May 31, 2018 • The Essex Reporter • 1
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{ Thursday, May 31, 2018 }
A parade to remember
PHOTO BY BOB LOCICERO
A young parade-goer is pictured riding her bicycle last Saturday in Essex Jct., where a little rain couldn't deter hundreds who gathered for the annual Memorial Day Parade, one of the largest in Vermont. The parade was led by three grand marshals, who were nominated by the public for the first time in the parade's history: Phillip Murdock, John Andrews and Richard E. Hamilton. See more photos on page 4.
EHS won’t retroactively change grades under new scale
Kindergarteners commemorate vets at assembly By COLIN FLANDERS
By COLIN FLANDERS The grade point average for current Essex High School juniors will be converted under the new grading scale conversion next fall, making them the first class to apply for college under the system, principal Rob Reardon told the school board earlier this month The high school won’t, however, retroactively change grades for those who failed a class under the current system but would have achieved a passing grade under the new scale. Reardon relayed the two administrative decisions to the school board May 15, two weeks after he first outlined the grading scale conversion changes. See GRADING, page 4
PHOTO BY COLIN FLANDERS
Kindergarteners in Kerry Mahoney's Summit Street class perform an interpretative dance during their Memorial Day assembly last Thursday.
VFW plans to lend a helping hand to 103-year-old WWII vet By MIKE DONOGHUE For The Essex Reporter The Essex Jct. home of the man believed to be the oldest living World War II veteran in Vermont is expected to get a facelift this weekend from members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6689. The local VFW Post on Pearl Street plans to paint and fix the Maple St. home of 103-year-old Harold Bergeron, according to club member Everett Burns. Club members plan to make the repairs and add the fresh coat of paint at no cost to Bergeron, Burns
Summit Street School kindergarteners hosted an assembly last week to commemorate a month-long project that taught them the meaning of Memorial Day and introduced them to a few new friends. Kerry Mahoney’s kindergarten class hosts the school’s Memorial Day assembly every year to culminate a full-circle curriculum about the holiday, which includes a learning component, a service project and an integrated arts assignment. “It teaches them to really show their appreciate toward veterans and how they help keep our country safe, and how to do service projects for our community,” Mahoney said. This year, she contacted Vermont Paws and Boots, which provides service dogs to veterans and first responders. Four veterans, including founder Michelle LeBlanc, visited Mahoney’s classroom last month and taught about the difference between service and therapy dogs. The veterans also discussed their lives both during and after the military and told
explained. “We are providing all the labor for the project and food for volunteers. Materials have been graciously donated by another organization,” he said. Burns said non-Post members are welcome to join in. The primary painting day is planned for Saturday, and the hope is for good weather, he said. Some members may do some scraping and preparation work on Friday. Saturday would have marked the 105th birthday for Bergeron’s wife, who died last year. They were married for more than 70 years. The painting job comes on the
heels of Post 6689 and its work with the Essex Memorial Day Weekend festivities, which includes one of the largest parades in Vermont and a large chicken barbecue at the VFW. Thousands line the 1.5-mile parade route along village streets to watch marching bands, the military, floats and other units. The parade comes out the backside of the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds, along both Vermont 2A and Vermont 15 ending at the main entrance to the fairgrounds. “The list of services and benefits provided by our Post is enormous given the numbers and the age of our See HOUSE, page 2
See VETS, page 3
Essex man faces court in dead cow case By MIKE DONOGHUE For The Essex Reporter The son of an Essex farmer has been ordered to appear in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington next month on charges of animal cruelty in connection with nearly two dozen dead cows earlier this spring, Essex police said. Jonathan Matthews, 34, of Essex is due for arraignment in criminal court on June 26, police said. Essex Police Chief Rick
Garey said Matthews took control of his father’s farm at 278 Chapin Rd. after Earle Matthews, 75, was severely injured in his barn in January. “Due to his injures, Earle was unable to work and his son Jonathan had to take over all daily operations of the farm. When interviewed, Jonathan Matthews reported that a combination of financial issues, long severe winter and problems with farm equipment made See COWS, page 3