April 13, 2017 The Essex Reporter by Essex Reporter

Reporter THE ESSEX April 13, 2017

Vol. 37, No. 15

April 13, 2017 • The Essex Reporter • 1

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

Voters support unified district's first budget By COLIN FLANDERS

Essex, Essex Jct. and Westford voters passed their unified school district’s inaugural budget Tuesday, meaning Vermont’s first district to unify under Act 46 now has a spending plan for its first year in operation. The $75.2 million budget, a $1.77 million or 2.41 percent increase, passed 893 to 331. Town-by-town breakdowns show Essex Town voted 370 to 147, Essex Jct. voted 388 to 117 and Westford voted 135 to 67. In a remarkably close race for two three-year Essex Jct. seats on the EWSD board, incumbent Keeley Schell led all

vote-getters with 272, while challenger Patrick Murray defeated incumbent Wes McClellan by a single vote, 254 to 253. Voters also favored a ballot item asking to allocate $1.2 million into a capital reserve fund, 868 to 353. The fund’s creation was unanimously approved at EWSD’s annual meeting Monday night. Out of the 18,326 registered voters among EWSD’s three communities, the 1,223 ballots cast represent a 6.67 percent turnout. Breakdowns show Essex Town’s turnout at 5.8 percent, Essex Jct.’s at 6.4 percent and Westford’s at 12 percent.

Despite the budget’s overall spending increase, all three communities should see a tax decrease thanks to Act 46’s fiveyear tax break incentive, starting with a 10-cent drop. The budget approval puts equalized pupil spending at $16,284.12 — about $1,100 below the district’s spending threshold set by Act 46.

See VOTE, page 16 PHOTO BY COLIN FLANDERS

RIGHT: David Jarvis slides in his ballot at Essex High School during Tuesday's school budget and election votes. Essex Westford School District's inaugural budget passed 893 to 331.

Transportation discussion carries busload of questions By COLIN FLANDERS

cOunting sheep

PHOTOS BY ABBY LEDOUX

TOP: Essex farmer and photographer/children's book author John Churchman bottle feeds a lamb in his barn last week. ABOVE LEFT: Lily the lamb gives Churchman a kiss. ABOVE RIGHT: One of 11 alpacas — a recent addition to the farm — is ready for his closeup.

Catching up with Sweet Pea and friends By ABBY LEDOUX

n an exceptionally rainy Friday afternoon, I met a famous sheep. Two famous sheep, actually, catapulted to stardom on The New York Times bestseller list as protagonists in beloved children’s books by Essex farmers John and Jennifer Churchman. This is none other than Sweet Pea of “The SheepOver” and Finn of eponymous “Brave Little Finn” fame, now ages 3 and 2, respectively.

The Churchmans first found success in 2015 when they penned the true story of young orphan lamb Sweet Pea’s recovery from a leg infection and subsequent celebratory “sheepover” party in the green house with her fellow farm friends. The Essex couple self-published their debut story two summers ago to much local fanfare. Then first-time authors, the duo paired Sweet Pea and friends’ heart-warming narrative with fine art photographer and graphic designer John Churchman’s photos in a distinct, illustrative style

somewhat reminiscent of collage. Their work quickly caught the attention of Little, Brown, the Hachette Book Group-owned publishing powerhouse that boasts early works including “Little Women.” The Churchmans signed a contract for three books, and “The SheepOver” was reproduced by Little, Brown in three weeks, though a children’s book typically takes between 12 to 18 months. “They crashed this book on the market,” John Churchman reflected. See SHEEp, page 4

Questions outnumber answers for the Essex Westford School Board in its pursuit to define transportation equity across the unified district. State law requires school districts offer equitable access to transportation, forcing EWSD to address differences in its status quo of three vastly different models. Currently, Essex Town students have full bus service, Westford is partially covered — K-8 students receive busing while high school students don’t — and Essex Jct. has no bus service. The Regional Education District Committee, which recommended the unified school model, reported transportation was the most frequently mentioned topic in a 2015 survey to parents. The committee supported expanding transportation options. After emphasizing for months that no final decision will be made without community input, the board is now inviting residents to a forum at Essex High School next Wednesday night. “We don’t want the community to feel like our mind is made up,” board chairwoman Martha Heath said. Incoming superintendent Beth Cobb will make final decisions on routes with input from the transportation company, a consultant and specialized software, according to the board’s FAQs. Yet some decisions both during and after the board’s budget process show a glimpse into what a new model may look like. The board recently awarded three-year busing contracts for both Essex Jct. and Westford, earmarking about $640,000 out of a $2.1 million fiscal year 2018 transportation budget for the expansion. The district’s overall budget passed Tuesday. The state reimburses transportation on a two-year delay at a rate of 44.8 percent, meaning FY18 expenditures will be reimbursed in the FY20 budget. The board used national standards to develop its estimates, working with a half-mile perimeter for K-8 students and a mile perimeter for high-schoolers. CCR Transportation, which buses K-8 Westford students, will extend coverage for Westford’s high school students attending EHS for about $110,000 a year. Heath expected some of the 80 eligible students will drive or ride with parents but said the officials decided it needed two buses to cover the Westford area. Student Transportation of America, the parent company of Bet-cha Transit and Mountain Transit, which currently buses ETSD students, won the contract for Essex Jct. The board decided 11 buses is a safe estimate, Heath said. She was reluctant to discuss specifics before the forum but said one of the biggest questions is whether it should maintain the perimeter it used for budgeting. There’s also the added complexity of how See BUS, page 3

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The Essex Reporter • April 13, 2017

LOCAL

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Editor's note: Made in Essex is a new feature in The Reporter highlighting local businesses in town. Each week, you'll see a new piece by our freelancer, Cindy Chittenden, an eighth generation Vermonter who grew up in her family business, Chittenden's Cider Mill in South Burlington. She worked in sales for 25 years but recently switched to a writing career. Cindy and her husband, Jason, live in Essex Jct. with their cats, Olive and Cannoli. Have an idea for a business Cindy should profile? Contact us at news@essexreporter.com, and you might just see your idea in print! By Cindy Chittenden

Tim Torti reflects on Essex's past, present and future

alking into the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Burlington is a bit like walking through a mini Grand Central Station. Employees bustle through the halls with a chipper demeanor, a veteran ambassador jokes with the front office assistant and brochures filled with suggestions on the best places to grab a bite are readily available. Within minutes, the excitement increases when the meeting room door swings open, and out flies Tom Torti. Standing more than 6 feet tall, the chamber president smiles, greets the crowd of onlookers, walks his guests to the exit, turns around and welcomes yet another to the space. Originally from Northvale, N.J., the Essex resident grew up in a family immersed in community service. His mother was active in the PTA and church groups, and his father was a member of the school board and the American Legion. “I always believed that you give back to your community,” Torti said, drinking a cup of coffee. “You give back. That’s what you do.” In 1976, Torti graduated from St. Michael’s College with a B.A. in English and a master’s from the University of Vermont. Right out of school, he landed a job

working for Washington County Mental Health and was helped develop programming for the juvenile detention center, which later became Woodside in Colchester. Torti, his wife, Diane, and their two small children moved to Essex in 1989. When the girls were old enough to play T-ball, Torti could be found on the school fields coaching every game. For 16 years, Torti worked for the state in positions including director of the Department of States Attorney and Sheriffs, commissioner of personnel, commissioner of buildings and general services, deputy secretary of administration and secretary of the Agency of Natural Resources. In 1996, Torti noticed an opening on the local planning commission and jumped at the opportunity. “Our meetings would start at 6:30 p.m. and end at 1 a.m.,” Torti said with a laugh. “I would come home at 1:30 in the morning, and my wife would be like, ‘Again?’” Over his 21 years on the planning commission, Torti said he’s most proud of finding the balance between preserving open space and allowing necessary residential and commercial development to go forward. He said constructive engagement with citizens with different viewpoints was key, especially respecting those views even when he dis-

PHOTO BY CINDY CHITTENDEN

Essex resident Tom Torti served on the planning commission for over 21 years, and now serves as president of the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce. agreed. When his term ended in 2006, Torti stepped down and focused on his new position as president of the chamber. The 62-year-old may no longer be active in town planning, but when asked what the future of Essex looks like, Torti piped right up, ready to debate.

“What do we have if GlobalFoundries leaves?” Torti asked. “We need an identity of who we are, and we need to become that before Global goes away. To me, it comes back to being a maker and a server. You need both to be a thriving private sector economy. If you have a thriving private

sector, you can fund sports, arts, entertainment, dance and music – all the cultural things that make the community special.” Last March, the White House named Burlington a TechHire Community, an initiative to link employers with residents and grow the tech workforce with skills needed for well-paying jobs. The chamber is a partner with the project, which aims to employ 400 tech workers through 2020. Essex could go in that direction, Torti said, and, with the help of Excelerate on Pearl Street, Essex’s economy can grow. Excelerate is known as a makerspace, a place where people with shared interests, es-

pecially in computing or technology, can gather to work on projects while sharing ideas, equipment and knowledge. “You have young people coming out of high school, tech school and people that have moved away for college that are ready to come back to raise a family in Vermont,” Torti said. “These types of people would come back if the jobs were here and if they thought they could start a business or career here. “You have the technology, you have the mentors, you have the infrastructure, you have the bright people, you have the space and housing,” Torti said. “That’s what Essex can build on.”

Have a story idea for Cindy? Send it to us: news@essexreporter.com

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April 13, 2017 • The Essex Reporter • 3

LocaL

PHOTOS BY COLIN FLANDERS

Left and above, students file out of Essex Middle School and get on to the bus Monday afternoon. Soon, some students in Essex Jct. will receive bus service from Student Transportation of America, parent company of Mt. Transit, which currently buses ETSD students.

BUS from page 1 Essex Jct. assigns students to Hiawatha and Summit Street schools, which sometimes results in neighbors attending different schools. “The questions kind of go on and on,” Heath said. Along with next week’s forum, the board will also use a Vt. Department of Health study as guidance. That study, which garnered 792 responses representing about 1,300 students across the district, examined various transportation modes’ health impacts. Forty-seven percent of respondents were from Essex Town, 40 percent from Essex Jct. and 10 percent from Westford. Draft recommendations encourage busing by those eligible, maximizing walking and biking as well as improving safety zones. The study also allowed for open-ended commentary and received 184 responses. A summary of those responses shows a divide between some residents. Some say Essex Jct. bus service is long overdue, pointing to scheduling conflicts and long walking distances, while others fear it will only add unnecessary expenses and detract from a community-like atmosphere at village schools. Respondents also disagree on the impact to Five Corners, with some saying buses will reduce parent drop-offs and alleviate congestion and others believing buses will just add to traffic. Gabrielle Smith, an Essex Jct. parent who served on the health department’s advisory committee that helped facilitate the assessment, thinks the district should support active trans-

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portation like walking and biking. She stressed she’s not “anti-busing,” and supports the expansion where it’s needed and appropriate. “The more thoughtful and intentional our policy is, and the more we include parents in really understanding what the choices and the eventual impacts are, the stronger our initial policy is going to be,” Smith said. The survey shows a glimpse of how students currently get to school; about half of respondents said their children either drive or are driven. Despite being the smallest of EWSD’s three communities, Essex Jct.’s divide is even greater: 70 percent say their children don’t walk to school. Most parents blame distance or weather. The remainder say work schedules don’t allow them to walk with their children. It’s why village parent Patrick Murray calls Essex Jct.’s “walking district” title a misnomer, pointing to his own mornings as proof. The Briar Ln. resident lives over two miles from Hiawatha and must drive through Five Corners four times a day to drop off his daughter. Murray said while his schedule allows the routine, it’s far from ideal. Many parents’ schedules aren’t as flexible as his, he said. “People need busing in a very real way,” Murray said. One family surveyed agreed, saying they rack up $250 monthly for a taxi to pick up their children from school. Another said asking an elementary-aged child to walk over two miles through Five Corners at 7 a.m. in the winter is “insane” and called Essex Jct.’s

lack of busing an “embarrassment.” Over half of Essex Jct. parents indicated their child would ride a bus if offered. About 40 percent of these respondents pointed to their work schedules as motivation. Comparatively, 37 percent say their children wouldn’t take the bus, with many preferring to drop off on their commute. Others worry about safety, including parent Sheila Porter, who said bus-

es invite problems like bullying. Porter is also a childcare provider who walks to and from school with children she watches. Walking allows for much needed exercise and fresh air, even on bad weather days, she said. One of her children walks a “manageable” mile to Albert D. Lawton, she added. “I grew up here, I walked, my mom grew up here and she walked,” Porter said. “It’s something that is really unique to Essex

Jct., and I’ll be sad to see it change.” Further complicating the discussion is that not all Essex Town parents are pleased with the bus service. That includes Jaime Audette, whose daughters don’t ride the bus because the route took two hours to travel 2.5 miles from Founders Memorial to their Essex Town home. She moved from the village three years ago for the service. Many respondents also

criticized early pick-up times and lengthy rides. The survey shows about 20 percent of Essex Town students spend more than 30 minutes getting to school. Heath said the board’s immediate focus is expanding bus service to Essex Jct. and Westford, however, so existing bus service will remain unchanged for now. The community forum is planned for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 19 in the Essex High School cafeteria.

On behalf of The Mazzella Group and “JULES ON THE GREEN®” Café I would like to announce the Grand Opening of our restaurant in the Essex Town Center at 1 Commonwealth Ave. in Essex, VT. With this announcement I am honored to thank all the Vermont businesses, contractors and trades that without their help, The Mazzella Group could not have made this possible. It was their cooperation, professionalism, expertise, and skilled craftsmanship that allowed my team to ensure that our restaurant exemplifies the neighborhood and location that was once known as Butlers Corner; while complementing our community and all aspect that makes us Vermont. Our entire staff & I invite you to visit and hope you feel the same. • Acme Glass, Burlington, VT • Alpine Sprinkler, South Burlington, VT • Armstrong Masonry, Williston, VT • Bouffard Construction, Underhill, VT • Bove Brothers, Colchester, VT • Blodgett – Burlington, VT • Brown & Jenkins, Jeffersonville, VT • Bugbee Insulation, Williston, VT • CD Construction, Fairfax, VT • Champlain Painting, Colchester, VT • Cool Shades, Johnson, VT • CSS Retail Systems, Colchester, VT • Cummings Electric, South Burlington, VT • Efficiency Vermont, Burlington, VT • Elegant Floors, Shelburne, VT • Essex Historical Society, Essex, VT

• FE Hart Fence, Williston, VT • FireProTec, Colchester, VT • Green Mountain Earth Care, Underhill, VT • HDI, Essex Jct, VT • Hegeman Electric, Essex Jct, VT • Innovative Design, Essex Jct, VT • Java Traders, South Burlington, VT • JC Antone & Co, Swanton, VT • Kamco Supply, Williston, VT • Kelley Brothers, Williston, VT • Kittredge Equipment, Williston, VT • Mood, Williston, VT • Myers Container Services, Colchester, VT • NevTec, Newport, VT • Northeast Commercial Interiors, Colchester, VT

• O’Leary-Burke Civil Associates, Essex Jct, VT • P&P Septic, Williston, VT • PeakCM Construction, Colchester, VT • Poulin Dry Wall, South Burlington, VT • Poulin Lumber, Derby, VT • Pro-Tech Painting, Milton, VT • SB Signs, Williston, VT • SD Ireland, Williston, VT • Sun Ray Fire & Security, Essex, VT • The Lighting Center, Colchester, VT • Twin State Signs, Essex Jct, VT • The Town of Essex Offices, Essex, VT • Williamson Plumbing & Heating, Williston, VT

It was my honor to support all of these local businesses; many of whom I will now forever call friends.

Silvio Mazzella

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The Essex Reporter • April 13, 2017

LocAL

ABOVE: COURTESY PHOTO/ RIGHT: PHOTO BY ABBY LEDOUX

ABOVE: John and Jennifer Churchmans' new book, "A Farm for Maisie," is due out this fall. RIGHT: Sweet Pea, famed protagonist of New York Times best-selling children's book "The SheepOver," is pictured in her barn in Essex last week.

SHEEP from page 1 Soon after, a second star was born in baby lamb Finn, and the second of three contracted books saw similar (and expedited) market success. Released last fall, “Brave Little Finn” tells a story of courage and friendship as the newborn protagonist learns to live outside the farmhouse with a whole menagerie of animals and unfamiliar stimuli. churchman is quick to credit local bookstores in the success of his projects, which he still feels two years later. “They became sort of champions of ours,” he said. “They’ve all been wonderful.” Locally, both projects

were the top-selling children’s books in 2015 and 2016 at Phoenix Books. It’s fitting, then, that the store’s Essex location will see the first look at the third book in the series – “A Farm for Maisie,” due out this october – when churchman visits for a reading and signing next Saturday, April 15. The latest book centers on border collie pup Maisie, one of the churchmans’ seven dogs. Fans may also recognize Laddie, the border collie credited with saving Sweet Pea’s life in the first book when he alerted the churchmans to the sick sheep in time to treat her. He’ll accompany churchman to Phoenix next weekend. “He lives to travel and go on events,” churchman said from a wooden stool in

his barn last week, Laddie docile and complacent at his feet. “People always really enjoy just patting him and hanging out with him.” After churchman, Laddie was first to greet me last Friday when I rolled up the gravel drive to Moonrise Farm, tucked away deep in the Essex countryside. He pawed me amiably and followed me back down to the red wooden barn where we took shelter from fat, unrelenting raindrops. Inside, we were met with a cacophony of barnyard sound courtesy of 23 sheep, 11 alpacas and one pony, Sadie. Most were featured in the books, like Sunny, Violet, Prem, Hayzel and Meadow. others are new additions – namely the alpacas, who joined the gang in January

and were generally good natured and inquisitive, quick to gobble down cookies from churchman’s outstretched palm. “Astor’s a cookie monster,” churchman said as a group of the long-necked mammals began to congregate. “This is Ariana; she loves her cookies, too. She’s our oldest. They’re very distinct; they have lovely coloration. This one’s our least ...” At that, one alpaca cocked his head and spit at churchman. No more cookies. churchman said all the animals on Moonrise Farm have their own personalities, from “helpful and kind” Atticus the black face sheep to Keeper the goose, who loves to snack on handfed kale.

Besides the sheep, alpacas, dogs, pony and goose, there are 60 or 70 chickens, a dozen ducks, some turkeys and a cat. They all have names and distinguishing features; granted, the time churchman spends minding them has undoubtedly helped him differentiate. It’s not such a stretch, then, to give voice to the animals in the books, from sweet Prem to cheerful Sunny. The farm also boasts a sizable online following – nearly 8,000 people keep up with the happenings of “Sweet Pea & Friends” on Facebook. churchman has put that to use most recently with The Butterfly Effect, a Kickstarter campaign to create a monarch habitat whose $5,000 goal was met –

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and then some – in just five days. The project will designate Moonrise Farm as a sanctuary for the vanishing butterfly species and fellow pollinators bees, hummingbirds and dragonflies. A community garden with over 1,000 milkweed plants and 5 million nectar producing flower seeds will be open to the public and serve as a certified way station for migrating monarchs. The churchmans hope to help repopulate the species by releasing hundreds or thousands of the butterflies in late September. The campaign will continue through April 29 to reach a $7,500 goal, which would add 30,000 bees and 250 more monarchs and create an educational documentary. Two new books are in the works, and soon, “A Farm for Maisie” will hit shelves. A plush toy of the original ovine celebrity, Sweet Pea, is due out this fall. churchman describes his home of 13 years as “a storybook farm,” its only products a line of wool, newly added alpaca fleece and distinctive photos of its habitants. Though rainy and frozen last week, Moonrise Farm was preparing for the thaw, and churchman for cleaning out the barn full of winter’s hay and grain. The sheep will head to pasture, meander to the nearby stream and graze on springtime grass; soon, a few new lambs will join the flock. With any luck, they’ll find their way from the storybook farm to a new set of storybook pages, transmitting far and wide a dispatch from these remote meadows: Life is magical in Vermont. Meet Farmer John and Laddie at Phoenix Books Essex next Saturday, April 15 at 11 a.m. for a special storytime to celebrate springtime and Easter. Free; for all ages.

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opinion & communiTy Letters tO tHe eDitOr

PersPective

Cook was right to stand up

CCS profile was inspiring

i very much appreciate and admire Sue cook's willingness to express her concern about coercion on the selectboard. The board should not be a topdown, monolithic entity. yet, there seems to be pressure to conform to a single board "point of view." Standing up to that kind of intimidation takes courage and conviction, two qualities Sue cook seems to have exemplified in her comments.

Thank you for the beautiful cover story (and beautiful photos) about champlain community Services ("Working with passion" in The Reporter's April 6 issue) and some of the area businesses that employ their clients. The article served to reinforce the fact that every human being has something to offer and the potential to contribute and that there is value in welcoming such efforts. i applaud and admire companies and organizations that recognize this. Stories like this give me hope for humanity, and reading this one really made my day.

Bruce S. Post Essex Town

Beth Glaspie Essex Jct.

MessAGes FrOM MONtPeLier r e p. L I N D A M Y e r S

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By REP. DYLAN GIAMBATISTA The 2017 legislative session is on track to adjourn in early or mid-may. There is great urgency for the Vermont General Assembly to complete its work, as federal policy makers have promoted national budget cuts that will impact state operations. Given that the federal budget year starts october 1, and we likely won’t know what federal policy makers will approve until late summer or early fall, i anticipate that significant cuts will require a special autumn session of the Vermont legislature. it is critically important that we bring the spring session to a speedy conclusion so we are in a position to act later this year. With federal uncertainty as our backdrop, i’ve cautiously weighed policy pros and cons as bills come before the house. i voted for the Fy18 budget, which is now under review in the Senate. The budget proposes mod-

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est growth over the previous year. The general fund's 1.8 percent increase is below expected revenue growth (3.7 percent) and projected gross state product growth (2 percent). on the revenue side, no new taxes were proposed in this year's tax bill — in fact, the rate that Vermonters use to report use tax on their individual tax returns was lowered to reflect the reality that more online vendors are now collecting sales tax. in the Education committee, we are hard at work reviewing several proposals that were passed over from the Senate. one looks at the ongoing implementation of Act 46, Vermont’s school unification law. last month, Act 46 implementation reached a significant milestone. Following Town meeting Day, 96 Vermont towns had voted to merge 104 school districts into 20 new unified union districts. The Agency of Education reports that 60 percent of Vermont's student population reside

within districts that have been unified in an Act 46 structure. The progress has outpaced many predictions. These successes notwithstanding, the house Education committee has begun to review S.122, a bill the Senate passed to provide greater flexibility for districts that have not unified under Act 46. There are many other issues under consideration in montpelier. i’ve been encouraged with the feedback community members have provided. please keep it coming! Another great way to get in touch is to visit one of the monthly forums i hold with Rep. houghton to hear from Village residents. our next meeting is monday, April 17 at the Essex Senior center located at 2 lincoln St., adjacent to the billage offices. We will meet from 6:30 - 8 pm. please join us, and let us know what issues are most important to you. it is an honor to serve our community. i look forward to seeing you soon.

ObituAries

ROSEMARY A. GONILLO ESSEX JCT. – Rosemary A. martinelli Gonillo, 80, a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away comfortably monday, April 3, 2017. She was born Feb. 5, 1937 in Waterbury, conn., the youngest of Vincent and Anne (maturo) martinelli’s three children. She grew up on Violet Street, took care of her family household after her mother passed when she was just a child, enjoyed working as a lifeguard growing up and was president of the phil Rizzuto Fan

JANE PAGE MILTON – Jane irene page, 89, died peacefully Friday, march 31, 2017, with her loving family by her side. Jane was born in Worcester, mass. on Aug. 18, 1927, the daughter of James and mary (o’Donnell) Quinn. Jane spent her early years in Worcester. She moved to Troy, n.y. and graduated from cathedral catholic high School in 1945, She went to work at norton industries, and on Sept 1, 1951, she married

April 13, 2017 • The Essex Reporter • 5

club. She graduated from Wilby high School then met and married the love of her life, Don Gonillo, a longtime teacher, administrator and coach in Waterbury. She was involved in church activities in town and was an outstanding wife and mother. Though she took a job at Waterville lumber in the early ’70s, she was home to make lunch while her two boys were still in grammar school. As they grew up, she was an avid car-pooler driving her sons and their teammates from practice at holy cross high School back to the Bunker hill area. She and Don lovingly accepted a half-cocker, half-springer spaniel into their home, and Duchess became a part of the family from the summer of 1970-1987. The dog loved sleeping at the bottom of the boys' beds. constant trips to St. michael's college from 19761981 with delicious homemade care packages were highlights for the family and especially for her sons. Rosemary's calling was her helpful and supportive na-

ture but also her cooking. Starting at a very young age, she improved her craft taking notes from her mother-in-law whom she loved very much. mom's homemade pasta sauce would rival Bove’s as she made her own meatballs and sausage in every pot as well. When Don retired from education in Waterbury in April 2000, the couple relocated to Essex Jct. Both sons lived in town and were overjoyed with the move. monday night became spaghetti night for Joe while Vince helped with chores around the house when allowed. The move reunited them with their loving grandchildren as both side benefited. She was predeceased by her husband of 57 years in 2013 and leaves sons Joseph Gonillo and wife, christina, of Essex Jct.; and Vincent Gonillo and wife, karen, of Essex Jct.; grandchildren Jenna Gonillo and fiancée, nick Davis; Stacey Gonillo, Josh Gonillo and wife, karen; great-granddaughter Gianna; brothers Vince martinelli of Fort lauder-

dale, Fla. and James martinelli and wife, carolyn, of madison, conn. Sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff at VnA Respite house, Burlington Rehabilitation center, Tlc, Green mountain nursing home, and uVm medical center and Rosemary’s wonderful neighbors. Visiting hours were held Thursday, April 6 at Ready Funeral home mountain View chapel, 68 pinecrest Drive, Essex Jct. A mass of christian burial was celebrated at St. lawrence catholic church in Essex Junction on Friday, April 7. For connecticut family and friends, maiorano Funeral home held a viewing on Saturday, April 8. Burial followed at calvary cemetery. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.readyfuneral. com. memorial contributions in Rosemary's memory may be made to VnA Respite house, 3113 Roosevelt hwy., colchester, VT 05446 (vnacares.org).

Robert page and was always known as Jane Q. page. She enjoyed gardening cooking and golf. She traveled to Germany to join her husband shortly after the war. They moved to corning, Staten island and huntington, n.y. She supported her husband’s career as an electrical engineer. She made many friends in those places and worked hard to make a great home, and she was the life of the party where ever she was. in 1966, they moved to osgood hill Road in Essex and bought a former dairy farm. She loved animals. it was a very busy time. in 1989 they moved to pine knoll Shore, n.c. and built a house by the ocean. in 2012, she moved to milton. Jane loved her dogs, especially her last two, Beckett and Teddy Bear. She spent her last St. patrick’s Day smiling with her irish

eyes. She will be missed. Jane is survived by her children marta page of milton, James “Jimmy” page and his wife, lucy, of Westford; Beth page and her husband, Stephen lamonda of milton; Susan Sweet and her husband, David, of Deland, Fla.; and Anne page and her spouse, priscilla Drake, of charlotte, n.c. She was the proud grandmother of Ethan, Robert, Seamus, Andrew and partner, chelsea; christina, Jessica and partner, matt; Besset and wife, Jenny; Sy, Toby, Satchel, mookie Jane, connor and Jane; and she was great-grandmother to maxwell and Ellie, all of whom survive her. She is also survived by her sister, Anne Decataur, and by several nieces and nephews. in addition to her husband, Robert, Jane was predeceased by her daughter Amy page-Derosia in 2013, by her son Bobby in 1963 and

by her sister mary Burch in 2016. Donations in Jane’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., VT chapter, 300 cornerstone Dr., Suite 128, Williston, VT 05495. Special thanks to the Georgia health center, VnA staff and the Green mountain Rehab center. She was able to stay in her home for over four years. She only spent the last week at Green mountain nursing center with end-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The care and support she received was above and beyond, and Jane Q. page and family are forever grateful. Visiting hours were held Wednesday, April 5 with a funeral service following at minor Funeral and cremation center in milton. online condolences may be made to www.minorfh.com.

First congo celebrates 150 years

Church doors are open to the community By BETh VolkER

rom our founding as a place where the early Sunday School movement took hold to today where we open our doors to every organization that needs a place to call home, First cong re gational church was built in the middle of town because founders believed in being civically active and making Essex a better place. After World War ii, the Essex community experienced a population boom and a This column is the fourth in a series provided by members of Essex's First shortage of public Congregational Church to celebrate the school classrooms. parish's 150 years of service. The church stepped in and provided classroom space within its building for local public schools. in 1914, newly installed bowling alleys provided a place where the community could gather to have some fun and fellowship in the winter months. men and women (wearing black bloomers and stockings) both bowled despite the objections from church elders who considered it to be a bit risqué. Serving as the center of community life, the parish house was used for minstrel shows and meetings of the knights of king Arthur, a secret society for boys and a forerunner of the Boy Scouts of America. our oldest member, Bob Vincent, remembers the first meeting of the first Boy Scout Troup in town which was called together by his father, a former minister at First congo, and which met in the church. Today, we welcome community groups into our facilities for meetings and events. Below is a list of some of the organizations that have used our building: Age Well (cVAA), Alcoholics Anonymous (first in town), American Red cross, Burlington Amateur Radio club, Boy & Girl Scouts of America, Business networking international, Essex Art league, Essex Bridge club, Essex community players, Essex Eats out, Blue Spruce Grange, Group Victory, heart & Soul of Essex, Joe’s Big Band, karate, Essex Senior center, la leche league, life line Screening, northern Bronze handbells, overeaters Anonymous, Scrapbooking, St. Andrews pipe Band, Tai chi, Women infants & children (Wic), hathaway’s Taekwondo (started in the church basement) and yoga. in 1995, three dynamic women of the church established the heavenly cents Thrift Shop to provide affordable clothing to our community. never taking a salary, the volunteers give all their proceeds, which total more than $300,000, to special projects in the church or causes in the community. With renewed energy and volunteers, many of which come from the community, the shop is getting a facelift and will re-open in late April. Around the same time, two other dynamos of the church established the heavenly Food pantry, which distributes 80,000 pounds of food every year to help folks in the community who struggle with food insecurity. Both initiatives rely on community support and volunteers, and both programs remain strong. Each Sunday morning the minister opens with the words, “no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome in this place!” For 150 years, First congo has opened her doors to everyone and will continue to do so.

Reporter THE ESSEX

ExEcutivE Editor

co-publishErs

Courtney A. Lamdin

Emerson & Suzanne Lynn

AssociAtE Editor

gEnErAl mAnAgEr

sports Editor

AdvErtising mAnAgEr

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Colin Flanders

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rEportErs

Colin Flanders | Michaela Halnon Kaylee Sullivan | Tom Marble 42 Severance Green Unit #108, Colchester, VT 05446 Phone: 878-5282 Fax: 651-9635

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6•

The Essex Reporter • April 13, 2017

EssEx ArEA

Religious Directory

cAlEndAR APril 15

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH - 61 Main St., Essex Jct., 878-8341. James Gangwer, pastor. Sunday School: 10 a.m., Worship Service: 11 a.m., Sunday evening worship: 7 p.m., Wednesday evening youth groups, Adult Bible study and prayer: 7 p.m.; FundamentalIndependent. CITYREACH CHURCH - 159 Pearl St., Essex Jct. Behind Subway, on the back side of the building. Pastor Brent Collins. Sunday worship service: 5 p.m. A casual, family-focused and friendly Christian Church with practical teaching, great music, a safe kids program (Nursery-5th grade) and an exciting and empowering church experience, www.essexjunction.cityreachnetwork. org; bcollins@cityreachnetwork.org; facebook: CityReach Church - Essex Junction. CHRIST MEMORIAL CHURCH - Route 2A, Williston, just north of Industrial Ave. 878-7107. Wes Pastor, senior minister, proclaiming Christ and Him crucified, Sundays: 9:30 a.m., www.cmcvermont.org. DAYBREAk COMMUnITY CHURCH - 67 Creek Farm Plaza, Colchester. 338-9118. Brent Devenney, lead pastor. Sunday service: 10:30 a.m., AWANA: Thursdays twice a month, www.daybreakvermont.org; brentdaybreak@gmail.com ESSEX ALLIAnCE CHURCH - 37 Old Stage Road, Essex Jct. 878-8213. Sunday services: 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m., www.essexalliance.org. ESSEX CEnTER UnITED METHODIST CHURCH - 119 Center Rd (Route 15), Essex. 878-8304. Rev. Mitchell Hay, pastor. Service 10:00 a.m. with Sunday School and childcare provided. We offer a variety of small groups for prayer, Bible study, hands-on ministry, and studying contemporary faith issues. Please join us for worship that combines the best of traditional and contemporary music and spirituality. We are a safe and welcoming space for all people to celebrate, worship, ask questions and plant spiritual roots. FIRST COngREgATIOnAL CHURCH OF ESSEX JUnCTIOn - 1 Church Street, Essex Jct. 878-5745. Rev. Mark Mendes, senior pastor. Sunday Worship Services: 8:30 and 10:15 a.m. Communion: first Sunday of every month. Sunday School: 5th/6th Grade - 1st Sunday of the month, Jr. & Sr. high youth groups - every Sunday. Heavenly Food Pantry: second Monday of the month, 5:30-7:30 p.m., fourth Thursday of the month, 2-6 p.m. except for Nov. & Dec. when it is the third Thursday. Essex Eats Out community dinner: 1st Friday of the month, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Music includes Sanctuary Choir, Praise Band, Junior Choir, Cherub Choir, Handbell Choir, Men’s Acapella & Ladies’ Acapella groups. UCC, an Open and Affirming Congregation, embracing diversity and affirming the dignity and worth of every person, because we are all created by a loving God. www.fccej. org; welcome@fccej.org gRACE UnITED METHODIST CHURCH - 130 Maple Street, Essex Jct., 1 mile south of the Five Corners on Maple Street / Route 117. 878-8071. Worship Sundays: 9:30 a.m., with concurrent church school pre-K to grade 6. Handicapped-accessible facility. Adult choir, praise band, women’s fellowship, missionally active. Korean U.M.C. worship Sundays: 12 p.m., come explore what God might be offering you! HOLY FAMILY - ST. LAwREnCE PARISH - St. Lawrence: 158 West St., Essex Jct. 878.5331. Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.; Sunday Morning: 8:00 a.m. Holy Family: 36 Lincoln St., Essex Jct., Sundays: 11 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. For more information visit www.hfslvt.org. MT. MAnSFIELD UnITARIAn UnIVERSALIST FELLOwSHIP - 195 Vermont Route 15, Jericho, the red barn across from Packard Road. 899-2558. Services are held 9:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from September through June. Visit www.mmuuf. org. ST. JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH - 4 St. James Place, Essex Jct., off Rt. 2A at the Fairgrounds Gate F. 8784014. Rev. Kim Hardy. Holy Eucharist: 8:15 & 10:30 a.m. Adult study: 9:15 a.m. Visit www.stjamesvt.org; stjamesvtoffice@yahoo.com. ST. PIUS X CHURCH - 20 Jericho Road, Essex. 878-5997. Rev. Charles Ranges, pastor. Masses: Saturday, 4:30 p.m. & Sunday, 9:30 a.m. Confessions: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. or please call 878-5331 for an appointment.

file photo by oliver Parini

Bring your basket or bag to search for and collect eggs and treats at the Essex Parks and Recreation and EJRP egg and scavenger hunt on Saturday, April 15 at 10 a.m. in the Maple Street Park. For toddlers and kids in grades pre K-4. Ten egg limit per child. Please bring a nonperishable food item for the local food pantry.

13 ThurSDAY reAD To Archie

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

PerSPecTive: hiDDen chilD

6:30 p.m., Deborah Rawson Library, Jericho. We welcome Jericho resident Henry Weinstock, a hidden child during WWII. Please join us for this very special opportunity to hear his unique perspective of that time.

SiT Down wiTh BeTSY

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

14 friDAY SongS AnD STorieS wiTh MATThew

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

MuSicAl STorYTiMe

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

vinTAge Movie MATinee

Noon, Bayside Activity Center, 2 West Lakeshore Dr., Colchester. This week's movie is "The Talk of the Town" starring Cary Grant and Jean Arther.

live AcTion role PlAY

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

DungeonS AnD DrAgonS

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

MAggie’S fiBer friDAY for ADulTS

6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Maggie Loftus, veteran knitter, will be settled in front of the fireplace in the Main Reading Room. She invites adult knitters and crocheters to join her with their projects and engage in conversation. Bring patterns to share if you’d like. If you wish to contact Maggie, email 6maggie2@ myfairpoint.net.

Two one-AcT PlAYS

7:30 p.m., Shelburne Town Center Stage, 5420 Shelburne Rd. Shelburne Players bring a double bill of comic forces to the stage, including “Black Comedy” by Peter Shaffer and “The Real Inspector Hound” by Tom Stoppard. Essex Jct. resident Robert McCarthy will appear in the show. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Shelburne Market, www. shelburneplayers.com or by calling 343-2602.

15 SATurDAY oDYSSeY of The MinD BoTTle Drive

10 a.m. - 2 p.m., River Road Redemption Center. Odyssey of the Mind is an international competition that challenges teams of students to present, build and design creative solutions to problems. Email jennahsiang@gmail. com if you would like the group to collect your bottles.

MoDel TrAin oPen houSe

10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Northwestern Vermont Model

Railroad Association, 57 River Rd., Suite 1011, Essex Jct. An open house at the HO-scale operating layout. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Call 999-0616 or email greenspace@att.com for more information.

weekenD STorYTiMe

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

celeBrATing SPringTiMe wiTh fArMer John & lADDie

11 a.m., Phoenix Books Essex, 21 Essex Way, Essex Jct. Join Farmer John and Laddie the sheepdog for a special storytime to celebrate springtime and Easter. John Churchman is an artist, photographer and farmer, bringing stories to life with his enchanting photo-illustrations. He and co author Jennifer Churchman have made their home on a small farm in Essex with their daughter Gabrielle. The are the authors of the New York Times bestseller “The SheepOver” and “Brave Little Finn.” Free. For more information, visit www.phoenixbooks.biz or call 872-7111.

Two one-AcT PlAYS

2 & 7:30 p.m., Shelburne Town Center stage, 5420 Shelburne Road. Shelburne Town Center Stage, 5420 Shelburne Rd. Shelburne Players bring a double bill of comic forces to the stage, including “Black Comedy” by Peter Shaffer and “The Real Inspector Hound” by Tom Stoppard. Essex Jct. resident Robert McCarthy will appear in the show. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Shelburne Market, at www. shelburneplayers.com or by calling 343-2602.

16 SunDAY eASTer SunDAY

17 MonDAY SPAniSh MuSicAl kiDS

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

STorYTiMe

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

Tech helP wiTh clif

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

lego cluB

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

neeDle felTing SheeP

6:30 - 7:45 p.m., Burnham Memorial Library. Learn how to needle felt sheep. All materials provided. Sign up at http://colchestervt. gov/158/BurnhamMemorial-Library.

coMMuniTY converSATion

6:30 - 8 p.m., Essex Area Senior Center, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. A community conversation with Rep. Dylan Giambatista and Rep. Lori Houghton. Ask questions of your representatives, learn what’s happening in Montpelier and meet your neighbors.

18 TueSDAY STorYTiMe for BABieS & ToDDlerS 9:10 - 9:30 a.m.,

April 13, 2017 • The Essex Reporter • 7

cAlEndAR local meetingS thurS., aPril 13 6 p.m., ccSu carousel board, Essex High School library, 2 Educational Dr., Essex Jct.

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

mon., aPril 17 7 p.m., town selectboard, Town offices, 81 Main St., Essex Jct.

mon., aPril 17

5:45 - 7 p.m., village bike/walk advisory committee, Village offices, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.

tueS., aPril 18

5:30 p.m., village tree advisory committee, Village offices, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. 7 - 9 p.m., brownell library trustees, 2 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.

the Discovery of Lake Champlain.”

teen adviSory board

3:45 - 7 p.m., Brownell Library. All teens interested in helping with Essex Eats Out should meet at the library at 3:45 p.m. or at St. James Church by 5 p.m.

family movie

6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Brownell Library. Free popcorn and drink.

22 Saturday weeKend Storytime

Brownell Library. Picture books, songs, rhymes and puppets for babies and toddlers with an adult.

Storytime for PreSchoolerS

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

vermont genealogy library

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

read to daiSy

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

read to mcKenzie the dog

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

Knitting grouP

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

19 wedneSday tech time with traci

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

tech helP with clif

r.a.d. baSic SelfdefenSe courSe 6 - 8 p.m., Colchester Meeting House, Main

St. This course is open to women only, ages 13 and up, and meets for six consecutive Wednesdays. You must attend all six classes. Free. For more information and to sign up, contact Cpl. Jaime L. Bressler at 264-5555 or jaime. bressler@colchesterpdvt.org.

20 thurSday read to archie

douglaS SweetS

6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Essex Free Library. How lucky we are to have an English shortbread company located in Vermont! Come meet Debra and learn about this wonderful business.

21 friday SongS and StorieS with matthew

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

muSical Storytime

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

wii bowling

Noon, Bayside Activity Center, 2 West Lakeshore Dr., Colchester.

fire and ice concert

2 p.m., McCarthy Recital Hall, 1 Winooski Park, Colchester. Catch a movie and a concert. This event features three world premieres by Norwegian and American composers and a silent film accompanied by live music. One composer, Bjorn Skjelbred, will fly in from Oslo to host the concert. Free.

education and enrichment for everyone

2 - 3 p.m., Faith United Methodist Church, 899 Dorset St., South Burlington. Sylvie Beauderau, associate professor of history at SUNY Plattsburgh, presents “The Never to be Forgotten Celebrations: Vermont’s 1909 Tercentenary of

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

find my PaSt

10:30 a.m. - noon, 377 Hegeman Ave., Colchester. FINDMYPAST is the premier online resource for research in the British Isles and Ireland. Learn how to find the record sets that relate to your ancestors. $5. Visit www.vtgenlib. org or call 310-9285 for more information.

wildlife encounterS

10:30 - 11:30 a.m., Brownell Library. Meet some exotic and North American wildlife up close when Wildlife Encounters brings their educational program about these unique animals! Animals used in these programs are all non-releasable wildlife either because of injury, legal situations or because they were born in captivity. For all ages.

whole booK aPProach

11 a.m., Phoenix Books, 21 Essex Way, Essex. Calling all kids! Join us for our weekly whole book approach story time. The approach explores the ways words,

pictures and book design work together to tell a complete story. The adult leads the children through the book, rather than reading the book at/to them. We’ll hold story time just about every week. Want to double check on a particular date? Call us at 872-7111.

send your calendar events to michaela@essexreporter.com

burlington choral Society SingS brahmS

7:30 p.m., Elley-Long Music Center, Colchester. Richard Riley will lead the chorus in the composer’s four-hand piano arrangement of the Requiem. Sung in English, the piece is a musical journey from sorrow to consolation. Tickets available at the Flynn Box Office and flynntix.org. General admission: $25, students and seniors: $20. Visit www.bcsvermont.org for more information.

Clean, Well-Maintained Restaurant Equip. Online Only through Thurs., April 20 3070 VT-100, Rochester, VT

23 Sunday vermont choral union 50th anniverSary concert 3 p.m., McCarthy Arts Center, 1 Winooski Park, Colchester. A centerpiece of this program is a dazzling choral suite composed by Middlebury College alumna Christina Whitten Thomas. Tickets: $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students and $40 for a family. Available at the door or in advance at www. vtchoralunion.org.

weStford muSic SerieS

4 - 5 p.m., UCW White Church, Route 128, Westford. The Westford Music Series presents folk-inspired musician Zack Tyler. This series supports performers with free will donations. Refreshments provided. Call 879-4028 for more information.

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ESSEX

SINCE 1985 • SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

No appointment needed! Open 6:59 a.m. Qualifications Matter. Our technicians are all ASE certified!

Rob Black Manager

Nino Barry

ASE Technician

Open Saturdays 6:59 a.m.! April 8 - May 13

eaSter ServiceS friday, aPr. 14

Noon, good friday Station of the cross, St. Pius X Church, 20 Jericho Rd., Essex Jct. 3 p.m., good friday Station of the cross, St. Lawrence Church, 158 West St., Essex Jct. 7 p.m., Passion of the lord, veneration of the cross and holy communion, St. Pius X Church, 20 Jericho Rd., Essex Jct. 7 p.m., Essex Alliance Church, 37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Jct.

Saturday, aPr. 15

4:30 & 6 p.m., Essex Alliance Church, 37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Jct. 8 p.m., easter vigil, St. Lawrence Church, 158 West St., Essex Jct.

Sunday, aPr. 16

6 a.m., Sunrise Service, Grounds of Holy Family Church, 36 Lincoln St., Essex Jct. 8 a.m., easer Sunday mass, St. Lawrence Church, 158 West St., Essex Jct. 8:30 a.m., easter Sunday mass, St. Pius X Church, 20 Jericho Rd., Essex Jct. 8:30, 10 & 11:30 a.m., Essex Alliance Church, 37 Old Stage Rd., Essex Jct.

10:30 a.m., the children’s mass, St. Pius X Church, 20 Jericho Rd., Essex Jct. 11 a.m., easter Sunday mass, Holy Family Church, 36 Lincoln St., Essex Jct.

Ambrose Cousino ASE Technician

Justin Greene ASE Technician

We do it all!

141-147 Pearl St., Essex Jct., 879-1966 EssexAutomotive.com (Next to Harley Davidson)

8•

The Essex Reporter • April 13, 2017

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VILLAGE OF ESSEX JUNCTION PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING MAY 4, 2017 6:00 P.M. Site plan review for Phase I of approved Master Plan construct 4 story multi-unit elderly housing with 43 one-bedroom apartments at 9 & 11 Park Street in the VC District, by Ruggiano Engineering, agents for Handy’s Hotels & Rentals LLC c/o Gabe Handy, owners. Conceptual Master Plan for a proposed mixed use development of an 1.88 acre parcel for a drive through restaurant, an existing retail space and a four story 54 unit hotel at 92 - 100 Pearl St. in the TOD District by Jiddu/Sittu Trust, owners. ________________________________ This DRAFT agenda may be amended. This meeting will be held in the conference room of the Essex Junction municipal building at 2 Lincoln St., Essex Junction, VT. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request to the Village, to assure that Village meetings are accessible to all individuals regardless of disability. Legal ad for 04/13/17, Essex Reporter. Any questions re: above please call Robin Pierce or Terry Hass – 878-6950

Town of Essex/Village of Essex Junction Roadway Paving Projects Summer 2017 The Town of Essex invites you to prepare a Bid for the Town and Village 2017 combined Paving Program. Bid packages are available at the Town Public Works office, 5 Jericho Road, Essex Center and the Village of Essex Junction Offices at Lincoln Hall. Sealed bids will be received at the Town Public Works office, or mailed to the Town of Essex, Public Works Department, 81 Main Street, Essex Jct., VT 05452 until 10:00 A.M. on Friday, April 28, 2017. Questions can be directed to the Town Public Works Office at 878-1344 and the Village Public Works Office at 878-6942.

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Emergency: 911 • Non-emergency: 878-8331 • 145 Maple St., Essex Jct., VT 05452 • www.epdvt.org

April 3-9 MOn., aprIL 3

4:51 a.m., Citizens Dispute on Pearl St. 6:03 a.m., Suspicious on I 289 6:39 a.m., Theft on Sand Hill Rd. 8:03 a.m., Suspicious on Pearl St. 8:20 a.m., Citizens Assist on Susie Wilson Byp. 10:32 a.m., Motor Vehicle Complaint on River Rd. 11:11 a.m., Disabled Vehicle on River Rd. 5:40 p.m., Theft on Founders Rd. 5:43 p.m., Littering on Center Rd. 6:22 p.m., Wanted Person/Arrest for False Info to Law Enforcement, on Pearl St. 8:27 p.m., Wanted Person on Mansfield Ave.

tUeS., aprIL 4

10:14 a.m., Theft on Franklin St. 1:31 p.m., Citizens Assist on Maple St. 1:51 p.m., Motor Vehicle Complaint on I 289 5:20 p.m., Citizens Assist on Center Rd. 6:24 p.m., Citizens Assist on Pearl St. 6:58 p.m., Property Damage on Pearl St.

WeDS., aprIL 5

8:31 a.m., Citizens Assist on Pearl St. 9:42 a.m., Citizens Assist on David Dr. 12:27 p.m., Disabled Vehicle on Center Rd. 12:46 p.m., Animal Problem on Pioneer St. 1:32 p.m., Motor Vehicle Complaint on River Rd. 4:34 p.m., Fraud on Doubleday Ln. 5:41 p.m., Motor Vehicle Complaint on Colchester Rd.

6:10 p.m., DLS on Ewing Pl. 7:11 p.m., Suspicious on Village Glen. 9:28 p.m., Animal Problem on Essex Way. 9:41 p.m., Family Fight on Main St.

thUrS., aprIL 6

11:09 a.m., Citizens Assist on Freeman Woods 12:08 p.m., Citizens Assist on Pearl St. 1:16 p.m., Theft on Maple St. 1:29 p.m., Disabled Vehicle on Colchester Rd. 3:00 p.m., Suspicious on Sand Hill Rd. 3:51 p.m., Suspicious on Lincoln St. 3:58 p.m., Fraud on Maple St. 6:37 p.m., Runaway (located) on Hawthorn Cir. 7:22 p.m., Found Property on Mansfield Ave. 10:22 p.m., Family Fight on Railroad St.

FrI., aprIL 7

9:42 a.m., Fraud on Saybrook Rd. 10:23 a.m., Property Damage on Upper Main St. 1:03 p.m., Suspicious on Colchester Rd. 1:05 p.m., Animal Problem on Center Rd. 5:37 p.m., Suspicious on Summit St. 8:10 p.m., Citizens Assist on Pearl St. 11:01 p.m., Animal Problem on Old Stage Rd.

SUn., aprIL 9

9:17 a.m., Untimely on Susie Wilson Rd. 12:12 p.m., Suspicious on Indian Brook Rd. 12:14 p.m., Animal Problem on Maple St. 1:29 p.m., Citizens Assist on Railroad Ave. 3:49 p.m., Animal Problem on Wilkinson Dr. 6:27 p.m., Citizens Assist on Susie Wilson Rd. 9:21 p.m., Citizens Assist on Cascade St.

Sat., aprIL 8

9:11 a.m., Family Fight on Sugartree Ln. 12:27 p.m., Citizens Dispute on Susie Wilson Rd. 2:27 p.m., Fraud on Maple St. 4:52 p.m., Citizens Assist on Colbert St. 5:28 p.m., Animal Prob on Sleepy Hollow Rd. 5:56 p.m., Unpermitted Burn on Rustic Dr.

tIcketS ISSUeD: 13 WarnInGS ISSUeD: 38 FIre/eMS caLLS DISpatcheD: 43

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

10 •

The Essex Reporter • April 13, 2017

school

ALBERT D. LAWTON

National Geo Bee: Congrats to ADL eighth-grader Ella Hughes, who finished in second place overall out of 88 competitors at the Vermont National Geographic Geo Bee competition held March 31 at Castleton University. Ella is now setting her sights on helping the ADL School Geo Bee Team win the

Vermont Principals’ Association state Geo Bee championships. The ADL team will compete in a preliminary round on May 6 at a site to be determined. ADL volleyball: Congrats to the ADL volleyball team, as it went undefeated in the state middle school tournament, which featured 11 teams.

COURTESY PHOTOS

Left, the ADL volleyball team is pictured. Above, ADL eighth-grader Ella Hughes finished second overall at the Vermont National Geographic Geo Bee competition late last month.

ESSEX MIDDLE SCHOOL Essex Middle School’s eighth grade peer leaders facilitated workshops at the Anti-Defamation League’s Youth Congress in Boston on March 30. Youth Congress in Boston is an annual program that brings together more than 1,500 middle and high school students and their teachers from across New England. They have the opportunity to explore the nature and impact of prejudice and develop strategies that promote inclusive school communities in which cultural, racial and other human

differences are valued and respected. This year’s theme was, “There is no ‘them,’ only us.” The keynote speaker for the event was Khizr Khan. This inspiring day provided middle and high school students — and their teachers — with the opportunity to explore what it is like for people of different national origins, ethnicities, races and religions to live in the United States and to develop action steps to foster schools and communities where everyone is welcome, respected and valued.

COURTESY PHOTO

Essex Middle School students all pictured at the Anti-Defamation League's youth Congress in Boston late last month. Back Row: Claire Knowles, Alison Stevens, Emily Augustino, Nora Cannizzaro and Redwan Nsame. Front Row: Ben Krauss, Owen Kupferer, Sadie Hoffman, Marlie Smith and Liam Redmond.

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Village approves $4.8 million budget By COLIN FLANDERS

With one of four unanimous votes in under an hour, Essex Jct. residents approved a $4.8 million general fund budget during the village’s annual meeting April 5. The general fund budget represents a 22 percent, or $860,000 increase over the current fiscal year. The major increase is due to the village taking ownership of EJRP; otherwise the village budget would have decreased 1.05 percent, village president George Tyler said. “The village tax rate is heading in the right direction,” he said after the meeting. With $3.3 million supported by taxes, the general fund budget is estimated to increase municipal taxes by $200 for the owner of a $280,000 home, village numbers show. However, the same homeowner will only pay $8 more than last year for municipal and recreation services, since they were already paying for the recreation tax as a separate assessment on their tax bills, Tyler said. Excluding EJRP, budgeted salaries are down about $52,000, including about $100,000 less in administrative expenses thanks to the town picking up the fi-

nance director’s salary this year. Since village residents also pay taxes into the town — whose budget included a 3.15 percent increase approved in last month —they can expect an estimated $43 increase on their town bill as well. The 116 voters inside the Essex High School auditorium also unanimously supported a separate article granting a $96,000 transfer from the general fund balance to the capital reserve fund. Tyler said that money will go toward capital projects planned for the upcoming year, like the Main Street pedestrian bridge, the Crescent Connector, Greenwood Avenue drainage and Hillcrest sidewalk improvements. EJRP’s inclusion in the village budget comes on the heels of last December’s failed vote to create a union municipal district with the town’s recreation department. The passage means EJRP will return under village purview for the first time in over 40 years. Tyler said EJRP needs $675,000 in tax support, about a $40,000 increase over the current year. The department will carry over its penny on the tax rate for a total of $109,500, and the village budget will include

$105,000 in debt service for Maple Street Pool. EJRP also boasts about $1.6 million in spending that’s offset by program revenues, Tyler said. Voters also approved spending $1 to purchase the Park Street School, which currently houses EJRP’s preschool program and the Essex High School’s Ace program, an alternative learning center. The trustees plan to allow the latter to stay for a few years until it can find a new home. Village voters approved the building’s sale during the Essex Jct. School District’s annual meeting Monday night. Tyler said he believes the unanimous passage of all the articles shows the trustees are heading in the right direction. "We try to keep our hand on the pulse of the community and get a sense of whether people are going to balk at these decisions,” Tyler said. “It pleases me to see we're sort of on top of things.” Like annual meetings over the past few years, Wednesday night also served as a check-in point for the shared services initiative between the village and the town. Tyler ran consolidations to date — including

administrative services, finance director and clerk, among others — before pointing to upcoming discussions like whether the trustees and selectboard wish to codify the joint manager position into the two entities’ charters. The board met Tuesday after the Reporter’s deadline to discuss the topic further. Tyler said he’s hopeful the trustees can move consolidation efforts along over the next year or so, but acknowledged the difficulty posed by merging departments that interact with the public daily, like the libraries and, of course, the recreation departments. “Realistically, we can't smooth that over,” he said. “It's going to be a big community conversation.” In a slew of unopposed village elections Tuesday, trustees Tyler and Dan Kerin secured re-election to three-year seats with 417 and 402 votes, respectively; Steven Eustis earned another year as moderator with 444 votes; and Max Holzman was named to a one-year library trustee seat with 405 votes. Ann Wadsworth also earned a spot on the library trustees, earning a threeyear term via 101 write-in votes.

PHOTOS BY COLIN FLANDERS

Top: Village president George Tyler introduces the Essex Jct. Board of Trustees at the start of the annual meeting April 5 at Essex High School. Above, Essex Jct. Recreation and Parks director Brad Luck answers a question during the village’s annual meeting.

Mater Christi team receives People’s Choice Award for second year in a row 3D Vermont, an annual competition among Vermont schools, challenges students to create digital 3D-printed models of historic town buildings and to study the history and background of both the buildings and the towns. On March 24, 13 teams, including a Mater Christi team, the Bulldog Builders, joined the competition at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. The Vermont Agency of Education

worked with several other entities to organize the event. Judges worked through the morning reviewing presentations, models and drawings. At noon, prizes were awarded. A People’s Choice Award was given to Mater Christi School for the second year in a row. Mater Christi’s inspiration came through grades 6-8 religion teacher, Julia Melloni, who explained that the study of

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sacred art and architecture falls under the church history curriculum in eighth grade. Last year, to help her students understand how the unique architecture of churches “calls people to prayer,” she decided that guiding the students in learning about Vermont churches could be done best through the 3D Vermont competition. Having a Maker space at MCS enabled the students to create their buildings while

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staying engaged in their regular classroom studies since it can take over six hours for the 3D printer to complete its job. Members of the Bulldog Builders team are MCS eighth graders Nidhi Knonanur, Reed Abry, Jillian Getler, Tyler Rowley, Ben Hershey, Vanessa George, Ethan Hoak and team captain Caleb Matosky.

12 •

The Essex Reporter • April 13, 2017

locAl

Selectboard continues wait-and-see approach on regional dispatch center Study committee moves on without Essex rep

By colIN FlANDERS

he committee studying regional dispatch in chittenden county will move forward without an Essex representative after the selectboard said it would prefer to monitor the group’s progress over the next two months. Formed after a california-based consulting firm recommended a regional dispatch model earlier this year, the joint study committee has met twice. It’s working to create an agreement that spells out how the proposed model — a union municipal district — would govern a regional center. Essex and seven other towns funded the consultants’ report: Milton, colchester, Winooski, Burlington, South Burlington, Williston and Shelburne. of those eight towns, Essex remains the only without a representative on the committee. Members tabled the issue at their March 20 meeting, heeding concerns from joint municipal manager Pat Scheidel, who drew comparisons to the recreation saga since the dispatch committee is eyeing a UMD. This arrangement, set forth in statute, forces boards to either warn a committee’s proposal or drop it altogether. Some selectboard members thought the rec proposal lacked specifics, but a majority agreed to put it to vote, which ultimately failed. Scheidel cautioned the board could end up in the same position if it appointed a dispatch representative before determining if the specifics are sufficient. “The act of putting somebody on that study committee sets everything in motion, so you're basically saying the people in the town of Essex that we're going to have a vote on this,” he said. Even without a representative, the town has contributed fiscally to the proposed regional center, paying $5,000 for consultants and earmarking $6,400 in the fiscal year 2018 budget for an executive director. Essex Police chief Brad laRose also sits on the technical committee studying the inner workings of a dispatch center, Scheidel said. Waiting could save the town from spending additional staff resources on an initiative that might not work in the end, Scheidel said, including himself since the committee initially requested town managers serve. He said he’s willing to join the commit-

FILE PHOTO BY KAYLEE SULLIVAN

Consultants and representatives from various Chittenden County towns listen to a question during a presentation on regional dispatching in January. Out of the eight towns that funded the consultants' work, Essex remains the only without a representative on the study committee drafting an agreement on how regional center would work. tee if the selectboard guarantees to warn the vote. conversely, if members knew they wouldn’t, he’d prefer not to “waste the time.” "There could be a boatload of work done that means nothing because it won't get off the ground," Scheidel said. The committee is still working to determine a baseline for costs and has requested a list of dispatch-related salaries, including any officers who fill in as dispatchers or oversee the operation. That was due last Friday, but Doug Fisher, Essex’s director of administrative services, said he was waiting on the selectboard’s decision before committing the full day’s work – amid daily tasks and ongoing consolidation efforts – to fulfill the request. Without a representative, Fisher said he’s not planning to compile the list “at this time.” Selectman Andy Watts said the board, which already lost productivity last year due to recreation, has other issues it needs

to address. “If, on the other end, we can choose to join anyway, I'm thinking we should stand out for a while,” Watts said. Not everyone agrees it’s the right move. Selectman Michael Plageman felt the town may be disadvantaged without a representative. He saw potential for a power grab and said he could see the town “dancing at the end of someone else’s string.” “I don't like that position,” Plageman said. “It may be the right one, but without us being there, we have no way of knowing until it's going to be too late." The selectboard eventually tasked Scheidel with attending the committee’s next two meetings and reporting back. It’s the third time the selectboard deferred the issue since chittenden county Regional Planning commission executive director charlie Baker requested an appointment in February. Baker said the committee was waiting on Essex’s response before voting for chair

and vice-chair. “We’ll probably move on with that decision,” Baker said. The committee will continue communicating with Essex, Baker said, though without an official representative, the town will likely assume a more passive role in judging the final recommendations instead of shaping them. “It’s just really the extent to which their perspective is reflected in the work,” he said. Aaron Frank, assistant manager in colchester who’s serving as interim chair of the committee, said the offer to join remains open. He said the town will need to eventually decide on an appointment prior to the committe's vote on whether to create a UMD. “They can wait until we have more details developed if that seems more comfortable,” he said.

GlobalFoundries offering early retirement packages

By colIN FlANDERS

GlobalFoundries is offering early retirement to some longtime workers at its three U.S. semiconductor manufacturing plants, including Essex Jct., in efforts to cut costs, spokesman Jim Keller confirmed earlier this week. “We’re in a very competitive and dynamic business,” Keller

said, adding the buyouts are aimed at workers in support functions, like sales, administrative jobs, finance and information technology, Keller said. Keller said GlobalFoundries has a “dollar amount” target in both its Essex Jct. fab and its two New York locations that the company hopes to reach through the retirement packages and other

cost-saving measures. He declined to share those targets. The announcement came in the same week as senior executive Janette Bombardier informed co-workers she’d be retiring from GlobalFoundries to become senior vice president at Green Mountain Power. Dale Miller, senior director of manufacturing operations, will

now assume Bombardier’s previous role as the fab’s senior most employee on top of his current duties. Keller said the buyouts won’t affect the 200 jobs GlobalFoundries is looking to fill over the last month since they’re in different areas of operation. The openings ranged from engineering and technician jobs, including electrical,

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SPORTSHORTS PHOTOS BY RAJ CHAWLA

Above: Gabby Spagnuolo-Chawla drives the ball up the court agains the Vermont Pacers on Sunday at Edmunds Middle School. The sixth-grade Sting beat the Pacers twice on Saturday and went 4-0 in tournament play for the second weekend in a row. Right: Sting players celebrate their 17-16 win against the Vt. Pacers.

Sting earn spring tournament title

The Essex sting sixth-grade girls basketball team went 4-0 last weekend in the A division at the Vt. Cats spring Classic AAU basketball tournament. The girls defeated the Rail City Blazers 25-21 last saturday before downing the Vermont sting 39-31. The following day, they took down the Vermont pacers in a tight 17-16 victory capped off by a Jamie Adams breakaway layup, and then dominated the pacers in the championship game sunday

afternoon, taking a 38-19 win. The team consists of Jaime Adams, Kayla McIntyre, Hannah Gilbert, Tiandra Miller, Alex Noyes, Lily Boutin, Emily stevens, Breya Montague, Maisie Baker, Madi Jordan, Molly Murphy, Ingrid Gilliam and Gabby spagnuolo-Chawla. They’re coached by shawn Montague, Chris Baker and Lauren Miles. The sting will be back in action this saturday for the fourth annual spartans Easter one Day Run in Castleton.

COURTESY PHOTO

From left, Piper Desorcie, Madeline Young and Olivia Miller-Johnson are pictured after winning silver in the USA Hockey National Championship Tier II Tournament in Troy, Mich. last Monday.

Vt. Shamrocks skate to silver medal at nationals

The 16U Vermont shamrocks took home silver from the UsA Hockey National Championship Tier II Tournament in Troy, Mich. last Monday. The team racked up five shutout wins heading into the finals, outscoring their

opponents 26-0. In the finals, the shamrocks fell to the Alaska Northstars by a score of 3-1. The shamrocks are an all-Vermont team comprised of girls from Vermont high schools, the North American Hockey Academy and

various New England prep schools. Essex High school was represented by Madeline Young and olivia MillerJohnson. Westford’s piper Desorcie, who now attends Connecticut’s Taft school, was also on the team.

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Happy Easter! Enjoy the weekend and sunday with family (easy on the chocolate too). please continue to check Essex High school’s athletic website for schedules, cancellations and reschedules. EHs sports pictures will be on Good Friday at 2:45 p.m. More winter honors: Congrats to Hornet hockey player Nick McGovern (F), firstteam Metro and second-team BFp; Dom Lessard (D), second-team Metro; Ryan Young (F), third-team Metro and Maverick King (D), honorable mention. Big congratulations to the North Carolina men’s basketball team on their win last week over Gonzaga. Great game! Getting closer to the start of the home track and field season. We still need a few officials for Hornet meets this spring. please call, text or email me. Happy birthday Torin MacArdle, Mirjam Gramatzki, Kim Dvorak, Lizzie Goodrich, Dean Corkum, Mike DiMambro, Beau Cameron, Amy Kearns Glynn, Chinelo Asanya, Russ Auger, Jess Dows and Abby Lacross. Very sad news: My mother, Rosemary Gonillo, passed away last week on Monday evening at the Respite House in Colchester. she was 80 and lived a great life. she was an honest to goodness angel, a kind, caring person with a loving heart — and not just to her family. Mom brought us up correctly and loved her grandchildren — Jenna, stacey and Josh as well as great-granddaughter Gianna — more than anything. Karen and Tina were the daughters she never had, and she loved them as such! Mom had a tough childhood in Waterbury, Ct., growing up losing her mom, our grandmother Anne Martinelli, before she was 10. I cannot imagine that tragedy. That was a huge void in her life. she had two brothers and a dad to take care of and missed out on a lot of youthful experiences. I could not have survived that. My brother Vince and I would not have had the success in life without her constant support. My dad would tell us stories about his childhood or share Bible stories with us as we were all getting ready for school. one day I heard, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the toys of childhood behind me.” I rocketed downstairs to the kitchen and told Mom what Dad said. she asked what was wrong. I told her I didn’t want to give up my toys! she reassured me that’s not what Dad or God wanted, so I breathed a sigh of relief and went back upstairs. Mom was always there for us at home when we left for school, came home for lunch and after school. We got away with NoTHING! In eighth grade I was accepted to Holy Cross High school, a private boys’ Catholic school. she stated I was not going to the public school … end of story. she semi-promised me I could

By JOE GONILLO play football as a freshman. The day before fall sports began, we were supposed to buy football cleats. Mom politely told me to forget about it because she was not going to let me get hurt, and said to try out for cross country. I asked her what that was. she mentioned something about hurdles. I about died running two or three miles the first day. Ironically, that kick started my track and field career in a round-about way. I was also injured playing football in college. Dad retired from education in April of 2000. Vince was already in Essex Jct., so they moved up there the next day. our whole family was here. We enjoyed each other for 17 years together and she was again so strong after Dad passed in 2013. My brother wanted a dog, and mom gave in during the summer of ‘70. Duchess ran our household. Mom trained her and Dad spoiled her. she lived 17 years. When she passed in ‘87, Dad was a wreck. My niece Kristin and her husband Charley got a spaniel for her twins at a very young age. The girls loved that dog literally to death, so they had to give her up. Kristin had the genius idea to ask me to see if Vin, Karen, Mom or Dad wanted the dog. I grabbed Mia, drove to the Jct. and stopped at Vin’s. They already had a dog and a cat, so that didn’t work. Next stop Mom and Dad’s. He and Mia hit it off. Mom was not thrilled and threatened me with no more meals ever, so I took the dog back to shelburne. selfishly, we believed she was the best cook ever! Mom learned from my grandmother, who came over from Italy. she loved her mother-in-law. Mom’s homemade meatballs, spaghetti sauce and sausages rival Bove’s. Monday night was my dinner tradition. I would literally stuff myself and still go home with leftovers! she enjoyed cooking for my friends, and she loved doing it! We ate anything and everything she made! I will miss her cooking! Mom had a tough, rough year. she stayed positive even to the end. We all laughed, cried and prayed together. I thank Vince so much for being here for mom while we were gone, and I am so glad Tina and I got to see her before she left for heaven. our family would like to thank everyone for their support at the wake, the funeral, pall bearers, cards, Facebook notes, phone calls, thoughts and prayers. Much appreciated. We will miss her.

14 •

The Essex Reporter • April 13, 2017

hEAlTh

NPF: Arthritis linked to another condition People who see dermatologists for the skin condition psoriasis should not take the presence of joint aches and pains lightly, as the two things might be connected. The National Psoriasis Foundation notes that psoriasis is a precursor to psoriatic arthritis in 30 percent of patients. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that affects the rate of skin cell reproduction. People with psoriasis may experience redness, itchiness and raised bumps (plaques) of skin on various areas of their bodies. Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic form of arthritis that typically occurs in people with skin psoriasis, but also can be present in those without the skin condition, but particularly among those who have relatives with psoriasis. The American College of Rheumatology says that psoriatic arthritis typically affects the large joints, especially the lower extremities, distal joints of the fingers and toes and the back and sacroiliac joints of the pelvis. Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis are crucial to relieving inflammation and preventing permanent joint damage. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can develop gradually or quickly, and some symptoms can be severe. NPF indicates that common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include morning stiffness and tiredness; tenderness, pain

and swelling over tendons; swollen fingers and toes; reduced range of motion; nail changes, including pitting, and redness and pain in the eyes. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are similar to rheumatoid arthritis, gout and reactive arthritis. Doctors will rule out other symptoms that may be indicative of those conditions. The American College of Rheumatology also indicates that psoriatic arthritis is typically blood test negative. The diagnosis is typically made by a rheumatologist after reviewing a clinical history and performing a physical exam. Doctors will need to assess symptoms before deciding on a course of treatment. Mild cases may respond to over-thecounter, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. however, antirheumatic drugs and newer biologic drugs may be prescribed to treat more aggressive cases of psoriatic arthritis. Corticosteroid injections can be useful for swollen joints, and surgery may be necessary to repair badly damaged joints. Individuals who suspect their arthritis may be linked to psoriasis can first speak with a dermatologist or primary care physician. The NPF also offers a screening tool at www.psoriasis.org/psa-screening.

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Protect your eyes from computer vision syndrome Computers, tablets and smartphones can now be seen just about everywhere, so it's no wonder studies have shown that as much as 90 percent of computer users have reported symptoms of computer vision syndrome, or CVS. Sometimes referred to as "digital eye strain," CVS is, according to the American Optometric Association, an umbrella term used to describe a group of eye and visionrelated problems that result from prolonged computer use. Manhattan Vision Associates notes such prob-

lems can arise in people who spend two or more hours daily in front of a screen – a qualifier that means just about anyone, from working professionals to children, is susceptible to CVS. No two individuals are the same, and some people who spend significant amounts of time may never develop CVS. But those who do may experience the following symptoms. Eyestrain: When people spend ample time staring at screens, the muscles of their inner eyes can strain and tighten and cause

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eye irritation. This can result in fatigue and pain. Blurred vision: Blurred vision can compromise a person's ability to see small details. That loss of sharpness can make it hard to focus on a screen for a significant amount of time. In addition, vision can blur as people go back and forth between their keyboards and screens or multiple screens, as many people do while simultaneously working on a computer and using their smartphones. Headaches: Many people develop headaches

after staring at screens for prolonged periods of time. That's because the brightness and contrast of a screen can produce an indirect glare that's especially hard on the eyes. Dry eyes: People don't blink as often when staring at screens, and as a result, they become vulnerable to dry eyes. Blinking is one of the ways the eyes replenish moisture. While some people may be inclined to accept CVS as a side effect of living in the 21st century, there are ways to prevent it. Take frequent breaks. The AOA recommend that people alleviate digital eye strain by following the 2020-20 rule, which advises taking 20 second breaks to stare at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes. Reposition your computer screen. The AOA notes the optimal location for computer screens is between 15 and 20 degrees below eye level, or about four to five inches, as measured from the center of the screen. You should also position the screen so it's between 20 and 28 inches from your eyes. Avoid glare. Computer screens should also be positioned to avoid glare from lighting and windows. Draw blinds or drapes if sun is shining in on the screen, and opt for low wattage light bulbs in desk lamps. Blink more. Make a concerted effort to blink more throughout the day so your eyes remain as moist as possible. learn more about CVS and how to prevent it at www.aoa.org.

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April 13, 2017 • The Essex Reporter • 15

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NANCY MOCK

Easter surprise cupcakes By NANCY MoCK, HungryEnoughToEatSix. com

oft cupcakes with a playful scene of bunnies in the grass on top. And a sweet surprise in the middle! Ingredients for the cupcakes: • 2-1/2 c. + 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour, unbleached • 6 Tbs. cornstarch • 1 Tbs. baking powder • 1/2 tsp. salt • 1 c. plus 2 Tbs. unsalted butter, softened • 1-1/2 c. granulated sugar • 2 large eggs at room temperature • 4 egg yolks at room temperature • 1 tsp. vanilla extract • 1-1/4 c. milk, lukewarm For the buttercream frosting: • 3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened • 1/4 c. vegetable shortening, like Crisco • 6 c. confectioner's sugar • 1/2 c. milk • 2 tsp. vanilla extract • Green food coloring Decorations: • 1-1/2 c. jelly beans, like Jelly Belly or Starburst brands • 2 1.4-oz. packages Russell Stover Itty Bitty Chocolate Mini-Bunnies Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare two 12-c. standard cupcake pans; grease and flour the cupcake wells or use paper liners. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt. Set aside. 3. In the bowl of a stand

mixer, beat together the 1 cup plus two tablespoons butter and the granulated sugar for 5 minutes. The mixture should be fluffy and pale yellow in color. Add in the whole eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Slowly add in the egg yolks while the mixer is running on low. Mix in the vanilla extract. Add in about one-third of the flour mixture and mix the batter on low speed. Add in half of the milk and mix into the batter. Repeat with another third of the flour mixture, the rest of the milk and the last of the flour until ingredients are incorporated and batter is smooth. 4. Fill each cupcake well, about two-thirds full, with batter (about 2 oz. in each well) Place the pans in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with only a few crumbs. Turn the cupcakes out onto a cooling rack and allow them to cool completely. Prepare the buttercream: 1. Beat together the 3/4 c. of butter and the 1/4 c. of vegetable shortening in the bowl of a stand mixer. Mix in the salt. Beat in 1 c. of the confectioner's sugar, followed by a little of the milk. Continue alternating sugar and milk until all of the sugar has been mixed in. (You may not need all of the milk.) Add in the vanilla and a few drops of the green food coloring. Beat the frosting until it is light and fluffy. Keep mixing in more green food coloring a few drops at a time until you get the right shade of grassy green.

Assemble the cupcakes: 1. Cut out the centers of the cupcakes; I like to use the tip of a straight vegetable peeler, or you can use a knife. Cut a circle about 1-in in diameter by inserting the knife or peeler two-thirds of the way down into the cupcake. Use the knife or peeler to pull out the cylinder of cake. Cut off most of the cylinder to just leave the top that will go back on the cupcake. Scrape out the well inside the cupcake just a bit so the jellybeans will fit. Drop some jellybeans into the well: I had success with six jellybeans per cupcake. Place the cake cap over the jellybeans and press it in. Place gently to make the cap flush with the top. Repeat with the rest of the cupcakes. 2. Spread a thin layer of green frosting over the top of the cupcakes as a crumb coat. Place the rest of the green buttercream into a piping bag with a star tip. Cover the tops of the cupcakes with starbursts of frosting. (Alternatively, if you'd rather not pipe, just use a knife to spread frosting on each cupcake. Make the frosting thick and rugged, the kind of texture little rabbits would like to frolic in.) Add Iddy Biddy Bunnies to the frosted tops, pressing them in just a little to sit in the frosting. Enjoy! The cupcakes can be stored in a cupcake storer or covered in plastic for up to three days.

read the recipe all the way through before starting! The eggs and milk in this recipe should be at room temperature. To make this happen quickly, place cold eggs into a bowl filled with warm (not hot) water. (Do this before separating yolks from whites.) They should come

Notes: Because I have grouped the ingredients for each part of the cake, you'll see some of them are listed more than once. Be sure to

to room temperature in about 20 minutes. The milk can be microwaved for 20-30 seconds until it has just lost its chill. For the jelly beans in this recipe, I recommend using Jelly Belly or Starburst varieties, as they are smaller than generic jelly beans and therefore you can get

more of them into each cupcake. Not to mention they have great, intense flavors! Cake recipe slightly adapted from a recipe in The Baker's Manual by Amendola/Rees. The buttercream frosting is slightly adapted from the "Easy Buttercream" recipe in the King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion.

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16 •

The Essex Reporter • April 13, 2017

locAl vote from page 1 Projected savings for every $100,000 in assessed value are $31 in Essex Jct., $12 in Essex Town and $27 in Westford. And, for taxpayers whose household income is $50,000, projected savings increase to $145 in the village and $125 in Essex Town and Westford. The approved budget includes a $638,000 increase to bus Westford’s high school students and for “some level of transportation” in Essex Jct. There’s also about a $200,000 increase in preschool funding since Act 166, which gave all 4- and 5-year-olds access to early education, went into full effect this year. At $3,178 per student, FY18’s $908,000 preschool budget will serve the current year’s 286 students. The last major expenditure accounts for changes to staffing and compensation,

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totaling about $479,000. Two major capital plan expenditures are also expected in the first year: about $400,000 for a unified phone system and $665,000 to replace the EHS roof. A payment of $535,000 in year two will complete the latter project, board numbers show. other expenditures planned are $50,000 to install ventilation for a wing of Essex Elementary, $61,000 to replace fire panels and gym backboards at EHS and $30,000 to install salad bars at Essex Middle School, Founders Memorial and Essex Elementary. The three communities also approved the center for Technology, Essex’s budget by a vote of 975 to 259. The $8.45 million proposal reflects a $217,000 decrease, or 2.57 percent, from the current fiscal year and is supported by tuition from sending districts, not local taxes. cTE’s budget shows a tuition raise of $100 to $16,850, and marks a fiveyear overall budget increase

of just 2.3 percent, according to cTE director Bob Travers. Due to a falling six-semester enrollment average, which is used to calculate tuition revenue, cTE had to cut program budgets and staff, Travers said. other elections on the ballot weren’t as eventful. Brendan Kinney and Andre Roy, both unopposed incumbents, earned three-year seats on the EWSD board. In a handful of other unopposed elections, Marla Durham and Murray are heading back to Prudential committee, liz Subin and Erin Knox were re-elected to the U46 board and Kim Gleason to the Essex Town School Board. one seat remains open on the Prudential committee. All three of these boards will dissolve at year’s end. PHOTO BY COLIN FLANDERS

LEFT: An Essex Jct. voter fills out a ballot at Essex High School on Tuesday afternoon. Out of EWSD’s 18,326 registered voters, the 1,223 ballots cast represent a 6.67 percent turnout.

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