 1:20 p.m., Accident on Pearl St. 7:48 p.m., Citizen assist on Wrisley St. 8:33 p.m., Suspicious on Countryside Dr. 10:03 p.m., Family fight on Frederick Rd.

tuesday

2:48 a.m., Citizen assist on Glenwood Dr. 7:56 a.m., Accident on Pearl St. 10:02 a.m., Citizen assist on Curve Hill Rd. 11:21 a.m., Accident on Gauthier Dr. 1:24 p.m., Accident on Pearl St. 2:29 p.m., Theft on Gauthier Dr. 2:58 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Lost Nation Rd. 3:55 p.m., Citizen assist on Essex Way 7:00 p.m., Citizen assist on Maple St.

Wednesday

12:56 a.m., DUI on Pearl St. 8:45 a.m., Animal problem on Greenfield Rd. 10:22 a.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Pearl St. 10:44 a.m., Property damage on Lincoln St. 11:17 a.m., Animal problem on Sand Hill Rd. 12:41 p.m., Restraining order on Longwood Cir. 2:00 p.m., Accident on Susie Wilson Rd. 2:15 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Pearl St. 2:55 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Main St. 3:21 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Rustic Dr. 5:31 p.m., Accident on Main St. 6:14 p.m., Animal problem on Cherokee Ave. 10:51 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on I289 11:46 p.m., Motor vehicle

complaint on Pearl St.

thursday

2:11 a.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Colchester Rd. 5:03 a.m., Citizen assist on Old Pump Rd. 7:14 a.m., Juvenile problem on Old Colchester Rd. 8:31 a.m., Citizen assist on Fort Pkwy. 10:58 a.m., Accident on South St. 2:20 p.m., Juvenile problem on Prospect St. 3:48 p.m., Citizen assist on Lincoln St. 4:50 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on I289 5:28 p.m., Animal noise on Pioneer St. 5:38 p.m., Accident on Fort Pkwy. 5:50 p.m., Safety hazard on Densmore Dr. 8:33 p.m., Threatening on Damon Dr. 10:14 p.m., Family fight on Autumn Pond Way

Friday

4:07 a.m., Family fight on Jackson St. 8:29 a.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Susie Wilson Rd. 10:37 a.m., Family fight on Dalton Dr. 12:55 p.m., Accident on Center Rd. 4:51 p.m., Fraud on West St.

saturday

1:12 a.m., DUI Main St. 7:32 a.m., Weapons offense on N Williston Rd. 1:29 p.m., Animal problem on Park St. 6:39 p.m., Accident on I289 6:56 p.m., Juvenile problem on Catella Rd. 8:40 p.m., Accident on Fort Pkwy. 11:50 p.m., Assault on Pinecrest Dr.

sunday

12:20 p.m., Motor vehicle complaint on Pearl St. 1:53 p.m., Suspicious on Carmichael 2:46 p.m., Accident on Essex Way

tiCkets issued: 11 Warnings issued: 38 Fire/eMs CaLLs disPatChed: 53

obituary

Roland Berard Roland Joseph Berard, 89, died peacefully Monday evening, Feb. 20, 2017, at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, surrounded by his loving family while praying the Rosary. Roland was born in Shoreham on May 11, 1927, the son of Ulric and Zephrine (Angers) Berard. He attended Shoreham schools and worked on his parents’ Shoreham farm until 1942 and then their farm in Williston after his family moved. In 1949, Roland joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict, where he was stationed in Alaska until 1952. He returned to Vermont, entering the construction field, as a supervisor for Berard Construction, where he worked for 30 years, building many commercial building projects in the greater Burlington area, including schools, churches and shopping centers. One of his most cherished projects included

the laying of the foundation for Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Colchester in 1959, where he was a parishioner from day one of the church until his death. Additionally, he supervised the building of St. Pius Church in Essex Center in 1960. During this time, Roland also operated a part-time small engine repair shop, which he opened in 1967. He was a dealer for Allouette snowmobiles. He loved to take on challenges, repairing engines that others said couldn’t be fixed. Roland also owned his own construction company, Roland’s Construction, for over 10 years until 1985, when he “retired” to full time small engine repair. During the years, Roland served on the Parish Council at Our Lady of Grace. He was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus, Bishop Rice Council. He was the first Blue Army President of Our Lady of Fatima from 1980-1984, was very devoted to Our Blessed Virgin Mary and served as custodian for many years for the State Statue of Our Lady of Fatima. He was also a daily Mass communicant. On Oct. 10, 1953, he married Clairette Poquette at St. Rose de Lima Church in South Hero and they were blessed with 12 children. He is survived by his wife, Clairette, of Essex Jct. and by their children and spouses – Becky (Gil) Barber of Colchester, Gregory (Nancy) Berard of Milton, Rachael Bliss of Calais, Anne (Louis) Mossey of Milton, Mary Anne (Johnny) Corrow of Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Stephen (Laurie) Berard of Jericho, Rose Marie (Lee) Ryea of Milton, Rolenda (George)

Corrow of Essex Jct., Coleen (Arthur) Soares of Peru, N.Y., Jeff (Debbie) Berard of Essex Jct. and Angelia (Andy) Haag of South Burlington and his daughter-in-law Donna (Berard) Benoit of Milton. He is also survived by 29 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, brothers Adrien of North Carolina, Edouard of Maryland, Raymond of Hinesburg and Laurent of North Carolina and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son Vincent in 1981, by sons-in law Tommy Bushey in 1988 and Mike Bliss in 2004 and by his granddaughter Mary Berard in 1988. He was also predeceased by his parents, his sisters and brothers and their spouses – Simone (Paul) Parent, Madeline (Donald) Peltier, Marie (Paul) Rivers, Olivette (Bill) O’Brien, Rene (June) Berard, John Berard, infant brother Henry Berard and sister-in-law Jackie Berard, brother-in-laws Roger Poquette and John St. Denis. Visiting hours will be on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2017 from 4-8 p.m. at Minor Funeral Home in Milton. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday Feb. 24, 2017 at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Colchester. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Roland’s name may be made to either Vermont Right to Life, World Apostolate of Fatima (VT Blue Army) or St. Ann’s Shrine in Isle LaMotte. Special thanks to Green Mountain Nursing Home for the excellent care given to Roland during his stay there.

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4• The Essex Reporter • March 2, 2017

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Above/below photos by KAYLEE SULLIVAN, right photo by MICHAELA HALNON Above, a brilliant sunset colors the sky prior to 310 airmen from the Vermont Air National Guard returning from the Middle East last Thursday evening. Below, the airmen's 747 commercial plane lands at Heritage Aviation around 6 p.m. Right, Lt. Col. Brian Lepine reunited with his son, Mason, and daughter, Grace, after the three-month deployment.

VTANG from page 1

again, and to use a bathroom that wasn’t a portapotty. Too large to land at the South Burlington base, the 747 commercial airliner taxied down to the

nearby Heritage Aviation runway. The airmen shook hands with Gov. Phil Scott and other top military officials before being bused over to anxiously awaiting friends and family. There, a cheering crowd greeted the Green Mountain Boys, the emotional reunions commencing just after a brilliant

sunset. The display mirrored the one that lit the sky during their send-off three months prior. The darkness only added to the moment’s chaos, as the airmen unloaded and tried to find their loved ones, many of whom toted flags and homemade signs. Essex Town resident

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We're just glad to have him home. -Tricia Lepine Jen Tumilowicz said she’s used to welcoming her husband, deputy commander Col. Christopher Tumilowicz, back home. The latest mission marked his fifth deployment as an airman, she said, noting he’d been sent overseas at least three additional times. Tumilowicz said an eight-hour time difference and intense schedule made it more difficult to communicate regularly. Son Luke, age 6, and daughter Sloane, 4, used video chatting whenever they could. In the meantime, Tumilowicz said she received an outpouring of support from the community. Neighbors offered to plow her driveway as the snow piled up, she said, or take the kids when she needed a break. She met with

other military families for Sunday dinner, the group taking solace in their shared experiences. The handmade sign her children clutched at the homecoming was filled with drawings and well wishes from Sloane’s preschool classmates, Tumilowicz said, exemplifying the vested interest folks had in the homecoming. More than anything, Tumilowicz said she was comforted by the mission’s purpose and the belief it would improve the lives of Iraqi civilians. “That’s made all the difference,” she said. “To know the impact of what they were doing and how important it was. They’re doing what they’ve trained to do and they’re helping. This is where they should be.”

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The welcoming committee for Essex Jct.’s Lt. Col. Brian Lepine included wife, Tricia; daughter, Grace; and son, Mason. The family of four also used apps like FaceTime to stay in touch but struggled to find common downtime during weekdays. Lepine said the trip home was lengthy but filled with “good anxiety.” He said the hours of waiting gave him a chance to build energy for the reunion with his family. “It makes me really, really, really happy,” Grace said outside the hangar, just minutes after Lepine departed the bus. “And I cry, but it’s happy tears.” “We’re just glad to have him home,” Tricia Lepine added.

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March 2, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •5

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

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

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

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

By REP. DYLAN GIAMBATISTA The Vermont General Assembly is at the midpoint of the 2017 session. The deadline for drafting and introducing bills passed last week. Almost 500 bills have been introduced in the House. As of this past weekend, 17 bills have passed the House, including two bills that originated in the Senate. Many more will be passed as we enter March. You may have heard about some of the issues currently being debated in the House and Senate. One proposal that has generated a lot of interest seeks to protect Vermonters from the deportation orders put forward by the president. The governor and legislative leaders have worked across party lines to quickly pass legislation to address several key concerns. It cleared the Senate last week by a unanimous 30-0 vote. I expect the House will take action on the measure soon.

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

(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

Status quo won’t be enough

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

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

Rep. Linda Myers wrote a legislative update in the Feb. 23 issue which contained some disturbing information. She stated, “workers, even those seeking basic employment, are not prepared to step into the workforce … Many of those looking for work cannot handle basic employment tasks such as knowing how to dress to apply for a job, deal with customers or even make change. These are basic job skills for which students should be prepared.” In the same issue there was another article about an Essex High School graduate who made the Forbes “30 Under 30” list and has a Ph.D. How can the same school system that produced this man also be producing adults who cannot make change? Why are so many graduates unprepared for the working world? Are we failing them at home or in school? Or both? Since I bought my home in Essex in 2006, its value has not changed much, while taxes have increased by about 30 percent. Others of my generation and I will be leaving the workforce in the foreseeable future. If graduates are not prepared to take our places, what is our tax money paying for? What kind of future will they, and our country as a whole, have if future citizens do not have the skills they need to navigate the perilous waters of a rapidly changing and globalizing economy? On the bright side, Linda’s update indicated tech center graduates have much better preparation to step into good jobs. Why the difference?

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

Most of my day-to-day work takes place in the Education Committee. This year, the committee is focused on improving access to career and technical education centers and Vermont’s pre-kindergarten and early care centers. As Rep. Myers noted last week, technical education is receiving a lot of attention at the State House. I recently had the chance to visit the Center for Technology, Essex during its annual open house. Last week, principal Bob Travers visited the Education Committee to make recommendations on ways to improve access to technical education. Students from across the state tell us that they want more opportunities for hands-on learning. I am hopeful we will advance a bill to open doors to these learning environments. The Education Committee is also reviewing the progress of Vermont’s universal pre-kindergarten law. I have been grateful for the

feedback I’ve heard from community members about the need for affordable, high quality early care and pre-K educational opportunities. Your feedback is extremely helpful as we work to put in place the best possible system for Vermont’s kids. I’m always happy to answer your questions about the latest news at the State House. One great way to keep up with the latest happenings is by keeping track of my blog updates at http://vtdylan.com/archive/. Finally, I have to make a plug for Town Meeting Day. I hope to see many of you at Town Meeting, which will be held Monday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the Essex High School auditorium. Likewise, I hope you will get out and vote on Tuesday, March 7. For village voters, the polls will be open from 7 a.m.- 7 p.m. at the high school. It is an honor to serve our community. I look forward to seeing you soon.

PERSPECTIvE

Independent study concludes divestment is bad policy By REP. BOB BANCROFT In early 2016 the Senate and House both declined to move forward with proposals to mandate state pension funds to divest from fossil fuels. Since then, the Vermont Treasury has made a concerted effort to manage a balanced and transparent process analyzing arguments for and against divestment. The result of this process is a comprehensive study conducted by an independent consulting firm, selected and approved by pro-divestment advocates, that proves once and for all that fossil fuel divestment of any scope – whether all fossil fuels, coal, or just ExxonMobil – is a bad idea. The study, carried out by Pension Consulting Alliance, confirms the findings of pervious economists and academics, like University of Chicago Professor Daniel Fischel, who have studied this issue. Specifically, PCA’s study found the increased costs and financial risks required to pursue divestment are a breach of fiduciary responsibility to the pensioners and make divestment a losing proposition. In addition, the PCA report concludes pulling Vermont’s investments out of fossil fuels, thermal coal or ExxonMobil would have no impact on climate change, greenhouse gas emissions or corporate policies. To quote directly from the report: “The largest measurable explicit costs of divestment to VPIC would be ongoing increased management fees. Management fees would increase under each of these three divestment scenarios because VPIC commingled funds, where the bulk of VPIC’s fossil fuel were held, would have to be restructured into materially higher-cost SMA funds.” This falls in line with previous calculations that divestment would cost the state pension fund $10 million per year in lost returns and $8.5 million in transaction costs that can never be recouped. By risking millions of dollars on an ineffective political statement, divestment

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Rep. Bob Bancroft would force pension fund managers to violate the definition of fiduciary responsibility established by the Department of Labor, the federal unit tasked with enforcing the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Again, according to the report, “divestment conflicts with VPIC governing policies: Given the financial and governance costs that come with fossil fuel divestment, in PCA’s opinion, divestment has not been shown to be in the best interests of VPIC pension beneficiaries, and conflicts

"Fossil fuel divestment is an expensive and empty political gesture"

with VPIC governance structure.” Likewise, Vermont treasurer Beth Pearce has been saying for years that divestment is a “bad policy” that would undermine the prudent process put in place by ERISA and violate fiduciary responsibility. As I’ve said before, divestment vio-

lates pension fund manager’s principle promise to help retirees obtain financial security for all the reasons we know well and which are explained in the PCA report. While the lost returns and high costs have been well established, the PCA report points out what is perhaps the most perplexing aspect of divestment—that it has no tangible impact on climate change and “little proven impact on fossil fuel corporate policies, or on government policies.” Rather than have the intended effect of combating climate change, the report states that divestment actually lowers the pension fund’s ability to leverage their shareholder influence. These findings are welcome news for Vermonters. Last year six different groups of state employees and Vermont retirees – the Vermont Pension Investment Committee, Vermont Troopers’ Association, Vermont Retired Teachers Association, Vermont Retired State Employee Association, Vermont League of Cities and Towns and Vermont State Employees Association – submitted formal resolutions to the Vermont Senate calling on VPIC to maintain fiduciary responsibility in making investment decisions, rather than allow divestment to be legislated. The report confirms the position of these stakeholders that retirement accounts should be managed for the benefit of pensioners, not to make a political point. After a full year of study and analysis, the report should be the final word on fossil fuel divestment in Vermont. I hope other states, as well as institutions and universities, across the country that are debating divestment review our findings. Fossil fuel divestment is an expensive and empty political gesture that will not help to combat climate change, and the policy debate is now over. Rep. Robert Bancroft is a legislator from the Chittenden 8-3 district in the Vermont General Assembly, representing Essex and Westford.

We need to bring all students up to a level that will allow them to live as productive citizens who are able to adapt to and learn the changing skills that jobs of the future will require. Making change is basic math. Dressing appropriately is a basic life skill. The status quo won’t be enough for a new world where automation is taking jobs every day. We need to do better. Louise Goodrich Essex Jct.

Please, get out and vote! I moved to Essex in 1970, and during the last 47 years have witnessed numbers of occasions when the selectboard resolved difficult issues in a deliberative and professional manner. At meetings I’ve attended recently, that is not the demeanor of the present selectboard. The residents of Essex pay more than $50 million in school and municipality taxes annually. The municipal tax is approximately $13 million. That’s a lot of money being collected from a lot of hard working families. For this reason, election to the board should not be a popularity contest; we need to elect individuals who have the skills, disposition, dedication and respect for others the position demands. There are serious issues the selectboard will need to address that affect the quality and solvency of our community and the taxes we pay. Paul Austin Essex

Want to join the conversation? Submit your letter to the editor (450 words or fewer) to news@essexreporter.com

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Reporter THE ESSEX

ExEcutivE Editor Courtney A. Lamdin

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Barbara Brisson

Published Thursdays

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

6• The Essex Reporter • March 2, 2017

EssEx ArEA

Religious Directory

calendar Mar. 7

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: second Monday of the month, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 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 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. 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.

File photo by colin FlanderS

Town Meeting Day polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7. Town voters will vote at Essex Middle School, 58 Founders Rd., Essex Jct. Village voters will vote at Essex High School, 2 Educational Dr., Essex Jct. An annual meeting will be held the prior evening at EHS. See local meetings box for more information.

2 ThurSdaY eSSex arT league MonThlY MeeTing

9 - 11 a.m., Essex Junction Congregational Church, 39 Main St., Essex Jct. Linda Moran will discuss toxicity in some art supplies. Then, Alison Saunders will share examples of her ceramics and the process she used to hand build ceramic vessels from clay slabs. Her unique works of art reflect her deep respect for nature.

noonTiMe Book diScuSSion

Noon, Essex Free Library. Join us as we discuss “The Third Man” by Graham Greene.

Free coMMuniTY Soup and Bread Supper

4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Covenant Community Church, 1 Whitcomb Ln., Essex. Stay at the church to enjoy a quick, easy and delicious meal with friends and family or pick up to take home. Choose from a variety of hearty soups and breads plus a sweet dessert. Donations are not expected but are welcome. Call Pastor Steve Anderson for more information at 879-4313.

adulT coloring

6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. Come join in the fun of adult coloring. Bring your own books or choose from a variety of printed pictures supplied by the library. ESSEx CoMMuNiTy PLAyErS

“STage kiSS”

7:30 p.m., Essex Memorial Hall, 5 Towers rd., Essex Jct. Essex Community Players is proud to present this quirky comedy/drama from one of modern theater’s most engaging new playwrights. Directors roya and Becky Millard of Montpelier bring us the unique blend of lyricism, sparkling humor and fierce intelligence that

is Sarah ruhl’s “Stage Kiss.” Purchase tickets at www.essexplayers. com or at the Memorial Hall box office. Tickets are $18 for adults and $16 for ages 55+. For more information, call 878-9109.

3 FridaY church Book and Bake Sale

9 a.m. - noon, Grace united Methodist Church, 130 Maple St., Essex Jct. For more information, call 8788071.

MuSical STorYTiMe

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

educaTion and enrichMenT For everYone

2 - 3 p.m., Faith united Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington. Erich Davis, professor emeritus of political science at Middlebury College, presents “President Trump After Six Weeks: What Do We Know?”

Magic: The gaThering

6 - 8 p.m., Brownell Library. Whether you know the game or are curious to find out more, come have tons of gaming fun. ESSEx CoMMuNiTy PLAyErS

“STage kiSS”

7:30 p.m., Essex Memorial Hall, 5 Towers rd., Essex Jct. (See Thursday, March 2.)

4 SaTurdaY church Book and Bake Sale

9 a.m. - noon, Grace united Methodist Church, 130 Maple St., Essex Jct. For more information, call 8788071.

eSSex WinTer carnival & chili cook oFF

10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Albert D. Lawton Middle School, 104 Maple St., Essex Jct. Join us for a fun day filled with music, performances, outdoor and indoor winter activities, great food and so much more. interested in entering the chili cook off? Visit www.essex.org/ parks_and_recreation for an entry form and more details. Prizes will be awarded to the top three voter favorites. Please bring a nonperishable food item to donate. Co-sponsored by the Essex and Essex Jct. recreation departments.

Weekend STorYTiMe

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

inTro To dna TeSTing

10:30 a.m. - noon, 377 Hegeman Ave., Colchester. Whether you are new to the world of genetic genealogy or just want a refresher, this talk by Ed McGuire will be informative. He’ll discuss three types of tests and their limitations and review DNA testing companies and their products. $5. Visit www.vtgenlib.org for more information.

Whole Book approach

11 a.m., Phoenix Books, 21 Essex Way, Essex Jct. 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. ESSEx CoMMuNiTy PLAyErS

“STage kiSS”

7:30 p.m., Essex Memorial Hall, 5 Towers rd., Essex Jct. (See Thursday, March 2.)

5 SundaY ESSEx CoMMuNiTy PLAyErS

“STage kiSS”

2 p.m., Essex Memorial Hall, 5 Towers rd., Essex Jct. (See Thursday, March 2.) WESTForD MuSiC SEriES

oWen MarShall and Baron collinS-hill

4 - 5 p.m., uCW White Church, 1 White Church Ln., Westford. A collaboration with young Tradition Vermont brings two young rising stars within the Vermont music scene. Free will donation. refreshments provided. Call 8794028 for more information.

6 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. 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. VErMoNT ASTroNoMiCAL SoCiETy

projecT MercurY

March 2, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •7

calendar

Bus Day Trip to

AKWESASNE MOHAWK CASINO Hogansburg, New York

MONDAY, APRIL 3

local meetings thurs., march 2 tues., march 7 6 p.m., town zoning board, Town offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.

mon., march 6 7 p.m., town selectboard, Town offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.

7:30 p.m., annual town meeting, Essex High School, 2 Educational dr., Essex Jct.

7 a.m. - 7 p.m., town meeting day voting, Town voters: Essex Middle School, 58 Founders Rd., Essex Jct. Village voters: Essex High School, 2 Educational dr., Essex Jct.

thurs., march 9 6:30 p.m., town planning commission, Town offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.

7 tuesday town meeting day storytime for BaBies & 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.

Knitting grouP

6:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. Bring in your current knitting project or start a new one in the company of fellow knitters. CHAMPLAin VALLEy QuiLT GuiLd

confessions of a tyPe a Quilter

6:30 p.m., Essex Alliance Church, Old Stage Rd., Essex Jct. Join the Champlain Valley Quilt Guild for their monthly meeting as they host humor columnist Alison Bolt. $10 admission for non-members. For more information, visit www. cvqgvt.org.

8 wednesday red clover grouP for homeschooled students

9 - 10 a.m., Brownell Library. Each month, students in kindergarten

essex rotary cluB meeting

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.

9 thursday

7:30 - 9:30 p.m., village trustees, EHS auditorium, 2 Educational dr., Essex Jct.

7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Brownell Library. This presentation by Steve Quigley will refresh memories of the old timers who watched Project Mercury on our tiny black and white televisions in the early 1960s and, perhaps, give some new perspectives of those momentous times to those who weren’t even alive.

dog is a wonderful way to work on reading skills in a comfortable atmosphere. To schedule a time, call 879-0313 or email ccorless@ essex.org.

read to archie

- grade 3 read two titles and complete activities with one on the list for this year’s Red Clover Award. Voting takes place in April.

dorothy’s list BooK grouP for homeschooled students

9 - 10 a.m., Brownell Library. Each month, students in grades 4-8 hear book talks from this year’s dorothy’s List. Students keep a log and vote for their favorite to win the dorothy’s List Book Award in the spring. Group discussion is encouraged.

gmBa BooK discussion for homeschooled students

9 - 10 a.m., Brownell Library. The group will discuss “What if? Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions” by Randall Munroe and “Wolf by Wolf” by Ryan Graudin, a haunting portrayal of one girl’s courage in the vicious world of Adolf Hitler. it is not necessary to read both books to enjoy these unique GMBA picks. Voting takes place in May. For grades 9 - 12.

tech time with traci

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

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.

maKe a glitter Jar

3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Put together a swirling glittery paradise that will mesmerize you for hours. For all ages.

read to mcKenzie the dog

3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. Sign your young reader up for a 15-minute time slot to read to McKenzie, a certified reading dog who loves to listen to stories! Reading to a

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.

sit down with Betsy

6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. Sit down and chat with Essex state Rep. Betsy dunn to discuss local issues.

10 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.

model train show

10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Collins Perley Sports and Fitness Center, 890 Fairfax Rd., St Albans. $5 for adults, $1 ages 6 - 12, free under 6, $5 per family with active military identification. The show will feature multiple operating layouts and over 100 tables of exhibits and vendors of model railroading supplies, videos and books. Face painting and activities for children will be available. For more information, call 598-0905 or email ronpiro@aol.com.

musical storytime

10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Rock and read together 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 just come for the movie at 1 p.m. Beverages and popcorn provided. This week's movie is "Trooper Returns," a comedy starring Ronald young and Joan Blondell.

education and enrichment for everyone

2 - 3 p.m., Faith united Methodist Church, 899 dorset St., South Burlington. Peter Hirschfeld, State House reporter at Vermont Public Radio, presents “The Return of divided Government: Legislating Across Party Lines in Montpelier.”

[ teen advisory Board

3 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Teens will put the final touches on the inaugural Pun Off, a community wide event they are hosting on March 31. Snacks will be served. For high school students.

$38 PER PERSON

CALL EARLY FOR RESERVATIONS! FREE extras include: $25 FREE Slot Play $11.50 Buffet Coupon Coffee Donuts Bottled Water 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

Call BARBARA at 802.829.7403

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, Aiem, serves as the game’s referee and storyteller. For grades 6 and up.

11 saturday weeKend storytime

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

rug concerts

11 a.m., Elley-Long Music Center, 223 Ethan Allen Ave., Colchester. Rug concerts are for children age 5 and under and introduce kids to orchestral instruments and classical music in an engaging, interactive setting. This 45-minute concert will feature piano, flute, oboe and double bass as each musician introduces their instrument and plays a few short pieces. $10 for adults, $5 for children. Please reserve tickets in advance. For more information, visit www.vyo.org.

we love dogs adoPtion event

11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Orvis outlet store, 21 Essex Way, Essex Jct. Looking to add a furry fourlegged member to your family? Come see who is looking for a new home.

chess cluB

3 - 4 p.m., Brownell Library. Come play! Teen chess players help you discover new moves. All ages and skill levels are welcome. Kids 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Chess sets are funded by the Brownell Library Foundation.

12 sunday winter concert series

2 p.m., South Burlington Community Library, 540 dorset St., South Burlington. Enjoy a performance of the Windsong Quintet. For more information, visit www.sburlcomlib.com.

300± Repos, Trades, Donations & More! Sat., Mar. 4 @10AM (Register from 8AM)

298 J Brown Drive, Williston, VT

’15 Nissan Versa Note ’13 United 15’X5’ Enclosed Trailer ’12 Ford Transit Van ’11 Dodge Durango ’11 Ford Fiesta ’09 Ford F-150 ’09 Saab 9-3

’08 Dodge Caliber ’08 Dodge Ram 1500 ’08 Ford Fusion ’08 Mercury Sable ’07 BMW 3 Series ’07 Chevy Cobalt ’07 Dodge Ram 1500 ’07 Ford Escape Hyb.

’07 Honda Fit ’07 Nissan Altima ’06 Acura TL ’06 Dodge Charger ’05 Chevy Equinox ’05 Ford F-250 SD AND MORE

List Subject to Change

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IT’S TIME TO BRUSH UP ON YOUR CAT’S DENTAL HYGIENE. 70% of cats under the age of 3 will develop dental disease. Bring your cat in for dental care during the month of February “National Pet Dental Month” and receive a FREE feline dental kit. * Free dental kit available while supplies last.

Affectionately Cats Feline Veterinary Hospital and Boarding Suites

www.affectionatelycats.com

860-CATS (2287)

8• The Essex Reporter • March 2, 2017

Classifieds & JOBSEEKERS TOWN OF ESSEX LIST OF POSTED ROADS FOR MUD SEASON 2017 Name of Road

From

Bixby Hill Road Brigham Hill Lane Brigham Hill Road Catella Road Chapin Road Colonel Page Road Curve Hill Road Discovery Road Fleury Road Gray Way Hanley Lane Indian Brook Road Lamore Road Lost Nation Road McGee Road Naylor Road Old Pump Road Osgood Hill Road Pettingill Road Sawmill Road Saxon Hill Road Sleepy Hollow Road Towers Road Ext. West Sleepy Hollow Road

Browns River Road Brigham Hill Road Old Stage Road Osgood Hill Road Towers Road Old Stage Road Lost Nation Road Lamore Road Towers Road Old Pump Road Osgood Hill Road Old Stage Road Gentes Road Old Stage Road Lost Nation Road Weed Road Sleepy Hollow Road Browns River Road Browns River Road Town Line Route 15 Weed Road Old Stage Road Browns River Road

Date Posted: February 24, 2017

To End of Road End of Road Town line End of Road Town Line Chapin Road Town Line Lost Nation Road End of Road End of Road End of Road Indian Brook Reservoir Lost Nation Road End of Road End of Road Route 15 Town Line Town Line Town Line End of Road End of Road Old Pump Road End of Road End of improved road End Date: 1 May 2017 unless relieved earlier by the Town

TOWN OF ESSEX PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA March 23, 2017 - 6:30 P.M. MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE ROOM, 81 MAIN ST., ESSEX JCT., VT 1. 2. 3.

Public Comments Other Business • Dennis Lutz, Public Work Director-Update on Capital Improvements Site Plan-Public Hearing: Al Senecal, d/b/a Allen Brook Development, Inc., is proposing a 36,000 SF building footprint to accommodate a warehouse and commercial space at 131 Red Pine Circle (off Thompson Drive), in the Resource Preservation District-Industrial (RPD-I) Zone. Tax Map 72, Parcel 8. Preliminary Plan–Public Hearing: Tom Chase, d/b/a Jericho Road Associates, is proposing a Planned Unit Development-Residential (PUD-R), to accommodate 21 residential units, including other site improvements, on a 10.02 acre parcel. Property is located at 73 Jericho Road in the Medium Density Residential (R2) Zoning District. Tax Map 51, Parcel 14. Minutes: March 9, 2017

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.

Notice to All Essex Junction and Essex Town Residents Essex Junction and Union #46 School Districts’ Annual Reports will be available beginning March 31, 2017 Voters approved to discontinue mailing the Annual Reports to residents’ homes. Instead, copies will be available at select locations and online. Copies of the annual reports may also be mailed upon request. To obtain copies of the annual reports: Pick-Up Locations: l Brownell Library l Essex Free Library (U. #46 Only) l Essex Town Office (U. #46 Only) l Essex Junction Village Office l CCSU Central Office Online: www.ccsuvt.org/school-boards

To request a mailed copy: 879-5579 (Chittenden Central Supervisory Union)

Champlain Community Services is a progressive, intimate, developmental services provider agency with a strong emphasis on self-determination values and individual & family relationships. We are currently hiring for the following positions.

VOTER INFORMATION NOTICE TOWN MEETING 2017 Town Meeting: Monday, March 6, 2017 at Essex High School 7:30 PM Australian Ballot - Polling place and hours: Residents of the Village of Essex Junction vote at Essex High School, 2 Educational Drive, Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 7 AM to 7 PM. Residents of the Town outside of the Village of Essex Junction vote at Essex Middle School, 58 Founders Drive, Essex Junction, Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 7 AM to 7 PM Voter Registration: Residents may register Town Clerk’s office, 81 Main Street, Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM., online at https://mvp.sec.state.vt.us/ or at the polling place for same registration. All that is required for voter registration is your VT driver’s license number, or if you do not have a VT driver’s license, the last four digits of your social security number.

Shared Living Provider CCS is seeking applicants to provide home supports to a kind, humorous gentleman who enjoys being involved in the community and in social settings. The ideal candidate will be patient, flexible and have strong interpersonal and communication skills. This position includes a generous stipend, ongoing supports, respite and a comprehensive training package. Contact Jennifer Wolcott at 655-0511 x 118 for more information. Building a community where everybody paricipates and belongs.

www.ccs-vt.org

Early/Absentee Ballots Requests and Deadline: Apply at the Essex Town Clerk’s office, 81 Main Street, Essex Jct., VT, call 879-0413, email clerk@essex.org. Early/Absentee ballots may also be requested online at https://mvp.sec.state.vt.us/. If requesting ballots to be mailed, request in advance to allow for ballots to be returned no later than the close of the polls at 7:00 PM on March 7, 2017. Deadline is Monday, March 6, 2017, prior to 4:30 PM. Voting instructions: Enter polls to check-in table, state name and street address, receive ballot, proceed and enter voting booth, mark your ballot in the voting booth (if you tear, deface of wrongly mark your ballot, return it to the election worker to receive another ballot), proceed to the ballot tabulator, cast ballot, exit polling area. Problems at the Polls: Anyone needing assistance with voting or help with a problem at the polls should seek the assistance of the Presiding Officer or election officials. Campaigning During Polling Hours: No candidate or other person may physically interfere with the progress of a voter to and from the polling place. No campaign advertisement may be displayed, placed, handed out or allowed to remain within the building containing a polling place. An election official or other person may not campaign, solicit voter or distribute campaign materials in the building containing a polling place. For questions concerning this election, call Susan McNamara-Hill, Town Clerk, at 879-0413.

Community Inclusion Facilitator

Provide one on one inclusion supports to a young, active individual who enjoys being creative, socializing with others and working. This 32 hour per week position is fully benefited and is a great opportunity to work in a fun, supportive environment. Send your resume and cover letter to Karen Ciechanowicz at staff@ccs-vt.org Building a community where everybody paricipates and belongs.

www.ccs-vt.org

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The legal voters of the Essex Junction School District, in the Village of Essex Junction, Town of Essex, County of Chittenden, and State of Vermont are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Essex Community Educational Center, on Educational Drive, in the auditorium of said school, at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 2017, to take action upon the articles below.

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To elect a moderator for the term of one year

ARTICLE II:

To transact any other business that may lawfully come before this meeting.

ARTICLE III:

To hear and act upon the reports of the Prudential Committee

ARTICLE IV: Shall the voters of the Essex Junction School District authorize the Prudential Committee to convey the Park Street School building and parcel located at 21 Park St., Essex Junction to the Village of Essex Junction for the sum of One Dollar ($1.00) WHEREUPON, after disposition of said business, said meeting shall be adjourned to the following day, Tuesday, April 11, 2017, when legal voters are hereby notified and warned to meet at the Essex Community Educational Center Union School District #46 in the Village of Essex Junction between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., to vote by Australian ballot on Articles V-VI. ARTICLE V:

To elect three Prudential Committee members each for a term of one year.

ARTICLE VI: To elect one Essex Community Educational Center Union District #46 school director(s) for a term of one year. Approved this 6th day of February, 2017 by the Prudential Committee of the Essex Junction School District.

Reporter Reporter THE ESSEX

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10• The Essex Reporter • March 2, 2017

Classifieds & JOBSEEKERS SERVICES COORDINATOR

Notice to All Essex Junction and Essex Town and Westford Residents The Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union School District Annual Report and Proposed Budget will be available beginning March 31, 2017 Copies will be available at select locations and online. Copies of the annual report may also be mailed upon request. To obtain copies of the annual reports and proposed budget: Pick-Up Locations: Brownell Library CCSU Central Office Essex Free Library Essex Junction Village Office Essex Town Clerk’s Office Essex Town Library ETSD Central Office Westford Public Library Westford Town Office

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Online: http://www.ewsd.org/school-board To request a mailed copy: Call 879-5579

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Food Service Delivery Driver

Our Chittenden Central Child Nutrition Services is seeking a part-time delivery driver to deliver food from a central preparation kitchen to satellite school cafeterias and to perform general deliveries and errands as requested. Qualified candidates must hold a valid VT Driver’s License with an excellent driving record, have relevant experience/skills in driving a truck or van, and be able to do heavy lifting. Position pays $13.86/hour and is available M-F on school days from 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM (4.5 hours/day). For additional information, or to apply, please apply electronically through www.schoolspring.com (Job ID 2755029), or stop by to complete an application at 51 Park Street, Essex Jct., VT 05452. EOE.

Kitchen Workers

Part-time position available in our Chittenden Central Supervisory Union (CCSU) Child Nutrition Program to perform a variety of routine food service tasks for CCSU school cafeteria programs. Selected candidate must be willing to work as cashier. Positions range from three to five hours/day, M-F on school days, and pays $13.32/hour. Anticipated school placement is the Essex Educational Center serving Essex High School and Center for Technology students. A minimum of one year of related food service experience preferred. For consideration, please apply electronically through www. schoolspring.com (Job ID 2755031), or stop by to complete an application at Chittenden Central Supervisory Union, 51 Park Street, Essex Jct., VT 05452.

Food Service Substitutes

Substitute food service staff needed to perform a variety of routine food service tasks for the Chittenden Central Supervisory Union child nutrition program (serving the Essex Junction, Essex Union #46 High School, and Westford school districts). On-the-job training provided. Positions are available on an on-call as-needed basis, but may evolve into regular part-time positions as a result of turnover or program changes. Hours may vary from early to mid-morning to early afternoon and pays $13.32/hour. For consideration, please apply electronically through www.schoolspring.com (Job ID 2755316) or stop by to complete an application at Chittenden Central Supervisory Union, 51 Park Street, Essex Jct., VT 05452

March 2, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •11

school FoUnDErS mEmorIal School

Photo by Jan ePstein Founders Memorial students from Kristy Stone’s third grade class prepare a project to test their structures against a Jell-O earthquake simulation.

As part of a science unit, students in Kristy Stone’s third grade classroom have been learning about earthquakes. They read a non-fiction story that included information about how earthquakes happen and learned vocabulary terms such as fault lines, seismograph, Richter scale and tectonic plates. Armed with this new information, Mrs. Stone presented them with a STEM challenge. Using 40 mini marshmallows and 10 pieces of spaghetti, they were to build a structure that could withstand a Jell-O earthquake. Students were split into pairs and given their materials, which included a planning sheet to record their observa-

tions and draw a sketch of their design before building. There was discussion about what the most stable shape would be: a triangle, rectangle or other shape and how high they should attempt to go. As groups finished, they brought their creation to the tray of Jell-O to see if their structure could withstand the JellO being wiggled. Most students’ structures were not tall, as they all realized a shorter structure would not topple as easily. Mrs. Stone challenged them to try to build a taller structure for their second attempt later on in the week. The scientific thinking, creativity and level of engagement of the students was incredible to see!

hIaWatha hIGhlIGhtS

Courtesy photo The Hiawatha library has been the hub of a number of “maker” activities.

Most classes have finished reading the Red Clover nominees for 2016-17 during Learning Center time. Now comes the tough job of choosing which book to vote for. Voting will be in a few weeks and a statewide winner will be announced near the end of April so stay tuned. A big thank you goes to Jon Tyndall, parent of one of our preschoolers, for a very special delivery made to teachers recently. As part of the Teachers Rock! program at his workplace (Verizon), each teacher received a box of

teacher supplies. We appreciate it. The library has been the hub of a number of “maker” activities as we launched a new theme around innovation, creativity and problem solving. We’ll be reading several related books and hosting some STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) challenges. So far, the second graders have built robots, the first graders crafted ingenious projects with boxes and third-graders took part in 15-minute LEGO challenges. More

design projects will follow in March. Mark your calendars, as Mini Milers online registration opened February 27. Visit RunVermont.org to sign up for this amazing program. The goal of the program is to promote running as a lifetime activity while celebrating the athletic spirit and embracing Vermont communities. It’s also not too late to step up and volunteer. If you are interested, contact Laurie Morgan at 734-2946 or by email: lauriegmorgan@myfairpoint. net.

Editor's note: all school information on this page is submitted content.

FlEmInG FlyEr Winter break is February 27 - March 7: School will not be in session from February 27 March 7 for winter break. Students will return to school on Wednesday, March 8. theater residency at Fleming school: From February 9-22, artist Trish Denton provided an artist-in-residence performing arts program involving all fourth- and fifth-grade students. She worked with students to develop student-generated folklore performances. Students drew on their literacy lessons as they worked collaboratively to construct characters, themes, story lines, narration and much more. They learned physical dramatic performance skills and designed their scenes. With the help from the community, students and Fleming family members constructed props from cardboard and colored paper. Daily, students worked on their theatrical stories and we celebrated with an all-school performance on the evening of February 22. Our students did a great job performing in front of our extended community and they learned a lot from this arts-integration project. We would like to extend a big “thank you” to the Fleming PTO and our specials teachers — Kelly McClintock, Lisa Foley, Ralph Costanza and Olivia Fontaine — for their tireless planning and support of this project. We would also like to graciously thank artist Trish Denton for teaching at Fleming and providing our students with this wonderful artistic learning opportunity and performance. To view more photos from this project, visit our website at: fleming.ccsuvt.org/theater-residency-2017 “I love to read and write week:” February 13-17 was “I love to read and write week” at Fleming school. In addition to

Courtesy photo Students work on their performance skills during the Fleming theater residency project.

engaging in regular classroom reading and writing, students participated in school-wide literacy activities throughout the week. Classes participated in a school-wide progressive writing project, where each classroom contributed three minutes of writing to one story line. To read our collaborative story about the Fleming Elf, head over to our website: https://fleming.ccsuvt.org/ read-and-write-2017 naeP assessment rescheduled for March 9: Fleming fourth-grade students will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). This test was originally scheduled for February 13, but due to the unexpected snow day, we will be rescheduling this assessment for Thursday, March 9. An explanatory letter has been sent home with students providing details about this literacy or math assessment. Please contact the school office if you have questions about your student’s participation in this testing. Fleming to become a PBis school: Fleming staff members voted earlier this month to move forward and become an official Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) school. We feel that the PBIS approach will positively impact school culture and will aid us in

providing positive behavior intervention to all students. The PBIS system will also offer targeted intervention support for students with identified needs. Wellness grant for reflection and outdoor adventures: We believe that spending time in nature is an important learning activity for our students. Studies show that spending time in nature increases self-esteem and resilience against stress and adversity and increases concentration, creativity and flexibility and prevents childhood obesity. Did you know that the average American child spends 30 minutes a day outdoors and six hours in front of screens? Fleming school has been awarded a $2,000 wellness grant to help students celebrate the 100th anniversary of our National Parks and to provide opportunities for students to experience nature on field trips with their classmates. Teachers may spend time in morning meeting reflecting on this subject and students will be focusing on nature through lessons in the Learning Center and book groups. Classes will participate in a variety of field trips exploring some of the beautiful natural areas in Vermont between now and the end of the school year.

ESSEX ElEmEntary School

Photo by Brooke roBBins Essex Elementary students take part in an activity during their Four Winds Nature program.

Students at Essex Elementary school are very fortunate to have the Four Winds Nature program, run by parent volunteers as part of our science curriculum. This year the overall theme is cycles in nature. Earlier in the year,

students learned about how seeds travel and find a new place to grow. This week Mrs. Robbins’ second grade class enjoyed “Galls Galore." They learned that the lumps and bumps that appear on many local plants are actually homes

that provide food and shelter for a variety of insect larva. They enjoyed a puppet show explaining how galls are formed, how long the larva reside in the gall and how birds and other animals target galls as a food source. A short video provided additional information and footage of live insect larva pushing out of the galls. Students matched galls collected by the volunteers to their plant source and were able to open several different galls to find and see the inhabitants first hand. It was a great hands-on learning experience and Mrs. Robbins’ class cannot wait to have our wonderful Four Winds volunteers come back later this year!

12• The Essex Reporter • March 2, 2017

health

What is a silent stroke?

ne of the more devastating things that can affect the brain is stroke. Stroke describes a sudden stoppage of blood from reaching the brain. Harvard Medical School states that if a large number of brain cells are starved of blood supply, they can die. With their demise, a person's memory and ability to speak and move can be compromised. While many strokes come on suddenly, certain factors may indicate a person is at risk. Such factors may include prior heart attacks, genetics, high blood pressure, smoking or a prior stroke. However, in a particular type of stroke – a "silent stroke" – symptoms are far more subtle and difficult to spot. Silent cerebral infarction, often referred to as "SCI" or "silent stroke," is a brain injury likely caused by a blood clot interrupting blood flow to the brain, according to the American Stroke Association. Silent strokes increase risk for

Stock photo Silent stroke may not exhibit any symptoms, making it more difficult to detect.

other strokes and can be a sign of progressive brain damage. A silent stroke is typically only noticed as a side component of an MRI of the brain. Many times, patients don't recall having a stroke and never felt any symptoms. Silent

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strokes should not be mistaken for mini-strokes. Mini-stroke is a brief but discrete and memorable event, with symptoms appearing for a few minutes or a few hours. According to a study on silent stroke titled

"Functional and Cognitive Consequences of Silent Stroke Discovered Using Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an Elderly Population" published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society, silent strokes are quite common

and can have serious consequences. Researchers have found silent stroke is associated with impairments in tests of cognitive function rather than movement-oriented performance tests like rising from a chair. Almost 50 percent of studied silent strokes affected frontal circuit components of the brain, such as the frontal cortex, basal ganglia and thalamus. Lesions in these brain structures compromised executive functions and were related to vascular dementia. Another study showed associations between silent stroke and visual field deficits, weakness in walking on heels, history of memory loss, migraines and lower scores in cognitive function tests. The "silent" part of a silent stroke also refers to areas of the brain the stroke affects. Experts at Harvard Medical School explain that, during a silent stroke, an interruption in blood flow destroys areas of cells in a part of

the brain that is "silent," meaning that it doesn't control any vital functions. Researchers say the damage from silent strokes can accumulate over time, leading to more and more problems with memory. Collectively, silent strokes become silent no longer. There are certain ways to reduce the risk of any type of stroke. These include: · Managing high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. · Quitting smoking. · Reducing the risk of diabetes and effectively treating the condition if present. · Losing weight to prevent obesity. · Exercising and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle. · Taking a low-dose aspirin or drug that prevents blood clots. Silent strokes largely go unrecognized but can lead to significant brain injury. Getting the facts can help reduce risk for silent stroke.

Promote healthy kidneys Kidney disease is a widespread issue made all the more disconcerting by the fact that many people are unaware they have it. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million American adults have kidney disease, and most don't know it. Healthy kidneys are something many people take for granted. But those who want to do everything they can to keep their kidneys healthy can consider the following tips, courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic. · Stay hydrated, but avoid overhydration. Many people are familiar with the benefits of drinking water each day, and adequate hydration definitely promotes healthy kidneys. But overhydrating has not been proven to enhance kidney function. The Cleveland Clinic recommends adults drink between four and six glasses of water per day. · Exercise. Regular exercise benefits various parts

of the human body, including the kidneys. High blood pressure and diabetes are two of the biggest risk factors for kidney disease, and regular exercise can reduce a person's risk of both conditions. However, overexertion can strain the kidneys, so adults who exercise – especially novices who need to improve their conditioning – should avoid going too hard at the gym. · Speak with a physician before taking vitamin supplements or herbal remedies. Vitamin supplements and herbal remedies have become very popular in the 21st century, but excessive supplementation can harm the kidneys. Discuss any supplements or herbals remedies with a physician before taking them. · Quit smoking. Just as exercise benefits the body in myriad ways, smoking harms the body in myriad ways. Smoking decreases the blood flow in the kid-

Stock photo Staying hydrated while avoiding overhydration is one way to protect your kidneys.

neys, decreasing their ability to function at optimal capacity. Smoking also increases a person's risk of high blood pressure and cancer of the kidneys. · Eat healthy. A healthy diet decreases a person's risk for high blood pressure and diabetes. Adhering to a healthy diet and controlling portion sizes can help control weight

and blood pressure and contribute to healthy kidneys as well. · Get screened. Adults who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or diabetes should make sure their physicians screen for kidney dysfunction during routine appointments. Learn more about kidney disease at www.kidney.org.

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sports

Photos by KYLE ST. PETER Clockwise from top: 1) Tom Hoffman skies for a layup during Essex Middle School's game against Edmunds. 2) The student section for ADL goes wild during the Chargers game against Colchester. 3) Olivia Noyes fights through a foul.

Essex was well represented in the finals during last weekend's annual Albert D. Lawton basketball tournament, with the Essex Middle School boys and the Albert D. Lawton girls making it to the three-day event's culminating games. The EMS boys topped off the weekend with a tight 48-44 victory over last year's champions, the

Edmunds Middle School boys, to take the crown. Meanwhile, the ADL girls fell just short of an Essex sweep, dropping their last game to the Frederick H. Tuttle girls. The ADL event is the oldest middle school basketball tournament in Vermont and is said to be one of the nation's oldest as well.

14• The Essex Reporter • March 2, 2017

sports

SPORT SHORTS

Essex set for run at states By COLIN FLANDERS The Essex boys hockey team is eying a third-consecutive state finals berth after finishing the regular season on a 3-1 run. The Hornets dropped their final game to BFASt. Albans 3-1, their second loss to BFA this season. Yet their late surge positioned them in fourth as the state tournament begins. Essex now sits in the quarterfinals awaiting the winners of No. 5 seed South Burlington and No. 12 seed Colchester. The winner of that game will travel to Essex for a Saturday contest starting at 3 p.m.

Photo by JOSH KAUFMANN Dominick Lessard skates behind the Essex goal during the Hornets' game against BFASt. Albans last Saturday. The Hornets fell 3-1.

Swing batter, swing Essex Jct. Little League evaluation dates announced

Essex Jct. Little League evaluations will be held March 9 and 14 in the Essex High School gym from 6 to 8 p.m. Evaluations are only required for players in third grade and above. Players must attend one of the two dates. Organizers say players should bring gym shoes, a baseball glove and water.

Hornets nab third-straight

Courtesy photo John Stawinski wrestles with an opponent during last weekend's state finals in Vergennes.

Stawinski takes home state title Essex senior John Stawinski capped off a phenomenal Vermont wrestling career with a state title in the 170-pound weight class. It's the secondstraight year Stawinski has took home the top slot after winning in the

152-pound weight class last year. Stawinski, who will be heading to Cornell to wrestle in the fall, will have one more shot to add to his accolades during the New England Championships this weekend in Providence, R.I.

Photo by JOSH KAUFMANN Senior forward Josina Munson boxes out late in the game last Saturday during the Hornets' win over BFASt. Albans. Essex has now won three-straight with three games to go before the state tournament. They currently sit seventh in the VPA rankings.

Yes to vacation! Wrestling earned the silver in states, bowling had their individual championships last Saturday and Nordic skiing completes state championships this week. The regular season ends this week for girls basketball. The ADL Tournament is in the books. Spring training is a blast! Can’t even keep up with the weather. The wrestlers finished second in states last weekend. MAU scored 289 points for another state title, while Essex amassed 172 points, out-distancing third place CVU 152.5. Hornet champions include John Stawinski (170 pounds) in a hard fought, well-deserved 3-2 win over MAU’s Austin Prendergast. Other Essex podium performers include second place finishers, James Danis (152), Jack Carney (160), as well as third-place finishers Calvin Leo (113), Noah Bonning (120), Gabe Allen (132) and Alex Rizvanov (195). Danyeh Gutema (182) placed fourth while Ben Stewart (106) and Seth Carney (145) placed fifth. Congratulations on your excellent job, Ishams and coaching staff too! The New England’s are next Friday and Saturday at the Providence Career and Technical Center in Rhode Island. The Hornets qualified seven wrestlers and one alternate. The Essex girls hockey team (15-3-2) had a close loss to Middlebury and an 8-0 crushing of South Burlington to move to No. 1 in the state in D-I. A 4-2-2 record in February did not slow them down in the least. If I were the opposition, I would not want to play them until the finals. The boys hockey team went 2-1 last week and ends the regular season 13-7. Essex beat Woodstock 6-1 and Rutland 8-3 before falling to BFA 3-1 in their finale. They should be ranked third in D-I as playoffs begin this week. Check the website for game, day and time. Our boys basketball team was 1-1 last week and concludes its winter 7-13. Essex beat Colchester and lost a close one to MMU. The JVs clubbed CHS 56-25 behind a strong defensive game. Anthony DeCarvalho and Nolan Davis scored 17 and 12 points, respectively. MMU got them in their finale as they completed their season 14-6. The frosh placed second in the BFA tourney. The girls basketball team is 11-7 and on a three-game winning streak, helping to move up at least one notch in the D-I rankings. Did you read my column last week? Three more games where the Hornets denied opponents 40 points; that’s 10 out of their last 13 if you are keeping count. Two games left in the regular sea-

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JOE GONILLO son has them playing SB and CVU. They are seventh in the state as the week begins. The JVs won twice, defeating the Tide and Comets by 20 points each, and are 17-1 with two games to play. Bowling had its individual championships last week which included the state’s top 32 bowlers. Brian Cookingham, Reese Meunier and Parker Ryan qualified. Ryan advanced to the round of 16 after bowling a 225, 213 and 157. Parker lost in the round of 16. Cody Seaver from Fair Haven was the individual state champion. Team state championships will be next Thursday in Barre beginning at noon. The Nordic skiers completed part one of their state championship last Friday and finished Monday. Our cheerleaders finished second in the state finals to Rutland. They hit a flawless routine in the competition, easily the best they had done all season. Coach Picard is incredibly proud of all work they've put in this season. The team qualified for New Englands on March 18. UVM mens basketball update sees the Cats (26-5, 16-0 in AE play) on a school record 18-game winning streak, the longest in the country. The American East champions now await conference play with a date to the NCAAs soon after. The 47th Annual ADL Tournament was another huge success. The Charger boys defeated Edmunds 48-44. Jackson Moore was named Tourney MVP. FHT girls defeated ADL for title. Great job by all! If anyone is interested in working at Essex High track and field meets, please send me an email so I can have you view a GoogleDoc of the schedule. Condolences to Kenney family on the passing of Retired Brigadier General Richard Kenney, ‘57 EJHS graduate and UVM grad. I had his kids Abby and Jeff in school and soccer. A wonderful man who will be missed. Happy birthday to Charlie Vile, Mason Smith, Will Couture, Julia Sullivan, Leah Smith, Ryan Keefe, Emma Sopchak, Amber Drabble, Sarah Perkins Dahl, Lexie O’Sullivan, Rob Jones, Ramunto’s Kari Lavalette and Florida mogul John Tobin! Happy 32nd anniversary to Eric and Susan Senn.

Pet of the Week TRUDY

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March 2, 2017 • The Essex Reporter •15

food

Za'atar Chicken American Institure for Cancer Research healthy recipe Za’atar is a special combination of dried herbs, lemon juice and sesame seeds used as a marinade rub. This easy yet exotic blend can turn ordinary chicken breast into an inspired dinner. Sesame seeds add a little fiber, iron, magnesium and heart-healthy fats. Chicken is a good lean protein source and an excellent canvas for trying out different herbs and spices. Pair with a leafy green salad for a delicious meal. Per serving: 258 calories, 12 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 6 g carbohydrate, 30 g protein, 2 g dietary fiber, 304 mg sodium.

INGREDIENTS

Stock photo

Chicken is a healthy source of protein low in saturated fat.

Are there good and bad proteins? Determining the nutritional value of certain foods can be a tricky business. Many foods can be enjoyed in moderation, and labeling them as "good" or "bad" might lead to negative connotations. In addition, food labels change from time to time as nutritionists and doctors learn more about nutrition and revise their opinions on certain items. One food type that has remained off the bad foods radar for quite some time is protein. Protein sources are largely touted as the be-all and end-all in nutrition. But even seemingly infallible protein should be eaten in moderation, and even then only if the right sources of protein are selected. Protein is an essential building block of good nutrition that is found throughout the body and makes up the enzymes that power many chemical reactions. Protein helps fuel the hemoglobin in the blood that carries oxygen throughout the body. The Institute of Medicine recommends adults get a minimum of 0.8 grams of protein for every kilogram of body weight per day (or 8 grams of protein for every 20 pounds of body weight). Physicians in the United States recommend a daily protein allowance of 46 grams for women over age 19 and 56 grams for men. Too often, however, people are over-

loading on protein because they think it's a better option than carbohydrates and other food sources. But not all protein is the same.

"Protein is an essential building block of good nutrition."

Protein that comes from animal sources offers all the amino acids a body needs. Unfortunately, some animal sources are less healthy than others. That's because animalbased protein sources also contain saturated fat. Consuming too much saturated fat may contribute to elevated levels of LDL, or "bad," cholesterol in the blood. LDL may lead to the formation of plaque in arteries that limits blood flow and may be a risk factor for heart disease. Fatty red meats and whole-milk products tend to contain

When you come in you’ll see we’ve rearranged

more saturated fat than other protein sources. The key when consuming protein is to find the right balance in protein sources. Fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds may offer many of the required essential amino acids. The rest can be obtained by choosing smarter animal-based protein sources. Salmon and other fatty fish are good sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids (heart-healthy fats) and are generally low in sodium. Lentils offer 18 grams of protein and ample fiber. Plus, these legumes have virtually no saturated fat. When looking for healthy protein sources, consumers can opt for the following selections. · Salmon: Wild salmon may have greater nutritional value than farmed salmon thanks to the more diversified diet consumed

by wild salmon. · Chicken: Chicken is generally lower in saturated fat than other animal protein sources. Opt for pasture-raised chicken for the greatest nutritional punch. · Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt provides ample protein and can contribute to feelings of fullness, making it a more worthy snack than less healthy snacking alternatives. · Shellfish: Shellfish includes clams, oysters, mussels and snails. Shellfish are sources of animal protein that also happen to be full of iron, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients. Variety is the spice of life when it comes to protein sources. Eat different foods to ensure the body gets all the nutrients it requires.

Have a recipe to share? Send it to us! news@ essexreporter.com

• • • • • • • •

2 Tbs. sesame seeds (use unhulled, if available) 1 Tbs. dried oregano 1 Tbs. dried thyme 1/2 tsp. sea salt 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice 2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil, mild and fruity 1 large onion, thinly sliced 4 chicken breast halves (1.5 lbs total), with the rib, skinned

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 2. For za’atar, set cast iron or other heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add sesame seeds to dry, hot pan. Lift pan and hold it just above burner, moving it to swirl seeds until they start popping and color lightly, 2-3 minutes. Immediately spread toasted seeds on a plate to cool. 3. Place fully cooled sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle and crush lightly. Add oregano, thyme and salt, and work mixture just to blend. Mix in lemon juice then oil. Or, seal sesame seeds in plastic sandwich bag and crush using rolling pin, then place in small mixing bowl. Adding herbs, rub them between your fingers, a teaspoon at a time, and crumble them into bowl. Add salt, lemon juice and oil. 4. In baking dish just large enough to hold chicken pieces, spread onion slices over bottom. Make two diagonal slits in each chicken breast, cutting almost to the bone. Arrange chicken in baking dish. Using your fingers, coat chicken with za’atar, pushing some into slits. Cover baking dish with foil, sealing edges. 5. Bake chicken for 30 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer registers 160 degrees F. Let baked chicken sit for 10 minutes, or cool until warm or room temperature before serving. 6. To serve, place a chicken breast on each of four dinner plates, accompanied by onions. Pass pan juices separately in a pitcher. Or, cool chicken and serve it in slices, with cooled onions and reserving liquid for cooking vegetables or for a flavorful addition to soups and sauces. Or tear it into pieces for chicken salad.

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16• The Essex Reporter • March 2, 2017

local

Photos by MICHAELA HALNON Above, Sgt. Chris Nadeau poses for a photo. Left, eight detectives from police departments around the county, including Detective Morgan Lawton of Essex PD, use this small room in the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigation's downtown Burlington office to interview victims of sexual assault and abuse.

"We are not a police station. It's a safer feeling." - Vickie Rathgeb

CUSI

a saFer Feeling

from page 1 fisheye security camera, operated in a control room on the other side of the pale yellow wall. Small microphones run along a one-way mirror. A hanging poster reads, “Always tell the truth. We can talk about anything, so long as it’s true.” Eight detectives from police departments across the county, including Detective Morgan Lawton of Essex PD, use the space to interview victims of abuse and sexual assault. Rathgeb and CUSI director Sgt. Chris Nadeau of Burlington PD lead the team, which also includes a victims’ advocate, dedicated prosecutor and Vt. Department for Children and Families investigator. Staff often float between the office and the criminal courthouse, located right next door. Together, they launch fullblown investigations into nearly 300 cases per year and take on

Joint Fiscal Committee by Cole’s department in 2015 says then-Commissioner Michael Obuchowski learned in 2014 that the $1,000 CUSI lease rate was illegal because it discounts a non-state entity’s rent for a state-owned building below fair market value. Using a fee for space formula, the state estimated CUSI paid the state more than half a million dollars less than fair market value from 2004 through 2015. According to the letter, the legislature and CUSI soon agreed on a lease that gradually increased yearly rates to meet fair market value over the next three years, falling in compliance with state statute. But CUSI quickly appealed to the state after it couldn’t afford the agreed-upon increase in FY16, the letter said. The group successfully negotiated another $1,000 lease for one year and developed a new timeline. Last July, CUSI paid the first half of a $17,581.50 total for FY17, the first payment exceeding $1,000 since 1999. Now, with both a new CUSI director and buildings commissioner at the helm, Francis said the nonprofit is seeking an escalator of just 1 percent per year on that rate.

another hundred shorter-term projects, usually referred from local police departments, DCF and the Internet Crimes Against Children taskforce. More than 62 percent of the incidents involve minors. After paying just $1,000 a year to rent the 3,907-square foot, basement level office on Cherry Street from 1999 to 2016, state officials are asking CUSI to start paying $50,000 a year by July 1, 2019. “We’ve had tremendous support from Chittenden County,” Rathgeb, a Colchester resident, said. “We love our space. I just think we’re looking for some support.”

Fair market value

Colchester town manager Dawn Francis is also chairwoman of the CUSI board. In a letter to Gov. Phil Scott last month,

she said the nonprofit provides a “critical multi-agency service for victims” and survives on grants, donations of police officers and monetary contributions from municipalities. Francis detailed CUSI’s increasing state mandates, noting the Rutland County special investigation unit received close to $106,000 more in state funding than Chittenden County in fiscal year 18, despite the two having similar caseloads. Chris Cole, the state’s buildings and general services commissioner who started the position just weeks ago, said he’ll consider these factors when developing a recommendation for the legislature, which approves the lease terms. Cole said he’s still studying the lease’s history and the talks that have now spanned gubernatorial administrations. A letter submitted to the

Sgt. Nadeau, a Milton resident, said he never planned to work for CUSI. When the director position opened up, the Burlington officer put his name in cautiously, knowing the casework was intense and often detailed horrific crimes. Now, he’s forever glad he made the move. “The amount of difference you can make in this versus anything else we do in law enforcement … it’s phenomenal,” Nadeau said. “You just can’t really say that you have affected or saved someone’s life in the same way.” In his short time at the post, Nadeau has made a mark on the CUSI office. Despite a lack of windows, the basement office is stunningly cheerful. Artwork, painted by former victims at art camps facilitated by Nadeau, invites visitors down the hallway. There are murals, mobiles

and couches accented with pillows at almost every turn. Rathgeb said nearly every design element serves a purpose from a child advocacy lens, forming an environment that is cozy, not sterile. “We are not a police station,” she said. “It’s a safer feeling.” Nadeau said detectives use different techniques when interviewing child victims. They don’t sport suits, ties, uniforms or a holstered gun so as not to intimidate their subjects. Before CUSI was founded in 1992, Nadeau said individual departments handled these complex cases. “You would get people that maybe did not want to do this and would not understand the intricacies,” he said. “This changes you from a patrol officer mentality.” Detectives and support staff meet frequently to discuss and debrief their cases and can see a licensed therapist to process the often-traumatic case material as needed. Plus, Nadeau said, CUSI employees eat lunch together – every day. The eight communities that don’t send an officer are asked to contribute based on their share of cases that year. In 2016, 23 of CUSI’s 280 total cases came from Essex.

the numbers game

Commissioner Cole said he knows CUSI provides a vital service while receiving far less funding than other area agencies. He said the lease deal might serve as a substitute for additional grant money the state says it doesn’t have. Still, he noted, lawmakers must approve any final deviation from fair market value. Additionally, Cole said his evaluation of fair market value actually puts the Cherry St. office at $70,722 – a figure over $20,000 higher than what Francis said CUSI was asked to pay by 2019. In an interview last week, Francis said she’s confident the parties will reach a compromise before the lease is up on July 1 of this year. “This is just really difficult for us to pay,” Francis said. “I don’t think you can replicate CUSI’s services.”

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