Universal cell service still elusive Group lists `vital

Transcription

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Brattleboro, Vermont
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 • Vol. XI, No.2 • Issue No. 339
www.commonsnews.org
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Town &
Village
BRATTLEBORO
With survey,
town seeks
citizen input
on Police-Fire
Project
page A3
Recycling
rates soar
since PAYT
adoption
page C1
MARLBORO
Town votes
to expand its
school board
page C1
NEWFANE
Huskies run
amok, kennel
owner told to
control dogs
page C1
The Arts
LUMINOUS NIGHT
Brattleboro
Concert Choir
spotlights
contemporary
composes
page B1
CHICAGO JAZZ
VJC presents
guitar legend
Bobby Broom
in rare East
Coast concert
page B1
Sports
BASKETBALL
BF boys even
their record
with win over
Black River
page D4
Universal
cell service
still elusive
Recent decision by cellular carrier to
back out of planned tower in Townshend
illustrates Vermont’s dilemma in
providing coverage statewide
By Mike Faher
VtDigger/The Commons
TOWNSHEND—In
late 2014, it appeared that
Townshend finally would get
its first cell tower after the state
granted approval for an AT&T
project along Route 30.
But AT&T recently notified
Townshend that it is dropping
those plans, leading one frustrated Selectboard member to
declare that “every time we take
one step forward, somebody
seems to slap us back down.”
Those two developments may
be a microcosm of the cellular
dilemma across Vermont. Just
one new tower can make a world
of difference in towns that have
little or no service, but there’s no
way to force service providers to
invest in those areas.
And at this point, it appears
there’s not much hope for truly
“universal” cell coverage in the
Green Mountain State.
“It is very difficult,” said Jim
Porter, director of the state
Public Service Department’s
Division of Telecommunications
and Connectivity. “In Vermont,
the topography and areas of
A circus-arts center’s expansion,
broadband, green building, and workforce
training named essential to region’s future
By Mike Faher
BRATTLEBORO—There
aren’t many economic development meetings that include talk
of trapeze artists.
But the New England Center
for Circus Arts’ high-flying expansion plan was a big part of
the buzz here Monday morning
as officials announced 14 highpriority economic projects for
Windham County.
The “vital projects” announcement comes with no
funding attached; rather,
it’s part of an update of the
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region’s federally approved
Comprehensive Economic
Development Strategy.
Nevertheless, officials placed
a lot of emphasis on this year’s
list, in part because it shows the
variety of projects—from green
building to health care to wastewater systems—happening in a
county that is losing one of its
biggest employers.
The circus center’s expansion
into a new, centralized headquarters is just one example of
that growth, and administrators
brought good news: A groundbreaking for the $2.5 million
OLGA PETERS/THE COMMONS
Brattleboro Police Capt. Mark Carignan stands in
the narrow stairwell that leads to the holding cells in
the basement of the Municipal Center.
‘SUBSTANDARD
and UNSAFE’
A police captain takes media through a
tour of the Brattleboro Police Department,
complete with gardens of mold, peeling paint,
and safety vulnerabilities — many small
problems that create larger challenges
By Olga Peters
The Commons
B
RATTLEBORO—From tying up
fallen mufflers to plugging leaky
pipes, baling twine, duct tape, and
Yankee ingenuity have helped stretch
many a household budget.
The Brattleboro Police Department has also
put this philosophy of making do into practice
— albeit with a little less baling twine and a few
more donated Simplicity pattern cabinets.
The police department and the Brattleboro
Fire Department are holding open houses
throughout the month every Tuesday starting
at 5 p.m. Anyone looking to tour Brattleboro’s
three emergency service stations can just show
up at the door, say department chiefs.
The departments’ goal is to help illuminate
for voters why the BPD and BFD’s existing stations need a multi-million-dollar rehabilitation.
According to department and town leadership, the three stations are quickly nearing the
end of their useful lives. The town’s proposed
rehabilitation project would fix health, safety,
and architectural issues at the three stations.
Moving forward with financing the project, Mold covers the walls of the locker
however, has met with controversy. Voters r o o m i n t h e b a s e m e n t o f t h e
■ SEE CEDS, A4
■ SEE POLICE TOUR, A2
Municipal Center.
Vermont Yankee to cut 150 jobs by May
Old Ferry Road offices to close as
Entergy explores options for building
P.O. Box 1212, Brattleboro, VT 05302
www.commonsnews.org
■ SEE CELL SERVICE, A4
Group lists
‘vital’ projects
for county
By Mike Faher
Vermont Independent Media
sparse population make expanding cellular service a difficult
proposition.”
Despite its topography
and population, Vermont has
not missed out on the wireless boom. The state’s latest
Telecommunications Plan
update (http://publicservice.
vermont.gov/publications/telecom_plan) says that, in 2004, an
“overwhelming majority” of survey respondents “had not even
considered the idea of giving up
their traditional landline service.”
A decade later, about 30 percent of Vermont adults were living in wireless-only households.
The plan says four nationwide cellular carriers — AT&T,
Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile
and Sprint — “have made great
inroads into rural Vermont, installing facilities in some of the
hardest-to-reach places of the
state.” The document also estimated that those carriers reach
“an estimated 96 percent of the
state’s geographic area.”
Taken by itself, that number
can be a little misleading.
For one thing, expanded
coverage by one carrier
BRATTLEBORO—The next
round of job cuts at Vermont
Yankee has been scheduled for
May 5, when 150 employees —
roughly half the remaining workforce — will be laid off.
Also, around that same time,
plant owner Entergy will be vacating its offices on Old Ferry
Road. Administrators are “looking at [their] options,” which
could include selling the property, a spokesman said.
Both the job cuts and the corporate relocation are directly
connected to federally approved
emergency planning cutbacks at
Vermont Yankee. But company
administrators are offering assurances that those changes don’t
mean the end of safety measures
at the shutdown nuclear plant.
“There will be an emergencyresponse organization,” Entergy
VY spokesman Marty Cohn said.
“It’s just that it will be reduced.”
Some of the biggest changes
at the plant in 2016 will involve
emergency operations.
The federal Nuclear
MIKE FAHER/VTDIGGER AND THE COMMONS
Regulatory Commission in Entergy’s Old Ferry Road headquarters will be
December approved exemptions empty this spring after the next round of Vermont
■ SEE LAYOFFS, A4
Yankee layoffs.
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■ Police tour
opposed to the project say the
corresponding tax increase will
place an undue burden on an
already overtaxed and underearning population.
A tour without
visitors
Captain Mark Carignan stood
in the hallway of the Municipal
Center to greet people wanting to
tour the station on Jan. 5.
Two members of the media
(The Commons and Brattleboro
Community Television) appeared, but no members of the
public stood waiting for the
captain.
If he was disappointed, he
didn’t show it.
The station’s workflow isn’t
practical, said Carignan as he
opened the door to the officers’
workspace.
Although they work on the
same shift team, the lieutenants and sergeants’ offices sit in
separate areas. The chief’s office is on one side of the public
THE COMMONS
FROM SECTION FRONT
hallway with the officers and dispatch. Carignan has his office on
the opposite side of the hallway
with the detectives and records
managers.
Not because he supervises
either group, Carignan said —
that’s were there happened to
be an empty office.
Separating the the officers
from the sergeants or lieutenants
“slows down their work,” he said.
There’s not enough adequate
storage, Carignan said as he
tapped a stack of breath alcohol
tests sitting in a corner between
interrogation room one and the
officers’ break room. Things
get squirreled away wherever
they fit, not where it’s practical
or logical.
Not everything is wrong with
the station, Carignan said — the
patrol officers’ area has a good
layout. But he qualified that positive by noting that the officers are
separated from their supervisors.
Pointing to the lunch area
nearby, Carignan said it poses
a safety issue. It’s located near
one of the interrogation rooms,
and officers can’t fully relax while
they’re eating in case a non-cooperative prisoner is being moved
to interrogation.
In a hallway off the officers’
area, Carignan pointed to a laptop sitting near a photocopier.
He said that it’s the only place
to keep the laptops that officers
take into the field. It’s dusty and
unsecured.
When asked what caused the
paint to peel in a wide swath
in the corner behind the photocopier, Carignan pauses and
stares.
“Oh, I don’t know,” he finally
said. “This sounds terrible, but
it’s been like that for so long I
stopped noticing.”
He then pointed to a waterstained ceiling tile.
It’s not from a roof leak, he
clarified. It’s from the heating
and cooling system in the ceiling.
In the summer, the air conditioning unit leaks, Carignan
COME BACK
Peeling paint is a common sight at the Brattleboro
police station.
added. The officers put a bucket
under it.
Carignan opened the door to
the dispatch room, where personnel field calls for multiple
departments and emergency
situations, including the BPD
and BFD.
“There’s a tremendous
amount jammed in here,” he
said.
The dispatch supervisor sits
in the same room, Carignan
continued. The supervisor orders supplies or performs other
duties in an environment where
the dispatchers are trying to triage emergencies.
It’s an inefficient setup, he
said.
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Stairway to chaos
Carignan showed the steep
and narrow cement stairs leading to the basement cells.
The cell blocks are off limits for this tour because they’re
holding prisoners, he said.
Cold air rushes down into the
cell block when the back door to
the station is opened, he continued. The prisoners feel it.
The situation is not exactly
inhumane, he said — but, he acknowledged, “it’s freezing cold.”
The external doors leading
into the two sides of the department are locked. Once someone is inside the department,
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however, there’s no security.
“It’s unsafe and it’s not efficient,” he said.
Leading the way from the officers’ area and dispatch, Carignan
crossed the public hallway, which
concerns the police department,
Carignan said. There, he pointed
out, members of the public —
who are sometimes crime victims
— have no privacy.
He unlocked the door to the
records department, where records storage is an issue for the
police. In some cases — those
involving homicides or fatal car
crashes, for example — state law
requires departments to retain
permanently some records or
evidence.
The department stores records and evidence as they do
many other items throughout the
building: wherever there is space.
Carignan explains that records
for the most immediate years stay
in the record clerk’s office. Other
years are stored in various areas
of the building.
The clerks receive approximately a dozen public records requests a week, he said. Requests
range from people seeking statistical data to people needing an
accident report for their insurance company.
Dispatch routes these calls. In
a new or improved station, members of the public could request
and receive records directly.
Designs for the various scenarios
under consideration provide the
clerks with their own window,
Carignan continued.
“We want the department to
be more accessible for people in
those circumstances,” he said.
Located between the records
department and the detectives’
area is the department’s conference room. Storage lockers
line one wall. The room serves
for roll call, training space, and
meeting space.
The conference room sits on
the opposite side of the hallway
from where the officers actually
work, Carignan said. It’s not
large enough.
Department-wide meetings
can’t happen in the department,
Carignan said. On July 4, 15 to
20 officers receive a briefing before the annual parade.
“It’s standing room only,”
he said.
Also, many items in the
storage lockers — like Tasers
— should logically be stored
elsewhere, Carnigan continued.
In the detectives’ area,
Carignan said that the evidence
room lacks ventilation. It reeks
of marijuana, he said.
A second interview room —
a converted equipment storage
area — sits to the side of the detectives’ area.
It works, but it’s a vulnerable location for an interrogation
room, Carignan said. The setup
allows potential perpetrators
near sensitive evidence.
“That’s absolutely a problem,”
he said.
Meanwhile, if the officers
decided to arrest someone in
Interrogation Room 2, they must
walk that person across a public
hallway to the booking area.
That’s demeaning for the arrestee, Carignan noted. It’s also
dangerous for the public if that
person acts out.
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The lateral file cabinets outside Interrogation Room 2 bear
the logo for Simplicity patterns.
Carignan winces a little when
asked about them.
Yes, he said. Those are former dress pattern cases. When
JC Penney closed its Brattleboro
store a decade ago, it donated
the cabinets to the department.
It was a generous donation
and much needed, Carignan
said. “And it’s funny, but it’s a
little embarrassing too.”
After crossing through a
■ CONTINUES ON FACING PAGE
THE COMMONS
NEWS
• Wednesday, January 13, 2016 A3
Selectboard seeks residents’ input
on Police-Fire Facilities Project
Residents have until Jan.18 to return survey
By Olga Peters
The Commons
BRATTLEBORO—
Residents with burning opinions about the Police-Fire
Facilities Project can file their
input with the Selectboard
through a new questionnaire
until Monday, Jan. 18.
The board has created a
survey for residents that details
different aspects of rehabilitation plans for the town’s three
emergency stations.
The survey, conducted both
electronically and in print, details estimated project costs
and asks questions such as,
“Do you believe this work
should be done at this cost?”
Conversations about the
buildings’ challenges started
in the late 1960s. Attempts to
correct life-safety challenges,
fix structural issues, and bring
the buildings into the current
century have gone around and
around in Brattleboro in earnest since the 1980s.
Selectboard members are
considering three alternatives
for the project. One of the alternatives includes moving the
Police Department to Black
Mountain Road.
Project costs range from
$5.4 million to $11.8 million. This range includes the
$5 million borrowed in 2013
before the project was put on
hold by the board after a townwide budget referendum.
Project supporters characterize the buildings as unsafe
and not meeting the departments’ needs. Supporters
also feel that it’s unfair of the
town to expect its emergency
responders to work in substandard and dangerous buildings.
Opponents argue that while
safety of town employees is
important, the multi-million
project itself would require
tax increases that would put
an unfair burden on residents.
At the board’s Jan. 5 meeting, Chair David Gartenstein
voiced his support for keeping the police station at the
Municipal Center.
In his opinion, the benefits
of moving to Black Mountain
Road do not justify the project
portion of the basement shared
with other Municipal Center departments, Carignan unlocked
the door to the BPD’s locker
room and workout area.
Towels and workout gear hang
from locker doors and clothes
hangers. A dehumidifier hums
next to one of the shower rooms.
The machine runs 24/7/365
because it’s always damp down
here, Carignan said.
No one leaves anything damp
in their lockers, Carignan explained. If they do, the items turn
moldy within days.
“They get really dingy and
nasty in the lockers,” he said.
To make his point, he poked
the stone basement wall. The
white paint fluttered to the
ground like a mini snowfall.
In the gym area of the basement, where officers are breathing deep during their workouts,
mold has eaten away at the
paint and taken over the walls,
Carignan noted.
When asked why the floor
feels springy, the captain tapped
the floor with his boot.
No idea, he answered.
Behind the lockers, blooms of
black fuzz in a garden of mold
cover the stone.
costs.
“I was never sold on the
Black Mountain Road alternative since it first came up,”
Gartenstein said.
Vice-Chair Kate O’Connor
agreed.
“I’ve not been keen on
the idea of moving to Black
Mountain Road,” she said.
But, O’Connor continued,
“We have to do this project.”
She said that finding a way to
do the project that’s affordable
and palpable to taxpayers is
also important.
Board member David
Shoales said he wasn’t sure
about the minimum rehabilitation alternative Gartenstein
supported for the police station at the Municipal Center.
This option might not resolve all the building’s issues
and could require additional
work within 20 years, he said.
A third, more-expensive,
option would keep the police
at the Municipal Center but
also make more substantial
changes to the building.
Residents should submit
their surveys by Jan. 18.
Town staff will publish the
survey results on the town’s
website (www.brattleboro.org).
The board will discuss the
survey at its Jan. 19 meeting.
To obtain a copy of the survey, go to the “News” section
on the right side of the website and choose one of two
links: “Police-Fire Facilities
Project Questionnaire (Survey
Monkey)” at www.surveymonkey.
com/r/CFSF6R5 ) or a printable PDF version through
“Police-Fire Facilities Project
Questionnaire.”
One may also contact the
Town Manager’s Office at
802-251-8151 or via email at
townmanager@brattleboro.org,
or pick up a copy at Brooks
Memorial Library or the
Town Clerk’s Office.
Residents can submit a
survey electronically through
Survey Monkey or via email
to townmanager@brattleboro.org.
They can mail or hand-deliver
it to the Brattleboro Town
Manager’s Office, 230 Main
St,, Suite 208, Brattleboro,
VT 05301.
We did it!
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Carignan pointed to a bank
of lockers arranged to create a
screened-off area.
There’s no space down here to
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corner shields the women officers while they’re changing, but
it’s not fully private.
Back in the hallway outside
dispatch, Carignan ran through
the list of challenges the current
station poses for the department.
“It’s not one single issue,” he
said of the challenges. When aggregated, the little issues build up
to big problems with efficiency,
safety, protecting the public, and
security.
BPD wants to be a progressive, innovative, and modern police department, Carignan said.
Meanwhile, the department
spends a lot of time “patching together and making do with what
we’ve got,” he said.
The facility adds to the department’s problem with retaining
officers, Carignan said, noting
that a female officer recently left.
Most of the officers have
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339
NEWS A4
n CEDS
project could happen this spring.
“We are creating something
that is going to be unique in
the United States, and we hope
to be the national center for
circus arts.” said Elsie Smith,
NECCA’s artistic director and
co-founder.
The area’s Comprehensive
Economic Development
Strategy, also known as
the CEDS, is a project of
Southeastern Vermont Economic
Development Strategies, also
known as SeVEDS. While it’s
easy to get lost in the acronyms,
officials say the CEDS bestows
eligibility for some federal-funding programs.
It also serves as a road map for
the future, and that map has become even more important since
the December 2014 shutdown
of the Vermont Yankee nuclear
power plant in Vernon.
“I think it’s really important for our region to have a
sense of what folks are working
on, what’s important, what are
you struggling with, what are
your challenges (and) what are
your really exciting opportunities,” said Laura Sibilia, economic development director for
Brattleboro Development Credit
Corporation (BDCC).
To that end, officials update
the CEDS every year, looking for
information about ongoing projects as well as new projects that
fit the study’s goals. Those goals
include reversing the region’s
population decline; boosting
wages and household income;
and improving the size and quality of the workforce.
The 14 vital projects announced Monday (available at
http://brattleborodevelopment.
com/_files/docs/full2015cedsprojectslist.pdf) were given that
label by a five-member committee that ranked all submitted
projects according to criteria including regional and long-term
impact as well as jobs created
or retained.
The five-member committee that ranked the vital projects
was independent of BDCC and
SeVEDS. The committee consisted of representatives from
Brattleboro Savings & Loan;
Southern Vermont Deerfield
Valley Chamber of Commerce;
Five Maples (a Putney business);
the Institute for Nuclear Host
Communities; and the Resilient
Design Institute.
There are several SeVEDS/
BDCC projects on the list including analysis of a Windham
County green building cluster;
creation of a Southern Vermont
Sustainable Recruitment Project;
expansion of broadband; and
extension of water and sewer
service to new industrial sites
near Interstate 91 Exit 1 in
Brattleboro.
Other vital projects include
revitalization of the Retreat
Farm in Brattleboro; creating a
doesn’t necessarily mean expanded coverage by any of
the others. For example, the
Telecommunications Plan’s
authors found that, between
January 2012 and January
2014, AT&T’s cell-equipment
applications with the Vermont
Public Service Board far outpaced Verizon’s.
Also, it’s unclear what that
96 percent figure really means.
While Porter said the data was
“derived from actual drive
tests,” he speculated that the
number may refer to “areas
where there are structures
or people — not land mass
coverage.”
There’s another variable:
New roadside micro-cell installations by a company called
CoverageCo were not figured
into the telecommunications
plan’s estimate, as that project
is ongoing. The CoverageCo
equipment provides service
in a limited area via contracts
with several major carriers,
and it’s expected to eventually
reach about 500 sites around
the state.
The ultimate goal,
as articulated in the
Telecommunications Plan, is
that “Vermont should have
universal availability of mobile
service along travel corridors
and near universal availability
statewide.” But Porter could
not quantify how close the state
region and far beyond.
The center’s alumni and
teachers work with prestigious
outfits such as Cirque du Soleil
and Ringling Brothers and
Barnum & Bailey Circus, and
former students also can be
found at European cabarets,
on cruise ships, and on celebrity tours.
The center also is active in the
local community, staging performances and operating the Circus
in the Neighborhood and Circus
FROM SECTION FRONT
has come to meeting that goal.
“The CoverageCo project is
still being built, and there has
been no drive-by data mapping conducted since 2013, so
it is hard to say at this time,”
he said.
In places like Townshend,
though, the answers are easy to
come by for those who find their
phones useless. Selectboard
Chairwoman Kathy Hege said
CoverageCo installations along
Route 30 can be used by subscribers to some cellular services, but not others.
At any rate, the CoverageCo
facilities are not meant to provide widespread service. For
that, officials had placed their
hopes in AT&T. The company’s proposed tower along
Route 30 also was to have been
used to boost emergency radio
signals in the area.
“This valley is horrible for
any type of radio communication,” Hege said.
But in December,
Townshend received an e-mail
from an AT&T representative
explaining that the company
“regularly evaluates customer
needs, network performance,
market conditions, etc., and
adjusts its network construction plans.”
“Unfortunately, this site is
not in our current build plan
at this time,” wrote Andrew
Kingman, a Boston-based
AT&T regional director for external affairs.
Kingman also advised
Townshend officials that “the
tower company that was planning to construct the site has offered the site to other carriers.
While none have accepted at
this point, the tower company
will continue to solicit interest.”
Townshend has regional
importance, in part because it
hosts a hospital, an ambulance
service, a junior-senior high
school and an assisted-living facility. But Hege is not optimistic about the town’s prospects
for cell coverage. “There are a
lot of reasons why we should
be looked at for this service,”
she said. “But we seem to be
way down on the priority list.”
Porter said that’s not necessarily the case, and he said
officials in his department are
willing to meet with towns that
lack cell service in order to look
for potential solutions. He’s also
“hopeful we will see a public/
private partnership or two over
the next year that will help expand coverage” in Vermont.
But in the end, “we have no
regulatory authority to require
cellular buildout,” Porter said.
“We work closely with the
carriers and do all we can to
have them expand coverage in
Vermont.”
Cell service may not be as
prominent a policy issue as it
for Survivors programs.
“We have been slowly building and growing,” Smith said.
“We have over 5,000 students
in the entire world. We work all
over the world. We have students
move here from Costa Rica,
from Guam, from Brazil, from
Australia—all sorts of people
who come to Brattleboro.”
The new vital project list
doesn’t lack for variety. Just below the circus-arts center were
ranked two Windham Regional
Commission initiatives—a real
estate market analysis and an assessment of water and wastewater needs in the region’s villages.
Windham Regional
Commission Executive Director
Chris Campany sees the latter as
an important issue for future development. He believes a lack of
adequate water and wastewater
infrastructure is inhibiting residential and commercial development in population centers—the
places where development is
n Layoffs
and a license amendment that
allow Vermont Yankee’s emergency planning zone (EPZ) —
which currently includes all or
part of 18 towns in three states
— to shrink to the boundaries of
the plant itself. The changes take
effect April 15.
Vermont officials had opposed
those changes, citing the ongoing presence of spent nuclear
fuel in a pool at the plant’s reactor building. But NRC officials ruled that “the risk of an
offsite radiological release is significantly lower and the types of
possible accidents significantly
fewer at a nuclear power reactor
that has permanently ceased operations and removed fuel from
the reactor vessel.”
The NRC noted that Vermont
Yankee still is required to “maintain an onsite emergency plan
and response capabilities, including the continued notification of
state government officials of an
emergency declaration.”
The change means the end
of millions of dollars in annual
Entergy support for emergency
planning in the EPZ towns and
states. The company also will not
maintain warning sirens or provide tone-alert radios and potassium iodide.
Internally, Entergy will drastically downsize its emergency operations, including elimination of
the joint information center and
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once was. In terms of connectivity initiatives, much of the
state’s recent emphasis seems
to have been on the effort to
expand high-speed Internet
service.
“There was such a huge
amount of federal money in
Vermont for broadband expansion over the past five years,
(and) I think broadband took
the lead in priority and certainly
in discussion,” Porter said.
He added that “we have
more broadband providers than
cellular providers in Vermont,
and in many ways it is easier to
create incentives for broadband
projects.”
Technology is still evolving,
though, and Porter suggested
that broadband and cellular
discussions are not mutually
exclusive. “These days ... where
you have cellular you frequently
also have broadband,” he said.
“As cellular increasingly will
be provided over broadband,
the distinction between the two
blurs in many ways.”
Those who live and work in
towns like Townshend, though,
may be more interested in results than in the specifics of the
delivery method.
“I know there are a lot of
people in town who would like
to see cell service of any type,”
Hege said.
supposed to be concentrated in
order to discourage sprawl.
Campany said he hopes the issue’s inclusion in the CEDS will
open the door for a study of those
villages. “We need to translate
the anecdotal evidence ... (and)
really get into, what are the issues, how are they really affecting businesses and homes and
homeowners, and what does it
mean?” Campany said.
FROM SECTION FRONT
other facilities in Brattleboro.
Reduced emergency operations mean big job cuts at
Vermont Yankee. Cohn said
May 5 — a little less than three
weeks after the NRC’s rulings
take effect — has been set as
the date for 150 layoffs, all of
which are related to the company’s decreased emergency
responsibilities.
Fewer than 300 Vermont
Yankee staffers remain from
a workforce that had stood at
about 550 before shutdown in
2014. Vermont Yankee’s pending reduction to a workforce
of fewer than 150 threatens to
knock it off the list of the county’s top 10 employers.
Combatting
the job loss
G
n Cell service
FROM SECTION FRONT
Brattleboro prototyping facility
for the prominent green-building
consortium of Ironwood Brand/
PreCraft/STIX; and developing
a healthcare workforce training
project that includes area colleges and hospitals.
The New England Center for
Circus Arts project was ranked
No. 5 on the list.
For the uninitiated, the link
between economic development and a circus-training center
might seem tenuous. But New
England Center for Circus Arts
has deep roots in the local development community.
Smith and her identical twin,
Serenity Smith Forchion, started
their production company as
Nimble Arts in 2002. The organization became New England
Center for Circus Arts in 2007,
and the new nonprofit landed
$20,000 in startup funding
through BDCC’s first businessplan competition.
Four years prior to that, the
circus center had moved into the
Cotton Mill, a massive former
industrial building maintained
as an industrial park by BDCC.
“We have since proceeded to
slowly take over the building,”
Smith joked.
While that’s an exaggeration,
it’s clear that the circus-arts center has been growing rapidly.
Smith noted that, just a week
ago, the center expanded into
the Cotton Mill studio space
that hosted Monday’s economicdevelopment gathering. All
told, the organization occupies
eight spaces scattered around
Brattleboro.
Administrators searched for
years for a larger, centralized
space. But it’s not easy to find a
home for a school that needs a
flying trapeze: After looking at
more than 40 buildings in the
area, the center’s leaders “could
not find anything that we could
reuse,” Smith said.
They settled in 2014 on a vacant, 3-acre plot off Town Crier
Drive in Brattleboro. The plan
is to create a high-ceilinged
building big enough for aerial
instruction and performances,
and Smith expects that the design also will include safety considerations “such as taking a
trampoline and putting it below
ground—therefore, you can’t fall
off the trampoline.”
The Center for Circus Arts
also needs more classroom, office, meeting, and restroom
space.
All of this comes at a fairly
steep price: The center’s fundraising goal is $2.5 million. But
Smith on Monday said $1 million already has been raised, with
another $500,000 expected over
the next several months and a
ground-breaking anticipated in
late spring.
She believes the project will allow NECCA to further expand
its reach, both in the Windham
THE COMMONS
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January 14th, 11am to 1pm, to taste
Garuka Bars and meet their team!
There’s no replacing a plant
where the average wage, according to a 2014 study, was
$105,000. But officials have attempted to combat the Vermont
Yankee job loss in other ways.
For instance, there are detailed
steps in the Windham Region’s
Comprehensive Economic
Development Strategy (CEDS)
for combating the economic impacts of Yankee’s closure.
And Entergy, as part of a shutdown settlement with the state,
is paying $2 million annually
for the next five years to support economic development in
Windham County.
That fund—called the
Windham County Economic
Development Program—already has been used to help preserve 300 jobs at G.S. Precision
in Brattleboro and to allow
for the company’s expansion.
That’s one way to combat the
effect of VY job loss, said Adam
Grinold, executive director of
Brattleboro Development Credit
Corp (BDCC).
Grinold also cited the
CEDS and other work done
by Southeastern Vermont
Economic Development
Strategies as roadmaps for longterm, post-VY economic recovery and growth in the region.
“We follow those strategies every day in what we do,” he said.
For the short term, Grinold
said BDCC will try to help those
who lose their jobs at VY and
want to transition into the local
labor force.
“We continue to speak with
Entergy and have good dialogue with them and the (state)
Department of Labor, and we
hope to learn more about the
specific types of layoffs,” Grinold
said. “As that comes, we look to
be able to assist with any local
transition.”
has sought to advise and assist
those who are headed for the
exit in 2016.
“We’ve already conducted
a number of seminars. We’re
working very closely with the departments of labor in the tri-state
area,” Cohn said. “We’ve had a
resume-writing seminar. And
there will be one on retirement.”
Plant administrators also
are trying to place some departing VY employees at other
Entergy nuclear facilities. That
effort has grown more complicated, though, with last year’s
announcements that Entergy
will be shutting down both the
Pilgrim plant in Plymouth,
Mass., and the FitzPatrick plant
in Scriba, N.Y., over the next
several years.
Cohn said Vermont Yankee
Site Vice President Chris
Wamser has met with administrators at other plants to talk
about staffing needs. “We’re doing a job-match that way, with
other Entergy facilities,” he said.
Plans for building
not yet determined
Vermont Yankee’s layoffs
and scaled-back emergency operations will mean no more VY
staffers at the Old Ferry Road
offices. Already, Cohn said,
most of the remaining employees have relocated to the Vernon
plant site.
“What we do with the building is something that we’re talking about right now,” said Cohn,
including potentially selling the
property.
Town documents show that
Entergy owns two parcels on
Old Ferry Road. One 4.86 acre
tract was valued at $299,380 in
2014; another 2.06 acre parcel
was valued at $222,070, and
the building on it was worth
$1.62 million, according to
Brattleboro’s grand list.
The office’s location could be
desirable, as there is ample parking and an interstate exit nearby.
But Brattleboro Town Manager
Peter Elwell said the property is
not under consideration for the
town’s long-sought police-fire
headquarters.
“It was a property we knew
would be becoming available, so
we did take a look at [the Entergy
offices],” Elwell said.
He reiterated, though, that the
town has purchased an option on
the current Brattleboro Reformer
building on Black Mountain
Road with the idea that it may
become a police-fire facility.
The town’s plans aside, local
officials say they don’t expect
that the Old Ferry Road site will
remain vacant for the long term
once Entergy leaves.
Assistance for
“I’m sure there will be interVY employees
est in that property,” Grinold
As was the case with the first said. “It is a well-maintained
round of Vermont Yankee layoffs piece of property that can have
in early 2015, Cohn said Entergy many uses.”
SECTION B
The ARTS
Wednesday, January
2016
C A L13,
END
A R . .•. page
. . . . . . .B1
.B2
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
page B1
Kim and Reggie
Harris, Peter and
Mary Alice Amidon,
and Peter Siegel
offer songs, stories, and
melodies in Guilford
Morten Lauridsen
COURTESY PHOTO
COURTESY PHOTO
Ola Gjeilo
John Tavener
COURTESY PHOTO
A ‘luminous night’ for
Brattleboro Concert Choir
Concert spotlights contemporary composers
By Richard Henke
The Commons
B
RATTLEBORO—
The Brattleboro
Concert Choir, led
by Susan Dedell,
will be introducing to Southern Vermont a rising star in contemporary choral
music when it performs three
short works by Norwegian pianist and composer Ola Gjeilo
as the centerpiece of its winter
concert.
On Saturday, Jan. 23, at 7:30
p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 24, at 3
p.m., at Centre Congregational
Church on Main Street, the
choir will present Luminous
Night, featuring the music of
three extraordinary composers: Morten Lauridsen, John
Tavener, and Ola Gjeilo.
“The program combines the
impressive Svyati of Tavener
with four of Lauridsen’s most
beautiful compositions and introduces a trilogy of pieces from
Ola Gjeilo,” Dedell writes in
her notes for the concert. “The
pieces in the program weave
together to form a vivid musical impression, although each
of the composers has a unique
style.”
In all the works performed,
Dedell is using the full chorus,
sometimes singing unaccompanied, other times with cello or
string quartet and piano.
“I am particularly glad to
include the Tavener because
he has substantial music for
men,” says Dedell. “And right
now the Brattleboro Choir has
some beautiful sounding tenors and basses we are eager to
show off.”
Although she says all the music in this concert is remarkable,
Dedell is particularly excited to
introduce the “riveting” works
of Ola Gjeilo to the Brattleboro
audience.
“Gjeilo’s music has recently
been catching attention around
the country,” says Dedell.
“Gjeilo is a truly original voice,
and one of the most exciting
composers on the contemporary scene today. Gjeilo’s music is very ‘present’—it speaks
directly to us on a very physical level and, at the same time,
draws us towards the mystery —
and magic — of our existence.”
Dedell says that his music is
“of our time.”
“It is difficult to say how he
makes his music sound so contemporary,” she says. “He can
achieve this, not in any ostentatious way, almost as if without trying.”
She says his music expresses
who we are, rather as Mozart
sounded to his contemporaries.
“In essence, the music seems
truthful.” she says.
Dedell recently caught an interview with the composer and
found him to be a “cool young
man. I already was a fan of the
music, but I fell in love with
Gjeilo as a person,” she says.
She discovered that even
though he has now become
something of a celebrity, at
least in the choral music world,
Gjeilo is very humble. He also is
someone who early on was clear
about what he wanted.
“He was such a promising
student in Norway that he
could go anywhere in the world
to continue his studies,” says
Dedell. “He chose Julliard in
New York City because he
felt that European academies
pushed music that was atonal
and cerebral. And while he finds
that kind of music compelling,
he is interested in tonal music.”
The Concert Choir will
perform three of his recent
works: “Dark Night of the
Soul,” “Luminous Night of the
Soul,” and “Serenity.” Scored
for chorus, string quartet and
piano, the pieces have a multidimensional sensory experience, which perhaps comes as
a result of Gjeilo’s stated inspiration and influence by films
and contemporary film music,
Dedell says.
“Gjeilo had claimed that his
musical influences go back back
to Renaissance stuff, through
the French Baroque, to modern composers like Tavener
and the American minimalists,”
says Dedell. “But he says that
he has also been influenced by
contemporary composers who
write for the movies. Some are
Italian or French who will be
unknown to most of us, but others are quite famous and should
be familiar to American audiences, such as John Williams.”
Dedell believes Gjeilo’s music has a “cinematographic”
sound. “By cinematographic, I
mean that there is a certain dimension to his work, an atmosphere, that seems almost 3D,”
she explains.
Gjeilo’s is not easy music,
she adds.
“By that, I do not mean for
audiences,” Dedell says. “His
music is quite accessible for
most listeners. But it can be
difficult for the average singer
to learn. There are lots of layers to it, with a strange texture
full of unorthodox harmonies
that come and go. His work,
Serenity , for instance, looks
simple on paper, but it is deceptively hard to make sound
beautiful. However, once the
singers get it, they exclaim, ‘Oh,
this is how it works!’”
Dedell says it is important to
remember that Gjeilo is a pianist as well as a composer.
GUILFORD—Musicians
Peter and Mary Alice Amidon
and Peter Siegel, will join Kim
and Reggie Harris in an evening
of songs and stories on Saturday,
Jan. 23, at 7:30 p.m., at the
Guilford Community Church.
Musicians and storytellers,
the Harrises combine a folk and
gospel legacy with a background
in classical, rock, jazz and pop
music.
“As socially conscious acoustic musicians and storytellers, the
Harrises have been ‘walking the
talk’ for over 30 years, performing modern and historical songs
that explore societal ills and proffer positive social messages,” according to a press release.
The Harrises’ cultural background as African-Americans is a
major component of their repertoire. Spirituals and gospel songs
are liberally incorporated in their
work and they present on black
history to teachers and students.
Peter and Mary Alice Amidon
perform and teach, and have
dedicated themselves to traditional song, dance, and storytelling. The Amidons have
been headliners at national
music teacher conferences,
summer camps of traditional
song and dance, and traditional
music festivals. Peter is co-music director of both the Guilford
Community Church Choir, and
the Hallowell hospice singers.
The Amidons’ choral arrangements are being sung on both
sides of the Atlantic, according
to a news release.
Siegel contributes a radical
chord to American Roots music. Founder and member of
the local Celtic/world beat band
the Gaslight Tinkers, he is influenced by the songwriting of Pete
Seeger and Phil Ochs, the rugged
melodies of old time and Celtic
fiddle tunes, the gutsy blues of
the Rolling Stones, and the diaspora of beats and melodies from
Cuba to Africa.
His music defies categorization. As a performer he’s seen
on stages nationally. He’s been
published in Sing Out! magazine
and various fiddle tune compilations, and contributed GrammyAward-winning mandolin tracks
on the Best Children’s Album of
2011. When he is not touring,
writing, or recording, he teaches
music at Symonds School in
Keene, N.H.
Admission is $15. For more information, call 413-320-2729.
COURTESY PHOTO
Susan Dedell will
direct the Brattleboro
Concert Choir in
“Luminous Night,”
a program that will
feature the works of
Morten Lauridsen,
John Tavener, and Ola
Gjeilo.
“His writing for the strings
and piano is fabulous, and
is really at the core of both
Dark Night and Luminous
Night,” she says. The string
quartet for this concert consists of Moby Pearson, violin;
Michelle Lehninger, violin;
Barbara Wright, viola; and
Judith Serkin, cello.
“The piano here is quite virtuosic,” says Dedell. “You need
to have classical chops and a
contemporary ear to pull it off.
Luckily we have a pianist who
does. Brian Fairley, currently
pursuing a doctoral degree at
Wesleyan University and who
coaches chamber music at
Harvard, has played every kind
of music.”
In the Luminous Night concert, Dedell and the choir will
complement the music of Gjeilo
■ SEE DEDELL CHOIR, B4
Kim and Reg
COURTESY PH
OTO
Alice Amidogie Harris will join Peter an
concert in Gun and Peter Siegel for a d Mary
ilford.
Jan. 23
Vermont Jazz Center presents
Chicago guitar legend Bobby Broom
BRATTLEBORO—The
Vermont Jazz Center (VJC)
welcomes the Bobby Broom Trio
on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 8 p.m.
Broom is one of Chicago’s
leading guitarists, according to a
news release from the VJC, and
rarely plays on the East Coast.
He will perform with his longstanding trio of Dennis Carroll
on bass and Makaya McCraven
on drums.
The trio will travel from
Chicago to Vermont for this
“one-off” concert with no other
East Coast gigs listed on their
itinerary.
Broom stands out as one of the
best guitarists in the world and
TODD WINTERS
has won the Downbeat Critic’s
Bobby Broom, Chicago’s leading jazz guitarist, Poll as Best Guitarist for three
makes a rare East Coast visit on Jan. 23 at the of the last four years. His music
Vermont Jazz Center.
is both intelligent and soulful at
the same time. He is a deep listener and an arranger who understands the power of space,
according to the VJC.
He has played with greats such
as Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins,
Miles Davis, Max Roach, Stanley
Turrentine, Al Haig, Walter
Bishop, Dave Grusin, Charles
Earland, Hugh Masakela, Dr.
Lonnie Smith, Ron Carter,
Kenny Burrell, Ramsey Lewis,
and Dr. John.
The repertoire from his latest
release, My Shining Hour, will
be featured at the VJC concert.
According to his website, this
album “is a personal and indepth exploration of American
Songbook classics and his first
studio recording exclusively
of this nature.” The New York
Times’ Nate Chinen wrote that
it is “among the most satisfying jazz guitar albums likely
to emerge this year” (2014)
and Downbeat ’s Jon Corbett
writes that “Broom is the full
monty: ultra-refined timing and
tone, continuous flow of ideas,
a touch of grease, a treat for the
connoisseur.”
Bassist Carroll, who came
up on the Chicago scene playing with heavyweights like Jodie
Christian, Bunky Green, and
Clifford Jordan, has anchored
Broom’s trio for more than two
decades. He has performed with
artists such as Eddie Harris, Roy
Hargrove, Eric Alexander, Ron
Blake, and Ira Sullivan.
In the drum chair, there has
been more turnover and it has
become something of a launching pad for stellar young players,
Charming chalet tucked up off the road and very private. You can hear
the Wardsboro Brook from the screened porch and watch nature in the
surrounding woods. This home has new wood floors, open concept living
room, kitchen and dining room. The wood stove will keep you cozy warm
and supplement the new hot air furnace. Full basement has great storage
and could be finished for added living space.
EXCLUSIVE $179,000
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Makaya McCraven included. In
the early 2000s, McCraven was a
rising star in the Northampton,
Mass., jazz scene. He then moved
to Chicago where he is now considered “one of Chicago’s most
versatile and in-demand drummers” (Chicago Reader).
Tickets for the Bobby Broom Trio
are $20 general admission, $15 for
students with identification (contact
VJC about educational discounts);
available at In the Moment in
Brattleboro, online at www.vtjazz.
org, or by email at ginger@vtjazz.
org. Tickets can also be reserved by
calling the Vermont Jazz Center
ticket line, 802-254-9088, ext. 1.
Handicapped access is available by
calling the VJC.
BellvilleRealty.com
255 WESTERN AVENUE
BRATTLEBORO, VT 05301
Susan Bellville
WWW.BELLVILLEREALTY.COM
802-257-7979
802-257-7979 ext. 3
255 Western Ave, Brattleboro, VT
B2
THE COMMONS
• Wednesday,
13,2014
2016
Wednesday,January
June 25,
arts & community C A L E N D A R
THURSDAY
14
Performing arts
B R A T T L E B O R O Future
Collective: "Lady Queen
Paradise," "Most Selfless
Cheerleader," "Bella," "badweatherfriend": Four shows in
one. All ages.
▶ 7 p.m.
▶ By donation.
▶ Hooker-Dunham Theater &
Gallery, 139 Main St. Information:
802-254-9276; hookerdunham.org.
Music
Kevin Parry:
Open Mic: Participating musicians
receive 50% off of their meal. Every
Thursday.
▶ 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Marina Restaurant, 28 Spring
Tree Rd. Sign up: 802-257-7563;
kevinparrymusic.com.
BRATTLEBORO
Instruction
Genealogy
Group: Discover Your Family
Roots: Beginners and seasoned
genealogists are welcome to join
genealogy enthusiast Wayne
Blanchard. With the many free
databases available at the library,
it's hard to tell what you might find.
(Thursdays)
▶ 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 a.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Rockingham Free Public
Library, 65 Westminster St.
Information: 802-463-4270;
rockinghamlibrary.org.
BRATTLEBORO Spanish Class:
Experience a new approach to
learning a language. No prior
Spanish experience necessary.
With Elissa McLean.
▶ 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Express Fluency, 73 Main St.,
#1. Information: 802-275-2694;
expressfluency.com.
BELLOWS FALLS
Well-being
BRATTLEBORO Personal Self
Care: We live in a world that is spinning fast, and many of us need to
slow down and learn how to take
time for ourselves. Robin White, a
Life Coach, offers an introduction
to living a balanced and compassionate life.
▶ noon - 1 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Brown Bag Lunch Series,
River Garden, 157 Main St.
st r o l l i n go f t h e h e i f e r s . co m /
calendar.
Community building
BRATTLEBORO Climate Change
Cafe: "After Paris, What Do We
Do Now?: An Invitation to Area
Climate Activists": Despite the
celebrating from the delegates at
the recently concluded COP 21 climate conference, is the accord that
was produced enough to save the
planet. As part of this conversation, there will be updates about
current, ongoing efforts with an
emphasis on resilience, community building, and values change.
Light refreshments.
▶ 6 p.m. in the Community Room
(enter from Canal St. entrance).
▶ Free.
▶ Brattleboro Food Co-op, 2
Main St. RSVP appreciated. Tim
Stevenson: bereal@vermontel.net.
GUILFORD Guilford Gazette
Meeting: Finalizing the January
issue.
▶ 5:30 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Guilford Country Store,
475 Coolidge Hwy. (Rte. 5).
Information: 802-257-4603.
Dance
BRATTLEBORO Zumba: Zumba
is a Latin-inspired cardio-dance
workout that uses music and choreographed steps to form a fitness
party atmosphere. (Thursdays)
▶ 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
▶ Through Thursday, April 28.
▶ $5 ($7 for non-Brattleboro residents); 10-sessions: $50/$75.
▶ Gibson-Aiken Center, 207 Main
St. Information: 802-254-5808;
jcudworth@brattleboro.org.
Visual arts
and shows
Opening
Reception and Exhibit of the
Work of David Stern: "All Over the
Map," the title of Stern's new show,
refers to the paintings he created
while traveling and the variety of
pieces of styles.
▶ 1/14: 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
reception.
▶ Through Monday, February 22.
▶ Free.
▶ Main Street Arts, 37 Main
mainstreetarts.org.
WILMINGTON Donna Festa:
Exhibit of New Oil Paintings and
Sculptures:
▶ 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Fri-Mon.
▶ Through Monday, February 1.
▶ Gallery Wright, 103 W. Main
gallerywright.com.
S A X TO N S R I V E R
Ideas and education
BRATTLEBORO Brattlemasters:
Local Toastmasters Group:
Members practice public speaking in a safe environment. Guests
welcome. Refreshments. (2nd and
4th Thurs. of every month)
▶ 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., 2nd fl.
▶ Free for guests.
▶ Marlboro College Graduate
Center, 28 Vernon St. Information:
brattleboro.toastmastersclubs.
org/#null.
THURSDAY
C O N T.
Film and video
BRATTLEBORO "Ceremony:"
Mongolian Shamanism: Learn
about the mysterious spiritual life
of shamans in northern Mongolia,
specifically one particular ceremony that few outsiders have ever
witnessed, or filmed. Discussion
with the filmmaker Sas Carey follows the screening.
▶ 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
▶ $5 at door; free for members
and ages 18 and under.
▶ Brattleboro Museum
& Art Center, 28 Vernon St.
brattleboromuseum.org.
FRIDAY
15
SATURDAY
C O N T.
▶ 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
▶ Free; donations to musicians
welcome.
▶ Superfresh! Organic Cafe, 30
Main St. Information: 802-5791751; superfreshcafe.com.
WEST BRATTLEBORO Butterfly
Swing Band: Early jazz and classic swing
▶ 7:15 p.m. - 10 p.m.
▶ No cover.
▶ New England House, 254
Marlboro Rd. Information:
802-254-6886.
Farmers' markets
Brattleboro
Winter Farmers' Market: Diverse
indoor farmers market. Local
farm produce, meats, syrup, fresh
baked goods, local cheeses, fruits,
cider, pickles, preserves, handmade jewelry, pottery, soaps and
more. Lunch menu and live music.
(Saturdays)
▶ 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
▶ Through Saturday, March 26.
▶ River Garden, 157 Main St.
Information: facebook.com/Bratt
leboroWinterFarmersMarket.
BRATTLEBORO
Music
Well-being
Kevin Parry:
Singer/Guitarist: Kevin specializes in singing the classic tunes of
the '60s, '70s, and '80s plus blues,
bluegrass, and slide guitar. He
takes requests and has a working
list of over 400 songs. Visit www.
kevinparrymusic.com. (Fridays
through 4/8/16)
▶ 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ West Dover Inn, Rte. 100.
WEST TOWNSHEND Tribute to
Martin Luther King and Pizza:
Celebrate King's birthday with
readings from his essays and
speeches, and poems or songs that
were inspired by his legacy and
commitment to peace and justice.
Bring a favorite of your own. Build
your own pizza from a number of
toppings. Beer, wine, and other refreshments available. Sponsored
by the West River Community
Project, promoting community,
the arts, and local, sustainable
agriculture.
▶ 5 p.m. pizza; 6:30 p.m. tribute.
▶ $10 pizza pie.
▶ West Townshend Country Store
and Cafe, Rte. 30. Information: 802874-4800; info@westtownshend.
org.
S A X TO N S R I V E R Windham
Orchestra "Stars": Mendelssohn
"Fingal's Cave Overture"; Copland,
"Clarinet Concerto," with Karen
Bressett; Reinecke, "Ballade
for Flute," with Kimi Hasegawa;
Elgar, "Romance for Bassoon,"
with Diane Lipartito; Schumann,
"Concert Piece for Four Horns and
Orchestra," led by Karen Horton.
▶ 7:30 p.m.
▶ Vermont Academy, 10 Long
Walk. Information: 802-869-6200;
vermontacademy.org.
B R A T T L E B O R O Ashtanga
Vinyasa Flow Yoga: Laura
Tabachnick instructs this vigorous, all levels class. Live gentle
music accompanies each class.
Every Saturday.
▶ 10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
▶ By donation (all monies given
to area non-profits).
▶ Yoga Locally, 74 Cotton Mill
Hill, The Loft #A-209. Information:
802-275-4403; vi-vn.facebook.com/
YogaLocally.
BRATTLEBORO Mindfulness
Yoga: Introduction to Thich Nhat
Hanh's mindfulness and some
gentle Hits the Spot Yoga poses.
With Robin White
▶ 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
▶ By donation.
▶ Curves, 464 Putney Rd.
W E S T D OV E R
Recreation
Drop-In
Volleyball: Friendly and competitive game of bump, set, and spike.
Bring off-street shoes to play in.
(Thursdays through 4/28)
▶ 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
▶ $3 ($5 non-Brattleboro
residents).
St. Information: 802-254-5808.
BRATTLEBORO
Kids and families
PUTNEY Playgroup: Storytime
and songs for parents or caregivers with children ages 0-2. (Fridays)
▶ 10:30 a.m. - noon.
▶ Free.
▶ Putney Public Library, 55 Main
home.svcable.net/putpub.
Well-being
Meditation
S i tt i n g : Ve r m o n t I n s i g h t
Meditation Center. (Fridays)
▶ 5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Solar Hill, 229 Western Ave.
BRATTLEBORO Sugar Blues:
How Sugar Affects Our Health
and Mood: Are you craving sweets
and want to understand why? Do
you want to gain control and better
health without deprivation? Join
Ellyn Durante of Inspire Wellness
Coaching for an informative talk,
food samples, and recipes that
will help you on your path to better health.
▶ noon - 1 p.m.
▶ Free.
BRATTLEBORO
calendar.
SATURDAY
16
Performing arts
BRATTLEBORO The MET: Live
in HD: Bizet's "Les Pecheurs de
Perles": This sweeping romance,
by the composer of "Carmen," has
not been staged by the company
in a century.
▶ 1 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
▶ $22; $20 members; $10
students.
▶ Latchis Theatre, 50 Main
sjmpr@comcast.net.
Music
Live Music at
Superfresh!: Every Saturday
night.
BRATTLEBORO
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
C O N T.
▶ Free; donations welcome.
Childcare provided.
▶ The Root Social Justice Center,
28 Williams St., 1st fl. Information:
802-254-3400; therootsjc.org.
Dance
Community
Circle Dance: Led by Anja Daniel
and Jim Desmond. All dances
taught. No partner needed.
▶ 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
▶ Donations welcome.
▶ River Valley Aikido Center,
11 Cottage St. Parker Huber:
802-257-9108.
BRATTLEBORO
Celebrations,
festivals,
community meals
Interfaith
Celebration of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr.: Dr. King's "I Have
a Dream" speech will be shown,
jazz pianist Franz Robert plays, an
intergenerational community choir
led by Andy Davis sings, and Julie
Cunningham of Families First is the
featured speaker. Plus a tribute to
the "Hidden Heroes and Heroines"
of the Civil Rights Movement,
profiling individuals from different faith traditions who were instrumental in the success of the
movement and of Dr. King's work-Bayard Ruston, Abraham Joshua
Heschel, and others. Service concludes with the lighting of a candle by everyone in attendance.
Followed by a spaghetti dinner,
with vegetarian and gluten-free
options, to support the Brattleboro
Area Interfaith Youth Group service
trips to South Dakota and Kenya.
(Singers of all ages and abilities are
encouraged to come to the church
beforehand to rehearse songs for
the service.) Donations shared
between the VT Partnership for
Fairness and Diversity and the Root
Social Justice Center.
▶ 4 p.m. celebration; 5 p.m. dinner (3 p.m. rehearsal).
▶ Free; good will donations
welcome. Dinner: $10 ($5 under
age 12).
▶ Centre Congregational
Church, 193 Main St. Information:
802-257-2776.
B R AT T L E B O R O
17 18
MONDAY
Music
Windham
Orchestra "Stars": Mendelssohn
"Fingal's Cave Overture"; Copland,
"Clarinet Concerto," with Karen
Bressett; Reinecke, "Ballade
for Flute," with Kimi Hasegawa;
Elgar, "Romance for Bassoon,"
with Diane Lipartito; Schumann,
"Concert Piece for Four Horns and
Orchestra," led by Karen Horton.
▶ 3 p.m.
▶ Latchis Theatre, 50 Main St.
Information: 802-257-5717; latchis.
com.
B E L L OW S FA L L S Mandolin
Ensemble Concert: Classical music, traditional folk music featuring
the mandolin, mandola, mandocello, and classical guitar. Directed
by Prof. August Watters of Berklee
College of Music showcasing the
New England Mandolin Ensemble
and Festival of Mandolin Chamber
Music participants.
▶ 3 p.m. in the Chapel.
▶ $17; $13 seniors.
▶ Immanuel Episcopal Church,
20 Church St. Tickets: 802-4600110; stonechurcharts.org.
B R AT T L E B O RO
Recreation
JAMAICA BEEC amble: Jamaica
State Park/West River Trail:
Follow the old West River Railroad
bed along an undeveloped
stretch of the river. The trail is
wide and the slopes are gentle. Cross-country skis or snowshoes as needed. Bonnyvale
Environmental Education Center
ambles take place on the first and
third Sundays.
▶ 8:30 a.m. Meet at the Rte. 30
covered bridge in Dummerston.
▶ Free.
▶ Jamaica State Park.
Information: patti@beec.org.
Community building
Brattleboro
Food Co-op Shareholder
Forum: Created by shareholders, for shareholders; open to the
general public. At this month's
Forum, Sabine Rhyne, BFC General
Manager, will speak about Co-op
Finances and and other vital issues regarding our Co-op. All
voices honored. Join the digital
conversation: https://groups.
google.com/forum/#!forum/
shareholder-forum-group.
▶ 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the
Community Room.
▶ Free.
▶ Brattleboro Food Co-op,
2 Main St. Information:
bfcshareholderforum@gmail.com.
B R AT T L E B O R O Mass
Incarceration and Vermont: VT
has one of the highest racial disparities in incarceration in the
nation and has been shipping
prisoners to out-of-state private
prisons since '04. Hear stories of
incarcerated VTers, their family
members, and people working
on changing the VT prison system; videos/letters from VCJR's
"Stories Project"; and a panel exploring the connections between
mass incarceration in the US and
the VT prison system, how incarceration is affecting families and
our communities, what is being
done locally to make change, and
how you can get involved. This forum is presented by the Root Social
Justice Forum and Vermonters for
Criminal Justice Reform.
▶ 2 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
BRATTLEBORO
Proof generated January 12, 2016 10:30
11:50 PM
Music
String Band
Combo: Old-time music with Jack
Arensmeyer, Jason Burbank, and
Jack Nelson.
▶ noon - 1 p.m.
▶ Free.
BRATTLEBORO
calendar.
Government
"The 2016
Election and the Future of
American Politics": This lecture presented by Prof. Michael
Krasner is offered by the Osher
Lifelong Learning Institute. Light
refreshments.
▶ 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. (snow date
1/25).
▶ $6.
▶ The Learning Collaborative,
471 Route 5. Information: 802-2578600; learningcollaborative.org.
DUMMERSTON
Kids and families
BRATTLEBORO "Nature Days":
Kids in grades 1-5 romp, stomp,
and explore, learning and benefiting from the fresh air and exercise.
▶ 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
▶ Through Tuesday, January 19.
▶ $45 per day ($35 members);
scholarships available.
▶ Bonnyvale Environmental
Education Center, 1221 Bonnyvale
Rd. Register: 802-257-5785; beec.
org.
Well-being
BRATTLEBORO Natural Support
for Autism, ADHD, and Family
Stress: Conversation about how
we can create advances in the
health of children on the autism spectrum, or with ADHD,
Asperger's, mitochondrial conditions, and more. Find holistic
strategies for the physical, social,
emotional, and communication
needs of young people.
▶ 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. in the
Community Room.
▶ Free.
▶ Brattleboro Food Co-op,
2 Main St. Pre-registration requested: 802-246-2821; msbfc@
sover.net.
TUESDAY
19
Music
BRATTLEBORO Singing Strong,
A Chorus for Seniors: For seniors
interested in chorus. (Tuesdays.
No class 2/16)
▶ 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
▶ Through Tuesday, March 1.
▶ $40 for 6 sessions.
▶ St. Michaels Episcopal
Church, Putney Rd. and Bradley
Ave. Information: 802-257-4523;
bmcvt.org.
TUESDAY
C O N T.
TUESDAY
C O N T.
WEDNESDAY
C O N T.
Recreation
Dance
Well-being
BRATTLEBORO Table Tennis:
Tango Open
Practice Sessions: All levels.
Newcomers and visitors are welcome to participate or watch.
Complementary snack buffet.
Every Tuesday.
▶ 8:45 p.m.
▶ $5.
▶ Stone Church in Brattleboro,
210 Main St. Information: 603-9239743; sally.brat.tango@gmail.com.
B R A T T L E B O R O Shall We
Dance?: West Coast Swing
Lessons: Techniques, timing,
and step patterns and combinations. Partner not necessary.
Taught by Ray Warren and Lucinda
Dee-Warren. (Tuesdays in January)
▶ 5:30 p.m. beginners; 6:30 p.m.
advanced beginners; 7:30 p.m.
intermediate/advanced.
▶ $10 ($5 each additional class).
▶ Stone Church in Brattleboro,
210 Main St. Information: 802 5799990; shallwedance.biz.
Yoga with
Dante: Relax and reinvigorate--the
best of both worlds. Postures are
accompanied by conscious breathing. Crystal bowl sound healing,
meditation, some chanting.
▶ 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
▶ Free; donations welcome.
▶ Gallery in the Woods, 145 Main
BELLOWS FALLS Advance Care
Directives: "It's Really About
Love": Discussion with Joanna
Rueter: Why every adult needs
an advance care directive; how to
fill out an advance care directive;
the key decisions that need to be
made; why this is really about love;
and any questions that come up. If
a serious illness or accident leaves
one unable to communicate,
an advance directive becomes
their voice. This is a project of
Brattleboro Area Hospice, Taking
Steps Brattleboro, reaching into
the community through partnerships and education.
▶ 6 p.m. (snow date 1/27).
▶ Free.
▶ Rockingham Free Public
Library, 65 Westminster St.
Information: 802-460-1162x101;
brattleborohospice.org.
LONDONDERRY Valley Health
Connect: Health Insurance
Coverage: An authorized navigator for the state health exchange
will enroll individuals and families
for health insurance for coverage
commencing March '16.
▶ 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (90-minute
appointments).
▶ Free.
▶ Neighborhood Connections,
The Meeting Place, Rte. 100, 5700
Marketplace (across from the post
office). Information: 802-824-4343;
aohare34@comcast.net.
W. H A L I FA X Tai Chi Class:
Instructor Seth Geslin teaches
the Yang style with an emphasis
on beginners, but people at all
levels can participate. No special
equipment needed; wear comfortable clothing. Go barefoot
or wear shoes/slippers allowing
for firm placement on the floor.
Benefits include calming, better
focus, sounder sleep, and overall improvement of well-being.
(Wednesdays). Sponsored by
The Halifax Community Club and
Whitingham Free Public Library.
▶ 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
▶ Through Wednesday, March
23.
▶ $5 per class suggested
donation.
▶ Halifax Community Hall, 20
Brook Rd.
The Brattleboro Area Table Tennis
Club invites players of all skill levels for open games and occasional
lessions. Kids welcome on the 1st
Tuesday of the month. (Tuesdays).
Sponsored by Brattleboro Rec.
& Parks.
▶ 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. on the 3rd fl.
▶ Through Tuesday, April 26.
▶ $2 ($3 non-Brattleboro residents); $20/$5 for 10 session
punch card.
Business and
economy
Women in
Business Round Table: A gathering for women to discuss issues,
opportunities, and to network with
other women who are currently
in business or are thinking about
starting a business. With Karen
Woodcock and Denise Mason,
Economic Development, SEVCA.
▶ noon - 1 p.m.
▶ Free.
calendar.
BRATTLEBORO Management
Ideas Exchange: "What is the
State of Your Board?": Many
boards are busy doing their important work and don't have time
for reflection or self-assessment.
Kim Lier offers quick, effective assessment tools that can be used
to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. Presented
by The Center for New Leadership.
▶ noon - 1:30 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Marlboro College Graduate
Center, 28 Vernon St. Pre-register,
Julie Jansen: 802-258-9204; cosmo.
marlboro.edu/cnl/2016/01/04/
mix-workshops-announcedspring-2016.
Kids and families
BRATTLEBORO Mothers' Circle:
Gathering for mothers with infants up to 12-months. Discuss
the challenges of parenthood and
realities of motherhood. Led by a
MotherWoman certified facilitator.
Free childcare for older siblings
(call ahead). Light refreshments.
(Tuesdays).
▶ 10:45 a.m. - noon.
▶ Free.
▶ Winston Prouty Center for
Child Development, 20 Winston
Prouty Way. Amanda Pizzollo:
802-251-2102.
GUILFORD Storytime: Program
of songs, fingerplays, books, and
activities for babies, toddlers, and
older siblings. Presented by Cathi
Wilken or Laura Lawson Tucker.
Every Tuesday.
▶ 11 a.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Guilford Free Library, 4024
Guilford Center Rd. Information:
802-257-4603; sover.net/~wilken/
guilfordlibrary.
BRATTLEBORO "Nature Days":
(See 1/18)
▶ Bonnyvale Environmental
Education Center.
Well-being
Coming off
Psych Drugs: Support group for
anyone thinking about, in the process of, or with experience of withdrawing from or lowering amounts
of psychiatric drugs. (Third Tues. of
every month)
▶ 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ The Root Social Justice Center,
28 Williams St., 1st fl. The Hive
Mutual Support Network: info@
hivemutualsupport.net.
BRATTLEBORO Free Medical
Care: For individuals without
insurance or a physician. Every
Tuesday.
▶ 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
▶ Brattleboro Walk-In Clinic, 81
Belmont Ave. Information: 802251-8484; brattleborowalkinclinic.
com.
B R A T T L E B O R O Bereaved
Parents Support Group: For parents mourning the death of a teenage or young adult child, sharing
and connecting with other grieving
parents can be a powerful component in the healing process.
Facilitated by Connie Baxter and
Judy Davidson.(First and third
Tues. of every month).
▶ 6 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Brattleboro Area Hospice, 191
Canal St. Contact Connie beforehand: 802-257-0775 x 104; connie.
baxter@brattleborohospice.org.
B R A T T L E B O R O Strength
Training for Seniors: Build
strength in all major muscle
groups. Followed by stretch and
relaxation. With Cyndy Gray.
(Tuesdays)
▶ 9:30 a.m.
▶ $3 ($5 for 2 classes).
▶ Brattleboro Senior Center, 207
Main St. Information: 802-2577570; jcudworth@brattleboro.org.
BRATTLEBORO
Community building
B R A T T L E B O R O Tour the
Municipal Building and the
Brattleboro Fire Department
Stations: Brattleboro has wrestled with how best to renovate
the town's aging police and fire
stations for years. Visitors are also
invited to attend the Selectboard
meetings immediately following
the tours in order to ask questions and discuss options for upgrading these facilities. The Fire
Department's Central Station is at
103 Elliot St; Station II is at 16 South
St. (Tuesdays through January)
▶ 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. (tours do not
take the entire hour).
▶ Free.
▶ Municipal Building, 230 Main
BRATTLEBORO
Ideas and education
LONDONDERRY Winter Feeding
Wild Birds: Randy Schmidt from
The Vermont Bird Place discusses
types of feeders, seeds and suet
which attract the widest variety
of wild birds, heated bird baths,
where to place your feeders, how
to discourage critters, and other
questions you have.
▶ 11 a.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Neighborhood Connections,
The Meeting Place, Rte. 100, 5700
Marketplace (across from the post
office). Information: 802-824-4343;
aohare34@comcast.net.
Celebrations,
festivals,
community meals
BRATTLEBORO "Cabin Fever":
Enjoy spirits, brews and specialty
foods while listening to live music. Vendors: 14th Star Brewing
Co., Caledonia Spirits, Champlain
Orchards, Honora Winery, Solo
Services & Libations, Stonecutter
Spirits, Vermont Distillers, Vermont
Spirits, Whetstone, Bijou Jewels
from the Oven, Blythedale Farm,
Burke Mountain Confectionery,
Cabot Creamer y, Lyman's
Specialties, Monadnock Oil &
Vinegar Co., Monkey Moon
Challah and Pastries, Orchard
Hill Breadworks, Taylor Farm,
and more.
▶ 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ River Garden, 157 Main St.
rivergarden.
Community building
WEDNESDAY
20
Music
Community
Jazz Jam Session: For all musicians and instruments. Run
by pianist Eugene Uman. Every
Wednesday.
▶ 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
▶ $3 donation requested from
players and listeners.
▶ Vermont Jazz Center, 72
Cotton Mill Hill, #222. Information:
802-254-9088; ginger@vtjazz.org.
BRATTLEBORO
Recreation
S. LONDONDERRY Sit and Knit:
Carol Barclay shows the basics of
knitting and crocheting. If you already know how, she will share
her expertise, patterns, books,
and yarn. Work on your own project and enjoy the company of
other like-minded crafters. (Every
Wednesday)
▶ 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
▶ South Londonderry Free
Library, 15 Old School St.
southlondonderryfreelibrary@
yahoo.com.
The written word
GUILFORD Talk About Books:
"Empire Falls" by Richard Russo:
(Third Wed. of every month)
▶ 6:30 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Guilford Free Library, 4024
Guilford Center Rd. Information:
802-257-4603; sover.net/~wilken/
guilfordlibrary.
B R A T T L E B O R O MexicanAmericans: "Ultima" by Rudolfo
Anaya: "Ultima," first in a four-part
reading and discussion series,
"Mexican Americans: Experience
and Identity," deals with the experiences of Mexicans living in
the U.S.--from the struggles of
migrant farm workers and day
laborers in California to coming
of age stories of Chicanos as U.S.
citizens. "Ultima" chronicles the
story of an alienated New Mexico
boy who seeks an answer to his
questions about life in his relationship with Ultima, a magical healer.
Facilitated by Prof. Patricia Pedroza
Gonzalez. Sponsored by Vermont
Humanities Council.
▶ 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. in the 2nd fl.
meeting room.
▶ Free.
▶ Brooks Memorial Library, 224
Main St. Information: 802-2545290; brookslibraryvt.org.
Kids and families
Free Dinner
for Kids Ages 9-18: 1st and 3rd
Wednesday of every month.
▶ 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Boys & Girls Club (Bellows
Falls), 12 Church St. Information:
802-460-4400.
BELLOWS FALLS
"Conserving
Your Land: Everything You
Wanted to Know but Didn't
Know Where to Ask": A panel of
owners of conserved land and a
former owner who still lives on it-John Evans, Stewart McDermet,
Greg Moschetti, Mary Lou Schmidt,
Karen Falk Sugden--share why
they conserved their land or
bought conserved land, what
conservation means to them, and
the benefits of land conservation
for them and for the town. Then
Joan Wier of the Vermont Land
Trust explains how a conservation easement works. Questions
and discussion.
▶ 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
▶ Free.
▶ Dummerston Congregational
Church, 1535 Middle Rd. Bill
Schmidt: 802-257-0233; elysian2@
svcable.net.
BRATTLEBORO "Nature Deficit
Disorder" with Bill Pearson:
The lack of respect for our natural
world underlies the global warming issue and many others. As
Richard Louv stated in his book
"Last Child in the Woods": "What
we don't know, we don't love,
what we don't love, we don't take
care of." He also introduced the
term "nature deficit disorder." If
we don't know Nature, we won't
love Nature, and what we don't
love, we won't take care of.
▶ noon - 1 p.m.
▶ Free.
DUMMERSTON
calendar.
Celebrations,
festivals,
community meals
SAXTONS RIVER Blue Door Soup
Suppers: Neighborhood families,
singles, and seniors are invited for
a free soup supper. Out of 3 soups
made weekly, there's always at
least one vegetarian and a glutenfree option. Every Wednesday.
▶ 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
▶ Free; donations welcome (for
Our Place Drop-in Center).
▶ Christs Church-Saxtons
River, 24 Main St. Wanda Salter:
802-869-2582.
To submit your
event: calendar@
commonsnews.org
•
Deadline: Friday
at 5 p.m.
THE COMMONS
THE ARTS
B3
Main Street Arts hosts exhibit by David Stern
SAXTONS RIVER—The
work of David Stern is the subject of an art show that runs
through Feb. 22 at Main Street
Arts (MSA).
An opening reception will be
held Thursday, Jan. 14, from
5:30 to 7 p.m.
Stern has titled his show “All
Over the Map,” which refers
to the paintings, which he created while traveling, and for the
variety of pieces and styles.
With a degree in theater from
the University of Vermont and
a Master of Fine Arts in design
from Rutgers University, Stern
has directed and designed more
than 100 productions for the
stage—including MSA’s 2015
production of Les Miserables —
and has shown artwork at numerous galleries.
His work encompasses wood
Verandah Porche
interviews Chard
deNiord at Next Stage
PUTNEY—Next Stage
Arts Project Next Stage Arts
will present a special literary
event on Sunday, Jan. 24, at
7 p.m., with Vermont Poet
Laureate Chard deNiord,
hosted by renowned poet,
Verandah Porche. There is
a suggested donation at the
door of $10.
Beyond being the current
Poet Laureate of Vermont
and creator of the Next Stage
Speaks Poetry series, deNiord
is the author of five books of
poems, Interstate (University of
Pittsburgh Press, 2015), The
Double Truth (University of
Pittsburgh Press, 2011), which
was named one of the ten best
books of poetry in 2011 by The
Boston Globe, Night Mowing
(The University of Pittsburgh
Press, 2005), Sharp Golden
Thorn (Marsh Hawk Press,
2003), and Asleep in the Fire
(University of Alabama Press,
1990).
He is also the author of
a book of interviews with
seven senior American poets (Galway Kinnell, Ruth
Stone, Jack Gilbert, Lucille
Clifton, Donald Hall, Maxine
Kumin, and Robert Bly) titled
Sad Friends, Drowned Lovers,
Stapled Songs, Conversations
and Reflections on Contemporary
American Poetry (Marick Press,
2011).
A co-founder of the New
England College MFA
Program in Poetry, he works
as a professor of English at
Providence College and lives
Westminster West.
Porche, poet, performer,
and writing partner from
Guilford, is the author of
two books of poetry, The
Body’s Symmetry (Harper
and Row, 1975) and Sudden
Eden (Verdant Books, 2013).
She has also edited several volumes of poetry and personal
histories, including Ordinary
Mystery, Infusion Musings from
the Oncology Clinic, Springfield,
Vermont and Broad Book
Anthology, A Play of Voices,
a collection of personal narratives that honor the lives of
elders in Guilford.
Porche will interview deNiord about his career, life,
and recent works. The interview will be followed by a
reading and a question-andanswer period.
More information about about
this, and upcoming events, can
be found at www.nextstagearts.
org.
Main Street Arts, Historical
Society host Fireside Chats
Brattleboro Autobody & Detailing
State-of-the-Art Paint System and Down Draft Baking Booth
• Free Estimates
• Frame Straightening
• Windshield Replacements
• Complete Auto Detailing
We work with All Insurance Companies on All Makes and Models
802-254-5551
16 Town Crier Dr, Brattleboro, VT
Don McAllister - Owner
Email: BAD@myfairpoint.net
MEMBERS 1ST CREDIT UNION
Playing October 1 - 4
ALL SEATS
$5 A America:
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Tuesdays $3PG
THE
GOOD
DINOSAUR
Sat, Jan. 16: 3 & 5:15 pm
Upcoming
Sun, Jan. 17:Events:
5:30 pm
Vermont Symphony
Orchestra
Friday,
September 30, 7:30pm
GROUNDHOG
DAY
Wednesday,
Jan.
27: 7:30 pm
National
Players
Open House
Simba to play benefit
for critically injured
South Newfane man
BRATTLEBORO—On
Saturday, Jan. 23, at 118 Elliot
Street, starting at 7:30 p.m.,
there will be an evening of music donated by Simba, southern Vermont’s worldbeat dance
band.
This event will benefit Brooks
Mitchell of South Newfane, who
was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on Sept. 7, 2015.
His motorcycle was hit by a car
that turned into oncoming traffic on Route 9 in Wilmington.
Brooks’ injuries are many and
his recovery has been slow but
steady. He has been out of work
for more than three months. As
a self-employed plumbing and
heating specialist, he has already
lost a lot of income due to this
tragedy, and it is still unknown
when and if he will be able to return to work. He has applied for
disability, and he has been told
that the wait will be at least 6-to12 months before he knows if he
has been approved.
Started in 1989, Simba’s eight
members work throughout the
New England area as soloists,
accompanying other artists and
doing recording work.
The band has evolved into a
high-energy dance band, drawing
upon African, reggae, Caribbean,
Latin, jazz, and funk influences
to create their own unique and
vibrant sound. Simba features
several multi-instrumentalists
allowing their sound to range
from guitar/horn section funk
to Caribbean steel drum, from
West African balafon grooves
and hand percussion to jazz sextet and even Klezmer orchestra.
Tickets for this event are a $10
minimum donation and can be
purchased at Everyone’s Books in
Brattleboro. Beverages, desserts,
and raffle items will be available
at the event as well.
Express Fluency combines
films with language classes
BRATTLEBORO—This
spring, Express Fluency is offering a variety of classes in French
and Spanish, including two miniclasses held before and after popular films shown at the Latchis
Theatre on Sunday afternoons.
On Jan. 17, the Latchis will
screen The Dinner Game , a
French comedy with English
subtitles, at 4 p.m. The informal
French class, for advanced beginners to intermediate speakers,
will meet in Express Fluency’s
classroom at 73 Main Street at
2 p.m. and after the film.
Admission to the film is by donation, and benefits Latchis Arts
and Doctors Without Borders.
For Spanish speakers, the
Latchis will be screening Volver,
in Spanish with English subtitles,
starring Penelope Cruz, on Jan.
31 at 4 p.m.
The screening will benefit
Latchis Arts and MANOS, a local nonprofit organization that
provides maternal and neonatal support services to healthcare workers in Nicaragua. The
Spanish class will meet in the
www.members1cu.com
10 Browne CT
PO Box 8245
N. Brattleboro, VT 05304
Insured to
250,000
MOVIES
Now in its 27th year, Main Street
Arts is a nonprofit community
COURTESY PHOTO
arts center dedicated to serving Works in several media by artist David Stern will
the creative needs of the greater be on exhibit at Main Street Arts through Feb. 22.
community by encouraging creative exploration and expression
through a wide range of experiences.
Further information is available
at www.MainStreetArts.org or on
Facebook.
“The SMALL Credit Union
with a BIG HEART”
NCUA
at the
Tel. (802) 257-5131
Fax (802) 257-5837
Express Fluency classroom at
2 p.m. and again after the film.
For both French and Spanish
learners, Express Fluency offers
a variety of classes in addition to
the mini-classes around films.
Spanish offerings will start with
a free one-hour class on Jan. 14,
from 6 to 7 p.m., at the Express
Fluency classroom.
A weekly class for beginners
and another for advanced beginners will start on Jan. 21; an
intermediate class will begin in
April.
French offerings include both
intensive and weekly classes.
Intermediate French students
can choose between a nine-week
class starting on Feb. 1, and a
three-day weekend intensive beginning on Friday, Feb. 12.
For advanced French speakers, a one-day class, Samedi
Fran ç ais, offers immersion
and conversation on Saturday,
March 19.
For more information, and to register for any class, visit expressfluency.com or call 802-275-2694.
‘ Discount Foods
Dotties
77 Flat Street in the Brattleboro Transportation Center
802 246-0053
Extra Savings!
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436 Western Ave., Brattleboro, Vermont
(802) 257-9254 • www.vermontcountrydeli.com
Open 7am-7pm Daily
Lunch & Dinner Daily plus Sunday Brunch
The AcA
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Arlemont
A College Preparatory Coed
Day School for Grades 7-12
Does your child belong here?
Come find out...
Sunday, January 24
“Of Mice
and Men” 1pm
802-463-4766
“Taming
of the
Shrew”
7pm
7 Square,
Bellows
Falls
Wednesday,
October&5
Visit: rockbf.org
Like us on Facebook
“Critical
State”
with support from NEFA
Thursday, Oct 13 & Fri Oct 14
Events Tickets At
www.bfoperahouse.com
T H (800)
E A595-4849
T R E
By phone
and at Village Square Booksellers
latchis.com
802.246.1500
On The Square, Bellows Falls VT
www.bfoperahouse.com
FRI, JAN
15 - THU, JAN 21
(802) 463-4766
Manager’s Pick of the Week
SPOTLIGHT
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2:00 matinee Sunday
6:45 & 9:00 nightly
STAR WARS: THE
FORCE AWAKENS
PG-13
1:45 matinees Sat & Sun
6:40 & 9:10 nightly
THE REVENANT
7:10 nightly
Program begins at 1:00 PM
R
THE HATEFUL EIGHT R
Register online:
www.charlemont.org
7:00 nightly
Pre-registration is helpful,
drop-ins are welcome.
BROOKLYN
Find your voice. Speak your mind.
PG-13
fireworksrestaurant.net • 802.254.2073
73 Main Street • Brattleboro, VT
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manages 50,000 acres of state
land in Windham and Windsor
counties, and has worked extensively on both private and public lands.
He will highlight some of the
management challenges faced
by today’s forest managers, including introduced plants that
have gained a foothold and that
may lead to rapid changes in
the future.
Attendees are invited to share
their own experiences, photos,
artifacts, and stories related to
the topic of the evening.
The series is offered at no
charge, with donations accepted.
Those attending are invited to
bring their own memories and
memorabilia to share in this informal setting.
The inn’s dining room will be
open for dinner after the presentation for further socializing.
Reservations are appreciated by
calling the inn at 802-869-2110.
In case of inclement weather,
cancellation information will
be available by contacting Main
Street Arts at 802-869-2960.
sculpture, watercolor painting,
and jewelry, through which he
attempts to communicate a consistent sense of design across
multiple media and methods.
Stern says he is “seeking to retain the freshness and freedom
of the organic while providing
enough structure to support the
composition. Thus, in watercolor, I celebrate the movement
of the water. In jewelry, I let the
metal melt and move. In sculpture, I leave a great deal of wood
just as I found it, using what is
innate in the material.”
Described by those who know
him as a Renaissance man, Stern
is the artistic director of Main
Street Arts and is the director of
the arts organization’s upcoming
winter production of Bat Boy:
The Musical.
He lives in Westminster with
his wife Vanessa.
...................................
SAXTONS RIVER—Main
Street Arts and the Saxtons River
Historical Society continues its
series of Fireside Chats to highlight the area’s history Sunday,
Jan. 17, when the topic will be
turkeys.
The chats take place from 5:30
to 6:45 p.m. in the dining room
of the Saxtons River Inn.
“Gobble! Gobble! Wild
Turkeys are Smart and Social”
will feature Lynn Morgan of the
Nature Museum at Grafton and
include tales of local farmers who
walked their turkeys to Boston
and how the wild turkey was reintroduced to Vermont in 1969.
The series concludes Jan. 24
with a talk on “Forests from
Glacier to Today: Managing Our
Forests Then and Now,” with
Tim Morton, a forester with the
Vermont Department of Forests,
Parks, and Recreation.
Morton, a resident of
Rockingham, has been a practicing forest and land manager
since 1984. He graduated from
the University of Vermont with
a B.S. in Forest Management,
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LIBERTY
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at
Brattleboro Country Club
Open Year Round!
Thursday - Saturday:
11am - 3pm & 5:30 - 8pm
Wing Nights on Thursdays!
Sunday Brunch 9am - 3pm
Refer to our website:
www.brattleborocountryclub.com
for info and events.
Fresh Pastries • Salads & Sandwiches
Vermont Products • Gifts • Gourmet to Go
The West River
Trail begins here!
28 Spring Tree Rd., Brattleboro VT 802-257-7563
VermontMarina.com
Cold outside? Come warm up
with our homemade soups!
DINING & EVENTS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
348 Upper Dummerston Road • Brattleboro, VT 05301
802.254.9864 • info@brattleborocc.com
THE ARTS
B4
Local artist offers recycling, up-cycling
workshop to benefit Groundworks’ Food Shelf
Stone Church Arts
presents mandolin
ensemble concert
BELLOWS FALLS—Stone
Church Arts and Immanuel
Retreat Center in Bellows
Falls hosts the Festival of
Mandolin Chamber Music
for the sixth time, Jan. 14
through 17.
The festival welcomes
participants from near and
far, both Canada and the
Northeastern United States.
It culminates in a public concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday,
Jan. 17, featuring the New
England Mandolin Ensemble
and Festival Participants.
Directed by professor
August Watters of Berklee
College of Music, the ensemble presents a concert of
THE COMMONS
BRATTLEBORO—With an
up-cycled twist on basket weaving, a three-part workshop—
taught by local artists Jackie
Abrams, Carol Barber, and
Sandie Page—will benefit the
Groundworks Food Shelf.
The workshop, which takes
place on three Wednesday evenings (Jan. 27 and Feb. 10 and
24) at the Marlboro College
Graduate Center on Vernon
Street, will cover the art of making “yarn” from used plastic bags
to crochet strong, colorful, and
multi-purpose tote bags.
“I have been offering this
workshop in Brattleboro since
2011, always to benefit the
Brattleboro Food Shelf. It is a
great way to use those plastic
bags, and to create an environmentally friendly bag,” Abrams
said in a news release. “Instead
of a ‘quilting bee,’ it is a ‘plastic
crocheting bee.’ Always fun!”
classical music, traditional folk
music for fans of the mandolin, mandola, mandocello, and
classical guitar.
The purpose of the festival
is to create learning and performance opportunities for
those interested in chamber
music composed for mandolin
and its related instruments, as
well as classical guitar.
Tickets are $17 general admission and $13 seniors in advance
($20 and $15 at the door).
Further information and tickets
are available at Village Square
Booksellers in Bellows Falls, by
calling 802-460-0110, and online at www.stonechurcharts.org.
In 2008 and 2009, Abrams developed a fair trade enterprise in
Pokuase, Ghana, working with a
group of Ghanaian women, focusing on the use of materials
that usually litter the environment. The women learned to
crochet with plastic bags, creating handbags and wallets, which
they sold to supplement their
subsistence livelihoods.
Workshop participants are
encouraged to collect bags from
friends and family to be used
in the course to make baskets,
shopping bags with handles,
covered jars, and even sculptural forms.
The course registration fee is
$35 for three classes, with all proceeds benefiting Groundworks.
Groundworks Collaborative
is the agency created from the
recent merger of Morningside
Shelter and the Brattleboro
Area Drop In Center. The
newly-merged organization
continues to provide all of the
services offered by each of the
agencies, including the operation
of our region’s largest food shelf,
and the Brattleboro area’s only
shelters for those experiencing
homelessness.
Those interested in the course may
register with Jackie Abrams by calling 802-257-2688 or by emailing
www.groundworksVT.org.
MOORE CLEANING SERVICE Next Stage welcomes Jacques Brel and Main Street Arts to Putney
BRATTLEBORO VT AREA
PUTNEY—Next Stage Arts
Project will host the final performance of Main Street Arts’
production of Jacques Brel Is
Alive and Well and Living in
Paris on Saturday, Jan. 16, at
Next Stage’s newly renovated
theater in Putney. Showtime is
at 7:30 p.m.
While not a household name
in America, Brel’s “literate and
incredibly emotional songs”
(New York magazine) became
“part of the national consciousness of post-war Europe.” His
music has been recorded by
more than 400 professional recording artists, from Edith Piaf
and Frank Sinatra to Judy Collins
and Nirvana, and translated into
more than 22 languages.
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English language translators,
Eric Blau and Mort Shuman,
tried to answer the question by
incorporating his songs into a
cabaret-style musical that became an award-winning standard of the Off-Broadway and
regional stage.
Over the last few months Main
Street Arts has taken Jacques
Brel on the road, bringing it to
a variety of locales from dinner
clubs to theaters across the area.
According to Main Street
Arts’ Co-chair Kathleen Bryar,
the idea of a starting a touring
company was “somewhat of an
experiment this year. Jacques
Brel seemed like a natural fit to
launch the project.”
MSA Managing Director
Margo Ghia said the show is
also intended to be part of Main
Street Arts’ planned outreach to
other area cultural institutions.
“When we completed our
renovation and expansion project, we wanted to go out into
the community to celebrate that
achievement. We also wanted to
connect with the other wonderful area organizations and businesses that do so much for arts
and culture in our area,” said
Ghia.
Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at
the door. For more information or to
order tickets, call Main Street Arts
at 802-869-2960 or go to mainstreetarts.org.
BMAC presents documentary on Mongolian shamanism
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499 Marlboro Road, West Brattleboro
BRATTLEBORO—The
Brattleboro Museum & Art
Center (BMAC) presents a
screening of the documentary
film, Ceremony, followed by a
discussion with filmmaker Sas
Carey, on Thursday, Jan. 14,
at 7 p.m. Admission is $5 at the
door, free for BMAC members
and children under 18.
A project 10 years in the making, Ceremony sheds light on the
mysterious spiritual life of shamans in northern Mongolia,
specifically focusing on one
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ACCEPTING NEW
Europe’s intelligentsia fell
in love with songs such as
“Carousel” (originally, “La
Valse a Mille Temps”), considering it a three-minute musical
meditation about life whirling
and speeding out of control.
The English version of “Quand
on n’a que l’Amour” would become an early antiwar anthem
in the United States during the
Vietnam conflict and helped inspire the Beatles’ song “All You
Need Is Love.”
Brel caused a sensation in the
late sixties when, at the height of
his fame, he quit the stage and all
but disappeared. For much of
Europe it was as if Frank Sinatra
and the Beatles suddenly vanished. Where had he gone? His
particular ceremony that few
outsiders have ever witnessed,
let alone filmed.
Carey, a nurse from
Middlebury, spent more than
a decade with the shamans and
nomads in the Mongolian steppe.
After many years, the shamans
allowed her to film their ceremony, during which a shaman
slips into a trance and takes on
a spirit being. The shaman and
others provide voiceover commentary, in order to help viewers comprehend what they are
seeing.
“Their system is thousands
and thousands of years old,”
said Carey. “It’s very powerful. They just allow their souls
to leave their bodies. They’re
just like shells that are accepting
their ancestors’ spirits, and they
start acting like something else.
In the film, a shaman named
Nergui starts howling like a wolf.
It’s like the energy of the wolf is
in his body.”
Ceremony grew out of Carey’s
work with the nonprofit
■ Dedell Choir
with works by John Tavener and
Morten Lauridsen.
“I had wanted to do the
Tavener piece for several years
now,” says Dedell. “But I could
not think of anything that would
be suitable to program with this
short work, except, of course, a
complete Tavener evening. His
music is so distinctly sacred. But
you know, he also has a mystic
side, which keeps everything a
little open-ended.”
Dedell says she feels that
Tavener’s Svyati is a dramatic
and profoundly moving work,
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where the solo cello and choir
have a dialogue as though between priest and choir in a
service.
“The cello also represents
the Icon of Christ, and the
choir functions as the ‘bells of
heaven,’” writes Dedell. “It is a
truly amazing composition.
“Both the cello and the chorus are written with a huge tonal
range, with extremely low tones
in the men’s voices, as well as
some very high writing for the
cello. The writing for the cello
is narrative and vocal, while the
choir may function more instrumentally — for instance when
they create the effect of overlapping bells. The ambient effect of
this piece is awe-inspiring.”
Judith Serkin is the featured
soloist in Tavener’s Svyati, written for a cappella choir and
solo cello. Serkin is well known
as a frequent performer at the
Marlboro Festival, and was
one of the original founders of
the Brattleboro Music Center
School.
The third composer of the
concert, Morten Lauridsen, received the National Medal of
Arts “for his composition of radiant choral works combining
musical beauty, power and spiritual depth that have thrilled audiences worldwide.” His works
have been recorded on more
than 200 CDs, five of which
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organization Nomadicare, a
group that provides medical care
to the people of the Mongolian
steppe. Audience members
wishing to learn more about
Nomadicare or to make a donation to support its ongoing work
will have the opportunity to do
so at BMAC on Jan. 14.
For more information, call
802-257-0124 or visit www.brattleboromuseum.org.
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have received Grammy Award
nominations.
“Lauridsen is a real treasure,”
says Dedell with enthusiasm.
“He seems incapable of not writing beautifully. You give a chorus something of his to sing, they
invariably love it. I think his accessible sound helps audiences
relate to the other more challenging music in the contemporary
singing world.”
The choir will sing his O
Magnum Mysterium, Ubi Caritas,
Sure on this Shining Night, and a
new composition, Prayer. Dedell
chose these four pieces because
she finds them particularly moving, she says.
She explains, “They remind
me that although I don’t know
where music comes from, and I
certainly don’t know where inspiration comes from, I do know
that some music has the power to
melt away the ice that sometimes
seems to form around our hearts
and minds. And I just don’t think
we can get enough of that.”
Tickets for Luminous Night are
$15, $10 for students. For more
information, visit the Brattleboro
Music Center, 38 Walnut St., call
802-257-4523 or go to bmcvt.org.
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TOWN & VILLAGE
SECTION B
C
Wednesday, January
C R 13,
O S S 2016
W O R D • . page
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.C3
AROUND THE TOWNS
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page C1
M ARLBO R O
NEWF A NE
Huskies
gone wild
Selectboard orders owner to
control dogs or face penalties
By Wendy M. Levy
The Commons
NEWFANE—A Newfane dog
breeder has been ordered by the
Selectboard to control her dogs,
or she could risk losing her kennel license, and pay a $500 fine.
Samantha Rivera’s huskies
have flown their coop three times
in six months, resulting in three
domestic animal deaths. At the
Dec. 21 regular Selectboard
meeting, Rivera told the board
she had 11 adult huskies, and
one was pregnant.
Animal Control Officer
Michael Young told the board
he had received two calls about
Rivera’s dogs, and there was an
additional incident prior to his
taking the position. On Nov.
30, Young said a person living
on Blueberry Extension alerted
him to the pack of dogs running
around his house “all day.”
Winchester Stables had a visit
from Rivera’s huskies on Dec. 6.
The third event occurred in July.
All three incidents led to the
loss of residents’ animals. Two
chickens and one goat died as
a result of the dogs being loose.
According to Rivera’s statement
at the Selectboard meeting, the
dogs were playing with the goat
and it drowned in a pond. She
said she offered to reimburse
the owners of the animals for
their losses.
“The dogs are very friendly
and healthy,” Young said.
“They’re not vicious,” he added,
“They just get out.”
He noted that his concern, as
Animal Control Officer, is for
the health and welfare of all of
Newfane’s livestock and wildlife.
Rivera told the board she was
“doing everything I can to keep
them secure,” but, “they’re escape-artists.” She detailed the
new fencing, and electric fences,
she has installed to try to contain
her dogs. Rivera said the culprit
was likely a gate the dogs had
manipulated to allow their flight,
and she has since repaired it.
Selectboard members assured
Rivera of the gravity of the situation, noting Vermont law permits
■ SEE DOGS, C4
BRATTL E B OR O
Town calls contract
with Black Mountain
gravity-fed sewer line
By Olga Peters
The Commons
BRATTLEBORO—The town
might take the unusual step of
halting a major construction
project and calling back its bond.
The project in question is
the Black Mountain gravity fed
sewer line.
Intended to replace a pump
station with a lower-cost, lowermaintenance option, the gravity
feed would carry waste under
Interstate 91 and into the municipal system beneath Putney
Road, according to Town
Manager Peter Elwell.
The project was also intended
to be fairly straightforward,
simple, and completed by July
31, 2015.
Unfortunately, as the fall
flooding of 10 businesses at
Black Mountain Square demonstrated — the total estimated damage was upwards of
$500,000, as of December — the
pipeline might be a pipe dream.
The town contracted with excavating contractor Kingsbury
Construction Co., and engineering firm Hoyle, Tanner &
Associates of Manchester, N.H.
Speaking at the Jan. 5
Selectboard meeting, Elwell
said the project met with early
difficulties that have continued
to build.
“The pipe will not function
in its current condition,” Elwell
said.
He added that it’s rare that the
Town of Brattleboro would “call
a contract.”
Town Attorney Robert Fisher
sent a letter dated Dec. 30, 2015,
informing the project team of the
town’s concerns. The letter gives
the project team 10 days to meet
with the Selectboard and outline
a plan to get the project back on
track and working, said Elwell.
If a new plan can’t happen,
then the attorney’s letter also
starts a process that protects the
town from stopping bond payments related to the project.
Facing Act 46, Marlboro
expands its school board
Voters decide that expanding board from three to five members
is necessary to handle education law’s complexities
By Mike Faher
MARLBORO—This town’s
school directors will have a little
more company as they march
into the uncharted territories
of Act 46.
After some debate, Marlboro
voters on Jan. 4 agreed to expand
the town’s school board from
three members to five. Soon after that vote, Lauren Poster and
Dan MacArthur were named to
fill the two new seats until Town
Meeting, when elections will be
held for full one-year terms.
Marlboro officials admitted
that board expansion is an unusual step for a small school
facing consolidation under
Vermont’s new education-governance law. But they told voters that they need help in dealing
with the complexities of that statute—not to mention handling
the everyday business of running a school.
“We just thought this was an
important time to have more
representation from the community,” said Jen Carr, Marlboro’s
board chairwoman.
Act 46 is an attempt to reduce
school costs and streamline governance in an era of rising taxes
and declining enrollments. The
2015 law pushes for larger districts via mergers due to take effect by 2019, at the latest.
It’s a difficult, potentially controversial process for any school
district. But that’s especially true
for a school like Marlboro: It is
the only K-8 district in Windham
Central Supervisory Union,
meaning officials may have to
look outside the union’s boundaries for potential merger partners if they want to retain their
Martin Luther King Jr.
celebration to be held
at Centre Church
BRATTLEBORO—On
Sunday, Jan. 17, at 4 p.m.,
there will be a celebration in honor of Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. at Centre
Congregational Church, 193
Main St.
King’s “I Have a Dream”
speech will be shown, jazz pianist Franz Robert will play, an
intergenerational community
choir led by Andy Davis will
sing, and Julie Cunningham,
executive director of Families
First, will be the featured
speaker.
New to this year’s event is a
tribute to the “Hidden Heroes
and Heroines” of the Civil
Rights Movement, profiling
individuals from different faith
traditions who were instrumental in the success of the movement and of King’s work.
The service will conclude
with the traditional lighting
of a candle by everyone in attendance. Singers of all ages
and abilities are encouraged to
come to the church at 3 p.m. to
rehearse songs for the service.
This event is sponsored by
the Brattleboro Area Interfaith
Clergy Association as an opportunity for people of all ages,
faiths, races, and ethnicities to
come together to remember, to
learn, and to celebrate all that
unites us. Admission is free,
but a good-will donation will be
MIKE FAHER/VTDIGGER AND THE COMMONS
The Marlboro Elementary School.
current school setup.
“We don’t really have natural
partners,” Carr said. “We don’t
look like any other schools in our
supervisory union in order to
merge easily, so we have a harder
decision to make.”
There’s no shortage of Act 46
studies and discussions happening in Windham Central.
The supervisory union has
been approved for a $5,000 grant
to fund a consultant who will assist the entire union with Act 46
deliberations, Superintendent
Steven John said. Independently
of that, school officials in Jamaica
and Marlboro are taking their
own in-depth looks at merger
options.
It all adds up to a lot more
work for Marlboro’s three-member board. Carr noted that the
town’s school board has been
holding its regular meetings;
attending Marlboro’s Act 46
committee meetings; attending
more-frequent Windham Central
meetings; and traveling to other
towns to talk about mergers.
“With five people, we can actually delegate that out,” Carr
said. “There are different roles
that people (can) take, and it
helps us to divide them up.”
So Marlboro’s school board
summoned voters to a special
meeting Jan. 4, seeking permission to add two extra members and ease their workload.
But there were some questions
among a small crowd of about
20 people who braved frigid temperatures for the evening vote.
Some recognized the irony
of expanding a school board in
reaction to a law that calls for
downsizing school governance.
“A school this small is expanding, rather than the contraction
that Act 46 is aimed at?” asked
Jean Boardman, herself a former
Marlboro school director.
Later, Boardman said she
didn’t oppose the change but
wanted to raise the issue for debate. That seemed to be a common sentiment: No one spoke
explicitly against expansion, but
voters questioned the timing of
the decision; the long-term need
for two extra board members;
and the ability to keep those
seats filled.
“You beat the bushes (for candidates), and it’s getting tougher
and tougher and tougher,” one
voter said. “And I think that’s
got to be clearly understood if
we’re going to try and add two
more people. It’s hard enough to
■ SEE SCHOOL BOARD, C4
GUILFO RD
AMY BOEMIG/SPECIAL TO THE COMMONS/FILE PHOTO
A view of Sweet Pond before the drawdown that took place in 2011 amid concerns
about the integrity of the dam.
taken with proceeds shared between the Vermont Partnership
for Fairness and Diversity and
the Root Social Justice Center.
Following the service, a spaghetti dinner will be served in
the lower level of the church, a
fundraiser for interfaith youth
service trips to South Dakota
and Kenya. Vegetarian and
gluten-free options will be
available. The cost is $10 for
adults and $5 for children under 12 years old.
For more information about
these events, contact Guilford
Community Church, U.C.C.
at 802-257-2776.
Sweet Pond Dam reconstruction
plans move forward
By Wendy M. Levy
The Commons
GUILFORD—The timetable
for Guilford’s Sweet Pond Dam
reconstruction was recently released by the state, and locals are
already lining up to help decide
the future of the popular recreation site.
The pond, located about eight
miles from the town’s center, was
drained in the summer of 2011,
after the state’s Dam Safety
Section deemed the structure
unsafe.
In response, locals formed a
grassroots campaign to fix the
dam and restore the pond. They
raised almost $7,000 to contribute to site enhancements,
said Linda Hecker, a member
of the Sweet Pond Steering
Committee.
State Rep. Michael Hebert,
R-Vernon, took on the cause. At
a Selectboard meeting last May,
Hebert admitted he was a “pest”
in the Statehouse, and the issue
became known in Montpelier as
“Hebert’s Damn Dam.”
His efforts worked. Hebert
secured $405,000 for the town
from the state, with the help
of Vermont Agency of Natural
Resources Forest, Parks, and
Recreation Commissioner
Michael Snyder, and Agency
of Natural Resources Secretary
Deb Markowitz.
In mid-September, the Sweet
Pond Steering Committee threw
a party celebrating the securing
of the funding, and the imminent
return of the pond and its surroundings. Politicians spoke, a
band played, and locals and visitors cheered the victory.
And now the work begins. Or
at least the planning of the work.
■ SEE SWEET POND, C4
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MASONRY
Vernon, Vermont
The historic and civic minded Town of Vernon, Vermont (pop. 2,193) seeks
a collaborative and dynamic town administrator. Its abundant outdoor
recreational opportunities reflect quintessential Vermont living while in
proximity to several major urban areas.
The announcement and job description are available at:
http://www.vlct.org/marketplace/classifiedads/town-administrator-2/
The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in public administration, political science, or business management or a minimum of three years’
experience in an administrative or managerial capacity in either municipal
government or business, or a combination of equivalent experience.
Applications are confidential.
Send cover letter, resume and three references by 2/8/16 to:
municipal.recruitment@vlct.org with email subject: “Vernon”.
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Engaging minds that change the world
Office/Program Outreach Support
(EFNEP Nutrition Educator)
Part-time paraprofessional position (75%) with FULL benefits. UVM
Extension is seeking an individual to identify, recruit, and provide
services to income eligible youth, pregnant women and families with
young children through the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education
Program (EFNEP) in the community and home setting. The primary focus
is teaching the skills of healthful food selection, meal planning, food
preparation, food safety, physical activity, and gardening and food
preservation (as appropriate) based on USDA guidelines using the
provided curriculum and materials. This position will be based in the
Brattleboro Extension Office and will serve the Southeast Region of
Vermont. High School diploma/G.E.D. and three years related experience
required, or an equivalent combination. Must provide own transportation
to and from work sites. For further information, or to apply with
electronic application, resume and cover letter, visit our website at:
http://www.uvmjobs.com, Posting #S530PO Tel: (802) 656-3150.
Candidates’ forum set for Jan. 14
PUTNEY—As Putney’s municipal election season begins,
town officials are hosting an informational candidates’ forum
on Thursday, Jan. 14, at the
Putney Public Library.
Beginning at 6 p.m., potential
candidates will have the opportunity to learn about the open
positions in the town and school
district offices. Members of the
Selectboard will be available to
answer the public’s questions.
The following positions
are open for the town offices:
Cemetery Commission, 3-year
term; Lister, one 2- and one
3-year term; Moderator, 1-year
term; Selectperson, 3-year term;
Town Agent, 1-year term; and
two Town Grand Jurors are
needed, 1-year terms.
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Town concerned about
illegal dumping of used
hypodermic needles
NEWFANE—During the
roads report segment of the
Dec. 21 Selectboard meeting, the roads crew alerted the
board to a new scourge on South
Wardsboro Road: someone has
been dumping used hypodermic
needles in a pull-off area on the
Newfane portion of the road.
According to the report,
read by board member Dennis
Wiswall, the roads crew had to
clean up the needles three times
so far.
The roads crew asked the
Selectboard to do something
about it. One suggestion was to
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Stratton Mountain recognized
for diverting food waste
STRATTON—Stratton
Mountain Resort is the only
Vermont organization to be
recognized this year by the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) for efforts in diverting food waste.
Stratton is among the 24 organizations recognized in the
EPA’s annual “Food Recovery
Challenge,” which collectively
diverted over 38,000 tons of
food to donation or composting in 2014.
In efforts to reduce landfill
waste and contribute to a sustainable environment, Stratton
composted 19.10 tons of food
Immanuel
Episcopal
Church
Sunday
Services:
PUBLIC NOTICES
To place your legal/public notice/
ad, call (802) 246-6397 or email
ads@commonsnews.org
TOWN OF NEWFANE
COMMERCIAL TELEPHONE SYSTEM
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
8:00 &
10:00 am
You will prepare reports on the conditions of units and
maintenance or repairs needed and or performed.
Inspect, maintain and service individual rooms as well as
the common public spaces of the building using a standard
checklist. Basic Education plus one to three years of relevant
work experience and/or trades training, or a combination of
education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
www.finnellroofing.com
802-463-3100
This is a Full Time Year Round Benefitted Position.
Apply online at www.mountsnow.com/employment.
EOE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
To the Creditors of: Danny R. Alsvig (Decedent)
late of Athens, Vermont (Decedent’s town of residence)
I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims
against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four
(4) months of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented
to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim
may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.
Dated: January 11, 2016
Executor/Administrator: Scott A. McAllister, Esq
Phone Number: (802) 876-7848
Mailing Address:
78 Severance Green, Suite 102
Colchester, VT
Name of Publication: The Commons
Publication Date: January 13, 2016
Windham Windsor
Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Windham Unit, Probate Division
Address of Probate Court: 30 Putney Road, 2nd Floor, Brattleboro, VT 05301
The
Chimney & Stove Care
Whole System
Service
s #LEANING
s 2EPAIR
s )NSTALLATION
s 2ELINING
s 9EARROUND
3ERVICE
chimdoc@comcast.net
www.vtchimneydoctor.com
MATT SKOVE
AUDIO DESIGN
Home Stereo/Flat
Screen TVs
Home Theater
Installation
Sales and/or
Installation...
I’ll come to you!
802-257-5419
audiodesignvt.com
Candidates will possess strong administration, relational and communication
skills. This position requires high energy and an organized and proactive
employee who is a quick learner committed to ongoing education and skill
development. Work with a great team in a mission driven organization!
WWHT provides affordable rental housing to low- and moderate-income
households, including families and individuals, persons with disabilities or
special needs, and the elderly. We offer a competitive salary and benefits.
Please submit a cover letter and resume to
Human Resources, WWHT,
68 Birge Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301
or info@w-wht.org.
WWHT is an Equal Opportunity Employer
www.w-wht.org
Vernon, VT
802-257-1619
SteveO1965@hotmail.com
MUSIC AT
MCNEILL’S
90 Elliot St,
Brattleboro
H o u s i n g Tr u s t
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT
Septic Tank
Pumping &
Portable Toilet
Rentals
Car Stereo
&
Do you have excellent administrative and interpersonal skills? Windham &
Windsor Housing Trust (WWHT) seeks a full-time Property Management
Assistant based in the Brattleboro, VT office. The successful candidate
will be responsible for all aspects of waitlist and available apartment
administration, tenant qualification, lease- up preparation as well as assisting
the Intake Specialist at the front desk.
802.257.0841
Chimney Doctor
Putney, VT
PROBATE DIVISION
Docket No.: 51-3-13 Wmpr
• Shingles
• Slate
• Rubber
• Metal
immanuelepiscopal.org
immanuelepsicopal.org
(802) 387-6037
STATE OF VERMONT
Finnell
Roofing LLC
Residential/Commercial
Insured
Proposals, to be received in a sealed envelope marked “Town Office Phone
System” are due by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February 1, 2016.
SUPERIOR COURT
Windham Unit
in re ESTATE of: Danny R. Alsvig
in the 2014-15 winter season.
According to the EPA, “diverting food waste from landfills ... reduces the generation
of harmful gases that contribute
to climate change.” Compost
can be used as nutrient rich soil,
helps aid forest restoration, and
can eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers.
Stratton Mountain Club’s dining crew have been composting
for about two years. They send
food scraps from the dining facilities to 38 gallon food totters
where it becomes compost, and
take it to a farm in upstate New
York.
20 Church St, Bellows Falls, VT
To view the current system or discuss the project further, please contact
Shannon Meckle, Administrative Assistant at (802) 365-7772 - Ext. 14,
or tnewfane@svcable.net.
to carry out a variety of general maintenance tasks to
the Grand Summit Hotel building and grounds.
ask the Vermont State Police to
increase patrols along that road.
But, Wiswall noted, with a
slight hint of irony, that catching
the perpetrator is like “finding a
needle in a haystack.”
Instead, Wiswall recommended temporarily installing a
game camera at the dump site to
catch the hypo scofflaw.
Members of the Selectboard
agreed that publicity generated
by mentioning the crime at the
meeting, where it will be broadcast on Brattleboro Community
Television, might deter future
incidents.

The Town of Newfane is seeking proposals for the procurement and installation of a commercial phone system with automated attendant, and seven
(7) speaker phones with Caller ID. Please indicate warranty available, if any.
LODGING MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
In the school district, the following positions are open: two
School Directors, 1-year positions; School Director, 2-year;
and School Director, 3-year.
For more information contact Anita Coomes, Town Clerk,
802-387-5862, ext. 14; Cynthia
Stoddard, Town Manager, 802387-5862, ext. 11; or putneytc@
putneyvt.org.
STATE OF VERMONT
SUPERIOR COURT
Windham Unit
in re ESTATE of: Paul Erich Brown
PROBATE DIVISION
Docket No.: 556-12-15 Wmpr
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
To the Creditors of: Paul Erich Brown (Decedent)
late of Whitingham (Decedent’s town of residence)
I have been appointed to administer this estate. All creditors having claims
against the decedent or the estate must present their claims in writing within four
(4) months of the first publication of this notice. The claim must be presented
to me at the address listed below with a copy sent to the Court. The claim
may be barred forever if it is not presented within the four (4) month period.
Dated: January 1, 2016
Executor/Administrator: John B. Loehmann
Phone Number: (802) 257-5292
Name of Publication: The Commons
Publication Date: January 13, 2016
Mailing Address:
c/o Jonathan D. Secrest, Esq
Corum Mabie Cook
Prodan Angell & Secrest, PLC
45 Linden Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Name of Probate Court: Vermont Superior Court, Windham Unit, Probate Division
Address of Probate Court: 30 Putney Road, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Brattleboro
Pharmacy
413 Canal Street
254-7777
Locally Owned
Independent
Personal Service
Open 7 Days
Easy Parking
Free Delivery
Wednesday, Jan. 13
Irish music - free
Thursday, Jan. 14
Jean Chaine and the
Fiction Giants masters
of funk - free
Friday, Jan. 15
The STOCKWELL
BROTHERS Bluegrass
band - $5 cover
Saturday, Jan. 16
Michael Louis Smith trio,
Fusion jazz/rock from
Brooklyn - $5 cover
Monday, January 18
Bluegrass Jam
THE COMMONS
• Wednesday, January 13, 2016 C3
AROUND THE TOWNS
THE COMMONS CROSSWORD
Across
1
2
3
4
5
6
1. Lucy’s guy
5. Proof word
19
20
1.
Lucy’s guy
9. Disgust
and then some
15.
5. Shipwreck’s
Proof word spot
23
24
19.
reality-show
9. 1999
Disgust
and then flick
some
20.
Sing
the
praises
of
27
15. Shipwreck’s spot
21. “Game of Thrones” actress
19.
1999 reality-show flick
Williams
32
33
34
20.
Sing the praises
22. Housekeeping
jobof
21.
“Game
of
Thrones”
actress
23. Financial backers’ truthfulness?
38
Williams
26. Talk
to the man upstairs
44
45
27. Balanced
bridgejob
opening
22.
Housekeeping
28. The
D’backs,
on chyrons
23.
Financial
backers’
49
50
29. Hoppy
beer
truthfulness?
30. Asparagus
26.
Talk to theservings
man upstairs
54
55
56
32. In need of an ice pack
27.
Balanced bridge opening
35. Smoking or sweets, e.g.
28.
The D’backs, on chyrons
61
62
37. Leaning
29.
Hoppy beer taken illegally?
38. Chesspiece
65
30.
Asparagus
servings
41. Have
bills due
32.
In need
an ice pack
44. Ruin,
as aofpicnic
68
69
46. “Cool”
35.
Smoking or sweets, e.g.
47.
“Cool”
37. Leaning
74
75
48. Square
dance
participant
38.
Chesspiece
taken
illegally?
49. POTUS,
militarily
78
79
41.
Have bills
due
50. Have a title to
44.
Ruin, as a picnic
52. Candidate Sanders, in tweets
82
83
46.
“Cool”
53. Longish skirt
47.
“Cool” getaway spot
90
91
54. Romantic
48.
Square dance
55. Brought
drinksparticipant
over?
94
95
49.
POTUS,open-mouthed
militarily
60. Stares
(at)
50.
Have a title to
61. Perfection
100
101
63. Believer
in a
“watchmaker
God”
52.
Candidate
Sanders,
in tweets
64. Out
looking
for adventure
53.
Longish
skirt
107
108
109
65. 8-point
itemgetaway
in Scrabble
54.
Romantic
spot
66. Equal share number
55. Brought drinks over?
113
114
67. In the past
60.
Stares
open-mouthed
(at)
68. Tough guys
117
118
61.
Perfection
70. Lake
rental
63.
Believer
in
a
“watchmaker
__
rug
71.
God” of a party
74. Belief
11. Foul ground
Down
75. Head
covering
64.
Out looking
forstrap?
adventure
12.
Cruising?
1. New
wave band with energy
77. Hotheadedness
65.
8-point item in Scrabble
domes
13.
Rapper __ Dicky
78.
Director
von
Trier
66. Equal share number
2. Perfect
places
14.
<
79. Yelp
review,
67.
In the
past sometimes
3. Toss
everywhere
15.
Urge
on
80. Coastal eagle
68. Tough guys
4. Tennis
81. Kate Middleton’s nana-in-law,
16.
Bashesstar
at aAna
New York race
70. briefly
Lake rental
5. Manning in the NFC
track?
71.
__
rug
6.
Test
animal
82. Male sib
17.
Onecapital
telling
stories?
7. Its
is Georgetown
74.
Belief ofataStarbucks,
party
83. Grande
e.g.
18.
Ice cream
brand
8. Trash
can emanation
84. Book
fig.
75.
Head publishing
covering strap?
24.
Actor Firth
9. Health
studies org.
87. Contract
stipulation
77.
Hotheadedness
25.
Fun run length
10. Anxiously
nervous
90.
Intent
78. Director von Trier
11. Foul
ground
31.
Panthers
of the NCAA
91. Relaxing
mountain
climb?
79.
Yelp review,
sometimes
12. Cruising?
94. Lubed up
33.
Head of a pub?
80.
Coastal eagle
13. Rapper
__ Dicky
96. River near the Leaning Tower
34.
Where “Tejas”
is vis-a-vis
81.
Kate Middleton’s
nana-in-law,
14. <
97. Georgia,
e.g.
Tijuana
briefl
y
15.
Urge
on
100. Sprint Cup Series org.
36.
Ballerina Rubinstein
16. Bashes at a New York race
82. English
Male sib__ foreign language
102.
37. track?
Juggling three jobs and
83. Oct.
Grande
Starbucks, e.g.
103.
andatNov.
smoking,
17. One
tellinge.g.
stories?
105.
orange fig.
84. Kind
Bookofpublishing
18.
Ice
cream
brand Basil
39.
One-hit
wonder
107.
ingredient
87. Sunscreen
Contract stipulation
24. Actor
Firth of doing anything
40.
Incapable
108.
90. Improved
Intent some fish?
25. Fun
runmolded
length
42.
Easily
113.
Gila
River
city
91. Relaxing mountain climb?
31. Panthers
of the tool
NCAA
43.
Mass-emailing
114. In a really mean way
94. Lubed up
33. Head of a pub?
115. Fred’s pet
44.
Cantaloupe
leftover
96. River near the Leaning Tower
34. Where “Tejas” is vis-a-vis
116. Four-award artist, initially
45. Tijuana
Take over a gene unit?
97. Discover
Georgia, rival,
e.g. briefly
117.
49.
Chapter 102
36. Ballerina
Rubinstein
100.
Sprintback
Cup Series org.
118. Hold
51.
Like some
wit jobs and
37. Juggling
three
102.
English
__
foreign
language
119. Put overhead, maybe
smoking,
e.g.
52.
Occupied
120. Wine
selection
103.
Oct. and
Nov.
Across
COMMUNITY TV
802- 463-1613
www.fact8.com
Brattleboro Time Trade exchanges
Time Credits, a community
currency that anyone can earn by
using their time, resources, skills
or energy to help others.
802-246-1199
www.brattleborotimetrade.org
Be Sure
To Check
Full Schedule
Program@Schedule
@
Be Sure
To Check
Our FullOur
Program
brattleborotv.org
brattleborotv.org
LOCAL PROGRAM
BCTV
HIGHLIGHTS
Local Program Highlights
Week of: Jan.
11of
- Jan. 17,
2016
Week
11–17,
2016
CHA
N N E L8 8
Channel
C HChannel
A N N E 10
L 10
BUHS TV News: Tue. & Thu.
10:15a - Replay Ch.8: Wed. &
Thu. 5:30p
1st Wednesdays: The Buildings
of Vermont: Mon. 8:40p, Wed.
11:15a, Fri. 3:30p, Sat. 4:30a
Brattleboro Planning
Commission Mtg. 1/4/16: Mon.
5:40a, Thu. 3:00p, Fri. 6:15a, Sat.
10:30
Agape Christian Fellowship:
Delayed Fruit: Mon. 9:00a, Thu.
9:30p, Sun. 8:30a
Brattleboro Selectboard Mtg.
1/5/16: Special Mtg 1/12/16:Live
Tue. 6:15p Wed. 1:00p,
Artists in the Berkshires - The
Williams College Octet: Tue.
6:00p, Thu. 5:00a & 5:00p, Sat.
3:00p
Brattleboro Town School Board
Mtg. 1/13/16: Sun. 9:00a & 6:30p
Brattleboro Junior PeeWee
Football: 10/31/16: Mon. 4:55p,
Wed. 9:00a, Fri. 6:00p
BUHS School Board Mtg.
1/4/16: Mon. 4:40p, Wed. 10:30a
Calvary Church of the West River
Valley - Weekly Service: Tue.
9:00a, Fri. 7:00a, Sun. 10:00a
Dummerston Selectboard Mtg.
1/6/16: Mon. 9:00a, Wed. 9:45p,
Fri. 4:00a & 3:30p
Energy Week Extra - Walter
Gustafson of VPIRG: Tue. 10:00a,
Wed. 6:00p, Sat. 9:30p
Energy Week with George
Harvey: Mon. 8:00a, Tue. 5:00p,
Wed. 12:00p, Thu. 10:30a, Sat.
7:00p,Sun. 8:00a
Firefighters, Architechs and
Engineers for 911 Truth: Mon
6:05a & 10:00p, Wed. 1:00p, Sun.
8:30p
Guilford Selectboard Mtg.
1/11/16: Fri. 6:00p, Sat. 7:30a
First Baptist Church Service:
Wed. 10:30a, Fri. 2:00p, Sun. 7:00a
Jamaica Selectboard Mtg.
1/11/15: Thu. 6:00p, Sun. 3:00p
Keep Talking: Friends with
Benefits - Psychopharmacology
& Psychtherapy: Mon. 8:00p, Tue.
12:50p, Fri. 10:50a & 4:50p, Sun
11:25p
Leland and Gray School Board
Mtg. 1/12/16: Fri. 8:30p, Sat.
2:30p, Sun. 5:30a
Let’s Talk About Mental Health
and Addiction: Mon 6:30p, Tue.
1:30p, Wed. 10:00a, Thurs. 6:00p,
Fri. 1:30p
Montpelier Connection - David
Deen: Tue. 9:30a & 2:00p, Thu.
11:30a, Fri. 10:30a, Sun 5:00a
& 6:00p
New England Cooks - Chef Tom
Bivins: Mon. 1:00p, Wed. 7:00a
Newfane Selectboard Mtg.
1/4/16: Mon. 10:00a, Thu. 5:00p
& 9:34p, Fri. 2:30p
SEON: Heat Pump Workshop
11/9/15: Tue. 11:00a & 9:30p, Fri.
9:00a, Sun. 3:00p
Townshend Selectboard Mtg.
1/4/16: Tue. 10:30a, Fri. 9:30a &
11:00p, Sun. 2:00p
St. Michael’s Catholic Church
Mass: Sun. 2:00p & 7:00p, Tue.
7:00a & 2:00p
WSESU Act 46 Study
Committee Mtg. 1/7/15: Wed.
6:00p, Thu. 6:55a - 1/13/16: Sun.
9:00p
Vote for Vermont: Pros and Cons
of Marijuana: Tue. 5:30a & 11:30p,
Fri. 1:30p, Sun. 6:30p
VT Statehouse Special Events
- The Governors State of the
State Address 1/7/16: Mon.
6:55a & 8:00p, Thu. 8:30p, Fri.
4:30p
VYO: 2015 Youth Oechestra
Chorus Palooza: Tue. 4:00p, Thu.
6:00a, Sat. 12:00p
Vernon Selectboard Mtg. 1/4/16:
Mon. 5:58p, Tue. 7:05a & 9:15p,
Fri. 7:58a
BCTV’s Program Highlights are sponsored by
Note: Schedule subject to change.
105.
107.
108.
113.
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115.
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117.
118.
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120.
municipal meeting coverage helps Commons reporters stay in touch.
Read about it in the Town & Village section at www.commonsnews.org.
Brattleboro Community Television — 257-0888
Kind of orange
Sunscreen ingredient
Improved some fish?
Gila River city
In a really mean way
Fred’s pet
Four-award artist, initially
Discover rival, briefly
Hold back
Put overhead, maybe
Wine selection
Down
1. New wave band with energy
domes
2. Perfect places
3. Toss everywhere
4. Tennis star Ana
5. Manning in the NFC
6. Test animal
7. Its capital is Georgetown
8. Trash can emanation
9. Health studies org.
10. Anxiously nervous
53.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
62.
64.
66.
67.
68.
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Comic Marc with a podcast
Pitching awards?
Has an illness
Minneapolis suburb
Clear, as the windshield
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Composer Edvard
Buddy of Porthos
Ireland, in poetry
Lyft figure
Some fairy tale men
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“Berzerk” company
Song played that isn’t the
original
71. Hockey god with a statue
outside of the TD Garden
7
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CRooked Crosswords November 22, 2015
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11
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72.
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39. One-hit
wonder Basil
73.
Ring of flowers
40. Incapable
of doing anything
75.
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42. Easily
molded
43. Mass-emailing
76.
Al Gore’s hometool
st.
44. Cantaloupe
leftover
79.
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perhaps
45. Take
81.
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sick a gene unit?
49. Chapter 102
83.
Actress Ward
51. Like some wit
84.
Ashdod resident
52. Occupied
85.
VictoriaMarc
in London,
e.g.
53. Comic
with a podcast
86.
Region of
life
55. Pitching
awards?
88.
Singing
syllables
56. Has
an illness
89.
Moonlightingsuburb
waiter’s other
57. Minneapolis
58. Clear,
as the windshield
job, often
59. Puts
into endnotes
92.
Community
in SW California
60. Composer Edvard
62. Buddy of Porthos
64. Ireland, in poetry
66. Lyft figure
67. Some fairy
tale men
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File”
68. __ toast
69. “Berzerk” company
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99
93.
Salt ’N Pepa’s
79. Dredging
spot, biggest
perhapshit
95.
Wintersick
climber’s tool
81. More
98.
Sexy dance
83. Actress
Ward
84. Ashdod
resident
99.
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85. Victoria
100.
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86. Region
101.
Booster,ofatlifetimes
88. Singing syllables
102.
Working hard
89. Moonlighting waiter’s other job,
104. often
Roulette bets
106.
Noble Italian
family
92. Community
in SW
California
109.
First’Nlady?
93. Salt
Pepa’s biggest hit
110.
Rembrandt
van tool
__
95. Winter
climber’s
98. Sexy
111.
“Lux”dance
musician Brian
99. Round
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112.
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__ (workout move)
100. Fiji rival
101. Booster, at times
102. Working hard
104. Roulette bets
106. Noble Italian family
109. First lady?
110. Rembrandt van __
111. “Lux” musician Brian
112.
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The Commons
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“Ladies First”
LADIES FIRST by Brendan Emmett Quigley
FALLS AREA
5:45 Live News: Ch.8 M/Wd/Fr/Su
at 5:45p - Ch. 10 T/Th /Sat 10:00a
BRATTLEBORO —
Brattleboro Orthodontic
Specialists is offering a free SAT
Prep course to be held in Keene
and Brattleboro during the four
Saturdays in March. The course
is taught by Keene High School
teachers Robert Tiebout and
Jessica Smith.
Registration is now open to all
high school Juniors; after Feb.
1, if space allows, other grades
will be able to sign-up. Classes
are March 5, 12, 19, and 26.
The Keene course will be held
from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
at the Keene Public Library.
The Brattleboro course will be
held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at
Brattleboro Union High School.
Registration information is
available at www.BrattOrtho.
com.
BRENDAN EMMETT QUIGLEY
Osher Midwinter
lectures on American
politics conclude
DUMMERSTON — The
Osher Lifelong Learning
Institute (OLLI) announces the
last in its midwinter series of
three lectures on the future of
American politics, to be held on
Monday, Jan. 18.
HALIFAX — The Halifax
Community Club and the
Whitingham Free Public Library
are again cosponsoring a Tai
Chi class that will be held on
Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11
a.m. at the Halifax Community
Hall. The winter session will
begin on Jan. 20 and end on
March 23.
The instructor, Halifax resident Seth Geeslin, has been
practicing Tai Chi for more than
20 years and teaching for about
15 years. The class will be Yang
style, with an emphasis on teaching beginners. However, people
at all levels of Tai Chi are encouraged to participate.
Tai Chi does not require
special equipment or clothing.
Students should wear comfortable clothing for ease of
Free SAT prep course
available in March
movement. Participants can go
barefoot or wear shoes or slippers that will allow for good,
firm placement of their feet on
the floor.
The Halifax Community Hall,
located at 20 Brook Road in
West Halifax, is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible
bathroom. The class is open to
the public, and no registration
is required. There is a suggested
voluntary donation of $5 per
class. All donations will be applied toward a winter heat fund
to enable the Club to host Tai
Chi classes and other programs
year-round in the historic Hall.
For more information, contact
Linda Lyon at www.marlboro.
edu/hotmix.
clip this ad!
TOWNSHEND — The
Community Hope and Action
group of Townshend will be putting on a free supper and concert
on Saturday, Jan. 16, from 6-9
p.m., at the Town Hall.
A local band, Eddy and the
Giants, will be performing classic country and blues music.
This is an alcohol-free, familyfriendly event with childcare provided. Bring a potluck appetizer
or dessert to share. Volunteers
will provide the main meal and
beverages.
This month’s event is sponsored in part by the Vermont
Arts Council and the National
Endowment for the Arts, as well
as Grace Cottage Hospital.
BRATTLEBORO —
Brattleboro Memorial Hospital’s
Community Health Team will
present a free four-part workshop series focused on the role of
mindful eating for those seeking
to lose weight.
Presented by Peg Canal,
Carrie Quimby, and Nancy
Schaefer, the workshop series will help participants identify triggers that contribute to
unhealthy eating and learn to
Tai Chi classes
offered in Halifax
"
Community concert
in Townshend
BMH launches
‘Mindful Eating
For Weight Loss’
workshop series
develop mindful eating practices.
“Many people have a difficult
time changing their eating habits even though they know they
are not good for them,” said
Canal, a nutritionist and dietician. “Mindful eating can be an
effective strategy for eating less,
enjoying food more and losing
weight.”
All series events will be held in
BMH’s Brew Barry Conference
Room #1 on Jan. 19 and 26 and
Feb. 2 and 9, from 6 to 7 p.m.
Participants will also learn food
preparation for optimal nutrition and have the opportunity
to prepare and taste delicious
healthy food.
The workshop is free and open
to the public, but registration is
strongly suggested. Those with
questions or wishing to register
should call 802-257-8877.
CRooked Crosswords November 15, 2015
TOWNSHEND—A new series of Tai Chi/Qigong classes
will be offered at Grace Cottage
Hospital on Thursday afternoons, Jan. 14 and 28, and Feb
11 and 18, from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Gentle, flowing movements
coupled with the coordinated
breathing techniques of these
ancient Chinese practices are
widely acclaimed as some of the
most effective overall exercises
for physical and mental health.
This four-session series
is open to people of all ages
and abilities. It is led by Jason
Sperling, a teacher at Leland &
Gray Middle-High School who
has studied tai chi, qigong, and
meditation practices for years.
Classes are held in the serene Grace Cottage Hospital
Community Wellness Center,
133 Grafton Rd./Route 35.
Wear soft-soled shoes and loose
clothing.
The cost for the series is $5 per
class. Limited space is available,
and registration is required. To
register or for more information,
call 802-365-3649.
The lecturer will be Michael
Krasner, of the political science
faculty at Queen’s College, State
University of New York, who will
consider the state of our political
life in what promises to be a momentous election year. Monday’s
lecture will examine this fall’s
election. January 25 will be the
designated snow date.
All lectures are held at
the Vermont Learning
Collaborative, 471 Vermont
Route 5, Dummerston. The fee
is $6 per lecture. Light refreshments will be served. For further
information, call the Learning
Collaborative at 802-257-8600,
or toll-free 866-889-0042.
IRCULAR FILE by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon
Tai Chi series offered
at Grace Cottage
Flush
Fill Radiator
VT
STATE
for winter
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TOWN & VILL AGE
C4
DUMMERSTON — The
Board of Civil Authority will
meet Wednesday, Jan. 20, at
5:30 p.m. at the Town Offices.
The board will review the
newest additions to the voter
checklist, appointment of
Assistant Election Officials, review of election procedures for
the Presidential Primary/Town
Meeting on March 1, and have
a sign-up for working the polls.
For more information,
contact Town Clerk/Tax budget, election of officers,
Collector Pamela McFadden an update on the completed
at 802-257-1496.
building addition, plans for
celebrating the Society’s 40th
anniversary in June and the
Historical Society
dedication of the new addition.
to meet
The program, at 7:30 pm,
DUMMERSTON — The will feature Tristam Johnson,
annual meeting and program interim executive director of the
of the Dummerston Historical Landmark Trust USA.
Society will be held on
He will discuss the hisThursday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m., in tory and mission of the orthe Historical Society’s school- ganization and describe the
house in Dummerston Center. several historic properties in
The business meeting will Dummerston which have been
include adoption of the annual restored and are maintained
by the Trust. They include
Naulakha (Rudyard Kipling’s
Vermont home), the Dutton
Farmhouse, the Amos Brown
House, The Sugar House,
Kipling’s Carriage House, and
the well-known Scott Farm.
The Dummerston Historical
Society welcomes all visitors;
programs are free of charge
and handicapped accessible.
For more information, call
802-254-9311.
SEVCA to hold client representative election
on the SEVCA Board and whose
current term has expired, has
declared that he will be running
for re-election to that position
from the Putney area. Skekel,
who formerly represented the
Brattleboro area, has been a
resident of Putney since 2012.
He holds a degree in administration and management, as well as
a Master’s degree in counseling
psychology.
Skekel has performed extensive volunteer work in the
Brattleboro area with the mentally ill, as well as serving on
the board of the Arts Council
of Windham County. He has
also been on the receiving end
of needed services. His desire to
serve on SEVCA’s board is to
help address the economic realities that restrict people from
improving their well-being and
achieving their potential, and as
an opportunity to put his skill
sets to good use.
SEVCA will continue accepting nominations for other candidates from the Putney area until
Jan. 20, and there will also be a
space for a write-in candidate on
the ballot. Ballots will contain a
brief biography on announced
candidates. Voting will take place
at the following locations on the
dates and hours listed below:
• SEVCA Outreach Office,
15 Grove St., Brattleboro, Jan.
25-29 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• SEVCA Main Office, 91
Buck Drive, Westminster, Jan.
25-29 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Putney Family Services,
54 Kimball Hill, second Floor,
Putney, Jan. 25-29 from 9 a.m.
Trash pickup schedule
to change in July
The Commons
BRATTLEBORO—With the
success of Pay-As-You-Throw
exceeding the Selectboard’s expectations, the leadership has
unanimously approved a reduction in trash collection.
Starting July 5, Triple T
Trucking, the town’s contractor, will change from weekly
trash collection to every-otherweek pick up.
Weekly collection of recyclables and compost stays the same.
The move is expected to save
the town approximately $96,188
in Fiscal Year 2017. Savings are
also expected for the following years.
The board approved Town
Manager Peter Elwell’s execution of an addendum to its contract with Triple T that also
extended the company’s contract five years for a total of eight.
The addendum includes an
option to alter, in 2016, where
the town sends its recycling.
Right now, the town participates in the Windham Solid
Waste Management District
(WSWMD)’s recycling program
with 19 other member towns.
By Wendy M. Levy
to 3 p.m.
• Putney Foodshelf, Christian
Square (Putney Community
Center), Jan. 26 from 6 to 7 p.m.,
and Jan. 30 from 9 to 10 a.m.
• Putney Meadows, 17 Carol
Brown Way, Putney, Jan. 28
from 9 to 10 a.m.
Clients, customers and patrons who frequent the above
locations are invited and encouraged to vote in this election
to help ensure representation of
the low income population in
the Putney area on the SEVCA
Board. People do not have to be
registered voters to vote in this
election. Voting can also be done
by mail. To request a ballot or for
more information, call 800-4649951, ext. 105.
VERNON—Vernon’s cemetery rules and regulations were
updated in the last month.
Marylynn Scherlin, of the
Cemetery Committee, presented
changes to the Selectboard at
its December 21 regular board
meeting. The board passed
the changes unanimously.
Selectboard member Sandra
Harris was absent.
Under the “Burials” section,
an item was added to keep vaults
open, and available at no extra cost, for winter burials. The
paths leading to the vaults will
be kept plowed and accessible,
Scherlin said.
Changes in regulations deal
with prohibitions: no dogs, other
than service animals, no alcoholic beverages, no tobacco
products, and no bicycles and
unauthorized vehicles are permitted in town cemeteries.
Scherlin announced footstones need to be raised 3 inches,
and flat stones need a liner,
called a “wash,” to prevent them
from sinking.
Selectboard member Emily
■ Dogs
BRA TTL E B OR O
By Olga Peters
Cemetery
changes its rules
and regulations
The Commons
P UTNE Y
PUTNEY—Southeastern
Vermont Community Action
(SEVCA), the anti-poverty
agency serving Windham and
Windsor counties, will be holding a public election during the
week of Jan. 25 to elect a Client
Representative to its board from
the Putney area.
SEVCA needs representatives
of low-income residents throughout its service area to ensure that
there are board members who
can speak with firsthand knowledge about what people need to
cope with financial hardship and
become self-reliant. It’s a unique
opportunity for local residents to
help direct SEVCA’s resources
and services to achieve its mission to alleviate suffering and lift
people out of poverty.
Donald Skekel, who has been
V ERNON
DU M M E R ST ON
Board of Civil
Authority to meet
THE COMMONS
Anytime during this year,
however, the board can choose to
have Triple T send recyclables to
Casella’s single stream Materials
Recovery Facility in Rutland.
Elwell said that he hoped the
switch to Casella would not be
necessary in light of favorable
agreements with WSWMD.
Still, he felt keeping the option
remained in the town’s best
interest.
According to a Dec. 24 memo
from Assistant Town Manager
Patrick Moreland, trash collection in town has dropped 55 percent since the implementation of
Pay-As-You-Throw and the introduction of town-wide curbside compost collection.
In his memo, Moreland provides a graph showing curbside
collection in Brattleboro between
July and November in 2013-14
and 2015.
Triple T picked up an average of 1,030.97 tons of rubbish
per month in 2013 and 2014,
according to Moreland’s memo.
In contrast, the tonnage of
rubbish decreased to 472.11
tons per month in 2015, wrote
Moreland.
Meanwhile, in 2015, the combined tonnage of paper, cans and
bottles, and compost increased
by an average of 110.07 tons.
Overall, writes Moreland, the
volume of the waste has dropped
30 percent.
“Locally, haulers have
noted an increase in new commercial customers following
Brattleboro’s implementation
of Pay-As-You-Throw, and this
likely accounts for much of the
overall reduction in curbside volume,” writes Moreland.
But what about smelly trash
that sits around for an extra
week?
The board members stressed
that compost collection will be
picked up weekly. They expect
that with more people composting, there are fewer smelly, rotting, or “putrescible materials”
sitting in trash cans.
Board Chair David
Gartenstein praised the people
of Brattleboro for making the
shift to every-other-week trash
collection possible.
Residents’ changes in behavior
and adapting to the Pay-As-YouThrow system marks a proud
moment, he said.
“It’s a form of service cut, but
we’re saving money as a result,”
he said.
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livestock and pet owners to shoot
threatening animals.
The statute, under Title 20,
Chapter 193, says, “A domestic
pet or wolf-hybrid found wounding, killing or worrying another
domestic pet or wolf-hybrid, a
domestic animal or fowl may be
killed when the attendant circumstances are such that the
killing is reasonably necessary
to prevent injury to the animal
or fowl which is the subject of
the attack."
They also told Rivera she is
running afoul of local laws. ViceChair Carol Hatcher assured
Rivera her inability to control
her dogs puts her in violation of
FROM SECTION FRONT
Newfane’s dog ordinances.
“Because we’ve had three incidents, I think it’s vital we’re
completely sure that your dogs
are in control by you 24/7. I’m a
little concerned...this is repeating
itself, and it’s getting a little more
serious with the death of people’s
livestock... This is absolutely unacceptable,” Hatcher told Rivera.
Board member Mike
Fitzpatrick was more blunt.
“I don’t want to hear about
them getting out again,” he said.
His recommendation was “to
take them away if you can’t control them."
Administrative Assistant
Shannon Meckle noted the only
■ Sweet Pond
Reconstruction
timetable
The steering committee recently received an email from
Ethan Phelps, Parks Regional
Manager at the Department of
Forests, Parks, and Recreation,
detailing the timetable of Sweet
Pond’s restoration.
Phelps told committee members the competitive bid process
to choose the engineering firm is
complete, with Dubois and King
of Randolph selected to “prepare
design and construction documents for the dam reconstruction project.”
“The contract is being finalized,” Phelps wrote.
Between now and August
2016, Dubois and King will work
on the design of the project, and
obtain the fairly extensive set of
state and federal permits needed
to do the work.
Come autumn, the engineering firm will “prepare construction documents, obtain permits
if not completed, and assemble
[the] construction bid package,”
Phelps wrote. After this step is
complete, Dubois and King can
put the project out for bid.
Phelps anticipates construction to begin in June, 2017, and
end in September.
Then, he wrote, the final step
is to, “refill the pond!”
Recreational
enhancements
In his email to the Sweet Pond
Steering Committee, Phelps said
he met with consultants to, “go
over some details pertaining to
the recreational enhancements
that are going with the project."
Some of these additions
include, “a better organized
parking area at the cartop boat
launch, improv[ing] the path to
the launch site, and dredg[ing] a
portion of the pond behind the
dam for swimming."
Phelps also informed the
members, “the foot bridge across
the top of the dam will no longer
be allowed, so the bridge will be
moved a few hundred feet downstream and the trail re-routed."
He noted these enhancements
depend on funding, and asked
■ School board
find three.”
Given the uncertainties of Act
46, school officials were careful to not make any long-term
promises. School Board Vice
Chairman Doug Korb acknowledged that, “after a proposal goes
through on Act 46, we may have
to restructure our entire school
governance anyway.”
And John told the crowd that,
in his experience as a superintendent, “it isn’t clear whether
three (board members) are more
effective than five ... it depends
on the commitment of the people involved.”
But officials returned often to
the idea that more board members will ease the workload and
bring additional “diversity” to
the Act 46 debate. And John
pointed out that the appointments to the new seats would
last only until March 1 elections,
meaning “you can throw them
out pretty quickly if they’re not
serving you well.”
After about 40 minutes of
debate, voters unanimously
FIRE WOOD FOR SALE
GET STARTED OR
GET SOME HELP
VISIT VermontHealthConnect.gov
CALL Toll-Free 855-899-9600
Vergobbe asked for clarification
about decorations.
The rules state seasonal decorations must be removed on a
monthly basis, and Vergobbe
wanted to know whether solar lights were included in this
decree. She said solar lights
were becoming popular as a
year-round cemetery ornament.
Scherlin and the board agreed
to rewrite the rules to allow solar lights to remain year-round.
In other cemetery business,
Scherlin asked the Selectboard
to appoint Dean Spaulding to
the committee, which the board,
minus the absent Harris, unanimously voted to do.
Scherlin also presented articles
for the upcoming Town Meeting
regarding cemetery plots.
She said the Cemetery
Committee proposes raising
and appropriating $5,000 for
the repair of cemetery stones.
She said some are “sunken that
have to be up,” a few have fallen,
and one is broken.
Townspeople will vote on
whether to increase the price of
cemetery lots, including the cost
of cornerstones.
Contact Rod Winchester:
802-257-4102
time the Selectboard can order
a dog euthanized is if it bites a
person on public lands. But, the
board can vote to issue a $500
fine or revoke the owner’s kennel license at the next offense.
Fitzpatrick made a motion to
that effect, and it was approved.
Young noted Rivera has been
proactive in assisting him with
his efforts, including notifying
him when her dogs were loose,
and helping him round them
up. Rivera submitted her enhanced fence and gate plans to
the board, and to Young, who
said he is satisfied they are in
compliance with established
guidelines.
FROM SECTION FRONT
for additional ideas.
Hecker sent an email to “everyone who has supported Sweet
Pond’s restoration,” informing
them of the news. She wrote,
“What would we like to see
there? Benches? Signage?"
“Goose prevention” and the
gifts the animals leave in their
wake was high on the list, Hecker
told The Commons.
Some of the other ideas interested parties shared with Hecker
were a rope swing, a little book to
write in with a weatherproof box
and pens, a field guide for wildlife, benches for hikers and skaters, a small pier with a ladder to
make “access for the young and
old easier/safer,” picnic tables,
improved non-motorized boat
access, and “a safe fireplace for
warming winter skaters."
Hecker said the committee
had raised almost $7,000 for
these enhancements.
“We’re not actively seeking
new funding but we welcome
contributions,” she said, noting,
“a few people made donations
in response to the good news."
FROM SECTION FRONT
approved the board expansion
on a voice vote. Afterward, Korb
said he thought the change will
be “a benefit to the townspeople—they’re going to have more
boots on the ground for Act 46 as
well as for our regular business.”
In addition to the two new
seats, two other Marlboro school
board spots will be up for grabs
at Town Meeting. Candidate petitions are due Jan. 25.
“Spread the word,” John
urged the crowd. “Let’s make
sure we have people running for
these positions.”
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VOICES
SECTION B
D
Wednesday, January
M I 13,
L E S T2016
O N E S• .page
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OPINION • COMMENTARY • LETTERS • ESSAYS
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page D1
PRIMARY SOURCES
The
work
ahead
In the State of the
State address, the
governor outlines his
priorities for his last
months in office
I
Montpelier
N MY first inaugural ad-
dress in 2011, I spoke
with affection about
our last governor from
Putney, George Aiken. Threequarters of a century ago, he
stood before this body and reflected on the challenges and
progress of his day. He said:
“During these four years,
Vermont, in common with the
rest of the nation, has experienced changes and put into
practice new functions of government that were either unforeseen or in the visionary
stage a few years ago. Our task
has been to apply these innovations in a practicable manner.”
Seventy-five years later, his
words call to mind our own efforts over the last five years.
When I became governor, I
promised to focus every day on
making the lives of Vermonters
more secure — secure in an
economy that grows jobs and
works for everyone; secure with
a saner energy policy that relies on Vermont-grown energy
while protecting our planet and
our economy; secure with an
education system that gives all
Vermont kids an equal shot at
success; secure with a criminal
justice system that relies less on
incarceration and more on rehabilitation; and secure with
a health-care system that offers coverage to all and costs
Vermonters less.
From day one, I made it
clear that I didn’t run for this
office to be a caretaker. I ran to
get tough things done. I ran for
governor because Vermont is a
great state. I wanted to make it
greater.
I ended my first address to
you with these words: “Our
obstacles are many, and our
challenges are daunting. The
change we’re proposing is
transformative and systemic.
PETER SHUMLIN is
in his last months as governor of Vermont. This piece is
a condensed and lightly edited version of his annual
State of the State address,
which he delivered to a joint
session of the state legislature
on Jan. 7. For the full text,
which includes vignettes honoring Vermonters in the audience, visit governor.vermont.
gov/newsroom.
VERMONT PBS
Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin delivers his last State of the State address on Jan. 7. Seated at left:
Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott.
some Vermonters are stuck
with bills that are piling up
faster than they can pay them.
We have more work to do.
Vermonters who are sick
should not have to choose between going to work or losing their job. This isn’t just
about fairness for employees;
it’s about protecting all of us.
It will not happen quickly or
Nationwide, almost 90 percent
easily.”
of food workers report that they
It hasn’t been easy, but togo to work sick, and accordgether we have accomplished so ing to the Centers for Disease
much. Vermont is a better place Control, 65 percent of foodto live, work, and raise a family borne illnesses result from the
than it was when we began.
handling of food by someone
Governor Aiken was forthwho’s sick. I’m encouraged that
right in saying “there have been the Senate is committed to gettimes when we have encounting to my desk the good bill
tered rough places on the high- the House passed last year to
way of our history.” But he
address this problem.
concluded that “we have been
In a race to the bottom
successful for the most part.”
where states cannibalize one
Both observations are as true another for jobs, Vermont has
today as they were in Aiken’s
succeeded by being smart, not
day.
big. Two years ago, we added
to our job creation arsenal the
WE PUT Vermont back to
Vermont Enterprise Fund, and
work.
in my budget I will ask lawWe started at the trough of
makers to enhance and extend
the Great Recession, unsure
it because of our job-creating
whether we’d be able to build
successes.
back. Soon after, Irene struck.
Of the new jobs we’ve creWe were down and we got
ated, 4,400 are because of the
knocked down again. But we
new face of farming and lostood back up.
cally grown food in Vermont.
We added 17,600 new jobs
Not that long ago, many bein the last five years and have
lieved that our best farming
grown per-capita incomes at
days were behind us, but toor above the national rate evday a new generation of young
ery year I have been governor,
farmers are competing for
and that has never happened in land and resources and proVermont’s history.
ducing the best fruits, vegeWe have expanded health in- tables, meats, cheeses, beer,
surance to 19,000 Vermonters cider, and spirits in the world.
who had no coverage when
In the past two years, I’ve had
I took office. While there are
the privilege of moving the
thousands of success stories,
Best Cheese in America award
from one Vermont farm to another Vermont farm. Take that,
Wisconsin.
Now get this. Long known to
out-of-staters for our great deer
hunting, flatlanders are now
coming to Vermont to beer
hunt. They are literally rising
at dawn to drive to the promised land, where they stand in
a long line and wait, and wait,
and wait some more to purchase Vermont’s world-awardwinning beers, which they carry
back with them in the trunks of
their cars to lift up their miserable lives because they don’t live
in Vermont.
We can’t let up on our farmto-plate, farm-to-glass, and
farm-to-can revolution. I’m
pleased to announce $175,000
in new money for the Working
Lands fund, which has been
a catalyst in our agricultural
renaissance.
AS I TRAVEL around Vermont
talking to employers, their biggest challenge remains finding
enough trained and educated
workers to help their businesses
grow. They know that our success in moving more low-income Vermont kids beyond
high school will determine their
success.
By expanding the number of
kids earning college credit for
free while still in high school
and becoming the only state to
guarantee every 3- and 4-yearold access to high-quality prekindergarten, we have taken
Vermont’s good education system and have made it better.
Despite having one of the
highest graduation rates in the
country, we continue to fall
short getting more students the
college education that is now
a prerequisite to earning a decent wage. We must ensure that
Vermont kids who have not
been born with mountains of
opportunity have the same shot
at economic prosperity as those
who have.
That’s why I signed a bill last
year to help families start saving for college from the day
their children are born. Now
we must fund it. My budget
will ensure every child born in
Vermont will receive a $250
contribution to get a savings
plan started, and for low-income Vermonters, we will double that amount to $500.
We also need to make it easier for those who are working hard in low-paying jobs to
get back to school. I constantly
talk to Vermonters who ended
their studies in high school,
are working numerous jobs to
make ends meet, and long for
a better future and more education, but who don’t have two
pennies to rub together to pay
for it.
It’s our responsibility to offer
the same opportunity to every
Vermonter. In partnership with
CCV, Vermont State Colleges
and the University of Vermont,
my budget will provide $2 million to launch Step Up, funding
a semester of free courses and
support services to help firstgeneration and low-income students get back to school.
We should be so proud that
Act 46 is working better than
any of us had anticipated.
Communities across Vermont
are finally having the very difficult but necessary conversation
about how we right-size our education enterprise to improve
quality and reduce costs.
The rigid spending caps
that were a small part of that
bill have become the enemy of
the good. I ask elected officials
to work swiftly in the coming
weeks to pass either a moratorium or a repeal of this small
piece of Act 46 before school
boards have to send their budgets to the printers for Town
Meeting Day.
THE MOST TROPICAL
Christmas in memory reminds
us that climate change threatens the Vermont we love, from
our ski season to our lakes.
That’s why we are working so
hard to move to green, clean renewable energy that is creating
jobs, reducing power rates, and
putting money in Vermonters’
pockets. We’re living in a state
where Vermonters’ electric bills
have gone down, not up, for
three of the last four years.
When I became governor,
our largest power generator
was an aging, leaking nuclear
plant. Five years later, we’ve increased by 10 times the number of solar panels, and we now
have more clean-energy jobs
per capita than any other state
in the union. During peak demand, solar power has replaced
our nuclear plant as the largest
power generator in our state.
And last year, we passed the
most ambitious, long-overdue
clean-water bill in Vermont’s
history.
But the clock keeps ticking,
we’re running out of time, and
the urgency for us to take every
■ SEE STATE OF THE STATE, D2
LETTERS FROM READERS
Trump will create
a liberal panic
R
E: “‘Southern strategy’
taken to its logical extreme” [Viewpoint, Jan. 6]:
Bill Clinton groped
Kathleen Willey, dropped his
pants for Paula Jones, raped
Juanita Broaddrick, and lied
about his sexual relationships with Gennifer Flowers
and Monica Lewinsky (an
intern young enough to be
his daughter), yet you call
Donald Trump mean and a
misogynist?
Susan Odegard: When
Trump is elected president,
you and your liberal friends
will be in a panic. I can’t wait.
Tim Grant
Bernardston, Mass.
Rockingham citizen-requested
Respect from Bernie article to ask the question:
R
E: “Genuine Bernie”
[Viewpoint, Jan. 6]:
A measure of a man is how
he treats others.
It’s nice to see the attention paid to the students and
the respect to the teacher. We
need more of this! Go Bernie!
Marjorie Albrecht Ray
Brookline
“Shall the Voters of the Town
of Rockingham allow placement of a detention center
within the legal boundaries of
Bellows Falls?”
As there are forces fighting against this article and
the request to exercise our
democratic rights as taxpaying Vermont citizens, it would
be in the best interests of
Rockingham residents to atHelp place detention tend this meeting in force to
center question
see the question safely placed
on the ballot
on the ballot.
he Rockingham
In addition, there are conSelectboard will meet
cerns with the use of town
on Thursday, Jan. 14, at 5
attorney, as well as village atp.m., to finalize the articles
torney, to require a legal opinfor the March Annual Town
ion on the request prior to
Meeting. Among them is the
the Selectboard vote on the
T
article.
On the one hand, the town
attorney, paid by tax dollars,
is also the registered agent
of Island Holdings, LLC,
the property-holding company for Bellows Falls Area
Development Corporation,
the nonprofit corporation
working within the town hall
on the Liberty Mill Justice
Center project.
The village attorney, on the
other hand, is also the attorney
for the property owner of the
Chemco property. He is paid
for his legal opinion through
village taxes. The weaving of
a significant conflict of interest is clear, once these factors
are known. Who will give an
opinion?
Although the players might
not have intended their multifaceted relationships to seem
nefarious, they are the unfortunate result of a local government that is less than open to
its citizens. Saying one’s door
is open does not produce the
same effect as presenting the
facts voluntarily in open meeting to all concerned residents
as statute requires: doing business before the public that
they may have appropriate opportunity to comment.
Therefore, if you can, please
attend the meeting in the
Bellows Falls Lower Theatre,
followed by a concerned citizens’ meeting at 7 p.m. at
Windham Antiques Center.
The meeting will provide a
safe space for Rockingham
residents to exchange
information, so that we might
move beyond the fear and create a clear citizen-informed
dialogue for our community’s
future.
A follow-up meeting Jan. 21
at 7 p.m. (location to be announced) of concerned citizens will invite Windham
County Sheriff Keith Clark
and other key players to create a clean, cohesive dialogue
of the Liberty Mill Justice
Center’s future.
Deborah Wright
Bellows Falls
It’s Brattleboro’s talk show
Monday-Friday
6:00AM - 9:00AM
VOICES
D2
THE COMMONS
■ State of the State
sensible action against climate
change has never been greater.
California, under Governor
Jerry Brown’s leadership, recently passed a bill to divest
Conservationand
and Restoration
ofof
Conservation
Restoration
state funds from dirty coal, and
European
andAmerican
American Antique
Furniture
European
and
Antique
Furniture explore divesting from Big Oil.
Our small state must partner
with California, which manGilles Gerard
ggerard946@gmail.com
Gilles Gerard
ggerard946@gmail.com ages hundreds of billions of dol802-258-2575
www.ateliergerardvt.com
802-258-2575
www.ateliergerardvt.comlars of state funds, and divest
Vermont of coal.
Let’s remember Vermont
is downwind of the coal-fired
The Hotel Pharmacy
plants to our west; we’re the
20 Elliot St, Suite 1
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tailpipe to their dirty-energy
802-254-2303
choices. Their pollution sickens
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our children, creates acid rain,
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dumps mercury on our forests
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me a divestiture bill just like
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California’s. At the same time,
Located in the Historical
Governor Brown and I will inMethodist Church on Elliot Street
vite other governors to join us
hotelrx.com
in what should be a national
effort.
While we await the California
study on oil, Vermont should
not wait to rid ourselves of
ExxonMobil stock. It has been
clearly documented that since
the 1980s, ExxonMobil’s own
scientists have long known
about the dangers of global
warming and chose to conceal
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Since I took office, we’ve
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helped thousands of Vermont
kitchen/kitchenette, emergency call system;
families, farms, and businesses
options for in-house meals, laundry, cleaning,
set up small-scale methane digesters, solar, wind, and hydro.
and personal care services; hospital nearby.
We can’t stop there; we need
We have options for supportive and
more smartly-sited renewables
assisted living.
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We’re learning as we go. Last
To inquire and for an application,
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nities more say in the Public
Service Board process. I beEqual Housing Opportunity
lieve we should continue to
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IT WAS A lonely place when
Vermont had the courage to
acknowledge the terrible disease of opiate addiction that
was threatening our quality of
life and killing too many of our
neighbors.
Today, there can’t be a state
in the union that has not joined
us. Our innovation over the
past two years is getting results:
• 65 percent more
Vermonters are getting
treatment;
• We are moving addicts into
recovery instead of jail;
• By getting rescue kits to
anyone who will take them, we
have prevented hundreds of
overdose deaths;
• Most importantly, we’ve
removed the stigma that discriminates against our friends
and family members struggling so hard against this terrible disease.
I said two years ago that opiate addiction is the one thing
that could destroy Vermont as
we know it. Today, we live almost daily with drug-related
violence. Whether it is dealers
getting shot in Burlington or
people burning to death after
being doused with gasoline, the
horrors seem unimaginable. We
live with despair, crime, death,
and small children neglected by
the people who are supposed to
love them the most.
So much of this burden lands
on the shoulders of our state’s
social workers, who spend every day making difficult choices
to protect and give hope to heroin’s most innocent victims:
our most vulnerable children.
We will forever honor one of
our very best: Lara Sobel, the
social worker who was killed at
work last August. Her love and
compassion for every child, every family, every Vermonter she
touched shall be forever etched
in our memory.
To continue Lara’s legacy, let’s give her colleagues
the support they need to do
their jobs by approving my request to fund 35 new positions
at the Department of Children
and Families, and help me take
measures to ensure their safety
in the workplace.
We also need to take two additional actions to deal with our
addiction crisis:
First, in order to meet our
goal of getting rid of waiting
lists, we must continue to expand treatment.
• In Franklin County, where
approximately 250 people
travel to other Hubs for treatment, my Health Department
is working to expand treatment options closer to home.
We are also working to increase
access to Vivitrol, a drug that
blocks the effects of opiates for
a full month to help addicts stay
clean.
• In Burlington, Health
Commissioner Harry Chen
is working with Mayor Miro
Weinberger, the UVM Medical
Center, recovery providers, law
enforcement, and community
leaders to prevent addiction, reduce drug-related crime, and
expand treatment options.
• Across the state, the
Department of Children
and Families is sending drug
screeners out with social workers into homes where substance abuse is a contributor
to children who are abused or
neglected.
• Statewide, parents with
young children in the DCF system will be moved to the front
of the line for treatment until
waiting lists are gone.
Second, let’s go after the
source that led us into this mess
in the first place. It’s difficult
for me to find words that adequately express my frustrations
but I can find the three letters
that are at the root of the problem: FDA.
In the 1990s, the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration approved OxyContin, which
lit the match that ignited
America’s opiate- and heroin-addiction crisis. In 2010,
our nation prescribed enough
OxyContin to keep every adult
in the U.S. high for an entire month; by 2012 we issued
enough prescriptions to give every adult in this country their
own personal bottle of pills.
On television, we now see
commercials for drugs whose
sole purpose is to help relieve
side effects from taking opiates
— in other words there are now
FDA-approved drugs to help
you take more FDA-approved
opiates.
A few years ago, the FDA
approved Zohydro, which is
OxyContin on steroids, against
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BEGIN THE YEAR WITH
A FRESH START!
STEVE
SEZ:
• NO MINIMUM DEPOSIT!
of the hands of underage kids.
The current system doesn’t.
2. The tax imposed must
be low enough to wipe out the
black market and get rid of the
illegal drug dealers.
3. Third, revenue from legalization must be used to expand
addiction-prevention programs.
4. We must strengthen law
enforcement’s capacity to improve our response to drivers
impaired by marijuana who are
already on Vermont’s roads.
5. Take a hard lesson from
other states and ban the sale of
edibles until other states figure
out how to do it right.
I understand that the Senate
will go first, and I look forward
to working with Senate Pro
Tem John Campbell, Senate
leadership, Senator Dick
Sears, and the Senate Judiciary
Committee to construct a sensible, cautious bill.
We have a history of tackling difficult issues with respect
and care, the Vermont way. I
believe we have the capacity to
take this next step and get marijuana legalization done right.
AS WE BEGIN a new year, and
start a new legislative session,
we commit ourselves anew to
the work ahead.
I know there are those critics who perpetually see the cup,
Vermont’s cup, as half empty.
While some pessimists
talk down our economy,
Vermonters know we continue
to make progress growing jobs
and attracting businesses because of our unique quality of
life, our tight-knit communities,
and our dedicated work force.
While some cynics call endlessly for Vermont to join the
race to the bottom taking place
in some states, I believe we
should continue our commitments to clean jobs, clean water, clean energy, and a quality
educational system.
Our cup is not half empty;
it is overflowing with the most
hard-working, most resilient,
most rugged, and most innovative people in America.
Together, we aspire rightfully to a brighter future, and
Vermonters deserve leadership that is forward-looking and
unafraid.
WHILE SOME WANT Vermont
to join the majority of governors in the nation in closing its
borders to the Syrian refugees
fleeing violence and death, I believe Vermont must not abandon its long heritage of being a
welcoming state to those who
are escaping unimaginable horror to seek a better life.
How many among us can
claim that in our own family’s arrival to the United States,
fleeing famine, religious opTHE OUTDATED War on
pression, dictatorship, or war
Drugs has also failed, and there was not the motivation to come
is no greater example than our here?
nation’s marijuana laws. That’s
Vermonters have a long
why Vermont took steps to
and proud tradition of rejectchange our criminal penalties
ing racism, bigotry, bullying,
and to institute a well-regulated intolerance, and fear. When
medical marijuana system that McCarthyism reared its ugly
now serves 2,400 Vermonters. head, Senator Aiken cautioned
This careful approach shows against his own Republican
that we know how to regulate
party that sought “victory
marijuana thoughtfully and
through the selfish political excautiously, avoiding the pitfalls ploitation of fear, bigotry, ignothat have caused other states to rance, and intolerance.”
stumble.
More than half a century
But the black market of drug later, the same un-American
dealers selling marijuana for
spirit dominates our political
recreational use is alive and
dialogue.
well, serving more than 80,000
We are blessed to live in
Vermonters who reported usa state where so many reject
ing marijuana last year. These
fear and hatred, and I pledge
illegal dealers couldn’t care less to continue to work with
how young their customers
President Obama, our refuare, what’s in the product they gee resettlement community,
sell, or what illegal drugs you
clergy, volunteers, and our
buy from their stash, much less mayors to make our state a beawhether they pay taxes on their con of hope and hospitality to
earnings.
Muslims, to our Syrian brothThat’s why I will work with
ers and sisters, and to all who
the Legislature to craft the right seek to build a better life right
bill, one that thoughtfully and
here in Vermont.
carefully eliminates the era of
I love being governor, and
prohibition that is currently fail- I am so grateful for the priving us so miserably.
ilege of serving you. Those
To do it right, we must do it of us entrusted by the people
deliberately, cautiously, step by of Vermont to effect positive
step, and not all in one leap as
change have the unique opwe legislate the lessons learned portunity every day of putting
from the states that went bewords into action.
fore us.
Our time is now to make
I will insist on five things be- a difference in the lives of
fore I’ll sign a bill:
Vermonters.
1. A legal market must keep
Let’s begin again — and let’s
marijuana and other drugs out get to work.
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the recommendation of its own
advisory committee. Just a few
months ago, the FDA approved
OxyContin for kids.
You can’t make this stuff up.
The $11-billion-a-year opiate industry in the U.S. knows
no shame. Compassionate pain
management has been transformed by Big Pharma into
drug promotion and profit.
Until our country is willing
to have an honest conversation
about the way we are dealing
with pain, our challenges will
continue. In light of this, I am
implementing the following:
1. We are putting an end to
the system where doctors, dentists, and health-care providers send patients home with 80
or 90 pills in their pocket. I am
proposing a new system where
10 pills will be the limit for minor procedures. We’re also
looking at reasonable limits for
more major procedures that
provide pain relief without filling up our medicine cabinets
with unused opiates. That’s just
Vermont common sense.
2. We are partnering with
pharmacies and local communities to expand drug takeback programs, to get rid of
Vermont’s most dangerous
leftovers.
3. We are partnering with
neighboring states to upgrade
the Prescription Monitoring
System to prevent addicts from
crossing state borders to go pill
shopping.
I ask for legislative support in
these actions.
We also must continue the
good progress we’ve made reforming our criminal-justice
system.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone
that when we take away people’s driver’s licenses for nondriving-related offenses like
underage tobacco purchases
that we end up with four times
as many Vermonters with suspended driver’s licenses than
we have enrolled in our state
college system.
Our innovative state’s attorney, T.J. Donovan, worked
with us to create two driver restoration days in Chittenden and
Windsor Counties. The stories that T.J. and I heard from
lower- income Vermonters
standing in line for redemption
made me ask: Why are we creating a permanent economic
disability and making it so difficult for people who want to improve their lives?
I ask state lawmakers to
make driver restoration days
unnecessary by passing legislation that ensures non-trafficrelated offenses don’t lead to
Vermonters losing their ability
to get to work or drop their kids
at school.
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THE COMMONS
• Wednesday, January 13, 2016 D3
MILESTONES
Births, deaths, and news of people from Windham County
College news
• The following area students
have been named to the fall 2015
Dean’s List at the University of
Vermont: Isabel Stewar t of
Brattleboro, Megan Siggins
of Brattleboro, Greer Cowan
of Putney, Savannah Nesbitt
of Wilmington, Cleo Rohn of
Brattleboro, Linnea Jahn of
Brattleboro, Jennifer Hutton
of Brattleboro, Oliver Pomazi
of Brattleboro, John Sawyer
Shaw of Brattleboro, Isaiah
Ungerleider of Brattleboro,
Roxanna Daims of Brattleboro,
Ti l d e n R e m e r l e i t c h of
Guilford, A l i z a R a c i n e of
Marlboro, Lachlan Francis
of Putney, Sylvie Littledale
of Putney, T y s o n Po n d of
Putney, Katherine Amidon of
Vernon, Ursula Casey of West
Dover, Ethan Illingworth of
Westminster, Jordan LaBonte
of Wilmington, Jamie Martell
of Brattleboro, Colby McGinn of
Brattleboro, Giannina GasperoBeckstrom of Guilford, Stephen
Scott of Jamaica, Cade Nesbitt
of Wilmington, Shannon Lozito
of Wilmington, Ryan Borgesen
of Newfane, and Kevin Knapp of
West Dover.
• Emily Dow, an event management major in the Class of 2016
from Brattleboro, was named to
the fall 2015 Dean’s List at Lasell
College in Newton, Mass.
• Olivia Milne of Brattleboro
qualified for the fall 2015 Dean’s List
at Belmont University in Nashville,
Tenn.
School news
• Theresa
S n ow of West
Dover was named
the Windham
R e g i o n a l
Career Center’s
December
Student of the
Month. Snow has
been taking Career Center courses
since her junior year. Despite a
full class schedule, she also is a
volunteer for West Dover Fire
Department and works part-time.
She will be attending Southern
Maine Community College in the
fall, where she plans to major in both
fire science and paramedicine, with
a goal of joining the fire service fulltime after graduation.
Transitions
• Michelle
Bos-Lun of
Westminster
was elected to
the Board of
Directors of The
National Alliance
on Mental Illness
of Vermont
(NAMI Vermont) for a three year
term. She has worked in education
and social services for more than
two decades, including work which
provides housing, job development,
and mentoring for youth with mental illness and other disabilities at
Youth Services in Brattleboro. She
is a family member with extensive
knowledge and experience regarding mental health issues and previously has taught NAMI Vermont’s
Family-to-Family course three times.
Obituaries
• Audrey
V i r g i n i a
“ D o l l i e ”
Acquaviva, 87,
of Whitingham.
Died Jan. 1. Wife
of the late William
P. Acquaviva.
Mother of Peter J.
Acquaviva and his wife, Elizabeth, of
Whitingham; William R. Acquaviva
and his wife, Miriam, of Putney;
Michael G. Acquaviva of Arundel,
Maine; James A. Acquaviva and his
wife, Jacqueline, of Kennebunk,
Maine; AudreyAnn King and her
husband, Richard, of Kent, Conn.;
Thomas P. Acquaviva and his
wife, Thanaporn, of Baton Rouge,
La.; Anthony J. Acquaviva and
his wife, Wendy, of Whitingham;
and TinaMaria Acquaviva of
Whitingham; Sister of Frances
Spinazzola and her husband,
Anthony, of Raymond, N.H., and
the late Assunta, Frank, and Richard
Mafera. Also survived by 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Born in Revere, Mass., the
youngest of five children, to the late
Juanita M. (Merrick) and Frank J.
Mafera, she grew up in the Point of
Pines in Revere and graduated from
Revere High School and Burdett
College in Boston. She married in
1950, and she and Bill lived and
raised their family in Reading,
Mass. She loved life, treasured her
friends, and cherished her family.
She possessed a unique and powerful strength garnered through
her deep faith and spiritualism.
She has left behind an indelible
mark and contribution through her
spirit of volunteerism. MEMORIAL
INFOR MATION : Private services
were held with her children in
Townshend. Her children are planning a Celebration of Life Mass in
Reading, Mass., in April for family and friends. Donations to the
Vermont Association for the Blind
and Visually Impaired, 38 Park
Place, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
Condolences may be offered at www. from printing, he worked in real estate and continued working on his
kerwesterlund.com.
• Rober t L. “Handsome beloved property as landlord for
Bob” Bousquet, 82, of Putney. his barn apartments until his death.
Died Dec. 27 at Catholic Medical He was a gardener, cook, walker,
Center in Manchester, N.H., fol- birder, singer, painter, writer, pholowing a period of declining health. tographer, conversationalist, and a
Former husband of Barbara Anne tinkerer. He taught himself carpenConrad. Father of Curtis “Curt” try and all of the building skills that
Bousquet and his wife, Betsy, of enabled him to convert a 150-yearPutney; Laurie Blair and her hus- old post-and-beam barn into beauband, Leo, of West Chesterfield, tiful living spaces. He kept goldfish
N.H.; and the late Cindy Bousquet. for his grandchildren to enjoy, and
Brother of Cherie Kingery of a canary for the jubilance of its song.
Richmond, Va., and Jean Granger He raised pigs and sheep and then
of Cummington, Mass. Also sur- ate them, to the horror of some of
vived by two grandchildren and his children, and then turned to
many nieces and nephews. Born in raising chickens for their eggs, as
Springfield, Mass., the son of the well as a raucous flock of guinea
late Joachim and Jeannette (Pourier) hens to eat the ticks. He loved his
Bousquet, he was raised and edu- family and called his brothers, his
cated in Springfield and was a grad- children and his grandchildren ofuate of Springfield Technical High ten, just to say hello. Sometimes
School. He served in the Air Force that hello turned into an hour-andduring the Korean Conflict, even- a-half conversation, ranging from
tually settling in Vermont following how he had started this season’s tohis honorable discharge from active mato seedlings under the pilot light
service. He worked at the former in the stove, to a story about growWindham College, where he was ing up in Queens, to a reminder
employed as a security supervisor, about the sugar-on-snow dinner
and later worked for many years coming up, to the latest musical/
as an engineer at Whitney-Blake artistic/athletic/academic perforCompany in Bellows Falls. He was mance of his grandsons. He had a
a member of American Legion Post gift for sharing himself and his joy
5 in Brattleboro. He enjoyed the out- in life. Every interaction was an opdoors, especially hunting and fishing, portunity to engage, to build a conand took great pride in restoring an- nection, to make a friend. He was
tique and classic cars. MEMORIAL optimistic and saw what was good in
INFORMATION : A memorial ser- everything and everyone, and spoke
vice will take place at a later date to of it. He expressed his gratitude for
be announced by the funeral home. the gift of life in the way he lived his
Burial of his cremated remains will life. He had a deep reverence and
be in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in faith, and always shared that God
Putney. Donations to Putney Fire is Love. He was a gentle, encouragand Rescue, 14 Main St., Putney, ing spirit, with a wise perspective.
VT 05346. To sign an online reg- MEMORIAL INFORMATION: A fuister book or to send messages of neral Mass was held at St. Michael’s
condolence to the family, visit www. Catholic Church in Brattleboro, VT
on Jan. 8. Donations to the Vermont
atamaniuk.com.
• Dr. Ralph N. Buck, 94, for- Foodbank. To sign an online register
merly of Westminster. Died Dec. book or to send messages of condo22 at Springfield Health & Rehab lence to the Burdo family, visit www.
after a brief illness. Known as “Doc atamaniuk.com.
• Arlene
Buck,” he was born in Glover, son of
Maria Buzby,
the late Dr. Percy and Grace (Dow)
89, of East
Buck. Following his 1945 graduaDummerston.
tion from Tufts Dental School in
Died Jan. 6 at
Boston, he served as a dentist in the
Thompson House
Navy. In 1947, he acquired a denin Brattleboro,
tal practice in the Old Arms Block
where she had
in Bellows Falls, where he practiced
been a resident
for many years. He later built an office building in Westminster where for the past month. Wife of the late
he practiced until his retirement in Howard K. Buzby for 61 years.
2007 at the age of 86. After 60 years Mother of Sue Precourt and her husin dentistry, his last patient was his band, Donald, of Westminster West,
great-grandson, John (then 7 months and the late Timothy Buzby. Sister
old) having his first dental checkup. of the late Glen and Fayette Crapo,
Besides his love of his family, his in- Helen Tuttle, and two twin brothers
terests included baseball and horses. who died during infancy. Survivors
He played baseball in college and include four grandchildren and
on several local teams in the area. many nieces and nephews. Born in
It was at a ball game in Alstead, Brattleboro, the daughter of the late
N.H., that he met Signa Owens, Glynn and Frances (Averill) Crapo,
whom he later married on Nov. 20, she lost her mother at age two and
1948, and who predeceased him in was raised by her aunt and uncle.
2012. His early interest in horses She attended school in Wilton,
was a throwback from his father, N.H., where she graduated from
a country doctor who would visit Wilton High School. She worked
his patients in northern Vermont all of her career as a bookkeeper emby horse and sleigh when unpaved ployed at Motel 6, formerly Susse
roads were impassable in the win- Chalet Motor Lodge, and previously
ter. His love for “The Trotters” had been employed at Brattleboro
remained and, over the years, he Union High School as bookkeeper
owned, trained, and raced several of and payroll clerk. She had also been
his own at many New England tracks employed at Brattleboro Memorial
and fairs. He was a presiding judge Hospital. She was a gambler at heart
at the Harness Races at the Orleans and enjoyed day trips to Foxwoods.
County Fair for over 50 years. He She also liked to play cards and
felt very lucky to have been able Bingo, assemble jigsaw puzzles, and
to see his two great-grandchildren, loved the time shared with her famJohn and Payton, enjoy his favorite ily. She was known for her cooking
sports. “Old Pop” would be seen at and baking and, for many years, she
almost every baseball and basketball made beautiful wedding cakes for
game of John’s and got to see Payton many area newlyweds. MEMORIAL
(who has acquired his love of horses) INFOR MATION : In keeping with
ride, show, and have a horse of her her final wishes, there are no callown. He enjoyed going to the senior ing hours or formal funeral services.
center and had many nice friends at Sympathy cards are welcome and
Riverview Apartments. He was for- can be sent to her daughter Sue at 43
tunate to have enjoyed his horses, North Goddard Hill Road, Putney,
good friends, good health, and his VT 05346. To sign an online regfamily over so many years. He was ister book or to send messages of
friendly, outgoing, and always on condolence to the family, visit www.
the go, looking for something to do. atamaniuk.com.
He was a member of the Moose,
•
E r i c
American Legion, and the Masons,
W i l l i a m
and served on many local boards
Childs, 44,
and committees in the area. He is
of Brattleboro.
survived by his children, Dr. Owen
Died Jan. 4 at
Buck and his wife, Donna, of Maine,
Dartmouthand Nancy Adams and her husband,
Hitchcock
Don, of Westminster. MEMORIAL
Medical Center
INFORMATION: There will be a serin Lebanon, N.H.,
vice in the spring, at a date to be an- where he had been a patient since
nounced. Donations to the Bellows August, 2015. Born in Brattleboro,
Falls Senior Center, Westminster the son of Mary Childs Tier and
Cares, or Kurn Hattin Homes. Andrew Craig of St. Albans, he was
Fenton & Hennessey Funeral raised and educated in Brattleboro,
Home of Bellows Falls is handling attending the Esteyville School. He
arrangements.
was a graduate of Brattleboro Union
• V i c t o r P. High School. At the time of his death
Burdo, 87, of he was a sales associate and delivD u m m e r s t o n . ery driver for Advance Auto Parts
Died Jan. 3 at on Putney Road. Previously, he
home. Husband worked at several other Brattleboro
o f M a r y H . area businesses that included Achille
B u r d o f o r 6 3 Agway, C&S Wholesale Grocers. BJ
y e a r s . F a t h e r Wholesale, Putney Paper Company,
o f A n n ( C a r l ) and Winter Panel. He was known
Suhrie, Therese Burdo (Robert for his spirit of friendship and willMiragliuolo), Paul (Laura) Burdo, ingness to help others in need. He
Peter Burdo, Lucy (Charlie) was a hard worker who exhibited a
Hutchison, and the late Tom Burdo. strong work ethic wherever he had
Brother of Benito (Margarete) Burdo been employed. He displayed treand the late Sal Burdo. Also survived mendous inner strength and resolve
by eight grandsons. He was born in during his lengthy battle with cancer
Long Island City, N.Y., to the late and had a personal connection with
Salvatore and Concetta (Lampo) God. He enjoyed working on cars,
Burdo. He began learning English watching action movies, listening
when he started kindergarten, and to 1980s music, playing cards and
ultimately graduated from the New games, and time shared with his
York School of Printing. He was family. He was a devoted husband,
skilled as a compositor and proof- father, grandfather, brother, and
reader. He served in the Army dur- uncle. He was married to Mandy
ing the Korean War, twice receiving Thomas. Although their marriage
orders to go overseas and twice his ended in divorce, the couple reorders were changed. He met his tained a close friendship. Survivors
future wife while serving in Atlanta, include his children Kasandra Childs
and they were married in Decatur, and boyfriend Maudiel Palacious of
Ga. They moved to Brattleboro Penacook, N.H.; Kourtney Childs
and then Dummerston where they of Lowell, Vt.; Selena Goulas of
lived for over 50 years. After retiring Bellows Falls; and Koree Childs and
Ryan Childs, both of Brattleboro;
and two brothers, Seth Tier of
Brattleboro and Jerod Tier of
Hinsdale. He was predeceased
by one brother, Joseph P. Childs.
MEMOR I A L I N FOR M AT ION : A
memorial gathering at VFW Post
1034 on Black Mountain Road in
Brattleboro will be held on Sunday,
Jan. 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
A potluck luncheon will be served,
please bring your favorite dish.
• Linda Jane
(Sanville)
C o o k , 6 9 , of
Kingsport, Tenn.
Died Jan. 4 at
home after a long
and painful battle with COPD.
Born in Westfield,
Mass., the daughter of the late Marie
Louise (Frechette) and Almon
Eugene Sanville, she was preceded
in death by one brother, five brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, and
two nephews. Left to cherish her
memory are her husband of 50
years, Dale E. Cook Sr., two children and their spouses, Rochelle
(Larry Warriner) of Kingsport and
Dale (Doe Cook) of Ellsworth,
Maine, five grandchildren and their
spouses, six great-grandchildren, 12
sisters, and one brother. MEMORIAL
INFORMATION: It is the family’s request that donations in her namebe
given to the St. Jude’s Children’s
Hospital by going to stjudes.com,
clicking on “ways to donate,” and
entering Linda (Sanville) Cook.
• Debra Mary Kozlakowski,
61, of Guilford. Died Nov. 19, 2015,
at her home after a very courageous
battle with cancer. Wife of Joseph
Kozlakowski. Mother of Jeannette
M. Langlois-Barrows of Brattleboro
and Gail L. Stout of Harrisville,
R.I. Stepmother of Joey and Stacey
Kozlakowski of Northampton,
Mass. Sister of Catherine Butterfield
of Greenfield, Mass., Doreen
Breed of Wales, Mass., and Cindy
Molitoris of Guilford. The daughter of Jeannette M. (Seymour) and
George J. Butterfield, she graduated
in 1972 from Easthampton (Mass.)
High School. While raising her two
daughters, she worked as a licensed
home health care nurse. She was also
a Girl Scout troop leader, a very active member of the local PTA, and
a Sunday school teacher at Notre
Dame in Easthampton. In 1985,
she moved to Guilford and worked
for Vermont National Bank (now
People’s United) for more than 10
years as a customer service representative in investment banking. Eager
to grow in her profession, she took
many classes and seminars in banking. She also worked for Comcast
as a customer service representative. From 2010 until her retirement in 2013, she worked at the
Northeastern Family Institute in
Brattleboro helping teenage girls.
She loved spending time with her
family, especially her grandchildren;
baking; knitting; going dancing and
to the beach; and watching comedies. She also loved traveling, seeing
new places, meeting new people, and
trying new activities (zip lining!) She
volunteered frequently during the
holidays, helping those less fortunate. MEMORIAL INFORMATION:
None provided.
• John Ira Nestel, 94, of
Putney. He is survived by his sister, Sally (Rusty) Yesko of Coconut
Creek, Fla.; his five children: Jane
(Penny) Nestel-Patt and her husband, Jeffrey, of Lexington, Mass.;
Peter Nestel of Armonk, N.Y.; John
Nestel Jr. of Cohasset, Mass.; Nicole
Nestel and her husband, Andrew
Cuniberti, of Haleiwa, Hawaii; Gad
Nestel and his wife, Melissa, of San
Anselmo, Calif.; and six grandchildren. The oldest of three children
born to Paul and Adele Nestel in
Hunts Point, Bronx, N.Y., an immigrant neighborhood full of Jewish
families of all levels of income, he
played stickball in the neighborhood and attended Stuyvesant High
School, to which he commuted from
the Bronx to lower Manhattan. His
passion as a boy was aviation, and
on weekends, he hung around his
uncle’s flight school where his love
of flying was given room to grow
and where he learned to fly. Just
as the United States was becoming
engaged in World War II, he was
accepted at Purdue University in
Lafayette, Indiana. At Purdue, he
lived in a house for Jewish students,
many of whom were eager to join
the war effort to fight the Germans.
He interrupted his studies to enlist
in the Army Air Corps, where he
excelled in cadet and flight training at Yale, Kansas, and Texas. He
was sent to the Marianas to fight in
the Pacific Theatre as part of the
9th Bombardment Group that flew
B-29 bombers. As a young Captain,
he became a critical member of the
squadron, not only training new pilots and crews, but also moving to
headquarters as a group flight engineer, planning and leading bombing
missions from Tinian Island that led
to eventual surrender of Japan. As
a result of his service, he received
many commendations and awards,
including the Distinguished Flying
Cross with Oak Leaf clusters, the
Meritorious Service Medal, and the
Air Medal. He resumed his studies
at Purdue after the war and, in 18
months, graduated with degrees in
aeronautical and mechanical engineerig. Following graduation, Mr.
Nestel responded to an ad seeking
experienced pilots and became one
of the members of the first flight
crews that launched Israel’s first
airline company, El Al, in 1948. For
three years, he lived in Israel and
flew commercial routes from Israel
to Africa and Europe, continuing
to pursue his lifelong passion for
aviation. Returning from Israel to
New York in the early 1950s, he
had two children and directed his
passion for aviation and leadership
to engineering and flight testing as
co-founder/CEO of Consolidated
Airborne Systems, Inc., a successful
aeronautical engineering company
that developed, manufactured and
sold avionics for private, commercial
and military aircraft. Consolidated’s
innovative fuel gauges and engine
measurement devices were quickly
recognized as essential for nearly
every airplane manufacturer in the
world, an achievement that placed
both Mr. Nestel and Consolidated
at the forefront of the aviation industry boom. For his contributions, in 1974, the Purdue School
of Engineering honored him with a
Distinguished Engineering Alumnus
Award and in 1981 he was named
a Purdue Old Master. Mr. Nestel’s
business leadership earned him
an invitation to join the Young
President’s Organization (YPO)
and, later, its 49ers group, memberships for CEOs and business
leaders that he enjoyed throughout
his life. One of the highlights of his
life and career included the years
he spent first attending (as the only
civilian member of his graduating
class in 1973) and then teaching
at the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School
in Patuxent, Md. He relished flying and testing fighter planes with
the best pilots in the world, many
of whom became friends for life.
During this time he also conducted
flight testing of his own company’s
avionics and flew the company’s
twin-engine Aero Commander and
then its twin Beechcraft Baron.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s,
he had three more children and
when the aviation industry began
to consolidate, he sold Consolidated
Airborne Systems (the company he
led and listed on the New York Stock
Exchange) to Bendix/Allied Signal,
companies that were eventually
merged into Honeywell. In 1978,
he moved his youngest children
with him to Putney, where he could
ski, play tennis and fly his Cessna
182, commuting for work and pleasure. His children and friends have
many fond memories of flying with
Mr. Nestel, who was considered an
extremely safe and competent pilot. He amassed more than 25,000
hours as pilot in command of 30 different aircraft throughout his life. As
work and family commitments began to free up more of Mr. Nestel’s
time, he devoted himself to tennis,
playing nearly every day, well into
his 90s. In recent years, he could
also be found in science and math
classes at the local high school, and
mentoring aspiring engineers and
business leaders in college. Anyone
who knew him was well aware of the
distances he would travel to be with
his five children and six grandchildren. At different junctures in his
life, he traveled to Massachusetts,
Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii,
California, and even Kenya, Spain
and Hungary to be with children
or grandchildren. His last trip was
to California in December 2015 to
visit one of his sons, his daughter-inlaw and two of his grandchildren to
celebrate the holidays and his 94th
birthday. Following a heart attack,
he died there, peacefully, with his
son and daughter-in-law at his side.
MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Mr.
Nestel’s favorite place in the world
was atop Dusty Ridge in Putney, in
his beloved home where he would
sit and watch the sun rise from his
picture windows. A memorial service
will be held there on Sunday, May
15, 2016, time TBD. Donations to
The Putney Public Library, where he
sat on the Board of Trustees.
• N o r m a n H . S m i t h J r. ,
73, of Wardsboro. Died Jan. 4 at
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical
Center in Lebanon, N.H. Husband
of Laura Smith. Father of Shawn
St. Francis of St. Albans; David
Smith and his wife, Jessica, also
of St. Albans; Robert Smith of
Colorado; Debra Smith and her
husband, Demian Johnston, of
Turners Falls, Mass.; Rebecca
Brisbois and her husband, Jeremy,
of Chesterfield, Mass.; and Amy
Smith and her husband, Steven
Freckleton, of Brattleboro. Brother
of Herbert Smith of Swanzey, N.H.;
Mary Perusse and her husband,
Robert, of West Brattleboro; Nancy
Perusse. also of West Brattleboro;
Norma Struthers and her husband,
Clarence, of Vernon; and the late
Richard and Paul Smith. Also survived by several grandchildren and
many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Born in Brattleboro, the son of
Mayolyn (Winter) (Smith) Arsenault
and the late Norman H. Smith Sr.,
he was a lifelong area resident. He
worked as a construction supervisor for many years for H. Loney
Construction in Brattleboro, and
then for Wesfield Construction in
Chesterfield, N.H., until his retirement. He was an avid fisherman,
and a very creative woodworker, a
maker of wine and maple syrup, and
enjoyed working his property on his
tractors. He especially loved spending time with his family. He would
always be willing to share his time
and his many talents with his family,
friends, and neighbors. MEMORIAL
INFOR M ATION : Burial will take
place in the spring. Donations to
Wardsboro Fire & Rescue, P.O.
Box 151, Wardsboro, VT 05355.
Condolences may be offered at www.
kerwesterlund.com.
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while getting my belly rubbed. I am great on a
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big. Sadly, I would not do well in a home with
cats because I do like to chase them. Please
come down and visit me as soon as you can!
I’m Ellie, a sweet cuddly girl who came to
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to meet them here first; sorry, no male dogs. While I am very shy
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SECTION B
SPORTS
Wednesday, January 13, 2016 • page D4
page D4
RANDOLPH T. HOLHUT/THE COMMONS
Bellows Falls guard Chris McKeen (23) moves in on Black River’s Drew Schoenberger (25) during the first half of their Jan. 8 game at Holland Gymnasium.
At right is Bellows Falls guard Cam Joy.
Terrier boys even up record with win over Black River
R
yan Stoodley is in his
second year as head
coach of the Bellows
Falls Terriers boys’
basketball and, like any good
coach, he has tried to adapt his
strategy to the personnel that’s
available.
That means when you have
a team that is still trying to
find a groove on offense and is
still learning how to close out
games, you emphasize defense
— especially when your team
has given up an average of 66
points in its four losses.
The Terriers entered last
Friday’s game against the Black
River Presidents on a threegame losing streak, including two tough road losses to
Woodstock (68-26 on Jan. 4)
and Windsor (65-42 on Jan.
6). BF needed a strong defensive effort to get back on track,
and got it with a 55-35 win
over the Presidents at Holland
Gymnasium.
Stoodley said his team tried
something against Black River
that they hadn’t done so far
this season — use a man-toman defense with lots of front
court pressure.
The result was that the
Presidents were held to just
one basket over the first 10
minutes of the game as the
Terriers went on an 18-2 run
to take a lead they would never
relinquish.
“That was one of our best
games in a long time,” said
Stoodley. “They played great
man-to-man defense.”
The Terriers forced turnovers, controlled the boards,
and denied Black River any
second chances at the basket
during the run.
The downside of playing
with that much intensity is getting fatigued, and Black River
eventually got as close as 2615 at the half and was as close
as 47-35 midway through the
fourth quarter, but Stoodley
said his team did what it
needed to do to win.
“I was having a flashback
for a moment, because we had
a big lead against Black River
when we played them up there
and lost (67-65 on Dec. 17),”
Stoodley said. “We’ve got to
be more patient when we get
a lead.”
BF got 13 points from Cam
Joy in the first half, he finished with 19 points. Anthony
Mueller had the hot hand in
the second half, scoring 11
points and finishing with 16
points. Black River was led by
clobbered Long Trail, 75-32.
Justin Hicks had 22 points
and eight steals, while Brett
Swanson added 17 points.
Sports Roundup
Three days later, the
Wildcats rolled over West
Rutland, 74-36, to improve to
Drew Schoenberger with 18
6-4 on the season.
points.
• Leland & Gray is still strugThe Terriers improved
gling. On Jan. 6 at Arlington,
to 4-4 with the win, and is
the Rebels were beaten, 63-51.
also getting some help for
Arlington made seven threethe second half of the seapointers, including four in the
son. Longtime girls’ basketfirst half, to put the game out of
ball coach Jayne Barber has
reach early. The Eagles led 35come out of retirement to assist 23 at the half, but the Rebels
Stoodley and coach the freshcould only cut the lead down to
man boys’ team.
seven before Arlington closed
A 1,000-point scorer as a
out the game with more longplayer for the Terriers from
distance baskets. The Rebels
1972 to 1976, Barber won
ended the week at 2-7.
five state girls’ basketball titles as coach of the Terriers
Girls’ basketball
from 1981 to 2009. Stoodley
• Bellows Falls was the latest
said that with a strong class of
local team to run into the buzz
freshmen now, and an even
saw that is undefeated Mount
more promising crop of eighth- St. Joseph, and lost 56-30 on
graders behind them, Barber’s Jan. 4.
knowledge and experience is a
It didn’t help that the
welcome addition to build up
Terriers went into the game
the boys’ program.
shorthanded, losing Keri
Ticino to a knee injury and
Boys’ basketball
Emma Lawrence to illness.
• Brattleboro improved to
Hannah Kelly gamely picked
5-3 with a pair of wins over
up the slack, scoring 13 points
Division II foes.
for BF.
Taylor Patno and Taylor
Two nights later, the
King came off the bench to
Terriers snapped a three-game
score 17 and 12 points, relosing streak with a 56-26 win
spectively. to lead the Colonels at Poultney to improve their
in a convincing 77-19 rout of
record to 3-5. Abbe Cravinho
Springfield at the BUHS gym
led BF with 11 points, while
on Jan. 5. King started off hot
Hannah Kelly and Murphy
with three three-pointers in
Hicks each added nine points
the first quarter. He finished
and Molly Kelly scored eight
with four threes, while Tony
points.
Martinez added a pair of three• Leland & Gray started the
pointers, and Ian Fulton-Black new year with a home loss to
and Chayse Cunniff hit one
West Rutland, 40-33, on Jan.
each.
4. Caroline Tietz led the Rebels
Outside shooting has been
with 11 and Hannah Buffum
a big part of the Colonels’ ofadded 10.
fense this season, but they also
Four nights later, the Rebels
have a strong front line of Josh traveled to Proctor and lost 48Hanson, Eli Lombardi, and
34 to fall to 3-6 on the season.
Dillon Green. That trio abused
• Brattleboro had a week it
the Cosmos, scoring a collecwould rather forget, with three
tive 12 points as Brattleboro
tough road losses. On Jan. 5,
led 27-8 after one quarter.
the Colonels fell to Drury,
Brattleboro can play a lit52-42.
tle defense too, as they held
Two nights later, Mill
Springfield to just three points River beat the Colonels, 61in taking a 40-11 lead at the
53, despite Brattleboro gethalf. The second half was for
ting 20 points from Devin
entertainment purposes only as Millerick and 11 points and
everyone got a chance to play
eight rebounds from Gabby
and put some numbers on the
Carpenter.
scoresheet.
The most heartbreaking
The Colonels improved to
loss came last Saturday, as the
5-3 with a 55-48 win at Mill
Colonels dropped a 49-48 deRiver on Jan. 8.
cision to Fair Haven to fall to
• Twin Valley had a cou1-8 on the season.
ple of big wins at home last
The Slaters hit five threeweek. On Jan. 6, the Wildcats
pointers in the first half, but the
RANDOLPH
T. HOLHUT
RANDOLPH T. HOLHUT/THE COMMONS
Bellows Falls guard Anthony Mueller (31) goes up for a basket in second half
action against Black River on Jan. 8 at Holland Gymnasium.
Colonels were still in it, trailing
26-23 at the half. Brattleboro
stayed in it, thanks to a big
night from Carpenter, who finished with 24 points and 12
rebounds. Morgan Derosia
had seven points and three
steals, while Kelsea McAuliffe
came off the bench to score six
points.
• Twin Valley picked up a
pair of home wins last week.
Brianna Rafus had 10 points
and 10 rebounds to lead the
Wildcats to a 51-17 demolition
of Long Trail on Jan. 6. Tayler
Courchesne scored a teamhigh 11 points and Sammy
Morse added 10. Teya Johnson
chipped in with eight points
and six steals, while Kirra
Courchesne had seven points
and eight rebounds.
Against Mid-Vermont
Christian last Friday, Sammy
Morse scored 20 points to
lead the Wildcats to a 49-27
win. Kirra Courchesne had 12
points and 10 rebounds and
Tayler Courchesne scored 10
points as the Wildcats evened
their record at 5-5.
Mount Anthony and Burr &
Burton.
Woodstock was nearly as
dominant in the girls’ race,
placing three skiers in the top
five to win. Mount Anthony
and Burr & Burton came in
second and third, respectively,
followed by Middlebury and
Brattleboro.
Nordic skiing
• Brattleboro beat Taconic at
Withington Rink, 6-4, on Jan. 6
for their third straight win after starting the season with six
straight losses.
Milton snapped the
Colonels’ win streak last
Saturday, as the Colonels came
up short in a 4-1 road loss.
• The Brattleboro Nordic
team had its first meet of the
season last week in Woodstock.
Middlebury dominated the
boys’ race, placing four skiers in the top five to win the
event. Brattleboro came in second, followed by Woodstock,
Boys’ hockey
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Universal cell service still elusive Group lists `vital

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