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Charlotte News Wednesday, June 13, 2018 | Volume lX number 24
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Vol. 60, no.24 June 13, 2018
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Environmental Court accepts settlement in Old Lantern zoning dispute with neighbors
Selectboard updates
abusing the judicial process, specifically for appealing the decision of the Zoning Board “and after two years of motions and discovery and trial preparation, coming to trial and declining to offer any evidence to support their appeal of the Zoning Board’s decision.” The court had set a June 11 hearing date to receive evidence supporting a potential monetary penalty against Dumont and the Wolvertons. In response to the court’s June 7 decision, the Gaujacs said, “We are
Meghan Neely
Staff report
Lisa and Roland Gaujac of the Old Lantern have settled their dispute with Adrian and Alison Wolverton. In an order announced on June 7 by the Vermont Superior Court Environmental Division, the Gaujacs withdrew their motion for sanctions against the Wolvertons and their lawyer, James Dumont, for abuse of judicial process; the Court revoked its order of sanctions; and the Wolvertons withdrew their appeal of the Court’s decision on the merits of the case. As a result, the Court’s April 4 decision for the Old Lantern continues to qualify as a legal pre-existing nonconforming use as a year-round, indoor and outdoor wedding and event facility stands and is in full force and effect. That decision, in turn, upheld an earlier holding by Charlotte’s zoning administrator and Zoning Board of Adjustment denying an appeal by the Wolvertons and other neighbors of the Old Lantern that the facility was operating in violation of applicable town zoning regulations and should be required to secure applicable zoning approvals for its continued operation. Following the April 4 decision in its favor, The Old Lantern had asked the court to sanction the Wolvertons and Dumont for
“We are finally done!” Lisa Gaujac pleased with the final outcome of the court decision and hope it finally puts an end to further challenges to our continued use of the Old Lantern as an event, wedding and community facility. We look forward to focusing on our business and community service. Also, we truly thank all those in the town and surrounding communities that supported us through all the challenges. We look forward to seeing you at the Old Lantern.” Lisa Gaujac, in an email to The News expressing relief that the long legal process is finally over, added, “We will be
From left to right Roland Gaujac, Paul and Tracie Cassarino, artist Patricia Caffrey and husband, Lisa Gaujac and in front Madeliene Bailleux. celebrating by hanging a quilt made for us by a friend called ‘Home.’ It’s 15 feet tall and we will be hanging it, drinking a glass of champagne, and celebrating their wedding anniversary.”
CCS teacher Natasha Grey recognized for excellence in teaching Melissa O’Brien On June 6, the Vermont Association for Middle Level Education (VAMLE) named Charlotte Central School 6th grade math and social studies teacher Natasha Grey as the recipient of the Rising Star in Middle Level Education award. Grey, who has been teaching at CCS for three years, was recognized for her “student-led, proficiency-based approach to teaching and learning, and the infusion of interdisciplinary and multimedia projects with her students.” This year Grey worked with her students on two interdisciplinary projects: Trout in the Classroom and on an exploration of NASA and the International Space Station. “This is our second year using Trout in the Classroom as a tool to engage students in cross curricular activities where they can apply and learn new science, math, language arts and social sciences skills by raising and releasing approximately 100 brook trout,” Grey explained. In the spring, Grey partnered with Allan Miller, a Champlain Valley School District instructional coach, to implement a study of NASA and the ISS. Learning opportunities were woven throughout the students’ science and social studies work, and they were
Natasha Grey with husband Jamie.
Photo by Champlain Valley School District called to use their language arts skills and to apply their math skills in practical ways. The students experimented with thermal transfer during a science project that mimicked a real-life emergency faced by NASA, designing an insulator, examining data and then redesigning based on the experiment results. “First, students self-selected a current ISS research project,” explained Grey, “then they investigated and summarized the details using a variety of online, paper and human resources. Next, we partnered
with the Regional Educational Television Network (RETN) to develop videos about these research projects that utilized students’ summary and writing skills.” In the process, students learned about latitude and longitude. They used the information they gathered to order photographs from the ISS’s camera (the EarthKAM). Finally, they used these photographs as evidence to support a claim about where civilization develops, using screencast and a slideshow to display their arguments. As for the award, “It was a complete surprise,” said Grey; “I found out when I received my invitation to the award dinner!” For Tasha Grey the passion for her work grows from the ways in which things are always changing in the educational setting. “I get to learn right alongside my students,” she says, “helping them build a community and environment in which they can explore their interests, be exposed to new ideas and face their own personal challenges in a safe and supported way.” “In her three short years at CCS,” says Principal Stephanie Sumner, “Tasha has initiated and implemented approaches and components in her classroom that inspire students to be the drivers of their educational journeys.”
The May 29 Selectboard meeting began with further discussion of the Thompson’s Point wastewater ordinance. Language in the document was refined for clarity, but no major changes were made. A full walkthrough of the ordinance was scheduled to take place at the June 11 meeting. On the subject of connection fees for Lane’s Lane residents, the board decided that payments will be divided into two separate categories: one for construction costs and one for the prorated payment of the original septic system. Construction cost will be determined on a case by case basis, and the prorated payment will be $10,328. Residents will be allowed to make payments over a period of 10 years. Public comments for the evening included that the Selectboard post minutes from their meetings with the Thompson’s Point Leaser Holder Association so that residents may access them more readily. Selectman Lane Morrison said the minutes would be added to future Selectboard packets as an attachment that can be found online. In addition, the Selectboard approved bid requests for computer network support and server replacement at the town office based on an estimate provided by SymQuest, the town’s current computer support provider. The Chittenden County Solid Waste District presented its proposed budget for the 2019 fiscal year, which was approved by the Selectboard. Two highway access permits for 383 Hinesburg Road and 1506 Carpenter Road were also approved. A representative from the Andrea S. Harvey Revocable Trust requested a license agreement from the Selectboard to locate utilities serving 616 Guinea Road under the roadway but within the Guinea Road right-of-way. The license agreement was approved with the condition that the road commissioner be notified the day of installation. The police services contract with Vermont State Police was approved with a starting date of July 1, 2018. The Selectboard also waived the penalty for late homestead filing. The Selectboard reviewed five water operator proposals in the form of open bids. No action was taken pending further evaluation of the prices received. Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue presented its quarterly financial report to Selectboard members. Currently CVFR is 3 percent over budget. Given improved income, the department expects to end the year on budget. The Selectboard gave comments on the long-range management plan for Mount Philo State Park, which included topics such as accessibility and recreation balance. The Selectboard will present the plan for signatures via Front Porch Forum. see
SELECTBOARD page 2
2 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Editorial
All the difference
I spent all last week at Fordham University where I am finishing up a degree in pastoral care. I took a class in pastoral counseling skills, Melissa O’Brien and though most of NEWS EDITOR the classes for this degree have been online, this one had an on-campus requirement. I lived in a dorm for the week, which was both peaceful and horrible, monastic-like and, well, suffice it to say I don’t miss that particular aspect of college life at all. Because the class was a counseling skills class, we spent a lot of time practicing counseling skills, which meant that we spent a lot of time revealing ourselves to one another, which meant that we came to know each other pretty well after five long days of sharing and practicing. Fordham University was founded in 1841 by the Catholic Diocese of New York, but today it’s very much an interfaith institution. Here’s how inter-faith: In my class there were two Coptic priests from Egypt, two UCC pastors, one person on his way to Lutheran seminary, a young Catholic priest from Sri Lanka, a nun from India, two Methodists, two women who converted to Judaism as adults, an atheist from California and a couple of folks who didn’t identify with any particular faith
tradition or lack thereof. We were a terrific melting pot of humanity, thrown together for a week on a college campus by virtue of the fact that we all wanted to get better at helping people. Given the many different labels we came with, one would have thought that we wouldn’t have much in common or that there might have been some discord within the group. After all, there’s a pretty great gulf between a conservative Coptic priest (who arrived each day in full priestly black garb) and a California atheist (who arrived each day with a terrific tan, in cool jeans and sneakers). As it turned out, we spent most of our time together in deep and meaningful conversation about ... everything. We were all madly curious about each other. The hours of the class went by without notice, and the hour and a half we had for lunch each day was frustratingly never enough. One lovely afternoon seven of us went across the street to the New York Botanical Gardens and had lunch in the cafe. I had a moment there where I drifted away from the conversation and took it all in: the beauty of the grounds around us and the incredible reality of us: seven people from all over the world, sitting together in conversation about big things: God, faith, hell, sin, scripture, love. I realized what it was that was causing us to bond so easily: curiosity. We could easily have found a hundred reasons to not get along: I don’t understand you; you don’t worship the way I do; you
don’t think the way I do, you look nothing like me; I can’t understand you when you speak...but instead we allowed a child-like sense of wonder and curiosity propel us into intimate and loving conversations. On the last day at the end of our class we stood in a circle, held hands and prayed together, representatives from at least six different religions, four countries and five states. We had become friends and all of us were loathe to leave. Curiosity. It can make all the difference. When you read our wonderful intern Jackie Flynn’s piece in this issue about her time in South Africa, you will see how it moved her into new and magical places in this world and in her heart. You will find it in the story of award-winning CCS teacher Tasha Grey and the work she does with our children. We introduce a new column in this issue, Young Charlotters, where we will find out what kinds of curiosities are propelling our young people forward from here out into the wider world where they are doing good work. We bless our children with a heart full of curiosity as we watch them in motion during this season of graduations. Let curiosity be the thing that compels you to know your neighbors better, that inspires you to become involved in new and different ways, that helps you to open doors you might otherwise have closed. We are a world of infinitely interesting people—don’t miss out.
Letter to the Editor Dear Readers, I am a 9th grader at CVUHS, and I’m writing this letter to inform people of the health of Lake Champlain and what people can do to in their own lives to help. Algae blooms have been on the rise in Lake Champlain. They are caused by an abundance of nutrients in the water, like nitrogen and phosphorus. Most people (including myself) didn’t realize, until recently, how much our everyday activities can affect the lake. Things we don’t even think about, like fertilizer, pesticides, grass clippings, manure and other animal waste, all have nutrients and will end up
in the water if they aren’t taken up by plants or have a chance to get captured, and currently our capture systems aren’t enough. It is important to be aware and help solve this issue. If we don’t keep our lake healthy, many species that live in our lake will die, and we won’t be able to enjoy the lake for recreational activities. Krista Hoffsis, of the Lewis Creek Association, works to protect the lake and its watershed. She stated, “The best ways for everyday people to protect their lake are to adopt habits to prevent excess nutrients from getting to the lake. For example, pick up
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W AT E R
Sincerely, Collin Adams 9th grade student P L A NValley T S Union High School Champlain
RO CKS
SELECTBOARD A liability waiver for the Berry Farm concerning a bench adjacent to the nearby trail was approved, stating the town accepts all liability. Last, the Selectboard reviewed a letter from Peter Trono concerning the board’s conflict of interest policy. Trono said he had previously brought up the policy in February only to have it discussed after his departure from the meeting. The issue arises from Selectboard member involvement with other committees. Trono said he believes that Selectboard members should recuse themselves from voting on issues concerning committees that they are a part of. After lengthy discussion, the Selectboard decided P Laction A N as TS to take no there was no legal precedent that would require them to recuse RO C Kvoting. S themselves from
after your dog. Don’t mow your lawn below three inches, so it can help slow and absorb water and nutrients. Don’t use excess fertilizer. Treat the water coming off your gutters before it leaves your property by planting an area that can intercept the water.” If there is one thing I would like you to remember from this letter is that your actions, big and small, have an impact on Lake Champlain.
RO CKS WAT E R PLANTS RO CKS ER P L AW NAT TS
RO CKS W AT E R
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The Charlotte News Mission Statement The mission of The Charlotte News is to inform our readers about current events, issues and topics, and to serve as a forum for the free exchange of views of town residents and community volunteer organizations on matters related to Charlotte and the experiences of its residents. Letters and Commentaries Consistent with our mission The Charlotte News publishes letters to the editor and commentaries from our readers. All letters and commentaries are subject to review and approval by the news editor of the paper and to the following rules and standards: • Letters to the editor and commentaries should be emailed to news@thecharlottenews.org as attachments in .doc format. All letters and commentaries must contain the writer’s full name and town of residence and, for proofing purposes only, include the writer’s phone number. • Letters should not exceed 300 words, commentaries 750 words. • All published letters and commentaries will include the writer’s name and town of residence. • All submissions are subject to editing for clarity, factual accuracy, tone and length. • The news editor makes the final determination whether a letter or commentary will be published as submitted, returned for rewriting, or rejected. Publisher: Vince Crockenberg Editorial Staff News Editor: Melissa O’Brien (melissa@thecharlottenews.org) Managing Editor: Anna Cyr (anna@thecharlottenews.org) Contributing Editor: Edd Merritt Copy editors: Beth Merritt, Vince Crockenberg Proofreaders: Edd Merritt, Mike & Janet Yantachka Archives: Liz Fotouhi Business Staff ads@thecharlottenews.org / 777-3451 Ad manager: Monica Marshall (ads@thecharlottenews.org) Bookkeeper: Jessica Lucia Board Members President: Vince Crockenberg (vince@thecharlottenews.org) Secretaries: Rick Detwiler, Carol Hanley Treasurer: Patrice Machavern (treasurer@thecharlottenews.org) Board members: Rachel Allard, Bob Bloch, Gay Regan, Louisa Schibli At Church Hill we love thecharlottenews.org toWebsite: combine plants, rocks and water in ways that transform Subscription Information The Charlotte News is delivered at no cost to alllove your home and inspire At we Church we At Church Hill love Hill Charlotte residences. Subscriptions are available howfirst-class you live. We have for delivery at $40aper calendar year. to combine plants, rocks to combine plants, rocks and Want a subscription? Please send a check payable steadfast dedication to true to The Charlotte News, P.O. Box 251, and water inwhile ways that water inbuilding ways Charlotte, VT 05445.that transform craftsmanship transform your home superior clientyour relationships. Postmaster/Send address homechanges andto:inspire Thehow Charlotte and inspire youNews
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The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 3
Selectboard Profiles:
Tegatz expresses his love for the community and beauty of Charlotte Morgan Magoon “I like being a Selectboard member because I feel like I’m contributing to my community,” Fritz Tegatz said about his service on the Charlotte Photo by C. Richards Selectboard. photography Tegatz has been elected to the Selectboard twice, in 2014 and in 2017. During his tenure on the board, Tegatz has taken on the role of board liaison to both Charlotte Fire & Rescue and the Charlotte Library, as well as the manager of the town’s properties. In the latter role, Tegatz oversaw work on several projects, including the addition of the new entryway at the Senior Center, the installation of new decking on the Charlotte Beach dock, the repair of the Spear Street bridge and the replacement of the roof of the Charlotte Library. He also helped the other Selectboard members choose the contractor for the reconstruction of the Carpenter Road bridge. In his free time, Tegatz enjoys skiing, biking, boating and other outdoor activities. He loves Charlotte, among other reasons, because of its easy access to Lake Champlain, as well as to Mt. Mansfield, Camel’s Hump and Lincoln Peak, all of which he sees every day from his home. Tegatz grew up in Ohio and went to school in Indiana, and then lived in Los Angeles for 35 years. There, he and his wife had a horse boarding training business as well as a venue on the ranch for corporate events and weddings. When they left LA, they decided to move to Charlotte because of its rural character. He said, “I feel like I’m out in the country, but close to the city.” Fritz and his wife, Betsy, who is a lister for the Town of Charlotte, have two children, Richard, 21, and Charlie, 19. Fritz has enjoyed being a member for two threeyear terms, but may not run again. With his two children both attending college, life has become a little crazy. So running for a third term, he says, is “up in the air.”
Opinion
School taxes will increase with governor’s flat rate
Jack Hoffman Vermonters know there’s a difference between taxes and tax rates. Especially when it comes to property taxes, a lower rate doesn’t mean lower taxes if the grand list value of a property goes up. It’s important to distinguish between taxes and rates as the administration and the Legislature seek a compromise on education funding for next year. We shouldn’t ignore the rates. But the bottom line is the tax bill. In the mid-2000s, before the recession hit, the Legislature happily reduced school property tax rates year after year. Everybody took credit for “cutting taxes.” But that was the height of the real estate boom—the one that eventually brought on the recession. Real estate values and grand lists were growing faster than the Legislature could reduce the tax rate. Even though average homestead property tax rates dropped repeatedly, homestead taxes between fiscal 2005 and 2010 grew at an average annual rate of more than 7 percent—one of the biggest growth spurts in the last 15 years. Rates went down, but taxes went up. Jump ahead to the current moment, and Governor Phil Scott is offering a school-funding plan he claims will fulfill a campaign promise to not raise taxes. But the plan only promises not to raise rates; taxes for resident homeowners would still go up. According to the plan, the average homestead property tax rate would remain where it is—about $1.50—for the next five years. But the administration’s figures show homestead taxes—even after the adjustment for those who pay based on household income—would grow at an average annual rate of 2.9 percent. That’s more than double the growth rate for fiscal 2015–2019, despite the larger-than-average increase projected for next year. One reason for the projected increase is that real estate prices are forecast to rise again—not as
fast as they rose in the mid-2000s, but as much as 4.4 percent by 2023. In addition, both the governor and the Legislature have proposed changes to “income sensitivity,” the provision in the current funding system that allows about two-thirds of Vermont resident homeowners to pay school taxes based on household income. Some of these families, depending on their income and house value, also pay property taxes. The proposed changes would increase the amount of property taxes they pay on top of their income-based school taxes. The governor’s proposal to hold down property tax rates won’t prevent higher tax bills. And rising home values, while beneficial in the long run, won’t help taxpayers when those bills come due. Most people aren’t seeing 4.4 percent annual growth in their incomes, which is where Vermonters get the money to pay their property taxes. The long-term solution is to get rid of the property tax on residential property and let all Vermont residents pay school taxes based on their ability to pay—that is, on their income. Two-thirds of resident homeowners currently pay an income-based school tax. Like the homestead property tax, the income-based homestead rate varies from town to town, depending
Jack Hoffman is a policy analyst for Public Assets Institute (publicassets. org), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in Montpelier.
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on education spending per pupil. We already have the system in place. We just need to require that all residents pay the income-based school rate. It’s too late this year to make this change. But with a commitment now to move to income-based school taxes, there is time to collect the necessary data and analyses so the Legislature can have a proposal ready for passage next year. That also would give campaigning legislators an opportunity to discuss the proposal before the fall elections and get feedback from voters. As for the coming fiscal year, voters have already approved school budgets, and they did so with the understanding that there would be a school tax increase. The Legislature has proposed an average homestead tax rate that is almost three cents below what voters are expecting this summer. The sooner the special session is wrapped up, the sooner the administration and lawmakers can start working on a real solution—an education funding system based on all Vermonters’ ability to pay.
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4 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Around Town Congratulations:
winter.
to Tina and John Helzer of Charlotte who were featured in the May 30 Seven Days for the imminent opening of their “gastropub” (sometime in mid to late June) in Shelburne. It will be called Peg & Ters. Having worked at various wine shops and bars in New York City, John will develop the wine list “with an eye toward natural winemaking and small, family-run wineries.” The food will also lean toward locavore with chef Cory Perkins having trained in Boston and at Twin Farms in Barnard, Vermont. Cocktails will be concocted by barman Jesse Luberoff who worked at Leunigs, the Mule Bar and Great Northern before heading to Shelburne.
to Samantha Blackmore of Charlotte who will be part of the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup in Louisville, Kentucky, this coming November. Samantha was selected as much for her public speaking ability as for her horsemanship. For the national event she will develop a 10- to15-minute horse-team demonstration. Samantha is a member of the Midnight Riders 4-H Club of Hinesburg.
to Kathryn Blume of Charlotte who was also mentioned in the May 30 Seven Days in Ken Picard’s column. Kathryn spoke to a group of BFA-St. Albans students calling themselves the “Students for Social Change.” Kathryn is a writer, environmental activist, solo performer and co-founder of the “Lysistrata Project,” a worldwide theatrical presentation focusing on ways to bring about peace. to Courtney McDermott of Charlotte whose poem appeared in the Burlington Free Press Young Writers Project on June 1. The challenge for this issue was simply “general writing.” Courtney wrote a poem called “A winter poem for spring,” in which she depicts a person who she feels has “something wrong with her internal heating system.” The person “whines about freezing when it’s 60 degrees.” Yet, she won’t change herself. You will have to read the poem to find out how she feels about
Communications team chosen for national 4-H horse event
to Cobey Gatos and John Creech who are lead musicians in the Charlotte-based band, Greenbush. They were pictured in the June 2 Burlington Free Press playing in Leunigs as part of the annual Burlington Jazz Fest.
Town Bite Charlotte shows high income, low growth
In his June 7 Free Press column, UVM economics professor Art Woolf says that, while Shelburne and Charlotte are two of the area’s wealthiest towns, they are also two of the slowest growing communities. This is particularly true for Charlotte, which has shown next to no growth in the last eight years (Shelburne has shown a slight increase.). Woolf says that Burlington, the “economic hub of the county and state,” has fewer residents today than it did in 2010, although Chittenden County’s population has increased by nearly twothirds. Burlington legislators are hoping that construction of 300 new housing units downtown may help reverse that trend, according to Woolf.
At the state 4-H Horse Communications Contest on June 2 in Middlebury, four Vermont 4-H’ers earned a spot on the Vermont horse communications team that will compete nationally. They are (left to right) Samantha Blackmore, Charlotte; Ella Haire, Hinesburg; Olivia Suker, Shrewsbury; and Elyza Bird, Benson. Photo by Wendy Sorrell/UVM Extension 4-H
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The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 5
Town Chamber music as it’s meant to be heard
Michaela Flore Morgan Magoon
Flautist, Jennifer Grim
Photo contributed
And the last concert will be held at the Shelburne Vineyards on Friday, August 10. This concert consists of three quintets, one each for clarinet, oboe and French horn. All musicians are members of the Mozart Orchestra of New York. Tickets for each of the three concerts is $50, or $100 for the whole series. For information and tickets, contact the Kaplans at (802) 425-2209 or send an email to Melvinkaplan29@gmail.com. Persons interested in seeing the August 19 concert are urged to contact Mel Kaplan at the above email address or phone number by July 7.
Lake Champlain Byway website offers tools to explore region’s scenic, historic and outdoor recreation sites Dan Albrecht With the arrival of
warm weather, both Vermonters and tourists have to grapple with trying to figure out all the places they’d like to explore in the coming months. The Lake Champlain Byway has recently updated its website, lakechamplainbyway.com, to offer tools to help both local residents and visitors access the region’s wealth of parks, trails, beaches and museums, as well as lesser-known local historical societies and conserved lands. The Lake Champlain Byway is 184 miles long and consists of U.S. Route 2 through Grand Isle County, U.S. Route 7 through Chittenden County and then south into Addison County. It is comprised of 22 communities along this route with more than 200 intrinsic resource sites (parks, trails, boat launches, performing arts centers, museums, etc.) managed by various government entities and nonprofit organizations. LakeChamplainByway.
Young Charlotters is a new column in which we will profile the lives of young men and women who spent some of their growing-up years in Charlotte. Our summer interns, Morgan Magoon and Jackie Flynn, will be sharing stories of Charlotters in their 20s and 30s and the good works they are engaged in out in the world now. If you have a suggestion, a son or daughter whose story we could share, please email us at melissa@ thecharlottenews.org.
com organizes these sites by county and by history/culture, natural/scenic and outdoor recreation so visitors can easily narrow their search based on interest. The website also offers two innovative electronic features: an interactive map feature and a mobile story app. The Byway’s interactive map places the Byway’s resource sites on high-resolution maps by ESRI Inc. so website visitors can “zoom-in” down to the neighborhood level to see how to reach their destination. The Byway’s mobile story app, using electronic tour technology from OnCell, enables visitors with smart phones to hear 26 different stories linked to sites within the Byway’s eight Chittenden County communities. Dan Albrecht is the chair of the Lake Champlain Byway Council, Inc. For more information about the council, visit lakechamplainbyway.com. Albrecht can be contacted at dalbrecht@ccrpcvt.org or (802) 861-0133.
Michaela Flore has been a member of the Charlotte community all her life and thoroughly enjoyed growing up here as the oldest of three sisters. Her father, Josh Flore, is a Shelburne police officer. Michaela feels proud of her parents because they worked hard to give her and her sisters a good life. “Growing up in Charlotte made me proud of how hard my parents worked. I have respect for the farmers, too, growing up so close to them,” she says. Some of her favorite places in Charlotte are the library, the beach and the Charlotte Central School soccer fields. The recreation program in Charlotte was a big part of Michaela’s childhood. She played soccer beginning at age 5, and when she got older, she played on the varsity team at CVU as the goalie. Michaela was also on the CVU track team and competed in throwing events. Michaela really enjoyed growing up in Charlotte because of the small town feel. “Most people in town know one another, which makes the town a closeknit community,” she says. One of her favorite things about living in Charlotte is what happens in the month of October. Halloween is Michaela’s favorite holiday, and she remembers when she was younger the Pumpkin Man from CCS was the highlight of the Halloween season as well as the Halloween parties that were organized by the parents of the kids at CCS. Trick or treating in Charlotte was also one of her favorite things. “Trick or treating in Charlotte is always amazing because they close the center of town and it’s a really homey feeling, it’s a good dose of how the world used to be,” she says. Two of Michaela’s interests are pottery
RAISE YOUR HAND
Photo by contributed
“
Growing up in Charlotte made me proud of how hard my parents worked. I have respect for the farmers, too, growing up so close to them.
”
and exercise. “The art classes and physical education here made me the athlete I am and gave me an interest in pottery.” Michaela took pottery classes when she attended CVU. Jules Polk was her pottery mentor at CVU and helped her realize she had an artistic side to her. Michaela just finished her sophomore year at the University of Vermont and is majoring in microbiology. Once she finishes college, she would like to focus on infectious disease work in a research lab. Her dream is to work with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Charlotte’s own impresario, Mel Kaplan, has proven to be just as indefatigable as ever. Once again he has put together a series of music jewels for the summer. It was almost 45 years ago when he founded the original Vermont Mozart Festival, and, after it ceased eight years ago, he formulated a new way of providing highquality musical events every summer. This summer is no different, as he has assembled three chamber concerts presenting works spanning Mozart’s creative years of 17561791. In past summers he has concentrated on presenting chamber works in intimate settings more appropriate to the venues for which they were written. Chamber music is frequently referred to as “the music of friends,” as musicians have often gathered to play these pieces socially. This year the chosen venues will include the Shelburne Vineyard’s music space and the living rooms in two homes in Charlotte. Each of these programs will feature Mozart quartets or quintets played by artists drawn from Kaplan’s extensive list of world-class artists. The first of the concerts will be two piano quartets at Fox Horn Farms, the Kaplan home, on Friday July 6. This is followed on Friday, August 3, by a concert of three flute quartets played principally by a crowd favorite, Jennifer Grim, professor of music at the University of Las Vegas.
Young Charlotters
6 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Town Clemmons Family Farm “Making History, Creating Place” with acclaimed architect Zena Howard Howard emphasizes that cultural spaces should be designed to strengthen connections between people Roz Whitaker-Heck The long-awaited visit of Zena Howard, an architect of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. (NMAAHC), to the Clemmons Family Farm heralds the next step in its transition to a communitybased venue for visual and performing arts to celebrate African-American heritage and the African diaspora in Vermont. Two years ago Lydia Clemmons, the oldest daughter of Dr. Jackson and Mrs. Lydia Clemmons who purchased the farm in 1962, was following news of the impending opening of the NMAAHC devoted to chronicling the lives, history and culture of African-Americans. Lydia was intrigued by the beauty of the museum’s physical structure and drawn to its focus on “the whole story” of AfricanAmerican history, including stories of joy, love, great achievements and triumph, along with those of oppression, racism, discrimination and the struggle against those forces. Fueled by her discovery that one of the lead architects of the building was an African American woman, in July 2016 Lydia cold-called Howard and her collaborator Phil Freelon of Perkins+Will Global, an international architecture and design firm, who were in the midst of preparing for the grand opening of the NMAAHC that September. “In spite of this, they were extremely gracious with their time,” Lydia recalled. Two years later, the receipt of a $350,000 National Creative Placemaking grant from ArtPlace America created an opportunity to collaborate with the architects to transform the farm’s historic Big Barn into a future venue for AfricanAmerican and African diaspora visual and performing arts. On June 1–3 Howard shared her expertise as a designer of beautiful spaces that honor African-American heritage with the Clemmons family, 40 Vermont artists and architects, Charlotte residents and a consortium of Vermont-based partners as part of the A Sense of Place project, funded by ArtPlace America. The weekend began with Howard teaming with Eliot Lothrop, principal of Building Heritage, LLC, an expert in the preservation of historic Vermont barns. Howard conducted a detailed site survey of the Big Barn built in 1830, as Lothrop pointed out the unique historic features in the building: a square silo, hand-hewn beams, a cupola, Vermont fieldstone walls and an immense water cistern, and described the stabilizing work done so far including installing a partially new foundation, rigging up the massive wooden water cistern from rotting floorboards and reinforcing the roof structure. That evening, nearly 100 invited guests attended a reception hosted by
the Clemmons Family Farm in honor of Howard. Chef Candace Taylor of Conscious Kitchen, a Sense of Place project partner, prepared a menu of ancestral cuisines. The “Making History, Creating Place” design charrette, to plan the use of the interior spaces of the Big Barn as future venues for African-American/African diaspora visual and performing arts, filled the following day. The charette (pronounced “shar-et”— an intensive planning or design effort usually focused on addressing a specific architectural project within an allotted time) began with presentations by a multidisciplinary team of experts that included Sara Westlake and Leila Tamari of ArtPlace America, Caitlin Corkins of the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s Division of Historic Preservation, Christal Brown, the Clemmons Family Farm’s director of Visual and Performing Arts, and Zena Howard. Howard emphasized that cultural spaces should be designed to strengthen connections between people; collect, share and preserve culture; build community awareness; foster memorable experiences; embrace cultural identity; create transformative experiences, and celebrate memories. The creative work commenced with the artists assigned to small design groups, based on their art genres, each with an architect adviser from the Vermont chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Brown charged the participants with developing “Big Sky” ideas for the creative redesign of the Big Barn’s interior to create unique spaces for AfricanAmerican and African diaspora visual and performing arts programs, revitalizing the two-story structure for agricultural uses, while preserving the barn’s historic structural beauty. By the end of the day, the groups had envisioned the massive water cistern rotating with projected digital images, art projects reflecting the reverence and beauty of the farm, African-American storytelling circles, a skylight revealing the evening stars, shafts of light from the cupola as a stage spotlight; artist studio spaces; a recording studio in the square silo, inclusion of restorative and healing arts; and preserving the Big Barn’s exposed fieldstone walls as a stunning entryway. The weekend concluded with something close to Howard’s heart. Having spent much of her childhood growing up in an all-white community in upstate New York with no role models in her chosen profession, Howard is passionate about mentoring young girls of African descent, here sharing her knowledge about architecture and the need for more African-American women to enter the field of architecture with girls of color from neighboring Vermont towns. After
Architect Zena Howard (center) inside the Big Barn with some of the “Making History, Creating Place” design charette participants at the Clemmons Family Farm. Photos by Marice Providence
Zena Howard (center) with Charlotte artists Nancy Winship-Milliken (left) and Cami Davis (right) at the Clemmons Family Farm. touring the Big Barn, Howard and the girls returned to the Barn House for a mini-charette to share their own creative placemaking ideas. The “Making History, Creating Place” events pave the way for the continuation of the preservation and creative placemaking work at the Big Barn. Stabilizing it should be completed by this fall, but Lydia notes that more funds will be needed to implement some of the new ideas for the redesign of the Big Barn’s interior spaces. To address the fundraising challenges, the Clemmons Family Farm has partnered with the Burlington City Arts Foundation as its fiscal agent through which supporters can make tax-deductible gifts to the Big Barn project at http://bit.ly/BigBarnGift. Supporting the Big Barn project helps
preserve the African-American legacy and cultural heritage of the Clemmons Family Farm, a part of America’s living history. This unique and historic AfricanAmerican owned farm is a true rarity given the number of African-American owned farms that have disappeared from the American landscape. In a nation with one billion acres of farmland, over the span of Jackson and Lydia Clemmons’ lifetimes, African-Americans have lost 93 percent of their land. In Vermont, only about 19 of more than 7,000 farms in the state are owned by African Americans. The significance of the Clemmons Family Farm as a cultural heritage asset and AfricanAmerican land asset for Vermont and the nation is detailed in this link: http://bit.ly/ CFFCulturalheritageasset.
The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 7
Farm & Food
Lessons from weeding: grassroots action
I’m 47 years old and this month was the first time in my life that I’ve ever weeded a garden. While this might be surprising to many, Francine Stephens as I am the newly appointed Food & Farm director at Philo Ridge Farm, I’ve spent the better part of my adult life on the social and culinary side of food and agriculture. Furthermore, other than my college years at UVM, I’ve spent my entire life in the city. During the course of my career, I’ve been advocating for a deeper connection between what we as consumers eat and those who produce our food. I’ve fought for a public understanding that where we spend our money matters and has a direct and meaningful impact on our local communities. I’ve explained that the
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products we eat and put on our skin directly affect our health and well-being. However, despite the near constant mindfulness around agriculture, I’ve never spent time in the garden. When Jane Engelman, our Market Garden manager, asked for help weeding the asparagus patch, I didn’t think twice to offer my help. Jane let me know that the asparagus field on the farm has been very challenging— the beds were never prepped properly when the asparagus was first planted and, thus, the weeds were particularly tenacious. Under the hot sun, Jane gave me a
trowel and bucket and put me to work. Within about 30 seconds I knew I was wearing the wrong clothing. Within about 5 minutes I understood the challenge of our Champlain Valley’s clay soils. Most profoundly, within the first 30 minutes I was in awe of the strength of these grass roots that I was trying to pull out of the soil. I’ve since learned that grass has rhizomes, a horizontal stem that forms new roots and shoots. Many invasive plants form rhizomes, making them difficult to eradicate. Indeed. This grass was deep, entangled, strong.
I am sure I will come away with many profound and obvious thoughts. Helping others is, after all, a core tenet of being human.
Nicole Conley
Fall soccer signups
The soccer registration fee is $45 until August 10, after which a $25 late fee will be added. If your athlete has a Charlotte rec T-shirt you can subtract $5. The final registration deadline is Friday, August 31. The season will start Saturday, September 8, and run through Saturday, October 13. Soccer practices will be set by the coaches based on their availability. Please make a note on your child’s form if there are certain days and times your child is unavailable to practice.
Patrick Kearney, PA-C
Andrea Regan, MD
Andrea Regan, MD has been serving the Charlotte and surrounding communities as a board-certified physician for over 13 years. She grew up in Hinesburg and graduated from UVM Medical School in 2005. Dr. Regan has a special interest in adolescent and women’s health and is accepting new patients at Charlotte Family Health Center.
Call 425-5121 to schedule an We welcome patients of all ages.
Volunteers needed! Would you like to get involved but not sure how? Sign up for one of our volunteer opportunities: coaching, painting the field or helping with the annual soccer jamboree. Please check off any of the volunteer opportunities on your child’s registration form.
Exceptional quality care in a warm, friendly atmosphere
Evergreen Family Health
T-shirt sponsorships If you would like to support Charlotte Recreation but are unable to volunteer, become a T-shirt sponsor and your company’s logo will be placed on the back of our rec T-shirts. These shirts are worn at all games and jamborees. This is a great way to get your company out there! Charlotte Recreation has full and partial scholarships available; contact the recreation director for more details. Phone: 425-6129 ext. 204 or email recreation@townofcharlotte.com.
Patrick Ke experienc care for ad accepting n Family He practice Same DayHealth. Appointmen Al ”
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I’ve spent much of my adult life forging bonds in my community over real food. I’ve felt deeply the importance of coming together over common threads and achievement through collective action. In our lifetime we’ve seen, firsthand, groups of people coming together to represent themselves and speaking out on issues that are important to them, their families and their communities. I believe in strong grassroots action. But no, I’ve never made the obvious connection between the term grassroots and the powerful, multilayered, intertwined roots of grasses. How glaring the connection now is. I plan to help my fellow co-workers weed the gardens here on Philo Ridge Farm throughout this growing season as well as with other tasks that Jane and the rest of our team need assistance with. I am sure I will come away with many profound and obvious thoughts. Helping others is, after all, a core tenet of being human. I look forward to many years ahead as I become an active member of this community of Charlotte, Vermont.
Call 425-2781 to schedule an appointment
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George & Pam Darling
www.evergreenhealth.org P.O. Box 32 Ferry Road, Charlotte, VT
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Evergreen Family Health 28 Park Avenue Williston, VT 05495 878-1008 www.evergreenhealth.org
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8 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Town Jacqueline Flynn
Bucket baths, politics and prisoners: five months abroad in South Africa
Perhaps it was South Africa’s recent political history, or maybe it was the excitement of going to a place that I believed was the polar opposite of the small Vermont town I grew up in, but around Christmas of 2017, I found myself packing my bags to embark on a five-month study abroad program in Durban, South Africa. SIT (School of International Training) is a study abroad program run out of Brattleboro, Vermont. The purpose of the program is to learn about post-Apartheid South Africa and, specifically, the racial and socioeconomic divides that still exist today in that country. As a political science and journalism major at school, I figured this program would be right up my alley. It was advertised as “experiential learning,” and, though I didn’t know the full extent of what that meant, I had a feeling it wouldn’t be giving me the usual experiences of a 20-something-year-old studying abroad. I think of my time in South Africa as two separate trips. The first two months were spent in homestays in Durban. The second part was spent in Cape Town, working for a national South African newspaper called The Sunday Times. I got to see protests, speeches, court trials, a duck farm and a cheese festival. I was also in the country to see a change of president and the death of Winnie Mandela. Working for the newspaper was one of the most exciting experiences I’ve had, and my biggest challenges and most vivid memories are from those first two months. Two weeks into the program, after orientation in Johannesburg, we were handed a paper with the names of our new families and the address of our home for the next month and a half located in a township called Bonela in Durban. When I Googled Bonela, Durban, images of middle class houses popped up—houses sitting on hills with big gates in front of them. What was not shown was the mixture of informal shack settlements and government-built houses all squished together. Bonela is a township where black South Africans were forced to live during Apartheid. Basic human rights were denied these citizens until just 20 years ago, and to this day, many families have no choice but to live there. I knew culture shock would come, but nothing was harder than the first 24 hours in my new home. As we drove up to the gate of my house, a thunderstorm was rolling in that offered my first lesson in traditional Zulu culture. I quickly learned that during
The view from my house during our rural homestay in Dokodweni. a storm you must cover all the mirrors, turn off all electricity and cover your shoulders until the storm passes. The crackling thunder and heavy rain was mixed with the tune of our neighbor singing a song in Zulu for the rain to pass and the screams of a lady up the street who was mad at her husband. A roar of laughter erupted next door from a group of men outside the Tuk Shop next to my house. It was all so unfamiliar but would become the soundtrack to daily life in my new home. After the storm passed, I moved into my room. I had a full bed to myself which I felt guilty about, considering six people lived in our house and there were only two bedrooms. Nonetheless, my room was my own space, and I would learn to love and desperately miss it later on in the program. It also served as my bathroom, or at least the bucket in the corner did. Our bathroom was broken and my family didn’t have the money to fix it. So bathing consisted of using two buckets of heated water and a sponge. As I lay down my first night listening to my new roommates walk around—about a dozen or so roaches—and trying not to think about getting to know the bucket in the corner of the room, I thought to myself, “What the hell am I doing?” That desperate thought was answered by my families who were more than welcoming to me. My family consisted of my two sisters: Pamela who was 21 and Luyanda who was 3. Mama Joyce was the boss of the house, and her friend Mpho helped take care of Luyanda, whose mother had passed away right before I got there. Mama Joyce worked as a cashier everyday at a supermarket but
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still came home to feed and take care of the family. Everything she did revolved around taking care of others. They were so kind. They were also so open. No topic was off limits, and I found that this was true of South Africans as a whole. People don’t filter what they say to one another, especially in politics. There was certainly conflict: Mpho was an ANC supporter, wanting to remove President Zuma, the president at the time, while Mama Joyce mostly questioned me about Trump. No matter what the topic, every conversation was filled with differing opinions and curiosity as we exchanged thoughts. One thing that my colleagues and I did not expect to find, even 20 years after Apartheid, was racism. When Uber drivers would see our destination was in a township, they said things like, “Why would you ever live there? Do you feel safe there? You’re a bunch of white kids living with Zulu families? That’s disgusting.” Some even refused to drive us there. But never once in the township did we hear things like that. We couldn’t have felt safer and, once we got used to our new environment, couldn’t have felt more at home. My fellow students and I were in Bonela for a month and a half. Aside from meeting people within our communities, the program gave us incredible exposure to influential political figures in South African history. We got to meet people like Albie Sachs and Mac Maharaj, two of the founding fathers of South Africa’s Constitution. After our time in Bonela, we moved to our rural homestay for two weeks. Though we didn’t spend as much time there, this proved to be another challenge. It was located in a town called Dokodweni, north of Durban. We were dropped off at the village’s school that sat on top of a hill overlooking the fields of sugarcane rolling down to the ocean. Again, during a thunderstorm! Only this time instead of running inside, we had to walk several miles to our houses. This town reminded me of my home a world away. There were cows throughout the hillsides, and every night there was a familiar but unforgettable sunset over the
My Bonela family (from left to right): Mama Joyce, Luyanda, Me, Mpho, Pamela. Photos by Jacqueline Flynn ocean. The only thing missing from the view were mountains. We had been warned that our rural homestay would be like “camping but with a bigger tent.” By now I had adjusted to bucket baths and bugs, but this house was a shell. There was no life to it, and we barely spent any time inside since it was so hot. There was barely any furniture inside and no running water. The electricity went in and out, mostly for the icebox that we were lucky to have. The two weeks we spent in Dokodweni were perhaps the most influential of the trip. During the weekends, instead of going to clubs like my friends from school who were in other study abroad programs, we were taken to a prison. We sat on the ground in the prison yard talking to the inmates, one on one, with no bars or walls between us. Again, the people we spoke with were so kind and so open. There was no hesitation in their stories of how they got there and the decisions they made. I was learning about a part of their society that would’ve felt foreign even in my home country. I had never been to a prison, let alone spoken to a prisoner. The biggest learning moments I had came from those conversations, with the prisoners, with my families, and it happened because everyone was open with one another, even though we came from completely different walks of life. I think that even in a small town like Charlotte there are always new people to meet and new experiences to be had if you look for them. I cherish those conversations and could not be more thankful to have had this experience, even the most challenging moments—although I will not be taking a bucket bath anytime soon. Jacqueline Flynn is a Charlotte native and a rising senior at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. At TCU, she studies political science and journalism with an international emphasis. She has a passion for photography. Jackie is currently working as a Pulitzer Center Student Fellow, reporting on the water crisis in South Africa. We welcome her to The News as a summer intern.
The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 9
In The Garden In the past few columns, we’ve visited the finer and perhaps more colorful of the garden’s inhabitants. These are the icing on the cake, so to speak. Joan Weed But there needs to be structure and strength before you add icing. This is what gardeners refer to as the “bones” of the garden. Imagine beginning with a pasture or meadow. You add a lovely perennial bed, filled containers or a cutting garden of annuals. As charming and useful as these are, something is missing. The backbone of your landscape is simply a flat parcel. Here’s where we should have the “bones.” Preferably, the structure should be added first, and you build the design until you can
Weary Pilgrim So it’s been a year since I sold my last truck, a wonderful 30-year-old Silverado—it was a guaranteed extra 10 minutes Mason Daring at the gas pumps as folks weighed in on the beauty of classic designs in years gone by. But the Silverado didn’t really work for me in Vermont, for the simple reason it was rust-free and I felt guilty about driving it in winter as in no time flat the salt on the roads would have it for breakfast. So off it went to a collector, and I tried life in Vermont without a truck. Which really is a no-go. As it turned out, carrying topsoil in the Bentley had significant drawbacks. Okay, it’s not a Bentley, but you get the idea. You just can’t chuck the dump items in your Sunday-go-to-meeting sedan or SUV without repeated trips to the car wash or detailer. And you really can’t go fishing in anything but a truck. I’m pretty sure it’s a state law. The penalty for going fishing in a convertible is that it will rain as soon as you’re in the middle of the river. If you drive to the river in an SUV, word gets around pretty quickly. You do
add the frosting. It doesn’t always happen in this order, but don’t let that hold you back. Trees, both large and small, shrubs of various shapes (and colors) and grasses can change the landscape into something far more interesting. Don’t forget about hardscape. Stone walls, structured paths, boulders either brought in or left in place, sculptures, fountains and pools are all hardscape features to consider. Now we are beginning to see an interesting garden that exhibits the gardener’s personal style and makes it unique. Garden furniture falls somewhere between hardscape and the icing. Providing resting places for reflection or relaxation adds to a sense of the garden being a destination. Consider size as well as placement. Decorative items seem to become even smaller once placed outdoors on your property. Here is a good place to mention resources for choosing structural plants. Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs: An Illustrated
Encyclopedia, by Michael Dirr, is the champion, first published in 1997. The photos were all taken by Dirr over the years. His style is straightforward. Another favorite of mine is The National Arboretum Book of Outstanding Garden Plants. My copy was printed in 1990 but is well illustrated and I have turned to it often. And finally I want to mention a booklet published right here at the University of Vermont and revised by Charlotte’s own Professor Emeritus Norman Pellett and Assistant Professor Mark Starrett. It’s titled Landscape Plants for Vermont. Check the UVM Extension Service for availability on this one. Personally, I have a hard time with straight lines in the garden. Mother Nature rarely makes one. She loves the curve. Go and do likewise. If your budget allows, adding rock gardens, berms or small hillocks can transform a plain piece of land into something exciting. Water features are
The state truck
know the fish talk to each other, right? Park the Outback next to the stream, and before you know it the snickering begins. Guaranteed skunk time. Ever see a guy pulling off his waders while he’s sitting on a tailgate? It’s because he caught his limit, and it’s time to go home. It’s a scientifically proven fact that fish fear fisherman who drive trucks. And it’s way better bringing fish home in the back of the truck than in the trunk of a sedan. You remember you have to mow the lawn, after which you need a beer, and then your neighbor invites you over, and one thing leads to another, until a few days later, your wife asks you what the hell is it that smells in the garage? Please don’t ask me how I know this. Really, it’s better to bring the fish home in the truck. So once I realized my life could only be complete with a truck, I started on the search for a proper Vermont truck. Now I could tell you that this led to a systematic research plan based on the premise that only due diligence would prevent buyer’s remorse. But then I looked around my golf course parking lot. Out of six trucks, five were Toyota Tacomas. I started counting trucks on the way home. Easily three out of four are Toyota Tacomas. It became quickly clear to me that this is the Vermont state truck the same way the TV satellite dish is the Vermont State flower. Mind you, there are lots of other
swell trucks—in fact, almost no truck is despised. There are also other flowers. But do a quick head count, and you tell me. Once you settle on a truck, the next step is actually locating one that might be a good deal. Good luck with that. These trucks were apparently shipped from the factory with a stash of gold bullion hidden in each one because the resale price of a complete rust bucket looks like the annual gross product of Belize. Toyota had a famous frame recall for a series of its trucks over many years, resulting in a bunch of them getting frame replacements. This is like you getting a spine implant, which in my limited medical experience sounds like a questionable practice, but for some it has apparently worked out. I somehow managed to locate an older truck, which has apparently spent its
another idea to consider. Not only does water add visual interest but sound and movement as well. We all garden in different places and conditions. Making the best use of what you are given is the most satisfying work. My present garden was begun by someone else, and I have always been grateful for their efforts. We’ve added, edited, pruned, learned and most of all enjoyed the journey here for 21 years so far. I am amazed at some of the plants that are still thriving for all these years and delight in adding something I’ve always wanted to grow. If a plant doesn’t work out and it’s right for the climate, try it in another spot with different conditions. For me the joy of gardening is becoming intimate with certain plants and finding them again after a harsh winter or a particular windstorm or a construction project. This is the life of a garden. Those who garden as an avocation will understand.
last several years buried in a sand dune somewhere because I couldn’t find any rust on it. So I bought it. Now the question is, do I have it undercoated, or do I have oil sprayed on the underside, a practice which sounds suspiciously like some voodoo cult ceremony. My dad swore by this—till he and Mom came home from church one day and she stepped on a deep puddle of oil on the garage floor. Then my mom swore by this, if you get my drift. The other option is to wash the truck every time I drive it in salt. Not gonna happen. So I’ve got the summer to figure this out. If you see a forest green Tacoma crew cab (I need to find a crew somewhere, by the way) by the stream this summer—just look for the Vermont Habitat decal on the back window—feel free to leave some fish in the back.
10 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Charlotte Library News Margaret Woodruff LIBRARY DIRECTOR
KIDS PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
Summer reading begins Tuesday, June 26, with a kick-off party at 1 p.m. Learn how raptors build their habitats in this hand-on session with Vermont Institute of Natural Science. For all ages. Full information about all summer reading programs available on our website: charlottepubliclibrary.org.
BOOK SALE! Sunday, July 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Join us on the Town Green for summer book shopping & delicious local lunch fare
Drop-in LEGO Club begins Thursday, June 28. Join us each Thursday at 10 a.m. through July. Create your own LEGO marvels and try a new challenge each week through the summer. Grades 3 & up. Summer of Numbers: Can doing math in the summer be fun? Yes, with the Summer of Numbers and a daily math problem. Just pick up a constellation chart and star stickers to track your progress. For all ages. ADULT INTEREST Summer book groups. Join us for one or all of these summer sessions, from serious discussion to hammock reading. Copies of the books are available at the library circulation desk. June mystery book group: A Murder of Magpies, by Judith Flanders. Monday, June 18, at 10 a.m. When Inspector Field turns up at the venerable offices of Timmins & Ross, asking questions about a package addressed to Sam, she knows something is wrong. Now Sam’s nine-to-five life is turned upside down as she finds herself propelled into a criminal investigation. Someone doesn’t want Kit’s manuscript published, and unless Sam can put the pieces together in time, they’ll do anything to stop it. Copies are available at the circulation desk. July book group at Charlotte Senior Center: Serve It Forth, by M.F.K. Fisher. Mondays, July 9, 16 & 23 at 10:30 a.m. The first series of essays by the famed food writer takes readers on an animated journey through culinary history. You’ll be ready for lunch! Please call the Senior Center to register, 425-6345.
July mystery book group: Bloodhounds, by Peter Lovesey. Monday, July 16, at 10 a.m. A rare stamp and a corpse are discovered in Bath within hours of each other. Inspector Peter Diamond discovers that both the person who found the stamp and the victim belong to the Bloodhounds, an elite group of mystery lovers, who now urge Diamond to bring the murderer to justice. Copies available at the circulation desk. August book group at the Charlotte Senior Center: The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood. Mondays, August 6, 13 & 20 @ 10:30 a.m. A look at the novel that inspired last year’s dystopian TV hit. Set in a totalitarian Christian theonomy, the story focuses the handmaid Offred and her role in a commander’s house as servant and surrogate. Please call the Senior Center to register, 425-6345. August mystery book group: The Various Haunts of Men, by Susan Hill. Monday, August 20, at 10 a.m. Having transferred to the small cathedral town of Lafferton from London’s Met, police detective Freya Graffham explores her new community. Though she fits well within the local police force, she finds herself unable to let go what seems like a routine missing persons report on a middle-aged spinster. When yet more townspeople turn up missing, her hunch is verified, and a serious police search begins. Copies available at the circulation desk.
Book donations gratefully accepted June 20 – July 6 during library hours
Hammock-nappers book group: A book a month! Hop in your hammock for the second year of our laidback book group! Pick up copies of our monthly selections and then settle in for a leisurely read. June: Exit West, by Moshin Hamid. July: The 19th Wife, by David Ebershoff. August: As Lie Is to Grin, by Simeon Marsalis. You can also follow and participate in monthly discussion on Facebook at facebook.com/ groups/461453860882320/. Don’t forget—the Seed Library is open! Plenty of seeds for growing your own fresh veggies. Questions? Contact Seed Library coordinator at charlottelibraryvt@gmail. com. Charlotte Library Board of Trustees: Katharine Cohen, Nan Mason, Danielle Conlon Menk, Jonathan Silverman and Robert Smith.
Charlotte Library information: Margaret Woodruff, director Cheryl Sloan, youth services librarian Susanna Kahn, tech services librarian Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m . Reach us on the web at charlottepubliclibrary.org. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/charlottelibraryvt. Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @CharlotteVTLib.
Next library board meeting: Thursday, July 12, at 6 p.m.
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Chris is an award-winning Realtor® and a proud member of the von Trapp family, depicted in the movie, The Sound of Music.
Email your news announcements to
news@ thecharlottenews.org
The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 11
Into The Woods Ethan Tapper In walking the woods of Chittenden County, landscape-level trends become increasingly apparent. One surprise has been evidence of an over-abundance of white-tailed deer on the landscape and the negative influence of deer on young trees (“regeneration”) in the forest. In winter, a deer eats, or “browses,” 6 to 8 percent of its body weight—about 10 to 15 pounds of buds and twigs—per day. The damage from this browsing can easily kill young seedlings and saplings or lend them the appearance of stunted “bonsai” trees. Where the deer population is dense, browsing can have a huge impact on the composition of regeneration in the forest—deer prefer to eat certain species like oak, sugar maple, ash and yellow birch and are much less likely to browse beech, black birch and invasive exotic plants (among others). This discourages the growth of a diversity of native species (always our goal) and promotes a less diverse forest. Ironically, by ignoring the species they don’t like to eat deer also encourage these species, providing lower-quality browse for future generations of deer and lowering populations of mast-producing species that deer rely on, like oak. Deer were not always prominent here. In pre-settlement Vermont deer were uncommon, small herds restricted mostly to the Connecticut River and Champlain Valleys. Along with caribou, elk, turkey, beaver, moose, bear, otters, fishers, marten, Canada geese and others, they were extirpated from Vermont in the 1800s due to over-hunting
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The deer dilemma and habitat loss. Catamounts and wolves, subject to a 1787 bounty in Vermont, were eliminated from the state during that time as well. Following the re-introduction of 17 deer near Rutland in 1878, Vermont’s deer population recovered and exploded in the 1940s–60s. The recovery of Vermont’s forested habitat after the sheep craze of the 1800s was one reason for this, as was a lack of predation. Coyotes, not known to exist in Vermont before the 1940s, moved into the state but can’t fully fill the niche vacated by our extirpated top predators. Since the 1960s, deer populations have decreased but are still high in many areas. Hunting helps, but fewer and fewer Vermonters hunt, and deer are welladapted to our increasingly developed landscape. They are “generalists,” able to thrive in a wide array of habitat conditions, relatively unfazed by forest fragmentation and development. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s 2018 Antlerless Recommendation states that deer are above carrying capacity statewide, that is, there are too many deer for the amount of habitat we have. This is not just a problem for our forests: When deer are overpopulated they become less healthy. In the 1960s, when deer populations were very high, the size, condition, health and reproductive rates of Vermont’s deer plummeted. Because of the way that deer breed (one buck can mate with several does), hunting only—or mostly—male deer usually doesn’t lead to a meaningful reduction in deer populations. The best way to lower populations is to hunt does (“antlerless”
Since the 1960s, deer populations have decreased but are still high in many areas.
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deer). For a variety of reasons, but largely due to tradition (dating back to the first managed deer hunting season in Vermont in 1897), Vermont is the only state in the country that does not allow the hunting of antlerless deer with a rifle. So what can we do? Advocating for more hunting of antlerless deer is a start. However, there are some other steps you can take to mitigate this problem on your own woodlot. First, allow hunting on your land. While we can’t bring back our top predators, we can try to keep populations at a healthy level. If you can’t stomach having your land totally open to hunting, consider giving permission to one or two trusted friends or neighbors. Consider offering up the opportunity to hunt on your land on Front Porch Forum or visiting Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s “Landowner-Hunter Connection” website (https://bit.ly/2JmQwyp). Second, thoughtful forest management
can “overwhelm” the deer, creating an abundance of regeneration that exceeds your deer herd’s ability to browse. Careful harvesting can also create a more diverse forest, which will be healthier and more resilient in the long term and provide better wildlife habitat for more species. Contact me or a licensed consulting forester or visit VTCutWithConfidence. com for more details on timber harvesting. Finally, when you do engage in active forest management, leave the tops of trees and brush “un-lopped.” While leaving brush “high” may seem messy, this provides a structural barrier, making it harder for deer to browse your regeneration. Ethan Tapper is the Chittenden County forester. He can be reached at ethan. tapper@vermont.gov, 802-585-9099, or at his office at 111 West Street, Essex Junction.
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12 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Congratulations Charlotte Central School 8th Grade Graduates!
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Henry Kramer
Chloe Silverman
Emmett LaChapelle
Caitlyn Smith
Alyssana Lasek
Kennady Sweeney
Zack Aubin
Andrew Bastress
Aidan Devine
Ty Dousevicz
Alex Lewis
Eliza Merrill
Konstantin Thurber
Congratulations Charlotte Graduates
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The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 13
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14 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Principal’s Corner The traditional Carnation Ceremony is a special and monumental tradition at CCS Stephanie Sumner CHARLOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
For the past few weeks Charlotte Central School has had many different celebrations. Most have been in recognition of the learning that students in all grades have done this year. Our final week of school features many celebrations, the most obvious being our Eighth Grade Graduation on the evening of June 14. As a teacher and a principal, I have always enjoyed these special moments. It’s important to bring our families and community members into our school to celebrate accomplishments! While I enjoy all of our celebrations, I can say without a doubt that my very favorite celebration at CCS is our Carnation Ceremony. Twice a year we hold this ceremonial exchange of carnations between our kindergarteners and eighth-grade students. During the opening assembly of the school year, our eighth graders present each new kindergarten student with a carnation as a symbolic and official welcome to our school family. Each June, in between Step Up activities and the Middle Level Awards Ceremony, we hold our second Carnation Ceremony, during which our kindergarten students present each eighth grader with a carnation as a symbolic and ceremonial sendoff as our eighth graders prepare to move on to high school. In the span of the nine years during which our students move from kindergarten through eighth grade, they not only move through an incredible academic trajectory but also develop an increasing set of personal and social skills that are essential for them as they move on to pursue their passions. If you
are lucky enough to be seated in the MultiPurpose Room at CCS during a Carnation Ceremonies (bring tissues!), you will get a glimpse of many of those personal and social skills being practiced as our oldest and youngest students symbolically integrate responsibility, empathy, perseverance, connection and confidence, just to name a few. The symbolism of the carnation itself is debated and diverse, depending on the sources you consult. Carnations have existed for more than 2,000 years and are often associated with the concept of coronation, as carnations were used in Greek ceremonial crowns. Coronation seems fitting for our Carnation Ceremony—a sort of crowning our new students in the fall and our exiting students in the spring. Regardless of the symbolism, we get to witness our own unique manifestations in CCS’s Carnation Ceremonies. There is something very special about being a K-8 school, and entering and leaving both kindergarten and eight grade represent monumental moments in the life of a student. Our Carnation Ceremonies represent and celebrate the “fullcircle” movement of our youngest and oldest students in their nine years with us. Commencing each year with this ceremony sets a tone and sends messages to our newest CCS family members: You are welcome here, you are celebrated, we are here for you, and you can count on us. Ending the year with this ceremony sends the same messages to our CCS family members moving on to new endeavors, in addition to the ceremonial messages often associated with graduation: Thank you for being here, you have been important to our school, we are proud of and thankful for you, and now you are ready to
Rice Memorial High School announces National Honor Society inductees
Rice Memorial High School recently inducted 57 new students into the Rev. Raymond A. Adams Chapter of the National Honor Society. To be considered, by the end of first semester junior year each student must have a 90+ grade point average, have served a minimum of 36 community service hours, been involved in school and community activities and demonstrate respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and citizenship. Pictured above are inductees from Charlotte: Hana Couture, Cooper Harvey and Hadley Murphy. Photo contributed
Charlotters graduate from Rice Memorial High School
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Lisa Lorenz, principal of Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington, awarded high school diplomas to 110 graduating seniors during the school’s 59th commencement ceremonies on June 3 at Rice’s Bill Hammond Gymnasium. Of the 110 graduates, 92 percent will be pursuing higher education this fall, having been accepted into a total of 473 different colleges and universities. These graduates have cumulatively completed over 9,000 hours of community service over their four years at Rice and have won a total of 14 state championships. The following are graduates from Charlotte: Daniel Boardman, Moira Brown*+, Hana Couture*+, Mahntra Hennessey+, Alexa Pughe+, Andrew Slauterbeck*+, Grace Slauterbeck*+ Photo contributed *Four Year Honors
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National Honor Society
The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 15
Schools Cycling students take to the back fields of CCS
Melissa O’Brien First year Charlotte Central School Physical Education teacher Matt Kent introduced a new unit of study this spring that dates back to the early 19th century: biking! “I’m an avid mountain biker,” Matt explained recently, “so it was something I planned to integrate into our curriculum. Local Motion, a bike advocacy organization in Burlington, provided the bikes for the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders to ride. “They have a great program around connecting kids with biking,” Matt said. “They have four trailers and each trailer has 40 bikes and helmets. You simply sign up in the fall and they drop the bikes off when you need them.” Most of Matt’s students had experience riding a bike, but he was pleased to say that two of his students learned how to ride during their week-long bicycling unit. Matt taught the kids basic skills before the bikes arrived: trail and road safety and etiquette and how to fit a helmet and how to fit a bike. Their actual riding took place on the grassy fields behind the school. “It was so great because I had teachers tell me
CCS teacher recognized for 37 years of service
Photos by Matt Kent how fun it was to look out the windows and see so many kids outside riding bikes,” he said. Matt set up cones and obstacles and even a small jump for the kids to navigate. “Riding a bike is a lifetime activity, and that’s really the goal of our program here,” he said. “Some people don’t think of themselves as an athlete, but everyone is an athlete; you just have to find what they’re athletic at,” he added. “Next year we’ll do
Charlotte Central School second grade teacher Colleen Brady was recognized on Monday for her many years of joyful service to the Charlotte school and community. Brady will retire at the end of this school year. Photo by Melissa O’Brien
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16 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Sports Mount Anthony in the play-downs to reach the quarter finals.
Women’s lacrosse waited until the finals.
Edd Merritt
Four CVU teams ranked top in the state heading into the playoffs Batters, men and women LAXers and women racketeers, all headed into their respective state tournaments ranked on top of the heap. As things turned out, two won and two lost.
Baseball was the first to go.
Running into a complete-game effort by St. Johnsbury Academy’s Tyler Wells, the top-ranked Redhawks took it on the chin from the eighth seeded Hilltoppers 11-2 in a quarterfinal contest. Wells gave up only four hits and struck out four in his seven-inning stint. He also accounted for four runs on his two hits, one for extra bases. Ian Parent led the Hawks, driving in both runs, while Liam Reiner took the loss, even though he struck out eight. CVU had beaten 16th-ranked
It took a rally by the third-seeded Middlebury Tigers to drop top-ranked CVU in women’s lacrosse. The two teams had played in a final regular-season game that CVU won easily, and Middlebury was afraid of seeing a similar result as they trailed by four goals early in the final before pulling equal prior to halftime. A strong defense paved the Tigers’ way toward a back-to-back state championship. Led by twelve seniors, Middlebury came out on top 13-10. After being down by four goals, the Tigers had a six-goal run in five minutes. A 15 to 11 edge in face-off wins gave them the ball at midfield often. For CVU, Kate Noel scored a team-high four goals. With just over 9 minutes left in the game, the score was knotted at 10. It took Middlebury another three minutes to score the clinching goal. CVU goalie Ali Wainer stopped 15 shots to the Middlebury goalie’s 5.
Women’s tennis builds its 66 match winning streak.
Ho-hum, another year another state championship for CVU women’s tennis. It
Redhawks’ tennis captains wave the state tropy. Photo by Al Frey Right: Seventh and eighth grade girls’ lacrosse players in one of their season games against Burlington. Right, Evelyn Emmons; below, Coco Eyre. Photo by Dave McNally
has been four state titles in as many years. To demonstrate the prowess, the title was decided more than an hour before the final match against 6th ranked South Burlington was completed. Top singles player, Stephanie Joseph, won her second title, and the winning matches read Redhawks down both singles and doubles’ lists. In addition to Stephanie, the singles winners were, in rank order, Sophie Dauerman, Kendall Blanck, Renee Dauerman and Corina Gorman. In doubles, Maddie Huber and Megan Watson and Courtney Vincent and Ella Kinney won their matches.
Men’s lacrosse rolls to sixth straight title.
Charlotte and CVU lacrosse star, Will Braun, In the state championship. Photo by Al Frey
The Free Press called it a “dynasty.” Thirteenth-year coach, Dave Trevithick, said that playing against teams that give you the most trouble force you to play your best. That’s what happened in the finals game against BFA-St. Albans that CVU won 16-6. Believe it or not, a loss to Essex in the next-to-last game of the regular season, followed then by a season-ending win over Middlebury gave the Hawks the incentive through the tournament. The BFA coach commented on the extent of CVU’s playbook. Unlike some teams, Redhawk scoring is spread among many players, showing diversity as well as the depth of talent. Charlotte’s Walter Braun and his mate Nate Cuttitta scored three apiece. Walter’s brother Will added two and an assist; Jake Schaefer also added two with two assists. Six others had a single goal, and goalie Andrew Tieso stopped seven. Unlike the women’s game, the outcome of this one was not really in question. CVU had a 10-3 halftime lead. Going back to his playing days at CVU, Trevithick says in the June 10 Free Press that the team culture, as nurtured by the upperclassmen, is what keeps underclassmen knowing what is expected of them. That, in turn leaves the coaches to focus on elements of the sport and the specific game.
Redhawk grad Supple selected by Colorado Rockies in major league baseball draft.
A 2015 graduate of CVU and a strong pitcher on the Redhawk baseball team, Rayne Supple went on to play at Wake Forest University. He was picked by the Colorado Rockies in the 13th round of the major league draft. The Chicago Cubs had selected him in the 38th round as a high school senior. At Wake Forest, he was the leading closer pitcher, striking out 55 batters in 47 innings and allowing hitters he faced only a .178 average.
The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 17
Health Matters Active recovery days are essential to meeting your fitness goals Timothy Gould, DPT The benefits of exercise are vast and undeniable. Among them, an individual often experiences a rush of endorphins, stress relief, empowerment, a meditative state, advancement toward a goal and a general sense of healthy well-being. For those reasons, many people seek out exercise on a daily basis, endeavoring to feel these positive effects and to progress toward their objectives. Although well intended, a perpetual state of training will actually have adverse effects on the body and can impede you from meeting your goals. Therein lies the importance of proper recovery. When we train, we purposefully and systematically apply stresses to the body in an effort to stimulate adaptation in the form of improved strength, flexibility, endurance, balance, etc. Ideally this occurs in a cyclical process: A stress is applied to the body, the body is subsequently allowed to recover, tissue adaptation occurs, and the body is then able to sustain greater stresses over time. It is the element of recovery in this equation that allows for tissue adaptation. Without it, your body is under constant stress and never gets the opportunity to repair. Lack of repair not only slows progress toward your intended goal, but persistent muscle loading can lead to injuries that could seriously set back your training. There are two types of recovery: passive and active. Each has its own function and importance, but research suggests that regular active recovery is the more beneficial method in assisting tissue repair. An added bonus is that active recovery is just that—it’s active. So if you can’t bring yourself to take a complete “off” day in
your training program, you can still reap the essential benefits of proper recovery. Active recovery is characterized by a low- to medium-intensity, low-volume training session. It should leave you feeling energized, mobile and ready to resume full training activities the next day. An active recovery session should not elicit fatigue or stimulate any soreness afterward. Rather, it is a chance to engage your body in a different way from usual exercise, to focus on different muscles than you target in a typical workout, vary your mode of cardiovascular demand, alter your rep/set parameters. Whatever the variation, just be sure you are not replicating the same stresses that your body is usually subject to. If you are training for a marathon, for example, this means taking a day off from running and instead working on self myofascial release (a form of soft tissue mobilization) flexibility, swimming, cycling or weight training (all at low to moderate intensity). If you are a power lifter, this means emphasizing mobility, working with lower weights and higher repetitions, and focusing on form and posture. If you are just an avid exerciser and already have a varied cross-training routine, it still means that you have to take a day to focus on lower intensity and volume to give your body a break and a chance to repair. As opposed to passive recovery (a complete shutdown day with no exercise whatsoever), active recovery stimulates increased circulation to areas in need of nutrition during the repair process. When you’re sore after days of regular training, active recovery also helps flush out lactic acid via circulatory transport in the region. The effect is a body that is optimized for tissue repair and feels good after the process.
Stock Image If you’re exercising five or more days per week, replace a day of exercise with an active recovery day; if you’re exercising three to four days per week, consider adding a day of active recovery to your routine. These active recovery sessions should last only 20 to 40 minutes and can include activities such as steady walking (no heavy hiking or hills), gentle yoga, low-impact cardiovascular exercise such as swimming or cycling (at 40-60 percent intensity), myofascial release and stretching, postural exercises, light circuit weight training focusing on multiple body regions (for example, using weight equivalent to 30 percent of your single rep max over a 30 second duration). Any single type of exercise performed
to excess has a high potential to hinder tissue repair and cause injury, whether it be running, swimming or yoga. The human body (and mind, though that is a separate topic) craves variability. The beauty of the active recovery session is that it can take many forms, giving you a chance to try something new and to break up the monotony of your usual routine. Moreover, it will promote tissue repair, allow your body to adapt and build, and, if you do it right, you’ll feel great afterward. Timothy Gould holds a doctorate in physical therapy from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York, and works at Dee Physical Therapy in Shelburne. He can be reached at timothygould@deept com.
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18 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Taking Care
Duke, the English Bulldog who took taxis Finally, our family was getting a dog! Father scoured the papers for weeks and spotted an ad: “Greatly loved English bulldog needs a good Alice Outwater home due to the arrival of a third child. Trained and housebroken, one year old, gentle temperament. Championship papers.” Late that afternoon Father and my older brother, Sidney, walked in with a beautiful tawny-colored English bulldog. Donning his new collar, he was formally introduced to each of us. Our new family member was properly bowlegged, had a curly tail and an engaging creased face: rows of wrinkles were covered with soft hair. It wasn’t too flattened or too pugnacious with those frightening teeth protruding over the lip like so many of his breed. In this unfamiliar situation, he held back as if looking us over, but I knew immediately that he would be my dog even if I had to share him with Father. After all, I was the oldest child at home and known for being responsible. I doubted Louise, the youngest, would walk him regularly. Father and I soon fell into an easy routine sharing Duke’s walks. I took him out for a 10-minute stroll before school;
then afternoons I hurried home from Packer to exercise him. Father walked Duke following dinner, just before turning in for the night. I was touched by his willingness to do this after a long day at his Wall Street office; he seemed calmer as he returned. Bending down to unsnap Duke’s leash, then patting his forehead, he would lead him to his basement room. Accompanying them both one night, I noticed that he waited until Duke was settled on his blanket before switching off the light, then, quietly shutting the door, he murmured, only half to himself, “Sleep tight, old fellow, see you in the morning.” It was through Duke I came to know Father, especially his devotion to Brooklyn Heights, the quiet streets with colorful names such as Cranberry and Pineapple, the abundant trees and the houses with their 19th century architecture. Father often said, “It’s a remarkable place to raise a family, and I can reach Wall Street by foot, or in poor weather it’s only a few subway stops away.” But most of all he loved the bridge, built by the Roeblings and opened with tremendous fanfare in 1883. Its soaring towers and cables spanned the East River connecting us to New York. To out-of-town guests he often recited the story of the difficulties of blasting the rock and filling the towers. There was a toll in human lives from the bends, then called Caisson disease. The bridge was looked upon as a
major feat of the time. One morning Father decided Duke should accompany him on his walk to work, so both could get their exercise. Duke’s return posed a problem . . .until Father realized he could send him home in a taxi. Everything was timed accordingly. Father and Duke would leave the house at 7:15 a.m., meeting up with colleagues on the way. Arriving at Wall Street, Father would hail a cab, give directions to the driver as Duke eagerly climbed in, positioning himself like a four-star general in the back seat. He looked out the window and sniffed the breeze as his little ears flapped. I would watch for his return, run down the front stoop and pay the cab driver. Then I would open the door and take Duke’s leash while he reluctantly stepped down onto the curb. Duke seemed to sense the taxi rides were above the usual doggy pleasures. This was an agreeable arrangement because I could still gather my books and arrive at Packer on time. But I was bothered by Father’s extravagance. My allowance was 15 cents a week, which Father ceremoniously gave me, yet he paid far more to transport Duke home daily. As a family, we never took taxis; we took buses or subways for trips around the city. Two cars were kept in the garage but taken out only for special trips. Father often said, “Money was earned through hard work and therefore to be treated accordingly.”
We lived well, we had maids, and we went to private schools, but extra expenditures in the luxury category were carefully examined. One morning during WWII the fare was $10, and Mother told the driver he must have driven Duke all over New York and she wouldn’t pay that shocking amount. Duke was a remarkable companion. He knew when I was sad or troubled and let me gently place my arms abound his thick neck and bury my face in his fur. Sometimes I cried and cried, leaving his fur damp; when I whispered my secrets to him, his big head slightly nodded in agreement. Duke became a member of the family and was on good terms with everyone. Mother said, “We look like Duke and belong to the same family, and will eventually all have his wrinkles.” Duke brought out a concealed sweetness in Father, and I was grateful to have been privy to this quality. It made me feel close to this formal man who fumbled about expressing affectionate feelings toward his daughter. I treasured this spring and fall morning ritual around Duke and the taxi rides. Father continued his daily strolls across the Brooklyn Bridge with his colleagues and had had a phenomenal 45year record. Even The New Yorker wrote a short piece about them. Duke probably could boast the most number of crossings for an English bulldog.
The varieties of hunger Do you have a hard time controlling your cravings? Going through a rough patch and food seems like a way to sooth yourself? There are many Ginger Lambert reasons we reach for food and not just for hunger. Feeling hungry can range from genuine hunger to intense cravings. We tend to give into our cravings when we have not consumed real meals, especially breakfast. If you keep some healthy snacks in your desk or nearby, you are less like to scarf down the donuts that you really do not want and eat only because they are convenient. When we have genuine hunger the body is asking for us to give it nutrients. If you want to get just the right amount, try the nine-inch plate model to help with portion control. This is how it works. Measure one of your dinner plates—it should be about nine inches across. Imagine it in fourths, with vegetables taking up half of the plate and the other half split between your starch and protein. If you feel like you want seconds, take more salad or vegetables. Emotional hunger is when we have special foods that are linked to particular memories. I like to have salted peanuts on the side when I eat pizza. We always had a bowl of them on the table when I was a
kid and pizza was for dinner. Maybe it was unconscious on my mother’s part, but the peanuts do complement the cheese on the pizza, making it a complete protein. Think about your next craving and where it comes from. Remember licking the cake batter when you made a cake with your mom? Having an empty stomach can feel good sometimes. It doesn’t always mean you are hungry. Maybe you are just bored and eating is what you usually do. Try waiting a half hour or so and see if you are still hungry. When you finish a meal, try pushing away from the table before you go for seconds and drinking a big glass of water. If after a bit you still feel ravenous, then try having some fruit or a light dessert. If losing weight is your goal but you just can’t seem to control the cravings or the servings that you eat, try upping the activities that you do. Burning more calories than you take in will create a deficit, meaning you will lose weight even if you are still eating the same amounts. With summer here it’s easy to fit in extra walks, bike rides, hikes or swims. Make mealtime a ritual rather than something you rush through. Light some candles and take a few seconds to reflect on your day and all the things you are thankful for. Even if you dine alone, it can still be restorative for your soul as well as your body in taking time for your meal and some reflection about the day.
The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 19
Out Takes
Truth—are we there yet?
Edd Merritt
There’s a new planet in the solar system There’s nothing up my sleeve I’m pushing an elephant up the stairs I’m tossing up punchlines that were never there. . . “The Great Beyond” -- REM Have any of you readers ever been to Ankh-Morpork? Sounds like a craving for food, doesn’t it? But, no, it’s the capital of Disc World. Yes, and where is that you ask? Well, of course, it’s a flat world resting on the backs of four elephants standing on top of a gigantic turtle moving slowly through space. Sound a little bit like Trumpian America? Author Terry Pratchett created it and has written many books in his Disc World series. They are supposed to show humor (which, indeed, they do), but these days they are also coming very close to a test of truth in our country. The Pratchett work I just finished carries a theme that is quite close to one in our nation currently. The book is titled The Truth, and it, like many Americans today, wonders where that truth rests. Pratchett wrote the book nearly 20 years ago, and as with well-thought-out novels, its theme holds over time. Throughout the book, “truth” is how we display it, and displaying it is one of the main jobs of journalism. Thus, truth becomes a binding factor in the Ankh-Morpork Times, one of two major newspapers in the Disc World capitol. Managing Editor William de-Worde tries to draw truth from
situations and turn that truth into news. In doing so, he has to deal with a great variety of creatures, a variety for which Disc World is well known. Some of these creatures are quite human, but others are trolls, dogs, elves, vampires—each displaying characteristics of its species and each with an agenda for life on Disc World. His photographer, for example, is a vampire named Otto. Otto has developed a fascination for what he terms “iconography” or pictures that are more than simply images. They are icons of the situation he is shooting. The problem he faces as a vampire is centered on the flash of his camera. When it goes off he is turned into dust and must imbibe a drop of blood in order to regain his form. The elves are short and smart and very productive, which is why they are the paper’s printers. Trolls form the “Watch,” the closest thing to a police force on the planet. De-Worde has a competitor who edits a rival newspaper called the Inquirer. Sounds a bit like Charlotte—one town, several papers, a police force from somewhere else. The question asked, then, is, “What’s the truth citizens get from the media?” Each news source claims its version is the correct one. The Ankh-Morpork Times also appreciates the value of getting news onto the street as fast as possible, and unlike current Twitter days, the news goes public via print. Dwarfs run the presses, but they are the speediest little fellows one can imagine, and the words for an article are barely out of de-Worde’s mouth before they are printed on a hand-cranked press, the old style system that some of us remember and still love. Aah, but the real questions then as now are, “What is true, and what is fake?” “What is good for me and bad for you?” And, of course, the royal identity, “Who are you, and why should I care what you think?” Truth is a human attribute. It is what
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de-Worde says is his. “Well, I wrote an article in the Times!” he snapped. “And what’s in there is what I say! Me! Because I found things out, and checked things . . . I’m not some stupid rumor put about to make trouble!” When asked about what to put inside the paper, de-Worde responds, “We just decide.” When asked whether she thinks it’s really true, the paper’s primary writer says, “Who knows? This is a newspaper, isn’t it? It just has to be true until tomorrow.” I have just returned from a Charlotte News Ankh Morpork - Terry Pratchett’s Disc world. editorial meeting where we, too, spent the better part of two hours though, expressed amazement at how the “deciding” what was true and important news in the Times “so neatly fits the space news for our readers to devour. The topics available.” were many. The questions ranged from, Space and truth are cohesive in print “What do people in Charlotte want to media, and “Because nothing has to be true know?” “What should they know?” “Where forever. Just long enough, to tell you the do matters stand at this moment in our truth.” village?” And, “Who can we tap to delve in The turtle moves slowly, knowing that and write about them?” the truth in the universe is limitless, and, Truth, then, is a combination of several therefore, swiftness will only get you in factors. “Fake news” comes about through trouble on the curves. Thus, the nature intent. Never once did I hear our staff of this beast is to move as slowly as is express intent in producing “fake news.” inhumanely possible, leaving speed up to We may have jibed at the competition, the dragsters. but chuckling at our innuendoes, knowing that somewhere along the line, they were limited in the extent of truth they could publish. Disc World’s Lord Vetinari,
20 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
On Books “History has failed us, but no matter. At the turn of the century, an aging fisherman and his wife decided to take in lodgers for extra Katherine Arthaud money...” So begins the novel Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee, recommended to me by my friend Mary from the gym. I don’t see Mary often, and I know very little about her (including her last name), but whenever we see each other, our first question (both of us) is, “What are you reading?” or “What is that you’re reading?” Last time I saw her, she was leaving the gym as I was coming in, but as we passed one another, she uttered one word: “Pachinko.” I know Mary well enough to know not to ignore her recommendations, so I went and bought the book ASAP. And it’s incredible. All 480 pages of it. Pachinko tells the story of four generations of a Korean family who end up, through a series of events, living in Japan. It begins in 1910 and ends in 1985 and is all kinds of things: compelling, heartbreaking, eye opening, tragic, moving, surprising…. In early May, I was in New York City for a week, and one night when it came time to curl up with my book, Pachinko was nowhere
to be found. I looked everywhere. Under the bed, on every table…even in drawers I knew I hadn’t opened, let alone put a book into. It was driving me crazy. I called the front desk. Perhaps, I said, I left it in the gym that morning? I really couldn’t think of where else it could be. A half hour later, there was a knock on the door. A man from the hotel handed me my book. It was close to midnight. I tipped him. I think I might have even bowed to him. I was beyond relieved and grateful. Reminder: don’t leave your book at the gym or anywhere. It is torture when you go to pick up the thread of the story and it is nowhere to be found. Maddening! Particularly with a book this compelling. I highly recommend Pachinko. Another book that I just finished – very different from Pachinko – is How to Walk Away by Katherine Center. I’m not sure what prodded me to read this book, but I am so glad I did. It is written in a light, kind of chic-lit style – a little bit like Elin Hildebrand or Jennifer Wiener (whose books I love). I don’t dare tell you much about it for fear of spoiling the plot. But I will tell you that there is love, frustration, tragedy, family secrets, breakups, reconciliations and a general theme of overcoming challenge. “There are all kinds of happy endings,” this book is here to say. Refreshing and touching, it moves right along. And the heroine is very lovable. Great for the beach, the pool or wherever you find yourself these days. Totally delightful. Don’t let it out of your sight. You Think It, I’ll Say It is another good read. Its author, Curtis Sittenfeld, has also written Prep, American Wife and Eligible…and I would recommend all of these books, except Eligible, which I didn’t like at all. It was one of the few books I actually didn’t even bother to finish. (Another book I didn’t finish was Wolf Hall, which I hated so much I threw in a recycling bin somewhere.)
Eligible is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice. And though I loved Pride and Prejudice, for me, this retelling didn’t work at all. It seemed the Pride and Prejudice influence limited and strangled the flow of the story, and it all felt much too contrived and lifeless. But hey, I don’t know…many others have enjoyed it, and it received good reviews, so, maybe, don’t listen to me. Anyway…You Think It, I’ll Say It is excellent. (And by the way, Prep and American Wife are also excellent, in my opinion.) You Think It, I’ll Say It is a collection of stories. They are engaging and sharp, and the author has a gift for good endings. Highly recommend. Thinking back, another book I really didn’t like and didn’t/couldn’t finish was I Think I Love You, by Allison Pearson, about two women in love with David Cassidy. I think I was in love with David Cassidy too, back in the day, but I really didn’t like this book. I didn’t throw it in the trash though. I left it in a hotel room, with a bookmark somewhere around a third of the way through. (I tried.) Another book I disliked: The Historian, about a quest for the real story of Vlad the Impaler upon whom the legend of Dracula is based. Hated it. And The Name of the Rose. I really didn’t like that one, either. But why am I talking about books I didn’t like? I like and love so many more than I don’t like and love. And rarely do I give up on a book without finishing. Speaking of finishing (or not finishing), I am still listening to Anna Karenina. I think I have ten hours left (I have listened to about 26). This is a great book, and I know I’m not the first to say so. Originally published in installments from 1873 to 1877 in a Russian periodical, this long novel has a complex plot, with many mini dramas and sub-plots, all woven together beautifully
like a gorgeous, rich, complicated tapestry. I just got through an early morning grouse hunting scene, a portion of which is told from the perspective of the dog. And before that, there was great hope that Sergei was going to propose to the saintly, beautiful Varenka during a mushroom hunt. They managed to slip away from the group, and Varenka was pale with anticipation, certain that this man was finally going to utter the words she was longing with all her being to hear (and that her friend Kitty, happily married to Sergei’s brother, Levin, was also keeping her fingers crossed that they would be forthcoming). But then, somehow, the words that came out of his mouth were not words of love but of mushrooms and fungi, surprising them both…and she knew and he knew that the moment had passed and would never come again, and out of the forest they walked…and Kitty could tell from the crestfallen look on her sweet friend’s face that it was a no go…and anyway, this is quite a tale. If you see me out driving in my car, you can be pretty sure that though my eyes are on Route 7, my mind is in St. Petersburg. Don’t honk. The next book I want to listen to is Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography, which my sister Sharmy and her son Noah tell me is stunningly well written. And do not miss David Sedaris’ Calypso, which is so funny and totally right on – one of his best so far. And though this is not a movie column, please go see RBG, about Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who is more of a superhero than you would ever guess. It’s at the Roxy. Excellent! Life-changing, really. Summer is almost officially upon us, and I hope you are enjoying these beautiful days and finding some good books of your own to dive into and explore. Please let me know if you turn up anything good!
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The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 21
GMBC day touring rides for June Green Mountain Bicycle Club Rules • All riders must wear helmets and obey the rules of the road. Please do not ride two abreast if there is traffic in either direction. • For mornings with questionable weather, please call the ride leader to make sure the ride is still taking place. Ride leaders are obligated to go to the starting point and provide maps but may choose not to ride if the weather is miserable. • Riders below the age of 18 must have a signed waiver from a parent. • E indicates an easy ride, M is for moderate, and S is for strenuous. • Rides begin promptly 15 minutes after the meeting time. • Social rides are more leisurely versions of the mapped ride—usually the shorter route—with longer food breaks. Always contact the social ride leader before the ride to make sure those versions of the ride are taking place. • Additional local social rides will be scheduled as weather permits in the Champlain Valley. Please email lightspd@ comcast.net to be added to the social riders email contact list, which is the only
guaranteed notification for these rides. Weekend social rides are usually announced by Thursday.
to teach new cyclists the rules of the road and how to ride in a group. Meeting time: 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, South Burlington, Wheeler lot.
Date: Sunday, June 17 Champlain Bridge ride. Both rides head out Lake Road and across the bicyclefriendly Champlain Bridge. The 43-mile route (M) stops at Crown Point while the 55-mile route (M) makes a loop on the New York side through Port Henry. The social ride may begin at a different time and/or location. Call ahead.
Leader: John Bertelsen - 864-0101 / jo.bertel@gmail.com Co-Leader: Karla Ferrelli - 8640101 / karla.ferrelli@gmail.com Date: Sunday, June 24 Jaunt from Jasper Mine. This rolling hill ride (60 M/S) passes through Georgia and Milton before heading to St. Albans Bay for a lunch break and over to Swanton. The shorter version (40 M) turns around after the lunch stop. This ride has a short stretch along the shore of the Lamoille River and a longer stretch along Lake Champlain.
Meeting time: 9:15 a.m. at Vergennes Union High School, Monkton Road, east parking lot. Leader: Ralph Kilmoyer - 878-4070 / ralphkilmoyer@comcast.net Co-leader: Amy Otten - 878-4070 / amyotten@netscape.com Social ride leader: Donna Leban - 862-1901 / lightspd@comcast.net
Meeting time: 9:15 a.m. at Jasper Mine Road, off Route 2 heading towards Grand Isle.
Date: Saturday, June 23 Introductory ride for new riders. We will go 12-20 miles at a leisurely pace. Our goal is
Leader: Dave Merchant - 8253808/ dpierchand@comcast.net Co-leader: Joyce McCutcheon - 893-1690 / mellowmiti@aol.com
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22 • June 13, 2018 • The Charlotte News
Charlotte Senior Center News Carolyn Kulik SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR It is no surprise that the Senior Center primarily serves residents of Charlotte, but did you know that we also welcome those from surrounding communities? What’s more, these participants also contribute financially as Friends of the Senior Center, donate their time and expertise as volunteer instructors and help in many other crucial volunteer jobs around the Center. Two of our mainstay volunteer cooks who put together and cook four delicious lunches every month, serving nearly 150—month in and month out, year after year —are from Williston and Hinesburg! The Senior Center is tremendously lucky to have so many great neighbors. Sign-ups for courses Our Summer Schedule began on June 1, and please note that even though many classes have already started—or are ongoing—you are welcome to begin at any time. To make things easy, you have the choice of paying for each class when you come or, if you wish, for the rest of the multi-class session. (You can access the schedule online at CharlotteVT.org .) Monday, June 18, is the second iPhone Workshop in the series with Susanna Kahn, Charlotte Library’s tech librarian. This one is titled "Help! General Tips" with Q & A. Each workshop is held at the Senior Center from 1:30-2:30 p.m. On June 25, photos will be the topic for the third, and last, of the workshop series. Mindfulness class is running through the summer for 45 minutes on Wednesday mornings and is held on a drop-in basis. That means you do not need to commit yourself to being there every week but can come and still benefit. What is “mindfulness” you ask? This form of meditation is the simple practice of bringing moment-tomoment awareness to experience, and it has been shown to reduce stress, improve health, increase mental clarity and enhance enjoyment of life. Another class that can lead to more aliveness and responsivity is Dance: Moving Better,
“The Senior Center has been the center of my week: friends and lunch and art.”
SENIOR CENTER MENUS Monday Munch 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. No reservations required.
–Frequent visitor
Living Better with Liesje Smith on Friday mornings at 9:30. With lively music, this movement class benefits students by building strength, stamina, flexibility and postural stability. It sharpens the neuro-pathways of the brain, provides the opportunity to learn how to move fluidly without causing injury, and much more. Registration is required, and there is a fee. Even though the July Book Group starts on July 9, it is not too early to get the book from the Charlotte Library and dive in. Serve It Forth by M.F.K. Fisher is a series of essays taking “the reader on an animated journey though culinary history.” Both the July and the August book groups meet at the Senior Center for discussion, while the books can be borrowed at the library. Events in June This month has the first Birding Expedition of the summer. If you missed the one on the calendar for today (6/13), the next outings are on July 18 and August 15. Friday, June 15, is the first trip of the twicemonthly Kayaking for Women. Most of the trips require you to bring your own kayak. However, on Friday, August 24, there will be a trip from Bert’s Boats on the Lamoille River, which rents kayaks for $40 per person. The trip will leave from near Jeffersonville, and Bert will take us to a putin location and meet us at the end to take out the kayaks. Easy as pie! If interested in this, email susanfosterhyde@gmail.com now so we can reserve the date soon.
June 18 Empanadas Green salad Ice cream June 25 Chef’s salad Homemade dessert
Wednesday Lunch All diners eat at noon. Reservations required. June 13 Do-it-yourself BLTs Molded cottage cheese salad Homemade dessert June 20 Pasta salad with sugar snap peas & mozzarella Homemade dessert June 27 Hot dogs, Three-bean salad Homemade dessert
Thursday - Men's Breakfast 7:30–9 a.m. Reservations required. June 14 French toast; Legislative recap by Mike Yantachka
Suggested donation for all meals: $5 Also taking place on the water are the delightful Boat Trips with Al and Nancy Martin (known as Dream Day on Lake Champlain), and these are filling up. Note that the June 14 trip has been changed to June 21, and is now only adding names to the waiting list. Please call to sign up for July 12, August 16 or Sept. 13. Don’t be discouraged if you are put on the waiting list because things do change! On Friday, June 22, is the Tour of the Clemmons Farm Barn House at 9:30 a.m. This event has a maximum of 12 and is almost full now. This is a chance to visit a very special space for the local community to celebrate African American art, culture and heritage. The Barn House, designed by Jackson Clemmons, combines two 19th century buildings; it displays posters from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as well as a collection of African art from Jackson and Lydia Clemmons’ travels in Africa. On June 28, the AARP Driver Safety Class will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This classroom refresher may enable participants to receive an auto insurance discount. The course provides drivers the opportunity to fine-tune driving skills and become a safer and better driver. Please call the Senior Center for more information and to register. All About Art The Senior Center Community Art Show, now in its 12th year, is scheduled for September and is open to everyone 50 years or older. All mediums and skill levels are welcome—with a two-piece limit. Come in to pick up registration material, which is now available at the Center. (Deadline for submitting forms is August 24.) Do you enjoy writing or creating artwork? If so, you are invited to join the informal gatherings of artists in the Friday Morning Arts Group which meets every week from 10 a.m. to noon. The Friday Writers Group meets at 1 in afternoon once a month
in the Café on 6/15, 7/13 and 8/10. Come to meet like-minded folks, hang out, and get feedback on your projects if you wish. There is no fee for these two separate groups. June Art Exhibit: Group Show. Five artists from the advanced oil painting class at the Shelburne Craft School are showing their works extended through the first week of July. The pieces are landscapes and still lifes with distinctive styles from classic to contemporary. The artists are: Jane Guyette, Diane Lavallee, Sid Miller, Fred Morgan, Deborah Boutilier Paolantonio and Suzie Quinn. Most paintings are available for purchase, with a small percentage of the sale price donated to the Center. Best Times to View Art Shows. The Senior Center’s Great Room is utilized for many classes or events, so the best times to see the art shows are Tuesdays after 2:30, Wednesdays after 3, and Thursdays and Fridays after 12:30. Call the Center during the week to check on availability on Sunday and other possibilities during the week. Of course, art is a feast for the eyes, but don’t forget your stomach. Come by for Monday Munch, or sign up for the Wednesday luncheon. If you are a guy who likes early mornings, get on board with the Men’s Breakfast and sign up by Tuesday. There is so much more. Check your previous issue of The Charlotte News for the Summer Schedule insert, or stop by the Center to pick one up. Do call if you have any questions: 425-6345, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. As George Burns said, “You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old.” And if you come to the Center, you will see many older folks who are not old at all! Seriously. See you soon.
The Charlotte News • June 13, 2018 • 23
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Calendar of Events Wednesday, June 27 Amy Siskind, author of the bestseller The List: A Week-by-Week Reckoning of Trump’s First Year, speaks at Shelburne Vineyard. Join the Shelburne Democrats from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Shelburne Vineyard, 6308 Shelburne Road, for an author interview and audience-led discussion, moderated by Terri Hallenbeck, about how we defend our democracy against daily assaults on marginalized communities, women and all of us. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets for this outdoor event. Amy Siskind, president and co-founder of The New Agenda, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, began compiling the “Weekly List” for friends and now has half a million viewers online. Her new book, The List: A Week-by-Week Reckoning of Trump’s First Year, is a comprehensive account of
actions taken by Donald Trump and his administration in the first year, beginning with his acceptance of white supremacists the first week after the election. This event is co-sponsored by the Shelburne Democrats, Burlington Democrats, Charlotte Democrats, Chittenden County Democrats, the Vermont Democratic Party and The Flying Pig Bookstore. The book will be available for purchase at the event.
Ongoing First aid and CPR courses. As part of our Heartsafe Community designation, Charlotte Volunteer Fire & Rescue will offer CPR and first aid classes, starting at 6:30 p.m., at the fire station on the following dates: Thursday, June 14: CPR Thursday, June 21: First aid Thursday, July 12: CPR Thursday, July 19: First aid Registration and
additional information can be found on our website cvfrs. com under the Community Outreach tab and on the Facebook page under Events. Burlington Edible History Tour. History never tasted so good. Over a 1.5-mile walk, the tour will take you back in time to connect the history of Burlington’s early ethnic groups to their food traditions. Enjoy a French-Canadian tourtiere and a Mediterranean dessert, along with three other food samples, while hearing stories of 12 immigrant groups that built Burlington. Tours run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 1–4:15 p.m., June 14 through October 13. Tickets must be purchased in advance
through Seven Days Tickets via its website at sevendaystickets.com or through the Tour’s website at burlingtonediblehistory.com. The tour donates 10 percent of profits to New Farms for New Americans, AALV. Webby’s Art Studio is open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Come create! Specialized art activities for all ages, inspired by temporary and permanent exhibitions. Webby’s Art Studio activities are offered in the Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education classroom. Free with admission. Shelburne Museum, 6000 Shelburne Road, 985-3346; info@ shelburnemuseum. org.
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