The Essex Reporter: March 21, 2019

TITLE TOWN EHS hockey teams sweep state championships See stories and photos starting on page 9.

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Thursday, March 21, 2019

Consultants: Parking in village not a problem

By COLIN FLANDERS

A new study concludes there’s adequate parking in the Essex Jct. downtown core, confirming the village’s insistence that it doesn’t have a parking problem despite a perception among some residents to the contrary.

The study looked at an area around the Five Corners and split it up into five quadrants to see whether parking in each zone allowed residents to reach their destination without crossing the busy intersection.

“Despite what people may say when they show up and try to get to a particular business, there is parking out there,” said Rick Bryant, senior project manager with South Burlington-based engineer firm, Stantec, which performed the study at the village’s request.

Bryant outlined the findings during last week’s trustees meeting. He said Stantec collected data on three separate days within a two-week span starting late August. Survey times covered a mid-morning to early afterSee PARKING, page 3

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PHOTO BY COLIN FLANDERS

A Green Mountain Transit bus pulls into the Essex Jct. Amtrak Station. GMT has proposed a series of system-wide changes that would directly impact service in the town and village, including the removal of stops that some local students now rely on to get to school, prompting concern from district officials.

GMT proposed changes would impact Essex School officials advocate against cutting bus stops

By COLIN FLANDERS Green Mountain Transit (GMT) is hoping to increase its cash fare and modify bus routes in a series of system-

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wide changes that include the removal of stops some local students now rely on to get to school.

That’s troubling news to the Essex Westford School District, which has been encouraging high schoolers since late summer to take GMT buses in light of EWSD’s struggle to provide transportation on its own. The push has spurred a 60 percent increase in the Essex Cen-

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ter route’s ridership, according to GMT officials.

Brian Donahue, EWSD chief operating officer, said the spike shows the two stops on GMT’s chopping block have become important pieces to Essex’s public transportation system. It would be a shame then to now move students back off public transportation, he said, espe-

See GMT, page 2

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2 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019

GMT from page 1 cially as the state continues to push more environmentally friendly ways to get around.

“We’re going to be advocacating strongly that they reconsider,” Donahue said of the GMT proposal.

The changes are part of a system-wide proposal arriving on the heels of an 18-month analysis looking at how GMT could increase ridership and provide a more efficient and convenient service, according to company officials.

GMT has scheduled a series of public meetings to inform the public about the changes. The Essex meeting is planned for April 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the village offices. GMT’s board of commissioners, made up of representatives from member communities, including one from Essex, will then vote on the changes April 16.

In Essex, the proposal would change GMT’s three routes that revolve around the Amtrak station on Railroad Avenue, where patrons can board the bus and arrive in downtown Burlington (Route No. 2), Essex Center (Route No. 4) or Taft Corners in Williston (Route No. 10).

GMT proposes combining the latter two routes into a single all-day trip circling the two destinations and the village. As a result, stops near the

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Essex Free Library and on the corner of Sand Hill and River Road – where some Essex High School students now pick up the bus to go to school – would be eliminated.

Donahue hoped GMT, which started the study nearly two years ago, would recalibrate with the recent ridership spike in mind.

School board member Patrick Murray agreed.

He noted the board recently rewrote its transportation policy to say that the district’s youngest students will receive busing first, meaning “there’s a very strong likelihood there are going to be more high school students in this upcoming fall year who are not going have access.”

“The Sand Hill route is going to become extremely critical, in my opinion,” he said.

The selectboard expressed similar feedback Monday night. Selectboard member Irene Wrenner noted the Essex Center bus now serves the Saxon Hill Industrial Park, which continues to bring more workers to the area, and chair-

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al times and the bus company hopes to find a way to maintain “some level of service” to River Road and Sandhill Road.

“But [we’re] not sure that’s going to be possible at this time,” Moore said.

If GMT sticks to its original proposal, Donahue said the district will continue to work with the bus company and the municipalities to find alternative transportation methods – perhaps some sort of neighborhood ride system or an alternative Essex Center schedule that centers on school times.

GMT’s proposal will impact nearly all of its current 10 routes, Brian Donahue too, including the EWSD Chief Operating Officer trip from Essex into Burlington along Route 15, company looked to trim in the bus company’s busiest at areas where ridership doesn’t nearly 450,000 riders a year. warrant the service. But he That route now starts at said the bus company has met the city’s downtown transit with businesses in the area, center and runs along Route floating the possibility of a 15 before turning onto Sumfinancial partnership between mit Street prior to arriving at some of the bigger employers.

Amtrak. The new route would As for the impact on the instead head straight to the district, Moore said GMT has village station after stopping met with school officials severat Fort Ethan Allen, cutting

“We’re going to be advocacating strongly that they reconsider.”

THE ADVANTAGES OF LEASING, WITH MORE FLEXIBILITY

PAYSAVER

man Max Levy reported those businesses want more service, not less.

GMT’s director of transportation Jon Moore said the

out stops at the corner of Summit and West streets and at GlobalFoundries – a detour that represents less than three percent of the route’s ridership, Moore said.

Moore, who lives in the Summit St. area, didn’t expect changes to the Burlington route would negatively impact his neighborhood because he said most who ride the bus to the city already pick it up along Pearl Street to avoid waiting at the Amtrak station.

Plus, the combined route would still make trips to GlobalFoundries. Moore said about 15 people ride the bus to the fab each day.

GMT’s proposal would also change up its current bus schedule. For the Burlington route, this means extending service to the village to 11:30 p.m. on Monday to Saturday and standardizing times from every 20 minutes from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. instead of the 15- and 30-minute peak-dependent intervals under the current schedule. The proposed combined route, meanwhile, would operate hourly and run Saturdays in addition to the existing current weekday schedule.

Smith, the GMT spokeswoman, said the system-wide analysis offered three different options, starting with what’s the current cost-neutral proposal. The two other proposals and their associated cost increases will be looked at under GMT’s upcoming transportation development study, which offers a 5- to 10-year plan for improvements to the bus company’s service. Work on that study begins after the proposed changes go into effect, if approved, Smith said.

Rounding out the proposed changes is a cash fare bump that would set the base rate at $1.50 – 25 cents higher than the current rate set in 2005 – to help GMT address a budget deficit caused by stagnant state and federal funding in the face of continued increases to the cost of doing business, Smith said.

GMT also relies on funding from its member communities; the town will contribute $276,000 under the recently approved fiscal year 2020 budget, a $10,000 increase over the current year.

“The general consensus is now’s the time,” Smith said about the cash fare increase.

“Nobody wants to raise fares, of course, but when we’re looking to balance the budget for [fiscal year] 2020, we had to get really creative.”

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019 | 3

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A new study concludes there’s adequate parking in the Essex Jct. downtown core, confirming the village’s insistence that it doesn’t have a parking problem.

PARKING from page 1 noon period, a mid-afternoon to early evening period and one from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The study found parking in public spaces peaked shortly after noon, with about 57 percent of spaces occupied, and dropped off slowly throughout the day to an average of about 30 percent between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both a Wednesday and Friday night.

Bryant identified several “hot spots” that may contribute to the perception that the village lacks parking. He noted midday parking is highest at the municipal lot by Brownell Library, the spaces along Main Street near Martones and the parking alongside Lincoln Place, while evenings show most cars in the lots behind McGillicuddy’s and next to On Tap. But even then the village is “nowhere near full on parking,” he said, identifying groups of parking spaces in the same zone that would still allow people to reach their destination and avoid crossing the intersection.

“The issue there seems to be people just don’t want to walk,” he said.

The study did note one area that could potentially become an issue if not addressed: the zone between Maple Street and Park Street, where a proposed development plans to bring new four-story buildings.

That project, named the Chittenden Crossing Development, proposed two mixeduse buildings and two solely residential buildings, with

developers telling the planning commission last year that they will offer shared parking between both building residents and patrons.

But Bryant said the plans don’t currently show enough proposed parking to meet the demand. He urged the village to keep an eye on the situation as to ensure the zone continues to have enough parking for the businesses within it.

The commission, which approved the conceptual plans last year, will now need to sign off on site plans for each building prior to its construction, at which time commissioners can decide whether the proposed parking is enough.

“We do believe it still merits discussion to understand what they’re really proposing,” Bryant said “and confirm at the end of the day there’s going to be balance on that site.”

The study’s overall findings were welcome news to village trustees, who have repeatedly pushed back against claims that the village lacks parking. Even so, village president George Tyler worried some residents won’t be swayed by the findings.

“People tend not to question electrical engineers or chemical engineers or HVAC engineers,” Tyler said. “But traffic engineers, for some reason, everyone is a traffic engineer.” He wondered how the village could help change these perceptions.

“Education and communication,” Bryant responded.

He said the village could add signage indicating for drivers

where to find public parking and suggested the village ask high-traffic businesses to let their customers know where there’s some available spaces.

But Bryant said a lot of onus remains with the drivers, who should currently have no problem finding parking within walking distance.

Using McGillicuddy’s as an example, he said patrons need look no further than the 30 spaces along the driveway to Park Street School, which are always empty at night.

“If they’re willing to take a few extra steps, they can readily find a parking spot on the same side of the street as the restaurant,” Bryant said.

Plus, it “gives you a little more walktime to assess your ability to drive after a couple of Guinesses.”

“It might be good all around,” he said.

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4 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019

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Meet your school board candidates

By AMANDA BROOKS The Essex Westford School District board has three seats up for grabs in this year’s election on April 9.

Incumbents Kim Gleason and Al Bombardier will appear on the ballot unopposed for their three-year town outside the village seats. Newcomers Joanne Jewell and Todd Odit will vie for the one three-year village seat, which is being vacated by Marla Durham.

Jewell was born and raised in Vermont, leaving for the University of Arizona to

AL BOMBARDIER

JOANNE JEWELL

earn her masters and become a CPA in the late 90s. She said she returned to Vermont in 2009 to raise her children, one of whom is studying at the

University of Vermont and a set of twins who are in the eighth grade in the district.

Jewell said her main interest in running for the school

KIM GLEASON

TODD ODIT

board stems from getting a good return on investment from the school system in Essex.

“Taxes are huge in Ver-

T a mont and I think it’s very im- E portant that our kids can leave high school being prepared for the future, having a good solid See CANDIDATES, page 19

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Ben Edwards, a fifth-grader at Fleming School, has qualified to represent Essex at the annual State Geo Bee competition.

Fleming Geo Bee Champ: Congratulations to Ben Edwards, who has qualified for the State Geo Bee competition. Ben is a fifth grade student at Thomas Fleming School and will be competing against students from all over the state.

STEM Activities: Melissa Coviello and Barb Auch’s classes at Fleming had a fun morning of learning through STEM activities before break.

The students took part in four different STEM stations, which included: Gondola Ride - Teams constructed an apparatus to transport as many AA batteries as possible across a span of six meters of fishing line at one time. The winning team transported 12 batteries.

Tennis Ball Tower - Teams had to build a tower that could hold a tennis ball. The tallest tower measured 75 centimeters from the base to the top of the tennis ball.

Mystery Box Challenge: Students worked on asking

pointed questions to figure out what was in a mystery box.

Snap Circuits: Students built everything from a moving fan to speakers that played happy birthday.

Dance Off: Fleming held its annual ‘dance off ’ competition recently Founders Food Drive: Students and staff at Founders Memorial School held a food drive for Aunt Dot’s Place the week before break.

Wellness Day: Founders Memorial School students participated in a Smart Moves wellness activity day which included a band concert, mindfulness activity, food label research, a walking club, STEM activities, and yoga.

EES Family Math: First-grade classes at EES hosted a family math morning, where students taught parents some of the concepts they are working on using math games.

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019 | 5

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The Vermont Supreme Court dismissed an appeal request in the eviction case against Backstage Pub, effectively ending the bar’s legal fight to stay in the Essex Junction Shopping Center.

Supreme Court throws out Backstage appeal Clock running on bar’s eviction from shopping center

By COLIN FLANDERS The Vermont Supreme Court last week dismissed an appeal request in the eviction case against Backstage Pub, effectively ending the bar’s legal fight to stay in the Essex Jct. Shopping Center.

The dismissal follows a trial judge’s possession order earlier this year in favor of the shopping plaza owners, who sought to evict the bar and its owner, Vincent Dober, Sr., over his failure to maintain adequate insurance coverage.

In their March 13 decision, Supreme Court justices explained Dober’s attorneys had failed to appeal a final judgement since the eviction case still has a pending hearing on whether the bar owes its landlords any damages.

Backstage could still file an appeal after this final hearing.

However, it will likely have already been evicted by then: The pub now has two weeks from March 13, when the writ of execution became official, to vacate the premises, court records show.

Otherwise, the landlords can forcibly remove the business from the building.

Renee Mobbs, the landlord’s attorney, said her clients had no comment on the case.

At trial in January, Dober’s attorney argued against the eviction, claiming it was not equitable punishment for the insurance lapses given his client had already put thousands of dollars into improving the building.

But a judge ruled in favor of the landlords, calling it a “relatively straightforward commercial eviction,” and issued a writ of execution giving them the right to evict Backstage. The same judge then denied Dober’s request to delay the eviction pending his appeal proceedings because she said he had slim chances of prevailing.

Still, Backstage remained hopeful until the end.

In an unsigned Facebook post late last month, the bar acknowledged its legal issues, which it called the “elephant in the room.”

But the bar repeatedly urged patrons to “relax” and challenged the veracity of a recent Reporter article that detailed Dober’s loss at trial. The post claimed the paper failed to report “the whole story” and said Dober had not lost to the landlords because the case was still in the appeal process (The Reporter’s story noted Dober’s attorney said he planned to discuss with his client an appeal to the state’s highest court).

“Backstage continues to remain open and run uninterrupted,” read the bar’s Feb. 28 post. “However, if forced to close unexpectedly, there will be notification to all my loyal customers and friends.”

As of last Friday morning, the bar had yet to update its Facebook page with any news of the pending eviction. Dober did not return multiple messages left at the bar last week.

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6 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019

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A Youth on

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teenager’s journey from childhood to adulthood is complicated and risky. We all know this. As I have noted in prior columns, the Search Institute (MN) determined decades ago that certain external factors help youth develop the internal attributes necessary to more successfully make this transition to adulthood. These internal attributes include healthy decision making, selfconfidence, motivation and resilience.

The Search Institute called these internal and external factors the 40 Developmental Assets. The work of the Search Institute and the importance of the 40 Developmental Assets is commonly referred to as positive youth development, and it is embraced by most professional youth services programs. Although positive youth development principles are well-known within in the youth services field, they are generally less known within the broader community. The lack of community awareness about the Search Institute’s findings and recommendations are problematic because 20 of the 40 Developmental Assets reflect external factors that are fostered by the community, schools, and families.

The Quality Youth Development (QYD) Project seeks to address the lack of awareness of the 40 Developmental Assets throughout the state of Vermont and beyond. The QYD Project has designed

a certification process for communities to examine their investment in youth, strengthen those efforts if needed, and be recognized for their commitment to teens.

In order to become certified, they must achieve 10 Benchmarks established by the QYD Project, which are aligned with the work of the Seearch Institute. An Essex-Westford QYD Steering Committee has been formed to mobilize this community in order to become the first certified QYD Community in the nation.

I asked Caroline Rubin, a 24-year-old graduate student at UVM about her thoughts on the QYD Project. She is completing a Master’s Degree in Public Administration, and has just joined the CHIPS Team as an AmeriCorps member. She responded, “The QYD Project is a really great initiative that I’m excited to be involved with. By providing a comprehensive tool for measuring the success of a community’s youth programs and resources, the QYD Project serves as a roadmap for communities to promote and improve their youth development programs. When I first learned about this project, I immediately thought of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which outline social and economic development issues, with the overall goals of ensuring universal human rights, ending global poverty, and promoting social justice. Just as the 17

Caroline rubin

Sustainable Goals define and measure sustainable global development, the QYD Project’s 10 benchmarks define and measure what quality youth development looks like at the local level.”

For example, one of the 10 Benchmarks is the creation of a Community Youth Council, consisting of local youth (ages 13-18) elected by their peers.

The Council would meet on a periodic basis to discuss community issues, to communicate with local officials and the public about these issues, and to promote service by youth in support of the community. This will be one of the 10 Benchmarks the EssexWestford QYD Steering Committee will seek to achieve, to H better engage area youth - and w a to become the first certified QYD Community. The estab- w lishment of a Youth Council a V will strengthen the youth voice in our community, and t will strengthen youth support o of our community. It’s a good g c thing! $ a a i SWAP THING features dealers, collectors p and fans from around the region buying, selling a and trading old comics, with dealers planning to attend from as far as Saratoga Springs, N.Y. t c Admission is free, and attendees are eno couraged to bring their own books to swap. s This year, SWAP THING also includes a special sale to benefit two non-profit organiza- D tions, the Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) and s a the Vermont Folklife Center. i Kolovos, who works for the Vermont Folklife Center, will travel to White River Junc- b a tion and return laden with comic books.

All proceeds from the sale of these comics will benefit CCS and the Vermont Folklife Center.

“We’re excited to be back,” Rovnak said in the news release. “SWAP THING is a small, intimate event—all about comics. We like it that way.”

SWAP THING takes place from 10:00am to 4:00pm, March 31, 2019 at Memorial Hall in Essex, Vermont. Admission is free. See the Facebook Event (https://www.facebook.com/ events/2163766377221771/) or web page (http:// devilsdream.org/swap-thing/) for additional information.

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A free comic book show and swap event will return to Memorial Hall later this month.

Essex comic book fans Andy Kolovos and John Rovnak planted the seeds of SWAP THING in 2014 when the pair invited a group of friends to swap comics in Kolovos’s dining room.

“It was a blast,” Kolovos said in a press release. “I got a lot of cool stuff—more than I got rid of actually, which didn’t exactly thrill my wife.”

The SWAP THING community emerged out of Rovnak’s Facebook group, P2P: Panel to Panel, which he said is populated with Vermonters and helps popularize the events.

Drawing on memories of the small, local comic book shows they attended as kids in the 1980s, Kolovos and Rovnak opened up SWAP THING to the public last year.

“These days, ‘Comic Cons’ are less about comics and more about pop culture and cosplay,” Rovnak said in a press release. “Don’t get me wrong, I like cosplay, but we wanted to hold an event that was fundamentally about old comics, hence our motto, ‘More Comics, Less Cosplay.”

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019 | 7

Opi ni On Letter to the editor

the essex

Saxon Hill Recreation area: Essex economic driver Just one family in Essex who moved here to enjoy Saxon Hill area, now wants 80-year-old parents to live in assisted living here and encourage the Town of Essex to welcome affordable housing for 26-year-old daughter to settle here. Older parents still walk 2 miles per day and the rest of us are competitive runners and run Saxon Hill Road and trails.

Wouldn’t it be nice to convert the very large home not selling at the end of Saxon Hill Road to affordable condos so that young families like our daughter could settle here and raise a family? She would save on daycare while driving to Dealer in

Burlington because we are here, and save on school loans even though Dealer is paying for her MBA. All of us buy local in Essex! You would have more young in town to fill our schools, an active group of young talent which in turn would be an economic driver.

A soccer field at the beginning of Saxon Hill Road could serve this active group while also providing a safer parking lot for users of Saxon Hill trails. Women do not feel safe with existing parking at the end of Thompson Road. Parking for soccer could be surrounded by Vermont native conifers and the road remaining gravel to keep this area pristine. The large

home at the end of Saxon Hill Road could also serve in part, as a check in area with cross country skis to rent like what Catamount Rec area has in Williston.The new businesses at the end of Thompson Drive could have bikes to rent for commuters in town to replace driving to work.

Once the ETC Next plan is in place, the connectivity alone will encourage all generations to enjoy Saxon Hill Recreation area and want to move here because of how it increases quality of life, as we did. One only has to look at the Kingdom Trails in Northeast Kingdom to see the 100,000 visitors of all generations drawn to this area.

Patty Davis

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

MESSAGES FROM MONTPELIER chittenden 8-2

REP. LINdA MyERS (R)

REP. dyLAN GIAMBATISTA (d)

REP. BOB BANCROFT (R)

lindakmyers@comcast.net, 878-3514

dylan@vtdylan.com, 734-8841

bancroft.vt@gmail.com, 879-7386

REP. MARyBETH REdMONd (d)

REP. LORI HOUGHTON (d)

marybethredmond@comcast.net, 488-0531

houghton.lori@gmail.com, 373-0599

By REP. MARYBETH REDMOND

This week, the House Human Services Committee which I serve on approved an $8.46 million bill that will make child care more available and affordable for Vermont families struggling to secure slots for their littlest ones. The legislation, which goes to the full House next for consideration, also contains $1 million in scholarships and student loan repayment assistance for early learning professionals working in programs that are both centerand home-based.

After receiving weeks of testimony from parents, child care providers and business owners, advocates, and the state’s own Child Development Division, it’s clear that accessible, high-quality child care and early learning are critical investments in the healthy brain development of children ages 0-5, as well as a long-term

strategy for putting Vermont parents to work and growing the state’s economy.

If you’re not aware of the current child care crisis, here are two data points that magnify the extent of the problem in the Green Mountain State:

• More than 50 percent of infants and toddlers requiring child care don’t have access to any regulated programs; and nearly 80 percent don’t have access to high-quality programs.

• Middle-class families are spending up to 40 percent of their household income

CHITTENdEN COUNTy SENATORS

chittenden 8-3

chittenden 8-1

on child care ($10-$15,000 per child per year for full-time care).

One owner of a South Burlington child care business serving 700 children over 25 years confirmed the dire situation, saying that her current waiting list has expanded to 250 requests.

The Human Services Committee’s “Child Care and Early Learning Bill,” as it is called, adjusts the market rates and benefits for the Child Care Financial Assistance Program according to a revised sliding scale to ensure that families whose gross income is up to 100 percent of current federal poverty guidelines receive 100 percent assistance. The new eligibility guidelines expand financial subsidy to a wider swath of middle-income families too.

In addition, the legislation seeks to retain child care providers working in the field, many of whom struggle to earn livable wages while pay-

Tim Ashe (D/P), Phil Baruth (D), Debbie Ingram (D), Ginny Lyons (D), Chris Pearson (D/P), Michael Sirotkin (D) email: firstinitial.lastname@leg.state.vt.us

ing off sizable college loans.

The bill provides $2,000 per year in loan payment assistance for a full year of service; and offers scholarships to develop the skills and credentials of workers on the early childhood career path.

I am proud of this bill, which consists of weeks of deliberation among Republicans and Democrats, an Independent and Progressive, all serving together on the House Human Services Committee. We approved this bill unanimously, knowing that to attract more young people to live in our state, they must have access to affordable, high-quality child care. Likewise, our economy will thrive when employers can rely on a stable, robust workforce.

Please reach out to me if you have ideas or concerns: mredmond@leg.state.vt.us.

I am ever-grateful to be your ambassador in the State House.

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 publiShErS Jim O’Rourke jorourke@samessenger.com AdvErtiSinG Taylor Walters taylor.walters@essexreporter.com clASSiFiEdS & lEGAlS Ben Letourneau ben.letourneau@samessenger.com

dEAdlinES mondays at 8 p.m.

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

Published Thursdays Circulation: 8,800 The Essex Reporter is owned by O’Rourke Media Group.

8 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019

Opi ni On

Perspective

Embrace Vt.’s health, raise age limit on tobacco

By EMERSON LYNN Seven states and almost 450 cities have raised the age limit to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21, Vermont, often cited as one of the nation’s healthiest states, needs to add its name to the list.

Legislation to raise the age limit is being pushed by both houses of the Vermont Legislatures and Gov. Phil Scott has said he’s not opposed, but that he would not lead the charge. The time is now for our legislators to push this common sense effort to completion.

The proposal to raise the age limit is not new; as the health and cost implications of smoking became clear there were attendant conversations as to the wisdom of raising the legal age limit. It never happened, largely because of personal liberty considerations, and because the groundswell of public support didn’t exist. Those who don’t smoke couldn’t be concerned about those who do.

The difference today is three-fold; first is the massive increase in the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, second is the likelihood that Vermont will soon enter into the commercial sale of cannabis, and third is our continuing struggle with opioid addiction.

The argument in favor of raising the age limit should stand on its own. To raise the age to 21 would reduce the number of our youth who smoke, which, in turn, would save countless lives. The research shows that 94 percent of all adult smokers took their first puff before turning 21 and that 81 percent started smoking before they were 18. Why would we

not make the effort to limit the number of people affected, why would we not act, and in the process save the lives of roughly 1,000 Vermonters each year?

By raising the age we are, in effect, taking aim at an industry that targets our youth. The tobacco industry’s livelihood depends on people - our children - to begin the smoking habit when they are young.

They are the sweet spot in the tobacco industry’s marketing plan, this includes e-cigarettes and vaping products as well.

But when the age limit is raised to 21, that market is reduced. Students have long since graduated from high school. Those in high school, and middle school, have far fewer contacts with those who do smoke. The ranks of their “providers” have winnowed.

We’ve been through the paces with these arguments before. What’s new is that e-cigarettes and vaping have taken this same young demographic by storm. Usage of these nicotine-based products has soared setting off fresh alarms about how the fight against tobacco is facing new challenges, and potential setbacks.

The combination of new concerns about e-cigarettes/vaping, and old concerns about tobacco use have given fresh impetus to the effort to raise the age limit.

Within the same legislative session, legislators are also mid-stream in trying to figure out how to create a commercial marketplace for the sale of cannabis. There is no debate that the age of cannabis users should be 21 - since it was formally illegal - but if the

defenders of pot legalization are correct, that pot is less harmful than tobacco then why would the age restriction on pot be higher than that of cigarettes?

And would it not make sense for those who are pushing a commercial marketplace for pot - with the users being age 21 and older - to push the 21 age limit for smoking cigarettes?

[Would that not be a fun juxtaposition - to have the pro-pot coalition pushing for tougher limits on cigarette smoking?]

Finally, underneath it all is the growing - one would hope - awareness that whatever we do requires a more sophisticated and more regulated approach to tobacco and all of its iterations.

It’s this growing recognition that puts to rest the tired shibboleth that because turning 18 years of age allows one to vote, and to be part of the military, that reaching the same age qualifies one to be subjected to the marketing ploys of the tobacco industry. As if that is a rite of passage, as if, as a society, we bear no responsibility when it comes to our collective health.

Raising the age from 18 to 21 to buy or sell tobacco products has been debated repeatedly, and it has failed repeatedly because it was never a health issue, it was a personal rights issue. Today, it’s a health issue.

That’s the reason that should compel legislators to support raising the age to 21 for the purchase or sale of tobacco products. For once, let’s put the health of Vermonters first.

Welcoming persistence does not mean denying urgency

By JULIE MOORE I had the opportunity to address a meeting of clean water leaders at the end of January and in my remarks, I made the case for patient stewardship. There was clear push back from some in attendance that my call for a slow-and-steady approach belied the sense of urgency that is needed, but I don’t see that as the case. Embracing persistent stewardship does not mean denying urgency. A river cuts through rock not only because of its immediate force, but largely from its persistence over time. If we are willing to apply pressure over an extended period, we can, and we will, reach our water quality goals.

About 13 years ago, my husband and I built a house in Middlesex. It took us over a year to find the right piece of property, six months to design the plans, a summer to dig the foundation hole, form the footings, pour the basement walls and frame the first floor. It took several more months to raise the second floor and put the roof on and ten more months to plumb, wire and finish the interior. My point is simply this: for what felt like a small forever, we had very little to show despite our tremendous investment of time, sweat and money. Our bank account was

depleted, our hands were calloused and we were exhausted. But we persevered.

For more than two years, we woke up every day and said to one another, “We are going to see this project through to completion. We are going to build our own house.” We would not let ourselves lose sight of our larger vision. This firm commitment to our goal was the reason we succeeded.

All of us as Vermonters are now embarking on a decades-long mission to restore the state’s water quality. As we do this work, we need to become visionaries and careful observers. As visionaries, we must take the long view.

The current condition of our waterways is the result of decades and even centuries of human influence on the landscape. Restoring these waterways will require a many-year commitment.

As careful observers, we must learn to see and celebrate the water quality changes that are already occurring.

Since 2016, the State has teamed with nonprofits, communities and companies to complete more than 1,400 water quality projects to improve 15,000 acres of farmland, conserve or restore 1,500 acres of river corridors, floodplains, and wetlands, and treat stormwater runoff from more than 75 miles of roads and 100 acres of parking lots and other impervious surfaces. Yet, it can

be hard to recognize these changes.

For example, many of us still drive along Vermont’s highways and byways unaware of the new stone-lined ditches that have been installed to prevent hundreds of pounds of dirt and gravel from entering our waterways. When we become careful observers, we begin to see these seemingly small projects and notice the collective impact.

One type of project that may be hard to recognize at first is a natural resources restoration project. Much of Vermont’s water pollution occurs during wet weather events – stormwater runoff, snowmelt, and flood-related erosion. The best strategies for controlling wet weather pollution rely on natural solutions such as allowing woody vegetation to reestablish along river banks, installing rain gardens and other green infrastructure with vegetation to intercept and store stormwater and plugging ditches on marginal farmland to allow wetlands to reform and re-vegetate. These solutions take time to root. Anyone who has planted an apple tree in their backyard knows that a tree does not bear fruit in its first year, but most would agree that the initial investment was well worth the wait. It’s the same story for naturebased solutions that control runoff.

Upfront costs may feel like an in-

surmountable burden, especially when the initial investment does not provide immediate results. In her 2017 report, Treasurer Pearce estimated that the total cost of the programs and projects called for in Act 64 – Vermont’s Clean Water Act – were anticipated to total more than $2 billion. While this is a daunting price tag, it is not an excuse for inaction. We’re already well on our way to funding it. In the last two years, the State has invested $100 million in water quality improvements.

Let’s continue this work with a patient persistence founded in a deep sense of urgency. Seek out your local watershed group or conservation district and learn more about how you can work to reduce the footprint of your home or business on Vermont’s rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. If each one of us takes action, no matter how small, in service of water quality and embraces an attitude of persistent stewardship, we will see our collective good work reflected in fewer algal blooms, fewer combined sewer overflows, and a more resilient landscape.

Julie Moore is the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

She currently resides in Middlesex, Vermont with her husband, Aaron, and their two children.

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019 | 9

SPORTS

In dominant championship showing, Hornets hockey again solidifies itself as the state’s best in class.

See stories on page 10 and 11.

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Boys hockey repeats as state champions

By ANTHONY LABOR JR. For the Essex Reporter BURLINGTON — Wednesday was a familiar sight for Essex hockey fans at Gutterson Fieldhouse for the Division I championship.

The Hornets skated around the rink with the championship trophy in hand with a score of 5-0 up on the scoreboard.

The only difference between this year and last year was the opponent. After topping Spaulding in last year’s final, the top-seeded Hornets picked up where they left off at Gutterson with another 5-0, title-clinching victory, this time at the expense of No. 6 Rice.

“Going back-to-back in the championship and winning them both 5-0 is a great feeling,” said Essex senior Jonah Janaro. “This is a big accomplishment. Growing up, you can’t really ask for much more than this.”

Senior Grady Cram had a hand in all five goals for the Hornets, assisting on the first three goals and scoring the two third-period goals.

It was the most points in a championship game since 1986, when Chuck Wiegand and Craig Dougherty had five points each and Mickey LeBlanc had six in a 10-4 win over North Country, according to Paul Stanfield of the University of Vermont “You never really think about doing something on such a big stage that hasn’t been done in awhile, but when you hear it, it’s like something you dream of growing up playing hockey,” said Cram.

The Hornets did not allow a goal in three tournament games after Sam Foster made 17 saves for his third straight post-season shutout.

“It’s been a total team effort getting these shutouts throughout the playoffs,” said Foster.

“If you look at just today’s game, our penalty kill only let one shot get to me during a fiveminute major, so that just shows how much the team in front of me has helped get these three shutouts.”

After the first period, it looked like it might be a tough game, as both teams battled for a scoreless first period with Essex holding an 11-8 shot advantage, with solid chances to score at

both ends.

The floodgates opened in the second period, as the Hornets scored three goals to take control.

Janaro (1 goal, 1 assist) got things started for Essex on the power play, as he picked up a loose puck off the glass, skated to the blue line, and fired a wrister that found its way through traffic and inside the post for the 1-0 lead. Cram and Jason Smith picked up assists.

Ian Amaliksen scored later in the second on an almost identical play, and Willem Barwin tipped a shot from Cram just over a minute later to give Essex a 3-0 lead going into the third period.

“Rice came out with great energy and I thought they got us on our heels a little bit, because I don’t think we were expecting their energy and speed,” coach Chris Line said. “In between the first and the second, we just told them to get pucks through traffic at the net and it ended up working out for the first three goals.

I think once we saw Jonah put his goal in like that, it was easier for the guys to buy in and just start putting pucks at the net.”

Cram added a pair of goals in the final five minutes of the third to round out the scoring.

Tobias Martin and Sam Gibbs picked up assists on Cram’s first goal with Janaro assisting the second.

Essex’s penalty kill was strong. Rice only mustered four shots on net on four power plays, including the 5-minute major early in the third.

“We have really good team speed, especially with our forwards, and we can get on the puck, which makes it difficult for teams to control the puck and it even creates offense for us,” said Line. “Coming into this game, we wanted to be aggressive between the dots and I thought our guys did a great job of that. Especially on their breakout, back-pressuring the puck and not allowing free entry into the zone.”

It was the third title for the Hornets (18-3-2) In the past five years and 16th championship overall.

“I’m just overwhelmed with emotion,” said Cram. “We are a family and being so successful with a team that is your family like this is extremely satisfying.”

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019 | 11

SPORTS

game, the Comets and Hornets were tied 5-5 when the teams went against each other in the tournament and 3-3 in championship games.

The Hornets have a bit of an advantage on both sides now.

“It’s crazy being a part of this rivalry with BFA,” said Forcier. “It’s fun going up against a team you know is always going to be a tight competitive game, which makes the competitiveness and challenge that pushes both teams,

The defense played well all night, allowing few quality shots to reach Forcier and not letting the speedy Comets sustain offensive pressure.

“We worked on team defense for the last two weeks,” said Maddalena. “If you are going to beat BFA, you have to be near perfect defensively.

This was the best play from our defense we have had all year. And they didn’t give us much at all offensively, but we took advantage of the couple of bounces we got.”

Going into Thursday’s

See CHAMPS, page 13

PHOTO BY ANTHONY LABOR JR.

In their 18th state final showdown vs. BFA, the Essex Hornets avenged a loss in last year’s finals to take the Division I state championship last Wednesday, shutting out their longtime rivals, 2-0.

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By ANTHONY LABOR JR. For the Essex Reporter BURLINGTON — A year ago, the Hornets watched longtime rival BFA-Albans skate around Gutterson Fieldhouse with the championship trophy after the Comets’ 2-0 victory.

The script flipped one week ago, when the secondseeded Hornets got a little redemption in this year’s Division I championship game, taking down the top-seeded Comets by the same 2-0 score to claim their seventh championship.

“We remembered how we felt after the championship game last season and we were really disappointed, so we were happy to get back this year,” said Essex captain Madeline Young. “It feels good to come back this year and have another battle against BFA and come out on top. It’s amazing. It’s a feeling unlike anything else. It’s unreal.”

After a first period that saw very little offense and no goals, Essex jumped on the board on a well-executed set play. Cycling the puck around, Kaylee Moody took the puck at the blue line and slipped it down to Young in the right circle. Young wristed the puck

toward the net and Abigail Robbins redirected it just enough by slapping it just inside the far post past the outstretched pad of Madeline Hungerford.

Hannah Himes added the insurance goal with just over seven minutes to go in the third period. She took a pass from Sage Amaliksen, skated into the BFA zone, and sent a slapshot between three BFA defenders. The puck changed direction off a stick and found its way into the net.

“Our first goal came off something we work on a lot when we rotate the puck and cycle it down low to try and pack it in and get it D to D and to the weak side wing and something will open up. And Abi was in the soft spot in the middle,” said Essex coach John Maddalena. “Hannah has really quick hands and showed it on her goal. She knew she didn’t have much time to snap a shot off and the goalie didn’t have time to set, which is how you are going to beat a good goalie like BFA has.

“It was nice to see Hannah rewarded. She has worked so hard all year long for us, so that was great to see her get that goal in a big spot.”

Two scores were more

than enough for Essex goalie Sophia Forcier, who tallied a 15-save shutout for the Hornets.

“It feels incredible,” said Forcier. “This is what we work for all season and to come out and perform like we did against a good team like BFA was amazing. We came into the game with a confident mindset and knew we just had to take it one shift at a time.

And the defense played really well in front of me.”

It was the second game in a row in which Forcier came up big for the Hornets, after she made a number of big saves in crucial moments during the team’s semifinal win over Burlington/Colchester.

“I don’t think Sophie gets as much recognition around the state as she deserves, because there are a lot of very good goaltenders — including the two we just played today,” said Maddalena. “She has been amazing for us through the playoffs and tonight she really calmed the team down throughout the course of the game with her composure. She did a good job deflecting pucks to the corner and getting it out of dangerous areas, and it’s just been the way she has been all year for us.”

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FrAncEScA MArTin

Senior: Hockey

A rock-solid defensive effort led by Martin and senior captain Molly Bruyns’ in the girls hockey final shut down BFA-St. Albans, and junior Kaylee Moody set up both Essex goals in a 2-0 victory as the Hornets became the first team in more than a year to score twice against the Comets. Essex — which itself had only given up more than a goal only to BFA this year — beat the Comets at their own game with the title on the line. Goalie Sophia Forcier faced just three shots on goal in the first period and six of each of the last two.

iAn AMALiKSEn Senior: Hockey

Amaliksen’s goal increased the Hornets’ title-game lead to two over Rice Memorial on March 13 at Gutterson Fieldhouse, and the senior’s defensive leadership and presence at the point on power plays helped Essex finish off its fourth straight tournaments shutout, including back-to-back 5-0l championshiop-game wins. Goalie Sam Foster (17 saves) and the Hornetsg had shutouts in all three playoff gamesa after recording just two in 2 regular-s p season contests.

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By JOE GONILLO HOCKEYTOWN VERMONT is Essex Jct. and Essex High School.

Add two more state championship banners to the EHS winter season.

Congrats to the boys’ and girls’ hockey teams for winning their state championship games last week! The boys beat Rice 5-0 while the girls stopped BFA 2-0. Lots of hard work, ice time, weight room sessions, practices, and bus rides were sure worth the effort!!! But don’t look now, spring sports have begun.

Not sure why all kids don’t have at least a week off between seasons like they did in the old(en) days.

The Hornet boys’ hockey team went back-to-back (first time since 2008) as they captured the 2019 D-I state title last week. Essex completely shut down and shut out the Rice Green Knights 5-0 to chalk up their 16th

SPORTS

championship in program history.

Goaltender Sudden Sam Foster stopped 17 Green Knight shots (3rd shutout of post season), and the Hornet defense was an iron curtain thwarting Rice’s offensive attacks. For full coverage of the game see page 10.

For you stat fans, the boys were 18-3-2. Also, Coach Chris Line is 2 for 2.

Congrats coaches and players.

The Hornet girls’ hockey team did something they had not done all season last week: beat the BFA Comets! Essex earned the D-I state championship with a 2-0 win over the 2018 champs.

All season BFA never allowed more than 1 goal and was not shutout. This win was special, and it clearly erased last year’s loss. Essex played to a 20-2-1 championship record and notched its 7th title in the history of the program in the process.

A proud head coach, Doc Mad-

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019 | 13

dalena stated (about his defense), “It was their best game by far this season.” Agreed! Congratulations coaches and players. For full coverage of the game, see page 11.

Spring sports are underway. A little late for this but hope your forms, physicals, and schedules are all set.

Good luck.

Congrats to the UVM men’s basketball team for winning the American East Tourney. Up by 8 at the half, the Cats blew out UMBC in the 2nd half, and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament. Watched the game on ESPN. They earned the #13 seed and will play #4 Florida State in Hartford Thursday. Tipoff is slated for 2pm.

Clear your schedule. I just did.

Here are a few local dignitaries I noticed before and during the game: Ann Pratt, Asst UVM AD Ed Hockenbury, Pam Stowell Ed+Amy’s mom, Big John Willey, Tom Brennen, UVM AD Jeff Schulman, former Rice hoop coach Paul Rabidoux, Gael Shungu –

Ben’s older brother…..

Final Four predictions: Duke, UVA, Kentucky, Texas Tech. Write yours down. Deep down would love to see Buffalo and Murray St advance too.

Spring Training report: Checking in on the Yanks Sunday in Fort Myers vs, not the Red Sox, but the Twins.

Game was sold out last month, so we got lawn seats out in LF. Still checking on Braves’ tickets too.

Off-Season announcement: Coach Drew Gordon and the Hornet football team are hosting indoor youth football on Sunday March 31st and Sunday April 7th from 1-2pm in the EHS gym.

Happy Birthday Joy Corley, Linda Armstrong, Scott Smith, Deb Schonberg, Ordina Smailhodzic, Chris Demetrules, Caraline Flaherty, Nan Payson, Melissa Millette LaMarche. Thank you for the birthday wishes, texts, a few cards, and FB posts last week.

All appreciated. Golf in the morning and a delicious Italian dinner for two at Carmello’s with my beautiful wife made my day.

Next week, the Essex Reporter will celebrate Essex High School’s four championship teams this year: boy and girls hockey, gymnastics, and boys indoor track, in a winter sports roundup.

Be sure to pick up our March 28 issue!

If you’d like to add your or your business’s congratulations to ours, contact Taylor Walters at taylor.walters@essexreporter.com.

PHOTO BY ANTHONY LABOR JR.

Hornets swarm their goaltender during last week’s shutout win in the state championships against BFA-St. Albams.

e

CHAMPS

t s from page 1

tso it’s always fun going up against them and 0luckily we won when it mattered most.”

Through the first 19 championships in girls hockey in Vermont, BFA and Essex have accounted for 18 titles with 11 for BFA and now -seven for Essex. Rutland, in 2017, is the only party-crasher.

“I think it’s a neat rivalry we have with Essex and think it speaks a lot to the youth programs in Essex and St. Albans,” said BFA coach Luke Cioffi. “It’s pretty special going up against a team so close in proximity so many times, and these players know each other.

“Players from both teams after playing against each other tonight will turn around

and play in a regional tournament on the same team tomorrow, so it’s pretty cool and it’s been a fun 18 years with our two programs and it’s always a chess match.”

It was the fourth meeting between the teams this season with BFA winning the first two by 2-1 scores followed by a 1-1 tie to close the regular season.

The Hornets didn’t let those outcomes faze them heading into the championship.

“Fourth time was the charm for us against BFA,” said Maddalena. “We knew after playing them tough through the three games in the regular season that today was going to be our day. We finally pulled through.”

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Mar 21 21 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.

Community

model enthusiasts and model builders. Show off projects, discuss modeling tips and techniques and gain inspiration from fellow modelers. Call 879-0765 after 6 p.m. for more information.

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.

adl chorus coNcerT 7 p.m., Albert D. Lawton School, 104 Maple St., Essex Jct.

VermoNT WomeN’s exPo 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Champlain Valley Expo, 105 Pearl St., Essex Jct. Grab the girls and head to the Expo for a day of fun, inspiration, and pampering.

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.

moderN WesTerN sTyle square daNce 7:30 - 9 p.m., Maple Street Park. Email Wayne or Susan Pierce at sewpie@ aol.com.

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.

music WiTh raPh 9:30 - 10 a.m., Brownell Library. Come sing, dance and play with Raph. All ages.

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. 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

22 Friday

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. graNge 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, 1 Church St., Essex Jct. The Grange is a family, community organization with its roots in agriculture.

23 saTurday 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

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.

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.

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.

BalkaN Folk daNciNg 3:30 - 6:30 p.m., Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, 188 N. Prospect St., Burlington.

Easier line and circle dances are taught the first hour, then intermediate dances, reviews and open request dancing. Lots of parking, come in the back door. For more information, please call 802 540-1020, or email dance@together. net.

25 moNday Free Tax helP 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Brownell Library. For taxpayers w/low and middle incomes. (See Thursday, Mar. 21) 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.

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!

TWeeN ceNTer 3 - 5:45 p.m., Essex CHIPS, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. Open to students attending Thomas Fleming School.

Free. lego FuN 3 p.m., Brownell Library.

Come build creatively with Legos and see what others build. Children under 8 years old must bring a responsible caregiver. read WiTh Pugsley 3:15 - 4:45 p.m., Brownell Library. Practice reading with our new therapy dog and friend, Pugsley. 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 8919677 for more information. red scare iN The greeN mouNTaiNs 7 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Historian and Author Rick Winston discusses his recently published book “Red Scare in the Green Mountains: The McCarthy Era in Vermont, 1946-1960”. Join us for a fascinating look at this era of forgotten hysteria with Rick Winston, also founder of the Savor Theater and Green Mountain Film Festival in Montpelier.

26 Tuesday 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.

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. Wii FuN 2:30 - 4 p.m., Brownell Library. Play Wii Games

yCalendar together, like Mario Cart and Wii Sports.

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.

27 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 Library. (See Monday, Mar. 25) Senior luncheon 11:30 a.m., Essex Area Senior Center. Bring a dish to share! Program: birthdays. rotary cluB of eSSex Noon - 1:15 p.m., The Essex, 70 Essex Way, Essex Jct. Visitors are always welcome. meal Site adviSory Board 1:15 - 3 p.m., Essex Area Senior Center. open Studio 3 - 4 p.m., Essex Free Library. The library supplies the materials, you bring the creativity. larp 3 - 5 p.m., Brownell Library. Live Action Role Play is open to all middle and high school students. read to daiSy 3:15 - 4:15 p.m., Brownell Library. Daisy loves to listen to kids read. She is Certified by Therapy Dogs of Vermont. For all ages. lionS cluB Social meeting 6:30 - 8 p.m., The Essex, Essex Way, Essex Jct. Guests are always welcome! great deciSionS: the riSe of populiSm in europe 7 - 9 p.m., Brownell Library. Mass migration, and the problems associated with it, have directly abetted the rise of populist

parties in Europe.

28 thurSday aarp tax-aide 9 a.m. - noon, EJRP, 75 Maple St., Essex Jct. (See Thursday, Mar. 21) free tax help 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Brownell Library. For taxpayers w/low and middle incomes. (See Thursday, Mar. 21) 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. heavenly pantry 2 - 6 p.m., First Congregational Church, 39 Main St., Essex Jct. The Food Pantry is open to residents of Essex Junction, Essex Town and Westford. Clients will need an ID for each member of the household and a utility bill. Clients may only visit the Pantry once in each calendar month. 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. modern weStern Style Square dance 7:30 - 9 p.m., Maple Street Park. Email Wayne or Susan Pierce at sewpie@ aol.com.

29 friday 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. knitting and crocheting 1 - 2 p.m., Essex Area Senior Ctr. Steam fridayS 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. This week we will be making marionettes.

Don’t know what it is?

Come find out! For Grades 1 and up. eSSex eatS out 5:30 - 7 p.m., St. Pius X Parish, 20 Jericho Rd., 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

Mar 31 local meetingS thurSday, march 21 6 p.m., village planning commission, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.

tueSday, march 26 6:30 p.m., village trustees meeting, Lincoln Hall, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.

The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019 | 15

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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.

30 Saturday Summit Street pancake BreakfaSt and Silent auction 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., Summit St. Learning Ctr., 17 Summit St., Essex Jct. Visit Summit’s website for a complete listing of all the fabulous “Silent Auction” items, and a chance to volunteer or bring needed breakfast items. amneSty international meeting 10 a.m. - noon., Brownell Library. For additional information please call 802-279-2378 weekend Story time 10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Essex Free Library. Start off your weekend with books, rhymes and songs! genealogy Brick wall Solved 10:30 a.m., Vermont Genealogy Library, Fort Ethan Allen, 377 Hegeman Ave., Colchester. Michael Dwyer, a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists, will reveal the steps and techniques he used to solve four genealogical roadblocks.

If your family tree has a few persistent gaps this talk will provide plenty of ideas and inspiration to help you tackle them with confidence.

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

872-8726

doc and talk: the FURNITURE • APPLIANCES • ART • HOUSEWARES • RUGS • TOOLS • BUILDING MATERIALS hate u give 1 - 4:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Join for a showing of the “Hate U Give“(movie starts at 1 p.m.) and stay for a community conversation about the movie (starts ~ 1 year old Neutered male ~ at 3:30 p.m., after a short Breed: American Shelter Dog break).

Reason here: Transport from the Humane

Pet of the Week MOHAWK

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. kidS’ night out 6 - 10:15 p.m., Champlain Valley Expo, 105 Pearl St., Essex Jct. It’s our last Kid’s Night Out of the season!

Drop your kids off and enjoy a night out OR enjoy the Far Post Calcutta. There will be games, contests, food and snacks and more!

Pre-register at facebook. com/farpostsoccer.

Arrival Date: 2/9/2019

Society of Marlboro County in S. Carolina Size/Weight: 62 lbs.

Meet Mohawk! This is one cool dude who more than lives up to his name! Mohawk is the life of the party and known as “the dog playgroup rockstar” - he loves toys, treats, dog pals, and of course his peeps! When he’s not rockin’ and rollin’, Mohawk is a major lovebug who’s gonna give you hugs and kisses galore. If you want a young, active, rockstar pup who’s psyched for life and love, then look no further: Mohawk’s your man!

Mohawk and...

Dogs: He has been in playgroups with all types of dogs and may do well living with others Cats: No known history living with cats Children: No known history with children

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

31 Sunday Swap thing 10 a.m., Memorial Hall, 5 Towers Rd., Essex Jct. An Old School Comic Swap/ Show in Vermont! Join Panel to Panel and Devil’s Dream on March 31, 2019 for an old school comic swap/show in Essex, Vermont at the charming (and venerable) Memorial Hall!

Do you miss those comic shows of yore that were all about digging through bins of back issues? Damn well bet that we do! Do you want to immerse yourself in a World of Comics? Buy, sell and trade? Or maybe just stand around and bask in four-color glory? flag footBall at ehS 1 - 3 p.m., Essex High School Gym, 2 Education Dr., Essex Jct. For the 2nd year in a row, the Essex Chargers Board and Coach Drew Gordon of Essex High School are partnering to bring free indoor youth football sessions to the Chargers community! Visit facebook.com/essexchargers for more information.

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16 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019

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The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019 | 19

LOCA L

CANDIDATES from page 4 base so when they get to college, they can be successful,” she said.

One idea she said she might propose to the board to increase return on investment is by adopting a performancebased pay structure which rewards teachers “that do more,” and not just based on longevity and level of education.

Jewell said she would be eager to take on difficult issues head on to get the best results for the district and its students. She said her training as a CPA has helped her with her attentiveness to detail while not losing sight of the big picture, which would help her if elected to the board.

“I want to be that fresh set of eyes and ears who will ask the tough questions in order to affect a change for our most precious resource, our children,” she said. “I’m kind of like an investigator, so I can very much listen and I always do my due diligence.”

Todd Odit is an upstate New York native, but moved to Vermont in 2000 to obtain his Masters in Environmental Law from the Vermont Law School. He has a daughter in the sixth grade at the Albert D. Lawton School and a son in third grade at Summit Street School.

Odit said his interest in the school board really began when the transportation issue started up last year, which prompted him to attend the board meetings as a member of the public to have his voice heard. During those meetings, Odit said his interest in the school system increased and he thought he could have something to contribute.

“I really enjoy policy, so I like the idea of being on the board and help shape the policy for the board going forward,” he said.

Odit’s professional background includes legislative work for the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, as well as working as the Town of Essex’s assistant town manager for five years. Currently, Odit is Jericho’s town administrator and he also serves on the Vermont League’s unemployment insurance board.

“I’ve basically spent my entire professional life working with a board basically as the administrator, so I’m very familiar with what I see as sort of an ideal relationship

Voting for the school board candidates will take place April 9 at Essex High School and Essex Middle School. between administration and a board,” Odit explained.

Odit said he is excited for the opportunity to sit on the school board to help make decisions that will improve Essex’s education system. He said his budgeting background will also help him give insight to help make a reasonable budget for taxpayers each year.

“I think we have a great education system,” Odit said.

I think schools are a really important economic driver for a town because high quality schools attract people; I’d like that to continue.”

Incumbent board member Al Bombardier has served on the EWSD board since the mid90s and has lived in the town for over 30 years.

Some of the successes he’s seen in the last several years of his board tenure include hiring superintendent Beth Cobb and working more seamlessly with the administration.

He said he is excited about the “data-driven decision making” the board has started to participate in with the administration, especially in regards to supporting the free and reduced lunch program.

“Every year, every time for 10 years I have challenged every administration, we can do better,” Bombardier said regarding low test scores. “This is the first time that we’re doing better for kids, and I really appreciate that.”

He added he is very positive about this year’s budget

process and excited about the approximately one million dollars in savings the board and administration have come up. The current budget shows a $4.2 million carryover fund, part of which the administration has proposed to use for social and emotional learning support services in the district.

“We’re really doing the right thing for taxpayers and making this investment,” he said. “We’re protecting the taxes and having a stable tax situation within the community and providing really

FILE PHOTO

enhanced education.”

Incumbent vice chair Kim Gleason said she’s also excited about the relatively stable tax situation, especially in light of the recent merger the district has gone through. Continuing to work to unify the community through the school district is what Gleason is most looking forward to next term, she said.

“I know that we want to continue to realize the promise of merger and really operationalize our vision,” she said. “That requires leadership at the board level and

engaging with our community around what equity means and support our administration as they continue to work through those goals.”

She said she’s also excited about adding two student positions to the school board to add student voice into the conversation around equity and unity in the school district.

“We’ve created an opportunity for student voice... it’s really how do we elevate and empower youth and their futures?” she said.

Gleason has been on the school board since 2007 and also serves as treasurer on the Vermont School Boards Association, as well as several other state boards and committees. She and her husband, Matt, have three children who went through the EWSD school system, and one currently finishing her senior year at EHS. Kim said her education advocacy and business background continues to help her participate in insightful discussion and make informed decisions while on the school board. “[It] really allows me to fully comprehend the complexity of the different situations that come before us,” she said. “I always do so with a lens through education and in support of public education and the opportunities that we provide for our young people for the rest of their lives.”

Voting for the school board candidates will take place April 9 at Essex High School and Essex Middle School.

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20 | The Essex Reporter | Thursday, Mar. 21, 2019

Essex Memorial Day Parade committee seeking Grand Marshal nominations Submitted by Memorial Day Parade committee

For just the second time, the Memorial Day Parade committee is seeking nominations for Grand Marshals to lead the 34th annual event.

The committee will select up to three Grand Marshals that will be honored, will lead the parade, be celebrated the night before at the Memorial Service, and be recognized in local media.

Nominees must have served in the country’s armed forces and must live in Essex or have a strong connection to the Essex community. A nomination consists of three parts. The first part will discuss how and when the nominee served in the country’s armed forces. The second will describe what and how long the nominee’s connection to Essex is. The last part will explain why the nominee deserves to be recognized. The focus on this recognition should include their time of service, but can also describe who they are as a person, their involvement as a citizen, and their contributions to the community.

The committee is also accepting applications for participation in the parade. Participation has historically included civic organizations, businesses, nonprofits, families, friends, bands and sports or school groups that have created a float, formed a marching group, recruited a bike brigade, showed off an old car, played music, or demonstrated a unique talent. A link to the parade participation application can be found at www.ejrp.org and is available until April 28.

Nominations for Grand Marshals are being accepted online only at www.ejrp.org until April 14.

Nominations will be reviewed by the committee and nominators will be notified during the week of April 15 regarding their status. For more information, visit the website or call 878-1375.

LOCA L

LaRose begins work as head U.S. Marshal

By MIKE DONOGHUE Retired Essex Police Chief Brad LaRose has taken the reins of the U.S. Marshals Service in Vermont.

LaRose has been busy in recent weeks in his sixth floor office at the U.S. District Courthouse in Burlington reading policies, procedures and regulations for the marshals service, which is the oldest federal law enforcement agency in the nation. It was founded in 1789, two years before Vermont became a state.

LaRose, who lives in Richmond, journeyed to Washington, D.C. last month to meet with other marshals and chief deputies from across the nation and wants to be up to speed on the duties of the new job.

He took a break from his studies to attend a U.S. Naturalization Ceremony at Edmunds Middle School in February. The Marshal Service assists the federal judiciary during citizenship ceremonies. Twenty-three new citizens from 13 counties took the oath after completing their required studies. The ceremony includes representatives from all three branches of government: Executive, Judicial and Legislative.

It’s been almost a 2-year wait for a new marshal in Vermont. Both the U.S. Marshal and the U.S. Attorney normally change when there is an election of a new president from a different party.

Republican President Donald Trump appointed LaRose the 37th U.S. Marshal for Vermont in June and the U.S. Senate confirmed him unanimously in January. It was January 2018 that U.S. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt. and Republican Gov. Phil Scott had come up with the joint recommen-

PHOTO BY MIKE DONOGHUE

U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy (left) and U.S. Marshal Brad LaRose confer during a Naturalization Ceremony with 23 legal immigrants becoming American citizens last week in Burlington. dation of LaRose.

The appointment of Christina Nolan as U.S. Attorney for Vermont moved a little quicker. She was sworn in during December 2017.

LaRose worked as a police officer for more than 36 years, including more than five years as Essex Police Chief. LaRose, who previously worked for Burlington Police, was a charter member of the Essex Police when a village police force gave way in July 1980 to a town-wide department. He is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy and served as an instructor at the Vermont Police Academy for 25 years.

The primary duties for the USMS include apprehending dangerous fugitives and sex offenders, overseeing federal prisoners and protecting federal judges and courthouses in Burlington and Rutland. They also work closely with various federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.