The Charlotte News | December 19, 2019

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Charlotte News Thursday, December 19, 2019 | Volume LXII Number 12

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Charlotte News

The

Vol. 62, no.12

December 19, 2019

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

Clara is on point, en pointe, and ready for the Nutcracker stage

New lights on Route 7

Chea Waters Evans The best part of the Nutcracker for Olivia Santos is the “Waltz of the Flowers” because she loves the music. The trickiest part is the candy cane dance, where she has to jump through a hula hoop on pointe shoes. Even though it’s difficult, she loves it, she said, and that’s what makes this dancer so well suited to take on the role of Clara in the Vermont Ballet Theater and School’s annual holiday production at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts.

Olivia is in seventh grade at Charlotte Central School.

As an apprentice and the youngest member of the senior company at VBT, Olivia, who is 13, said she’s had her eye on the Clara role since she started dancing at age four.

“I always looked up to the Claras, and I thought they were like role models to me because they were so much older, and so much more advanced. It always was a goal for me,” she said.

It’s a little surreal and a lot of fun for her to see the young dancers now, she said.

“It’s super exciting to see the little girls, and they’re smiling, and they wave, and it makes me feel excited.”

Road work at the corner of Ferry Road and Route7 is finally done, with new traffic lights in place. The VTrans project was funded by the state.

Photo by Vince Crockenberg

Shopping with Chea part two Chea Waters Evans Olivia Santos

“Excited” is a word that pops up a lot in conversation with Olivia—the word “nervous” doesn’t come up even once. Her confidence comes from preparation, she said. Each year she dances at a six-week see NUTCRACKER page 17

Selectboard passes sewer ordinance 4-1 Juliann Phelps

Monday night’s Selectboard meeting began with the much-anticipated vote on the West Charlotte village wastewater ordinances. Chair Matt Krasnow opened with a recap of the work the wastewater committee and board had done to date.

He noted that if the board passed the ordinances, more work is to be done.

“There will still be some heavy lifting needed to get them to be effective in generating and calculating the fee schedule,” he said.

The fees continued to be the focus of the discussion, with Vice Chair Frank Tenney asking, “Why isn’t that going to be enacted when fees are being enacted at the same time?” He continued, “When you are doing these ordinances you have a complete plan. You have a fee schedule.

You have your ordinances, how to use it and how to allocate.”

Krasnow responded, “Setting the fee

schedule in concert with [the ordinances] created way too many moving parts.” West Charlotte Village Wastewater Planning Committee Dave Marshall said most town sewer ordinances don’t include a fee schedule because conditions change over time. He noted that putting in a specific dollar amount would mean the ordinance would have to be changed each time the fees changed. Selectboard member Louise McCarren cited her experiences in setting rates, suggesting that hook-up, usage and customer fees and rates could change annually or biannually.

Compared to last week’s working session, dialogue moved fairly quickly toward a resolution. McCarren motioned and Fritz Tegatz seconded adopting the town wastewater ordinances effective Jan. 6, 2020. The motion passed 4-1, with Tenney against. The date specifically chosen by the board provides enough time for a petition to be submitted to the town to reverse the board’s decision. Under state see SELECTBOARD page 11

I wrapped a bunch of presents the other day, and while I worked, I watched a Hallmark Christmas movie. The plot involved a beautiful, slightly deranged reporter who moved to Vermont, met a handsome man, saved a town, saved the holidays and saved Santa’s life, and I was like, Oh my gosh, they made a movie about me!

It’s crunch time, people, and this time we’re setting out farther afield, but every business or product mentioned this week is owned, created or otherwise commanded by a Charlotte neighbor.

Do you live or hang out with an annoying person who enjoys strumming a guitar loudly and making uncomfortable eye contact with you while others try to have a conversation? If so, get in touch with Adam Buchwald at Circle String Guitars and Iris Guitar Company. He makes sublime custom guitars through Circle Strings and less expensive but still gorgeous-sounding instruments through Iris that aren’t custom but might as well be. If you’re going to have to listen to the strumming all the time, it might as well sound perfect. If your loved one is a crazy guitar-smashing rock star, Buchwald can help with that, too—he repairs guitars as well. Gift certificates are available for all three options through his web site at circlestrings.com and irisguitarcompany. com, and his shop is in Shelburne.

Are you ever out and about and thinking, gosh, I miss my pot stash? If so, you

never have to leave a reminder far behind again. Charlotter John Berkey and his partner Rikki Boshears have created B Kind jewelry. (Get it? Last names start with B? Kind as in, kind bud, which I had to Google to find out what that actually means? And they’re both super nice, so it’s like a play on words?) They bronze-casted a unique mold of a cannabis nugget, which is available in silver oxide, 14k gold or rose gold finish. They also have stone-and-bud pendants with fluorite and aventurine. You can’t smoke them, so don’t try, but they’re so pretty, you might still get a high. They’re available at 30 Odd on Pine Street in Burlington, are made in the USA, and sell for $160 and up.

Mysa on Falls Road in Shelburne is like walking into a magazine photo spread where children don’t eat jam on the couch.

The home and gift store sells lots of fuzzy stuff and things that smell good. The nice ladies who own it, Katie Bohlin and Jennifer Whalen, were willing to pretend I wasn’t being a creep when I walked around smelling stuff and manhandling the merch, even when I smelled the yoga pants, which would have been well within their rights.

They have organic wool dryer balls (good for the environment and only $15, and my kid threw one at my head by accident and it only hurt a little, so trust me, they’re very soft), an alpaca and faux-fur hot water bottle for $140, and a fun tote that I think probably was created in my honor that only costs $22 and says on the side, see SHOPPING page 10

2 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News

News from The News

2019: A year of growth and change for The Charlotte News Vince Crockenberg

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND PUBLISHER

Board of directors The board of directors was significantly reshaped this year. Rick Detwiler, Patrice Machavern and Louisa Schibli (see below) left the board, and John Quinney, Lane Morrison, Ted LeBlanc, Claudia Marshall, Jack Fairweather and Christina Asquith joined it. The board also elected John Hammer as our first-ever emeritus trustee in recognition of his long, distinguished and continuing service to the paper as a board member and officer, financial supporter and voluntary Selectboard reporter. We’re now at full strength as a board and looking forward to a productive 2020 and beyond.

New strategic plan Earlier this spring, the board approved a new five-year plan for the paper, identifying four overarching goals to reach by 2024: First, to continue producing a newspaper that the community values highly; second, to build a more robust digital presence to complement the print paper; third, to become financially solid, with the ability to innovate and control our destiny; and fourth to be recognized as the best small paper in Vermont. The board created three committees—editorial, fundraising and digital—to work toward these goals as quickly as possible.

According to a new study by the nonprofit organization PEN America, over 2,000 local news outlets have shuttered their doors in the last few years, and 1,000 more have become “ghost papers,” mere shells of what they were just a few years ago.

Newspapers matter, according to PEN, “because they produce the bulk of reporting at the local level. So when you lose them you lose the watchdog function that is so

important in our democracy.”

With the continued support of our readers and advertisers, we are especially focused on providing our readers with full and growing coverage of local news, including regular coverage of the Selectboard, the Planning Commission, the CVSD board and even, as you can read in this edition, the Zoning Board of Adjustment, so all of us in town can know what our local officials are doing in our name and why.

And again in 2019 an extraordinary number of people have volunteered to helped us cover, as we say in our mission statement, “matters related to Charlotte and the lives of its residents.” This year 124 writers and 48 photographers, almost all of them Charlotters—voluntarily submitted their stories and photographs for publication.

Their names—which include your friends and neighbors, as well as their children— are listed below and on the next page.

The Charlotte News is truly the community’s paper and an example to the rest of the state of locally supported nonprofit journalism. I doubt any community paper in the state has the degree of voluntary support The News enjoys.

The Friends of The Charlotte News Our sister organization also saw significant changes this year. Lynne Jaunich, who helped found the Friends in 2014, left at the end of the summer, and the remaining board members, Susanne Davis and Susan Sim, were joined by Nancy Richardson to continue the fundraising work of the board.

The Friends added two community events this year to bookend our annual summer appeal, and, with your end-of-the-year support, we’re on track to make 2019 our most successful year ever. If you have already given to the paper, thank you; if you haven’t yet, please consider making a contribution either by check (mailed to The Friends of The Charlotte News, Box 251, Charlotte, VT) or online at charlottenewsvt. org/donate-to-the-charlotte-news/.

Advertising We’re also on track to have one of our

most successful advertising years in recent years. Given the difficult state of print advertising across the country (the Pew Research Center estimates that, nationally, newspaper print advertising has plummeted from over $49B a year in 2006 to just over $14B in 2018), we take that as solid confirmation that local businesses see value in advertising in The News. ____________________ And finally, on behalf of the entire board of directors, I would like to express my deep thanks to Louisa Schibli for her long service to the board. During her 12 years as

Louisa Schibli

a board member she led the development of three websites and worked with a dozen different editors and managers. She was steady as a rock while all about her things were, shall we say, quite fluid. She is leaving her position on the News board to join the board of VTDigger, but she is staying on with us as a volunteer member of our board’s new All Things Digital Committee, working with board members and staff to help The News gradually develop a more robust digital presence.

In announcing her departure from the board, Louisa said, “The Charlotte News will always have a very special place in my heart, as will all the board members and staff I was so lucky to work with.” We were lucky to have you with us for so long, Louisa, as is VTDigger in having you now.

Best wishes from all of us in your new stint. To borrow a phrase from the world of theater (and journalism is arguably a related field), break a leg!

Thank you to all the writers and photographers that have contributed to The Charlotte News in 2019 WRITERS Ada Glasscoe Alden Looft Alex Cummings Aliza Flore Amelie Fairweather Anderson McEnaney Ben Mason Betsy Tegatz Bonnie Birdsall Bradley Carlton Cameron Bremner Carrie Fenn Caroline Slack Carolyn Kulik

Catherine Bock Ceal Moran Charles Russell Chrissy L. McCarty Christa Duthie-Fox Cindy Bradley Coco Eyre David Watts Ethan Tapper Elizabeth Bassett Elizabeth Hunt Elizabeth Nostrand Flossie Eagan Gay Regan Genevieve Trono

George Taylor Gill Barlow Hannah Stein Hans Ohanian Heather Armell-Morse Helen Toor Henry Bushey Jasper Wygmans Jeff Buell Jeff Spengler Jen Novak Jen Roth Jim Hyde Joan Weed John Hammer

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 obituaries from our readers. All letters, commentaries and obituaries are subject to review and approval by the news editor of the paper and to the following rules and standards: • Letters to the editor, commentaries and obituaries should be emailed to news@ thecharlottenews.org as attachments in .doc format. All letters, commentaries and obituaries must contain the writer’s full name, town of residence and, for editing purposes only, phone number.

• Letters may not exceed 300 words, obituaries 500 words and commentaries 750 words.

• The opinions expressed in commentaries and letters to the editor belong solely to the author and are not to be understood as endorsed by either the Board of Directors or the editorial staff of the paper.

• All published letters and commentaries will include the writer’s name and town of residence.

• Before publishing any obituary, we will need proper verification of death.

• All submissions are subject to editing for clarity, factual accuracy, tone, length and consistency with our house publishing style.

• Whenever editing is necessary we will make every effort to publish each submission in its entirety and to preserve the original intent and wording. We will confer with writers before publishing any submitted material that in our judgment requires significant editing before it can be published.

• The news editor makes the final determination whether a letter to the editor, a commentary or an obituary will be published as submitted, returned for rewriting or rejected.

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.

Want a subscription? Please send a check payable to The Charlotte News, P.O. Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445.

Postmaster/Send address changes to: The Charlotte News P.O. Box 251, Charlotte, VT 05445 Telephone: 425-4949 Circulation: 3,000 Copyright © 2019 The Charlotte News, Inc. Member of the New England Newspaper and Press Association and the Vermont Press Association.

ON THE COVER A "beary" special angel watches over the Charlotte Senior Center.

Photo by Carolyn Kulick

The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 3 John Snow Jon Davis Jonathan Silverman Josie Leavitt Joyce Gallimore Julia Beerworth Julian Sicotte Kate Kelly Kate Silverman Katherine Arthaud Katherine Spencer Katie Rogers Taylor Kevin Burget Kevin Goldenbogen Kim Findlay Kris Kogut Krista Hoffsis Kristen Neilson Kristin Kelly Lander Magoon Lane Morrison Laurel Lakey Lell Forehand Libby Laino Libby Manning Lily Menk Linda Gray Liz Shayne Louis Cox Louise McCarren Maddy Bergeron Makenna Leggett Margaret Woodruff Marianna Fairweather Mark Dillenbeck Mary Mead Mary Van Vleck Matthew Pawlowski Meg Smith Melissa O’Brien Mike Yantachka Miles Bergeson Molly McClaskey Nan Mason Nancy Richardson Nancy Wood Nicholas May Nicole Conley Olivia Hagios Olivia Santos Peter Joslin Prue Stephens Richard Morrill Rob Mullin Roz Whitaker-Heck Ruah Swennerfelt Ruby Kohn Samantha Blackmore Sevi Burget-Foster Shana Mester Shanley Hinge Stephanie Sumner Sue Smith Susan Crockenberg Susan Ohanian

The

Sylvie Miller Tad Cooke Tim Etchells Timothy Gould Tom Butler Tom Tiller Trina Bianchi Vera Moroney William Kallock Woody Keppel Zane Martenis PHOTOGRAPHERS Andy Hodgkin Arlin Ladue Bradley Carlton Buzz Kuhns Carol Buchwald Caroline Swayze Casey O’Brien Cindi Robinson Cindy Bradley Coco Eyre Colleen Armstrong Deirdre Holmes Elizabeth Bassett Elizabeth Langfeldt Harry Evans Jamey Gerlaugh Jan Cannon Jeanette Armell Jennifer Bora Jennifer Olsen Joan Weed John Berkey John Hammer Jonathan Silverman Joyce Gallimore Julian Kulski Katie Taylor Laurie Thompson Lee Krohn Louise McCarren Luke Schmuecker Mari Cordes Mary Turnbaugh Matthew Bijur Meg Berlin Melissa O’Brien Michaela Grubbs Mike Yantachka Moe Harvey Olivia Hagios Paul Hayes Peggy Sharpe Rick Carlson Susan Crockenberg Susan Ohanian Vera Moroney Zac Rudge

To the Editor

schools and colleges that broke big stories about unqualified officials, about spying on students and about illegal meetings behind closed doors.

Dear Charlotte News,

When a young reporter or a wizened reporter heads out with a notebook and an assignment, there is no telling what it could become—and it could become something 3, 2019 •3 big. The Charlotte News • OctoberTom Butler Tallahassee, Florida

My wife and I were visiting Charlotte in early October when I saw your October 3 issue, with a tongue-in-cheek headline on page 3 that “Cub reporters take on hardhitting news.”

Around Town Edd Merritt

under Father Cray’s guidance and their

It’s true that journalism involves lawyers’ advice, have paid settlement fees several victims.

Regional Bites a lot with ofFather reporting on the small Cray has been a member of the Black Migration to southern Wisconsin, order foramany years and its stuff Edmundite that makes community, early 20th century head for just over a year. He has served as I received my college’s magazine the other and inpastor myof Our years asMount a reporter Lady of Carmel since day, and one of its lead articles described the after living and serving around the U.S. migration of many African American workers I got 2003 pretty at making and beyond.good Born in Boston, he earned a from the Deep South north to major cities and bachelor’s degree from Saint Michael’s and smaller towns for jobs there and for bettersmall stories entertaining as master’s degrees in divinity and theology futures than they were getting in the Jim frominformative. the University of Toronto Xavier well as Butandit’s Crow arena. Beloit, Wisconsin, happened to University of Louisiana. He also serves as be a major destination because it contained also true that big stories pastor of Saint many Jude the Apostle in Hinesburg. a good-size foundry of Fairbanks Morse, a have Achievements started with small items manufacturer of engines and, interestingly, a part of the same corporate enterprise as John Moses, our regular music columnist in small newspapers.

The 1986 the Fairbanks Corporation of St. Johnsbury, here at The Charlotte News, seems to be Vermont. scandal of American coming one of NPR’s go-to military DJs for new A while ago I wrote an item for this music. Jeremy Hobson, co-host of NPR’s newspaper mentioning that I had attendedweapons being sold to Iran Here and Now, asked John to appear, for Beloit College. Shortly after it was published a second time,public on the show’s DJ Sessions first became through a I received a phone call from Dr. Jackson segment that aired on Sept. 27. Among the Clemmons of Charlotte telling me that hesmall newspaper in Lebanon five songs John selected to talk about on air had grown up in Beloit and that his family and fellow Charlotter had migrated from the south with his father after was thesinger-songwriter major American Francesca Blanchard’s most recent release, working for Fairbanks Morse and providing “Baby.”

Citing the song’s production values newspapers hadn’t noticed it. some of that company’s cultural and racial and writing and its catchy melodies, John diversity in one of its northern plants. Dr.The Point Reyes Light weekly described “Baby” as “a great example that Clemmons left Beloit to attend medical Francesca is making some of her best work school in Cleveland, eventually joining the newspaper in California battled yet.” The entire segment, including the faculty of the UVM Medical School as a official music video” can be heard at wbur. pathologist. His family now operates the the 148- Synanon cult and won a org/hereandnow/2019/09/27/dj-sessionsacre Clemmons Family Farm on Greenbush summertime-sadness.

Pulitzer Prize for its work. And Road as a cultural and events center celebrating African American culture andthe life. trivia magazine Mental Filmmaker Jan Cannon’s documentary, An A historical study titled “Coming Up North: Uncommon Curiosity:five At Home and in Nature once listed student A History Harvest about Black MigrationFloss to with Bernd Heinrich, aired on Vermont Beloit, Wisconsin” chronicles the migration.

Public Television’s Made Herehigh program on newspapers at various Society of Saint Edmund Catholic Order releases a second list of priests accused of sexual abuse Seven Days of September 25 carried an article documenting a second list of priests (this one containing Edmundites) accused of sexual misconduct. Although the order is headquartered in Colchester, its superior general is Reverend David Cray, pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Charlotte.

Several of the accused priests were affiliated with Saint Michael’s College, an Edmunditefounded institution. While the Order published its list in early August, the college administration decided not to publicize it, and the Burlington list of 40 names was presented to the public before the Edmundite one. The Burlington list did not include those on the Edmundite list, which Saint Michael’s also chose not to publicize through the college’s social network. Favoring transparency, the college said it felt it was more appropriate for the Edmundites to make the publication decision themselves. Also, as a practical matter, the dioceses published the list electronically rather than through news media.

If done through the latter, it would have had to appear in papers across this country and throughout the world— numerically a closeto-impossible process.

When Father Cray was interviewed recently, he said he felt it was important to distance the priests’ sins from the college.

According to Seven Days, Father Cray “compiled the order’s list.” The Edmundites,

Thursday, Sept. 26. In making the hour-long film, which was originally released in 2011, Cannon followed Heinrich—a professor emeritus in the biology department at the University of Vermont, one of the world’s foremost naturalists, and once the United States record holder for the 100-mile run— over the course of a year as Heinrich talked about his writing, research and running. The film will be shown again on Vermont PBS Plus on Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. and Oct. 12 at 11 p.m.

And congratulations to Michael Metz, formerly of Charlotte, whose exhibit of a series of photos of people looking at art, titled “What Do You See?” closed October 1 after a lengthy run at Mirabelle’s Café and Bakery in Burlington.

October 17, 2019 Copy Deadline: Friday, Oct. 11 Ads Deadline: Friday, Oct. 11 October 31, 2019 Copy Deadline: Friday, Oct. 25 Ads Deadline: Friday, Oct. 25

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT ads@thecharlottenews.org

ON THE COVER

Dapper Denton is ready for fall.

Photo by Edd Merritt

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

SEND YOUR CHARLOTTE NEWS TO: news@thecharlottenews.org

January 23, 2020 Copy Deadline: Friday, Jan. 17 Ads Deadline: Friday, Jan. 17

Happy New Year!

Jack Fairweather, journalist and board member of The Charlotte News, takes on his toughest assignment yet as the mentor for the News’ Journalism Club, working with cub reporters on hard-hitting news involving dairy cows and hot dogs, among other topics.

Readers can look forward to reading contributions from these enthusiastic and intrepid reporters in issues to come. Any students who are interested in meeting after school on Tuesdays are welcome to join. Contact Chea Waters Evans at chea@thecharlottenews.org.

Photo by Chea Waters Evans

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019 Saturday: 9:00

PUBLICATION DATES

The

Cub reporters take on hard-hitting news

WE ARE OPEN ON

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4 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Selectboard Dec. 9 Selectboard meeting has two focal points Working session on wastewater anticipates later vote Juliann Phelps The meeting began with a working session on the West Charlotte Village wastewater ordinances and ended four and a half hours later in an executive session on Charlotte Solar. Approximately 20 people attended the working session, several representing or speaking in support of the Charlotte Children’s Center and Charlotte Health Center.

Three members of the Planning Commission were also present. Dave Marshall from the West Charlotte Village Wastewater Planning Committee presented to the board the draft ordinances, which incorporated the town attorney’s recommendations and feedback from the Selectboard.

Chair Matt Krasnow opened discussion asking about a section in the ordinance referencing the other portions of the Burns property for future septic capacity expansion. “Does that need to be tested?” he asked. “Does that include other (service) areas as well?”

Marshall responded that the state doesn’t allow more than one system on a property, and the capacity limit is capped at 15,000 gallons a day. Vice Chair Frank Tenney asked if that amount, although not fully developed at this time, would take care of all of West Charlotte village. Marshall wasn’t sure, citing unknown demands of every existing building. Krasnow noted, “to give a sense of capacity and scale,”

that the current capacity being discussed in the ordinances was one-fifth of the overall potential capacity of the Burns property.

Members of the public, including Dr. Andrea Regan of the Charlotte Health Center and Charlotte Children’s Center board president Jeff Herzberger, spoke in support of the ordinances. Regan said, “We lost heat in our building twice last week.

The internet was out on Wednesday. We are hoping not to spend another winter there.

Whatever the decision, it just needs to be timely to allow for people to plan.”

Herzberger said, “There is a common misconception we are getting something for free. The Charlotte Children’s Center understands the investment—it’s a benefit for the center and for the town.”

Marshall agreed. “What’s not in the ordinance are any specific rates. That’s to be set by the Selectboard.” McCarren added, “Rates have to be adequate ... and to be fair. To be clear, this is not free.”

Spear asked Marshall about a recreation center. “How much would a recreation center pay per day? Is that a high-flow or low-flow business?” Using a scenario of 100 people per day using facilities, Marshall estimated flow at about 1,500 gallons per day. “We do have to think about a rec center if the school is going to move away from programs,” said Spear.

Krasnow noted the estimate was under the 2,500 gallons of excess capacity identified and that current requests “were in the magnitude of hundreds of gallons.”

Planning Commission member and resident James Faulkner noted that “several people said they are concerned that, with this ordinance, the taxpayers are helping funding private business. I hear that often and wonder how that’s being addressed.”

Resident Gay Regan spoke in support of her daughter. “Andrea’s working in a business that cannot stay there. Her building is inadequate. I’ve seen Charlotte lose a lot of businesses—we will lose this if the town doesn’t step up and support it.”

Selectboard member Louise McCarren responded, “The fees paid recover a fair contribution of capital cost, and the connection and ongoing fees are to maintain it.” Marshall added, “The program is specifically designed to be supported by users. This allows the town to recoup some of the monies put in place. As far as private taxpayers, we’ll be losing out on money that is otherwise being recouped by this resource.”

As the working session wound to a close, no motion was made. Krasnow said the ordinances will be the first items on the Dec. 16 Selectboard agenda, with an anticipated vote by the board. He explained that the timing would allow for a petition to be filed within 44 days of the vote and a town-wide vote to be held 60 days later at Town Meeting.

Selectboard member Carrie Spear asked about fees. “It would be really nice to know what the monies are …. Is the town going to have to take out a bond? These are things I’d like to know up front.”

Selectboard continues 2021 budget work in progress The bulk of a lengthy Dec. 9 Selectboard meeting was devoted to hearing FY2021 budget requests from the town clerk, road commissioner, tree warden, CVFRS and the Charlotte Historical Society.

Town Clerk and Treasurer Mary Mead cited an increase in revenue from recording fees and requested funds for a part-time assistant clerk/treasurer.

Tree Warden Mark Dillenbeck requested a level-funded budget, as well as additional funds for green spading the Town Hall trees.

Road Commissioner Jr Lewis requested a level-funded operating budget, with the $20,000 ash tree removal costs currently in his budget shifted to the tree warden’s budget as a new line item. Lewis also recommended adding funds to the reserve highway fund for the Monkton road repair.

“It’s a safety issue,” he said. Dubois and King presented their findings on the repair earlier in the evening. According to the engineers, the recommendation to remove and replace over 300 feet of roadway will incur a cost to the town, whether or not they obtain a VTrans grant. The board agreed with Lewis’s recommendation and added $30,000 to the reserve highway fund for the repair.

Later in the meeting Town Administrator Dean Bloch and Lewis discussed the flea market as a potential location for a new salt shed and maintenance garage.

CVFRS Board President Tom Cosinuke

and Business Manager Patrice Machavern spoke to the board regarding their budget request, citing no changes from their previous presentation at the end of October.

Machavern said the CVFRS board accepted the budget as presented and asked if they could “assume this is the budget we are going forward with for 2021.” Krasnow replied in the affirmative but added that, in the longer term, CVFRS was proposing two large purchases, one in 2022, the other in 2024, both of which would be funded, at least in part, by the capital reserve fund. He noted that if one of those purchases could be delayed a year it would help secure the solvency of that fund.

Dan Cole of the Charlotte Historical Society requested consideration of adding internet services to the building, as well as the purchase of a preservation environmental monitor to record heat and humidity.

Information from the monitor would be collected and interpreted gratis by a consultant in the community. He also asked the board to consider a future investment in storm windows to protect the glass. “The place has been there since 1850 with no storm windows—it can wait a year a two.”

Town Administrator Dean Bloch presented the Selectboard budget to the board, noting that the main changes were requests to conduct an update of pay rates, adding funds to the improvement and repair reserve fund for the Town Hall roof, the potential repair of the lighting bollards at Town Hall and repainting the fog lines in the West Village.

Bloch said a final version of the Selectboard budget will be discussed at the next meeting.

Solar RFP and the Charlotte library John Quinney of the Energy Committee brought the board up to date on activities related to the net metering agreement and the proposed solar array on the Charlotte Library roof. Selectboard member Louise McCarren, noting the estimated annual energy cost savings of $750, said, “We’ve got to be doing this for other than the money.” She also raised concerns about possible future changes to net-metering rules and ownership of the system, noting “Rates can change. Technology can change.”

Selectboard member Fritz Tegatz agreed, citing his experience with installing a system on his barn roof. “Within less than nine years the rules have already changed once,” he said.

Other business The Selectboard approved renewing a 20year lease for lot 124 at 910 Flat Rock Road on Thompson’s Point. During Selectboard updates, the board approved change orders for the Charlotte library addition, including site work to finish removing the fuel tank, the purchase of entry doors and sidewalk removal. The change orders were briefed by Tegatz.

The board then went into executive session to discuss litigation related to Charlotte Solar, LLC, the company that owns the array on Hinesburg Road. In October, the company asked to amend its certificate of public good, including a reduction in a fund set aside for decommissioning, which the board declined.

The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 5

Town

Students and community members learn about stormwater

Performance standards discussed for Act 143 accessory on-farm businesses

Kate Kelly Where does all that water go after it flows into the storm drain or grate near you? Water entering storm drains often flows into nearby wetlands or streams with no treatment of the runoff. If that water has sediment—salt from roads and parking lots, or other pollutants in it—it contaminates Lake Champlain, which can contribute to unhealthy conditions, including toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms and fish die-offs.

Juliann Phelps

The Lewis Creek Association’s (LCA) Ahead of the Storm (AOTS) program goal is to showcase examples of positive land stewardship throughout the middle Lake Champlain Valley region. AOTS strives to not only meet current water quality standards and permits but surpass them when site conditions allow. These “optimal conservation practices” (OCPs) act as a strategy for climate adaptation by treating larger volumes of stormwater that are anticipated with climate change.

and the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

This mirrors the process for student/ engineer collaboration on the design for the raingarden that was built in front of Shelburne Community School this past summer.

AOTS has 15 locations around the middle Lake Champlain Valley that display these optimal conservation practices. LCA worked closely with engineers to assess these properties and come up with designs for treatment. To expand the program, LCA has educated community members and teachers about how to do these assessments and designs themselves and to teach local students about stormwater and the AOTS program.

“It’s so valuable to bring experts into the classroom to share their expertise with students,” said CCS teacher Christa Duthie-Fox, who has involved her students in developing the CCS campus as an AOTS for several years. “Kate and Jessica were able to give an overview of the watershed work they do, then take our students outside to identify areas on our school campus where stormwater runoff is a problem.”

To this end, LCA applied for and was awarded a grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to fund an engineer’s time to train community members and teachers on the process for assessing a property, designing fixes and teaching students about these topics. Seventeen people, including teachers and staff from CVU, CCS, SCS, Lake Champlain Waldorf School, VT Day School and Shelburne Farms attended these trainings. As part of this training, a series of PowerPoint presentations were developed to be used by teachers to educate their students and by community members to assess their own property.

These materials explain the basics of the water cycle, water pollution, identifying stormwater problem areas and options for improvements, and are available on LCA’s website at lewiscreek.org/aots-educationmaterials.

LCA hopes to find funding soon to advance one project on the campus to a final design, in preparation for building it and improving stormwater runoff problems. Christa continued, “Our sixth graders are excited to think they may be working with Lewis Creek Association and engineers from Milone & MacBroom to design a solution to stop the flooding and erosion on our school grounds, specifically on their playground after heavy rainfall events.”

The engineer (Jessica Louisos of Milone & MacBroom) and I made multiple visits to classrooms at Shelburne Community School, Charlotte Central School, and Champlain Valley Union High School to educate students and teachers and involve them in the design process for stormwater improvement projects to be built at Champlain Valley School District campuses next summer, Funded by LCA

Planning Commission considers updates to land use regulations

Finally, LCA, in conjunction with Responsible Growth Hinesburg and the Hinesburg Planning Commission, held the 6th Water Matters community forum to present some of the information developed through this grant, as well as information on how to design and maintain private roads and driveways to reduce water quality impacts, reduce ongoing maintenance costs and reduce storm damage. You can view the entire event thanks to VCAM, and view the presentations and additional materials regarding water quality and road erosion on Lewis Creek Association’s website, lewiscreek.org/water-matters.

Kate Kelly is the program manager for the Lewis Creek Association

included safety and traffic management plans. “Sometimes when these facilities are doing an event, it can have an impact.”

Planning Commission member James Faulkner agreed, noting the need for a clear traffic lane for fire and rescue vehicles in case of an emergency. Arminus asked if there was any reason the language couldn’t be applied to the overall performance standards.

The Planning Commission continued its discussion on performance standards for accessory on-farm businesses at its Thursday, December 5, meeting. With Chair Peter Joslin absent, Vice Chair Charlie Pughe presided over the meeting.

No motion was made and Pughe said he would have a draft of accessory on-farm performance standards available for the next meeting.

Act 143 and town land-use regulations

The commission heard from landowner Robert Bloch on his application (PC-19-194SK Bloch), then closed sketch plan review on a minor two lot subdivision amendment on Whalley Road. The Planning Commission also heard from landowner Peter Post on his application (PC-19-194-SK Post), then closed sketch plan review on a minor two lot subdivision amendment on Carpenter Road.

While a draft copy of the performance standards was not available, the commission debated the mechanics of updating land use regulations specifically for accessory on farm businesses as it relates to Act 143. Pughe said he would use a subset of the standards and “itemize where it gets changed for onfarm” to create a subsection 3.12.1 in the regulations. “We’re not coming up with new metrics,” he said. “Rather than having people come in for a site visit, if accessory on-farm businesses are complying with performance standards, we consider them in compliance with the town.”

Town Planner Daryl Arminus offered to draft a definition of an accessory on-farm business for the glossary, referencing the language in Act 143. Planning Commissioner Marty Illick noted that other definitions in the town regulations could use “housekeeping.”

She also asked if the commission was considering removing section 4.9 of the regulations governing farm cafes.

Pughe said another section of the performance standards he wanted to modify

Other business

The commission also briefly discussed, then approved, adding $3,500 to the proposed FY21 budget for the East Charlotte trafficcalming study. According to Town Planner Daryl Arminus, the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s initially estimated the study would cost $20,000 to $30,000, with 80 percent of the cost covered by a CCRPO match.

As its last issue, the commission briefly discussed updates to road standards and asked Arminus to review and provide a comparison of other towns’ road standards previously circulated to the commission.

The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for December 19.

6 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Town

Coins in the Snow The best Christmas gift ever Lell Forehand As many are feeling at this time of the year, I came home from errands one night last week feeling unusually tired. However, because I had collected a significant amount of money from a group to be used for a gratitude gift, I immediately looked in my purse for the small cloth pouch where I had placed the money earlier in the day. It was not there. In desperation I looked in obvious places, including the car and the house, but the pouch was not in any of those spots. As I looked even harder, I slowly realized it was truly gone.

At this point, I began a mental list of all the places I had been that day, which included four stops. By this time it was too late to make phone calls to any of the stores I had visited, so I began to think about the details of each stop. This was unusually hard at first, as I was clearly stressed. I took several deep breaths, calmed myself, and started the thinking process over again.

After several minutes, I suddenly had a clear vision of seeing “coins in the snow” at my last stop—the Boy Scout Christmas tree lot. Then I realized where I had most likely dropped the pouch. As I was paying for a Christmas tree in the honor-system drop box, a few coins dropped out of the pouch, and I had picked them up one by one in the snow. I began to feel some hope. The pouch must be in that area. There was no one to ask then or the next morning, so my husband immediately went and looked there but found nothing.

My husband kept assuring me not to worry because someone honest would find it. However, there was no ID in the pouch, since it is not where I usually keep valuables. So how could someone contact me if they did want to return it?

After a sleepless night, I decided to start focusing on contacting someone who worked at the Christmas tree lot. I called the Shelburne Town Hall to find out who I could contact. After I told my story to the person who answered the phone, she suggested I

call the police department. However, as we discussed other ideas, suddenly she said, “Wait, I think I saw a post on the Shelburne Front Porch Forum about a lost wallet on the Shelburne Green.”

Climate Solutions caucus brings its road show to Charlotte

She forwarded the post to me, and I immediately contacted the person who had posted.

I described the pouch to her, and she said “I have it!” Words cannot express how deliriously happy I was to receive this news. However, even more touching were her words to me. She expressed how distressed she was for the person who had lost this money, as she sensed it had to do with Christmas. She found it as she and her family were looking for a tree, and she had happened to glance down and saw a rectangular object under the snow.

Thinking that was strange, she picked it up and realized how valuable it must be to someone.

At that point, she and her husband went beyond what would be expected to find me.

Not only did she post on Front Porch Forum but her husband left a note on the Green about finding a wallet. She honestly was as grateful to find me as I was to find the wallet.

I wanted to share this story because the real gift was that my heart was filled with renewed belief in the honesty, compassion and kindness of others. I have told this story to many friends and family because it has such a happy, heart-lifting ending. It was the best Christmas gift that I have ever received, a true act of unexpected kindness and compassion.

Sen. Chris Pearson, right, responding to a question, with Rep. Jessica Brumsted and Rep. Mike Yantachka.

More than 80 people crowded into the Great Room at the Charlotte Senior Center on Monday night to hear from and make suggestions to members of the Legislature’s Climate Solutions Caucus, which is focusing its work on ways to strengthen the economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The event was hosted by Rep. Mike Yantachka (D., Charlotte), who was joined by Sen. Chris Pearson (P/D., Chittenden County), Rep. Jessica Brumsted (D.,

Shelburne) and Rep. Mari Cordes (D., Bristol), all of whom are members of the caucus. Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman was also present in the audience and offered his perspective on the climate issues the state is dealing with. The gathering was the 20th such forum the caucus has held across the state this fall as the Legislature prepares for its 2020 session, which begins in January.

I hope to “pay it forward” as the season continues and focus on the goodness of people in a world where this is often not emphasized.

Lell Forehand is active in the Charlotte Senior Center and is the co-chair of the Board of Directors of the All Souls Interfaith Gathering in Shelburne. She and her husband, Rex, live in Charlotte.

The large crowd left a portion of the attendees standing at the event.

Photos by Mari Cordes

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The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 7

Town

Charlotte is blessed with dreamers and doers on the land

A visit to Stony Loam Farm on a cold dark evening confirms this Vera Moroney In season, Stony Loam Farm offers a bountiful community supported agriculture (CSA) of fresh veggies and flowers. The name of the farm comes from the agricultural designation for the type of soil on the farm. A bit complicated, but it is a mixture of clay, sand and shells.

Dave Quickel, the owner, is firm in his belief that folks should come to the farm to see and feel where the food comes from, so you need to pick up your CSA at the farm.

That said, Stony Loam is a fixture at the Shelburne Saturday Farmers Market.

Dave offers not only the finest veggies and flowers but an outrageously delicious and popular egg sandwich, the Sammy (named in honor of a dog, Sam, he used to have), made of a grilled tortilla, scrambled eggs and cheddar. A happy thought as we are almost at winter solstice.

What is most interesting is how Dave came to do this. Originally from Pennsylvania, he attended UVM and was in the process of applying to law school when he had a summer job at Bingham

Brook Farm. He felt a bond with the land and the work and decided to nix the family expectations and focus on the environment.

What he did next was what all young folks should do, become a ski bum in the West in Montana and other parts unknown during the winter and work the land in Vermont in the summer.

He eventually became the production manager for Bingham Brook Farm. As that farm backed out of farming, he saw a need to create a CSA here. Land, a place to live and CSA subscribers were needed to do this. In stepped a number of like-minded Charlotters who had been CSA members and wanted to support the new endeavor. Energized by this support Dave set out to make it happen.

When asked the best and worst surprises on the farm, he said, “Clay makes for bad mud.” Oh, here in Charlotte we all share that thought.

That brings us to the future. Dave wants to grow (excuse the pun) the farm and make it available to more folks. He is very happy to be in Charlotte and for the high retention rate of the CSA and the folks who find him at the farmers market.

In season you can find his produce at the Shelburne Market, City Market, Archies and the Single Pebble. The best way, though, is to sign up for the CSA and pick up fresh veggies right at the farm. A very happy thought.

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Lily Kate Keech, of Charlotte, had a poem titled “Joy” appear in the Young Writers Project in the December 13 Burlington Free Press. Lily opposes sadness with joy in her poem, saying that while sadness is depressing, joy sends her spirits soaring. She thinks only of a seemingly perfect future—and considers the joys it creates.

Charlotte chef and author Matt Jennings was published in the Food and Wine Magazine’s “Communal Table,” a forum for first-person voices from the food industry. Matt draws upon his 20 years of experience as an owner and operator of two restaurants, one being the Farmstead in Providence, RI, and the other, the Townsman in Boston. His latest project is Full Heart Hospitality, a consultancy, not a restaurant, that focuses on goods, beverages and hospitality. Matt says, “We are floating on a leaky raft in a cesspool of digital stuff.” When asked what will save us, he says, “your neighborhood

restaurant, that’s what.” They provide a link to our “ability to connect with one another and develop relationships.”

Stepping away for a chef’s sabbatical last year, Matt realized that what he most loved about the business was the people, not necessarily the food. Restaurants are vehicles that provide “thoughtful, unwavering service and product . . . a bridge to creating and enjoying the human experience.” So he urges us to silence our phones and “slide onto a warm tavern stool or a plush banquette, and give yourself to the experience of dining.” He highlights “neighborhood-focused food establishments” as compelling places to do this.

Obituaries Ramona Hallock of Bristol passed away Dec. 7 at the age of 87. She was the mother-in-law of Sue Jipner who grew up as a Mack in Charlotte and now lives in Bristol. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Bristol Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 227, Bristol, VT 05443.

Email your news and photos to news@ thecharlottenews.org

8 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Library News Margaret Woodruff DIRECTOR

As we close out the year, we want to thank everyone who has supported the library in 2019 with their contributions of money, energy, time, experience and enthusiasm. We appreciate the very generous donations for the expansion project, and we look forward to sharing the new space with the community in 2020. We would also like to thank Fritz Tegatz, who has worked tirelessly as the clerk of the works for this project, as well as the Charlotte Selectboard for its support as the project has moved forward.

Programs for Children Story times begin again on Jan. 7.

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.

Coding Club is back!

Thursdays at 3:15 p.m. Create your own video games! 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!

Programs for Adults & Families Better Together Book Club: The Gift of Failure. Wednesday, Jan. 8, 7 p.m.

Author Jessica Lahey joins us for the discussion of her bestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. Jessica is a teacher, writer and mom. Over 20 years, she’s taught every grade from 6th to12th in both public and private schools. She writes about education, parenting and child welfare for The Atlantic, Vermont Public Radio, The Washington Post and The New York Times.

She is a member of the Amazon Studios Thought Leader Board and wrote the

educational curriculum for Amazon Kids’ The Stinky and Dirty Show. Her second book, The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence, will be released in April 2021.

Exploring Gaia’s Garden, Thursdays in January, 1/9-1/3, 7 p.m.

Join Karen Tuininga and Linda Hamilton in a four-part study of Toby Hemenway’s classic reference and guide to home-scale permaculture, Gaia’s Garden. Register now and pick up a copy of the book at the front desk. Permaculture’s commonsense design principles aim to increase sustainability through, for example, smart use of energy and minimizing waste. While these age-old guidelines can be applied to many aspects of our lives, Gaia’s Garden focuses on putting them to work in the garden. Both new and experienced gardeners are welcome for the study of this practical book. Expect interesting reading (about 70 pages in preparation for each session) and lively discussions! Presented by Charlotte Library’s Seed Library program and Transition Town Charlotte.

Men’s Book Group: Station Eleven.

Wednesday, Jan. 15 , 7 p.m.

Set in the days of civilization’s collapse, Station Eleven tells the story of a Hollywood star who dies onstage during a production of King Lear, his wouldbe savior and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

Moving back and forth in time, this suspenseful, elegiac, spellbinding novel charts the strange twists of fate that connect the actor, the man who tried to save him, the actor’s first wife, his oldest friend and a young actress with the Traveling Symphony, caught in the crosshairs of a dangerous self-proclaimed prophet. Copies available at the library circulation desk.

Library Book Discussion: The Animal 1,000 Miles Long, Thursday, Jan.16, 7:30 p.m.

The phrase “an animal a thousand miles long,” attributed to Aristotle, refers to a sprawling body that cannot be seen in its entirety from a single angle, a thing too vast and complicated to be knowable as a whole. For Leath Tonino, the animal a thousand miles long is the landscape of his native Vermont. Tonino grew up in Charlotte along the shores of Lake Champlain. His career as a nature and travel writer has taken him across the country, but he always turns his eye back on his home state. “All along,” he writes, “I’ve been exploring various parts of the animal, trying to make a prose map of its body—not to understand it in a conclusive or definitive way but rather to celebrate it, to hint at its possibilities.” Copies are available at the library circulation desk.

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

iPhone for Beginners, Monday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m.

Learn the basics of Apple iPhone in this hands-on class at the Charlotte Senior Center that will cover home screen navigation, basic gestures, how-to connect to WiFi, common settings, and howto find and install apps. There will be time for practice and questions. Please bring your iPhone, preferably updated to the latest iOS. This program is free.

Registration is required. Please call the Charlotte Senior Center to register.

Reach us on the web at charlottepubliclibrary.org Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/charlottelibraryvt Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @CharlotteVTLib

Holiday schedule: The Charlotte Library closes at 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23, and will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24, through Thursday, Dec. 26. We reopen at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 27.

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.

Unless otherwise warned, the Charlotte Library Board of Trustees meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. Library minutes and agendas are available on the library website.

Mystery Book Group: The Dark Vineyard, Monday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m.

Join us to discuss Martin Walker’s second book in the “Bruno, Chief of Police” series. Just before dawn one late-summer morning, Bruno is pulled from sleep by the wail of the town siren summoning the volunteer firemen of St Denis. A large barn and the fields surrounding it are ablaze.

When Bruno arrives at the scene, the smell of petrol leaves no doubt—it was arson.

Copies available at the library circulation desk.

“Raising Humans in a Digital World,” Wednesday, Jan. 22, 7 p.m.

What adults need to know to help kids build a healthy relationship with technology. ParentIn of Champlain Valley School District and the Charlotte Library host a book discussion featuring digital literacy educator and advocate Diana Graber’s latest book, Raising Humans in a Digital World. Pick up your book at the circulation desk today! iPad for Beginners, Monday, Jan. 27, 10 a.m.

Learn the basics of Apple iPad in this hands-on class at the Charlotte Senior Center that will cover home-screen navigation, basic gestures, how-to connect to WiFi, common settings and how to find and install apps. There will be time for practice and questions. Please bring your iPad, preferably updated to the latest iOS. This program is free. Registration is required. Please call the Charlotte Senior Center to sign up.

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 (sidewalk under construction) or across the Town Green.

• The book dropbox is 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 is 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.

The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 9

Library News

Rec News

Thank you donors!

Thanks to all of the generous donors who contributed to the Charlotte Library Expansion Project. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the new space next spring.

In the meantime, please stop by and take a peek through our windows at the activity…things are moving along! If you are interested in learning more about the library project, please visit our website or contact us at the library: charlottepubliclibrary.org or 802-425-3864.

The Cohen Family Jenny & Dan Cole Jacqueline Coleburn Diane & Emile Cote Susan & Vince Crockenberg Elizabeth Hager Cullen Chris & Susanne Davis Raven Davis Amy DeGroot Rick & Sandi Detwiler The Dousevicz Family The Dwight Family Hal & Chea Evans Louise & Jonathan Fairbank Susan Fitzpatrick Kathleen Fleming & Mark Franceschetti Teena & Ric Flood Patricia Ford Lell Forehand Frances Foster Rebecca Foster & Kevin Burget Stephen Foster Donna Fraser-Leary & Dean Leary Janice Garen Christie & David Garrett Walter Gates Valerie Graham Carolyn Greene The Hackerman Family Linda S. Hamilton in Memory of Arcola Boomer John & Dorrice Hammer The Harcourt Family Kathleen McKinley Harris James & MaryEllen Sprague Hebert Janice & Tom Heilmann in Memory of John Walker Tina & John Helzer in Memory of Peggy Thatcher Carl & Carlanne Herzog Shanley Hinge & Gary Franklin Elizabeth Hunt, Jesse Moore & Family Jim & Susan Hyde Susanna & Peter Kahn Stephen, Will & Noah Kiernan Julian Kulski The Ladue Family Peter & Libby Laino Kate Lampton Elizabeth Langfeldt Richard & Juliette Latimer Jane & John Lawlis

Bud & Barbara Lawrence Alexandra Lehmann Karyn Lunde Jeanie MacDonough Lee Macik Patrice & Dave MacHavern Jim & Kathy Manchester Zachary Manganello Hilary Maslow Nan & Ben Mason Carol Mather Thomas McAuliff & Janella Pennington Louise McCarren & Ed Amidon Meaghan & Ethan McLaughlin Danielle Conlon Menk & James Menk Edd & Beth Merritt Bob & Kate Mesaros Metz Family Foundation Robert & Toni Monsey The Moore Family Janet & Lane Morrison Kerrie Morrison Laurie Moser Meredith Moses Brooke & Barry Mossman Nigel Mucklow, New England Floor Covering The Murphy Family Bethany Myrick Mystery Book Group Pat Nestork Evan Osler David Palmer Hans & Beverly Palmer Patterson Fuels Norman & Dorothy Pellett Kit Perkins & Andrew, Maria & Kosi Thurber Donna Pittman Jessie Price & John Streng Nancy & David Pricer Waverly Purdham Lori Racha & Damon Silverman Robert Ramsey & Jane Butler Jessica Rauch A Revolutionary Press Chris Ritcey Joe Rivera & Martha BartonRivera Cindi & Mike Robinson Victoria & Daniel Rosen John & Nancy Rosenthal Erin Ross

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Chuck & Missy Adams and their children, Charlie & Margot Joan Aichroth David & Jane Allen Sage J. Alpert Randy Archer Katherine B. Arthaud Elizabeth Bassett & John A. Pane Tom & Lorna Bates Victor & Wanda Bean Barbara & Bill Benedict and family Dale & Jerilyn Bergdahl Meg Berlin Virginia Besthoff & Nancy Aronson Trina Bianchi Anne & Matt Bijur & Cosmo Sara & Tony Blake Robert & Nancy Bloch The Bohlin Family Lynne Bond & David Watts Kristin Borquist Cricket & John Braun Kai, Emmanuel & Matthew Burke and Polly Price Laura Cahners-Ford Champlain Valley Compost Co. Carol and Owen Clay Jaina P. Clough & Zechariah Gardner Lynne & Greg Cluff

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Martial Arts Session 4: Jan. 14 – Feb. 11 Session 5: Feb. 18 – Mar. 24 K-3: 2-3 p.m.

Gr. 4-8: 3-4 p.m.

Cost: $75 Driver’s Education Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays Jan. 6 – Feb. 16 (Driving will be held on weekends) Time: 5:30-7:30 Location: Charlotte Central School Registration Fee: $690 Make-up Class Dates: Jan. 21, 29, Feb. 4, 11, 13

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Adult Pick-up Basketball Join the basketball enthusiasts on Mondays and Wednesday nights at Charlotte Central School from 7:30 to 9p.m. All levels and ages are welcome to join.

Full and partial scholarships are available for all youth recreation activities. You can find additional information on all of our programs as well as registration forms on our town website at charlotterec.com, or contact Nicole Conley by email Recreation@townofcharlotte.com or by phone 425-6129 ext.204.

If your name was left off the list inadvertently, please contact Margaret Woodruff at the library : 802-4253864. If we were unable to confirm listing a name we opted to include those in our anonymous donor count.

We are so appreciative for the outpouring of support and don’t want to miss anyone.

Email your Charlotte news and photos to:

news@ thecharlottenews.org

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10 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Shopping

SHOPPING continued from page

1

“I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom.”

There are earrings at every price point and a $25 sage bundle wrapped in pink ribbon with a pink heart gem on the side for when you want to be preppy and adorable whilst ridding your home of demons or ghosts, or bad energy from your last boyfriend.

They also have an extensive collection of cashmere sweaters, baby gifts and sheepskins.

Here’s what I think about camping: I’d rather sleep inside chaperoning the fourthgrade recorder band while they give a concert to a bedbug convention after nine espressos each than sleep outside in a tent.

Common Deer, which is in Burlington and owned by the Beal family, has a lot of camping-friendly items that I think people must enjoy, like Darn Tough socks and $19 Vermont-illustrated Nalgene bottles and sturdy backpacks in earthy colors that look like they can withstand a hurricane. They have flasks in a variety of styles, which I could actually get behind.

Maybe that’s why people like camping?

They also have a book called The Pocket

Photos by Chea Waters Evans

Guide to Camping, which as far as I’m concerned should be one sentence long: Don’t do it.

Common Deer is just full to the brim of lovely gifts, like stoneware bowls and mugs that start at $35 and say “Laid in Vermont” on the side…with a drawing of a chicken. For $28, you can get the annoying dork in your life a desk placard that says, “I’m silently correcting your grammar,” and for a politically obsessed person, they have leather-embossed magnets and keychains that bear the visages of political figures like Barack and Michelle, Joe Biden and Mr. Trump.

The store has also teamed up with Vermont Parks Forever, the foundation for Vermont State Parks, to create a series

of prints for each park. My favorite is the Mt. Philo print, which is a little retro, a little modern and a lot adorable. It’s $38 without a frame, but the store has some really great rustic ones that are perfect.

Nikki Mudge has a little shop on Greenbush and a lovely online store,

Siafu Home, siafuhome.com, or check with her for hours. She sells home and gift items she collects on her frequent travels to Kenya, where she used to live. Leso napkins made from vintage fabric are $20 each, a gorgeous set of hand-carved ebony spoons are $60, and Ankole cow horn votive holders are $60, and calm down, they’re ethically sourced and the cows are fine. She also sells an aluminum and brass bottle opener in the shape of a warthog tusk for $79, which reminds me…after all this shopping I need a beer and a nap.

Thanks for shopping with me, and if you need any more tips, be in touch. I’ll just be at home, smelling my new pants, correcting people’s grammar and drinking some vodka I got at the Old Brick Store.

Happy holidays!

Zoning Board of Adjustment discusses home additions Lily Menk The Zoning Board of Adjustment met the evening of December 11 to discuss proposed additions to the homes of Jane and Gary Alsofrom and Sue and Nick Carter.

The Alsofroms originally proposed the construction of a storage shed to their camp at 760 North Shore Road but came back to the board with an eight-by-ten addition to their current home. Frank Tenney, a board member, mentioned that their new designs would warrant a design board meeting and that the ZBA could not close the hearing without its approval.

Tenney also noted, “It’s a nonconforming

structure, which means in order to consider it we need to know the square footage, volume, and uses.”

In addition that, Tenney reminded the Alsofroms that, “depending on the contour of the lake, it may be getting closer to the lake” and that setback measurements were required from the lake, neighbors and road in order to move forward. In the case of lakefront properties, making sure the structure is not too close to the shore is essential. Unable to make conclusive decisions, the board set its next discussion with the Alsofroms for February 26.

Ending the conversation, Tenney noted, “This is a far cry from adding a shed.”

Sue and Nick Carter brought their

architect Steven Selin of selin + selin architecture in Shelburne to aid in their discussion. With a handout packet prepared, Selin approached the board with the Carters’ proposal of two additions of 48 and 168 square feet to their lakefront home at 111 Hill’s Point Road. In an overview, Selin provided necessary measurements and floor plans as he walked the board through the additions.

One topic of discussion was the windows.

Tenney questioned how much glass they were planning on adding, to which they responded 60 feet. After the Carters inquired the reasoning behind the glass regulations, Tenney and the rest of the board explained that a lakefront property

with massive windows could pose an issue for those on the lake. With the light reflecting onto the water, as well as light pollution, appropriate window coverage is essential. But, with under 30 percent of window coverage, the Carters do not have to worry.

Before closing the meeting, the Carters’ neighbor, Mike Wool, commented, “The plan of their house and what they’re doing is tasteful and not intrusive in any way.”

The board will announce its decision in January.

Lily Menk is from Charlotte and is a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School. She is working with The Charlotte News for her Grad Challenge project.

The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 11

Charlotte Museum holiday party

SELECTBOARD continued from page 1 law a petition must be submitted no later than 44 days, and a town vote held no later than 60 days, after the ordinances go into effect. The Jan. 6 effective date would allow, if a petition is successful, a town-wide vote to be held on Town Meeting Day, March 3, 2020.

Solar RFP and the Charlotte Library Energy Commission member John Quinney appeared in front of the board with Sam Carlson of Green Lantern Energy, the contractor selected to design the proposed solar array on the Charlotte library. Quinney said he would not be seeking a vote because “The project no longer makes economic sense.” Carlson explained that the 34kWh design was reviewed by the state fire marshal, whose recommended changes shrunk the design to 26kWh. “This changed the economics of the project. We can’t come up with investor financing,” said Carlson as he formally withdrew from the project.

He noted the RFP also included a proposal for a group net-metering agreement for town buildings. The board asked questions about the agreement, including the percentage of net-metering credits the town would potentially purchase and anticipated annual cost savings. Quinney said the agreement could save the town $2,000 a year on energy costs. No motion was made and Krasnow thanked Green Lantern and the Energy Committee for their work.

of the discussion total expenses were trimmed from $3,686,613 to $3,510,873.

The budget will again be on the January 13 agenda.

Other business The board approved the Thompson’s Point Leaseholders Association request to expand the easement for the water treatment system to include the caretaker’s cottage. The board also procedurally approved several Thompson’s Point lease renewals.

The Charlotte Museum opened for three hours on Sunday to celebrate the holidays.

Party goers enjoyed punch and some history with the Charlotte Historical Society.

Little angels, big pageant

The Selectboard reviewed the draft warning for Town Meeting and proposed including two additional articles. The first will be about distributing donations to agencies and organizations and the other about appropriating to the trails reserve fund. The board also approved a contract with StageWorks, a preferred vendor, to provide the sound system for Town Meeting.

FY21 budget The Selectboard sharpened their pencils and devoted the bulk of the meeting to reviewing the proposed FY2021 budget.

Town Treasurer Mary Mead suggested changes to several line-item revenues and offered several reductions in expenses, specifically around transfers to reserve funds, which the board considered and accepted. According to Town Administrator Dean Bloch, as the result

On Sunday morning, The Charlotte Congregational Church’s annual Christmas pagent featured live animals, lots of songs, and an abundance of joy.

Photos contributed.

Charlotte Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services call logs Third quarter 2019 fire responses July 2 Extinguishing system activation July 3 Gas leak (natural gas or LPG) System malfunction July 4 Watercraft rescue Brush or brush-and-grass mixture fire July 5 Smoke detector activation, no fire - unintentional July 6 Carbon monoxide detector activation, no CO

July 11 Medical assist, assist EMS crew July 12 Smoke detector activation due to malfunction July 13 Surf rescue July 15 Passenger vehicle fire July 16 Extinguishing system activation Smoke detector activation due to malfunction July 18 Medical assist, EMS crew Motor vehicle accident with no injuries.

July 9 CO detector activation due to malfunction

July 19

July 10 Motor vehicle accident with injuries Medical assist, assist EMS

July 20 Watercraft rescue

Smoke detector activation due to malfunction

July 22

Carbon monoxide detector activation, no CO July 23 Extrication, rescue July 28 Severe weather or natural disaster, other July 29 Alarm system activation, no fire - unintentional July 30 Smoke detector activation, no fire – unintentional July 31 Medical assist, assist EMS crew Building fire Aug. 1 Motor vehicle accident with injuries Aug. 3 Gasoline or other flammable liquid spill Aug. 5 Cooking fire, confined to

container Motor vehicle accident with injuries

Aug. 22 Alarm system activation, no fire - unintentional

Aug. 7 Building fire Motor vehicle accident with injuries

Aug. 25 Alarm system sounded due to malfunction

Aug. 9 Medical assist, assist EMS crew Surf rescue Aug. 12 Smoke detector activation, no fire - unintentional Aug. 15 CO detector activation due to malfunction Medical assist, assist EMS crew

Aug. 26 Motor vehicle accident with no injuries.

Aug. 28 Medical assist, assist EMS crew Smoke detector activation, no fire - unintentional Smoke detector activation due to malfunction Sept. 3 Smoke detector activation due to malfunction

Aug. 18 Alarm system sounded due to malfunction

Sept. 4 Smoke detector activation, no fire - unintentional

Aug. 20 Medical assist, assist EMS crew

Sept. 10 Carbon monoxide incident Sept. 11 CO detector activation due

to malfunction Sept. 15 Motor vehicle accident with injuries Sept. 16 Medical assist, assist EMS crew Sept. 17 Emergency medical service, other Sept. 21 Smoke detector activation due to malfunction Sept. 27 Alarm system sounded due to malfunction Motor vehicle accident with injuries Rescue logs, Nov. 2019 Nov. 1 7:43 p.m. Standby-No services or support provided Nov. 2 8:23 a.m. Patient treated,

transported by this EMS unit 2 p.m. Patient treated, transported by this EMS unit 7:46 p.m. CHARLOTTE19-VER-0731 Patient treated, transported by this EMS Unit Nov. 3 6:56 a.m. Patient treated, transported by this EMS unit 5:02 p.m. Patient evaluated, no treatment/transport required Nov. 4 3:48 a.m. Canceled on scene (no patient contact) 7:31 p.m. Canceled (prior to arrival at scene) Nov. 5 9:08 a.m. Intercept Nov. 7 11:21 a.m. Patient treated, transported by this EMS

12 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News

School

The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 13

School

CCS robotics team snags Rookie Inspiration Award

Photo caption: Charlotte Central School coders and engineers took the Rookie Inspiration Award at the robotics competition. Pictured in the front row, l-r, are Raxa Tariyal, Hadley Bergeson, and Sarah Stein, and in the back row are Max Ford, teacher Allan Miller, Kyle Franko, Alden Valjevac, Leah Rauch, and Deacon Ford.

Photo by Becky Bergeson

Chea Waters Evans Charlotte Central School’s first LEGO robotics team ever came away from the Vermont FIRST LEGO League Vermont State Championships with the Rookie Inspiration Award on Dec. 8 at Norwich University.

Recognized for their “outstanding success in advancing respect and appreciation for engineering and engineers, both within their school, as well as in their community,” the team of middle school students competed against other teams from around the state with LEGO robots.

During the competition, students completed a set of 15 robot challenges that they coded and engineered

themselves, plus they had to complete a long-term engineering project and present it to the judges.

CCS students on the team noticed that they had friends at school who couldn’t play on the playground because of accessibility issues, and their project examined how accessibility could be improved. The students made a plan for improvements that they will bring to the school board in the future.

Allan Miller, who coached the team and is the digital and transformational learning coach at CCS, said, “As a first-year robotics team they did amazing, laying a great foundation for future CCS teams.”

14 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News

School CVSD School Board considers general education budget constraints Nancy Richardson The December 3 CVSD Board meeting focused on a discussion of the FY 2021 general instructional budget and the difficulties of aligning board goals and vision with budget realities. Superintendent Elaine Pinckney guided the board through the process of how the budget is developed through planning meetings with principals and building staff.

Consolidation of school districts means moving from a supervisory union budgeting process to a districtwide budget.

Individual school budgets, once developed autonomously, are now included in a district budget that seeks to ensure equitable opportunity for each student across all schools.

This equity effort focuses on uniform class size and staff ratios in the area of related arts and socialemotional support that reflect the state Educational Quality Standards.

In a series of meetings with principals, the central office staff elicited their recommendations for personnel and program needs in a number of areas. These areas include equitable services across schools, instructional program enhancements

that have been identified as board goals, responses to the challenges for support in the area of social emotional learning, and administrative leadership needs at the high school.

Health care costs will rise to 13.5 percent in FY 21. There is a possibility that the district will see higher enrollment and required programming for students with social and emotional challenges. At present the high school is straining to meet counseling and administrative duties and has asked for additional personnel in leadership and counseling.

Much of the needed budget increases occur in areas where the district has little control. In the face of this situation, several board members expressed concerns that responding to individual school needs by adding personnel may increase the budget beyond what is palatable for the community.

The next board budget meeting on December 17 will focus on operations, which may offer an opportunity to identify savings that will enable some of the instructional program enhancements to be implemented while keeping the budget increase to a more reasonable amount.

Junior Reporters

Is Elf on the Shelf real?

Amelie Fairweather and Flossy Egan JUNIOR REPORTERS

It’s December, and you wake up to a crisp and snowy day already feeling that exciting tingling that all kids feel when you enter the Christmas month. When you race downstairs you see the Christmas tree and on top of it… an elf!

These are no ordinary elves! They are Elf on the Shelf elves, and to the people who carry out this tradition they are some of the highlights of Christmas.

The rules are simple: The elf travels to the North Pole overnight to tell Santa if you’ve been good or bad. In the morning, after it returns from its journey, it’s in a different place in your house, showing that it actually moved overnight.

But just like people question Santa (see last paragraph of this article) the legend of the Elf on the Shelf is also up for debate. Trevina Valliere,10, and her family are supporters of the Elf on the Shelf tradition.

“The Elf on the Shelf is real,” she promptly states. “It’s a great tradition, and you really get into the Christmas spirit if you uphold it. Also, one day I woke up and started to look for one of my Elves on Shelves, I found it sitting and watching a movie on my iPad. My device has a finger recognition and nobody knows my password because I made it myself, and when I turned it on, there was a history of watching a movie that I didn’t turn on. The Elf on the Shelf is real.”

However, Ronan Evans, 13, feels slightly different than Trevina about Elf on the Shelf.

“That is a strong opinion,” he says, once he heard Trevina’s argument. “I also find it unbelievable that he goes to the North Pole with no hands,” referring to the fact that the elves have mittens for hands. “Also, his eyes don’t move, so he wouldn’t be able to

see you the whole time. If you got out of his line of sight, you can do whatever you want,” he points out. “Maybe it’s a plot by the government who want to sell more elves!”

“Also,” he finishes, “their legs aren’t very strong, so it’s hard for them to walk. If anyone wanted to talk to me about that I would be happy to hear them.”

Is the Elf on the Shelf real?

The answer is still a mystery!

Lily Mae Sidelecki, 10, is another supporter of the Elf on the Shelf.

When I asked her why, she answered confidently, “I’m a supporter of the Elf on the Shelf; when I was little I had an Elf on the Shelf called Pinky,” When Lily Mae was informed of Ronan’s argument, she said, “He can have his own opinion, but I think my opinion is better than his.” I asked Lily about how the Elf on the Shelf would travel with mittens and small legs and if she believed that the Elf on the Shelf was a government plot. “So, she replied, “I would say that’s not true, because that’s what I think and it makes sense, that it goes to the North Pole and back and is always in a new place every day.”

Is Santa real?

Yes, in our opinion. But other people think differently.

Here is why Ava, 10, believes that Santa is real: “One night I was watching TV in the basement and there was nothing there.

The next morning there was a huge fort that couldn’t possibly have fit through the basement doorway. And I would have been woken up by them if they had built it overnight.”

Amelie and Flossy are in 5th grade. Any students, grades 3 through 8, are welcome to join us in the newsroom on Tuesdays after school.

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The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 15

Food Shelf News

Gratitude from the Food Shelf Susan Ohanian

This world is just a little place, just the red in the sky, before the sun rises, so let us keep fast hold of hands, that when the birds begin, none of us be missing.

This is one paragraph from a letter from Emily Dickinson to her cousins Louisa and Frances Lavinia Norcross, 1860. It seems especially apt to think all the people keeping a fast hold of hands in our community this season, reaching out to make sure no one is missing.

We extend a heartfelt thank you to many people.

Thank you to the Flying Pig for their Snowflake books that they generously donate one book for each of the kids in our food shelf families and to WowToyz in Vergennes who generously donate toys for every child.

Thank you to the Charlotte Central School staff, students and families for the decorated holiday baskets, to Kristen Gerson for coordinating this effort and to Kathy Ridge for all the prepackaged granola that went into the Thanksgiving baskets.

Thank you to the Charlotte/Shelburne Rotary and coordinator Todd Whittaker for the hams; to the Repair Café; to Giving Tree Shoppers who have provided a “wish gift” for the children; to the generous donations of toys, gift cards, socks, mittens and personal items dropped in the toy boxes at the Charlotte Senior Center, CCS, Charlotte Library, Spear’s Corner Store, Philo Ridge Farm, Charlotte Congregational Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Thank you for the movie tickets for children, again provided by our Secret Santa, and for the gift cards from Louise McCarren for kids who missed out on the giving tree and another gift in honor of her sister Mollie’s birthday; to Alexandra Lehmann for all the ornaments she made and sold to benefit the Food Shelf; to Jason Harvey for venison and turkey; to Charlotte Fire and Rescue; to Tracey Beaudin for decorated holiday

cookies that are almost too pretty to eat; to Holly Rochefort and her dedicated team of bakers.

Thank you to SCHIPS for a grant for fuel and utility assistance.

Thank you for the financial gifts from the Charlotte Congregational Church and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Anne Castle, Evan Metropoulos, Kathleen & William Posey, Myron & Lenore Sopher, Mark & Eleanor Capeless, Ian & Larry Sudbay, Karen & David Hurwitt, John & Carolyn Kovac, Heather & John Dwight, Lell & Rex Forehand, Scott & Lynne Jaunich , Kirk & Loretta Walters, Tom Cosinuke & Annie Kelton, Diane & Peter Rosenfeld, Jeanette Thibault, Remo & Donna Pizzagalli, Henri Proutt, Nancy Wood and Aileen Kraus Thank you to volunteers who set up the Thanksgiving baskets: Nancy Bloch, Cindy Tyler, Pat Rodar, John Lavigne, Bill Doris, Ken Oboz, Maj Eisinger, Louise McCarren, Holly Rochefort, Ron Purdum, Diane Cote, Sandy Armell, Tara Mullen, Cindy Robinson, Susanna Kahn, Liz DesLauriers, Toby Tyler, Kenneth Santor and Karen Doris.

We offer extended thanks for this huge community effort involving so many organizations, neighborhoods and individuals.

The Holiday Basket schedule Friday, Dec. 20: Basket/toy box set up: 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 21: Basket pick up 8 to 10 a.m.

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.

We are available to all community residents.

Privacy is very important and respected in our mission of neighbor helping neighbor.

For emergency food call John 425-3130.

Purchase with your local mortgage professional!

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

For emergency assistance (electricity, fuel) call Pat at 425-3083/ Donations 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 acknowledgment will be sent to that person.

Checks may be mailed to Charlotte Food Shelf & Assistance, P.O. Box 83, Charlotte, VT 05445. Thank you.

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 and times are posted on bulletin boards in the Charlotte Congregational Church Hall and 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.

Providing Repair, Refinishing, Restoration and Transport

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

16 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News PROPERTY TRANSFERS Nov. 6 Ellen O’Brien and George Neiley III to Michael Dellacava and Allison Nichols, 13.72 acres with dwelling, 96 Soaring Hawk Lane, $625,000.

Nov. 15 Emily D. Thurber to Paula D. and Stephen P. Johnson, 3.96 acres with dwelling, 283 Fields Farm Road, $460,750.

Nov. 15 Andrew Thurber, Cedar Beach Trust, Emily Thurber, Sarah Thurber, Nancy Wood, to Paula D. and Stephen P. Johnson, easement and restrictions, 283 Fields Farm Road, $11,250.

Nov. 16 Carol A. Hutchins to David Cone, 14.64 acres with dwelling, 3529 Hinesburg Road, $172,500.

Nov. 21 George M. Connelly to Dwight and Marie Norwood, 2.36 acres with dwelling, 257 Upper Meadow Lane, $440,000.

Nov. 21 Adrian and Alison Wolverton to Elisa Fante, 2.19 acres with dwelling, 3082 Greenbush Road, $635,000.

Nov. 25 John P. Welch to Anthony P. and Meeghan Bird Matarazzo, 1 acre with dwelling, 159 Wesley Drive, $300,000.

Nov. 25 Diane Dolliver to DKD Properties LLC, 10.24 acres, 380 Dolliver Drive, $195,000.

Sacred Hunter

Hitting a trifecta in the deep cold of early November Bradley Carleton The old muzzleloader has been put back into the gun cabinet. Unfired for another year.

There is a wave of sadness that I couldn’t bring a deer home this year. But on the bright side there is this: We are sitting in our makeshift shore blind fabricated from driftwood caused by an early November Nor’easter, and we’re huddled behind the twisted branches with cattails and johnson grass woven in between the homemade front. It’s cold. Really cold. I note that my feet are numb, and my partner, John, replies that he can no longer feel the tips of his fingers. We have both set our shotguns to lean against the structure and simultaneously bend toward the propane heater on the ground. The heat makes our appendages sting.

Decoys float in the breeze at the edge of the ice line about 10 yards offshore. They bob happily, dipping their plastic bills in the wavelets and accumulating ice that hangs downward to the surface. If this sounds like a miserable way to spend your time off, you may be a part of a society that prides itself on creature comforts over wily adventure.

I, for one, have always been attracted to the challenges of discomfort when hunting. I embrace the cold Northwest wind and revel in the freezing spray of water as it splashes over the bow of the boat. Maybe there is a bit of masochistic tendency in my nature, but I like to feel like my hunts reflect the determination to overcome the odds and not just survive but thrive in nature’s adversity.

John looks out over the lake and says, “Looks like we’ve got a good squall comin’ in from across the lake.” Yep,” I reply “I’m ready to play! How about you?”

We both know that this late in the season, nasty weather from the north brings in new birds. Big red-legged mallards from the upper half of the lake that has been frozen for weeks. These heartiest of birds are the largest and fattest migrators to pitch in to the bay at the very end of the duck season.

They thrive on the harshest of conditions – just like I do – swimming among the ice flows and picking up aquatic grasses that blow into the shoreline. They are fully plumed with bright green heads, stark auburn chests, beet-red legs and a couple of fancy curls on their tails. These birds are the strongest and healthiest of the flocks.

As a wall of white works its way across the lake, we reach for our shotguns and check to see that the actions aren’t frozen from the frigid temperature sending icy mist off the water. We scan the skies together; John speaks up first. “Big birds at 10 o’clock! they’re comin in on rails!” We crouch behind the wall of driftwood and watch.

“They’re cupping!” I say, “Legs down and lookin’.”

“We go up on the count of three, okay?”

John enthusiastically whispers. “One… two…three!” We both stand and shoulder our guns. Leading the birds by just a few feet and swinging our barrels through the snowflakes as we fire. One. Two. Three.

I know that I shot three times but assume that John must have shot at the same instant that I did. I turn to him and say “Three birds down! Nice shooting buddy!”

Bradley Carleton But something in John’s eyes look askew.

“How many did you hit?” I ask him.

“None!” he replies. My damn gun froze!”

“You’re kidding?” I say. “Well how did three birds fall then?” John replies, “By obvious deduction my friend, you just shot a triple!”

I can’t believe it. Really? I’ve shot only one other triple in my 38 years of duck hunting.

“Well, you did it today” John replies. I walk out to the ice line and into the decoys to retrieve my birds. Two drake pintails and a drake mallard with a band on its leg.

Holy cow! This is like hitting the trifecta of hunting!

John slaps my back and gives me a high five then walks back to the blind. I sit down beside him, and as he leans into the heater he asks me if my feet and hands are still cold. I realize that my blood has been pumping overtime and all the pain we suffered earlier has disappeared. My heart is beating hard and my spirit is flying. Like they use to say in the gym “No pain. No gain.”

Bradley Carleton is executive director of Sacred Hunter.org, a nonprofit that seeks to educate the public on the spiritual connection of man to nature.

The

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The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 17

NUTCRACKER continued from page

1

intensive program over the summer, and during the school year she dances for three hours, four days a week. During Nutcracker season, she adds seven hours of dance on Saturday.

“I know the choreography front to back,” she said, which means that during rehearsals as the show approaches she’s less focused on things like how to ballet jump through a hula hoop and more focused on aesthetics.

When she dances, she said, there are no distractions from the outside world. “You’re kind of in your own little world,” she said, “and it’s cool to tell a story with movement, and I really like that.”

“There are a lot of things that go through your head about technique, like, does this look good, how do I tweak this or that, but I think a lot of it is the artistry, and how you stand out from everybody else, and I like to play around with it,” she said. “When I dance, I like to just take the music and go off that.”

Alex Nagiba is the artistic director of VBT and Olivia’s instructor and coach.

He said watching her develop as a dancer is a pleasure and that her talent will take her beyond the stage at the Flynn. “She’s wonderful. She listens well, she works very hard, she’s a great artist, her ballet technique is impeccable, and she’s really good at it.

Too good: Let’s put it that way,” he said.

The hard work isn’t really hard work when you love what you’re doing, Olivia said.

“I have fun all the time, and it’s so cool to think about going on stage and performing.”

Olivia is also a serious student, and though during lunch and recess her dance life pops into her mind, she said she tries really hard to make sure she’s thinking about school during school, if only so she can concentrate on dance when she’s practicing.

When she’s not dancing, Olivia said she has other hobbies, like baking and cooking and working on arts and crafts projects.

Nagiba said he is looking forward to all of the Claras who will be dancing in this weekend’s production, and that they have all worked hard this fall. Olivia, though, he acknowledged, has something extra that can’t be defined.

“She’s developing at a rapid pace; you

“I think to work hard every day and not think that it’s so far out of reach, because it’s really achievable if you work really hard, and as long as you’re having fun with it, that’s the best part.”

Happy Holidays from the Warren Strausser Group

- Olivia Santos

don’t see it often in young people,” he said.

“Sometimes, when you see five-year-olds play a Mozart concerto on the piano, we don’t know where that comes from. Olivia has that kind of quality. It’s so cool. We’re so excited for her.”

A lot of credit goes to VBT, Olivia said, because the instructors there are supportive of her individuality and allow her to thrive.

“They give you the opportunity to be you when you dance,” she said. “I just love VBT and everyone is so supportive there, and the teachers are great, and it feels like a really inclusive environment, and I love dancing there.”

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Nagiba said Olivia’s natural abilities are evident when she’s on the stage. “She’s great—she makes professional ballerinas want to be able to do what she can do at this age.”

For Olivia, a lot of the fun is taking the appearance of hard work out of it altogether.

“I like making something super challenging look super easy…to get that feeling of nailing a step that you’ve been practicing forever is a great feeling,” she said.

Olivia said that her advice for future Claras is that the key to success is hard work and having a good time. “I think to work hard every day and not think that it’s so far out of reach, because it’s really achievable if you work really hard, and as long as you’re having fun with it, that’s the best part.”

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The VBT production of The Nutcracker runs this weekend, Saturday, December 21, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 22 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Olivia is dancing as Clara in the matinee shows. For tickets, call 802-86Flynn or visit flynntix.org.

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18 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Kids Cook VT Cookies for the Food Shelf On Sunday, Dec. 15, KidsCookVT celebrated the holiday season by baking Christmas cookies for the Charlotte Food Shelf. Charlotte Congregational Church Pastor Susan Cooke Kittredge was on hand to help roll and decorate the sugar cookies. So many cookies were made, kids took some home to share with their families. A fun time was had by all.

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The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 19

Into The Woods

The Hinesburg Town Forest: Inclusion, demonstration and diversity annual conference. We have partnered with Vermont Woodlands Association, Vermont Coverts, Audubon Vermont, Vermont Fish and Wildlife, the Vermont Land Trust and others to connect interested Vermonters to this kind of educational opportunity.

Ethan Tapper The 864-acre Hinesburg Town Forest (HTF) is many things. It is a historically important property, one of Vermont’s early town forests, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also a site for demonstration and education, with a history of high-quality forest management.

At the same time, it is widely known for its recreational offerings; a multi-use trail network maintained by Fellowship of the Wheel (a chapter of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association).

As we move into the project’s second winter, we hope to engage many more – and we want you to get involved! There will be numerous educational walks and opportunities throughout the next year, all of which will be free and open to all. If you are interested in, or skeptical about, what modern forest management looks like, please take advantage of these opportunities. Also, if you have creative ideas for educational opportunities around forest management at the HTF, please let me know. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible. We hope that our work can create a healthier Hinesburg Town Forest, while contributing to better forest management everywhere.

Since becoming the Chittenden County forester in 2016, it’s been my honor to work with this iconic and historic property. My most exciting task has been continuing the tradition of demonstrating what responsible, modern forest management looks like and finding ways to engage the public in it.

The next public educational opportunities at the HTF are as follows:

Regenerative forest management To many laypeople, “logging” conjures up images of clearcuts, mudslides and environmental devastation. The reality is that modern forest management can be very different from those horror stories of the past. It can be “regenerative,” supporting the growth of a healthy, diverse, resilient forest providing a range of benefits, from wildlife habitat to carbon sequestration and storage.

The goal for the Hinesburg Town Forest is two-fold; to help encourage a healthier, more resilient, more diverse forest, while showcasing modern, responsible forest management in an open, transparent and inclusive way.

The amazing thing about good forestry is that it creates more resilient forests while simultaneously producing a local renewable resource. We’re proud of the wood we’ve harvested and the local economic benefits we’ve created in the process; we hired a logger from Hinesburg, who processes and sells firewood locally, and spruce and pine logs from the job stay in Chittenden County, many of them ending up at Clifford Lumber in Hinesburg. The modest revenue from the harvest funds trail restoration at the HTF and invasive species control at the LaPlatte Headwaters Town Forest, Hinesburg’s other town forest, among other things. Demonstrating how wood produced from well-managed logging benefits our

Photos by Tom Rogers

communities and our world is an extremely important co-benefit of this project.

We hope that by providing ample opportunities for the public to engage with forest management at the HTF, we can start to build a culture of improved understanding of what constitutes responsible modern forest management. To that end, over the last year we’ve hosted 10 free, public events attended by over 200 people. We’ve had numerous public events before, during and after the harvest, including many forest-

management walks I’ve led, a walk with wildlife biologists, a presentation at the Hinesburg Library and a “Hinesburg Town Forest History Night” at the Hinesburg Town Hall. In addition, we’ve hosted numerous UVM forestry classes and foresters from the New England Society of American Foresters

•

Saturday, 12/21/19, 1 – 3 p.m., End of Economou Road, Huntington. Wildlife walk of the harvest with me and wildlife biologist Andrea Shortsleeve.

•

Tuesday, 1/7/20, 7 – 8:30 p.m., Carpenter-Carse Library, Hinesburg.

Join me, Audubon Vermont, and Woods, Wildlife and Warblers to discuss forest bird conservation, timber harvesting at the HTF and how they align.

•

Saturday, 1/11/20, 1 – 3 p.m. End of Economou Road, Huntington. Join me for a walk of the forest management area at the HTF that I’m calling “Understanding Timber Harvesting.”

If you’d like to know more about these events, please send me an email or give me a call. If you’d like to be notified of future forestry-related events, please send me an email and I’ll put you on my email list.

Ethan Tapper is the Chittenden County forester. He can be reached at ethan. tapper@vermont.gov or 802-585-9099.

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20 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News

Sports

Edd Merritt

CVU hockey starts on a sour note but comes back

Both men’s and women’s hockey teams stand at one win, one loss as of last Saturday.

In their opening game on Wednesday, the CougarHawk women, a combined team with CVU and Mount Mansfield Union, could not find the net in a 10-0 loss to another combined team, Burlington/Colchester.

B/C’s Meghan Lehouillier led the game with the first four goals, and from there on it was all theirs. CVU goalie Grace Ferguson was called upon for 29 saves. The CougarHawks are a young team with half the roster being freshmen. Coach Bushweller was quoted in the Free Press saying that while they are a “much more skilled team this year, they are younger.” Maggie DiMasi, who played professionally, is now Bushweller’s assistant.

Local Church Services

Jacob Staton, assisted by Angelos Carroll, scored the lone CVU goal in the men’s 5-1 loss to Stowe on Wednesday at that team’s home arena.

Both CVU teams, however, came back three days later with victories. Behind James Bernicke’s two goals, the Redhawk men downed Colchester 4-2. Aiden Machanic and Austin Igler also added a single goal apiece. Aiden Achillies provided two assists.

The women hit the net seven times in a 7-3 win over U-32. Six CougarHawks scored, led by Kiley McClure’s two goals and single goals from Anna West, Katherine Veronneau, Nicole Wright, Sabrina Brochu and Tess Everett. Grace Ferguson was strong in the net with 20 saves.

Plenty of Redhawk buckets open the regular season

Both CVU basketball teams opened the season on a positive note against Rutland.

The women won by 41 points, 66-25. They opened the game with both strong offense and defense, leading 19-1 in the first quarter.

Catherine Gilwee had 13 points and four assists. Makenna Boyd followed her with 11 and five plus three steals.

CVU bar girls who also hang out on mats, rings and ropes.

Fall sports awards touch Redhawks

midfielder Jonah Roberts and defender Cullen Swett joined Dunsmore on the AllNew England team.

While St. Albans’ Kam Dunsmore was named an All-American at the national level by the United Soccer Coaches, CVU’s

The men had a slightly tougher go after leading by 17 early in the game, only to have Rutland come back to go ahead by a point (51-50) with just three minutes left in the game. The Hawks slipped their offense into overdrive and beat the Raiders by eight, 59-51. Ethan Harvey with 15 points, Kyle DelBianco with 14 and Devin Rogers with eight led the Redhawk scoring.

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Christmas Eve Services

Family Candlelight Service at 4:30 p.m.

Traditional Candlelight Service at 7 p.m. _____________________

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church Spear Street, 425-2637 Sister parish: St. Jude’s

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day:

Tuesday, December 24 at 4:00 p.m. at The Old Lantern Tuesday,, December 24 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Jude Tuesday, December 24 at 10:00 p.m. at OLMC Wednesay, December 25 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Jude

Cross-country skiers find snow in the woods.

Photos by Al Frey

The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 21

Town Not all ash trees have to be removed Let’s get together to save and perpetuate the species Susan Smith We are all saddened that the emerald ash borer (EAB) will ultimately lead to the demise of 99.7 percent of our native ash trees. The Town of Charlotte has allocated funds to begin taking ash trees down along our roadways. The first area targeted was on Lake Road, between Ferry Road and Thompson’s Point Road. The next will be along Greenbush Road from Barber Hill to Ten Stones and along Ferry Road west of the Greenbush Road intersection.

Why are we cutting ash trees before they are infected?

The answer is safety and cost. Once the trees are infected by EAB their structure quickly deteriorates, and they fall apart in a dangerous way, often across roadways or on power lines. It is more dangerous and therefor more expensive for road crews and arborists to work around dying and dead ash. In addition, by proceeding immediately, before trees begin to die, we can spread out the high cost of removal of up to 2000 trees over several budget years. So, the best plan is to proceed right now with the sad sight of tree removal.

There is a way to save some of the trees.

A healthy tree can be injected with an insecticide. This kills EAB but does not harm pollinators or birds. It has to be done

every two or three years. So, this is a good idea. We can save trees along roadways or in other places around town. An arborist with certification to do this treatment is required.

Vermont state forestry authorities recommend that landowners hold off on treatment until there is a known EAB infestation within 15 miles of a given location. This is mainly to avoid unnecessary expense. The recently identified infestation in Bristol puts the southeast corner of our town just outside the edge of the 15-mile zone.

Several landowners in town have decided not to wait and have gone ahead and had their ash trees treated. Our town’s champion white ash, located on the property of Kevin and Sarah McGargahan, has been treated.

The Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge plans to save a few trees; since there are male and female ash trees, some of each sex will be saved so they can reproduce.

How you can help The Charlotte tree warden invites residents to participate in the conservation of ash trees.

The first way to help would be to identify possible “keeper” trees on public property or within the road right of way, which is 25 feet on either side of the center line. Good candidate trees would be relatively large (greater than 12 inches in diameter), healthy and located in spots where they are important elements of the visual landscape.

Another way to support ash conservation would be to “adopt” a tree. This would require committing to arranging for the

chemical treatment of particular trees every two or three years in perpetuity.

The planted ash trees on Ferry Road north of the library have been preserved in this manner thanks to the generosity of a tree-hugging Charlotter.

The third way to help would be to commit funds to the Rutter Tree Fund, which is maintained by the town for roadside tree planting and maintenance.

Conserved trees will be marked with special tags and the names of people who have adopted trees can be indicated on the tags if desired. For more information, please contact me (ssmith@gmavt.net) or Tree Warden Mark Dillenbeck (mark@ocmmr.com).

The great majority of our ash trees are not along the roadway. If dead ash trees will pose no hazard, it is not necessary to remove them. Safely removing ash trees may be an effective way of slowing the spread of EAB in an initial, isolated infestation, but eventually almost all nontreated trees will succumb.

Some landowners will opt to harvest value from their woodlots by cutting trees for firewood or timber. It is important, however, from an ecological perspective that a large number of ash trees be left standing. This is because a small percentage of these, maybe 0.3 percent, will prove to be genetically resistant, and these trees will form the foundation of new generations of EAB-

Photos by Braxton Robbason

resistant trees.

In this respect we may learn a lesson from the experience with American chestnut. In the first half of the 20th century, American chestnuts were wiped out by a fungal pathogen. At the time the policy was to remove as much chestnut stock as possible— which eliminated the stock of potentially disease-resistant varieties of the species.

Susan Smith is Charlotte’s deputy tree warden.

22 • December 19, 2019 • The Charlotte News The Writers Group gathering is not to be confused with this new course Writing Your Life Story, with Laurie McMillan, starting Friday, 1/17, at 12:30. This one is a five-part series on how to approach writing your life story for yourself or your loved ones. It does require preregistration and the fee is $60.

Also in January is a free iPhone workshop, 1/20, and a free iPad workshop, 1/27. Entirely new courses with fees are Traditional Rug Hooking for Beginners (1/14) and Cartooning (1/22).

These all require preregistration. ___________ Wednesday afternoon free events at 1 p.m.

1/8: Caricatures and the World of Cartooning with Marc Hughes Join Marc in an unusual, hands-on talk about the drawing, creation and business of cartoon illustrations—while he draws your caricature. Come by with questions about how he works, and bring your own stories of favorite cartoons that were special in your life. (And of course, you may keep your own pictures.)

Carolyn Kulik

SENIOR CENTER DIRECTOR

“December is a bewitching month.

The grey of cold teases to explode into something worthwhile, into a dream of cold, a starlight shower you can taste, a cold that does not chill. . .

1/15: Gardening and Mindfulness with Cheryl Wilfong As a master gardener and mindfulness teacher, Cheryl will explore the parallels between nature and human nature.

Experiences and stories from the garden can help to teach us the big lessons of life— including impermanence, change, aging and Cheryl’s favorite subject: composting. _______________

. . .The crunch underfoot is satisfying and the thrill of virgin snow never leaves.”

Joseph Coelho, A Year of Nature Poems “May and October, the best-smelling months? I’ll make a case for December: evergreen, frost, wood smoke, cinnamon.”

Lisa Kleypas, Love in the Afternoon ___________ What is so satisfying about crunching snow? Hmmm.

A snowfall is easier: It’s magical. It’s silent and peaceful. It makes the ordinary beautiful. Just set aside worries about walking or driving and bask in the otherworldliness that lands at our feet in “a fortunate stroke of serendipity.”

Affinity groups In addition to the wide variety of courses and events, there are other gatherings that can easily be overlooked. These are the “affinity groups” that meet to pursue other activities. The largest of these is Duplicate Bridge on Monday afternoons—for those already familiar with the game. Although it is played competitively for points, the players are friendly and welcoming. This is also true for the Mahjong group on Tuesday afternoons. They play the Chinese form (not the American one) and are happy to take the time to start you off if you want to learn.

Likewise, the Fiber Arts Group on Thursday mornings and the Arts Group on Friday mornings are relaxed gatherings of people who enjoy the camaraderie while they work on their various projects.

These are not courses, so instruction in a particular area is not provided. Newcomers with like interests are always welcome.

There is also the Spanish Conversation group that meets on Tuesday mornings and chats informally about various topics every week. This winter, the intermediate-level French Conversation group has shifted into instructor-less mode.

Another affinity gathering is the monthly Writers Group on (2nd) Fridays, 1-3 p.m., which is still forming. Where are the writers out there? Come help start a new group—and you can shape it the way you want. You do not need to be a pro, just

Photo by Carolyn Kulik someone who likes words and writing— stories, autobiographical pieces and poetry.

Read and discuss your pieces, listen to those of others and offer encouragement all around. Please register to indicate your interest. No fee. Help get this off the ground in the new year.

A note on course fees Perhaps you have wondered about “Scholarships Available” mentioned in the seasonal schedules. It means that if you would like to participate in lunches or a course that has fees but feel that it is just not affordable for you, we can make it work. Please stop by to speak with me about what you need.

In January On Monday, 1/6, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., Age Well’s Universal Restaurant Tickets will be available at the Senior Center.

Suggested donation is $5 per ticket; each one is good for one use at any participating restaurants on designated days and times.

To qualify, you must be 60+ and can register with Age Well at purchase.

Two returning course variations are Watercolor in Winter (1/7, Tuesday mornings) and Acrylics-Intuitive Painting (1/9, Thursday afternoons), both taught by our popular, long-time instructor Lynn Cummings. Her courses fill up early, so please be sure to register and send your check in at least one week in advance of those dates.

Art news In December and January, check out our Art Exhibit: “Challenge Quilts ~ Black & White Plus One.” These are the creative responses to the challenge put to Champlain Valley Quilters to use only three colors. There are nearly two dozen entries, and the ribbon winners of the contest are indicated. Please note the viewing times below, since the exhibit space is used for other events.

And stop by to have peek at our tall, stately Christmas tree in the Great Room until January. Please note the same viewing times as the Art Exhibit below. ________________ Holiday closing schedule Because of the dates of the holidays and instructor vacations, our closing schedule is a little fractured. The Senior Center will be open on Monday, 12/23. It will be closed from Tuesday, 12/24, through Sunday, 12/29. It will be open on Monday, 12/30, closed on Tuesday, 12/31, and Wednesday, 1/1, and will reopen again on Thursday, 1/2, at 9 a.m., when the Senior Center will resume regular days and hours.

Please skip a line here, if possible.

Happy Holidays! You can think of the coming new year (2020) as The Year of Seeing Clearly. _______________________ Winter weather closings When there is iffy weather, remember that the Senior Center follows the school closures of the Champlain Valley School District (CVSD). Closings are announced on local TV and radio stations, at CVSDVT.org and on our website: CharlotteSeniorCenterVT.org. [Please note that the Senior Center does not close during school vacations.]

SENIOR CENTER MENUS Suggested donation for all meals: $5

Monday Munch

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

No reservations required.

December 23

Pea soup with ham Salad Crustless pumpkin pie

December 30

Tortellini zucchini soup Greens Cranberry crumb cake

January 6

Welcome Philo Ridge Chef’s choice

Wednesday Lunch All diners eat at noon.

Reservations required.

December 25

(closed) Merry Christmas

January 1

(closed) Happy New Year 2020!

January 8

Jambalaya (smoked sausage, shrimp & rice) Homemade birthday cake & ice cream

Thursday Gents Breakfast

7:00–9:00 a.m.

Reservations required.

January 9 Menu and Topic - TBA (Keep up to date on Menus at our website, CharlotteSeniorCenterVT.org, and on Front Porch Forum, as they sometimes change.)

~ The best times to see the Art Exhibit in Dec. & Jan. ~ Mon. & Wed. at noon, Thurs. & 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.

Stop in and say hello. See you soon! ______________________ Charlotte Senior Center 802-425-6345

The Charlotte News • December 19, 2019 • 23

Local chefs prepare delicious meals for the Charlotte Senior Center

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.

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The crew from Shelburne Bay was on hand last week to make lunch for the Charlotte Senior Center: Left to right Sous Chef Charles Nichols, Sr.; Culinary Director, Chef Arnd Sievers, and Sales and Marketing Director Alicia Fleming.

The crew from Philo ridge provided dessert. Pictured in the back row, left to right: Charlotte Senior Center Lunch Team Leader, Roberta Whitmore and Senior Center Volunteer Robin Coleburn. In front row from Philo Ridge, left to right: Cydney Corbitt, Meg Dawson, and Molly Bulger.

Courtesy photos

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