The Charlotte News | November 14, 2019

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Charlotte News Thursday, November 14, 2019 | Volume LXII Number 10

The season’s first snow storm!

More photos on pages 16 & 17

CharlotteNewsVT.org

Charlotte News

The

Vol. 62, no.10

November 14, 2019

Vermont’s oldest nonprofit community newspaper, bringing you local news and views since 1958

FEMA assessing Vermont damage from storm

The last time: Pumpkin Man waves goodbye Chea Waters Evans NEWS EDITOR

With two final messages and his usual gentle antics, Pumpkin Man said goodbye to Charlotte Central School on Halloween.

Along with the local mysterious figure’s dismissal, school principals also cancelled the annual Halloween parade, and the final time the holiday was celebrated at school had smiles, tears and a gentle, loving message from the man of the hour.

After he came out of the woods with his lady by his side, Pumpkin Man set to work unrolling and planting two banners for the children, who waited patiently, some passing the time by chanting “Save Pumpkin Man!” The first banner said, “Take care of the earth.” The second, “Be kind.”

School officials decided to roll out new security procedures that day, with several

police officers, one in a bulletproof vest and one with a dog, keeping an eye on the parade and the crowd. Principal Stephanie Sumner said there was no threat to the school but that it just happened to be the first time after the new procedures had been created that there was a school event.

A group of eighth-grade boys wore pumpkin heads and overalls in solidarity with Pumpkin Man, and former teachers and a previous school principal were in attendance—several with tears in their eyes as the 32-year tradition came to an end.

After his time was done, with a wave, a rattan suitcase in one hand and his gal’s hand in another, Pumpkin Man walked back into the woods on Pease Mountain, stopping for a final wave as he disappeared into the trees, leaving behind waving children, decades of memories and a message of kindness and stewardship that will last for years to come.

Planning Commission hears from residents on Act 143 Proposed East Charlotte village commercial boundaries nearly complete Juliann Phelps The bulk of Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting was again devoted to discussion among members and the public regarding Act 143 as it applies to the Charlotte Land Use Regulations. The commission heard from several interested individuals, including Philo Ridge Farm, but took no action.

Planning Commission Chair Peter Joslin opened discussion by reviewing the areas previous meetings touched on, including the challenge in interpreting and clarifying the section in the act where “more than 50 percent of the total annual sales are from qualifying products that are principally produced on the farm.” He mentioned

the work done to date by Town Planner Daryl Arminius on creating a database of Charlotte farms based on state agricultural data and whether to consider a site plan review for accessory on-farm businesses.

Joslin explained it could be similar to what currently exists for home occupation III in the LUR. Mike Yantachka, whom Joslin had asked to attend the meeting, read passages from the bill and said, “The whole purpose of Act 143 is to make it easier for farms to have other sources of income as long as they are farm-related.” He said that while he was not involved in the development of Act 143 he would be willing to go “back to the Legislature in January to see what can be done to clarify the idea of what it means to be ‘principally produced’ on the farm.”

Planning Commission members raised questions about the meaning of “principally produced on the farm.” Joslin referenced the previous zoning administrator’s see ACT 143 page 2

The aftermath of the Oct. 31 storm brought flooding to areas throughout Vermont. In Charlotte, Spear Street and the Monkton Road intersection at the Quinlan Bridge flooded over the road.

Photo by Craig Bunten

The Federal Emergency Management Agency was in Vermont, starting on Tuesday, Nov. 5, to assess damage from the Halloween night storm that swept over the state. The agency is here to determine if the state qualifies for a federal major-disaster declaration.

The Nov. 1 storm featured heavy rains and high winds, which in turn damaged trees and power lines and caused flooding across Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans and Washington counties. The Vermont Department of Public Safety and Vermont Emergency Management said in a press release that state officials have already identified more than $3 million in damages to infrastructure and that there is potential for more, as they are still assessing the situation.

Should FEMA issue a major disaster declaration, 75 percent of repair and rebuilding costs will be reimbursed by the federal government. According to Mark Bosma, the public information officer with Vermont Emergency

Management, “To qualify for a declaration Vermont must show at least $1 million in response and public infrastructure recovery costs. Individual counties must also show public infrastructure damages and recovery costs of $3.78 per capita, which includes restoration expenses for public utilities.”

Should these requirements be met, the governor will then be allowed to make an emergency declaration.

Federal money would go to repair work on public roads and buildings, tree and debris removal from public rights of way, municipal employee time spent working on recovery, contractor help, equipment rentals and other costs associated with the storm.

Bosma said that individual homeowners should report damage to their insurance company and to Vermont 2-1-1 for tracking purposes. For homeowner’s insurance questions or assistance, contact the Vermont Divisions of Financial Regulation Insurance division at 800-964-1784.

Thumbs up for Town Plan amendment By a vote of 278 to 62, Charlotte voters on Tuesday, Nov. 4, gave the go-ahead to the Selectboard to amend the Town Plan. The 340 voters represented 10.5 percent of Charlotte’s 3,252 registered voters.

The amendment will ensure that Charlotte’s Town Plan complies

The Charlotte News will not publish the week of Thanksgiving.

with state regulations relating to energy planning and wildlife corridor protection. The amendment was crafted with collaboration between the Selectboard, the Planning Commission and the Energy Committee, along with the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission.

2 • November 14, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Town ACT 143

again at the next meeting on Nov. 21.

continued from page 1

research on potential accessory on-farm businesses and “his take on it seemed very broad.” He continued, “I find myself going back to the 51 percent number… that in and of itself is no easy task.” James Faulkner said, “When (the accessory onfarm business) income exceeds the income from farming, it’s no longer considered an accessory on-farm business.” Vice Chair Charlie Pughe replied, “You’d never get to that threshold because everything is an on-farm product.”

Several of Philo Ridge Farm representatives spoke in favor of less regulation. Owner Diane McCargo said, “As we understand it, this was an effort to help farms. Farms are struggling in Vermont. It’s hard to make a profit. …

Regulate them less so people can take a risk and do something.”

Tad Cooke spoke about all the permits Philo Ridge Farm has had to obtain in the last nine months and suggested creating “an approach that other towns can look to,” including a voluntary application process.

“There are numerous ways for the town to be involved in the development of any

I N Shelburne|Williston

Homestays and short-term rental units The commission discussed short-term rentals with interested resident Mike Wool, who had raised the topic at a previous Selectboard meeting and was referred to the Planning Commission. He spoke about a short-term rental property on Hills' Point Road, citing concerns about safety, increased traffic and noise. Joslin said, “Folks rent their houses out on Thompson’s Point all the time. What’s the difference between that and another part of town?”

Planning Commission Vice Chair Charlie Pughe points to proposed East Charlotte Village commercial boundary lines. Photo by Juliann Phelps

business as a supporter and as a regulator. I would say Act 143 shouldn’t be that tool,” said Cooke. Meriwether Hardie supported Cooke’s suggestion, requesting “a period of information gathering before we put more restriction in place.” She said, “Take a longer view of what this act could be in terms of promoting and supporting what farming can be.”

The commission closed discussion on the topic and said it would be on the agenda

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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 lives of its residents.

Letters, Commentaries and Obituaries Consistent with our mission The Charlotte News publishes letters to the editor, commentaries and Planning Commission member Marty obituaries from our readers. All letters, commentaries and obituaries are subject to review and approval by Illick asked if there was language in town the news editor of the paper and to the following rules regulations about short-term rentals and and standards: • Letters to the editor, commentaries and said that was the first step. After a bit more obituaries should be emailed to news@ discussion on the topic, no action was thecharlottenews.org as attachments in .doc format. All letters, commentaries and obituaries taken. must contain the writer’s full name, town of residence and, for editing purposes only, phone East Charlotte Village boundaries number.

• Letters may not exceed 300 words, obituaries The East Charlotte Village commercial 500 words and commentaries 750 words.

• The opinions expressed in commentaries and boundaries moved forward with Pughe letters to the editor belong solely to the author circulating a map among commission and are not to be understood as endorsed by either the Board of Directors or the editorial members. The proposed boundary staff of the paper. map included staff assistance from the • All published letters and commentaries will include the writer’s name and town of residence.

Chittenden County Regional Planning • Before publishing any obituary, we will need Commission. “We tried to follow property proper verification of death.

• All submissions are subject to editing for clarity, lines,” Pughe said. “It includes the Grange factual accuracy, tone, length and consistency but doesn’t pick up what the Catholic with our house publishing style.

• Whenever editing is necessary we will make church owns. We had talked about that and every effort to publish each submission in its didn’t incorporate that into the commercial entirety and to preserve the original intent and S C H E D U L E • JUN 1–AUG 31, 2019 wording. We will confer with writers before space.” publishing any submitted material that in our judgment requires significant editing before it Planning Commission members James can be published.

• The news editor makes the final determination Faulkner and David Kenyon asked whether a letter to the editor, a commentary questions on a few boundary lines, and or an obituary will be published as submitted, returned for rewriting or rejected. members of the Charlotte Grange spoke in

favor of village designation. Joslin closed the discussion by asking Pughe to make a few suggested changes to the map and said, “By next meeting we need to focus on what we want to propose.”

Other business The commission heard from applicant during a sketch plan review of PC-19-179SK Hutchins. Jason Hutchins is requesting the creation of a new lot and boundary adjustments of three lots along Riverview Drive. The commission approved it as a minor subdivision amendment and directed the town planner to verify the correct application type. The commission also approved a six month extension on PC-18-227-SK Snead-Couture to “resolve issues brought up in sketch plan review,” according to the applicant.

During public comment, Peter Carreiro of Rise n’ Shine asked for clarification on two sections of the Town Plan as it related to his property on the corner of Route 7 and Ferry Road and advisory design review guidelines. Kenyon offered the clarification, “[the proposed guidelines are] considerations, they’re not prescriptive.”

Last, the commission reviewed draft guidance from the zoning administrator outlining zoning permit questions. The guidance was suggested by Selectboard member Fritz Tegatz as a possible solution to address some of the questions received by town officials regarding zoning regulations.

Publisher: Vince Crockenberg Editorial Staff Managing Editor: Anna Cyr (anna@thecharlottenews.org) News Editor: Chea Waters Evans (chea@thecharlottenews.org) Contributing Editor: Edd Merritt Copy editors: Beth Merritt, Vince Crockenberg Proofreaders: Edd Merritt, Mike & Janet Yantachka Business Staff Ad manager: Elizabeth Langfeldt (ads@thecharlottenews.org) Bookkeeper: Susan Jones (billing@thecharlottenews.org) Board Members President: Vince Crockenberg (vince@thecharlottenews.org) Treasurer: Ted leBlanc (treasurer@thecharlottenews.org) Board members: Bob Bloch, Gay Regan, Tom Tiller, Dave Quickel, John Quinney, Lane Morrison, Jack Fairweather, Christina Asquith, Claudia Marshall, John Hammer (emeritus) Website: thecharlottenews.org Subscription Information The Charlotte News is delivered at no cost to all Charlotte residences. Subscriptions are available for first-class delivery at $40 per calendar year.

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ON THE COVER Sugar on snow for Kenzie Helem.

Photo by Matt Jennings

The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 3

Opinion

Act 143 and the future of farming in Charlotte Tad Cooke PHILO RIDGE FARM

The Town of Charlotte has a long history supporting agriculture and attracting residents who value a working landscape.

Throughout our state, farms provide numerous services in their communities: fresh food, jobs, diverse small businesses and open landscapes, as well as a range of ecosystem services from water quality to wildlife habitat, healthy soils and the mitigation of climate change. And yet, farming in Vermont is endangered: The state has lost approximately 10 percent of its farms every year for the last five years.

In 2018, the Vermont Legislature passed Act 143, a new law to help farms survive financially. The law allows farmers to develop accessory on-farm businesses as a means to diversify their revenue and welcome the public to experience the farm first-hand. Implementing Act 143, however, has been complicated for the town, for farmers and for anyone involved, starting with the most fundamental questions: What is an on-farm business, what can they do or sell, and how do towns track or regulate them?

The state says on-farm businesses include the storage, preparation and sale of qualifying products, provided that more than half the products are principally produced on the farm. That sounds clear, but what is a “qualifying product,” what does it mean to be “principally produced,” and if the town wanted to evaluate qualifying products, how would they do so?”

Philo Ridge Farm has participated in this process from the beginning. This year, from our two acres of vegetables and 200+ acres of pasture, we processed and sold on-farm over 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables, 10,000 pounds of grass-fed beef, 33 grass-fed lambs, 2,400 pastured chickens, 35 pastured pigs and well over 10,000 eggs. By tracking our sales and sharing our experience with the Selectboard and Planning Commission, we hope to make this process easier for farmers and farm businesses who go through the process after us.

Our experience so far has been twofold.

First, it is hard to determine whether valueadded products are “qualifying” and what it means to be “principally produced.”

Take pumpkin pie: It has pumpkin and eggs from Philo Ridge Farm, along with flour, dairy and sugar that we don’t produce ourselves. Does that qualify in its entirety or only a percentage? Is that percent by weight or cost? Does it matter if we use products from our neighbors, like flour from Nitty Gritty Grain or cream from Kimball Brook? What if we make apple pie including apples from Shelburne Orchards to augment our own? These questions are

difficult to determine, and harder to track.

Second, we have found existing regulatory hurdles for a farm business to be substantial without any additional oversight. Opening our market required a site plan with property boundaries and setbacks, a highway access permit to improve the driveway, a wastewater permit, a transient non-community potable water supply permit, a fire inspection, a meat processing license, a milk handlers license, a health department inspection and three health department licenses—one to process food for sale, one for baked goods and a third to serve food to the public. From our experience, if Charlotte wants to encourage the next generation of farmers, we should be making new farm businesses easier, not harder.

One promising concept from the Planning Commission is to develop and maintain a “directory” of all accessory on-farm businesses and any farm applying for an exemption under Act 143. This directory could include the business location and size, range of agricultural products produced for sale, and the farm’s status under Vermont’s Required Agricultural Practices. This structure would put the town staff in a position to advise rather than regulate—and in developing a data set of actual on-farm businesses, Charlotte could provide an invaluable resource for other farmers and for towns around the state that are wrestling with the same questions.

In the meantime, I have a typewritten page of suggestions. “What do I like about Charlotte?” it begins, “The open country— the meadows and pastures and woodlands, the views of the lake and mountains—but especially the generous people who live here. I would like to see the economy of the town based on agriculture, including vegetable, fruit and meat production, with a related tourist business.”

Those words were written to the Charlotte Selectboard by my grandmother, who then says, “In this year of 1968, it is probably not possible for anyone to make a good living by family farming alone. However, more people could live better by some parttime farming.”

Clearly, the questions we’re asking are not new to Charlotte, nor are the challenges of farming in Vermont. While I no longer live on grandmother’s land on Converse Bay Road—where I grew up harvesting eggs and asparagus and seemingly endless cherry tomatoes—that land has defied the odds. Rather than growing more houses, those gardens and meadows have become ShakeyGround Farm, home to another generation of farm business in Charlotte. I am hopeful that Act 143 gives us a platform to support more farms, farmers and new farm businesses in our town.

Tad Cooke is a third generation Charlotter and the manager of Philo Ridge Farm.

VERMONT PREMIERE!

Out of My Head November 17, 2 p.m.

Shelburne Museum PIZZAGALLI CENTER FOR ART AND EDUCATION

A very special screening of a film by Jacki Ochs and Susanna Styron, which follows the filmmaker’s efforts in seeking treatment for her daughter’s migraine attacks, and her discovery of why a confounding neurological disease, a devastating condition that afflicts nearly a billion people worldwide, remains so deeply misunderstood.

Followed by Q & A with filmmaker Jacki Ochs and Dr. Robert Shapiro, Director of the Division of Headache Medicine at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. $15/$12 for Museum members and seniors/$5 students with valid I.D. To pre-purchase tickets, please visit: out-of-my-head-vermont-premiere.eventbrite.com.

Learn more at outofmyheadfilm.com.

4 • November 14, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Selectboard Cyber security, sewers, trails and 2020 budget requests Juliann Phelps The Nov. 4 Selectboard meeting opened with a public informational hearing for the Nov. 5 vote on the amendment to the Town Plan. No one was present for the hearing, so the board moved on to other agenda items.

Town IT and cyber security TechGroup, a company contracted with the Town of Charlotte for IT support and service, presented information on cyber security. Regarding recent stories about ransomware, Selectboard member Louise McCarren asked, “Why are towns having all these problems? Where are our weaknesses?” Brian Manning, director of managed services, reviewed the town’s current position and offered recommendations including security awareness training for town staff, upgrading half of town computers on legacy operating systems and clarifying IT policies and procedures. The town currently implements a majority of network security best practices, including local and offsite data backup. “However, security doesn’t equate to convenience,” said TechGroup president Steve Loyer.

Charlotte Village Wastewater Planning Committee member Dave Marshall opened the discussion by noting the revisions “make the document more solid.” The largest revisions were to article 7, pollution abatement, and article 8, capacity for individual developments. Marshall said, “In my review this is the probably the most complete set of ordinances as far as content and legal input that I’ve seen of any municipality.” Vice Chair Frank Tenney asked about adding adaptive reuse for prioritizing applications.

the Selectboard and interested members of the public. Residents Robert Mack and David Garbose spoke in favor of the volunteer effort. Mack said, “There needs to be a commitment in this time frame,” noting the availability of volunteers may not be available later in the season. Garbose said, “The citizens have tasked our community to complete this trail. …You aren’t working well together.” He urged the Selectboard and Trails Committee to work together and to authorize the fund request saying, “24 hours, $24,000, one community.”

Resident Moe Harvey asked, “Is there a step where the town will vote on this?”

Krasnow responded that “as far as the adoption process, the board has not discussed it.” He briefly mentioned a 45-day review and option to protest the ordinances (the process was mentioned at previous meetings). Planning Commission Chair Peter Joslin said, “For those who have strong opinions on [sewer] allocation, come and learn about it. This is where all the dialogue happens.” No action was taken, and the board asked for a clean copy of the proposed changes to the ordinances and will continue the discussion at the Dec. 9 meeting.

Russell said “We are at a tipping point in the Trails Committee, people [on the committee] are losing interest.” She asked the Selectboard if the committee could put the construction project out to bid with the idea of completing the project in the spring.

“So we can have a plan,” she said. Selectboard member Carrie Spear spoke about the evolution of the trails over the past 20 years, saying she supported the State Park Road trail but asked for a “better town discussion” on the other proposed trails.

Krasnow said, “We’ve spent over $100,000 building out new trails. I think that’s an accomplishment that is getting glossed over in the conversation.” He reiterated his support of using volunteer effort to clear the trail in November and “giving the winter to plan the project.” After a bit more discussion, the board approved having the Road Commissioner install three culverts and two culvert extensions along State Park Road. In addition, the funds for material not donated will come from the Trails Committee budget.

West Charlotte Village sewer ordinances

State Park Road trail

The board moved on to reviewing proposed revisions to the wastewater disposal ordinances provided by the town attorney. West

Co-Chair Margaret Russell represented the Trails Committee as the construction of the State Park Road Path was discussed among

Other business The Selectboard heard from Mike Dunbar, owner of Charlotte Commons, regarding a request to possibly use the town land, formerly the flea market, for overflow parking. Selectboard chair Matt Krasnow indicated it would be something “the Selectboard would entertain” and offered to continue the discussion on a future agenda.

Managing director of Philo Ridge Farm Tad Cooke presented an application for a highway access permit (HAP) to move a

Vermont 1 - 5.04x7.indd 1

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driveway serving a new two-family dwelling on Hinesburg Road, as well as requests for ditching and proposed utility-pole configuration. Cooke noted the Vermont Land Trust has approved the driveway and septic mound on the conserved land parcel and the dwelling would be for farm employees.

Residents Jeff and Tammy Hall and Selectboard member Carrie Spear raised concerns about sight lines and the potential for increased traffic out of the east driveway. “When you think about conserved land and land trust, you don’t expect some big mound system to be on it and a major driveway in and out, when before it was a little farm path,” said Tammy Hall. The Selectboard approved the HAP-19-03 with amendments based on the town road and bridge standards.

In Selectboard updates, member Fritz Tegatz updated the board on the library addition expenditures to date. He also spoke about his recent inspection of bridges after last week’s Halloween storm, noting two experienced a washout of soil and rock and requested a second opinion on the bridge conditions. Krasnow publicly thanked Amos Behr for his work on the Conservation Commission.

FY21 budget requests Budget requests from the Recreation Department and Energy Commission were presented. The Recreation Department proposes to increase its budget to $123,085 from the previous year budget of $109,692.

It includes a new facility usage fee charged by the Champlain Valley School District for the use of the Charlotte Central School for recreation activities. They also proposed transferring $40,000 into the Recreation Capital Fund, consistent with the previously discussed capital-funding plan, according to the town administrator report.

Several members of the Energy Commission spoke about various energy projects and requested $7,720 for their FY21 budget.

The next Selectboard meeting is scheduled for Nov. 25 at 6 p.m.

The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 5

Around Town Town Flushing out the details: Selectboard moves closer to wastewater decision Decision will affect future of Charlotte Children’s Center and Charlotte Family Health Center Chea Waters Evans The Selectboard is working its way toward a decision about wastewater and septic usage in the West Village; as the process moves closer to resolution, however, the issue is still misunderstood by many in the community. The board plans on two more public discussions of the matter before voting on the municipal septic system’s future and, by default, on the future of the Charlotte Children’s Center and the Charlotte Family Health Center.

The crux of the issue comes down to this: The town uses a certain amount of its currently available septic capacity for the Town Hall, the Charlotte Public Library, the Charlotte Senior Center and the Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services. There is extra capacity available in the current structure, and in addition there exists on the property the ability to approximately double the current capacity of the system as a whole.

The Health Center, which is an independently owned, general practice family care office, and the Children’s Center, which is a nonprofit daycare and preschool, have requested that the town allow them to lease septic usage from the current system. In the CCC’s case, the building is already in place; they need more septic capacity in order to increase enrollment. The Health Center has plans to construct a new building on Ferry Road in the West Village commercial district, between the CCC and the fire department.

In order for the project to be financially viable, the Health Center asked to lease from the town instead of creating its own system, which they say would be costprohibitive.

The wastewater and septic discussion is years long, but this current decisionmaking process began in July when Dr.

The

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Andrea Regan, one of the physicians at Charlotte Family Health, made a request to lease some municipal septic. Discussion ensued, both for and against. The “for” argument is that the septic is currently unused, there are no plans for using it in the near future, and the town would be recouping costs from its construction by leasing it out. Opponents of allowing septic leasing argue that, should the town have future needs, they wouldn’t be met because there will be no available space in the system, that private companies shouldn’t be allowed to tap into a townowned resource and that once those businesses are allowed to use it, it could be opening a Pandora’s box of septicuse requests from both commercial and residential property owners.

Though it seems like the decision is taking a long time, Selectboard chair Matt Krasnow and West Village Wastewater Committee chair Dave Marshall agree that the process, while lengthy, is following correct procedures.

“The two ordinance documents just came back from legal review.” Krasnow said. “We wanted to make sure we dotted our i’s and crossed our t’s on the ordinance, and that it was a standard and consistent ordinance with state statutes and any precedents from other wastewater ordinances in Vermont.” He said it took four to five weeks for the town attorney to review because of other town issues that had a higher priority.

“In looking back, the [wastewater] committee has indeed spent a long time, but in a thoughtful way,” Marshall said. “I would not place this on the Selectboard at all. I believe that they have acted promptly on what has been provided to them by the Wastewater Committee.” ___________________ Septic capacity is measured in gallons per day. The capacity of the existing system is 6,499 GPD. There is potential on the property to increase this usage to 15,000 GPD, though there is no need to do so currently; between the fire

see WASTEWATER page 15

PUBLICATION DATES NO PUBLICATION Thanksgiving Day November 28, 2019 December 5, 2019 Copy Deadline: Friday, Nov. 29 Ads Deadline: Friday, Nov. 29 December 19, 2019 FINAL PUBLICATION OF 2019 Copy Deadline: Friday, Dec. 13 Ads Deadline: Friday, Dec. 13 Happy New Year!

January 9, 2020 Copy Deadline: Friday, Jan. 3 Ads Deadline: Friday, Jan. 3

Left: Edith Wilder Bunten. Right: The late Roger with Alex Bunten.

Congratulations to Britta Johnson and her husband and former editor of The Charlotte News, Alex Bunten, on the birth of their daughter, Edith Wilder Bunten, their first child. Edie was born October 2, and she is reported to have a healthy appetite and a scruffy head of hair. to Alex Bunten also for participating through money-raising in the Movember Foundation, a group that supports men’s health -- prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health awareness. Alex has

been involved for eight years during which time he has raised $4,700 in memory of his father, Roger Bunten. Those wishing to donate should visit mobro.co/albunten.

Sympathy is extended to family and friends of Michael Merrill of Cornwall, Vermont, who died October 28 at the age of 81. In 1975 he and his wife, Nancy, and their family moved to Charlotte where he worked for Garden Way until 1984. He leaves behind his wife, sons Michael and Todd, and daughter, Angelina.

6 • November 14, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Calendar Events

We welcome appropriate community event listings with a maximum of 100 words. Print fees may apply to community events outside of Charlotte.

Email your events to ads@thecharlottenews.org.

Sunday, November 17

Out of My Head film screening, Shelburne Museum, 2 p.m. at the Pizzagalli Center for Art And Education.

Follow the filmmaker’s efforts in seeking treatment for her daughter’s migraine attacks and her discovery of a confounding neurological disease, a devastating condition that afflicts nearly a billion people worldwide. Q & A with filmmaker Jacki Ochs and Dr. Robert Shapiro. $15/$12 for Museum members and seniors/$5 students with valid I.D. To pre-purchase tickets, please visit: out-of-my-head-vermontpremiere.eventbrite.com. Learn more at outofmyheadfilm.com.

Friday, November 22

UVM-Navy Basketball. Navy Midshipmen vs. Vermont Catamounts, at Patrick Gym, 7:00 p.m., Burlington.

Visit UVMathletics.com or call 802-6564410 for ticket information.

Thursday, December 5

9th Annual Festive Fundraiser Winter Mixer & Wreath Auction at AO Glass, 416 Pine St. Burlington, 6-8:30 p.m.

Live auction, live music, snacks and drinks by Arts Riot. Tickets $35, buy online at ShelburneCraftSchool.org (under News). Buy in person/by phone: 64 Harbor Rd., Shelburne, 802-9853648.

Saturday, December 7

Charlotte Central School Holiday Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 408 Hinesburg Rd., Charlotte. A great lineup of amazing vendors and crafters! There will also be food, coffee from Paradiso Farm, spirit wear and raffle baskets.

You’ll find two gyms filled with talent— we invite you to come and shop local!

Books, jewelry, skin care, essential oils, woodwork, art, health tonic, pottery, knitwear, clothing, decor, holiday ornaments and much, much more.

There will be something for everyone on your list. We will also have a kids craft area where kids can participate in a take-home activity.

Save the dates!

Town Working in the watershed: Wrapping up the water quality stewardship field season Kate Kelly LEWIS CREEK ASSOCIATION

Among the great egrets and northern map turtles in Charlotte’s Town Farm Bay and Shelburne’s LaPlatte River wetlands, volunteers removed invasive European frogbit plants for the 13th consecutive year during July and August. Lewis Creek Association’s (LCA) “Water Quality Stewardship Program” is an invasive-plant and water-quality project coordinated annually since 2007. It is supported

by LCA, the towns of Charlotte and Shelburne, Point Bay Marina, Shelburne Bay Boat Club and a property owner in Charlotte.

Native to Europe and Northern Asia, European frogbit was first introduced to arboretum ponds in Ottawa in 1932 before spreading to the United States via the St. Lawrence River. It is considered an aquatic invasive species because it grows on the water surface and outcompetes native plants for sunlight and nutrients. In 2007, friends of LCA discovered frogbit covering 50 percent of Charlotte’s Town Farm Bay wetland. Through volunteers’ annual seasonal field work, the frogbit cover has been substantially reduced and is now maintained at about 5 percent cover.

In contrast, when frogbit was discovered in the LaPlatte River and McCabe’s Brook wetlands (LaPlatte Natural Area), it had a low percent cover, providing an opportunity for “early detection, rapid response.” Though the invasive plant will never be eradicated in either location, maintaining this low population allows native plants and critters to thrive.

This year, volunteers removed 677 pounds of frogbit from the 50-acre Town Farm Bay wetland complex and 612 pounds of frogbit from the 77-acre LaPlatte River wetland complex. Final amounts of European

frogbit were estimated to be less than 5 percent cover at each location.

Because current frogbit levels are consistently low, LCA and volunteers are now taking on the management of other invasive species. Under advice from advisors at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and the Lake Champlain Basin Program, LCA has begun a study of flowering rush (a non-native invasive species that can also crowd out native plants) and the best methods for removal/control of it in Town Farm Bay. Some flowering rush plants and seed heads were removed from both Town Farm Bay and the lower LaPlatte River. Volunteers also discovered and removed three water chestnut plants from Town Farm Bay. Next year, these studies of flowering rush will proceed, to be followed by development of management/control practices for the species.

LCA’s Water Quality Stewardship Program also includes the annual monitoring of water quality in the LaPlatte River, Patrick Brook, McCabe’s Brook, Thorp Brook and Kimball Brook by volunteers for South Chittenden River Watch. The sampling season is still in progress and will last into November.

Volunteers collect water samples that are then analyzed by the Vermont Agricultural and Environmental Laboratory and interpreted by LCA technical consultants.

This year, LCA continues to sample nutrients and solids during high flow events like heavy rain or snow melt in order to understand sources of nutrient loading to Lake Champlain while informing water quality improvement project plans. We also sample at low flows to be able to compare levels of nutrients to the state standards.

To see 2018 results, visit the LCA website at lewiscreek.org. Results for 2019 will be available on our website in the spring of 2020.

A volunteer removes a European frogbit plant from the water by hand. Photo contributed

Not only is this water quality stewardship program important for maintaining productive, functioning and scenic waters, it also allows residents of Charlotte and Shelburne to become involved as advocates for water quality. Volunteers in each town will help share this information with neighbors and friends to help improve water quality in the future. This program being funded through your town budget is crucial, since it allows the whole community to take ownership of local water quality and natural resources that are so important to protect. The end result is a healthier ecosystem that all citizens can enjoy.

If you are interested in assisting with water quality monitoring or invasive plant removal in 2020, please reach out to Kate Kelly at lewiscreekorg@gmail.com or 488-5203.

Kate Kelly is the LCA program manager.

Shop Local !

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 7

Food Shelf News We are available to all community residents. Privacy is very important and respected in our mission of neighbor helping neighbor.

Susan Ohanian As the holidays approach, we offer a special thanks to baking coordinator Holly Rochefort and members of her wonderful baking crew who contribute every month to the Hunger is Hard, Baking is Easy program. With snow on the ground, think about how some baking will warm up your kitchen—and your heart. We welcome your contributions, which can be dropped off directly at the Congregational Church or at 86 Spear Street in the box on the front porch. The new 2019-2020 schedule is out and includes information on packaging and labeling. If you have any questions or concerns about how much or what to bake, or if you would like to receive a copy of the schedule, please contact Holly Rochefort at hwcoolboots@gmail.com.

For emergency food call John 425-3130.

For emergency assistance (electricity, fuel) call Pat at 425-3083.

For more information call Karen at 4253252.

Donations

Jamie Two Coats Toyshop

The feedback for these goodies has been fantastic—favorites include cookies and muffins. We are finding that six pieces per bag/plate is the perfect number. Many people are conscious of food waste and want to take “just enough”—and this just means the baking can go even further! Thank you to everyone who has participated.

Let’s continue to spread the love (and the goodies)!

Favorite goodies for Hunger is Hard, Baking is Easy program include cookies and muffins.

Photos contributed

Thanksgiving basket schedule

Thursday, Nov. 21, 9–10 a.m. Table setup Friday, Nov. 22, 7–10 a.m. Basket setup Saturday, Nov. 23, Thanksgiving basket pickup, 10 a.m.–noon December Schedule

Food Shelf Regular Distribution Wednesday Dec. 11, 5–7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 12, 7:30–9 a.m.

Holiday Basket Schedule

Giving Trees

Thursday, Dec. 19, 9–11 a.m. Table set up Friday, Dec., 20, 7–11 a.m. Basket/toy box set up Saturday, Dec. 21, Holiday basket pickup, 7–11 a.m.

We would note that the Thanksgiving table setup on Nov. 21 and the table setups in December are very busy times, and we are grateful for people thinking of their own meals and at the same time enjoying this occasion of spreading the bounty across the town. These table setups are joyful occasions.

of Shelburne

Important distribution dates at the Charlotte Congregational Church November schedule

Wednesday Nov. 13: 5–7 p.m.

Thursday Nov.14: 7:30–9:30 a.m.

New Collectio Has Arrived

thanks to Charlotte Central School staff, students, parents and coordinator Kristen Gerson for their continued work in preparing special items for the Thanksgiving and holiday baskets. Getting children involved in such a worthy endeavor of learning by doing builds citizenship skills critical to our community.

Thank you to the Charlotte-Shelburne Rotary for supplying turkeys for Thanksgiving and hams for the holiday baskets.

Lo c at e d i n th e

We extend a thank you for the gifts of financial contributions from The Charlotte Congregational Church, UCC; also thank you to Cynthia Marshall, Anne Castle, Christine Stiller, Hank and Josephine Kaestner, and to Louise McCarren in honor of her brother Mike Moroney’s birthday.

5 4 fa ll s r o a d M o n - S at 1 0 - 6 S u n daEmail y 1 1 -your 5 news to 8 02news@thecharlottenews.org - 9 8 5and - 3 2 2photos 1

We are always grateful for the huge community effort involving so many people, organizations and neighborhoods. Special

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We are a volunteer organization, so all donations you make to the Food Shelf go directly for food or assistance to our local neighbors in need. Should you wish to honor someone with a donation, a special acknowledgement will be sent to that person. Checks may be mailed to Charlotte Food Shelf & Assistance, P.O. Box 83, Charlotte, VT 05445. Thank you.

The Giving Trees, decorated with each kid’s wish, will be up at the Charlotte Congregational Church and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Giving Tree shoppers should return gifts on or before Dec. 15.

Financial assistance As a reminder, the Food Shelf has some funds available for emergency assistance with fuel and electric bills. You may contact Pat Rodar at 425-3083 if you need assistance.

Donated food drop-off locations

All nonperishable food donations may be dropped off at the Charlotte Library, the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (main entrance) or at the Food Shelf during the distribution mornings. Please check expiration dates.

We request that all fresh foods be dropped off at the Food Shelf before the Wednesday distribution hours or before 7:30 a.m. on the Thursday distribution mornings.

The Charlotte Food Shelf is located on the lower level of the Charlotte Congregational Church vestry. Distribution days/times are posted on bulletin boards in the Charlotte Congregational Church Hall, at the Charlotte Library and at the Charlotte Senior Center. You may also call the Food Shelf number (425-3252) for a recording of the distribution times.

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8 • November 14, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Library News worry. In this one-hour workshop, we hope to lighten the load and learn some tools of yoga to help your child become a Warrior Against Worry!

Margaret Woodruff DIRECTOR

Library expansion updates • •

•

•

•

The library driveway and original entrance are permanently closed.

Patrons may enter the library via the library porch door, either from the north entrance using the new sidewalk or from the walkway next to Town Hall.

The book-drop box is now located in front of Town Hall. Please stop there to return all materials when the library is closed for the day.

A pick-up table has been set up inside Town Hall. We are happy to put books and other items there for you to pick up. Just call to let us know what you are looking for and we will have it ready for you.

Please contact the library with any questions!

Library Programs

Activities for children Story Times continues!

• Baby & Family Time. Tuesdays at 9 a.m. Join us for music, stories and play time with babies and toddlers.

•

Preschool Story Time. Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and crafts for children ages 3 to 5.

•

Kindergarten-First Grade After School Story Time. Tuesdays at 2:15 p.m.

Registration required. Program is full.

Contact the library to get on the waitlist.

Coding Club is back! Thursdays at 3:15 p.m. Design and program your own video games using code and computer science.

Learn important gaming concepts while building racing games, mazes and other fun games. Some previous experience with Scratch is helpful but not required. 4th grade & up. Space is limited, sign up today!

Worry Warriors: Yoga for Kids. Wednesday, Nov. 20, 3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

Children today live in a very fast-paced world. Between pressures from school, extracurricular activities, their peers, parents and society, the hustle and bustle of everyday life can feel unsteady and create some

Kidding Around Yoga, is a curriculum that allows your child to be active, build confidence and learn some stress-management tools. Recommended for ages 6-10 plus and minus. Registration required. Please call the library to sign up. Lynn Alpeter, co-owner of Yoga Roots, is a 200-hour certified yoga instructor and is also a certified Kidding Around Yoga teacher. She is a former para-educator at Charlotte Central School and mom of two college kids who lives in Charlotte with her husband and two dogs (who love to do yoga too!). She looks forward to sharing her love of yoga and all the benefits with a new generation. She believes that sharing the practice of yoga with others makes the world a better place. This project is funded in part by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Cooperative Agreement Number UG4LM012347 with the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.

Programs for adults & families Parenting the Anxious Child. Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m.

Does your child struggle with chronic worry? Learn how to meet the unique challenges of raising children who struggle with anxiety with licensed psychologist Joanne Wolfe.

She shares recent information about the biological and psychological underpinnings of the fear response, foundational principles for combatting anxiety and destructive patterns of avoidance, as well as tools and interventions for use in the home. Joanne Wolfe is a clinical psychologist, with a special interest and expertise in working with older children, adolescents and families. Much of her clinical focus has been related to providing treatment for anxiety, OCD, mood issues and family discord. She has a private practice in Shelburne. This project is funded in part by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Cooperative Agreement Number UG4LM012347

Providing Repair, Refinishing, Restoration and Transport

George & Pam Darling P.O. Box 32 Ferry Road, Charlotte, VT gdarling@gmavt.net

with the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester. Co-sponsored with the Carpenter Carse Library, Hinesburg.

Mystery Book Group: Bruno, Chief of Police. Monday, Nov. 18, at 10 a.m.

The first installment in a wonderful new series that follows the exploits of Benoît Courrèges, a policeman in a small French village where the rituals of the café still rule. But then the murder of an elderly North African who fought in the French army changes everything and galvanizes Bruno’s attention: the man was found with a swastika carved into his chest. Copies available at library circulation desk.

Vermont Health Connect Enrollment Information Session. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 p.m.

Vermont Health Connect representatives present the latest updates for the 2020 Open Enrollment season. Topics include: what’s new for 2020, overview of 2020 VHC plans, health insurance basics, plan selection strategies, financial help, how to apply and Q & A. Men’s Book Group: The Underground Railroad. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m.

In Colson Whitehead’s ingenious conception, the Underground Railroad is no mere metaphor—engineers and conductors operate a secret network of tracks and tunnels beneath the Southern soil. His protagonists’ first stop is South Carolina, in a city that initially seems like a haven. But the city’s placid surface masks an insidious scheme designed for its black denizens. And even worse: Ridgeway, the relentless slave catcher, is close on their heels. Forced to flee again, Cora embarks on a harrowing flight, state by state, seeking true freedom. Copies available at the library circulation desk.

For more information about these and all our library programs & activities, visit our website: charlottepubliclibrary.org.

The Charlotte Library will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, and Friday, Nov. 29, for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Charlotte Library contact 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: facebook.com/charlottelibraryvt.

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @CharlotteVTLib. Unless otherwise warned, the Charlotte Library Board of Trustees meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. Library minutes and agendas available on the library website.

The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 9

Junior Reporters

The s’more diversity Ada Glasscoe and Marianna Fairweather S’mores are a delicious snack that almost everyone loves. They’re so creamy and chocolatey, and everyone wants to have them. S’mores are a gooey sensation that are made out of chocolate, graham crackers, and roasted marshmallow.

We interviewed King Milme. Ada Glasscoe asks, “Do you like burnt s’mores, warm s’mores, or golden brown s’mores?” King says warm. Ada asks, “If you could invent a s’more what would it be?” King says dark chocolate with raspberry and coffee. He used to work at the hospital, but now he works at CVU. He is 75 years young. We interviewed Emma Slater, from the Old Brick Store. She is 23 years young and was born in Algeria.

She says she likes golden brown s’mores, my personal favorite. She thinks hardest part of making s’mores is trying not to burn them. Marianna Fairweather asked, “Do you have s’mores in Algeria?”

Emma says, “No, but we have a lot of cookies.” Ada asks, “What was your original job in Algeria?” “A teacher,” she replies. “Why did you want to teach?”

Email your Charlotte news and photos to:

Photo by Jessica Ruscello asks Ada. She replies, “When I was in college I studied Arabic. I wanted to teach that language.”

Stepping into the conversation, Jack Fairweather (Marianna’s Father) asks, “When are you going back to Algeria?”

“Two weeks,” she says. Ada asks, “If you could invent a s’more, what would it be?”

Emma said, peanut butter and chocolate.

How do you like your s’more?

news@ thecharlottenews.org To Advertise email: ads@ thecharlottenews.org

10 • November 14, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Conservation Currents

Becoming acquainted with mushrooms Mary Van Vleck Mushrooms? It seems that I’ve cooked with the little button mushrooms found in most grocery stores forever and enjoyed them raw in tossed salads. About 12 years ago, I was introduced to the Portobello mushroom by my son-in-law, David, who cooked them on his charcoal grill. They were delicious! Gradually over the years, I’ve become aware of the great variety of mushrooms available, both in the health food and regular grocery stores and in restaurants. I’ve enjoyed ordering them in restaurants but very seldom bought any fancy mushrooms—largely because I didn’t know enough about them, and they are expensive. So I used the button mushrooms whenever any kind of mushroom was recommended in a recipe, much too timid or too lazy to adventure further. And I never, ever was tempted to try any mushrooms that I found growing naturally outside.

However, I’ve always been fascinated with the mushrooms that sprang up on the ground or on fallen tree trunks in the Northeast, wherever I was. There are a dizzying number of kinds, so many that I couldn’t imagine ever learning about them; and we’re all taught that some are deadly. But which ones? I became increasingly interested in knowing what ones might be edible, even as I never picked and brought any home to my own kitchen.

But I bought books and attended a few walks and talks here in Chittenden County. The first book I bought, about 10 years ago, was Mushrooming Without Fear, The Beginner’s Guide to Collecting Safe and Delicious Mushrooms, by Alexander Schwab. Without fear, really?

The first bit of advice in this book was to stay away from gilled mushrooms. Since I had thought that all mushrooms were gilled, it was quickly apparent that my first task was to learn what other kinds of undersides there might be.

Gills radiate out from the central stem on the undersides of the cap toward the outside edge in regular patterns. By contrast some mushrooms have tubes, spines or ridges on the undersides that look very different from the much more common gills. For starters, they are irregular in pattern, much like a sponge or a brush. The book advises, “Never, never take a mushroom with gills!!!” It has other bits of advice too, like: “If a mushroom smells rotten, it is rotten, and if it feels soggy, it is soggy.” And, “Never, ever eat wild mushrooms raw.”

One summer morning years ago, while hiking down a stream bed in the Poconos with my sister, we found an abundant crop of 50 or more small white mushroom caps on a fallen log, just like the little button mushrooms in the grocery store.

“Oh, look at those oyster mushrooms!” she exclaimed. We stopped to admire and photograph the log with its little white

Above: Hen of the woods. Right: Chicken mushroom.

Photos by Mary Van Vleck

It is hard to express how very much I enjoy collecting and eating the few mushrooms that I have come to trust. Perhaps that is because of my fear of making a mistake, much like the thrill of accomplishing anything when one is apprehensive before starting.

caps but didn’t pick a one. Even now, I think about those little caps covering the log and wonder: Should we have picked some? Why didn’t she pick some since she seemed to know what they were?

To this day, I’ve not picked an oyster mushroom in the wild, only from logs that were intentionally inoculated, but that’s another story.

When I moved to a cohousing community in Charlotte and became friends with Wolfger Schneider, who had some knowledge of our local fungi, we talked about what fun it would be to collect and cook a few of those fungi from our own property or elsewhere. By the end of that summer, Wolfger had come across a huge mushroom at the base of a very dead oak tree just south of our houses. It was big, brown, gray and white, about 12 inches wide in a circular pattern with many circular and wiggly layers, reminiscent of a peony or a little girl’s “tutu.” Wolfger recognized this mushroom as a “hen of the woods” (Grifola frondosa), called maitake by the Japanese. He brought a piece back to his house, and we looked it up in several books to be sure it would be safe to eat. It had no gills and was quite smooth on the undersides, which the books identified as tubes—small and velvety in young sections and considerably coarser in larger, older specimens.

In time we were convinced that it was okay to eat, so we chopped up a small piece of the fan-shaped cap, fried it in butter and tried it. It was delicious, and best of all we felt fine the next day. After that, Wolfger and I both returned to the old oak tree and gathered more of this

same mushroom, being careful to leave about half of it to spread its spores for next year. I filled a plastic grocery bag with the pieces, cut them up, fried and then froze them in small containers so I could revel in the novelty of adding these wild mushroom pieces to soups, stews or scrambled eggs during the winter. I was thrilled to be able to eat this particular mushroom that I had gathered myself.

Then this summer, visiting again in the Poconos in late September, another kind of mushroom appeared on an oak tree, higher up on the trunk, some even as high as six or seven feet. It was close to the entrance to an inn where I was staying, and people stopped to admire the large clumps of orange and yellow fan-shaped mushrooms, very similar, but not the same, as the hen of the woods. Was it safe to eat? Probably, but no one who passed by was willing to try it.

So I took photos and emailed them to Wolfger and another Vermont friend, Roel Boumans, who I knew was familiar with mushrooms. Both men sent links to websites so I could decide for myself. In no time, after studying the several pictures and reading the texts, I was confident that this mushroom, called “chicken of the woods” (Laetiporus sulphureus), was safe to eat. My sister joined me in tasting it, and we both agreed that it was good; in fact it tasted like chicken!

And once again, I went back, gathered more of that fungus and fried and stewed it. Now I have little containers of chicken mushrooms in my freezer to enjoy this winter.

And what about the “hen of the woods”

here in Vermont that we had gathered for the past few years? Those no longer grow at the base of that first old, now very dead, oak, but they have recently been discovered on our favorite oak tree deeper in the woods, which we call the “Mother Oak.” Wolfger, and I were both distressed to find the mushroom on this tree, as it means there is decay inside the roots of this elegant old oak. But we’ll certainly enjoy the wonderful flavor of this mushroom during the brief time that it “blossoms” and spreads its spores each fall. However, it will surely be back next year, in the same place at the base of this tree, and for many years to come, as we can anticipate that our “Mother Oak,” while not its once healthy self, will take many years to wilt away altogether.

It is hard to express how very much I enjoy collecting and eating the few mushrooms that I have come to trust.

Perhaps that is because of my fear of making a mistake, much like the thrill of accomplishing anything when one is apprehensive before starting.

I look forward to enjoying and sharing my little stash of mushrooms this winter and to learning about other mushrooms, a few each year and always with the help of my more knowledgeable friends.

Mary Van Vleck is a Charlotte resident and member of the Charlotte Conservation Commission. This group meets monthly, usually on the fourth Tuesday at the Town Hall; meetings are open to the public.

The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 11

Town

Charlotte News

The

U-Hauls and tractor parades: the ties that bind us together Vera Moroney Impossible or absurd to compare a cross country trip in a U-Haul and the East Charlotte Tractor parade? Well, here it is.

Recently my husband and I flew to Oregon to retrieve some very old family furniture.

We rented a small U-Haul truck and drove it back to Charlotte. Also recently I had the great opportunity, thanks to Carrie Spear, to be a volunteer at the 19th annual East Charlotte Tractor Parade. The similarities were inescapable. They are about wonder, community and hope Driving, even on the interstates, as we did, reveals to you the vastness of this great country. Leaving Eugene, Oregon, we headed east (heading west would put us in the Pacific Ocean). Thought it would be all sage brush sea, but the geological formations were stunning. Then headed east through Idaho and Montana. Crossed the Continental Divide and through the Bitterroots and marveled at the pioneers who had made their way. Through Minneapolis and St Paul, crossing the upper Mississippi. A geography lesson.

We did take one detour in North Dakota to stop at Amidon, my husband’s family name. Not much there but a reminder that many of the names of towns west of here are ours: Charlotte, Springfield, Burlington, etc.

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As we passed the farm fields of Illinois, suddenly we came upon Chicago.... The vast skyline, like the Emerald City of Oz, in the late day sun. As we wound our way through Chicago we had the chance to glimpse neighborhoods. People live there... oh, how I wanted to talk to them.

The overwhelming feeling was of an enormous and wonderful country. I wanted to talk at length everywhere we went—the diners, the hotels and gas stations. What are you thinking, what do you think about us as a country, as a people?

Attending the East Charlotte Tractor Parade produced the same feeling. Here, in our troubled times, was a gathering of young and old, of who-knows-what political dispositions and affinity for what type of tractor. Thanks to Carrie Spear and friends, it is a gathering of folks. I have the Tractor Parade calendar on my desk.

The same sense of who are you, who are we, how do we differ. Can we come together?

I guess the common lesson is this: When you have the opportunity to leave your cocoon, see other folks and other situations, take it.

This is probably pretty naive, but what joins us can be more powerful than what divides us.

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School

CVU’s Grad Challenge both liberates and burdens students Lily Menk

Since 1994, every senior who has graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School has completed a graduation challenge project. The guidelines are very open ended, encouraging creativity and allowing students to do virtually anything they want—all for half of a credit.

Carly Rivard, CVU’s grad challenge coordinator, has been administrating the program for three years. She said, “I help organize all the materials and get the website updated.” Her main focus, though, is “organizing all of the presentation-day events, which is the most intense time in my role in grad challenge.”

On May 25, the seniors will give their final presentations, a cumulative “final assessment” that is presented in front of a panel of faculty and community members.

Along with the presentation, every student must complete an annotated bibliography, letter of intent, several interviews and a final paper that wraps up their learning and experience throughout the year. If applicable, students can present their “tangible product” during the school day before their final presentation.

Rivard, when speaking on the importance of grad challenge, mentions that the program’s goal is “ensuring that all kids have a chance—at some point in their high school career—to design their own learning, and to follow a passion or interest is a really important part of that.”

The academic freedom that characterizes the program results in countless unique ideas, but some of the most popular include coaching, job shadowing and internships, and art and building projects.

Rivard says that, for some students, “the presentation really is the biggest challenge, sharing their learning in front of a group that they don’t know and being up in front of a room for eight to ten minutes.” But, for some, “having these deadlines exist when there is a lot of other stuff going on” poses an issue. It’s clear that seniors are busy students, and college applications falling around the same time as many of the grad challenge deadlines can be a test for their time management.

With that being said, Rivard also says that “sometimes the challenge could be in the content of the project itself.”

Phoebe Sarandos, a senior at CVU, who is designing notecards and marketing her work to make money for charity, feels

Senior Phoebe Saradnos created this artwork for notecards, and is marketing and selling the cards as part of her Grad Challenge project. She will donate the money to charity.

as though the communication between administration and students is lacking.

“I did not really receive too much instruction, and I felt that everything was sprung on me,” she says. “When I went to turn stuff in, there were things due that I had never been told by my advisor were due.” Sarandos suggests, “I think we should have had a grad challenge kick-off meeting for seniors because there hasn’t really been a central way of communicating to us what is due and when.” Sarandos isn’t the only student who feels that the assignments are unorganized.

Alden Randall, who is interning at the Kansas City Royals shadowing the senior director of event presentation and production, feels similarly. “I don’t feel that the deadlines are helpful because I can’t do my stuff until I have done my hours.” Since Randall is making the trip to Kansas City in March, he is unable to complete his hours and interact with his community consultant until then, making

some of the assignments—like a draft of the final paper—almost impossible to complete. “I don’t think it should be as heavily weighted. I respect grad challenge and how it gets us out and doing real things, but I feel like the work that goes along with it is just a distraction of what can be done in school.”

Both Sarandos and Randall do believe that grad challenge is a valuable experience, although there may be some improvements to be made, and are interested in pursuing the field of their project in their future. “I think I will probably minor in business,” says Randall. “In college, I am going to be studying art and design as a minor or double major,” Sarandos said. “I do think grad challenge is valuable for us because it is self-directed learning, but I did feel at times it has been a burden,” she commented.

Lily Menk, a senior at CVU, is interning at The Charlotte News as part of her graduation challenge project.

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The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 13

Sports

CVU teams continue their winning ways Edd Merritt

Soccer. For men’s and women’s soccer teams, the friendly confines of UVM’s Buck Hard Field proved once again that the Redhawks of both genders were best in the state.

The women faced Colchester, and the game went evenly through the first half, scoreless at the break. Josie Pecor’s strike four minutes into the second half started the ball rolling for the top-ranked Hawks who ended on the winning end of a 4-1 score over the thirdranked Lakers. Pecor hit the net twice for CVU, the second an empty-netter as her teammate Edie Wright passed the ball behind the Colchester goalie, and all Josie had to do was tap it in. Charlotte goaltender Maryn Askew finished out four seasons in the net with five stops. This was CVU’s 19th state championship, the highest in the country according to the soccer federation record books.

Told by their coach that, while they—the men—were unbeaten this season (16 wins and one tie), that did not mean they were unbeatable. The Redhawks took it to heart and knocked off sixth-seeded Mount Mansfield Union for the state title, 3-0. It gave them their second undefeated season in a row, 32-0-2 for 2018 and 2019. It also gave them their 19th state championship, and while few may remember the school’s moniker of 30 years ago being “Soccer Central” under coach Peter Coffey, both men and women feel that it still holds.

Other more recent sports are challenging soccer supremacy by winning state championships themselves.

Claiming first place among Vermont runners earlier this fall, the Redhawk cross-country women traveled to Manchester, Conn., last week and claimed another New England championship, their sixth since 2003.

They hope to repeat their trip to last year’s

CVU boys varsity soccer wins state championship! (left to right) Charlotte team members Ben Vincent, Holden Batchelder, Fritz Wetzell, Ben Wetzell, Henry Bijur, Cooper Whalen, Ben Sampson and William Berkowitz (in circle).

Photo by Julie Wetzell

national event by doing well enough in the Northeastern Regionals two weeks from now. The point-getters for CVU were Alicia Veronneau in 10th place, Alice Larson (28th), Jasmine Nails (30th) and Charlotters Finn Mittelstadt (67th) and Sadie Holmes (111th).

Volleyball took a lead from CVU soccer by traveling to St. Michael’s the same evening after the kickers won their two state titles.

The women had to play five sets before they knocked off the defending champs the top-ranked Essex Hornets. While kills put points on the board, it is often sets and digs that allow them to happen. Charlotte’s Lena Hansen joined Taylor Detch to lead the dig brigade with 17 each. Detch also served an ace for the title. It was truly a team championship with four players leading the way in several categories and three more providing assists.

The men added to their unbeaten record this year, a season in which they have lost only three sets—none of them against Essex in the state finals. Server Jacob Boliba led the way with six aces and 15 assists. Ethan Harvey

Top left: Jacob Boliba spikes for the state championship.

Above: Redhawk women soccer players celebrate the state championship!

scored on seven kills, and Baker Angstrom dug up the ball 12 times, while Noah Allen was above the net for five blocks. Boliba’s play in the state tournament earned him

Photos by Al Frey

recognition in the Nov. 9 Burlington Free Press as “Athlete of the Week” for his play in both the semifinal win against Lyndon and final defeat of Essex.

Bucs youth football snaps up state championship Katie Rogers Taylor It was the perfect crisp, fall day for a football game. Top-seeded St. Albans Steelers and the second-seeded Chittenden South Buccaneers arrived at Essex High School in the early morning hours of Saturday, Nov. 2, to warm up for what was sure to be an impressive show of football. The title of Northern Vermont Youth Football League State Champion was on the line. The Steelers arrived undefeated, and the Buccaneers’ only loss came at the hands of the Steelers earlier in the season.

It was sure to be an exciting game, and it did not disappoint.

The Buccaneers started the game with the ball and, on their first possession, scored a touchdown when quarterback Mitch Niarchos handed the ball to Jack Sumner who took off up the right side of the field to score. Thirteen seconds into the game, the Buccaneers had set the tone. The Steelers answered with a touchdown of their own, and it was back and forth going into the fourth quarter with the Bucs up 20-13.

The Steelers made an impressive comeback,

drove down the field to go up 21-20, but the Bucs answered with a touchdown of their own to go up 26-21 with just minutes left to go in the game. The Steelers had an opportunity to win the game, but the formidable Bucs defense was able to hold them to victory.

Sandi Sumner, the team’s offensive coordinator, said, “It has been an absolute pleasure to coach a group of young men with such high moral character combined with a high football IQ. We installed an entirely new offense this year, and the kids accepted and mastered it in a matter of days, which allowed us to add new wrinkles almost weekly to keep our opponents off guard.”

The team was led by a group of 8th graders, for whom this wasn’t their first championship game. Last year, the Bucs lost to number one seed Castleton on a freezing, wet, windy day, and these kids were determined to bring home the championship for only the second time in program history.

Head Coach Glenn Steinman praised the athletes for their athletic skills, but also their teamwork. “One thing about the game that really makes me smile was the level of

The second-seeded Buccaneers Youth Football varsity team, made up made up of athletes from Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, Williston and St. George, captured its second state championship on Saturday, Nov. 2, defeating top-seeded St. Albans 26-21 at Essex High School. Charlotters Lander Magoon, Charlie Taylor, Daniel Tuiqere, Gabe Merrill, George Taylor, Thomas Murphy, Zane Martenis and Jake Strobeck all played with the varsity squad this season.

Photo by Katie Taylor

respect the players have for each other. They demonstrated it on and off the field; I could not have been more proud.”

Head coach: Glenn Steinman Coaches: Tim Armstrong, Chris Destito, Mike Griffin, Pat Kennedy, Ben Litle, Matt Palmer, Sandi Sumner, Colin Simons

14 • November 14, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Tunes To Tune Into A deep dive into a few gems you may have missed in John Moses

music releases I missed from years prior.

Greetings from Los Angeles!

I write to you from three time zones away.

Even though I’m a quick phone call, or just one gross day of travel, from friends and family back home, the closer I get to visiting Vermont for the holidays, the more antsy and further from everything I feel. Gearing up to sleep in my childhood room and play all my records from high school wraps me in a sense of nostalgia that seems to be all encompassing in 2019’s final months.

Maybe the recent departure of Pumpkin Man has me thinking of the good old days of seeking out candy on Greenbush Road?

Perhaps the start of the NBA season has me thinking of heaving “bricks” in the CCS multipurpose room? It could be more likely that assembling my year-end “Best of 2019” music list for my radio station, KCRW, has me in a reflective mood. Whatever it may be, I write to you, sipping a soda, floating in an infinity pool of sweet, sweet memories, and let me tell you, the water is warm. Come on in.

Actually, before you do, let’s keep talking about music for a moment. I’ve never been married to the curatorial might that a “best of” list demands; they carry so much weight, yet they’ve always felt a bit presumptuous to me, no matter who they come from or what music is selected. There’s just so much music being released at any given time that it seems crazy that anyone can fully digest an entire year’s worth of records by the time November rolls around—and then pick the best of the bunch before the new year. I know I can’t. While I still try my best to wrangle a respectable annual list together, I consistently stumble upon outstanding

So before we ascend the mountain and announce who made the greatest records of 2019, throw on your best swimsuit and now let’s take a deep dive into a few gems we may have missed in 2018.

If you’ve read my other columns, you know I’m a big fan of recent music coming out of Australia, and LA transplant Joe McKee’s album An Australian Alien is the purest example of excellence from the other side of the world.

I was lucky enough to stumble upon this in an old promotional email left for dead at the bottom of my inbox. Joe’s vocals both soar and soothe, constructed around emotive string orchestration and contemplative guitar rhythms. His music is as theatrical and commanding as it is an intimate one-on-one conversation with the listener.

The entire record is reminiscent of compositions by Scott Walker or Lee Hazlewood: bold and dynamic with a personal touch of Joe’s cowboyish charm and enigmatic flamboyance. An Australian Alien marks the first release on Joe McKee’s personal imprint, Baby Race Records, a label I’ve mined for my late-night program and have learned to trust in releasing wonderful discoveries. Bask in the warmth of this one for a while, and then let’s keep on swimming.

Equally sweet, and slightly more bareboned, we find music by Montreal-based Jackson

Macintosh. His record My Dark Side was released in the early half of 2018 by NYC-based label Sinderlyn and immediately made me frustrated that I’d missed it the first time around. In step with the moody wave of DIY music coming out of Canada, Jackson’s debut solo album reads like an open book, reflecting the highs and lows in recording his album across three years and two breakups.

The tracklist perhaps runs in tandem with the happenings of Jackson’s life during the making of his album. One of my favorite cuts, “Lulu,” strikes a sweet and simple tone to mark the beginning of the record—its vocal melody and flute accompaniment evoke dreamy imagery of a first date gone right or a love letter hitting its mark. On the other hand, eight tracks later we find ourselves at the album’s conclusion with the melancholy ballad “When to Turn the Lights Back On.” It's a clear sign that whatever romantic success Jackson achieved in “Lulu” is now far and gone.

There are no frills or tricks to this record, just honest emotion; it’s the perfect soundtrack to a blue night of karaoke for one. Wherever Jackson is I hope he’s OK, and no matter what events My Dark Side recounts I hope he can look back fondly on this album—it’s a quiet work of art.

Dip your head in the water to mask your tears; I’ve got something that might put your mind at ease.

Under the alias Astronauts, etc., Anthony Ferraro may have made the best record of last year, although of course I didn’t know it until was far too late. Best known for playing keys with the band Toro Y Moi, Ferraro›s full-length effort, In Living Symbols is a bold and outstanding first statement as a solo artist. The album as a whole is both airy and uniquely thoughtful.

Each song is lyrically introspective and sonically compelling, akin to productions

by David Axelrod or Charles Stepney. There isn’t a world where I grow tired of the standout track, "The Border.” Everything about this tune lives to burrow in between my ears. The bassline grooves with a sense of urgency, the string arrangement glides over a steady rhythm section while Ferraro’s ethereal vocals feel thoughtful and precisely placed. It’s hard to imagine there’s any appropriate piece of music to precede or follow “The Border,” although the record continues to impress and remains consistently excellent. This is a must listen.

Let’s hop out and dry off. Between now and next month I’ll cook up a list of what I loved this year. In this moment I'm thoroughly enjoying the latest Princeinspired release from SoCal-based bedroom crooner Joel Kynan, Billy Uomo’s new EP of music for modern lovers, All Trash No Love, and Los Retro’s bouncing single “Last Day on Earth.”

As always, catch me late nights on KCRW playing music throughout time and space.

Signing off, John Moses

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The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 15

WASTEWATER

continued from page 5

department, town offices, Senior Center and library, the current usage is 3,102 GPD. With the completion of the library addition, the amount is anticipated to increase to 3,587 GPD. This leaves 2,912 free at the moment, with the potential to add 8,501 for any future town needs.

Should the Health Center and the Children’s Center lease septic from the town, Marshall said, “The Children’s Center is looking to add 428 GPD of wastewater disposal capacity, while the proposed Health Center is looking to utilize 556 GPD. This would leave 1,928 GPD of unallocated capacity. For reference, a three-bedroom home has a wastewater design flow of 420 GPD.” Marshall said that leasing the septic will add no cost for taxpayers and would, in fact, save money. “All of this excess capacity was developed using taxpayer money in 2001 and with the recommended sharing of the excess capacity to eligible parties within the West Village,” he wrote in an email. “The town has the opportunity to recoup a prorated portion of those costs. In addition, the existing operating costs for the system, which are totally being borne by the town, could now be shared with the new system users, further reducing the costs to the town.”

Krasnow said that the original intent of the excess capacity was to potentially alleviate complications for property owners in the West Village commercial district, several of which, though on paper are commercially viable, run into problems when owners, such as the

recently closed Little Garden Market, are limited in their expansion capacity because of septic issues.

The wastewater usage debate is at the forefront of Selectboard discussion again because of the Charlotte Family Health Center’s request, Krasnow said, but it has actually been going on for years.

“People are saying, ‘Well, this is new,’ but it really isn’t,” he said, “because Charlotte Fire and Rescue is an independent nonprofit organization that has no affiliation with the town except the town decides to fund the majority of their operating costs every year. But they’re currently using the town septic system for free as a private corporation.

Right now there’s an inequity where you have a private corporation, in the village commercial district, using the town septic for free, and that needs to be addressed.”

The Nov. 25 Selectboard meeting will be the next opportunity for discussion; Krasnow said he anticipates that another, more in-depth public discussion meeting will take place before the end of the year. Whatever the Selectboard decides, there remains an opportunity to make the decision that of the people: After the Selectboard votes, there is a 45-day period in which a resident can create a petition to appeal the decision, which would move the question to Australian ballot at Town Meeting in March.

16 • November 14, 2019 • The Charlotte News

The season’s first Snow Storm The first snow storm of the season dropped eight and half inches in Charlotte on Nov. 10 and into the next morning. Schools in the area were closed and fun in the snow ensued.

Photos contributed by : Evan Langfeldt, Chea Waters Evans, Charlotte Hardie, Matt Jennings and Jen Novak

The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 17

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The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 19

Out Takes At my age, life seems to move like a fastball Edd Merritt

Now I think I’m going down to the well tonight And I’m going to drink till I get my fill And I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it But I probably will Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture A little of the glory of, well time slips away And leaves you with nothing mister but Boring stories of glory days Glory days, well, they’ll pass you by . . .

Glory Days Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band Not to pray on its significance, but yesterday did mark the beginning of a new year of my life—the 77th to be exact. And given the occasion, I tried to think back over significant features of life on Earth that happened during my three-quarters-plus of a century as one of its inhabitants. First of all, humanity should not get all the credit for developing our Earth’s character. As I reminded us in my last OutTake, animals (particularly beavers) gave our country direction well before humans set foot on its landscape. A second element in my telling is the fact that my memory of details has diminished. I have, however, tried to at least recall elements in what author Bob Herbert calls “our collective fate.”

Glory days? Well, some, yes. But many? No. Nonetheless, as Springsteen reminds us,

these days pass us by, so I thought I’d give a shot at pulling together some of those I could remember.

Unfortunately, many held no glory at all.

A major feature of our species seems to be dominance over others that we create or maintain through wars. We have been in a nearly constant war throughout my lifetime.

And, yes, I joined in the battle in Southeast Asia, a battle over territory that we had no business trying to garner, against an enemy whose homeland it had been at one time and who was in the process of trying to regain it.

In his book Losing Our Way (Doubleday), Herbert writes about the development (or misdevelopment) of our nation’s infrastructure.

Growing up in the Midwest, I remember how the railroad was a major means of travel across the country. Its tracks ran down the main streets of small towns around me. Interstate highways then became a means of moving commerce or the military across our country, long distances at high speeds. I suspect that this development of vast and improved transportation also meant that more people were no longer tied to a single place. Born, bred and living our entire lives in the Northeast Kingdom became less common due to an expansion of vision and the ability to move with it.

Education played a rather major role in this ability as well. Expanded learning allowed people to work, live and manage their lives in more than a narrow scope.

Communal culture forged itself upon us. I

grew up in a city that revolved around a single element: healthcare. Testing its thesis through the local clinic’s growth was a common factor for those of us growing up in that milieu. Everything in town seemed to revolve around the “clinic.” The major buildings gave symbolism to its culture, and I even lived on “Pill Hill.” City center held physician offices, laboratories, data collection wings, all within easy walking distance of several hospitals and visible from most sections of town. The clinic claimed that with its healthcare practice, shared among a variety of practitioners from physicians through secretaries, it was unique and superior to most others. It asserted to have set the standard for medical practice incorporating diagnosis, treatment, education and administration.

Even in such a highly regulated culture as medicine, I believed strongly that human interaction required clear expression through the use of language. Our culture’s use and abuse of language as a means of communication among its members has been of interest to me over much of my lifetime. An English major in college, followed by a brief stint at journalism in graduate school, after military service I headed east thinking I’d walk into its office and come out as a correspondent for The New York Times. A placement officer suggested, however, that I might want to return to Minnesota and begin with my smaller hometown newspaper before seeing whether the Times might benefit from my services.

On the other hand, they said, there was an

advertising agency that was looking for someone with my background. I applied for its training program, was accepted and went to copy write for a major pharmaceutical advertising agency. I used my medical and language experience to write ads for what were termed “ethical pharmaceuticals” (prescription drugs) that appeared in medical journals. (I did wonder what “unethical pharmaceuticals” might be.)

Educating others in my skill sets (those leading to “organizational development”) became the next step in my curvy path through our cultural landscape. Graduate degrees followed by positions in universities provided opportunities for both teaching and learning. I was an avid believer that the good teacher must be both educator and learner. My role was definitely not a one-way street—out of the teacher’s mouth, into the student’s head.

So, here I am in my 77th year still trying to apply what I have learned over the course of a lifetime to a medium I enjoy through this newspaper, written journalism.

Several physical maladies have required that I approach that process in a slightly different way. But, hey, that’s learning, too, isn’t it? Yes, it’s sort of like taking batting practice so that when the speedball comes across the plate it looks like a hot air balloon, and BINGO, there it flies over that far right field fence.

I would like things to continue a bit longer, but then I can’t control that. So, keep pumping iron, and yahoo! Glory days!

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20 • November 14, 2019 • The Charlotte News

On Books Snuggle up with a book and travel without leaving the house Katherine Arthaud Hello, readers. I hope you have been well. I hope you had a good Halloween, which would have been tricky, as the weather was about as wet as I have ever seen a Halloween get. There were lots of umbrellas, I noticed, and some very sodden goblins roaming the streets….

What have you all been reading? I have a few good books to recommend, if you are looking. One is a novel by Sarah Elaine Smith, Marilou Is Everywhere —a mysterious title, and an unusual and rather mysterious book. “I used to think my troubles got legs the summer Jude Vanderjohn disappeared,” it begins, “but now I see how they started much earlier. Before that summer, the things that happened to me were air and water and just as see-thru. They were real but I didn’t care for them much. I did not care for the real.”

This is an excellent book. The prose is unusual and surprising, poetic and earcatching. For instance: “The grass was like a washed thing. If you could drink it, it would fix you and all your bruises would fall off, and all your freckles and bug bites.”

There is the obvious mystery here of the missing teenager, Jude, last seen in a parking lot across from a general store, near the West Virginia border. And then there is the

ongoing and more nebulous, undefined mystery of Cindy, the 14-year-old narrator herself, who kind of, well, slips into the absence left by the missing older girl, Jude.

Cindy’s own mother is seldom around, and one of the appeals of Jude’s place is that there is a mother in residence there, but oh, what a mother that one is…. “She was easy to manipulate,” says Cindy. “I wish it had not been so. But either from grief or from drinking she couldn’t keep a thought in her head for longer than five minutes most of the time, longer than any time I was in the room with her. When I left, or she left, the scene was reset. There was nothing I could do to keep from having the same conversations with her eighty times a day….”

I loved this book. It is colorful, odd, sometimes violent and sometimes amusing. Cindy is a strangely compelling and lovable narrator craving and seeking love and belonging. “Who is Marilou?” you ask? You will have to read the book to find out. And I highly recommend that you do. _________________ Meanwhile, Jodi Picoult has done it again.

How many books can one woman write?

Well, over two dozen, it would seem, in Picoult’s case. I haven’t read them all, but I have read most and find they rarely disappoint. The prose is not poetic or particularly surprising (as in the abovedescribed novel). Picoult’s stories are straightforward and to the point, for the most part. But as you who have read her well

know, the themes and issues she takes on are extremely complex, nuanced and raw.

School shootings, Asberger’s, teen suicide, sexual abuse, domestic violence, race relations, organ donation….

Usually, Picoult’s novels revolve around an ethical dilemma of some sort—but if that makes it all sound boring, then I have misled you. These books are pageturners. I’ve never read one that wasn’t.

A Spark of Light, written in 2018, is no less gripping than its predecessors. One odd thing about it is that it goes backward in time, which (being someone who doesn’t get to do that in my own life, ever) took me a few pages to get used to. And we are not talking about going backwards in years, we are talking going backwards hour by hour, living a single day backwards (if that makes any sense). So… plot revelations spring not only from the future but also from the past.

The drama takes place over the course of one day at a women’s reproductive health services clinic in Mississippi, where a rightto-life gunman shows up with a mission.

People are killed (which is heartbreaking) and hostages are taken (which is nailbiting), and Picoult cleverly devises some interesting plot twists and unexpected connections to keep things extra riveting.

And while one is caught up in the story, anxiously turning pages to find out what the heck is going to happen—or (in this case) what already did happen—one finds oneself wading through some interesting ethical

questions (classic Picoult), such as: When does life begin? How does one balance the rights of pregnant women with the rights of the unborn? What is a parent? When do you play by the rules and when do you break them? It begins with a quote from Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “The question is not whether we will be extremists, but what kind of extremists we will be. Will we be extremists for hate or for love?” This would make a great book club read.

Lots to talk about. ____________ Another book worthy of a shout-out before I sign off is Nelson and his screenwriter son Alex DeMille’s The Deserter. I’m a big fan of DeMille, who is just as prolific as Jodi Picoult. This is his 21st novel. A combat-decorated U.S. Army veteran, this guy knows his stuff. The military is usually featured in DeMille’s novels, along with spies, assassins, foreign countries, bad guys, good guys, stiff drinks, guns and beautiful women (who, yes, are sexy but are most often strong, no-nonsense and smart, as well). I’m a quarter of the way into this one, and I’m hooked. Right now, it’s breakfast at a hotel in Venezuela with Brodie (our hero) and Taylor, his good-looking, competent, nerves-of-steel partner on the mission: posing as “the stupidest &%$#ing tourists that ever lived,” trying to track down and extradite an elite Delta Force army captain who, months ago, mysteriously disappeared from his post in Afghanistan, and who there is good reason to believe has taken up residence, or set up a business, or both, in the sleazy, dangerous slums of Caracas. I can’t put it down. DeMille’s plots are complicated and intricately concocted and always garnished with sprigs of witty, dry, cynical humor that, to me, puts DeMille at the top of the heap in his genre.

So, that’s enough from me for the time being. Hard to believe that November is upon us. Hang onto your hats, and probably best not to leave home these days without a jacket. Wishing you happy days and good reading!

Likeness Only

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(802) 343-4591 ChrisvonTrapp.com

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The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 21

Your home is a valuable asset, your real estate agents should be too.

715 CEDAR BEACH ROAD Beautiful Southeast facing parcel with 287 feet of lakeshore and lake access. Excellent opportunity to build your year round dream home on Lake Champlain. 1970s camp on property with existing detached garage.

CHARLOTTE | $395,000 MLS#4754955

213 FERRY ROAD Opportunity knocks with this well known property next to the library, town office and senior center, all of which is in the heart of Charlotte Village. Charlotte zoning allows for some commercial use.

CHARLOTTE | $149,000 MLS#4782670

990 ORCHARD ROAD Build your dream home on this quiet road with views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. Sited on six acres, this property is permitted for a three bedroom septic. Drilled well in place and site plans available.

CHARLOTTE | $375,000 MLS#4784163

520 DAKIN ROAD Sited on 6.98 acres, this large parcel has a bit of everything with pond, an old apple orchard and a nice wooded area. Electric is installed on site and driveway is in place.

Easy to get to artery roads leading north, south, east and west. Large barn included!

FERRISBURGH | $134,000 MLS#4754937

Find and follow us on social media for new listings and updates! @WarrenStrausserGroup JAY STRAUSSER

Jay.Strausser@FourSeasonsSIR.com 802.578.2094

NANCY WARREN

Nancy.Warren@FourSeasonsSIR.com 802.734.5024

550 HINESBURG ROAD | S. BURLINGTON, VT FourSeasonsSIR.com | WarrenStrausser.com Philo Ridge Farm

Photos by Luke Schmuecker

Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated.

22 • November 14, 2019 • The Charlotte News 12/4 (at noon, with reservations), the menu is winter comfort food: meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, homemade birthday cake and ice cream.

December

The new Winter Schedule will appear a bit late in the 12/5 issue of The Charlotte News, but don’t worry. That first week of December has just three new items—and none require preregistration. Mostly, the week is a continuation of the ongoing exercise classes.

Carolyn Kulik

SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR

“. . .I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit.

I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. . .” ~ Og Mandino One of my favorite images of wintertime is a clear, starry moonlit night with snow-covered fields and lights glowing in the window of houses. Silent and lovely; for me, it makes the long darkness very enjoyable.

Halloween

Halloween has come and gone again, and we are now into the full-blown holiday season.

We enjoyed it here with folks making popcorn balls and fudge and then packing everything up for trick or treaters. Consider putting it on your to-do list for next year—we always welcome more helpers—and it is a minimal time commitment.

November

On Monday, 11/18, at 11:30, the Senior Center welcomes the return of Chef Arnd Sievers from the Residence at Shelburne Bay. The menu above looks terrific (as usual)—and his meals always prove to be very popular, so be sure to arrive in time to park for the 11:30 start of lunch. If you can possibly carpool, that would be great.

On Wednesday, 11/20, at noon, is our Annual Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. The signup sheet is already full, and we are taking names for the waiting list. Again, be sure to give yourself time to park, and if at all possible, please try to carpool—since the Charlotte Library parking lot is shut down for construction. This is a wonderful event with many volunteers helping to make it all so enjoyable.

Note that the next issue of The Charlotte News will be published on 12/5, so the menus for 12/2 and 12/4 are: Monday, 12/2 (at 11:30), Philo Ridge Farm (another of our generous culinary neighbors) will be returning to prepare a delicious lunch. On Wednesday,

On Monday, 12/2, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., tickets from the Age Well Universal Restaurant Ticket Program will again be available at the Senior Center. The tickets ($5 donation) are good for meals at participating local restaurants on specific days and times.

You must be 60 years of age, and you will be able to register on the spot. Tickets are good for one year and are not transferrable. This opportunity is offered here the first Monday of every month. These restaurant tickets offer a great chance to get out and have a very affordable meal. Please bring cash or check.

On Wednesday, 12/4, at 1 p.m., join us for the Senior Center’s Annual Tree Trimming in the Great Room with a great tree generously gifted to the Senior Center (once again) by Gary and Donna Pittman.

A bit later, also on Wednesday, 12/4, from 2:30-3:45 p.m., join Jill Abilock for a resumption of Mindfulness Meditation.

There is no fee and no registration required.

Walk-ins are welcome.

Postscript

The Wednesday afternoon talk on 11/6 about U.S.–China Rivalry was very well received.

Dr. Rosenberg gave a balanced, info-packed presentation on the political dynamic in that part of the globe. Hopefully he will be back next fall with another fascinating topic.

Art & Music

Trick-or-treaters stopped by for popcorn balls that were guarded by the giant eye. I've got my eye on you.

Photos contributed

On Sunday, 11/17, from 1-3 p.m. is ShapeNote Singing in the Great Room. This traditional a cappella, four-part harmony has been called “full-body, shout-it-out singing.”

Yes, there is a learning curve, and it’s not for everyone, but a good voice is not required and it’s a relaxed, interesting group. Full disclosure: Many years ago, before I had ever sung it, I gave away my first CD of shape-note music. Didn’t like it. And now, I am a devotee of sorts. (It happens from singing—not listening.) Songbooks are provided. Stop by to listen or sing, and leave whenever you wish.

No fee.

The “Gathering of Hooked Work” Art Exhibit continues throughout November with 28 works by 13 artists. Don’t miss this show—it’s been getting rave reviews from visitors.

Purchase with your local mortgage professional!

Sharon Brown

Community Lender

Beginning in December and continuing through the end of January come in to view the new Art Exhibit: “Challenge Quilts ~ Black & White plus One.” These are the responses to the challenge put to the Champlain Valley Quilters to use only three colors. There are nearly two dozen entries, and the winners of the contest will be indicated.

Put this one on your calendar, and be sure to give yourself enough time to stroll around the Great Room viewing these pieces.

NMLS #491713

140 Commerce Street, Hinesburg 29 Green Street, Vergennes 1-802-877-2721

nbmvt.com 1-877-508-8455 NMLS #403372

Winter Weather Closings

When there is iffy weather, remember that the Senior Center follows the school closures of

SENIOR CENTER MENUS Suggested donation for all meals: $5

Monday Munch

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

No reservations required.

November 18

Beef, vegetable & barley soup Roasted butternut squash risotto with grilled breast of chicken or Mushroom & onion quiche with greens and dressing Rolls & butter Chocolate mousse cups (courtesy of the Residence at Shelburne Bay)

November 25

Fire-roasted eggplant & tomato soup Greens Blueberry custard pie

Wednesday Lunch All diners eat at noon.

Reservations required.

November 20

Annual traditional Thanksgiving dinner

November 27

Broccoli quiche Greens Homemade dessert

Thursday Gents Breakfast 7:00–9:00 a.m. Reservations required.

November 14

Bob Chutter’s apple pancakes Topic – Paul Wagonhoffer’s stories & scenes from Cairo: 1977-79 (Keep up to date on Menus at our website, CharlotteSeniorCenterVT.org, and on Front Porch Forum, as they sometimes change.)

Champlain Valley School District. Closings are announced on local TV and radio stations, at CVSDVT.org, as well as on our website: CharlotteSeniorCenterVT.org. [Please note that the Senior Center does not close during school vacations.] ~ The best times to see the ART EXHIBIT in NOV. ~ Mon. at noon, Tues. after 12:30, Wed. 9:30–noon, Thurs. after 12:30, Fri. after 12:30.

Please call the Center during the week to check on Sunday availability.

Do visit our website, CharlotteSeniorCenterVT.org, for more details and menus. If you have questions, would like to register or ask about volunteering, please call 425-6345, or stop by M-F from 9-4.

We are at 212 Ferry Road, Charlotte, right across from the post office. The Senior Center’s mission is to serve those 50 and up.

Residents from other communities are always welcome. There are no membership fees. And if there is a course or an event/speaker you would like to suggest, we are always open to exploring new possibilities.

Stop in and say hello. See you soon!

Charlotte Senior Center 802-425-6345

The Charlotte News • November 14, 2019 • 23

Shop Local !

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

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Classifieds Reach your friends and neighbors for only $12 per issue. (Payment must be sent before issue date.) Please limit your ad to 35 words or fewer and send it to The Charlotte News Classifieds, P.O. Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445 or email ads@thecharlottenews.org.

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR PAINTING If you’re looking for quality painting with regular or low voc paints and reasonable rates with 35 years of experience call John McCaffrey at 802-999-0963, 802-338-1331 or 802-877-2172.

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Does your home need a fresh coat of paint or brand new color? LAFAYETTE PAINTING is ready to provide a great custom paint job for you. Allow our professionals to enhance your space with a fresh look. Call 863-5397 or visit LafayettePaintingInc.com for your free and accurate estimate.

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EXPERIENCED TRAVEL COMPANIONS available to accompany seniors/adults for day trips, weekend jaunts, weddings or vacations or help to migrate south. Call today 802-355-3790 for a free consultation.

PAINTERS WANTED Local, experienced company with guaranteed inside work for a seasoned finish painter. Exterior painting positions available also. Salary is top end for this area. Year-round work for the most qualified. Call 355-0028 CUT YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE Trees $35 Wreaths $25 Closed December 24 Ron and Nancy Menard 438 Dorset Street, one mile north of Carpenter Road intersection 802-425-2334

Photo by Juliann Phelps

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