The Essex Reporter: March 14, 2019

Local biologist honored for restoration work

EHS team wins treasury Cup

Bill Arden earns national recognition for efforts to help salmon return to Lake Champlain basin

A group of Essex High School students earn $500 and a year supply of bragging rights Story on page 5

Story on page 2

the essex

RepoRteR

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

Thursday, March 14, 2019

EHS theater produces a monster

Vertical farming a possibility in Vermont

Canadian company pitches technology at Excelerate Essex

Curtain rises on ‘Frankenstein’ tonight

By AMANDA BROOKS

A Canadian company is working to turn modern agriculture on its head by expanding its vertical farming operation into the United States. One of their first investors might just be in Essex.

Father and son owners of GiGrow, Gilles and Guillaume Dumont, presented their patented vertical farming technology to investors, developers and other Essex and Chittenden County stakeholders back in February at an event hosted by Excelerate Essex.

The GiGrow system features a space-saving wheel that measures six feet wide and five and a half feet deep that can grow up to 336 plants, mostly leafy greens and herbs, at its max capacity. The company boasts that in a 10,000 square foot warehouse with wheels stacked on top of one another, the system can turn out 1.5 million

By MADELINE CLARK It’s alive! Essex High School (EHS) theater students will perform their rendition of “Frankenstein” Thursday and Friday this week before taking the show on the road as part of the regional One Act Festival hosted by St. Johnsbury.

The play is an abridged version of Mary Shelley’s classic tale written for stage

by Matt Lee. EHS Theater’s performance places particular emphasis on the relationship between man and creation, according to Ryan Poulin, who plays Victor Frankenstein.

“It’s a commentary on reality, what we experience as a society consistently,” Poulin said. “You learn there are not that many differences between man and monster.”

Poulin and Hunter Tether star in the show as creator and created, respectively. Together,

See GROW, page 18

COURTESY PHOTO

The Canadian company GiGrow is hoping to attract Vermont investors for their patented vertical farming technology. The GiGrow wheels boast a monthly output of 336 plants each, and with a full setup in a 10,000 square foot warehouse, the system can produce 1.5 million plants.

See THEATER, page 3

Wake up with Jules...

Breakfast available all day for your enjoyment starting at 8 a.m.! essexreporter.com

Jules offers our customers the flexibility to

customize their meal to meet their personal preferences & dietary needs

EssEx REpoRtER | THURSDAY, MARcH 14, 2019

Essex Jct. | (802) 857-5994 www.julesvt.com

Vol. 18 No. 11

2 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

Loca L

Local biologist honored for salmon restoration work

By COLIN FLANDERS A local biologist has been nationally recognized for his efforts to restore the Atlantic salmon population in Lake Champlain after the fish disappeared more than a century ago.

Essex’s Bill Arden, a fish biologist with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, earned that agency’s Rachel Carson Award for Exemplary Scientific Accomplishment, which recognizes scientific contributions and real-world results in the face of conservation challenges.

The award is named after an aquatic biologist whose scrutiny of the widespread use of chemical pesticides famously led to a ban on the use of DDT in the U.S. It’s one of three science awards the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service distributes annually.

Arden, who received the award at a national conference last week in Denver, said he’s humbled and honored to be associated with Carson.

“I really had to take a step back and think about the things that we’re doing, and how that could relate to such to such a major accomplishment,” he said.

Salmon disappeared from

COURTESY PHOTO

LEFT: Bill Ardren is pictured receiving his Science Award with (from left to right) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region Director Wendi Weber, Assistant Director for Science Applications Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, and Acting Director Margaret Everson. RIGHT: Arden is pictured in the field. land-locked Lake Champlain in the mid-1800s due to overfishing, agricultural runoff, development and dam construction, which prevented the fish from swimming upstream, according to the federal wildlife department.

Salmon restoration efforts in Vermont have been ongoing for decades, with fish produced in both state and federal hatcheries prior to being stocked by the tens of thousands in Lake Champlain waterways every year.

But it wasn’t until 2016

that biologists documented the first natural reproduction of salmon in two of tributaries – the Winooski River and the Boquet River in New York – thanks in part to Arden’s work.

“I feel like the contribution I made coming in was to help identify some gaps in our knowledge about the salmon’s biology and how we could use science to help those fish survive better,” he said.

Arden’s research identified ways biologists can encourage more salmon to make

the migration trip upstream while also finding some best practices for introducing the fish into the waterways.

Once hatched, salmon stay in waterways like rivers or streams for about two years, then swim out into the lake until eventually returning upstream to spawn, which is why lakes need streams with enough spawning and rearing habitat to sustain a naturally reproducing population.

But the annual migration from Lake Champlain has been a challenging one

FREE HOME BUYING SEMINAR

due to physical barriers, and while human intervention has helped overcome these obstacles, biologists were surprised to see so few fish return each year.

Arden’s research helped identify ways biologists can encourage more salmon to make the migration trip while also providing some best practices when introducing the fish into the waterways.

For example, when one project identified a chemical odorant that salmon cue in on for spawning grounds in the wild, Arden suggested changing the hatcheries water sources from well water to brook water during a specific time of year. The changes allowed young salmon to be exposed to the chemical cues early on and better find their way back to the waterways as adults.

As a result, Arden said, returns in rivers have been three to five times higher than previous rates.

Another project came with the help of Brett Towler, a hydraulic engineer also honored at last week’s national conference. The two collaborated with Green Mountain Power to modify a structure at a hydropower dam, which fish need to pass through when heading back downstream, allowing a greater percentage of fish to make it back to the lake.

Arden’s recognition comes during the international year of the salmon, a project See ARDEN, page 3

COME ENJOY OUR

Weekly Specials!

MONDAY

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Kids Eat Free

Queen City Brewery in Burlington RSVP by March 22nd

WEDNESDAY

$5 Margaritas THURSDAY

1/2 price Nachos

For more information, and other seminar events, please visit vermontfederal.org.

RSVP: events@vermontfederal.org

authentic mexican cuisine

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH & DINNER

NMLS Institutional ID #466013 Insured by NCUA

SEE WHERE BETTER BANKING TAKES YOU

4 Park Street • Essex • 802.662.4334 169 Church St. • Burlington • 802.540.3095 ElGatoCantina.com

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019 | 3

Loca L

They noted how Perry talks with students about the work and encourages them to converse with each other before tackling how they’ll bring the show to life on the stage.

“The way that she [Perry] gives us the liberty to explore ... really lets us own the show,” Tether said.

EHS will host the state One Act Festival on April 5 and 6. Two troupes will be chosen from each regional competition to compete at that competition. EHS students are hopeful they’ll be among the

competitors but happy to host and attend the event on their home turf either way, Poulin said.

“The one-acts are really special,” Poulin said. “It is a celebration of theater.”

The play will be held on March 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. in the EHS Theater. Tickets will be available at the door and will cost $5 for students and seniors, $10 for adults. The show is open to people of all ages though EHS theater advises viewers be at least 13 years old.

COURTESY PHOTO

EHS theater students run through a dress rehearsal of Frankenstein. They will take the stage tonight and tomorrow evening before heading to St. Johnsbury Academy to compete in the regional One Act Festival Saturday.

THEATER from page 1 along with the 22-member cast, they explore themes of reflection, pride and neglect among other elements of the human experience.

Unlike the mute nuts-andbolts-sporting green monster many associate with the work, this play offers its monster a voice. Having the creation speak helps viewers gain a fuller understanding of the pain he endures born to a creator who does not care for him and thrust into life. At times, he is more eloquently spoken than his creator, according to Poulin. “[The monster’s] ability to speak allows the audience to feel that emotion,” Poulin said. “[He has] been robbed of that ability to live a normal life and [has] not asked to be in this life. [His] experience is purely off the hubris of some male

ARDEN from page 2 launched by the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission aimed at raising awareness of “what humans can do to better ensure salmon and their varied habitats are conserved and restored against the environmental variability,” reads the NPAFC website.

The project features events around the U.S. and more than a dozen other countries. Here, the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office is planning a series of events, including a collaboration with the Lake Champlain Maritime

who had the belief that he had capability above all others.”

The play explores mature themes and depicts violence but does not focus on gore, according to director Aly Perry.

Nonetheless, it preys on viewers’ emotional and physical experience, making them feel threatened, she said.

“When we put the music in the first time, in their first scene, my heart actually stopped,” Perry said. “We create the sense of terror. It’s very primal.”

According to Poulin, part of the beauty of the one-act rendition comes from its simple sets. The story is told using several shiny lab tables turned at various times to function as walls. These props depict the theme of reflection that runs through the play, Poulin said.

They help convey the idea of Victor looking within to understand himself, as well as how his creation is a reflection of that self.

On Saturday the EHS

Museum, which will have a museum replica canal boat touring the lake to talk about landlocked salmon.

For Arden, meanwhile, the work continues; he has a project planned for this fall that will further illuminate the migration patterns of adult salmon. Beyond his personal interest, Arden said the the fish play an important role in the overall effort to restore Lake Champlain’s aquatic ecosystem.

“A lot of things have to go right for salmon to be able to complete their life cycle,” Arden said. “So they’re a really good indicator species of how well we’re doing in terms of restoration.”

theater company will depart in the early morning hours for St. Johnsbury Academy. There, they’ll attend workshops with theater professionals and watch their competitors perform one act plays before they take the stage in the last performance of the day.

“It’s very much about that celebration of theater, that community that lives inside of theater,” Tether said of the event.

The festival allows EHS students to see how other schools approach the craft, Poulin added.

The competition will occur this Saturday at St. Johnsbury Academy from 8 a.m. until after the 8:30 p.m. award ceremony. EHS will compete against St. Johnsbury Academy, Leland and Gray High School, United Christian Academy and Williamstown High School.

Both Poulin and Tether said they were grateful for their director and castmates.

Find us on Facebook

Admission: $3 donated directly to Vermont Food Shelves (under 12 free)

Not like any other!

NotNotlike anyother! other! like any

Over 100 crafters donating proceeds to nonprofit organizations

Over Sports 100 crafters donatingproceeds proceeds to nonprofit organizations Center, St. Michael’s College Over 100Ross crafters donating to nonprofit organizations

Sports Center, St. College Saturday March 11, 23, 2017 2019 RossRoss Sports Center, St.Michael’s Michael’s College Saturday March 11, 2017 23, 2019 to 4:00 PM Saturday March9:30 11,AM 2017 9:30 AM to 4:00|PM9:30am to 4:00pm I’ll be care!

I’ll bethere there beCAUSE I’ll be there beCAUSE I Icare! care!

Find us on Facebook

Admission: $3 donated directly Vermont Food Shelves (under 12 free) Find ustoon Facebook

4 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

Loca L

THE NEWS NEVER STOPS AT ESSExREPORTER.cOm

Tr y o ur Famo us ! n e k c i h C Frie d

Restaurant Restaurant & Catering Catering Fri&&Sat Sat 4:30-8:30 4:30-8:30 Fri

Park EssexJunction Junction||||802-871-5295 802-871-5295 ||||lazyfarmervt.com 34 34 Park StSt Essex lazyfarmervt.com

Clay's has moved

Clay's has moved to & a new location in the Essex Restaurant Catering Shopping Center! We are now located between Fleet FeetFri Sports& andSat the Laundromat.

Come check out our 4:30-8:30

fabulous new location and NEW SPRING MERCHANDISE.

34 Park St Essex Junction || 802-871-5295 || lazyfarmervt.com

BuildingEnergySpringCVNGAdCrewWave.pdf

2

3/8/19

11:06 AM

Let us deliver the power of sunshine to your home.

SOLAR + WEATHERIZATION + INSULATION + HEAT PUMPS

Set up an appointment with our solar specialists today.

802-859-3384 www.BuildingEnergyVT.com 30% Solar Federal Tax Credit expires 12/31/2019.

Building Solutions for a Sustainable Future Since 1971

Suspect in UVM rape denied bail

By COLIN FLANDERS The Essex Jct. man accused of raping a student at the University of Vermont last month has been denied bail.

Tyson Cyphers, 37, has been held at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans since his arrest Feb. 23. He pleaded not guilty to charges of repeated aggravated sexual assault, stalking and grand larceny last month and faces a possible life sentence, if convicted.

Chittenden County prosecutors filed paperwork requesting a judge deny Cyphers bail at the time of his arraignment, arguing no set of conditions could reasonably prevent him from committing further violent acts.

“This was a premeditated attack,” wrote deputy state’s attorney Dana DiSano in her motion, adding the “evidence of guilt is great.”

The alleged victim told detectives with the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations that Cyphers, whom she knew, somehow accessed her dormitory and threatened to “cut his wrists” if she didn’t let him inside. He then said he was on a mission to “make her hate him” and assaulted her multiple times, court records show, stopping only when her roommate arrived.

The judge ordered Cyphers be held pending a bail hearing last week, which was later cancelled after Cyphers’ defense attorney agreed to the request, court filings show.

He will now be held in state custody for the entirety of his court proceedings.

In her motion to deny bail, DiSano relied on both Cyphers’ lengthy criminal past and his own statements to show he poses a continued

risk to the victim.

DiSano said Cyphers’ rap sheet shows convictions on 14 misdemeanors, four felonies, four failures to appear and 11 violations of probation. Two of those convictions were on weapons charges, DiSano said, while two others were for lewd and lascivious conduct, which landed Cyphers on the Vermont Sex Offender Registry.

Though he was listed as non-compliant with registry rules at the time of the alleged attack, Cyphers was described as “not high risk,” a Department of Corrections determination suggesting he didn’t pose a high risk of reoffending.

Arguing the contrary, DiSano highlighted an admission he made to emergency personnel at the time of his arrest: a comment to the effect of, “Whatever you do, you won’t be able to stop this. This will happen again,” a police affidavit says.

The alleged attack occurred the same day that Essex police had issued a “be on the lookout” alert for Cyphers after his father reported he had made comments of suicidal thoughts, court records show. After the incident, Cyphers texted his mother and admitted to the crime. He then again made suicidal comments and said he was not going to go back to jail.

Police found him lying on his bed with a flask in one hand and a pill bottle in the other. At the South Burlington police station later that day, police said Cyphers exhibited “concerning behavior,” banging his head against the cement walls of his holding cell.

A status conference has been set for later this month.

You know what would look great here? Your ad!

Contact us at 524-9771

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019 | 5

Loca L

EHS students win annual Treasury Cup

By REPORTER STAFF Essex High School students beat out eight other high school teams last Friday to take the 2019 Vt. Treasury Cup Challenge, a daylong financial education tournament hosted by Vermont State treasurer Beth Pearce.

Each student on the EHS winning team – Bailey Tetrault, Henry Wu, Nathan Wu, Isabelle Petrucci, Grace Lu and Jeremy Brennan – received a $500 college savings account and individual trophies, while also earning the right to display the gold traveling trophy at EHS for the next year.

The group will represent Vermont as a semifinalist in the National Economic Challenge, a prestigious national financial literacy competition, and compete in an online national test next month to determine if they qualify for the national finals, held May 18 in New York City.

“The 2019 Treasury Cup was a fantastic experience for our students,” said EHS teacher and team coach Charlie Burnett in news release.

“They enjoyed the opportunity to match wits with some impressive students from throughout the state of Vermont, and they learned a lot in the

COURTESY PHOTO

EHS students pose with their first place trophy after winning last week’s annual Treasury Cup Challenge, hosted by Vt. State Treasurer Beth Pearce. process.

“Win or lose, my students always come away from the Cup with some new knowledge that is sure to serve

them well as they embark on new frontiers in their lives,” added Burnett.

The Treasury Cup Challenge is a

guilt-free treats dogs can’t resist

double-elimination tournament where teams compete in a quiz-show style contest. South Burlington students placed second followed by Missisquoi Valley Union High School in third.

“Today’s high schoolers need to navigate an increasingly complex financial world,” Pearce said in a news release. “Even before graduation, these students are faced with important decisions about how they manage credit and save to meet their shortand long-term financial goals. It’s important that we engage Vermont students with educational opportunities to test and boost their financial literacy.”

The tournament is sponsored

by Vermont State Employees Credit Union and featured donations from the Vermont Jump$tart Coalition, which provided the buzzer system, the Community National Bank, which donated the grand prize: a new iPad mini won by a student from U-32.

The competition is also supported with help from members of the State Financial Literacy Working Group, an interagency group of state leaders focused on advancing financial education for Vermont citizens.

available locally: THE DOG AND CAT Essex Junction • Stowe PET FOOD WAREHOUSE South Burlington • Shelburne NATURAL PROVISIONS Williston GUY’S FARM AND YARD St. Albans City JACOB’S IGA Underhill

just the good stuff!

no extra calories, sugar, salt or fat

calories per treat Crafted in Williston, Vermont LEARN MORE AT WWW.PETNATURALS.COM

6 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

Loca L

View our papers on our new and improved websites...

Youth on It’s always free!

ESSEXREPORTER.COM COLCHESTERSUN.COM MILTONINDEPENDENT.COM

WIN THIS WEEKEND WINwhen THIS youWEEKEND get your when you getParty your WINSuper THISBowl WEEKEND Super Bowl goodies with us! when you getParty your goodies with us!

Super Bowl Party goodies with us!

Board

By DAVID VOEGELE In October of 2017, there was a gathering of young people at an event called the Vermont Youth Rights Summit. It was hosted by Vermont AfterSchool (the non-profit association of after school programs and organizations in Vermont). One outcome of the event was the Youth Declaration of Rights. It is a document worthy of our attention. The official document is too long to include entirely here, so I will highlight key elements and statements.

On the subject of Education, youth should have: • Access to free classes on Basic Life Skills (signing a lease, budgeting, taxes, resumes, etc.)

• Equal opportunities and experiences in arts education before, during, and after school • A post-secondary education no matter their financial situation.

· all natural chicken wings all natural chicken wings ·· ready-to-eat chicken wings ready-to-eat chicken wings ·· RIPE organic and fair trade avocados all natural chicken wings ·· RIPE and fair wings trade chipsorganic & Vermont-made salsaavocados ready-to-eat chicken ·· RIPE chips & Vermont-made salsa baconorganic cheddar burgers ANDavocados MORE! and fair trade ·· bacon cheddar burgers AND chips & Vermont-made salsa MORE! · bacon cheddar burgers AND MORE!

WILLS–TRUSTS–ESTATE PLANNING–MEDICAID–ELDER LAW–PROBATE

On the subject of Equality and Justice, youth should have the right to: • Explore their identities in a safe environment • Education on gun safety and to live in a gunaware community that is educated and aware of proper gun usage • Have their voices heard in legal decisions that affect everyone In regard to Home and Shelter, youth should have: • A safe place with a caring family and a bed • Access clean, weather-appropriate clothing • To be protected from abuse of all kinds • Important people in their lives who spend time with them (mentors) • Live with and be supported by caring adults In terms of Mental Health, youth should: • Choose their own identity, whether that be sexual orientation, religious identification, and/or gender • Have access to affordable mental health care On the subject of the Natural Environment, youth should have: • A healthy environment that provides the basic

Peace of mind for your family & loved ones Register for one of our free seminars at www.unsworthlaplante.com

26 Railroad Ave./ Essex Jct., VT (802) 879-7133 / unsworthlaplante.com

NANCY TESSIER

necessities to all life • Know about the environment, and what is being done to it • Have a say about what happens to the environment Regarding Physical Health, youth should have: • Access to outdoor recreational and natural spaces • Safe and affordable health care that covers medical treatment, preventative care, reproductive health, vaccines, and intervention

In terms of Social Support and Connections, youth should: • Express themselves through feelings, speech, clothing, actions, creativity, and more • Have support and education from friends, family, and community • Connect to each other through technology and transportation • Be respected and heard • Be engaged in community

On the subject of Work and Transportation, youth should have: • Ability to choose a safe and healthy job, while making a fair wage • Accessible, reliable, and affordable transportation regardless of economic circumstances I asked Nancy Tessier, the Assistant Director of the Essex Teen & Tween Center, what she thought about the Youth Declaration of Rights.

Nancy is 21 years old, and a resident of Essex.

She said, “Reading through the Declaration made me really happy, especially seeing how well-rounded it is. Something that is extremely important and personal to me is the Natural Environment category with a really powerful first bulletin of ‘a healthy environment that provides the basic necessities to all life.’ To me that shows how providing resources to our youth ultimately makes a healthier community as a whole.” I agree with Nancy. It is very impressive that youth are able to articulate so well a vision of what should be, for youth and the community.

You know what would look great here? Your ad!

Contact us at 524-9771

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019 | 7

SCHOOL

Starting Points childcare network provides peer support, education

By AMANDA BROOKS

A recent report from the Joint Fiscal Office showed a decline in childcare providers in Vermont, particularly for in-home childcare providers.

Some suggested causes for the decline have been older providers retiring without replacement, as well as new rigorous requirements increasing the workload for providers.

While more studies are in the works to determine exact causes of this decline, a dedicated group of childcare providers have stepped up to provide support for other providers through the Starting Points network, which stretches across all counties in the state.

Childcare providers, mostly registered in-home and some center-based, meet once a month with their regional leaders for networking opportunities, to work on - professional development and to participate in workshops to both meet federal and state guidelines as well as improve their own level of care.

“Research shows that networking helps improve quality,” explained Michelle Trayah, the St. Albans district fiscal agent representative.

“Through these Starting -Points networks they’re able to...guide each other, collaborate with each other, bounce ideas off of each other, and to also offer professional development to their fellow colleagues as well as support.”

Network leaders plan workshops and professional development opportunities for the childcare providers to take advantage of free of charge, using grant monies they apply for from the Vermont Child Development Division and Let’s Grow Kids. They say this helps providers overcome the challenges of new childcare regulations, which went into place several years ago, requiring additional training for providers.

“Just in our region last year, [we] did over 80 hours of free local training and 52 hours of networking and professional development hours,” explained Franklin network leader Tina Lothian. “Those are free to providers so they’re not having to go out and spend lots of extra money that they don’t have.”

She added that most of the time in her region, providers are getting more hours than

COURTESY PHOTO

Starting Points leaders from the St. Albans region (L to R) Lynn Roberts, Tina Lothian, Michelle Sheldon and Tami Dodge pose for a photo at one of their recent networking events. The leaders assist their fellow childcare providers with regulations and trainings, while providing full-time childcare in their own homes as well. required due to the expansive opportunities they offer, which also improves the quality of the childcare they provide.

Taralyn Thorne, leader of the Essex/Williston network, said her group is currently in the middle of an eight-week course on American Sign Language, which is completely free for Starting Points members, paid for by the grant.

She said last year she was able to attend a regional training sponsored by the Burlington network, which covered the topic of gender identity in young children.

“That was very interesting because...you know that it’s an issue but I wasn’t really thinking about it in my little ones that I’m caring for,” Thorne said. “It was enlightening to [learn] some of those words because I’m not working in the community or in a school system or somewhere where I hear those words.”

Starting Points leaders also help fellow providers work through the complicated regulations and provide emotional support to help them through what can be a confusing path.

“When you have 70 someodd pages thrown at you of how you should be doing things, it is a little daunting,” Thorne explained.

Swanton network leader Michelle Sheldon said they’ve come up with new forms to help providers keep track of logs and other items in order to stay compliant with regulations. Fairfax leader Lynn Roberts added they work with providers to stay organized and on top of the regs.

“And sometimes [we pro-

vide] just all around emotional support for providers and just helping them stay calm,” Lothian explained. “[We’re] helping people help support their families and getting them things they need and getting them in touch with the proper resources.”

Being a Starting Points network leader seems like having a second job, although volunteers are given little compensation for their time.

After working a 10 hour day of providing childcare in their own homes, Thorne said leaders can spend another two to three hours attending meetings, emailing or calling other providers to provide assistance or preparing for the next day’s workshop, not including travel time.

“I don’t think the parents of the children we provide care for realize there’s all this behind the scenes work that goes into this,” she said.

St. Albans leader Tami Dodge said having the net-

work of providers gives them support and a place to get answers, which can be difficult

when working alone in one’s home.

“They have someone to look to in their own community that relieves their stress and they know that they can count on any one of us,” she said.

The leaders also agreed that having the Starting Points network offers structure and motivation for childcare providers to continue their work of providing high-quality childcare for families.

“The providers that are involved have longevity,” said Thorne, who remarked that most providers in her group have been in the childcare profession for at least a decade.

“The people that are involved, that get help, that reach out to other people that have childcare in common, you help each other through the tough times See CHILDCARE, page 19

Yourchild. child.Your Your orthodontist Your orthodontist Orthodontists are specialists in straightening Your child. Your orthodontist teeth and aligning your bite. They have two

to three years of education beyond dental school so they’re experts at helpng you get Orthodontists are specialists a great smile that feels great too!in straightening

teeth and aligning your bite. They have two

DRS. RYAN and EATON www.champlainortho.net to three •years of education beyond dental _____________________________ school so they’re experts at helpng you get

Braces for Children & Adults a great smile that feels great too!

ST. ALBANS OFFICE

WILLISTON OFFICE

80 Mapleville 287 Blair Park Road DRS. RYAN andDepot EATON • www.champlainortho.net

_____________________________ 527-7100 878-5323 Braces for Children & Adults ESSEXPLAYERS.COM ST. ALBANS OFFICE 80 Mapleville Depot 527-7100

WILLISTON OFFICE

THE TELL-TALE FARCE 287 Blair Park Road

ble What unspeaka aits aw ry he uc ba de ber behind this cham ? or do

One Way to cu t an engagem en (and fiancé) t shor t

nty

Chaos and shenanigans aple Let’s do some shenanigans

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

By DON ZOLIDIS 878-5323

Playing Poe is hard, especially when your mustache keeps falling off!

March 1-16, 2019

Fri & Sat 7:30pm • Sun 2pm Essex Memorial Hall Tickets & info: essexplayers.com

8 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

Opi ni On

Perspective

Public officials must be transparent at all times

By SEC. OF STATE JIM CONDOS On Tues., March 5, Vermonters elected their local government officials on Town Meeting Day. In November 2018, Vermonters chose their statewide officers and legislative representatives.

In November 2016, Vermonters voted for the highest elected office in the United States.

Regardless of the difference in responsibilities of their positions, from local select boards to the Governor to the President of the United States, and even me as Vermont’s Secretary of State, we all share one thing: a responsibility to uphold the public’s trust by being transparent and accountable in everything we do.

March 10 - 16 is Sunshine Week, a national celebration of access to public information and government transparency.

In my over 30 years of public service, as a City Councilor, State Senator, and as Secretary of State, I have learned that public trust in our government is critical to our ability to achieve meaningful progress.

Ensuring that government is open and transparent is the only way to

build this trust with our Vermont communities.

Transparency isn’t just a buzzword, or something we should do as government officials. It is a requirement, enshrined in the Vermont Constitution under Article 6: That all power being originally inherent in and consequently derived from the people, therefore, all officers of government, whether legislative or executive, are their trustees and servants; and at all times, in a legal way, accountable to them.

We must never forget that in government, our boss is the public.

Everything we do, and every record we make, ultimately belongs to them. Without transparency, Vermonters would not have the tools they need to hold public officials accountable.

Criticism or embarrassment are not valid reasons to draw the shades on information that the public has a right to see. In my office we operate every day as if the 625,000 Vermonters we serve are looking over our shoulder.

And, in case you were wondering, yes, the media is included as members of the public.

Not only do our hard working journalists have as much of a right to public records as any other individual,

they also play an important role as the public’s watchdog, serving to inform and educate.

Like any group of professionals, they are not perfect. The vast majority of journalists support letting the sun shine in on government. A free press is an essential partner in accountability through transparency.

Sadly, it is not hard to imagine a world in which local, state and federal governments act behind closed doors and with secrecy and impunity. There are many countries where this is the case. We must remain ever vigilant in our quest to keep the doors of government wide open and to ensure that government is working for the people and is at all times accountable.

Vermont’s open meeting and public record laws are not difficult to understand, even if sometimes burdensome for public officials; however, by adopting an open government mindset and foregoing the all too pervasive ‘deny first’ mentality, much of the work is already done.

Unfortunately, not every government official shares this perspective, and oftentimes costly legal fees prevent ordinary Vermonters from pursuing access to the records that they are entitled to.

It’s also important to recognize that violations of Vermont’s transparency law aren’t always intentional. The majority of Vermont’s public officials are hard-working, and honest.

However, intentional or not, unless we want public faith in our governmental institutions to erode further, we must do better.

So, for Sunshine Week this year I would like to acknowledge that from time to time, a few rain clouds may block the sun from shining down. However, as government officials, we have to do our part by throwing open those shades and turning on a few more lights when it gets dark. We can’t sleep on transparency; good government demands it and the people we serve deserve it.

Sunshine Week is a national celebration of access to public information and what it means for you and your community. The Secretary of State’s office has created guides to help citizens and public servants navigate the Open Meeting Law and Public Records Act. They can be found on our website at www.sec.state.vt.us under the “Municipal” tab.

Obituary

James Joseph Valla James Joseph Valla (Jim), 91, passed away at Birchwood Terrace in Burlington on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019. He was born on June 30, 1927 in Binghamton, N.Y. son of the late Matthew R. and Helen C. (Foley) Valla. Jim married the former Mary T. Hopkins on July 2nd in 1955. He proudly served our country during WWII. Jim received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University in Pots-

dam, N.Y. His forty-year career included working for General Electric, North American Electronics and IBM from which he retired in 1991.

Jim’s chief passions were family, church and community. All his interests revolved around these. He was a devoted and faithful husband and father. He loved activities with his family like swimming, camping, cooking, dancing, ice skating, sailing, snowshoeing, photography, singing, yoyos and traveling. Jim instilled intellectual curiosity into the minds of his children.

Jim was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Essex Junction since 1968. His involvement included serving as a Eucharistic minister, instructing faith formation, singing in the choir and serving as an usher. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 25 years and was awarded an Honorary Life Membership. Jim volunteered with VITA and prepared tax returns for the elderly for over 15 years. He was known to his friends for his jolly personality and his dedication. He will be greatly missed by his wife and family.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 64 years, Mary Theresa Valla, a Mayflower Descendent of Stephen Hopkins, a son James J. Valla, Jr. of Worcester, Mass, seven daughters, Mary Ann Valla of South Burlington, Theresa Marie Valla of New York City, NY, Margaret Helen and Keith Errol Barnette of Newtown Square, Penn., Pamela Ann and Daniel Boudah of Wake Forest, N.C., Kathleen Marie Clarke of San

Jose, Calif., Beth Ann Robtoy and spouse Richard Miller of Clifton Park, N.Y., Michele Maria and Paul Chisholm of Essex, nine grandchildren, Jeremy and Grace Boudah, Seamus and Liam Chisholm, Nicole, Ashley and Sarah Michele Clarke, Colton and Trenton Robtoy, his sister Mary Therese and spouse Clyde Verbryck of Vestal, N.Y. Jim was predeceased by his father Matthew R. Valla and his mother Helen C. Valla, his brothers, M. Robert Valla and Donald J. Valla.

Jim was a veteran of World War II. Jim also served in the Army Reserves from 1951 until 1960. The discipline and patriotism learned in the Army never left him. Jim was honored as Grand Marshall of the Essex Junction Memorial Day Parade in 2010.

The family would like to thank Rev. Charles Ranges, Essex Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughter Court Fanny Allen, Dr. Diane Rippa, Essex Rescue, the neighbors of Forest Road, Essex Jct., UVM Medical Center, Birchwood

Terrace and Department of Veterans Affairs for all the care, love and support they gave during Jim’s times of need.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 from 5 to 8 p.m. at A W Rich Funeral Home – Essex Chapel, 57 Main St., Essex Jct., VT 05452. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Church with Reverend Charles Ranges, S.S.E. officiating. Family and friends are invited to a reception in the parish hall following the Mass.

Inurnment will be held in the spring at the convenience of the family in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Randolph where full military honors will be accorded this WWII veteran. Memorial contributions in Jim’s memory may be made to Disabled Vets, Attn: Gift Processing, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH, 452500301. The family invites you to share your memories and condolences by visiting www. awrfh.com.

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019 | 9

Opi ni On Letters to the editor

the essex

Thank you, Essex I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity to give back to Essex, by serving as an elected Selectboard Member.

I would like to extend my gratitude to all who supported me: all who wrote letters, lent a listening ear, allowed me the space to figure out how to go about all of this and, most importantly, to those who voted for me. Thank you for your trust and support.

I’d also like to thank Irene Wrenner and Patrick Murray for a kind, thoughtful and gracious election/campaign season. A privilege to share a passion for Essex with you both.

I look forward to governing positively, with an open mind, alongside of my fellow Selectboard Members.

Annie Cooper Keep abortion law as it is At its most fundamental level, what is the dispute about abortion all about? It’s one person interfering with another person’s doctor-patient relationship, isn’t it? Who would tolerate that with any other medical situation? What would you say if your doctor was prevented from giving you all the relevant information about your medical condition?

You’d be outraged.

Leading medical groups such as the American Medical Association and American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists oppose political attempts to interfere with the doctor-patient relationship. They prevent health care providers from giving their patients the best health care possible in an individual situation. That only makes sense.

H 57, a bill in the Vermont legislature, puts into law current State of Vermont practice, which has no restrictions on a woman’s access to reproductive health care services, including abortion.

It ensures that women’s access to abortion stays the way it is—unrestricted, and gives women certainty under the law. It’s the first step in ensuring Vermont women have the same access to reproductive and abortion care that they

have had for the last 46 years.

Don’t be confused or distracted by the focus on late term abortions. They are extremely rare, involve severe fetal anomalies and serious threats to the woman’s health.

And most fetal anomalies can’t be detected before 20 weeks.

This is a non-issue.

When women have access to the full range of reproductive health care it helps them control their lives, health, and future. And their personal and family economic situation remains within their control.

Not someone else’s political agenda.

Guaranteeing a woman’s reproduction rights contributes to making a Vermont that works for all of us. And that surely includes treating all women like adults, capable of making their own decisions, not just a few with resources to arrange special treatment or travel.

I support H 57, the bill in the Vermont legislature that ensures these rights. Call your state senator. Urge her or him to support this bill.

Bill Kuch Springfield, VT Wrenner: Thank you I want to thank everyone in Essex who has supported me for various causes over the past 14 years.

You know who you are.

And I could not have accomplished so much -- despite the hurdles placed before me, and there were so very many -- without your encouragement and activism.

I tuned in to local government back in 2005 because I didn’t want Essex to wind up looking like other places I’d lived.

That year I was appointed to a Merger Task Force, which eventually met 40+ times.

The MTF heard from every Town and Village department about what they did and how they might merge with their counterpart.

In 2006 the MTF presented a merger proposal that I found to be inequitable, but other challenges also became apparent in the course of the MTF

meetings.

For example, I realized that Village residents were also Town residents, but no Village resident served on the Selectboard.

I got in touch with FairVote (a non-partisan champion of electoral reforms) and commissioned a report published in April, 2006 called “The Missing Half, Fair Representation in Post-Merger Essex”: archive.fairvote.org/reports/ policyperspectives/essex_ pp06.pdf.

It was one of the handouts offered, as I tabled outside Village Annual Meeting 2006 behind a banner purchased with personal funds: www. irenewrenner.com/banner.

The issue of equitable representation was one I drew attention to as a private citizen, concerned about equity for my friends in the Village, long before running for townwide political office was ever suggested to me.

Fast forward to today: Inside-the-Village residents outnumber Outside-the-Village residents 6:3 (soon to be 7:2) among the elected officials at joint board meetings, such that I’ve been compelled to speak up for the other half of the town.

Some Village residents have taken my recent advocacy for representation of the Town-outside-the-Village to mean that I’ve forgotten about them.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

In fact, I’ve officially and readily represented all residents since the day I took my first oath as a Selectboard member in 2007.

You’ll often hear me say at meetings: my Village constituents seek x; my outside-theVillage constituents seek y.

The reason I have a pretty good handle on a variety of perspectives? Knocking on doors all over town for well over a decade.

Although everyone asks for these outcomes in their own way, fair taxation and equitable representation for every Essex resident remain the answer. They are what I’ve worked toward this entire

time.

I am so grateful to all who elected me to four terms as a Selectman plus those who supported me for a fifth.

Irene Wrenner Essex Thanking Irene Wrenner Thank you, Irene Wrenner, Thank you for your dedication of nearly 14 years of service without missing a meeting.

Thank you for your citizenship and participation in so many Essex community organization activities.

Thank you for your devotion to transparency and keeping the community informed.

Thank you for your tireless energy, researching and studying each and every proposal.

Thank you for your courage and the conviction to follow your conscience and speak out even if it means standing alone.

Art Kilmer A letter to the Burlington Free Press Can Gannett explain to me how 7 Days and Essex Reporter can thrive, cover the news, have advertisers, and Vt Digger blows you out of the water, when the King of Papers in NW Vermont, the population center of the state, Is going to rack and ruin, covering failed restaurants, new bars, downtown bar fights, Church Street di$aster, limiting their usual spectrum from UVM to the Waterfront?

Could the Free Press survive without Gannet, could it thrive without Gannet?

Is Gannet purposely $ucking the life out of the daily newspaper that NW Vt has supported for 150 years?

Does our $90 a month all go to the executive suite at Gannet?

Is $90 month the reason for declining enrollment?

50 year Subscriber, 2 GENERATIONS WOULD BE 100 unbroken YEARS !!

What say you?

Doug and Pat Richmond, Essex, then Underhill

What do you think? Email your letter to the editor to news@essexreporter.com Please include your name and address. Deadline: Mondays at 8 a.m.

RepoRteR 281 north main St. St. Albans, vt. 05478

EDITORIAL: 893-2028 ADVERTISING: 524-9771 news@essexreporter.com www.essexreporter.com facebook.com/essexreporter twitter: @essexreporter

EditoriAl ExEcutivE Editor Michelle Monroe michelle@essexreporter.com SportS Editor Josh Kaufmann josh@samessenger.com rEportErS Colin Flanders colin@essexreporter.com Madeline Clark madeline@essexreporter.com Amanda Brooks amanda@essexreporter.com community nEwS Editor Ben Chiappinelli ben@essexreporter.com

buSinESS oFFicE co-publiShErS Emerson & Suzanne Lynn emerson@samessenger.com gEnErAl mAnAgEr Suzanne Lynn suzanne@samessenger.com AdvErtiSing Taylor Walters taylor.walters@essexreporter.com clASSiFiEdS & lEgAlS Ben Letourneau ben.letourneau@samessenger.com

dEAdlinES Fridays at 5 p.m.

Published Thursdays Circulation: 8,800 The Essex Reporter is owned by Vermont Publishing Corp Inc. and is a member of the Champlain Valley News Group.

10 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

E XPLORE

LEARN

SPORTS

OF ATHLETES THE WEEK MoLLy BruynS

D ISCUS S

Senior: Hockey

OPEN HOUSE BTV MASTER PLAN

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 5–7PM AT BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Get informed and speak with experts about the Federal Aviation Administration and BTV’s plans for the future.

No formal presentation. All are welcome.

AidEn PAquETTE

The senior captain has led a rock-solid defense that had allowed more than one goal in a game just twice, both times to BFA-St. Albans in 2-1 losses. In front of goalie Sophie Forcier, the Hornet defense notched eight shutouts. Going into Thursday night’s championship game against BFA, Essex had surrendered just 16 goals in 22 games while scoring 102.

Sophomore: Basketball Martell raced to second place in Monday’s Classical Nordic State Championships, edging North Country’s Jack Young by five seconds for the runner-up spot. Martell was also third in the freestyle portion of the state meet Feb. 28, and led off the championship-winning freestyle relay for the Hornets. He was 30 spots ahead of Essex’s next-fastest racer at Rikert and best by 45 places at Craftsbury.

Go Away. FLYBTV.com

Jules on the Green is a proud sponsor of athletes in our community.

SPORTS

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019 | 11

HORNETS HEADS TO FINALS Girls hockey skates away with semifinal game

By ANTHONY LABOR JR. For the Essex Reporter ESSEX — The final score of Saturday’s Division I girls hockey semifinal makes it appear No. 2 seed Essex ran away with the game against No. 3 Burlington/Colchester.

But things were closer than the final 5-1 score would tell.

The Hornets tacked on a pair of late goals in the third period and needed timely saves from Sophie Forcier to beat the SeaLakers and return to Gutterson Fieldhouse for a Thursday night rematch with defending champion BFA-St. Albans — the only team to defeat or score more than once against Essex this winter.

“Burlington/Colchester never makes things easy for us,” said Essex coach John Maddalena. “We like to be a puck-control team and we struggle with that sometimes against them. The girls were able to be resilient and get the job done out there today.”

The Hornets held a 3-0 lead with just under six minutes to go in the contest before the SeaLakers found the net to recharge.

Essex’s Madeline Young, though, quickly shut that momentum down, scoring her second of the game 14 seconds later for her 100th career point.

“It definitely feels good to hit that 100th point,” said Young. “But throughout the years, it hasn’t been just me.

It’s been everyone around me helping me get to this point.”

The game might have looked different in the middle

PHOTO BY ANTHONY LABOR

Hornets scramble for the puck during last Saturday’s win over Burlington/Colchester. The Hornets will now face No. 1 ranked BFA-St. Albans in the finals on Thursday night at the Gutterson Fieldhouse. period had it not been for key saves by Forcier, who finished with 16 stops.

Midway through the second period BCHS’ Madison Chagnon broke past the defense and was all alone on Forcier. Chagnon moved to her backhand, but Forcier was there to poke the puck and clear it away.

“I told the team between the second and third period that Sophie kept the game where it was at,” said Maddalena. “We had to tighten things up on defense in the third period and she really anchored us in the second period to keep the lead intact.”

Young got the Hornets on the board early when she was left alone on the left boards and took a pass from Abi Robbins before roofing a shot in.

The Hornets extended the lead six minutes later on the power play. Olivia Miller-

Johnson’s shot was saved by SeaLaker goalie Ally Peeters (20 saves), but Grace Wiggett was on the doorstep to poke the puck in for the 2-0 advantage. Essex extended the lead to three on another man advantage, with Miller-Johnson firing home a wrist shot.

Special teams were a big part of Essex’s success; the Hornets scored on two of three man-up chances and killed all four of their penalties.

“Two of their first three goals were on the power play and you can’t give a team that talented the man advantage,” said Burlington/Colchester coach Jamie Rozzi. “I thought we did a good job skating with them, but they did a better job of taking advantage of their opportunities. But I was happy with how the team never quit and battled through the entire game” Olivia Maher finally had

an answer for Forcier with just under six minutes to play, putting a wrister in the top corner to make it 3-1.

The new life was shortlived.

When Young scored her milestone goal 14 seconds later off another assist from MillerJohnson, that wind vanished from the SeaLakers’ sails.

Hannah Himes added extra insurance two minutes later, from Sage Amaliksen.

“Everyone knows the 3-0 lead is the most dangerous lead, so for us to respond as quick as we did after they scored was huge,” said Maddalena. “The game could have gone either way after they scored, so that was a big spot for a goal from our top line of Maddy, MJ, and Abi to go out and get the next goal and that put the game away.”

Playing Essex was a tall task for the young SeaLakers,

who had only two seniors.

Rozzi is excited with the program’s direction after a strong 13-8-1 season.

“One of our goals this season was to finish in the top four and get a home playoff game and we did that,” said Rozzi. “We only have two seniors on the team, so I’m expecting us to be right in the thick of things again next year and never know what can happen from there.”

The Hornets improved to 19-2-1, with their two losses and tie coming against the team they will faced once more in the championship.

This will be the eighth year in a row the two teams have met in the playoffs with Essex holding a 4-3 advantage in those contests. These two teams have dominated girls hockey since it started, winning all but one of the titles (Rutland, 2017). BFA has won 11 championships with Essex taking home six.

Thursday will be the seventh time the two teams have went against each other in the finals with the teams split 3-3 through the first six meetings.

BFA topped the Hornets 2-1 in the first two meetings this season before playing to a 1-1 tie in Essex late. The Comets topped the Hornets in last season’s Division I championship game 2-0, and did that with one senior.

“BFA has almost everyone back from last year’s title run, so they are obviously a talented group of players,” said Maddalena. “They are really strong defensively with two strong goaltenders, so it’s tough to put the puck in the net against them. But it should be a good game on Thursday.”

Top-seeded boys hockey looks to defend title against Rice

By ANTHONY LABOR JR. For the Essex Reporter ESSEX — Saturday’s start wasn’t what Essex wanted, but it didn’t matter in the least by the end.

The Hornets went down on the wrong side of a 5-on-3 in the first four minutes of Saturday’s Division I semifinal against Middlebury, and the Tigers had early momentum.

It didn’t last.

The top-seeded Hornets killed off

both penalties and scored just four seconds after later, dominating the rest of the game on their way to a 7-0 victory over the No. 4 Tigers.

Essex (17-3-2) will defend its 15th state championship Wednesday night at 8 against Rice Memorial (9-10-2). The No. 1 seed Hornets won both regularseason meetings with No. 8 Rice, 3-0 at Cairns Arena Jan. 19 and 7-1 at the Essex Skating Facility on Feb. 14.

“The emphasis this week was on our penalty kill, because Middlebury

has a very good power play with a setup similar to ours,” said Essex coach Chris Line, whose team handled all five shorthanded stints.

“So we knew if we played disciplined and not over pursue on the outside, we would be in a descent position to kill some penalties. Obviously you don’t want to go down 5-on-3 early in the first period, but we were able as a team to kill that off and take back all that momentum and it just went on from there.”

Grady Cram started the onslaught and then finished his hat trick with a shorthanded goal in the third. Willem Barwin did some quick damage with two goals in less than two minutes during the first period that chased Middlebury starting goalie Jeffery Stearns with more than five minutes remaining.

Max Line and Charles Wiegand IV scored, and Jonah Janaro added a pair of assists.

See HORNETS, page 11

12 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

EssEx sport shorts

By JOE GONILLO It’s the middle of March.

Though there is no real sign of spring, the Hornets and high school playoffs are still rolling. More state championship finals were played and are set to play as EHS is enjoying a successful winter season.

Upon further review, we don’t need spring if we have March Madness!

Our No. 2 girls hockey team blew first round opponent No. 7 MIDD right off the ice 9-2. Sorry, but I don’t have space to list all the scoring.

Just kidding. Here’s the info: Olivia Miller-Johnson 3G

What if Dad needs our help in the future?

Will you be able to be there for him?

Let me help you navigate Elder Law, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate Matters

Holly K. Lemieux, Esq., PLLC Attorney at Law

802-871-5410 21 Carmichael St., Ste. 201 Essex Jct., VT Holly@Lemieux-Law.com www.plantogetherlaw.com

“Transitions corrected the complications I developed from a hip replacement.

My whole family has been treated by the team at Transitions. I recommend Transitions to everyone!”

- Rob Reed

SPORTS · SPINE · PELVIS · POSTURE

SPORTS

2A, Abby Robbins 2-2, Maddy Young 2-2, Courtney Himes and Sage Amaliksen scored a goal each. Sophie Forcier made 5 saves and Isabelle Sequin 9. They moved on to the semis and ended BCHS’ season in a 5-1 shellacking. Story of the game, besides Essex spot in the state championship, was senior Maddie Young who scored two goals and reached the storied 100 career point mark. Hannah Himes, Olivia Miller-Johnson and Grace Wiggett also lit the lamp in the win. GK Sophia Forcier stopped 17 shot and made some fairly spectacular saves. The Hornets take their spectacular 19-2-1 record vs BFA in what should be a beauty.

Congratulations to Maddy Young and Molly Bruyns who earned first team Vermont Girls Ice Hockey Coaches Association honors. Frankie Martin D was named to the VGIHCA 2nd team. OMJ and Grace Wiggett names was mysteriously missing from this list. Not sure why.

Our top-seeded boys

hockey team is taking its 173-2 record into the state finals vs. Rice. Essex opened the playoffs with a convincing 4-0 shutout of SHS. Jonah Janaro, Grady Cram, Jason Smith, and Gordon Schmalz took care of the scoring while Sam Foster made 20 saves. The Hornets took care of business and moved on to the semis to play Middlebury. GK Foster pitched a shutout – with help from his defense – but it was his early sparkling goaltending that kept the Tigers off the board allowing time for their highpowered offense to get heated up. Cram’s hat trick and Will Barwin’s two goals jump started the offense. Charles Wiegand and Max Line joined in the scoring parade in the 7-0 win. Janaro ignited the scoring by feeding Cram, and it snowballed from there.

The boys basketball team defeated No, 9 BFA 51-40 in the opening playdown round last week. Essex’s speed, defense, shooting, and team play advanced them into the quarterfinals vs No. 1 Rice. They battled the top seed from the opening tap to the final horn before falling 70-62. Tied with about 4 minutes to play, Essex took ever punch the Green Knights delivered and refused to fold. Sadly, for the under-

dogs, Rice snuck away with a 6-1 run in the last 40 seconds to seal the deal and move on to the semi’s. The Hornets, 14-8, got points from nine players.

Aiden Paquette’s 12, Robbie Meslin and Stephen Astor 11, and 8 from Parker Whitney led Essex in their last game.

Five seniors played their final contest in Blue and Gold.

The alpine skiers competed at Burke Mt. for states.

The Woodstock girls won their title. The MMU girls and MAU boys skied to Nordic titles last week. Essex’s Charles Martell led the Hornets with his impressive second-place finish!

The UVM men’s BB team is working its way through the American East conference playoffs looking for an NCAA bid.

Congrats to the Green’s: Becca ran and finished the DC Rock n Roll Marathon last weekend, while Madeline participated in the IHSA Regional Tournament earlier this month at the University of Findlay.

Happy Birthday Samantha O’Sullivan Cooney, Nikki Boudah, Carrie Ramsey, Tom Giroux, Jilby Besaw, Brianna Wolfe, Dan Lazorchak, Eddie Deak, Violette Martin, Colby Auger, Evie McAdoo, and Isaac Friedman.

PHOTO BY ANTHONY LABOR

Hornets celebrate after their win against Middlebury last Saturday. Essex advances to a finals showndown with Rice on Wednesday night. Check essexreporter.com for the results.

HORNETS from page 11 “To get a goal quickly after killing off that 5-on3 just took back all the momentum,” said Line.

Essex goalie Sam Foster made 18 saves for Essex’s second straight post-season shutout, and its fifth of the winter. Foster’s night included some nice stops during the early twoman disadvantage.

“Sam is a tremendous goaltender and he is always battling in the crease,” said Line. “That is probably his biggest asset. But I also thought our guys did a good job of letting him see the puck. If he is able to see the puck, there’s a good chance he will stop it.”

Middlebury used three goalies. Stearns made two saves before being pulled in the first period, Ezekiel Hooper notched 17 stops in relief during the remainder of the first period and the second, and freshman Edwin Hodde made six saves in the third period.

“Recently we have had a bit of difficulty scoring goals and I think it’s because we got away from putting pucks to the net,” said Line.

“We did a good job of that today and that was how two out of the three goals in the first went in, guys just putting it at the net and see what happens.”

It was a wildly different outcome from the teams’ previous meeting, a 2-1 victory for the Tigers in the regular-season finale.

Line said that in addition to the motivation of a semifinal and a return to Gutterson, that defeat being so fresh helped get the Hornets extra focused on the game.

“Having lost to them recently definitely made it easier to get guys to buy in and listen and be diligent in our system,” said Line. “We saw it in that loss to Middlebury, CVU beating BFA in the first round; anything can happen in high school hockey. So we had to really focus and execute, and we were successful in that today.”

cLA SSi f i EdS & J oB SE E kErS

LEGALS

PAINTING SERVICES

EMPLOYMENT

For 42 years, Lafayette Painting has provided top quality, fairly priced, painting services for Chittenden County.

This winter, schedule your free estimate and see why we were voted the Best Household Painting Company in Vermont.

Call 802-863-5397 or visit lafayette paintinginc.com

CARPENTERS Frame & Finish Tired of short work weeks, no overtime and layoffs? Then join our company today.

45+ hours/week, secure employment, opportunity to advance.

Call Sweeney & Belisle or 802-355-0836 or email: pfssnb@gmail.com

EMPLOYMENT Security Officer FT/PT all shifts $14/hr Georgia & Milton, VT area Call (800) 638-0437 www.smgcorporate services.com

Looking for a new Social Network? We are a group of people doing human service supporting people with intellectual disabilities throughout Vermont.

Are you someone who thinks innovatively, acts altruistically, and has the flexibility to do what it takes where and when it needs to be done? If so, contact Dave at Specialized Community Care via email eyegor7@comcast.net, by phone at 802-282-5821 or send a letter of interest/resume to SCC PO Box 578 East Middlebury, VT 05740.

Showcase of Homes To advertise your listings contact your ad rep today!

802-524-9771

Taylor Walters x 105 taylor.walters@essexreporter.com

PRIVATE SETTING Enjoy this wonderful country home with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, two cozy fireplaces, large windows, updated kitchen, 1st floor master suite and more!

Nestled on 3.7 acres surrounded by woods plus 60 acres of common land with trails to enjoy. Easy commute to Burlington. Offered at $325,000.

The Lipkin Audette Team, 802-846-8800, www.lipkinaudette.com team@lipkinaudette.com

News tip? Email us at news@essexreporter.com

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019 | 13

14 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

cla ssi f i e ds & J oB se e ke r s

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS

HERE

You know what would look great here? Your ad!

ESSEX POLICE REPORTS March 4 - 10

Arrests

2 Violation of conditions of release 2 dls

MondAy, MArch 4

1:58 a.m., suspicious event on Pearl st.

4:39 a.m., Burglary on Pearl st.

8:26 a.m., Vandalism on Market Pl. 9:17 a.m., theft on Kellogg rd.

10:40 a.m., drugs; location withheld 11:35 a.m., Welfare check on central st.

12:46 p.m., suspicious event on clems dr.

1:15 p.m., Welfare check on susie Wilson rd.

3:29 p.m., citizen assist on susie Wilson rd.

4:54 p.m., suspicious event on Pearl st.

5:59 p.m., citizen assist on sleepy Hollow rd.

6:18 p.m., threatening on West st.

7:04 p.m., Welfare check on Margaret st.

7:33 p.m., Medical; location withheld 10:18 p.m., citizen assist on Upper Main st.

11:01 p.m., suspicious event on central st.

11:05 p.m., citizen dispute on Jericho rd.

tuesdAy, MArch 5

5:33 a.m., suspicious event on susie Wilson rd.

6:59 a.m., citizen assist on central st.

7:27 a.m., fraud on lavigne rd.

8:12 a.m., accident with property damage on river st.

8:16 a.m., citizen assist on Perry dr.

8:19 a.m., accident with property damage on Upper Main st.

10:31 a.m., Medical; location withheld

10:34 a.m., suspicious event on Pearl st.

10:56 a.m., suspicious event on Browns river rd.

11:42 a.m., fraud on essex Way 12:14 p.m., domestic disturbance; location withheld 12:51 p.m., fraud on Gauthier dr.

1:12 p.m., citizen assist on central st.

1:59 p.m., threatening on education dr.

2:33 p.m., theft on Gauthier dr.

3:34 p.m., fraud on Brickyard rd.

3:52 p.m., accident with property damage on Main st.

5:12 p.m., citizen assist on Pearl st.

5:17 p.m., fraud on Pioneer st.

6:11 p.m., dls on Jericho rd.

7:46 p.m., Welfare check on central st.

9:25 p.m., citizen dispute on carmichael st.

9:56 p.m., noise on Marion ave.

11:33 p.m., domestic disturbance; location withheld 11:36 p.m., citizen assist on Kellogg rd.

WednesdAy, MArch 6

7:33 a.m., drugs; location withheld 8:52 a.m., fraud on Pearl st.

9:08 a.m., citizen assist on river rd.

2:43 p.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld 3:55 p.m., trespassing on central st.

5:36 p.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld 9 p.m., theft on cushing dr.

thursdAy, MArch 7

3:30 a.m., suspicious event on Upper Main st.

6:35 a.m., accident with property damage on essex Way 7:17 a.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld

Taylor Walters, 524-9771 ext.

105 taylor.walters@essexreporter. com

Emergency: 911 • Non-emergency: 878-8331 • 145 Maple St., Essex Jct., VT 05452 • www.epdvt.org 8:08 a.m., accident with property damage on colchester rd.

9:32 a.m., accident with property damage on essex Way 10:29 a.m., citizen assist on frederick rd.

10:33 a.m., citizen assist on central st.

11:57 a.m., accident with property damage on Pearl st.

3:42 p.m., citizen assist on river rd.

3:53 p.m., citizen assist on Maple st.

5:45 p.m., citizen assist on Brickyard rd.

6:47 p.m., accident with property damage on Grove st.

8:25 p.m., domestic disturbance; location withheld 9:38 p.m., suspicious event on Windridge rd.

11:54 p.m., suspicious event on ethan allen ave.

FridAy, MArch 8

2:05 a.m., citizen assist on Maple st.

5:22 a.m., suspicious event on essex Way 8:28 a.m., accident with property damage on lincoln st.

9:05 a.m., suspicious event on sunset dr.

2:48 p.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld 3:26 p.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld 4:15 p.m., citizen assist on Main st.

4:45 p.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld 9:58 a.m., Vandalism on Main st.

8:34 p.m., citizen dispute on Baker st.

10:13 p.m., citizen dispute on Baker st.

sundAy, MArch 10

12:04 a.m., noise on Pearl st.

10 a.m., accident with personal injury on Weed rd.

1:22 p.m., Juvenile problem; location withheld 1:27 p.m., citizen assist on Brickyard rd.

1:38 p.m., citizen assist on susie Wilson rd.

1:43 p.m., accident with property damage on Pearl st.

3:11 p.m., animal problem on river rd.

5:10 p.m., suspicious event on Pinecrest dr.

6:04 p.m., citizen assist on i-289 9:06 p.m., citizen assist on clara Hill ln.

9:41 p.m., domestic disturbance; location withheld 11:27 p.m., suspicious event on fuller Pl.

totAl cAlls: 130

sAturdAy, MArch 9

2:23 a.m., noise on franklin st.

9:51 a.m., citizen assist on lincoln st.

11:29 a.m., citizen assist on Marion ave.

2:09 p.m., citizen assist on central st.

3:29 p.m., Welfare check on Brickyard rd.

4:17 p.m., accident with property damage on educational dr.

6:05 p.m., accident with property damage on Maple st.

6:17 p.m., Burglary on Pleasant st.

This log represents a sample of incidents in the date range. For more information, call the nonemergency number: 878-8331

B u s i ne ss di r e ctory & cLA ssi F i e ds

BaSement ServICeS

BASEMENT WATERPROOFING | CRAWL SPACE REPAIR FOUNDATION REPAIR

FREE 866-622-8480

ESTIMATES

VTbasements.com

DentISt

ContraCtIng

Carpentry H.S.

Basement & Foundation Specialists

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019 | 15

High Standards, LLC Carpentry

Remodeling, Rot Repair, Decks, Windows and Doors

Drywall, Siding, Finish Work, Pressure Washing

24/7 ON CALL • Free Estimates • Fully Insured

(802) 355-8193

Matt Levee • highstandards802@gmail.com

Over 22 Years of Satisfied Customers

• • • • • •

Call Ryan at (802) 316-6658 For a Free Estimate!

eState plannIng

New Construction Remodeling Excavation Roofing Septic Systems Snow/ Ice Removal

(Residential & Commercial)

lanDscaPing

Wills–Trusts–Estate Planning–Medicaid–Elder Law–Probate

Cedric C Pecor D.D.S

Bethany K. Fitzgerald D.D.S

Edward R. Klingebiel D.D.S

Serving the community for over 33 years with the best dental care.

Schedule a dental check-up today to maintain that beautiful smile!

Most insurance plans accepted. Accepting new patients. miltonfamilydentistryvermont.com 157 River St., Milton • 893-4734

Plumbing

Condominium Associations Commercial Residential

Now Submitting Bids

Peace of mind for your family & loved ones

Hedge Trimming / Landscape Projects Fall Clean Up / Winter Snow Services Professional quality service at great rates

26 Railroad Ave. / Essex Jct., VT (802) 879-7133 / unsworthlaplante.com

Real estate

RestauRant

Authentic Mexican Cuisine IN THE HEART OF ESSEX JUNCTION

Adam’s Plumbing S E R V I C E 878 - 1002 The Reliable Local Pro!

4 Park Street, Essex 802.662.4334 www.ElGatoCantina.com

For all your residential plumbing repairs and installations

roofIng

snowPlowing

suRvey & Design

Rooftop Snow Removal

Button Professional Land Surveyors, PC

Roof Repairs & Service Interior painting Fully Insured Roofing Since 1978 802-232-1116 AlSmithRoofing.com highstandards802@gmail.com

tax seRvices

tree ServICeS

Living Curiously ProPerty Maintenance Tree Services including stump grinding, 25 Wentworth Drive, Williston, VT 05495 (802) 662-1214 ext. 304 • (802) 662-1215 fax rsinkewicz@gmcsusa.com

20 Kimball Avenue, Suite 102 S. Burlington, VT 05403 802.863.1812/ 800.570.0685 / www.bapls.com

chipping, trimming and complete tree removal • Property Cleanups • Foreclosure and Rental Cleanups • Landscaping

802-752-5850

Free Estimates • Fully Insured

Military, First Responders and Seniors receive a 10% discount Accepting all major credit cards

tree ServICeS Winter Discounts

• Tree Removals • Tree Trimming • Ornamental/ fruit tree pruning • Cabling Stump Grinding

Maxwell Curtiss Certified Arborist

• Wood Chip Mulch • Shrub and Hedge Pruning • Tree Planting • Snow Removal • Lot Clearing Lot management

(802) 893-7371

Heartwood Landscape and Tree Services LLC

maxheartwd@myfairpoint.net / Fully Insured

The sTory conTinues

online!

Don't forget to check our website weekly for:

• • Photos from community events • Bonus sports photos • Breaking news • essex Police reports • Legals and Classifieds

it is all at the essexreporter.com!

16 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

Mar 14 14 Thursday

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH - 61 Main St., Essex Jct., 878-8341.

James Gangwer, pastor. Sunday School: 10 a.m., Worship Service: 11 a.m., Sunday evening worship: 6 p.m., Wednesday evening youth groups, Adult Bible study and prayer: 7 p.m.; Fundamental-Independent.

CHRIST MEMORIAL CHURCH - Route 2A, Williston, just north of Industrial Ave. 878-7107. Wes Pastor, lead pastor, proclaiming Christ and Him crucified, Sundays: 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., www.cmcvermont.org.

COVENANT COMMUNITY CHURCH - 1 Whitcomb Meadows Lane, Essex Jct. 879-4313. Rev. Jeannette Conver, pastor. Adult bible class: 9 a.m., Sunday service: 10 a.m. with fellowship following. Infant through pre-K childcare provided, cccpastorjeannette@gmail.com; Facebook page: bit.ly/2rDz4NE DAYBREAK COMMUNITY CHURCH - 67 Creek Farm Plaza, Colchester. 338-9118. Jesse Mark, lead pastor. Sunday service: 10:30 a.m., www.daybreakvermont.org; brentdaybreak@gmail.com ESSEX ALLIANCE CHURCH - 37 Old Stage Road, Essex Jct. 878-8213. Sunday services: 8:00am, 9:30am & 11:00am, www.essexalliance.org.

ESSEX CENTER UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 119 Center Rd (Route 15), Essex. 878-8304. Rev. Mitchell Hay, pastor. Service 10:00 am with Sunday School and childcare provided. We offer a variety of small groups for prayer, Bible study, hands-on ministry, and studying contemporary faith issues. Please join us for worship that combines the best of traditional and contemporary music and spirituality. We are a safe and welcoming space for all people to celebrate, worship, ask questions and plant spiritual roots.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ESSEX JUNCTION - UCC, an Open and Affirming Congregation, embracing diversity and affirming the dignity and worth of every person, because we are all created by a loving God. 1 Church Street, Essex Junction, VT 05452. Telephone (802) 878-5745; Website: www.fccej.org Email: welcome@fccej.org Senior Pastor, Rev. Mark Mendes, Assoc. Pastor, Rev. Josh Simon. Sunday Worship Services: 8:30 and 10:15 am. Communion: first Sunday of every month. Faith Formation meets weekly at 10:15 am. Jr. & High School Youth Groups on Sundays. Heavenly Food Pantry – second Monday, 5:30-7:30pm; fourth Thursday, 2-6pm, except for Nov & Dec when it is the third Thursday. Essex Eats Out Community Dinner – 1st Friday of the month, 5:30 – 7pm. Music includes Sanctuary Choir, Finally @ First Band, Joyful Noise, Cherub Music, Handbell Choir, Men’s Acapella and Ladies’ Acapella groups.

GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 130 Maple Street, Essex Jct., 1 mile south of the Five Corners on Maple Street / Route 117. 8788071. Worship Sundays: 9:30 a.m., with concurrent church school pre-K to grade 6. Handicapped-accessible facility. Adult choir, praise band, women’s fellowship, missionally active. Korean U.M.C. worship Sundays: 12 p.m., come explore what God might be offering you!

HOLY FAMILY - ST. LAWRENCE PARISH - St. Lawrence: 158 West St., Essex Jct. 878.5331. Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.; Sunday Morning: 8:00 a.m. Holy Family: 36 Lincoln St., Essex Jct., Sundays: 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. For more information visit www.hfslvt.org.

MT. MANSFIELD UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP - 195 Vermont Route 15, Jericho, the red barn across from Packard Road.

899-2558. Services are held 9:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from September through June. Visit www.mmuuf.org.

ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH - 4 St. James Place, Essex Jct., off Rt. 2A at the Fairgrounds Gate F. 878-4014. Rev. Kim Hardy. Holy Eucharist, Sundays: 10 a.m. Visit www.stjamesvt.org; office@stjamesvt. com.

ST. PIUS X CHURCH - 20 Jericho Road, Essex.

878-5997. Rev. Charles Ranges, pastor. Masses: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. & Sunday, 9:30 a.m. Confessions: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. or please call 878-5331 for an appointment.

Food shelF 9 - 11 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Aunt Dot’s Place, 51 Center Rd. Essex Jct. Serving the communities of Essex, Westford, Jericho and Underhill. Visit auntdotsplace.com for more information. aarP Tax-aide 9 a.m. - noon, EJRP, 75 Maple St., Essex Jct. For more information about these sessions and to make an appointment, please contact the EJRP at 878-1375.

Free Tax helP 9 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Brownell Library. For taxpayers w/ low and middle incomes.

Qualified patrons will need to call 878-6955 or visit the library to make an hour appointment with one of them.

Preschool PlaygrouP 9:30 - 11 a.m., Maple Street Recreation Center, 75 Maple St., Essex Jct. Join other caregivers and children for play time. We ask that you bring a drink and indoor shoes. seaTed yoga 10 - 10:30 a.m., Essex Area Senior Center. Seated yoga is a gentle form of exercise, designed to increase flexibility and balance and help reduce stress. Class is free for EASC members, $2/ session for non-members.

Please call 876-5087 to register. adulT NooNTime Book discussioN Noon, Essex Free Library.

This month discuss “As Bright as Heaven” by Susan Meissner. seaTed Tai chi 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., EJRP Aspire, 74 Maple St., Essex Jct. Tai chi is a martial art that combines gentle movements, breathing techniques, and stretching. Free to area seniors. droP-iN kNiTTiNg cluB 1 - 2 p.m., Essex Free Library.

TeeN ceNTer 2:30 - 5:45 p.m., Essex CHIPS, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. Open to students attending ADL and EMS. Free; open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. lego cluB 3 - 4 p.m., Essex Free Library. irish sTories wiTh liNda cosTello 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Storyteller Linda Costello entertains with stories and legends from Ireland. Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! For ages 6 and up.

Backyard comPosTiNg workshoP 6 p.m., Maple Street Park.

Learn the basics of home composting in a FREE workshop. Discover the benefits of “closing the loop” with your own household food scraps, leaves and yard trimmings in this interactive session.

Community TroPical Fish cluB 6:30 p.m., VFW Post 6689, 73 Pearl St., Essex Jct. oNe acT Play “FraNkeNsTeiN” 7 - 9 p.m., Essex High School, 2 Educational Dr., Essex Jct. Frankenstein gets reanimated and reimagined in this ensemble-driven version of the classic horror story. moderN wesTerN sTyle square daNce 7:30 - 9 p.m., Maple Street Park. Email Wayne or Susan Pierce at sewpie@aol.com.

15 Friday BaBy Time 9:30 - 10 a.m., Brownell Library. Come to meet other families, read a board book, learn some sign language and play. mah JoNgg 10 a.m. - noon, Essex Area Senior Ctr. Members play for free. Non-members pay $1/visit. musical sTory Time 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. souP aNd saNdwich Noon, Essex Area Senior Center. You bring your own sandwich, the Center supplies dessert, beverages and delicious soup from the CTE Culinary. $1 members, $2 non-members. Reservations are required. kNiTTiNg aNd crocheTiNg 1 - 2 p.m., Essex Area Senior Ctr. sTeam Fridays 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Learn how to mix ingredients to make your own play dough.

Middle School students will demonstrate how to make Elephant’s Toothpaste. Don’t know what it is? Come find out! For Grades 1 and up. essex eaTs ouT 5:30 - 7 p.m., St. James Episcopal Church, St. James Pl., Essex Jct. Free community dinners for all! If you need a ride, please email essexeatsout@gmail.com. wiNg NighT 5:30 - 7 p.m., VFW Post 6689, 73 Pearl St., Essex Jct. Open to the public.

Family movie: “The house wiTh The a clock iN iTs walls” 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Rated PG, 120 Mins, free popcorn and drinks! magic: The gaTheriNg 6 - 8 p.m., Brownell Library. Your deck of cards represents weapons, spells and creatures you can summon to fight for you. Grades 6 and up. oNe acT Play ”FraNkeNsTeiN” 7 - 9 p.m., Essex High School, 2 Educational Dr., Essex Jct. The Tell-Tale Farce 7:30 - 11 p.m., Memorial Hall, 5 Towers Rd., Essex Jct. The Tell-Tale Farce is a comedy of errors. Richard

Muffinbridge is madly in love with Sarah Dowling, the niece of a wealthy widow, and in his desperate attempt to be with her he pretends to be Edgar Allan Poe. Visit essexplayers.com/tickets for ticket information.

16 saTurday amNesTy iNTerNaTioNal meeTiNg 10 a.m. - noon., Brownell Library. For additional information please call 802279-2378 weekeNd sTory Time 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Start off your weekend with books, rhymes and songs! solviNg geNealogical mysTeries 10:30 a.m., Vermont Genealogy Library, Fort Ethan Allen, 377 Hegeman Ave., Colchester. Lynn Johnson will go over the kinds of information directories contain, where to find them, and tips for organizing. City directories can be a key source of information for the years between censuses on your timelines. They can help solve genealogical mysteries but they might also present you with some new mysteries to work out.Lynn will show examples of both. If you’ve never used city directories this class should leave you convinced to give them a look.

Preschool oPeN gym 3 - 4:30 p.m., Maple Street Park Recreation Center.

Come run around inside during the cold winter months. There will be a bouncy house, balls, trikes, a play hut, a mini-slide and push toys for ages 5 years and younger. corNed BeeF aNd caBBage diNNer 5 - 6:30 p.m., St. Thomas Parish Hall. The cost is $14 adults, and $8 children ages 5-10 with a maximum of $40 per family. Children under age 5 are free. Takeout meals will be available. The parish hall is not handicap accessible currently. If there are any questions, please call the church office at 899-4632.

The Tell-Tale Farce 7:30 - 11 p.m., Memorial Hall, 5 Towers Rd., Essex Jct. (See Friday, Mar. 15)

17 suNday auxiliary BreakFasT 9 - 11 a.m., VFW Post 6689, 73 Pearl St., Essex Jct. liviNg like The origiNal vermoNTers oF The wiNooski 2 p.m., Ethan Allen Homestead Museum. For thousands of years, First Inhabitants of Vermont lived in harmony with nature, utilizing hundreds of plants and fungi unknown to most people today for food and medicine. Mike Ather of BackyardWilderness.com will explain how we can use these same native plants and mushrooms to heal ourselves, regenerate our ecosystem

and clean our soil, air and water. Free The Tell-Tale Farce 2 p.m., Memorial Hall, 5 Towers Rd., Essex Jct. (See Friday, Mar. 15)

18 moNday Free Tax helP 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Brownell Library. For taxpayers w/low and middle incomes. (See Thursday, Mar. 14) mah JoNgg 10 a.m. - noon, Essex Area Senior Ctr. Members play for free. Non-members pay $1/ visit. Newcomers are always welcomed! sTory Time wiTh emily 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Drop in for stories, songs and a craft. overdrive droP-iN 11 a.m., Essex Free Library.

Interested in learning more about how to access audio and e-books through the library? Bring your library card and smart device or just stop by to get more information.

Tech helP wiTh cliF Noon - 1 p.m., Brownell Library. Offering one-on-one technology help. Reservation required. Please call 878-6955 at least 24 hours in advance.

Bridge 12:30 - 3:30 p.m, Essex Area Senior Center. New players invited! read wiTh Pugsley 3:15 - 4:45 p.m., Brownell Library. Practice reading with our new therapy dog and friend, Pugsley. coNversaTioN wiTh your rePs 2 - 3:30 p.m., The Nest Cafe, Main St., Essex Jct. TweeN ceNTer 3 - 5:45 p.m., Essex CHIPS, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. Open to students attending Thomas Fleming School. Free. checkmaTes square daNciNg 6 - 9 p.m., Maple Street Park. Advanced and challenge level. Participants must have completed the plus style of Western Style Square Dancing. Call Fred or Betty Smith at 891-9677 for more information. musT read moNdays 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Brownell Library. “Lincoln’s Last Trial” by Dan Abrams. Visit brownelllibrary.org for more information. moPs eveNiNg meeTiNg 6:30 - 8:45 p.m., Essex Alliance Church, 37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Jct. Mothers of Preschoolers exists to meet the needs of moms with different lifestyles who all share a similar desire to be the very best moms they can be!

19 Tuesday moPs morNiNg meeTiNg 9 a.m., Essex Alliance Church,

yCalendar 37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Jct. (See Monday, March 18)

Library. (See Monday, Mar. 4)

Free Tax help 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Brownell Library. For taxpayers w/low and middle incomes. (See Thursday, March 14)

rOTary cluB OF eSSex Noon - 1:15 p.m., The Essex, 70 Essex Way, Essex Jct. Visitors are always welcome.

preSchOOl playgrOup 9:30 - 11 a.m., Maple Street Recreation Center, 75 Maple St., Essex Jct. STOry TiMe 10 - 10:45 a.m., Brownell Library. Picture books, sign language, songs, rhymes, flannel stories and early math activities. cOMe Bake wiTh uS 10 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Area Senior Center.In the spirit of christening our new oven and to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, let’s bake Irish Soda Bread!

BiNgO 12:30 - 3:30 p.m., Essex Area Senior Ctr. Every card costs a penny, so if you play 10 cards, each game costs a dime.

SeaTed Tai chi 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., EJRP Aspire, 74 Maple St., Essex Jct. TueSday MOvie: SMallFOOT 2:45 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, Smallfoot turns the Bigfoot legend upside down.

Rated PG. Free drinks and popcorn. rONald McdONald hOuSe chariTieS BiNgO 4 p.m., Champlain Valley Exposition, 105 Pearl St., Essex Jct. Early bird games start at 6:30 p.m. yOga wiTh JONah 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., First Congregational Church,1 Church St., Essex Jct. Donations welcome, but not required. drOp-iN kNiTTiNg 6:30 - 8 p.m., Essex Free Library. wriTerS’ grOup 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. All levels and genres welcome as we come together to share our work and offer support to one another. Organizational details to be hammered out as we get underway.

20 wedNeSday STOry TiMe 10 - 10:45 a.m., Brownell Library. Picture books, sign language, songs, rhymes, flannel stories and early math activities.

Tech TiMe 10 - 11 a.m., Essex Free Library. Drop in with your device and your questions!

BaByTiMe 10 - 11 a.m., Essex Free Library. For infants through pre-walkers.

Tech help wiTh cliF Noon - 1 p.m., Brownell

MiNecraFT cluB 1 - 2 p.m., Brownell Library.

Come play Minecraft creatively with other homeschoolers. Bring your own device with Minecraft pocket edition downloaded on it. For ages 7-12.

Mar 24

aarp Tax-aide 9 a.m. - noon, EJRP, 75 Maple St., Essex Jct. (See Thursday, Mar. 7) Free Tax help 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Brownell Library. For taxpayers w/low and middle incomes. (See Thursday, Mar. 7) SeaTed yOga 10 - 10:30 a.m., Essex Area Senior Center.

SeaTed Tai chi 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., EJRP Aspire, 74 Maple St., Essex Jct. drOp-iN kNiTTiNg cluB 1 - 2 p.m., Essex Free Library. legO cluB 3 - 4 p.m., Essex Free Library. cheSS cluB 3:30 p.m., Brownell Library.

We provide chess sets and you provide the strategy.

All ages and skill levels are welcome.

MOuNT MaNSField Scale MOdelerS 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library, Essex Jct. An informal gathering of scale model enthusiasts and model builders. Show off projects, discuss modeling tips and techniques and gain inspiration from fellow modelers.

Trailer/Camper

MONday, March 18 6 p.m., village Bike/walk advisory committee, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.

5:30 p.m., village Tree advisory committee, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.

21 ThurSday

Car, Boat, Car, Boat, Trailer/Camper

ThurSday, March 14

ZiNe cluB 3 - 4 p.m., Brownell Library.

Explore different writing styles and art techniques as you create a zine. What’s a zine? These underground publications are cheaply made, printed forms of expression on any subject.

Tedx Talk: geTTiNg duped 7 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library. TED Talk videos around the theme of film will be viewed and reflected on, this is a great opportunity to connect with others!

Donate Your...

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

7 p.m., Town Selectboard, Town offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.

read TO daiSy 3:15 - 4:15 p.m., Brownell Library. Daisy loves to listen to kids read. She is Certified by Therapy Dogs of Vermont. For all ages.

Donate Your...

lOcal MeeTiNgS

duplicaTe Bridge 1:15 - 3 p.m., EASC. A variation of contract bridge where the same bridge deal is played at each table.

OpeN STudiO 3 - 4 p.m., Essex Free Library. The library supplies the materials, you bring the creativity.

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019 | 17

...and homes! ...and helphelp buildbuild homes!

MILTON • 857-5296 414 Route 7 South

Green Mountain

VERMONTHABITAT.ORG

TueSday, March 19

WILLISTON • 872-8726 528 Essex Road (Rt. 2A)

Open W-F 10-6. Sat. &WILLISTON Sun 10-5 MILTON 414 Route 7 South 528 Essex Road (Rt. 2A) FURNITURE • APPLIANCES • ART • HOUSEWARES • RUGS • TOOLS • BUILDING MATERIALS Open W-F 10-6. Sat. & Sun 10-5 Open M-F 10-6. Sat. & Sun 10-5 857-5296

872-8726

FURNITURE • APPLIANCES • ART • HOUSEWARES • RUGS • TOOLS • BUILDING MATERIALS

6:30 p.m., School Board, Essex High School Library, 2 Educational Dr., Essex Jct. 7 p.m., Brownell library Trustees, Brownell Library, 6 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.

ThurSday, March 21 6 p.m., village planning commission, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. Call 879-0765 after 6 p.m. for more information.

23 SaTurday

adl chOruS cONcerT 7 p.m., Albert D. Lawton School, 104 Maple St., Essex Jct.

MigraTOry Bird walk 8:30 a.m., Delta Park IBA, 668 Windemere Way, Colchester. Join Winooski Valley Park District’s environmental educator, Juli, for the official start of spring to see what migrants have arrived first!

Our next bird monitoring walk will be returning to Delta Park for a walk along the bike path out to the Winooski Delta. It might not look like spring, but it will sound like it! Binoculars and field guides will be available to borrow, the walk is easy and flat, all are welcome.

22 Friday MuSic wiTh raph 9:30 - 10 a.m., Brownell Library. Come sing, dance and play with Raph. All ages.

Mah JONgg 10 a.m. - noon, Essex Area Senior Ctr. Members play for free. Non-members pay $1/visit.

MuSical STOry TiMe 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Rock ‘n’ read with Caitlin on Friday mornings with books, songs and instruments. All ages. kNiTTiNg aNd crOcheTiNg 1 - 2 p.m., Essex Area Senior Ctr. STeaM FridayS 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Create and explore with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math. .

For grades 1 and up. eSSex eaTS OuT 5:30 - 7 p.m., Essex Center United Methodist Church, 119 Center Rd., Essex Jct. Free community dinners for all! If you need a ride, please email essexeatsout@ gmail.com. duNgeONS & dragONS 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Embark upon imaginary adventures. A Dungeon Master serves as this role playing game’s referee and storyteller. Game starts at 6:30, come early for help with character design.

weekeNd STOry TiMe 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Start off your weekend with books, rhymes and songs!

ScOTTiSh geNealOgy reSearch 10:30 a.m., Vermont Genealogy Library, Fort Ethan Allen, 377 Hegeman Ave., Colchester. Sheila Morris will show how to trace those elusive ancestors, what their occupations were, names that are important, and how to find original Scottish census records.

Sheila will share maps of Scotland showing the counties before 1855 and after.

Sheila will show you how to use ScotlandsPeople.com and describe how to organize your research.

24 SuNday ShriNer’S BiNgO 12:30 - 4:30 p.m., CVExpo, 105 Pearl St., Essex Jct. Come play Bingo! Win some cash and support the Mt. Sinai Shriners of Vermont.

Pets of the Week FINIAN

~ 10 year old Neutered male ~

Breed: Domestic shorthair Arrival Date: 12/5/2018

Reason here: My owner could no longer care for me Special Considerations: My front paws are declawed

Cat Purrrrrsonal Ad: “10 year old neutered male seeks companion(s) in a calm home. Dad-bod, but on a diet. I’m done with the parties and the late nights- you won’t have to worry about where I am, who I’m with, or if I’ll call you back. You’ll find me right on the couch where you left me. My patience for little ones is slim, so no children please. No furry roommates either, sorry, and please don’t ask. I’m too old to worry about who was the last one to use the litterbox or if a hairball was left on my blanket by someone other than me. I’m a simple guy, really, just give me a hug once in a while and I’m your boy!”

Humane Society of Chittenden County 802-862-0135 chittendenhumane.org

L.D. Oliver Seed Co.

Chick Day 2019!

der r O e r P Now!

Meat Birds, Ducks, Guineas Hens, Turkeys

Arrival dates for Layers is the week of April 15 Many Varieties To Choose From!

L.D. Oliver Seed Company, Inc. Green Mountain Fertilizer Co. 26 Sunset Ave., Milton, VT • 802 893-4628 Mon-Fri 7:30 -5:30, Sat 8:00-4:00, Closed Sun

18 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

LOCA L

GROW

THE NEWS NEVER STOPS AT ESSExREPORTER.cOm

DONATIONS OF NEW & USED*: • • • •

Appliances Furniture Tools Kitchen Cabinets

• Home Decor Items • Cars & Trucks • Even the Kitchen Sink!

MILTON

WILLISTON

414 Route 7 South Open W-F 10-6.

Sat. & Sun 10-5 891-9829

528 Essex Road (Rt. 2A) Open M-F 10-6.

Sat. & Sun 10-5 857-5296

FREE PICKUP • 857-5296 • vermonthabitat.org

Lumber

Superior Quality Great Prices

Mill Direct

Kiln Dried 6-8%

As projects move indoors....

HARDWOOD FLOORING 3/4” finished thickness. Random length 4’ - 12’ (some longer)tongue and groove, recessed back (not end matched). MAPLE, CHERRY, OAK, BIRCH Price & availability can vary. Call ahead to confirm.

HARDWOODS ROUGH Hard & Soft MAPLE, CHERRY, Red & White OAK, ASH, BASSWOOD MAHOGANY, WALNUT & YELLOW POPLAR. No quantity too small.

ALMOST WHOLESALE 500’ BF pkgs of lumber - Hard Maple, Yellow Birch, Cherry & Red Oak. Select & better. Ask Ken for details.

E N PI

BEADED SHIPLAP FLOORING V-JOINT PIPWICK DRESSED 4 SIDE

Cash & Volume Discounts Great Specials • Friendly Service

The A . Johnson C o.

WHOLES ALE • RETAIL

L U M B E R

All Pine is Kiln Dried Pitch set @ 170°

995 South 116 RD Bristol, VT 05443 802-453-4884 7am - 4pm Mon-Fri

from page 1

plants in just 30 days.

Guillaume Dumont said this technology would change the way Vermonters and other northern consumers get their food, especially in the winter time.

“One of the problems with the current way we feed ourselves is that we eat 12 months a year, but we produce, in the northern region, very small amounts in that period,” he explained. “Vertical farming can bring local food 12 months a year, so it will reduce transport and reduce a lot of carbon emission.”

He said the technology can also bring “food independence” so a community doesn’t have to rely on importing as much food from the other side of the country, and they can enjoy fresh, organic food all year long.

Dumont said his visit to Essex was very promising and he feels Vermont would be a “logical choice” for his company to begin its U.S. presence.

“The products we are making are actually growing organic food indoors, so you need to have a consciousness of the environmental impact of what you’re doing,” he said.

“We saw that is something that is very important in Vermont, so there’s a great match of values there.”

Greg Morgan, chair of the Essex economic development commission, said Essex and other Vermont residents would be interested by the fact that the system uses no chemicals and specifically targets the plants with the exact amount of water they need so as to produce no waste or runoff.

“We all know how big of an issue that is with Lake Champlain,” he noted.

Dumont explained that growing about 2.2 pounds of lettuce in his system takes approximately 10 times less water than on a traditional agricultural field. He said the GiGrow system allows the grower to control 100 percent of the environment the plants grow in, from water to humidity to soil, allowing for maximum efficiency with little waste and impact to the environment Additionally, because the organic system uses real soil to grow the food instead of recirculated water like in a hydroponic system, Dumont

COURTESY PHOTO

GiGrow owner Guillaume Dumont says his vertical farming system can bring local food year-round to northern communities, reducing carbon emissions and providing food independence.

said diseases don’t get passed from plant to plant. The soil can also be taken out of the system after a period of time to be renourished, producing similar effects to crop rotation that occurs in traditional agriculture, he added.

While the technology can work on its own with just one wheel, Dumont said the system is most efficient when working at a larger capacity, since the plants turnover at a rapid rate and harvesting takes very little time.

Morgan admitted that while the system, if installed in Essex, would not create a large number of new jobs, due to its high level of automation, he said it could stimulate the local agricultural economy and provide fresh, organic food all year round to Chittenden County.

Morgan said he was able to bring the Dumonts to give their pitch at Excelerate Essex with the help of Yann Lemarche, the economic affairs officer for the Quebec government office in Boston, as well as Gail Stevenson, the director of the Vermont-Quebec Enterprise Initiative (VQEI).

The VQEI, which is part of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, works to promote Vermont as an attractive location for Quebec businesses to set up shop as they expand their market.

“We think they should come to Vermont,” Stevenson said. “The whole point is in the context of workforce devel-

opment, workforce generation [and] creating new high-paying jobs.”

Stevenson said her office has helped to bring Quebec companies like Pratiko medical devices to the Northeast Kingdom and iSun Energy, a solar carport company, to Burlington, as part of their efforts.

She thought GiGrow’s visit to Excelerate Essex was a promising and exciting start for both the town and company.

“We think it’s very interesting because of their technology...it seems that it would be an excellent opportunity for Vermont,” she said. “Vertical farming is quite the new thing countrywide and worldwide, and it’s right on the cusp of something that could be really both interesting and transformative.”

While no investment deals have been made yet in Essex, Dumont said he had a great experience Essex and he had many promising conversations with possible investors. Overall, he said he hopes people can see the value in the investment to bring environmentally sustainable, year-round food to the state with his business.

“There’s a lot of solutions and we just need to be open to paradigm change,” he said.

“There’s a lot of technology out there for vertical farming to feed ourselves the right way.

We don’t actually need to destroy the environment in any way...with the technology that there is right now.”

CHILDCARE from page 1 because it is an isolating career.”

Roberts added that network leaders are really important role models for other providers.

“When you have people that you respect that are in your field that are stepping up to the plate and showing leadership skills, it makes other people more apt to follow in your footsteps,” she said. “Rather than be complacent in their jobs and just provide care, they’re more apt to go that extra mile and ask for additional resources.”

Roberts added that last year in the Franklin County region, network leaders helped to increase participation among

d

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019 | 19

LOCA L childcare providers in the stars, or quality recognition program, from about 30 to 80 percent by providing support and education on how to apply and maintain their status.

“Just making them aware and giving them the confidence to grow is what it is for me,” Lothian said. “We’ve helped several people that would never even have gotten into the stars program.”

The Starting Points leaders all volunteer their time to provide support and training for their fellow childcare providers, which Trayah said makes them unsung heroes of their communities.

“They’re doing all of this in addition to running all-star quality childcare they’ve been running for over 20 years, it’s crazy,” she said. “They really step up to the plate to do this, to help their community out.”

Driver sought in Westford crash

By REPORTER STAFF Vermont State Police are searching for the driver of a silver GMC or Chevrolet involved in an accident on Woods Hollow Road just north of the intersection with Old Stage Road on Saturday between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.

According to Vermont State Police, Dustin Lyman, 28, of Fairfax, reported that he was driving on Woods Hollow Road, maneuvering around potholes,

when his vehicle was struck from behind. Lyman reported that his vehicle was pushed off of the road and into the driveway of a residence.

The other driver then sped away, according to Lyman.

There was significant damage to the rear bumper, lift gate, tail lights and quarter panel of Lyman’s vehicle, police report.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Sgt. Mike Kamerling at the Williston VSP barracks at 878-7111.

It’s Your Move…

Make it Today!

For 34 years, our experienced staff have been providing person-centered assisted care that makes a difference each day.

Move-in Before April 15th and We’ll Waive the Community Fee! You’ll get even more value by moving in before April 15th --- it’s a savings of $1,950.

It’s almost spring (believe it or not) and it’s the perfect time to make a move!

Vermont Family Owned and Operated 1510/1530 Williston Road | South Burlington

Call Us Today to Schedule a Personal Tour - 802-861-4003 Check Out Our Website: gazeboseniorliving.com

20 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 14, 2019

Don’t settle for Consolidated.

Only Xfinity delivers the best experience.

It’s time to make the switch. Xfinity is committed to delivering the fastest Internet, best WiFi experience and 24/7 customer support. We take pride in providing the best experience possible, so you can do more and enjoy more of what you love.

Features

Xfinity

Consolidated

Video, Internet & phone – all from one provider

YES

NO

Faster Internet

YES

NO

Best in-home WiFi experience

YES

NO

Millions of WiFi hotspots available nationwide with Internet service

YES

NO

Readable voicemail and text messaging at no extra cost

YES

NO

Universal caller ID to your home phone, TV and smartphones

YES

NO

Guaranteed two-hour appointment windows

YES

NO

Flexible appointment windows 7 days a week

YES

NO

$20 late appointment credit

YES

NO

Call 1-800-xfinity, visit xfinity.com or check out your local retail store to switch today.

Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Internet: Compares fastest available download speed for Xfinity and Consolidated Communications. Actual speeds vary. Xfinity WiFi hotspots included with Performance Internet and above.

Performance Starter and below not eligible. Available in select areas. Voice: If there is a power outage or network issue, calling, including calls to 911, may be unavailable. Starz® and related channels and service marks are the property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. Visit starz.com for airdates/times. Starz® subscription required. Outlander © 2018 Sony Pictures Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved. HBO® requires a subscription. HBO® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. © 2019 Comcast. All rights reserved.

NED-WNE-1-CONCOM-NEW-A4-V2