The Charlotte News | January 24, 2018

Volume lX Number 14 | WedNesday, JaNuary 24, 2018

The

Charlotte News Charlotte’s award-winning community newspaper

XCross the Meadow Locals Don’t Let the Brisk Weather Keep Them Down

By Lee Khron

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Maplefields What is the Highschool Sports CVU Responds to Next Steps Report Drug issues page 1 page 7 page 8

CharlotteNewsVT.org

Vol. 60, no. 14 January 24, 2018

Charlotte News

The

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

Where does the town stand in regard to a new Maplefields?

Edd Merritt CONTRIBUTOR

At this point, process is what will produce the product. The process is town governance. The product will be what will stand at the intersection of Route 7 and Church Hill and Ferry Road.

The first step in the process occurred last fall with a sketch plan hearing for a Maplefields gas and convenience store on the site.

The site has lain vacant for several years and is an important hub in the Route 7 corridor. The sketch plan hearing with the town’s Planning Commission suggested that whatever structure is designed should conform with Charlotte’s other buildings—i.e., it should not stand out as a multi-storied, modern-looking store.

Rather it should follow central village structures such as the town library, town hall and senior center.

According to David Marshall of Civil Engineering Associates, the architect will take this suggestion into consideration before the proposed site plan goes through the Zoning Board’s conditional use permit process, then on to the Planning Commission for a hearing later this year.

Out of that hearing should come the town’s feelings about the developer going ahead with the project.

Meanwhile a good number of town residents (145 at last count, according to Rebecca Foster) have raised questions regarding what such a project would do

to the area. These people signed a letter to the Selectboard, Planning Commission and Zoning Board, expressing a number of concerns about the project as they see it currently. They begin by saying that they “wholeheartedly support the revitalization of the corner of Church Hill Road and Route 7” but go on to say why they feel it needs to be done with extreme care. Concerns range from traffic-safety implications to the variety of products that are sold or services that are rendered.

They feel that it ought to be a store that primarily answers the needs of Charlotte residents. They have special concerns about permitted and nonpermitted uses of the store’s space. They are also concerned about what the project would do to the nature of the main roads running past it.

Considering Route 7 to be protected as a “scenic travel corridor,” they are afraid that the commercial space may detract from that designation.

The letter contains a number of more specific concerns as well, such as the area being shown up at night by light canopies, space being made available for truck parking or stopping that would “enable them to linger.” They do not wish to see a fast food restaurant nor permission granted to use the town’s wastewater resources if those of the business fail.

The developers, however, plan to move ahead with a design that, most likely, will have a colonial flavor that they believe fits into the Charlotte town character. The Zoning Board will attempt to measure the project’s impact on the community before

Highlights from the Charlotte Selectboard Meeting Gail Callahan CONTRIBUTOR

The Charlotte Selectboard, after a lengthy discussion of replacement options for the Town Hall’s aging computer server—including the costs and risks associated with using an onpremise computer server or a cloudbased server—approved a proposal for a new on-premise server, partnering with SymQuest for fiscal years 201718 and 2018-19. The costs of the replacement will be spread out over two years, with hardware costs of $6900 paid from this year’s budget and the $13,500 cost of migrating from the current system to the new system paid out of next year’s budget.

In other business, Selectboard Chairman Lane Morrison noted that

the Legislature is considering a bill, S. 274, which would allow towns with shore frontage, including Charlotte, to collect annual property taxes on the proposed VELCO electric power line running under the lake near their shorelines. Rep. Michael Yantachka, (D-Chittenden 4) is throwing his support behind the measure, Morrison said. (The full story on the New England Clean Power Link, which is slated to carry electricity produced from hydroelectric dams in Canada and wind turbines in New York to southern New England utilities via Lake Champlain, passing by Charlotte’s shores on the way, is in the Nov. 15 issue of The News and on our website at charlottenewsvt.org/2017/11/15/ new-england-clean-power-link-beginconstruction-next-year/.)

Proposed site at Route 7 and Church Hill and Ferry Roads. it gets back before Planning Commission for a hearing.

The Maplefields project will test both a developer’s ability to add a significant commercial element to the town and the ability of the community through its human resources to provide input into what the future holds for Charlotte.

We have been a community of varied major elements over the past several decades. We grew from a primarily agricultural community to one testing the

File Photo

town’s ability to plan diversity. Given the expanse of the land and many farmers’ needs to use their property to produce income coupled with a desire by interested homebuyers to be close to Burlington yet simultaneously in a village with limited commercial structures, the need for an active town government system becomes crucial. This project sees Charlotte facing another challenge to determine its future character and whether it can remain distinctive.

CCS Lockout Initiated During School Stephanie Sumner

CHARLOTTE CENTRAL SCHOOL LEAD PRINCIPAL

On Monday, January 22, CCS

initiated a lockout procedure at 8:30 a.m. based on information received regarding a possible threat to one of our staff members. This procedure was initiated in coordination with CVSD protocols and collaboration with the Vermont State Police. A lockout procedure means that all staff and students remain in the building and any unknown visitors are not allowed within the school building. Special events during the morning were canceled to limit entrances and exits.

Students and teachers stayed focused on their normal routines of teaching and

Legislature 3 • Around Town 4 • Senior Center News 14

learning. Once the threat evaluation was complete and it was deemed safe to do so, the lockout procedure ended.

As with any potential threat to the safety of anyone on our campus, CCS took steps today to exercise an abundance of caution.

Our CCS Safety Team meets regularly to review and update procedures, as aligned with recommendations of the Vermont School Crisis Plan and Vermont Emergency Management so that we are best able to respond to any potential incidents. Today’s procedures ran smoothly with the support of our faculty and staff to ensure that our students and staff were safe and able to continue learning throughout the day.

2 • January 24, 2018 • The Charlotte News

Opinion

When it Comes to Water Quality, We Need Thoughtful Solutions

By Julie Moore VT AGENCY OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Stormwater runoff is a serious water quality problem in Vermont that demands action. There is a fine balance between moving forward with urgency and unnecessarily compromising on costeffective solutions. We must use the best available science and technology to ensure we select the most efficient path to clean water. I think Vermonters want us, and expect us, to invest their money wisely.

For those not familiar with the stormwater management rule, it is part of Vermont’s Clean Water Act (Act 64) passed in 2015. Among other things, Act 64 requires state agencies to put new programs into place that address polluted runoff from developed lands, including directing the Agency of Natural Resources to establish a rule that requires installation of stormwater controls on properties with three or more acres of impervious surfaces (like parking lots and roofs). Stormwater controls include things like ponds and rain gardens that improve water quality and reduce runoff.

Over the last few months, I have been working with my team of scientists and engineers to develop a stormwater management rule that achieves the important water quality goals required by Act 64. My team has identified ways to improve the Agency’s efforts to reduce stormwater pollution and strategically meet our water quality goals, but this new

approach will require modification of the current statute.

This new approach includes a tailored solution to address specific water quality challenges in different parts of the state.

The new rule will not compromise the substantial environmental benefits Act 64 is intended to achieve, but will do so without placing unnecessary financial strain on Vermont’s businesses and property owners.

One way the stormwater management rule will be improved is through regional stormwater strategies. These tailored approaches will support watershedspecific solutions. The Lake Champlain and Lake Memphremagog watersheds need a phosphorous-reduction approach while Connecticut River watershed requires nitrogen-reduction strategies.

Just to our south in Massachusetts, research by the U.S EPA found that the cost of stormwater controls could be reduced by more than 60 percent simply by optimizing stormwater management and tailoring the controls to the pollutant of concern.

We also need a rule that doesn’t place undue burden on property owners. The retrofits necessary to treat stormwater pollution from existing development can be expensive, and there is an opportunity to develop more cost-effective, pollutantspecific practices that will achieve our water quality goals. The affected properties are not simply box-store parking lots. Rather, they’re high schools, nursing homes, homeowner associations and hospitals.

These establishments were built before

stormwater management was required for all new, large-scale developments. If we were to continue to rely on the existing approach, the estimated total cost of installing stormwater controls over the next 20 years exceeds $350 million.

The new approach identified by my team will not slow down the implementation of stormwater control projects identified in the pollution budget for Lake Champlain. The timeframe for compliance with the new rule will remain the same, with the rule going into effect in 2023 as directed by Act 64. In fact, the proposed rule changes would actually accelerate implementation in some cases, like with Lake Memphremagog.

Our commitment to clean water cannot be measured simply in the dollars Vermonters are asked to spend to address the problem. I would hope it could go without saying that the primary goal of Vermont’s clean water initiative is not simply to spend money, rather it is to reach water quality standards.

The governor, the administration, and my team at the Agency of Natural Resources remain fully committed to clean water—and we will be strategic, thoughtful and intentional in how we invest your dollars.

Julie Moore is the Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, the state agency with primary responsibility for protecting and sustaining Vermont’s environment, natural resources, wildlife and forests, and for maintaining Vermont’s beloved state parks. Moore was named to that position by Governor Phil Scott in January 2017.

Letters Regarding “Stop the new energy plan” Hans Ohanian’s recent letter [Jan. 10 Charlotte News] , titled “Stop the new energy plan,” pointed out a mistake in the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission’s (CCRPC) June 2017 draft Municipal Energy Data Assumptions and Methodology report.

There was indeed a math error in the graphic on page 19 from the Bennington County Regional Commission’s draft energy plan. Bennington County has since corrected this graphic in its final plan. CCRPC was unaware of the error and used the graphic to explain how regional renewable energy generation targets are developed.

First, CCRPC apologizes for the confusion this may have caused; the document that included this graphic has been removed from our website and replaced with the draft 2018 ECOS Plan. Second, the arithmetic as presented in the graphic included data for Bennington County, not

Chittenden County. Further, the CCRPC methodology report was watermarked with “DRAFT” and included a disclaimer that data were subject to change as the planning process evolved.

Over the next six months, CCRPC will work with Charlotte’s Planning Commission and Energy Committee to update the proposed 2018 Town Plan to be consistent with the state’s energy planning standards and the county ECOS Plan. The Selectboard, Planning Commission and Energy Committee intend to make these updates in 2019.

The updated municipal energy data guide for Charlotte will be available next month. To meet the state’s energy planning standards (available on the Department of Public Service (DPS) website), the Town Plan must include targets for renewable energy generation and estimates of existing and future energy use for heating, transportation and electricity. The town can use CCRPC-provided data or conduct its own analysis.

Hans stated he disagreed with the

proposed formula to develop regional renewable energy targets based on a region’s share of the state’s population and the land available. He claimed that the plan applies the state’s goal of 90 percent renewable energy by 2050 uniformly. This is not true.

CCRPC’s methodology follows DPS’s approach for estimating renewable energy targets, which accounts for the wind and solar resources available locally. The methodology is part of the state’s Act 174 recommendations for developing an enhanced energy plan at both the regional and town levels. CCRPC is following the state’s guidance with input and oversight from the CCRPC Board, Long Range Planning Committee, and Energy SubCommittee. CCRPC’s board comprises municipal representatives, including Charlotte. On January 22 the ECOS Plan (the regional energy plan) will be out for public comment and can be viewed on the ECOS Project website.

Melanie Needle Senior Planner, CCRPC

The Charlotte News The Charlotte News is a nonprofit community-based newspaper dedicated to informing townspeople of current events and issues. It serves as a forum for the free exchange of views of town residents and celebrates the people, places and happenings that make the Town of Charlotte unique.

Contributions in the form of articles, press releases and photographs pertaining to Charlotte-related people and events are accepted and encouraged. For submission guidelines and deadlines, please visit our website or contact the editor at news@thecharlottenews.org.

The Charlotte News is published in Charlotte by The Charlotte News, Inc., a Vermont domestic 501(c)(4) nonprofit corporation. Distribution is made every other Wednesday to all households and businesses in Charlotte and to more than 50 outlets in Shelburne, Hinesburg, North Ferrisburgh, Ferrisburgh, Vergennes and Burlington. The Charlotte News relies on the generous financial contributions of its readers, subscriptions and advertising revenue to sustain its operations.

Editorial Staff news@thecharlottenews.org Contributing Editor: Edd Merritt Copy editors: Beth Merritt, Vince Crockenberg, Edd Merritt, Mike & Janet Yantachka Layout Manager: Anna Cyr Staff writer: Keith Morrill Archives: Liz Fotouhi Business Staff ads@thecharlottenews.org / 343-0279 Ad manager: Monica Marshall Business manager: Jessica Lucia Board Members President: Vince Crockenberg Secretaries: Rick Detwiler, Carol Hanley Treasurer: Patrice Machavern Board members: Rachel Allard, Bob Bloch, Gay Regan, Louisa Schibli 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?

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Copyright © 2018 The Charlotte News, Inc. Printed in Burlington, Vermont, by Gannet Publishing Services Member of the New England Newspaper and Press Association and the Vermont Press Association.

The Charlotte News • January 24, 2018 • 3

Report from the Legislature A Practical Approach to Pricing Carbon Pollution Most people recognize that climate change is happening, that it is caused by burning fossil fuels and that it has serious environmental Mike Yantachka health STATE REPRESENTATIVE and consequences.

The challenge to our generation is how to counter the trend of increasing concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. The most obvious action is to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels.

Our economy and lifestyle depend heavily on fossil fuels for electricity, heating and transportation.

We successfully continue to transform our electric generation to renewable, clean sources, making Vermont’s electric supply among the cleanest in the country while keeping our electric rates the second lowest in New England.

However, despite our goal of reducing Vermont’s GHG emissions by 25 percent compared to 1990 levels, our GHG levels have instead increased by 4 percent. We cannot be successful unless we address fossil fuel consumption in heating and transportation.

A proposal currently being considered called the ESSEX Plan, an Economy Strengthening Strategic Energy Exchange, was developed by a group of environmental advocates, business people and legislators over the past summer and has been introduced as Senate bill S.284. The goal of the plan is to move dependence on dirty fossil fuels to Vermont’s clean electric energy by discouraging use of fossil fuels and encouraging a transition to electricity for heating and transportation. Here is how the plan works.

The EPA during the Obama administration calculated the “social cost of carbon pollution” to health and the economy to be $40/ton. Based on this number the plan starts at $5/ton of CO2 (5 cents/gallon) and rises steadily to $40/ton (40 cents/gallon) over an eightyear period. The revenue generated goes back to Vermonters in the form of a rebate on electric bills. About $30M would be raised the first year and would grow to $240M when the price tops out in eight years. This money would go into a special fund that would be drawn on for the rebates. Each month the amount collected would be allocated to each utility based on its electricity consumed for that month. That share would then be allocated based on whether the revenues came from the commercial, industrial or residential side of fossil fuel consumption. The rebates would be based on the amount of a customer’s electricity usage. The revenues from the commercial and industrial customers would be rebated to them. The revenues from the residential customers would be divided based on income and geography.

Of the residential revenue 50 percent would be rebated to all residential customers, 25 percent would be rebated to customers in rural areas, and another 25 percent would be rebated to low-income customers. Low-income Vermonters in rural areas would get both bonus rebates. This formula recognizes that Vermont is a rural state that requires longer commutes for rural residents and that low-income residents pay a proportionally higher share of their income on energy costs. This strategy should encourage Vermonters to use less fossil fuel by transitioning to technologies like cold climate heat pumps, electric vehicles, mass transit, carpools and other strategies to reduce their carbon footprint.

So, how does this strengthen the state’s economy? First of all, it makes Vermont

more affordable. While electric rates themselves won’t be affected, the carbon rebates, itemized on consumers’ electric bills, will significantly decrease the net cost of electricity. Vermont’s already low rates relative to our neighboring states will be even more attractive to businesses. Second, Vermont is not a source of fossil fuels, so 80 cents of every dollar spent on fossil fuels leaves Vermont. On the other hand, Vermont’s electricity is increasingly sourced within the state or region, keeping millions of dollars of energy spending in Vermont.

Third, transitioning from fossil fuels to electricity will add more well-paying green jobs to the 17,500 already created in Vermont. Finally, we are not alone.

Vermont’s New England neighbors and

New York are poised to introduce their own carbon pricing legislation in the coming weeks, making this a regional effort.

This method of carbon pricing is innovative and environmentally and economically beneficial. I look forward to a productive dialog about this plan and will host an informational forum on the topic at the Charlotte Senior Center on February 12 at 7 p.m. I hope to see you there.

As always, I can be reached by phone (802-233-5238) or by email (myantachka.dfa@gmail.com).

PUBLICATION DATES February 7 Columns/features Deadline: Jan 28 Letters Due: Feb 4 Ads Deadline: Feb 1 February 21 Columns/features Deadline: Feb 11 Letters Due: Feb 18 Ads Deadline: Feb 15

Email your news, photos and events to:

news @thecharlottenews.org

4 • January 24, 2018 • The Charlotte News

Around Town Congratulations:

to Jacob Edgar of Charlotte, who led off the Charlotte Congregational Church’s “Soup, Supper Series” on January 16.

Jacob is a musician and ethnomusicologist, as well as a record producer. He spoke about his organizations: the record label, booking agency and music publisher, Cumbancha, as well as another label that has received world-wide renown, Putumayo World Music. He suggested that music from around the world can “open a doorway to other cultures” and is an excellent way to learn to understand people who are quite different from us.

Putumayo’s compilations of music have taken him to places such as Turkey, India, Brazil, Cuba and elsewhere. He told the audience that he is the one to suffer through his worldwide travel, discovering new musicians so that “you don’t have to.” to the following students from Charlotte who earned placement on the University of Vermont’s Dean’s List for the fall semester by achieving grade-point averages of 3.0 or better and ranking in the top 20 percent of their class: Carly Alpert, Hannah Bernier, Alexander D’Amico, Meara Heininger, Maeve Higgins, Amelia Pflaster, Abigail Postlewaite, Sophie Judge, Benjamin Recchia and Eleanore Blake.

to Dana Govett of Charlotte who earned placement on the Roger Williams University fall 2017 dean’s list. In order to do so, Dana was a full-time student who earned a grade-point average of 3.4 or higher. to Jennifer Blanchard of Charlotte who earned placement on the Johnson State College, (now Northern Vermont University) President’s List. She achieved a straight A, 4.0 grade point average for the fall 2017 semester. to Shea Monsey and Tiffany Tenney of Charlotte who earned placement on the Johnson State College (now Northern Vermont University) Dean’s List for the fall 2017 semester. They achieved gradepoint averages between 3.5 and 3.9.

Sympathy:

Jacob Edgar, speaks to attendees at the Soup Supper Series at the Charlotte Congregational Church.

Photo contributed

is extended to family and friends of Howard Verman of Charlotte who died January 2 at the age of 67. He was a lifelong educator in this area. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations in his memory be made to Kidsafe Collaborative or the Lake Champlain Waldorf School.

passed away January 5 at the age of 88.

Her surviving family includes her son, James, and her daughter-in-law, Peggy Sharpe, and her two granddaughters, Kaylah and Chennah, of Charlotte. The family asks that those wishing to make memorial donations do so to Our Lady of Providence, 47 West Spring Street, Winooski, VT 05404.

is extended to family and friends of Mary Jane Sharpe of Winooski who

is extended to family and friends of

Barbara Leamy of Burlington who passed away at Converse Home on January 19 at the age of 92. Her surviving family includes her son Jim Manchester and his wife, Kathy, who live in Charlotte.

The family asks that for those wishing to make a contribution in her memory, they consider doing so to the Hospice Unit of the Visiting Nurses Association or to the Converse Home.

Fresh Air thinks spring Julie Silverman THE FRESH AIR FUND

Fresh Air summers are filled with children running through the sprinklers in the grass, gazing at star-filled skies and swimming for the first time. This summer, join volunteer host families in

Champlain Valley North and open your heart and home to a Fresh Air child. Each summer, thousands of children from New York City’s low-income communities visit suburban, rural and small-town communities along the East Coast and southern Canada through the Fresh Air

Fund’s Friendly Towns Program.

Madisen, age 11, has visited the MacKinnon family for the past two summers. Host mom Linda said, “Seeing the world through Madisen’s eyes and enthusiastic spirit has made our whole family appreciate what we have. On her visit, Madisen joined us in our daily summer activities. She tried lots of things for the first time that we often take for granted; this summer she learned how to play tennis, attended her first yoga class, fed the horses that live next door and swam in the ocean for the first time!

Madisen really reminds us of how special the simple things are.”

Since 1877 the Fresh Air Fund, an independent not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children, seven to 18 years old, from low-income communities. Many who are re-invited by host families and continue through age 18.

For more information about hosting a Fresh Air child this summer, please contact Marion Sullivan at 802-8773028 or visit freshair.org.

Margaux, Madisen and Colin jumped for joy as they watched the sunset together near the MacKinnon’s beach house.

Photo Credit: Linda MacKinnon

The Charlotte News • January 24, 2018 • 5

Town Thursdays, Jan. 11–Feb. 22: T.H.I.N.K. Tank, 3:15 p.m. Tinker, Hatch (your plan), Investigate, (E)Nvision & Know!

From Altoid flashlights to pasta bridges, take on a new tech challenge each week.

For 4th grade and up.

Apply Now for the Early Education Program

Fridays, Jan. 12–Feb. 23, 10:30 a.m.: Preschool Story Time. A weekly adventure with stories, experiments and snacks! For ages 3-5.

News

Margaret Woodruff DIRECTOR

LIBRARY CARD EXPIRATION REMINDER All Charlotte Library cards expire on January 31, 2018. In order to use your card at other Homecard libraries, it must have an up-to-date sticker. Please stop by with card for a new sticker and you’ll be good until January 31, 2021!

KIDS PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES Register for programs at the library or by calling 425-3864.

Mondays, Jan. 8–Feb. 12, 3:15 p.m.: TinkerBelles. A new season of STEAM activities! Create a movie, learn sign language, visit with a vet. Grades 3-5.

Tuesdays, Jan. 9–Feb. 6, 12:30 p.m.: Cabin Fever Book Club. Love to read? Here’s your chance to read and discuss The Great Wide Sea. Co-sponsored with the CCS library, this program takes place at CCS.

Tuesdays, Jan 9–Feb. 20, 2:15 p.m.: Story Explorations. Stories and crafts for kindergarten and 1st grades.

Wednesdays, beginning January 10, 3:15 p.m.: Junior Chess Club. For students, grades 2 to 12, with any skill level. Learn the game and improve your strategies with help from mentor Ajat Teriyal.

INFO & INTEREST FOR ADULTS Sunday, Jan. 28, 5:30 p.m. Soup Supper @ Library. January is National Soup Month. Celebrate with a potluck soup supper. Bring your favorite soup to share; we’ll provide the bread, salad and dessert.

Co-sponsored with the Charlotte Grange.

Donation basket to benefit the Charlotte Food Shelf. Please register at the library.

UPCOMING IN FEBRUARY: Backyard Bird Count, Seed Library Movie, Wendell Berry Book Discussion, Sunday Supper CHARLOTTE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Emily Ferris, Nan Mason, Danielle Conlon Menk, Jonathan Silverman and Robert Smith.

Next Library Board Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m.

CHARLOTTE LIBRARY INFORMATION: Margaret Woodruff, director Cheryl Sloan, youth services librarian Susanna Kahn, tech services librarian HOURS: Mondays & Wednesdays: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Reach us on the web at charlottepubliclibrary.org.

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/ charlottelibraryvt.

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram: @ CharlotteVTLib.

BIG SALE!

40% OFF

Photo contributed

The Charlotte-Hinesburg Early Education Program is now accepting applications for a random peer lottery drawing for the 2018–2019 school year.

Charlotte and Hinesburg children who will be age 3 or older by September 1, 2018, but not yet 5 years old, are eligible

to enter the lottery for our programs.

If you are interested in your child being considered for the program please contact Candi LaFreniere at 802-4822106 or e-mail at clafreniere@cvsdvt. org. Deadline for lottery applications is February 9.

Send us your news story ideas! news@thecharlottenews.org

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6 • January 24, 2018 • The Charlotte News

Town Meet Cathrine Richards, fire fighter volunteer and probationary rescue volunteer of reading. She reads a great deal and her list of books is diverse.

CVFRS CORPORATE PRESIDENT Most recently she read Detroit: An American Autopsy, by Cat and her sister were born Charlie LeDuff. She also reads in Brandon. After her parents political biographies and poetry. split up, Cat and her mom She most enjoyed her advanced moved a few times while she English class in high school. was growing up. She attended Cat started running and working Neshobe School up to 3rd grade out in high school for the way it and Shoreham Elementary made her feel, not to compete. for grades 4, 5 and 6. She then Cathrine Richards

went to Middlebury High School After high school, wanting to be for her freshman and sophomore years and independent, Cat was holding down several finally Vergennes High School for her junior jobs, and so got her own apartment and her and senior years. first car at age 18! She is averse to student Cat’s mom, whom she loves dearly, has loans but does see herself back in school. She been remarried for nine years and is the currently is the administrative manager at a administration and operations manager for a manufacturing firm and also bartends 15-20 local company. hours per week.

While she admits that the moving around Cat got started with CVFRS in 2014. She was not easy, it taught her to be open and wanted to do something different and more to be confident in her self-identity. She technical in her volunteering. She made became adept at meeting new people. It is the full commitment taking both Fire 1 and one of the characteristics she has today in Fire 2 training programs, approximately that she has a remarkable ease about her 220 hours of overall training, followed by during conversations, which can go in many written and practical testing. In addition, this directions. past summer she was one of nine CVFRS Cat started riding horses at age four. She volunteers going through the weekend EMT was introduced to horseback riding by her training in Charlotte for a total of more than grandmother, who would take her to lessons 200 hours of classroom time. She sits for her and wait with her. With all of the school EMT national exam in February. Cat brings transitioning, her horseback riding became a great enthusiasm to her training sessions common thread among the friends she made on Wednesday nights and has an excellent in all the different schools. turnout record for calls over the years.

Cat began to ride competitively in the Favorite meal—venison chili Hunt Seat and Hunter/Jumper category at Favorite musician—Chris Stapleton age 10. She competed in local and regional Favorite spot—Charlotte Beach at 6 a.m. in events in Massachusetts and New York. Her the summer horse, a Morgan, a breed she is very fond of Favorite season—Summer so she can do for its strength and versatility, was named things outside after work Kona. He was bred at the University of If she won the lottery? Buy back her mom’s Massachusetts. She loved taking him on trail original Brandon house for the family (it has rides up to Silver Lake above Lake Dunmore. burned twice) At 17, when she began to hold down jobs she Favorite movie—The Big Short stepped away from competitive riding.

Favorite author—Poet Michael Faudet She credits her grandmother for her love

Tom Cosinuke

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I F YO U N E E D MOR E I N T E R NE T S P E E D

Meet Michael Gordon: Captain and AEMT College. He dropped sports and majored in biology with CVFRS CORPORATE a minor in chemistry. During PRESIDENT his freshman year he was Michael grew up in accepted into Saint Michael’s Salem, New Hampshire, Fire and Rescue where he a town just over the line ran roughly 80 hours a week from Massachusetts. He consistently throughout has one older sister who college and during breaks. is a registered nurse at He also was the active 1st Catholic Medical Center Michael Gordon lieutenant for rescue during in Manchester, New his junior and senior year.

Hampshire.

His father, Working all four years as an now retired, worked for the federal EMT/AEMT, he still graduated with a government and, sadly, was widowed just 3.4 GPA. six days after Michael’s first birthday.

Today Michael works full time at His father never remarried.

Shelburne Rescue squad serving his Michael has many fond memories of new community. Michael also began his early days in Salem. Back then it still working in June of 2016 as an AEMT felt like a tranquil, close-knit community. with CVFRS. During this time, he has His father worked very hard, but with his demonstrated many leadership skills position he was able to take significant and has been promoted to captain on the time off during the summer and spend all rescue squad. of it with his kids. Michael remembers You can find Michael today happily many trips during these summers, and working continuously within EMS his favorite included visits to Nubble for our surrounding communities and Lighthouse in York, Maine. continuing his education by attending In middle school and throughout the New England EMS Institute in high school, sports became an important Manchester, New Hampshire, to obtain part of his life. He excelled in baseball, his paramedic certification. football and track and field—and was Favorite meal—meat loaf and lemon even lucky enough to help his high school cake from his Grandmother Mimi. football team to a state championship Favorite musician—Billy Joel victory.

Last concert—Ed Sheeran As Michael progressed throughout Favorite spot—Nubble Lighthouse in high school he found a new passion York, Maine for the medicine. During his junior and Favorite season—Fall because it’s cool senior years he attended a vocational and windy and has a beautiful change of program that focused on health science colors and technology. During his final If he won the lottery? Pay off student semester in this program he enlisted in loans, travel, but still work in EMS and an emergency medical technician course apply to medical school through his local fire department. This Favorite movie—Mel Brooks’ History was the beginning of his successful and of the World, Part I satisfying EMS career here in Vermont.

Favorite book—Being Mortal, by Atul After high school, Michael turned Gawande down a football scholarship to Holy Cross and decided to attend St. Michael’s

Tom Cosinuke

The Charlotte News • January 24, 2018 • 7

Sports Edd’s Sports Report Edd Merritt

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Some names seem to repeat in high school basketball

The last time we published The News was the game day for a repeat of last year’s state women’s championship between CVU and St. Johnsbury. A tight contest, the outcome, however, remained the same with the reigning state champion Redhawks coming out on top 43-35. Shannon Loiseau had 11 points and a double-double as she grabbed 10 rebounds. Lindsey Albertelli helped in the rebound department by gathering eight, and Harper Mead scored nine points to keep CVU undefeated. The Hawks’ advantage was due in part to its tall front court and its team depth. Unlike

many Vermont schools with one or two strong players (St. Jay, for example, had last year’s Free Press Ms. Basketball, Sadie Stetson, lead all scorers with 15 points) CVU has what some coaches would call a plethora of excellent ball handlers and shooters.

Coach Ute Otley and her assistant, alumna Sofia Lozon, mixed the team’s defensive outlook among one-on-one, zone and box-and-1 coverage to keep the Hilltoppers off balance offensively.

The women’s record stands at 8 wins without a loss after last weekend’s 34-point victory over Spaulding. Again the scoring was spread among several players with Kaylee Bayor and Meghan Gilwee leading the way this time.

Lindsey Albertelli was again strong on the boards with 10 rebounds.

Speaking of familiar names, how about Otley? That Charlotte family has contributed significantly to CVU hoops.

Women’s coach Ute (herself a star at Dartmouth) has led the Redhawks to five Division I championships. Her daughter Sadie never played on a losing team in

Cutting close around the pole at Smuggs.

four seasons on the varsity. This year, son Mason has been playing well for the men’s team and in a recent win over BFA-St. Albans hit four from three-point range to lead both teams with a gamehigh 14 points.

A 58-43 loss to Burlington High on Friday moved the Redhawk men’s record to 5 and 3.

CVU’s combined Alpine skiing teams show strength

Cochran’s slalom course was a steep path for downhill skiers recently, and the combined team of Redhawk men and women led the way through the gates for a win over five other schools. The women were the significant contributors, with Becca Provost and Olivia Zubarik finishing one and two among individuals and Claire Smith finishing fifth. Isaac Goldman and Sean Gilliam were eighth

Photo by Al Frey

and tenth among men.

Gymnasts top Middlebury

On January 10, CVU’s gymnastic team traveled to Middlebury to take on the Tigers. They not only took them on, they took them down, with Redhawks winning all the events plus sending the top two all-around winners to the podium. Tali Giubardo finished first in vault, bars and beam, with Macy Lagrow close behind her in the first two exercises. Laurynn Bombardier was the second-place finisher on the beam. Samantha Haviland took third in the vault, and Lexie Cody did the same in bars. Lexie won the floor exercise, which helped her finish second behind teammate Giubardo in the allaround competition. The gymnasts have won both their matches.

Personal Service, Professional Results Michael T. Russell | George R. Vince Business Formation & Reorganization Land Use Permitting & Disputes Real Estate Transactions & Disputes Wills & Trusts McKenna Boyd lays it up against Burlington.

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8 • January 24, 2018 • The Charlotte News

Education

CVU responds to recent drug-related issues School focuses on vaping and Juuling

Morgan Magoon CHARLOTTE NEWS INTERN

In early November, several CVU students were involved in a drug deal in Shelburne that turned into a robbery and injured one student.

When asked recently about what the school did in response to the incident and the resulting criminal charges, Principal Adam Bunting, said, “CVU enjoys productive relationships with our community partners: local first responders, police, fire, Williston Restorative Justice Center, our families and more. Thanks to those relationships, we were made aware of the situation hours after it occurred and took steps to ensure that our students were, and would continue to be, safe inside and outside of school. It’s important that our students recognize that they live in a larger community—that their lives in our building and beyond that building are inextricably linked together.”

Bunting and his leadership team also called a school-wide assembly “to clarify our expectations and more clearly define the policies that drive our procedures. We discussed the harassment, weapons and substance use policies. In particular, we focused on recent trends in vaping and Juuling. Many students were unaware that vapes and Juuls are considered drug paraphernalia in our policies. Thus distributing vapes or Juuls to classmates would result in the recommendation of an expulsion—even if those vapes

“Many students were unaware that vapes and Juuls are considered drug paraphernalia in our policies. “ Principal Adam Bunting

or Juuls were intended to be used for nicotine or for vape tricks (imagine blowing “smoke” rings using a nonnicotine based cartridge).”

Juuling has been recent problem.

Juules are e-cigarette devices that contain nicotine, and they are illegal for minors under 18. The rules about Juuling at CVU are fairly new. Other high schools around the U. have also been having problems with this. Bunting has had discussions with other principals around Vermont and found they were also struggling with an increase in vaping and Juuling at school. Many high school students think it is safe, though no long-term safety data on e-cigarettes has

CVU yet been collected. (The Boston Globe recently reported on the increasingly widespread use of Juuls and e-cigarettes in high schools. Go to goo.gl/Z5sddK for the story.)

Some CVU students also talked about what the school has been doing. When asked about drug-related regulations, one student stated, “Usually the regulations are student regulated, but I think the regulations need to be changed. Some of the teachers are trying to be more vigilant. The counselors will remind the students about getting in trouble if they are caught.”

File photo Another student reflected on her thoughts about this problem, saying, “Obviously it’s best if you don’t do drugs, but instead of only telling people not to do it, you also can show people how to do it in a certain way and be safer.”

Robin Lauzon, the Fairbanks House Director at CVU, also talked about the school’s response to the drug deal involving students. She explained, “Our concern is really around safety. For us it’s been about student safety and making sure students are safe.”

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The Charlotte News • January 24, 2018 • 9

“Aqualdo the Awkward Turtle” Kate Kogut, Cessie Ferero, Grade 6

One great day in the Gulf of Mexico lived a turtle, a very special turtle.

His name was Aqualdo. Now Aqualdo was not very turtle-like. He, unlike his fellow sea turtles, wanted to fly. His best friend Fredrick kept telling him, “No, no, no, Aqualdo; you will just fall and die.” But Aqualdo never listened. Woe to Aqualdo.

One day he decided to see if he really could fly. He swam over to the shore and waddled over to the nearby cliffs. Now these were the cliffs even the bravest of turtles would not dare go near. One slip would lead to certain death. Aqualdo had only heard of one to be brave enough to even go 473 meters near the cliff. That was Antonio the Brave. Antonio was the bravest turtle in all the Gulf of Mexico. He swam with sharks. He survived a 49 ½ foot jump. He lived through a hurricane. Now if anyone would be too scared to do this it would be Aqualdo. But Aqualdo wanted to be better than Antonio the Brave. He wanted to be Aqualdo the Bravest of Brave. The cliffs were even higher then he thought. It would take a good seven days to climb to the top.

And even by the time you reach the top, when you jumped off it, would take three days to fall. But Aqualdo thought nothing about this. The only thing he thought of was being honored when he got back to Turtletown, even more than Antonio the Brave.

The cliffs were lined with jagged rocks, poison ivy and scorpions. One step into the border would lead to certain death at the moment his fin touched the ground.

“Seven days should be easy!” Aqualdo said confidently. He lifted his head and smiled with quiet confidence. What Aqualdo thought was wrong. As you could guess, he had poison ivy, cuts and scorpions all over him 23.491657 seconds into the trip. With no anti-itch cream, he kept walking towards the top.

The 7th day was the hardest: rock climbing, snakes and other deadly creatures, and *dun dun dun* mosquitos. Turtles have never seen mosquitos due to their life under the sea. Finally, Aqualdo was 473 meters away from the peak. With just one step, Aqualdo could set a new world record.

And that is what he did. 472 meters later Aqualdo was at one meter away. He peered over the cliff. Sharks? Lasers? *Gasp* SHARKS WITH LASERS?! There was no possible way of survival. But Aqualdo did not care. He needed to do this. He needed to fly. One step. Two steps. One big jump.

2 days, 23 hours, 58 minutes and 56, 57, 58, 59 minutes and counting. Aqualdo was one minute away from the water. If he was going to die, he might as well think about all the great things in life. His mother’s best friend’s daughter-in-law’s nephew’s son’s uncle’s second cousin’s (twice removed) best friend. His best friend’s sister’s best friend’s cousin-in-law. His dad’s brother’s grandpa’s bestie’s dog’s goldfish. And of course, his grandma’s sea anemone. The sharks with lasers were seconds away from having a delicious snack. Aqualdo shut his eyes. “* SPLASH.*” He waited for a couple seconds then, “I’M ALIVE! A wave of relief washed over him.

A crowd of people stood there, jaws nearly touching the ocean floor. Oh Joy. Aqualdo was a god according to the news. A god. He was Aqualdo the Bravest of Brave. A dream come true! A dream a little too good to be true. Whatever! He was better than Antonio the Brave. He was

a god! Or so he thought...

“The Amazing Journey” (Excerpt) Ethan Morris, Grade 6

There was a mouse; he was scared; he did not know where he was, but then his parents came. They grabbed him and started to run; he was scared.

Squeeks did not know what was going on, then suddenly everything vanished.

Once upon a time there was a mouse named Squeeks; he was a cute little fellow. He had a mom and a dad; they loved him very much, but then one day they were on a walk, and he heard something, but his dad heard it better. ‘’RUN!’’ he yelled; it was an eagle; they were running when the eagle caught up and grabbed Squeeks. ‘’SQUEEKS!’’ his parents yelled.

He was trying to get away, but the eagle dug his claws into him; he could not breathe; he thought he was going to die.

He thought about his parents and how much he loved them; he was crying, and the wind was hard on his body since they were flying so fast. The eagle dropped him in the nest and went in too; he got his feet and put his sharp piercing claws on his body; he was about to KILL him, but then Squeeks heard a shot. That was the loudest thing he had ever heard. The eagle fell down to the bottom of the tree; he had been shot and out of hunting season.

(I do not think eagles can get shot, but if they can, it was still out of hunting season; if they can’t, they were bad people).

Squeeks was terrified; he lay there in shock. The people came over to get the bird. Squeeks looked down; he wanted to see what they were up to so he climbed down the tree. He was running through the tall grass when he saw them load the bird up. He then he jumped onto the truck and waited 30 minutes to get to their house;

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they got the bird out of the truck. Squeeks had to hide so they would not see him.

They unloaded the eagle and brought it inside. Squeeks needed to slip inside, and he did; the house was gross, he thought.

He forgot he was in the MIDDLE of the FLOOR when the person yelled, ‘’HEY.’’ The man took a pan and tried to hit him; he was running around; he jumped on a chair, but the person had the pan and swung it as hard as he could at the chair. Squeeks jumped off just in time, and the chair went into pieces. He kept running, then suddenly he fell; there was a hole in the floor. He fell in water, and he kept trying to swim until he finally got to the end of the water. He was breathing so hard, and he wanted to find his family so much that he was crying.

He could still hear the guy’s voice; he had fallen in a sewer, gotten up and started to walk.

“A Poem” Oliver Nelson, Grade 6 This is a poem a poem about anything yes anything you want How about winter Yes my favorite topic Winter is a time to play in snow or make a snow fort Then you can put up your Christmas tree Next it’s Christmas Eve maybe you go to church Now it’s Christmas You want to wake up early and see everything you got Then your parents wake up and you get in trouble for being loud That was a poem I guess And try not being loud on Christmas morning

10 • January 24, 2018 • The Charlotte News

An independent Vermont! Who would have thunk it?

OutTakes Edd Merritt

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Mystery Game

It’s not for the money The hope and despair It’s not for the leaving Of love that was there If it’s for danger A fortune beware Leaving it all back To somewhere the same Those mystery games Clannad – Ciaran Marion Brennan Fifty years ago Buffalo Springfield said something was happening here and asked everyone to look at what was going down. What did they find?

They found something close to today’s climate in Vermont where the scent of revolution is in the air. Secession may well have returned to people’s minds. Vermonters may be considering becoming the Switzerland of North America.

Will we pay our bills with a Green Mountain currency? Will we fly a new green flag of the “Second Vermont Republic” above the statehouse? Will we pay for parking with Catamount

Quarters?

Will Fiddlehead, Von Trapp Ale, Hill Farmstead, Rock Art, Switchback, Trout River or Otter Creek, a Long Trail, a Magic Hat, Citizen Cider and many other local craft brews lead the world toward a truly “Heady Topper”?

Well, Middlebury College prof and Vermont-based environmentalist Bill McKibben has planted the secession seed again with his novel, Radio Free Vermont. Oh yes, disbanding from the United States first appeared through the eyes of our Charlotte neighbor and retired Duke University economist, Thomas Naylor. However, people seemed to feel that too many questions about the Green Mountain State becoming its own country remained unanswered to vote us out of the union at that moment. The paradigm shift seemed to be too great a move, that while some of its notions were viable, the full move, nonetheless, was not.

However, now, given the nature of our strange and rather insensitive national government, the secession envisioned by the main character in McKibben’s book may be a real possibility. That character,Vern Barclay, a radio host surreptitiously promotes moving out of the union on his nightly program. And he begins his underground show with a plug for a different local craft beer each time, knowing that will catch the ear of listeners. In a December 9 review of his book, New York Times writer Jennifer Senior calls it “The Charms of Artisanal Succession.”

Whereas at the end of the novel McKibben brings himself into his fable through an “Author’s Note” in which he denounces the real possibility of

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secession when “confronted by small men doing big and stupid things, we need to resist with all the creativity and wit we can muster.” Well, happenings in Washington, D.C., coming through the vocal tubes of a demented president, may, in fact, be just what the movement needs.

Meanwhile, several elements of McKibben’s professional causes show through in his writing. His concern for environmental servitude is displayed when Barclay despairs of the growing brown of winter stemming from a climate change toward global warming.

He also laments the reduction in small dairy farming and the growing use of undocumented migrant laborers who will work for wages that keep the milk price down. While the growing number of large dairy farms is somewhat unique to Vermont, their surge is nothing compared to the herd sizes in the West and Midwest.

And it is these large western farms that set the price of milk. One of McKibben’s characters quotes farm numbers over the last seven decades when they dropped from 11,206 in 1947 to a current 802.

“What that means,” says Barclay, is that “The Farm Bureau and the federal government have already done a fine job of putting Vermont farmers out of business.”

A push for secession gains momentum as the reader moves through the story.

The New York Times says it “helps to contextualize Bernie Sander’s antiestablishment crankiness.” Perhaps the short time between the book’s publication and the more recent Trump imbroglios brings secession closer to the point of real possibility. McKibben’s concession that the movement may be little more than a “thought experiment” may have become no longer just that. We may be on the verge of small-sized countryhood.

Secession may, after all, be the solution that would work for us.

I would hope we could do it democratically—without dictatorship to fend with from within. Prime lagers, Phishful music, slopes, forests, environmental priorities that can be shown to make a landscape that is worth saving are all things over which we could exert greater control, free from the political crassness of Washington.

We could put decision making where it belongs, in the hands of the people.

We could recognize that true leadership requires followership, unlike what our current president claims, that leaders are leaders no matter what. Take a look at your support numbers, Mr. Trump— somewhere close to two-thirds of the population don’t support you. Tell me that you, the brightest president ever, are the head of a world power. (Even a dummy like me can see several things out of joint with that implication). You do, however, keep your hair nicely polished and walk around with an attractive young wife trailing you, and you do attempt to convince me to believe these are important elements of a presidency.

After last Sunday, do you think Congress and the White House would prefer a NFL quarterback in your stead?

A winning touchdown pass instead of a two-inch putt at Mar a Lago? The brady Bunch in the Oal Office? You may be physically OK, but I worry about your play calling.

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The Charlotte News • January 24, 2018 • 11

Sherlock, the Clever Little Squirrel

Tom Powell There is an old sugar maple outside our house with a lower branch that reaches out over the lawn. It is a perfect structure in many ways, stately and wellformed. I pamper this tree by enforcing No Parking near its root system and only tapping it for sap every few years. I mow around it carefully. In appreciation, the tree provides a lush canopy of shade in summer and hosts my birdfeeder in winter. I love watching birds of all stripe assemble around it through January. It is a little refuge from the frozen, seedless ground this time of year.

I am not alone in my appreciation of this tree. It seems that our neighborhood squirrels also adore this edifice, especially when it is baited with a birdfeeder that drips the occasional oiled sunflower seed on the ground. Every winter a bunch of these little rodents appear and take up residence around the maple. They pretend to appreciate me, but I know they actually just love my feeder. Most of them are witlessly oral, scurrying around with no concern other than stealing as much seed from the birds as possible. They are rude but just doing what they do to stay fed in winter. My dad used to say “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s” when the squirrels plundered his feeder, though he also taught me to look askance at their nefarious deeds.

We would all live in relative harmony were it not for Sherlock. Unlike his witlessly oral cousins, Sherlock has a clever little squirrel brain that thinks evil little squirrel thoughts. Instead of

competing on the ground for droppings, he takes up residence on the branch from which hangs my precious feeder.

And he watches, day in and day out, plotting how to launch a frontal assault and gorge on the very trough from which my seed is dispensed. Greed is in his eyes and lust is in his squirrely heart. I have watched Sherlock probe and test different strategies to defeat the conical metal hood, greased hanging wire and other anti-squirrel defenses I have built up over the years. He tries and fails, retreats to his branch, and studies anew.

Sometimes I see him attack and fall hilariously to the ground, repelled and defeated. But then he’s back, watching, waiting. And if he has enough time, he will eventually figure out a way past my defenses, his own personal siege of Masada.

I have a measure of ambivalence toward Sherlock. He probably would feel the same about me if he knew more about that shadowy bearded figure in the window who watches him. He needs me to fill the feeder, and I need him to challenge and energize my benign ecological paradise with a dose of disruption. As he ponders his next move, so do I. My .22 rests nearby, ready to dispatch him to squirrelly never-never land, but I wait. I am reluctant to put an easy end to his predatory perch in the tree. Maybe he deserves his place in the tree more than I do as protector of all those birds whose food he plans to swipe. He sort of epitomizes that American tradition of individuality and personal success through effort, even at the cruel expense of others—Adam Smith perched in my tree. Maybe he deserves to rise above his nut collection and sip from sweet sunflower seed nectar.

Maybe there is Darwinian justice in his survival over less ambitious squirrels.

So what if some welfare-sucking bird comes up empty beaked tonight? Maybe Sherlock can become an avatar for all the ambitious hungry squirrels across

Katie Manges

Stock image the county.

I confess this is not my proverbial first rodeo with Sherlocks of the woods.

Throughout the years I have fortified defenses, improved strategies and tried to prevent his ancestors from shinnying down my greased hanging wire to birdseed glory. Some have succeeded, most have not. Some have become fatalities when they dangled too arrogantly from the feeder, offering me a fine target. But for reasons that probably have more to do with me than Sherlock, his fate should be different. I have respect for

his diligence and persistence. I am not a hater, at least of squirrels, and this one seems to offer a lesson in humility for the bearded watcher who is very happy to be standing in a dry warm house. Would I be a January squirrel grubber down below or the one who climbs into the branches and waits for my big chance? I don’t know, but if I wait another day maybe I’ll figure something out from Sherlock.

The .22 stays in the closet today.

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12 • January 24, 2018 • The Charlotte News

Real Estate Timing is everything when listing your home for sale As one of the top listing agents for the Charlotte real estate market, a common question I hear from home owners at this Chris vonTrapp time of year is CONTRIBUTOR “Is this is a good time to sell?”

The general impression is that more houses sell in the spring, when the grass is green and flowers are in bloom. Unfortunately, in Vermont, that’s the middle of May, and if you wait until then, fully a third to a half of the sales for the year will already be under contract! The longer you wait in the year, the less the chance that you will sell.

With the largest number of sales historically closing in May and June, your home needs to be actively on the market, ideally, by March 1, in order for you to participate in the busiest sales period. And don’t worry about having to move in the middle of winter. If financing is involved in the transaction, it will typically be 45 to 60 days until the buyer is ready to close.

PROPERTY TRANSFERS Nov. 27 Carleton Tatlock to Richard and Margaret Robinson, 8.02 acres with dwelling, 3492 Spear Street, $490,000 (50% interest).

Nov. 27 Estate of Phyllis Lary to Richard and Margaret Robinson, 8.02 acres with dwelling, 3492 Spear Street, $490,000 (50% interest).

So if you listed your home by Feb. 1 and received an acceptable offer in 30 days, you would not be physically moving until the middle of April or the first week in May. Another important consideration is that preparation is truly the key to success when selling your home. I’ve been assisting sellers in preparing their homes since 1994, and I can tell you that buyers are doing much of their home search online before ever going out to see property in person. So it’s vital that your home is reflected in its best light right from the start.

Your home’s photos are the best

marketing weapon you have. Once those photos are submitted to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), they’re shared with numerous national and local real estate sites—and it’s difficult to change buyers’ first impression once they’ve seen those photos, even if you make changes later. That means that before photos are taken and your house is presented to the buying market it must be decluttered, organized and devoid of any glaring imperfections. If this requires that you paint a room, replace some carpeting, move out furniture… or even replace a roof, it’s best to make those updates before you list your home.

The other advantage to listing your home now is that inventory is lower in the first quarter of the year because of the myth that homes don’t sell in the winter. For example, right now there are 27 homes for sale in Charlotte listed in the MLS database. With 48 sales for all of last year, or an absorption rate of four units a month, there is currently only a 6.75-month supply of homes on the market. This is what is defined as a seller’s market. As the inventory increases in the second quarter, buyers have more choices and you have more competition.

In short, the best time to list your home is now. Homes do sell in the winter, and a large pool of buyers is out there just waiting for some new homes to hit the market. Waiting will only tip the scales against the seller.

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Dec. 11 Timothy Hotaling and Melanie Goodman to David R. Taylor, Eva Garcia, Clark Derbes and Wylie Garcia, 10.8 acres with dwelling, 2805 Lake Road, $540,000.

Dec. 15 Michael F. Gill to Ivy Naef, 3 acres with dwelling, 585 Ferry Road, $325,000.

Dec. 18 Linda Messier to Bryan Miller, 5.38 acres, with mobile home, 5807 Ethan Allen Highway, $175,000.

Dec. 20 Harriet Stone Patrick Revocable Trust to Dmitry and Lauren Akselrod, 7.80 acres with dwelling, 1355 Church Hill, $445,000.

Dec. 27 Elizabeth Philip-Buttery and Eric Buttery to Harrison and Michaela Grubbs, 1.04 acres with land, 229 Big Oak Lane, $489,000.

Jan. 2 James and Kimberly Keyes to Beverly B. Drumheller Revocable Trust, 10.10 acres with dwelling, 289 Upper Old Town Trail, $1,180,000.

Jan. 8 James and Carol Huntington to Gary and Susan Mick, 6.05 acres, land only, 990 Orchard Road, $300,000.

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Dec. 8 Michael and Sally Catella, trustees, and Ray and Linda Holmes to Charles and Julia Russell, seasonal cottage, 122 North Shore Road, $350,000.

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Jan. 10 Denise Shekerjian Revocable Trust and Michael Metz Revocable Trust to Jerry Dean Hawkins and John Martin Green, 5.21 acres with dwelling, 6 Turtle Moon Road, $1,130,100.

The Charlotte News • January 24, 2018 • 13

A companionship filled with adventures around the world

Taking Care Alice D. Outwater, Ph.D. My Grandmother Hiles followed her own rules and lived an extraordinary life. She stood tall, straight and thin, with unruly gray hair on top of her head. Keen, penetrating eyes peered over the top of her gold-rimmed, owly glasses. When she turned her attention to you it was best you made sense. Her nose was beaklike, reminding me of an eagle.

Frankly, I don’t think she liked children.

She attended Mt. Holyoke College for two years. Handsome Judge Davidson of Augusta, Georgia, was smitten with her beauty. He was determined to make this 19-year-old his bride despite the 20-year age difference. She reluctantly agreed.

They had three sons—Douglas, Treat and my father, Sidney. Judge Davidson died early, leaving a trust fund for the boys to attend Lawrenceville School, Yale and Yale law or medical school, and a modest inheritance for Grandmother. My father was

10 years old at the time.

She and the boys returned to cousins in Warren, Pennsylvania. She next married Richard Hiles, a lawyer. She recaptured her former sense of gaiety as they traveled and shared similar interests. He died two years later in 1903. Grandmother was 36 years old then and fed up with men.

A nervous breakdown followed, and she would not speak or eat until Rosa Pasco, an English nurse, was summoned. Miss Pasco admonished her: “Tell me what to pack. We’re going to travel tomorrow.”

This marked the beginning of a 50-year companionship filled with adventures around the world. Auntie Pasco, who was jolly and welcoming but entirely practical, handled the money, plus did the cooking and housekeeping when they didn’t have a servant. Grandmother simply went along.

For about 10 years they settled down in Brooklyn Heights, buying 69 Remsen Street next to us at 71 Remsen Street. (My parents subsequently moved into my grandparents’ double brownstone house at 82 Remsen Street across the street.) By now the sons had married and had their own families.

Taxis were for tourists at the time, walking or subways were the modes of transportation.

The two ladies walked everywhere; they loved matinees on Broadway, setting out on foot across the Brooklyn Bridge and returning in the same fashion.

I remember these excursions, both of them properly attired in their long dresses, hats and gloves. They wore sturdy lace-up English leather shoes with a low heel. Each grasped a large furled man’s umbrella, using it as a walking stick, and over their shoulder an ample handbag that held a pair of galoshes, should it rain. They never complained about the weather or their feet hurting. Sauntering back down Remsen Street after the theater, they looked as if they were strolling along a country lane. I thought these forays were splendid; no other women on the Heights showed such imagination and high spirits about their walks.

During these years Grandmother and Auntie Pasco took a 100-mile walk around Cape Code. I can still hear Auntie Pasco in her English accent regaling everyone with her description of coming into Back Bay Boston: “We were full of dust, looking definitely seedy, and in need of lodging for the night. The concierge was reluctant to rent us a room because all we had were our handbags over our shoulders and big umbrellas. So we suggested she telephone our bank.”

Apparently, the clerk at the other end said, “Don’t worry about Mrs. Hiles and Miss Pasco. They walk all over the world, but they’ll definitely pay for their rooms.” So they had a lovely night, and both took long hot baths.

They also loved walking on the Continent and in the Alps but were especially partial to taking rambles in England. The villages were close together, and public paths crossed the farmers’ fields. “At noon we often found a church open and would stretch out on the pews for a nice nap, hoping the vicar wouldn’t come in and find us,” Auntie Pasco recalled without the slightest remorse.

Then they decided to rent their house and investigate India and the Far East.

Mother was disapproving while Father wavered between being uneasy over their capriciousness, and yet, reluctantly, he admired them.

I never could imagine Father or Mother doing this sort of thing. Certainly, no one on the Heights lived as Grandmother and Auntie Pasco did, unaware of their ages and what might be appropriate. I found it embarrassing that they carried on in such a way and then told everyone about it. My parents’ travels on cruises or scheduled trips were more dignified lacking such excitement and color.

Aging was not in their vocabulary, and the amusement they drew out of life amazed me.

Anything seemed a possibility, even though women were more constrained at that time.

Look for the next installment in The Charlotte News, where Grandmother and Auntie Pasco unexpectedly meet head hunters in New Guinea.

Puzzles

Solutions on page 15

THEME: WINTER OLYMPICS ACROSS 1. Nordic gl¸hwein 6. *It last broadcast the Olympics in 1988 9. Sigma Phi Epsilon 13. Yokel’s holler 14. Promise to pay 15. Pre-bun state 16. Dug up 17. Luftwaffe’s WWII enemy 18. Provide with ability 19. *Country with most Winter Olympic gold medals 21. *Number of 2018 Winter Olympics sports 23. Dog command 24. Small island 25. Cul de ____ 28. Partial haircut 30. Geek and jock, e.g.

35. S-shaped molding 37. International Civil Aviation Org. 39. Best not mentioned 40. Pakistani language 41. *American skating icon 43. College cadet program 44. Crocodile ones are insincere 46. Make children 47. This and the other 48. Praise for a fearless one

50. Dispatch 52. Ornamental ponddweller 53. Classic sci-fi video game 55. Drag behind 57. *Done on 90m hill 61. “I love the smell of ____ in the morning.”

64. UFO pilot?

65. 1973 Supreme Court decision name 67. “Complete ____’s Guides” 69. Short for incognito 70. Tokyo, in the olden days 71. Impulse transmitter 72. Indian restaurant staple 73. D.C. bigwig 74. Like a rookie DOWN 1. *Olympic participant’s hangout 2. Been in bed 3. *8-time American speed skating medalist 4. Regular visitors 5. Long-billed shore bird 6. Well-ventilated 7. Flapper’s neckwear 8. Spots for links 9. Arial, e.g.

10. Ill-mannered 11. Malaria symptom

12. Subsequently 15. *”Agony of ____” 20. Like anchor aweigh 22. Not well 24. Ezra Pounds’ poetry movement 25. *Which Korea is 2018 Winter host?

26. Come to terms 27. Closet wood 29. Frosts a cake 31. Fence prickle 32. Kindle content 33. Powerball, e.g.

34. *2014 Winter host city 36. France’s currency 38. Shrek 42. Busybody, in yiddish 45. House cover 49. Opposite of pro 51. *Olympic no-no 54. Shrek and Fiona 56. Crane or heron 57. Jainism follower 58. Arm part 59. Isinglass 60. Lowly laborer 61. Rhymes with #60 Down 62. Plural of lira 63. Change of address 66. Lyric poem 68. X

14 • January 24, 2018 • The Charlotte News

Senior Center News Wednesday After-lunch Programs

Meals at the Senior Center

Programs scheduled for Wednesday after lunch begin at 1 p.m. and showcase the many interests of our community. Drop in to share the travels and experiences of our presenters—no need to register.

Hank Kaestner will fill in for John Hammer on Jan. 24 with his presentation on the history of spices and the spice trade. John’s travelog, Croatia, Jewel of the Adriatic, will be rescheduled in the spring. Check the upcoming Spring Program, due out at the end of February, for the details.

Next on the Wednesday schedule is Patrice MaComber’s travelog, Ultimate Africa: A Bostwana, Zambia and Zimbabwe Safari, on Jan. 31. Learn about the culture, history and wildlife of three southern African countries, with visits to Chobe, Kafue and Hawange national parks and to the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls. Hear what it’s like to ride in a traditional mokoro dugout canoe and spend a day in the life of a Hwange community. Imagine sleeping while an elephant is tearing down a tree next to your tent!

Change continents on Feb. 7 with Sandi Detwiler’s presentation, A Look At Brazil. Brazil is much more than Carnaval. You’ll share the Detwilers’ visit to the state of Minas Gerais with its unique colonial architecture and also have a look at Iguacu Falls, the Pantanal, Isla Grande and the beautiful area surrounding Sao Paolo.

The Men’s Breakfast group meets twice a month, and the next meeting is Thursday, Jan. 25. Please call the Center to let us know you’re coming. Join the group for breakfast and conversation, 7:30–9 a.m.

Suggestion donation: $5.

Wednesday Luncheons: Sit down at noon to enjoy special senior lunches on Wednesdays. Make your reservation by calling the Senior Center at 425-6345.

Suggested donation: $5.

Monday Munch: Drop in from 11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. on Mondays when local cooks’ menus feature homemade soup (or chef’s choice), salad, bread and dessert.

Suggested donation: $5.

Upcoming programs and events

Stop in at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, for the artist’s reception and a first look at the February art exhibit, Boystoystoo and an Emerald City Retrospective.

Rik Carlson— photographer, author, web designer and filmmaker, known as the creative force behind the flying monkeys on Burlington’s waterfront, and a familiar face at Little Garden Market—will be showing his automotive and scenic photography along with a retrospective presentation of Emerald City’s celebrated archives (see monkeyswithwings.com).

Blood Pressure Clinic. On Wednesday, Feb. 7, 11:30–noon, Martha McAuliffe, R.N., from the UVM Medical Center, will check blood pressures; this clinic is free and open to the public.

Email your news announcements to news @thecharlottenews.org

Accepting New Patients

Patrick Kearney, PA-C

Patrick Kearney, MS, PA-C is an experienced provider of primary care for adults and children. He is accepting new patients at Charlotte Family Health Center, a partner

practice of Evergreen Family Same DayHealth.

Appointments Available Along with Andrea Regan, Call 425-5121 to schedule an appointment Charlotte Family Health Center

28 Park Avenue

527 Ferry Road Charlotte, VT 05445

878-1008

425-2781

www.evergreenhealth.org

www.charlottefamilyhealth.com

Comprehensive family care as it should be

Book Discussion—Wendell Berry: Standing For What He Stands On. This three-session program led by Charlotte Library Director Margaret Woodruff begins on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 10:30 a.m. “Wendell Berry is not a prophet.

He doesn’t claim to see the future. He’s not crazy about the present, either.

But at 83, America’s beloved farmerphilosopher still has plenty to say about how our disregard for the past points us in a destructive direction.” Join us to explore and discuss the writings of Berry that champion “the plight of fragile rural economies and the importance of sustainable agriculture.” Reading selections will be available soon at the Charlotte Library and the Senior Center.

This series is offered in conjunction with the Charlotte Library. Please register so we’ll know you’re coming.

Monday, Jan 29 11:30 am - 12:45 pm Pizza medley Green salad Baked apples Wednesday, Jan. 31 (All diners eat at noon) Enchilada casserole Tossed salad Homemade dessert Continuing classes

Ongoing no-fee classes include Bridge, Mah Jong, Spanish Conversation, Strength Maintenance, T’ai Chi Practice and Friday Morning Art Group. Check the town website at charlottevt.org or at the Senior Center for more information.

Enroll in the following classes by stopping by or calling the Center (425-6345): Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, Yuan T’ai Chi Chuan, Fitness at Any Age, Pilates and Moving Better/Living Better through Dance.

Fitness at Any Age Do you suffer from the winter blues? Do you feel isolated? Do you have joint pain and suffer from arthritis?

Feel stressed out?

Ginger Lambert Forgetting things?

PERSONAL TRAINER If you answered yes to any of these questions, you would benefit from this class, called “Fitness at Any Age.” Ginger Lambert, who has a bachelor of science degree from Castleton University, believes that exercise can address many of these issues.

As our bodies mature it is even more important to engage in regular exercise.

Along with providing camaraderie, this class promotes strength, cardiovascular endurance, agility, balance and coordination—and you may even find

your memory improving.

Quality of life can improve with as little as 30 minutes of exercise a day, the risk of mental decline can decrease, and you may find it easier to get out of bed in the morning because your joints are more supple.

Ms. Lambert has experience in modifying exercises and provides gentle tips for how to perform an exercise correctly. As a personal trainer and a triathlete, she likes to share her experience and how regular exercise helped her to overcome seasonal affective disorder. In addition to teaching fitness boot camps in Addison County and beyond, she offers corporate boot camps for companies that want to invest in the health and welfare of their employees.

Check out Tuesday morning, 9:15–10, at the Charlotte Senior Center. The fit and agile ladies of the “Fitness at Any Age” class would love to have you join them.

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Blood Drive, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2-7 p.m.

The Senior Center is pleased to host again the American Red Cross blood drive. Our comfortable atmosphere and great snacks make giving blood here a pleasure.

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The Charlotte News • January 24, 2018 • 15

Community Events January 26

The Tenderbellies (CVU alums Luke Hausermann, Chris Page, Collin Cope, David Titus, Greg Pauza and Matt Francis),The Michelle Fay Band and Pete’s Posse is the lineup for the annual 2018 Local Legends Concert. The CVU Theater at 7 p.m. on January 26 is the place to be enjoying great local talent with neighbors and friends. The event benefits Responsible Growth Hinesburg. Tickets can be purchased through flynntix.com, at the 116 Wine and Spirits in Aubuchon Plaza, and also from Mary Beth at 802-598-7799 or Johanna at 482-3018. Students (under 18) $15, Adults $20.

Warm up winter with a concert that will make you glad to be there!

January 27

The League of Vermont Writer’s (LVW) winter program will feature talks on mystery and comic book writing along with a panel on Vermont writing resources in keeping with the theme, New Directions, New Journeys. The

program will be held at Trader Duke’s Hotel (formerly the DoubleTree), 1117 Williston Rd., South Burlington. It will run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. The registration deadline is Jan. 23. The fee, which includes lunch and morning refreshments, is $45 for LVW members, $55 for nonmembers and $22.50 for students (with valid student ID). To register online or for details about the program, go to https://leagueofvermontwriters.org.

January 28

Vermont Youth Orchestra Winter Concert: Tchaikovsky in Vermont—Celebrating IdentityThe Vermont Youth Orchestra (VYO) performs its winter concert, Tchaikovsky in Vermont—Celebrating Identity, on Sunday, Jan. 28, at 3 p.m. at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. The Vermont Youth Orchestra’s music director and conductor is Dr. Benjamin Klemme of Charlotte. The VYO, which includes two students from Charlotte, Celilo Bauman Swain on cello and Lark Thompson on violin, will be performing

the first movement of Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64, alongside two dance favorites, Johann Strauss Jr.’s The Blue Danube and Arturo Márquez’s Danzón No. 2. Senior soloist Malachi Witt will perform the third movement of Edward Gregson’s Tuba Concerto. Also on the program is the VYO’s Percussion Ensemble performing Nathan Daughtrey’s Lost Souls.

ONGOING

The Rotary Club of Charlotte-ShelburneHinesburg meets every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. in the Parish Hall behind Trinity Episcopal Church in Shelburne. The meetings, which end promptly at 8:30, include social gathering, an amiable group and a 25-30 minute speaker on a variety of subjects that span broad areas of interest. The premise of the Rotary movement is “Service Above Self” and is both local and international in its reach. Members live or work in the three towns. See: charlotteshelburnerotary. org.

(you will receive a confirmation e-mail with this information shortly after becoming a member/ renewing). Your child must have valid US Lacrosse membership through June 30, 2018.

3.) Complete the registration form and return the form and payment to Charlotte Recreation.

Please submit your registration form by the deadline listed below. If roster numbers are low

by March 9th we will not have a team for those particular age groups.

Registration Fee: $80 (make checks payable: Charlotte Recreation) Deadline: March 9th Full and partial scholarships are available for all youth recreation activities.

For more information go to www.charlottevt. org under the ‘Recreation’ tab or contact Nicole Conley at Recreation@townofcharlotte.com or by phone 425-6129 ext.204

Webby’s Art Studio is offered every Saturday in February (excluding Feb. 10), from 11 a.m. to 3p.m. Come create! Specialized art activities for all ages, inspired by temporary and permanent exhibitions. Webby’s Art Studio activities are offered in the Pizzagalli Center for Art and Education classroom. Free with Admission.

6000 Shelburne Road.

Classifieds Reach your friends and neighbors for only $7 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.

Happy New Year from LAFAYETTE PAINTING! Winter is a great time to freshen up your living space and we are currently offering our lowest rates. Call us at 863-5397 or visit LafayettePaintingInc.com for your free estimate.

Lacrosse Registration Games will be played with other towns; children in third grade and up will participate in the US Lacrosse league.

Every child who fully participates will receive equal playing time.

Participants in grades third through eighth must have a US Lacrosse membership. To register your child, please follow the steps listed below: 1.) Obtain a registration form from our town website under the ‘recreation’ tab or you can stop by the Charlotte Town Hall to pick one up.

2.) Please visit the US Lacrosse website (www. uslacrosse.org/membership) to register or renew a membership. Your child must have an updated US Lacrosse membership to participate in the lacrosse program. Please record your child’s US Lacrosse number along with the expiration date and place it on the rec registration form

February Evemts

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

Mt. Philo Inn-A unique hotel with panoramic views of Lake Champlain and private road to Mt. Philo. 1800 sq. ft. 3-bedroom suites with 2 bathrooms and a complete kitchen. By the day, week and month. $2500-$2800 monthly rates this winter. Privacy, space, tranquility. Bigger on the inside.

MtPhiloInn.com, 425-3335.

Does your home need a fresh coat of paint or brand new color?

LUPINE PAINTING can help with any of your painting needs. 20+ years of stress-free painting. Call for a free consultation (802)598-9940.

Puzzle Solution from page 13

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