April 10, 2014 - The Colchester Sun

Transcription

The Colchester Sun
WWW.COLCHESTERSUN.COM
APRIL 10, 2014
VOL. 13 No. 15
See
“Faith”
Inside
Prsrt Std ECRWSS
U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 266
Burlington, VT 05401 Postal Patron-Residential
Town video series in the works
A series of videos are coming out this year,
and the Town of Colchester will be the star of
the show.
The videos are an initiative of Colchester’s
Economic Development Department, which
has contracted with CGI Communications of
Rochester, N.Y., to produce the series. Filming
will take place in June for a late-summer
release.
According to Economic Development
Director Kathi O’Reilly, the five videos
— approximately 90 seconds apiece —
will cover five different themes: a general
welcome, quality of life, recreation, economic
development and community organizations/
non-profits. They will be incorporated into
the town’s ongoing effort to rebrand itself to
attract new businesses and residents.
The videos will be produced at no cost to
the town, O’Reilly said. CGI Communications
sells advertising to local businesses that are
incorporated into the videos to cover the cost of
production. If advertising sales falter, the town
still receives the videos, O’Reilly said. CGI
is producing similar videos for other towns
in Vermont this year, including Colchester’s
neighbor to the north, Milton.
O’Reilly plans to post the videos to the
“Colchester is a desirable place
to live and work, and my job is
to keep our name out there.”
Kathi O'Reilly
Economic Development Director
town’s website (which is expected to undergo
a redesign later this year) as well as use them
on social media sites and sites that provide
information about relocating.
“In the past, relocation was done through
magazines and print media. Now, when
Renovated
children’s
area reopens
at Burnham
Library
Volunteers
de-poop
state parks
By JASON STARR
The Colchester Sun
The thawing landscape is
revealing a winter’s worth of woof
waste.
A group of citizen stewards
organized by the Lake Champlain
Committee and the Vermont
Department of Forests, Parks and
Recreation set out on foot Saturday
to clean up three lakeside state parks
that are popular dog-walking sites.
Among the turnout were members
of the conservation commissions in
Colchester and Milton as well as the
Colchester Democratic caucus.
They removed 650 piles of
poop, Lake Champlain Committee
Executive Director Lori Fisher
reported. The majority came from
Colchester’s Niquette Bay State
Park. Other cleanup sites were Sand
Bar State Park in Milton and Grand
Isle State Park. “April Stools Day,”
it was billed.
Pet waste is a contributor
to e-coli contamination in Lake
Champlain
and
phosphorous
overloading that can lead to toxic
blooms of blue-green algae. Fisher
said more pet waste remains not
only in the parks cleaned Saturday
but also throughout the watershed.
She urged dog-walkers and other
people out and about this spring to
carry bags they can use to clean up
the environment.
Saturday’s volunteers found
some pet waste had been bagged up
but left on the trails, likely the result
of dog walkers not wanting to carry
full poop bags throughout a walk,
placing it down, then forgetting to
pick it up on their return, Fisher
said.
“Bagging dog waste and
dropping it on the path for someone
else to step in or pick up isn’t
helpful,” Fisher wrote in an e-mail
recap of the cleanup day. “People
need to pack out what they pack in
and that includes doggie deposits.”
Fisher also wrote that dogs
running off leash are bound to
deposit waste their owners may not
be able to locate. As a remedy, she
explained Colchester dog owner
Pam Keyser’s practice of “karma
poop”.
“Here’s how it works,” Fisher
wrote. “When your dog is off-leash,
chances are pretty good that when
it’s out of sight, it will occasionally
businesses are looking to relocate, they are not
going to look at a magazine. They are going
to look online,” O’Reilly said. “Colchester is a
desirable place to live and work, and my job is
to keep our name out there.”
O’Reilly initiated an overall town
rebranding last year when the Selectboard
hired her to revive the town’s economic
development department. The department had
not been staffed for over a year. The effort
includes a new logo that is under development.
“We need to market ourselves in every
possible way,” O’Reilly said.
— Jason Starr
Scoopin’
the
poop
Volunteers remove dog waste from Niquette Bay State Park in Malletts Bay on Saturday as part of the
Lake Champlain Committee’s “April Stools Day.”
BOB HENNEBERGER
deposit a poodle doodle. Practicing the art of
karma poop, Pam always picks up a few extra
piles of dog doo every time she goes to the park
and hopes that others will do the same.”
In Aprils past, the Lake Champlain Committee
would encourage poop pickup early in the month,
but they had not partnered with the Department
of Forests, Parks and Recreation on an official
“Stools Day” until this year. Fisher hopes to
expand the event beyond the three state parks
to other state and municipal parks throughout
the watershed.
‘No hills, no frills’
Half Marathon Unplugged on tap
for Saturday
By KELLY MARCH
The Colchester Sun
Runners from across the northeast will venture to Colchester
to compete in RunVermont’s eighth annual Half Marathon
Unplugged on Saturday, April 12.
The 13.1-mile race is slated to begin at Airport Park in two
waves — one at 9 a.m. and the other at 11 a.m. The Unplugged
course typically begins with a 4.5-mile loop and then winds
along the bike path from Delta Park to Flynn Avenue in the
south end of Burlington. Jess Cover, Director of Marketing
and Communications at RunVermont, said some last minute
changes may be made to that route this year “due to ice issues,”
but those changes would be minor.
Racers run off the starting line of the 2013 Half Marathon
Unplugged. This year’s event is slated to kick off at Airport Park
in Colchester on Saturday.
SKIPIX
A more colorful, inviting children’s room
in the basement of Burnham Library opened
last week — a relief to library staff and patrons
after renovations took more than twice as long
as planned.
Splashes of teal, orange, purple and
blue highlight the newly painted walls and
recarpeted floor. Along the walls of the
stairwell leading to the children’s space, local
artist Libby Davidson has begun a mural that
she plans to complete mostly during open
library hours this spring.
Library Director Kelly Tomaseski, in
her first year at Burnham, worked with the
Department of Public Works to bid the painting
and carpeting job. The low bidder was a prison
work crew from the Chittenden Regional
Correctional Facility, a women’s prison in
South Burlington.
The
project
“The staff was
stretched from an
great and the
anticipated
three
weeks to seven
patrons were
weeks, during which
great.”
the children’s room
was closed, because
Kelly Tomaseski
of fluctuations in the
Library Director
number of prisoners/
painters on site
and concerns about
security, Tomaseski said.
Meanwhile, the carpeting, which was
special ordered from out of state, got stuck in
one of the early spring nor’easter storms that
affected the East Coast. Having only a small
portion of the children’s collection available
to patrons and carving out play space upstairs
for the library’s youngest visitors called for
patience all around.
“The staff was great and the patrons were
great,” Tomaseksi said. “We did our best to
meet everyone’s needs … People are really
happy that we’re open.”
One of the more popular aspects of the
renovation is that the wall between the
children’s room and the teen room is entirely
a chalkboard. Also, the story pit in the middle
of the children’s room is more inviting with
the new carpet. The remodeling isn’t complete
as new furniture and shelving for an offset
reading area are still on the way.
— Jason Starr
Unplugged has grown from a small event with about 250
runners in 2007 to around 1,200 finishers last year. The 2014
race reached its registration capacity of 1,400 participants in
just two weeks, with the first wave selling out in one day.
“The race has grown exponentially over the years,” Cover
reflected. “The first year had just a few hundred runners…but
each year it has grown. We added a second wave to the race
two years ago after the event sold out on the first day. This year
we added a hundred spots in each wave — so we have 750 in
the first wave and 650 in the second — and we sold out again.”
Cover attributed the race’s popularity to a number of factors,
primarily its “no hills, no frills” concept, its scenic route and its
timing.
“There are many races in Vermont and many of them are
hilly,” she elaborated, noting that the half marathon is one of
the most popular race distances in the country. “People love
hills, but sometimes it’s nice to run a flat race and not feel so
beat up afterwards. It’s a great, beautiful course and it comes at
a great time for those who plan to run the (KeyBank Vermont
City Marathon on May 25).
“It’s also an affordable race because we keep it simple,”
she continued. “We don’t give out awards, we don’t give out
medals, we don’t give a t-shirt to everyone... A lot of runners
like that, because they’re not running for a t-shirt or medal.”
For more information about this event or other programs
by RunVermont, visit www.runvermont.org or call 863-8412.
2
The Colchester Sun | Thursday, April 10, 2014
Q&A
like the Northeast Organic
Farming Association of
Vermont (NOFA) and
the Intervale Center. It’s
rewarding to know that our
9 to 5 jobs also enhance the
local food community.
Steve: The thing that
first got me involved was
an organization through
South Burlington schools
called Common Roots. It’s
a farm-to-school program
concerned with getting fresh
and locally grown foods
into the school system. I
had a basic understanding
of farming but that was the
first time I became aware of
these organizations trying
to take it further to create a
better economy for Vermont
farmers.
with
Skillet Creative
Nicole L’Huillier Fenton and Steve Redmond
Nicole L’Huillier Fenton
and Steve Redmond are the
faces behind Skillet Creative,
a primarily food-focused
branding and marketing
firm based in Burlington
that cooks up gastronomic
enthusiasm throughout the
local community. Fenton,
who grew up up in Rutland
and currently resides in
Essex with her husband
and son, has a Bachelor of
Science in Journalism from
the E.W. Scripps School
of Journalism at Ohio
University. Redmond grew
up in Colchester, where his
mother still lives, and settled
in Hinesburg with his wife
and two boys, Teddy and
Charlie. He graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts in graphic
arts from the Rochester
Institute of Technology. The
pair recently sat down to
discuss their marketing firm
and all things food.
Steve Redmond
Q: How did you two
meet?
Nicole: We met through
the Vermont Specialty
Food Association, but the
concept for the business
came about [at the Fancy
Food Show — an annual,
international specialty foods
show]. It’s an amazing
show and you can see that
Vermont represents really
well with incredibly high
quality products in such an
international setting. When
we were coming back, there
was some wine, a layover
and a good conversation
about how we had an
opportunity here to create
something really great and
unique for this industry.
Steve: It was the first trip
we did together and the first
Fancy Food Show I had ever
been to. It built excitement
and energy behind the
industry. When we went
to the show, I remember
thinking this could be our
Nicole L’Huillier Fenton
Q: What is the food like
at the show?
Nicole: There’s so
much food. By the end, my
stomach is so confused.
In two steps it was lobster
bisque and then a hundredyear-old vinaigrette. It’s
so bad, but so good. You
have to pace yourself and
remember that you don’t
have to eat everything you
see.
Steve: There are a lot of
food samples there. We felt
like dogs. It was like, ‘Bird!’
then ‘Cheese! Chocolate!
Caramel popcorn!’
and achieve, we create a
brief that outlines how far
we will take them. Are we
evolving them someplace or
are we launching them to a
new place? Is it evolutionary
or revolutionary? The goal
could be almost anything.
Oftentimes it starts with
packaging. It’s the one
competitive place in the
market where everyone gets
fair representation, and we
help our clients play fairly
and play smart to stand out
in that environment. It’s not
philanthropic but I can easily
get behind it. I’m not trying
to sell a widget; I’m trying
to sell a really great piece of
cheese.
Q: At Skillet, how do
you brand food labels?
Nicole: Because we’ve
worked in this industry,
we continue to grow our
knowledge base of what
people need. We can work at
any level the clients need us
to, but we can also tell them
what they need to do to be
successful in this industry.
Steve: The first thing
is to understand the client
utterly and completely. We
have to know what they’re
trying to accomplish, where
they’ve been, where they
are now and their segment
and competitors in the
industry. Then, depending
on what they want to try
Q: How are you
involved with the local food
scene and community?
Nicole: I’ve been
involved in the local food
scene around here for a
long time. I’ve worked
in restaurants and at City
Market as the marketing
manager. On a more
community level, I helped
start the [Five Corners]
Farmers’ Market in Essex.
There were about 10 of us
who were sitting around
a room four years ago in
March and decided we were
going pull this out for June.
We’ve also done a lot of
work with organizations that
support the food industry
home, our space, our people,
and how great would that be?
Q: Why is supporting
local food producers
important to you?
Nicole: It’s as simple
as we have to. If we don’t
have farms, we won’t live,
which is my philosophy
behind making sure farmers
are held up on pedestals. We
have an intimate relationship
with food; we put it into our
bodies every single day. As
a community, we have to
consider how we think about
where our food comes from
Steve: I appreciate seeing
the entrepreneurial spirit of
people looking at farming
as a way of life. There’s a
part of my personality that
embraces a throwback,
and to me, people looking
at farming and thinking
‘I could do that’ — it’s
entrepreneurial but it’s also
embracing something from a
simpler time while making it
new. There are these trends
that seem really small, but
over time I think it’s possible
to see it really move. The
surgeon general’s warning
on cigarettes started being
used in the 60s, and no one
thought it would do much,
but you can’t measure it over
a few years. It’s always great
that people can speak through
their actions and with their
dollars. In our time, we’ll
know that we’ve contributed
on some level.
— Alanna Gilbert
Police Beat
Two accused of filling fraudulent
prescriptions
After a thorough investigation,
detectives with the Vermont State
Police Drug Diversion Unit learned
that Lauren Wallace, 24, and Nathan
Edwards, 25, both of Johnson, wrote
and filled prescriptions from a stolen
prescription pad from a doctor’s
office in Morrisville between Feb.
20 and March 15. Authorities said
Wallace and Edwards wrote 19
fraudulent prescriptions, all for
Oxycodone.
The pair used a total of 13
different pharmacies in eight
different towns across Chittenden,
Franklin, Lamoille and Washington
Counties, with most violations in
Chittenden County. Police said
specific locations included Kinney
Drugs in Cambridge, Colchester,
Essex, Milton, Morrisville and
Waterbury; Rite Aid Pharmacy
located in Essex and St. Albans;
and Hannaford Pharmacy located
in Milton and South Burlington. A
total of 740 Oxycodone pills were
obtained, most being 30-milligram
pills.
Prescription Fraud, a violation
of Title 18 VSA 4223, states
that no person shall obtain or
attempt to obtain a regulated
drug, or procure or attempt to
procure the administration of a
regulated drug, (1) by fraud, deceit,
misrepresentation, or subterfuge;
(2) by the forgery or alteration of
a prescription or of any written
order; (3) by the concealment of a
material fact; or (4) by the use of a
false name or the giving of a false
address. And a person who violates
this section shall be imprisoned not
more than two years and one day or
fined not more than $5,000, or both.
Wallace and Edwards were
cited, released and scheduled to
appear at Chittenden Criminal
Court on May 27 to answer to
the charge of Prescription Fraud.
Authorities said this case is still
under investigation, with possible
charges of Medicaid and insurance
fraud forthcoming.
The Vermont State Police Drug
Diversion Unit was assisted with
this case by the Colchester PD,
Essex PD, Milton PD, Morrisville
PD, South Burlington PD, St.
Albans PD and Waterbury PD.
“A smile is happiness
you’ll find right under
your nose.”
— Tom Wilson, actor/writer/comedian
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to provide comprehensive dental care extending
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3
Tracking
the bill
MONTPELIER
— A bill working
its way through the
Vermont House of
Representatives would
dramatically alter
the way primary and
secondary schools in
the Green Mountain
State are governed.
Bill H.883, “An Act
Relating To Expanded
Prekindergarten–Grade
12 School Districts,”
would, if passed, reduce
by the year 2020 the
number of municipal
school districts from
282 to 45, eliminate the
state’s 60 supervisory
unions and require the
formation of regional
school districts. Each
of those expanded
districts would
encompass a minimum
of 1,200 students in prekindergarten through
grade 12 and at least
four municipal districts,
and would operate
under one school board.
The bill has been
proposed in order to
improve educational
equity for Vermont’s
schoolchildren and
possibly save money by
streamlining operations,
creating efficiencies and
sharing resources within
the larger districts.
Districts would have
until July 1, 2016, to
create plans outlining
consolidation to create
an expanded district.
The voters of each
district and the State
Board of Education
would have to approve
the consolidation plans
by July 1, 2017.
School districts that
do not at least have
a plan showing the
intent to consolidate
by the 2017 deadline
would be subject to
state intervention by
a “design team” that
would create a plan for
that district. All new,
consolidated districts
would be up and
operational by July 1,
2020.
A single school
board would oversee
the consolidated,
multi-town district,
rather than the current
system in which each
individual town has
a school board. Each
school would have an
advisory committee that
would work with the
town representative to
the school board.
School consolidation
and superintendents
Editor’s note: Vermont is
going through a remarkable
change in the way it delivers
education to its children, a
change that could be on par
with the end of one-room
school houses. As lawmakers
in Montpelier wrestle with what
this change will encompass
and how it will be managed,
newspapers in the Champlain
Valley Newspaper Group are
seeking perspective on school
consolidation from some key
players in Vermont education.
Last week, we talked with
superintendents, who play a
pivotal role as intermediary
between students and teachers
on the one hand and regulators
and policymakers on the other.
By
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY
NEWSPAPER GROUP
STAFF
A
Norman
Rockwell
painting depicting children
playing in front of a one-room
schoolhouse adorns Milton
Superintendent John Barone’s
office. It’s a traditional scene
that could have been modeled
after many Vermont towns not
so many years ago.
School buildings are still the
hubs of our communities — the
sites of town meetings, concerts,
potlucks and other gatherings
— but the educational needs
of today don’t meet the idyllic
models from the past, Barone
said.
“Most New Englanders
would say if it ain’t broke, don’t
fix it,” he said. “Our system is
broken, and it needs to be fixed,
and we need to keep in mind
always what’s best for kids.”
For years, Vermont has
discussed the pros and cons of
school consolidation, and now
the Legislature is considering
another bill, H.883, to eliminate
supervisory unions in favor
of a number of large school
districts. The goal is to improve
education while addressing its
ever-rising cost in the face of
declining student enrollment
[see sidebar]. After 35 budgets
failed on Town Meeting
Day, there seems to be some
momentum behind H.883.
If passed, the bill would
reduce by the year 2020
the number of municipal
school districts from 282 to
45, eliminate the state’s 60
supervisory unions and require
the formation of regional school
districts. Those expanded
districts would operate under
one board, a minimum of 1,200
students in pre-kindergarten
through grade 12, and at least
four municipal districts.
Ned Kirsch, superintendent
of Franklin West in Georgia,
says our education system
is not preparing students for
employment in this day and age.
“We’re well into the 21st
century and I think one of
the issues that confronts us
is schools are built on the
industrial age model,” Kirsch
said. “Are we closer to the
post office or are we closer to
Amazon as a system?
“I know we’re closer to the
post office,” he said. “I’d rather
have our school systems be
closer to Google.”
Kirsch believes school
district consolidation would
provide an opportunity for
larger communities to discuss
what type of education they
want and come up with a
cohesive vision, rather than the
current model where smaller,
individual communities often
pursue different improvement
agendas than neighboring
towns.
He doesn’t have all the
answers for how schools should
change, but with consolidation,
Kirsch said, schools couldn’t
deliver education in the same
old style.
“We’ll really have to have
that huge conversation,” Kirsch
said. “I think it would lead to a
different kind of schooling.”
Fundamental change
Franklin
Northeast
Superintendent Jay Nichols in
Richford sees a future where
consolidated school districts
can offer more individualized
learning opportunities for
children. In fact, they could
open up more opportunities
in general for students, by
enabling districts to set up
magnet schools, and free up
resources to offer more diverse
courses.
“We need to focus on
the big concepts — critical
thinking, problem solving,
collaboration,” Nichols said.
“Our governance system that
we have right now sometimes
gets in the way of that.
“We’re locked into these
traditional
buildings
and
traditional structures.”
Nichols is a fan of school
choice, and he says bigger
school districts could allow
students to attend a school
that better meets their needs.
He pointed to Enosburg Falls
High School, which offers
nine Advanced Placement
classes while Richford, in the
same supervisory union, offers
two. In a consolidated system
students might not be allowed
to attend only the school in
their hometown. In some cases,
that school may not even be
the closest to their residence,
Nichols pointed out.
“Students should be able
Also, last week,
the State Board of
Education voted, 6-1, to
support H.883.
greatest impact in classroom
instruction and thereby improve
student learning outcomes.”
For Cole-Levesque in
Clarendon, consolidation would
bring efficiency, which would
serve not just the taxpayers, but
also the students
“I could share resources
more easily and I could focus on
what I see as my responsibilities
... I could do that more
effectively if I did not have to
spend my time getting ready for
the next board meeting,” said
Cole-Levesque, who said he
attends 100 meetings a year.
“When you’re getting ready
for the next board meeting
that’s not time you could be
spending looking at how well
kids are performing in classes
or how better I could support
instructional practices,” he
said. “I see from a systemic
standpoint the potential to be
better educators by bringing all
of our schools under a single
district.”
As a supervisory union,
Rutland South has already
consolidated its technology,
support services and busing,
and this year it is bringing
special education into the
central office.
“We’re doing a lot of
centralization, but yet we still
have to go out and meet with
each boards, which still has
jurisdiction over its school,” he
said. “It takes a lot of time, it
takes a lot of energy and it takes
a lot of resources to do that.”
Barone in Milton agrees. He
formerly worked in the Barre
Supervisory Union central
office, where he oversaw three
school districts, two faculty
contracts, three school boards
and three sets of policies. The
system made it difficult to share
staff, vision and costs, he said.
Having one school district
for several schools rather than
several districts would save
time and money, particularly
in negotiating contracts for
teachers, transportation and
food service, Barone said. Mass
purchasing could save dollars,
too, he added.
Curbing spending
Make no mistake about it,
saving money is certainly a
part of the school consolidation
debate.
Observers point out that
Vermont over the last 10 years
has seen declining enrollments
but not a commensurate decline
–See SCHOOLS on page 14
John Barone
Dana Cole-Levesque
T
C
E
N
N
CO
PHOTO: PAUL LAMONTAGNE
with your
Vermont has the
lowest student to school
board member ratio in
the nation: One school
board member for 57
students.
The House
Committee on
Education OK’d H.88s
on March 21 and it was
referred to the House
Committee on Ways and
Means last week.
to decide where they go to
school,” he said.
One need only look at the
way information technology
is shrinking distances and
breaking down barriers around
the world to understand that
today’s youngsters are growing
up to global citizens. As such,
they will be competing against
workers in other countries.
They also may work for foreign
companies while never leaving
their own home in Vermont,
Nichols said.
“The structures we have
right now can stand in the way,”
he said.
Some supervisory union
heads note that efforts to
coordinate education across
schools in a supervisory
union are already under way,
but mandating it through
governance consolidation could
speed things along.
As an example, Rutland
South Superintendent Dana
Cole-Levesque points to the
Orange South Supervisory
Union in Randolph, where
the superintendent has got
all the towns in the union
working together; they recently
came within a few votes of
consolidating the governance
under a Regional Education
District.
“They have uniformity
of curriculum, sharing of
resources, and shared facilities
management,” said ColeLevesque.
And as a result, he added,
the superintendent there was
able to “put a lot of focus on
student learning outcomes,
he’s able to support principals
in instituting best practices and
instruction, he’s able to have
them share amongst themselves
what those best practices are
and how do you have the
O:
P H OT
STAY INFORMED
SARA
ENSE
Y
COMMUNITY
Schools
LEARN ABOUT PROGRAMS
The Colchester School District Blog - www.csdspotlight.org
Colchester School District Website – www.csdvt.org
Colchester High School Website – www.csdvt.org/CHS
Colchester Middle School Website – www.csdvt.org/CMS
Mallets Bay School Website – www.csdvt.org/MBS
Porters Point School Website – www.csdvt.org/PPS
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COLCHESTER
Education Association
4
OPINION
Perspective
Spring in our step
Yes, it’s officially spring.
COLCHESTER’S
This past weekend residents
CHRONICLER
could be seen gently releasing
holiday lights from trees, scrubs
and lawns, and then yanking up
electrical cords frozen in the
Inge
ground since before Christmas.
Others were sweeping road
Schaefer
pebbles from the driveway
while occasionally looking
skyward as a flock of Canada
geese flew overhead barking
away their joy as warmer
temperatures greeted them.
Despite muddy fields, Colchesterites were once again walking
their dogs at local parks (we will trust that they are ever vigilant
to observe any droppings and to properly dispose of them using
the free doggie bags available at each park), while watching their
children squealing with joy as they rediscover the park playgrounds.
The ice rink was being dismantled at Airport Park on Monday —
another good sign that winter is finally over. And park crews were
busy sprucing around the soft, wet grounds.
Avoiding frost heaves and pot holes, watching pairs of birds
checking out possible nest sites in our yards for the young soon
to come, and robins eating every red berry they can find until the
ground melts and their favorite food pokes its head out, along with
fresh new green sprouts surfacing where the sun shines and the
wind is absent . . . yes, it does officially appear to be spring — and
how welcome it is.
Before leaving the subject of dogs, their poop and the damage
that poop causes our lake, bay, rivers and streams (not to mention
the eyesore it is on lawns, bike paths, sidewalks, and roads), may
I encourage all pet owners to have two poop bags with them as
they walk their animals, including cats and other species — one
for their own pet’s poop and one to pick up the poop left behind by
inconsiderate, lazy, disrespectful, loser pet owners (too strong? I
think not). Even if these people don’t worry about clean waterways,
they will know that the rest of us do.
Also, this from our Town Clerk Karen Richard: Dog licenses
were due April 1. It is a law and you can be fined, not to mention
that the dog could be destroyed. Karen says this is an archaic part
of the law, but is still in the law. A licensed dog is one that has had a
rabies shot, so this is also a public health issue for all of us.
The license is only $13 for neutered dogs and can be paid by
mail (P.O. Box 55). Karen says that last year, 950 dogs were
licensed and this year only 703 are wearing a tag. As I walk around
my neighborhood of about 45 houses, there must be at least that
many dogs here alone. If one of my neighbors does not have a dog,
another neighbor has two, so if this area of just three streets is any
indication, there are a slew of dogs unaccounted for. So please
check if your dog is up to date with its license. Call the clerk’s office
if you have any questions — 264-5521.
Some of you who have not licensed your dog probably have also
forgotten to file your Homestead Declaration because, according
to our clerk, only 2,541 homesteads have filed compared to 4,422
last year. Personally, I think it is absurd that we have to file every
single year. You should file once and only again if you sell your
property, which would then be the new owner’s responsibility.
Nobody listens to me, however, so you would be wise to file before
April 15. It will save you money since your property, without a
Homestead Declaration, becomes a second home or is taxed at a
nonresidential rate, thus subject to higher taxes. Unless you are in a
charitable mood, you might want to check the Vermont Department
of Taxes website for the form, or stop by the Town Clerk’s office,
where the forms are also available.
Some additional spring season announcements from Lisa
Halvorsen, one of the good people on the Colchester Conservation
Commission. The commission will host its third annual rain barrel
workshop on Monday, April 21 at Bibbens ACE Hardware on West
Lakeshore Drive beginning at 5:30 p.m. The cost is $30 per rain
barrel, but there are only enough supplies for 15 barrels, so only
one barrel per household will be available. A storm-water specialist
from the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District
will lead the workshop, which is presented in cooperation with
the Colchester Public Works Department, and, incidentally, has
been very popular in recent years. Register by e-mailing Pamela
Loranger, at zatarahinvt@yahoo.com.
Also, from the CCC, a reminder of their “Colchester Blooms”
project. An all-volunteer committee plants flowerbeds all over town
and the more money they raise, the more flowerbeds they can plant
and maintain. Last year they planted 1,500 annuals and perennials
at several locations including Bayside Park (a gorgeous display
that lasted well into the fall), around the flagpole by Bayview Eats
across from the park, within the two traffic circles by the schools,
and on Blakely Road. With more money they would be able to
adorn other areas. Perhaps you have some spots in mind.
To further beautify our beloved community, another suggestion,
that will no doubt go the way of my Homestead tax idea, would
be a “Floral Business Award of the Year” challenging businesses
to enhance their properties with attractive landscaping. Can you
imagine the Exit 16 area with flowers blooming alongside the
roadway, or on the slopes on the corner of Watertower Hill, the
Severance Corner development, up and down Main Street (like the
lovely display by Our Lady of Grace Church and Claussen’s). So
many places that would brighten our community. Ah, the dream
lives – just not the flowers.
If you wish to help with the Colchester Blooms Project, send
your check (and any suggestions) payable to the ColchesterMilton Rotary Charitable Fund with “Colchester Blooms” on the
memo line, 162 Jimmo Drive, Suite 2, Colchester, VT 05446. All
donations are tax deductible. The flowers will make you smile this
summer as you are driving, biking or walking, so do help if you can.
Did you know that this year is the 70th Anniversary of D-Day that
occurred on June 6, 1944? It was the Allied invasion of Normandy,
France, under General Dwight D. Eisenhower involving nearly
200,000 troops and was a turning point in World War II. It will be
remembered by the Vermont National Guard Library and Museum
located at Camp Johnson on College Parkway in Colchester on
Saturday, June 7. If you have never been to the museum, the open
house, with lots of other activities planned for the day, will be a
great time to familiarize yourself and the family with the it. The
museum displays artifacts from the Revolutionary War through the
war in Iraq. The volunteer board and staff are inviting any local
veterans of D-Day or WWII to come for a special recognition
ceremony that day. The board can be reached at 338-3360, or by
email: museumadm@gmail.com. More on this exciting free and
open-to-the-public event — right here in Colchester — in the
weeks ahead.
Let me know your news: ingevt@comcast.net. Happy Easter and
God bless!
Big cat tracking
Joe Gardner, right, of Mountain Lions in the Green Mountains Research, set out on a parcel of Winooski Valley Park District
land last week off Depot Road in Colchester to lure a mountain lion that Bruce Julien, left, of DJ’s Tree Service claims to have
recently spotted. The pair set up cameras and used scent lures in an attempt to verify the cat’s existence.
JASON STARR
Letters To The Editor
The voters: not asleep
Expecting more
Now is a good time for town leadership to consider that
your job is to provide necessary goods and services for
taxpayers. People have heard and seen enough of the visions,
dreams, illusions and “beautiful bay” BS to last them a
lifetime.
News flash: The bay is beautiful! It is now and it has
been for the 70 years that I’ve enjoyed it. Thank the Lord for
it. Preserve and protect it. Test septic systems within the bay
runoff area and shut down those that don’t comply.
Move on a sewer system now. What do you mean you
can’t? You don’t need voter permission to enforce the zoning
and water protection laws/rules that are now on the books.
Just do it. Pull a few certificates of occupancy for systems
that fail a test and a whole lot of people will start looking at
their responsibility to maintain an effective system on their
property.
Colchester has been evolving since the late 1700’s and all
is well as long as the public and community work together.
When Exit 16 was built up, money-hungry developers and
visionary dreamers saw the “suburb of Colchester” and built
up town debts for nice-to-haves instead of needs like sewers.
Colchester taxpayers aren’t stupid, they’re just way tired
of stupidity. The voters are watching, listening and are NOT
asleep.
Eben S. Wolcott
Colchester
Voters of the Town of Colchester are being serenaded
by the school board and selectboard about what a supreme
sacrifice it is for the proposed budgets to be reduced by the
small amounts being offered. The last budgets approved by
the voters in 2013 are far less than what is being requested this
year. If the last approved budget was good enough to operate
on for this year, it should be good enough to operate on for the
upcoming fiscal year as well.
The vote is less than a month away. Keep in mind that
economically things are not that good. IBM has recently laid
off. There have been other announcements of no raises or
layoffs around the state.
State politicians say we need to get a handle on
expenditures. Yet Colchester officials continue to press for
increased budget authorizations.
Voters, take a look at your wallets/purses. Do you have
more or less money than before when the bills and taxes are
paid? If you have less, please vote NO for the budget revote.
It is imperative that the continued spending increases
stop. Both boards know that there is only one way to make
the budgets affordable and that is to shrink the size of town
government. They are unwilling to do that.
A NO vote on May 6 for both budgets will reaffirm the
mandate town government was given in March. That mandate
said simply: Cut the budgets.
Vote no on May 6.
Michael J. Wilson
Colchester
Small Vermont farms in EPA’s crosshairs
By John McClaughry
The Vermont Legislature is now seized with an important
issue that must be addressed to the satisfaction of the Obama
administration in the next couple of months, or the state will find
itself in Washington’s enforcement crosshairs.
Everyone in Vermont wants to see the waters of Lake
Champlain maintained in healthy condition for swimmers, boaters,
anglers and tourists. There are different ways of translating that
universal wish into reality. The leading one at the moment is the
expansion of command-and-control regulation of Vermont farm
operations.
The Federal Clean Water Act of 1972 gave the Environmental
Protection Agency the power to prevent or regulate the discharge
of any pollutant from a point source into watercourses that lead
to navigable waters. Very little of the current Champlain basin
problem — algae blooms and noxious weed growth — comes from
water treatment plants, factories, and large farm operations. These
have long had to comply with EPA discharge and runoff standards.
The new pressure for command-and-control comes from
the Conservation Law Foundation’s dissatisfaction with
implementation of the state’s 2002 water quality plan. In a posting
on its web site, CLF explains that its urgency on this issue stems
from the appearance of “climate change”, as if the climate had
never changed for the previous 200 years.
This “climate change” will lead, so they say, to “heavy
The Colchester Sun
General Manager
Suzanne Lynn
Publisher
Lynn Publications Inc.
Editor
Elsie Lynn
news@colchestersun.com
Mailing Address:
42 Severance Green, Unit #108
Colchester, VT 05446
Phone: 878-5282
Fax: 651-9635
Reporter/Editorial Page Editor
Jason Starr
jason@colchestersun.com
Sports Editor
Kelly March
kmarch@colchestersun.com
Advertising Manager
Wendy Ewing
ewing@colchestersun.com
Advertising Sales
Kelly K. Malone
kelly@colchestersun.com
Miles Gasek
miles@colchestersun.com
Published Thursdays
Advertising deadline:
Friday 5 p.m.
Subscription rate:
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$38 for six months
The Colchester Sun is owned and published
by Angelo Lynn and Emerson Lynn of Lynn
Publications, Inc. and is a member of the
Champlain Valley Newspaper Group.
The Colchester Sun makes every effort to be
accurate. If you notice an error, contact us at
878-5282 or by e-mail at
news@colchestersun.com.
precipitation and flooding”, causing more pollution to run off into
lakes and rivers. The 2002 plan, CLF argues, failed to consider
the dire predictions of the “climate change” computer programs,
all of which, incidentally, have failed to predict the flat global
temperatures of the past 15 years.
Under CLF pressure, the EPA has given the state an ultimatum.
The state must put in place a far more extensive program to reduce
discharges from “non-point sources”. This is aimed principally at
nitrates and phosphorus used by 6,000 small farms, which EPA
considers “the low hanging fruit”. Unless Vermont proves to EPA
that it is making rapid progress, EPA will issue tough enforcement
orders.
But here’s the curve ball: the EPA orders will threaten to put
costly new requirements on municipal waste treatment plants,
which are around 95 percent compliant, to force the state to install
a command-and-control system over small farm operations.
The legislative response (H.586) requires state regulation and
“certification” of small farms, followed by inspections, remedial
orders, and fines of as much as a $10,000 per day for each
continuing violation. To the Vermont Farm Bureau, this looks a lot
like government licensing of farms and farmers. Interestingly, little
of this is happening on the New York side of the Lake, which is in
a different EPA district with different regulations.
How will this sharply expanded bureaucratic control over small
farms be paid for? With Vermont Yankee no longer available for
extortion, the House Fish, Game and Water Resources Committee
proposes increasing the rooms and meals tax, the rental car contract
tax, and the wine and spirit taxes to scrape together an estimated $4
million a year.
One would think that increasing the present fee on fertilizer
tonnage would be more logical, but it’s politically difficult to bury
small farmers under new regulations, and then tax their fertilizer to
pay for it.
Since 1987 the state has had a Vermont-designed model for
nudging people into curtailing activities that cause environmental
problems. It’s called the Acceptable Management Practices for
forestry operations. Today almost every Vermont logger willingly
observes the AMPs, like not running skidders through streams.
When a harmful practice is the subject of a complaint, Forest
Parks & Wildlife sends out a field person to explain, educate,
and assist the operator. In the vast majority of cases, this results
in sound practices. FP&W traditionally wants good outcomes, not
adversarial legal battles.
Why not use the same collaborative approach for Acceptable
Agricultural Practices for small farms? That would build on the
successful AMP experience. But the CLF’s fanatic “climate
change” lawyers, the EPA control freaks in Washington, and
their willing enablers in Montpelier think they can install a costly
command-and-control system instead.
Granted, more effort needs to be made to reduce agricultural
runoff. But EPA holding water treatment plants hostage to force
a state to impose a burdensome regulatory regime on its small
farms is the wrong idea. Vermonters need to strengthen their own
common sense approach for keeping more agricultural nutrients
out of Lake Champlain.
John McClaughry is vice president of the Ethan Allen Institute
(www.ethanallen.org).
5
COLCHESTER’S WEEKLY
Burnham Memorial Library
Town News
“Battle Bunny,”
by Jon Scieszka and Mac Barnett; illustrated by Matthew Myers
Juvenile Picture Book, 2013
Reviewed by Gizelle Guyette, Youth Services
Use the bathroom, swallow your mouthful of chocolate milk and prepare
to laugh yourself silly; Scieszka has done it again. He’s turned saccharine
children’s books on their collective ear — and drawn Groucho Marx eyebrows
on to boot, along with his partners-in-crime Barnett and Myers.
Poor little tough-guy Alex has a well-meaning grandma, who apparently
thinks that he’s still two. As a birthday present, she sends him one of those
precious little picture books in which all the meadows are flower-dappled, all
the animals talk in cheery Dick-and-Jane speak, and nothing of note actually
happens. Bunny is sad that his friends seem to have forgotten his special day.
Ugh. With some skillfully placed doodles and rewrites, the birthday boy has
defaced and graffitied his way toward a much more violent, and wildly more
gripping, tale: Battle Bunny takes up arms against his woodland adversaries
and even the President in his evil, cotton-tailed quest for world domination.
Scieszka’s book is an absolute scream, and will be the cause of howls and
guffaws of mirth from Little Golden Book-weary kids and grownups alike.
“Hyperbole and a Half,”
by Allie Brosh
Adult Non-Fiction, 2013
Reviewed by Kelly Tomaseski, Library Director
Even if you’ve never heard of Ms. Brosh’s blog (by the same name),
chances are you have come across her artwork somewhere on the internet.
Her art and writing capture the innocence of childhood while tackling such
complex topics as depression, fear, and hope — all while making you laugh.
Though illustrated, this is not a book for children, or those lacking the ability
to laugh at themselves, because chances are good you will see yourself in at
least one story. If you are in doubt, check out The God of Cake or Menace on
her blog (hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com). Even if you are a regular reader of
her blog (in which case I’m sure you’ll agree she really needs to write more),
fear not, there are several new stories shared only in the book.
Community College Vermont appoints
new academic dean
The Community College
of Vermont is pleased to name
Deborah Stewart as the new
dean of academic affairs. She
will succeed current academic
dean Linda Gabrielson, who
announced her April 11, 2014
retirement last year.
A
search
committee
whittled the initial 51
candidates applying from
all over the country down
to three finalists who were
invited to CCV to meet with
students, faculty and staff at
the Montpelier, Upper Valley
(White River Junction) and
Winooski academic centers.
Broadcasted to all centers
online, each candidate hosted
a presentation in Montpelier
focusing on their strategies
for active learning and
keeping students engaged in
classrooms. After careful deliberation,
Stewart, a CCV graduate,
longtime faculty member and
current dean of students, was
chosen to succeed Gabrielson.
Stewart served as the College’s
associate academic dean from
2001-2010, and co-chaired the
NEASC accreditation team in
2011-12. During her time at CCV
she has worked with national
organizations such as the Kahn
Academy and the Lumina
Foundation’s
Achieving
the Dream initiative to
improve student retention
and persistence. She has been
instrumental in transforming
the placement and assessment
process for incoming students
and a driving force for
student support during their
time at CCV advancing the
peer-tutoring and mentoring
programs and associated with
CCV’s learning centers. Stewart brings decades of
experience and leadership in
effective teaching practices,
curriculum development and
student services to her new
role. As a published poet,
with numerous academic
publications and presentations
to her credit and a rich
history of service to CCV,
her perspective on and
help rake, wash windows and
plant flowers. They are also
looking for a Master Gardener
to help plan their on-site
garden and help residents
maintain it during the summer.
Flexible schedule. Contact
Mary Mougey at 658-1573,
x201, or email mmougey@
ethanallenresidence.org.
Be a champ!
Champlain Adaptive
Mounted Program (CHAMP)
is beginning its spring session
of horseback riding lessons
in South Hero for people
of all ages with disabilities.
Volunteers are needed to help
riders during their 30-minute
lessons. Flexible weekday
and weekend scheduling,
now through May 31. Contact
Pauline Gervais at 372-4087
or email volchamp@outlook.
com.
Deborah Stewart
contributions to planning,
implementing,
managing
and supervising all academic
programs and personnel at the
College will be invaluable. Stewart will transition
starting in April and officially
begin her new role on July 1. “Colchester, Vermont, located on Lake Champlain’s Malletts
Bay, is a diverse, civic-minded community endowed with a
rich heritage of commercial, agricultural, recreational, and
educational gifts. Proud of the quality of life already enjoyed
here, the people of Colchester seek to build upon this foundation
to ensure economic prosperity, recreational opportunity, and an
entrepreneurial spirit for future generations.”
Vision Statement, Heritage Project, 2012
The following information highlights some activities performed by
the Town from March 31 – April 4.
Public Works
Reported by Bryan Osborne, director
What to expect this spring:
Motorists, motorcyclists, and bicyclists are all asked to use
extreme caution for the next 30–45 days while using Colchester’s
roads. While localized street flooding, potholes, frost heaves and
mud season are all common springtime conditions in Vermont,
including Colchester, the potential is high for these conditions to
be unusually severe this year. Frost levels are still very deep, and
snow cover remains significant for this time of year. Therefore,
there is a high likelihood for a rapid thaw this spring, which may
significantly worsen springtime conditions.
• Street Flooding — Much of the town was constructed with
insufficient consideration to proper drainage. Many of the
town’s roads and developments do not have drainage systems
and rely upon the water infiltrating into the ground around the
roadways. With the ground frozen, this cannot occur, resulting
in standing water. Short of constructing expensive drainage
systems within these areas, there is little that can be done to
correct this problem. Travelers should use extreme caution and
proceed slowly through flooded areas.
• Potholes — The severe winter weather has caused
considerable damage to the transportation system all over
the state, including in Colchester. Potholes are difficult to
deal with in the winter, as asphalt plants do not open until
late spring. Instead, a specialized cold mix is used, which is
unfortunately very expensive and nowhere near as effective as
hot mix. Patching potholes with any type of material is almost
impossible, however, when potholes are filled with water as a
result of drainage problems as noted above. Travelers should
use extreme caution and proceed slowly through damaged
areas until they can be properly repaired.
• Frost Heaves — Frost heaves occur within areas where poorly
drained soils and high groundwater tables exist. They are
created as the ground thaws in the spring. In some cases, they
can be severe with ground movement of several inches. Short
of complete reconstruction of the roadways, there is little
than can be done to correct this problem. Travelers should use
extreme caution and proceed slowly along roadways affected
by frost heaves.
• Mud Season — The town has 13 miles of public gravel roads.
These are generally old roadways that were never constructed
to modern-day standards. Poorly draining soils and high
groundwater tables are common throughout areas served by
gravel roads. As the ground thaws during the spring, these
roadways experience periods of instability where mud can
be several feet deep. The rapid thaw that may likely occur this
year will greatly worsen these conditions. Short of complete
reconstruction of these roadways, there is very little that can
be done to completely avoid these conditions.
For more information about the Public Works Department, visit
http://colchestervt.gov/PublicWorks/Home.shtml or call 264-5620.
Read news
from Parks and Rec,
online:
www.colchestersun.com
For more information about
the Town of Colchester visit the
town offices at 781 Blakely Road,
Colchester, online at
www.colchestervt.gov
or call (802) 264-5500.
Volunteers
By SUE ALENICK
United Way Volunteer
April is National
Volunteer Month. Volunteer
once a week, once a month or
once in a while. The listings
below are a sample of the
300+ volunteer needs from
more than 250 agencies found
online at www.unitedwaycc.
org. More information
available at 860-1677, Mon.Fri. from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Be a hero!
Essex CHIPS, School
Based Mentoring is
recruiting new mentors for
students at elementary and
middle schools in Essex
Junction and Essex Town.
The kids are waiting to play
games, do arts & crafts,
chat, grown, learn, laugh
and share. Mentors join kids
one hour a week during the
school day, and every effort
is made to work around the
mentor’s schedule. Training
provided. References and
background check required.
Contact Darcy Caryl Evans
at 878-6982 or email
darcycaryl@essexchips.org.
Spring cleaning
Ethan Allen Residence
is looking for volunteers to
Be among the first to know about new properties as they come on the market!
VThomefinder.com
provided by john abry ● realtor ● remax north professionals ● 861.3278 ● john@cvthomes.com
Essex Automotive Services
STEERING IN THE
RIGHT DIRECTION
When it feels like a vehicle’s
steering is pulling to one side,
owners of older cars may suspect
that they need a wheel alignment.
However, it is best not to come to
any premature conclusions. Cars
that have been driven for 75,000
miles or more are likely to have
endured significant wear to steering components such as ball
joints, tie rod ends, and control
arm bushings, so it makes sense
to verify that there is no excess
wear or damage to any of these
components. If an alignment
is performed on an automobile
having one or more of these issues, the car may steer well for a
time, but then may start to pull to
one side shortly afterward.
The power steering system fluid
should be checked at every service interval. When is the last time
you had your vehicle serviced? At
ESSEX AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES, our friendly ASE-certified
technicians will be able to take care
of it, and get you back on the road
in no time. We can also provide the
preventive maintenance that can prevent problems before they start. No
appointment needed. 802.879.1966.
We’re located at 141-147 Pearl St,
Essex Jct. We offer same day service, and free customer shuttle. Ask
us for details. We open at 6:59 a.m.,
with no appointment needed. We
feature A.S.E. Technicians including Master Techs.“Service You Can
Trust”“We do it all!” We are open
for Business!!!
OPEN 6:59 AM
NO APPT. NEEDED
HINT: Looseness in the suspension or
steering that goes uncorrected can lead
to rapid tire wear, cutting tire life by as
much as half.
You don’t have to
feel guilty about
good food.
SERV
I
B R E A NG
KFAS
T
Open
6 a.m.
Weekdays
ALL
DAY
164 Porters Point Rd.
Colchester VT 05446
802-399-2011
Weekdays: 6 am - 3 pm • Weekends: 7 am - 3 pm
6
802-863-9027
CALENDAR
ERIC’S EXCAVATING
APR
12-13
Complete Excavation Services
Septic Systems
REBECCA J. COLLMAN, MD
Pediatrics
Primary medical care for newborns
through age 18
• 20 years in Colchester
• Board certiﬁed
• High continuity of care
• Available 24 hours
• Intimate ofﬁce
• Personalized attention
• Convenient location
• Complimentary prenatal visits
MADE IN VERMONT MARKETPLACE.
Vermont Business Magazine presents the first annual
Made In Vermont Marketplace. The show will offer
the opportunity to browse and purchase the many
fine food, furniture, crafts and other products made
in Vermont, as well as the opportunity to meet the
talented artisans who create them. Runs through
April 13. Champlain Valley Expo, Essex Junction,
Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Adults $6; Seniors $5. Information: www.madeinvermontmarketplace.com.
164 Main St • Colchester
878-7844
10
Trivia Mania. Nectar’s presents Trivia Mania, a pub style trivia game. Questions
are displayed on the TVs and are read
aloud. Categories range from pop culture, history, science, literature, and more.
Entertainment provided by Top Hat DJS.
All ages. Nectars, Burlington, 7-9:30 p.m.
Free. Info: 658-4771.
Something
to
Celebrate?
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...
and m
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Pro
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We
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Tell Elsie!
elsie@colchestersun.com
“Intersections: Sound and Text from T.
Urayoan Noel and Edwin Torres.” St.
Michael’s College presents a program
called “Intersections: Sound and Text from
T. Urayoan Noel and Edwin Torres.” Edwin Torres’ performances and live shows
combine vocal and physical improvisation
and theater. The author of many books
of poetry, Torres has performed in spaces
as diverse as the Guggenheim Museum
to MTV. Noel, originally from San Juan,
Puerto Rico is Visiting Assistant Professor of English at NYU. St. Edmund’s Hall
Farrell Room 315, St. Michael’s College
campus, 8:15 p.m. Free. Information:
654-2000.
Showcase 11
of
Homes
To advertise your
listings contact
your ad rep today!
802-878-5282
Kelly K. Malone x 207
kelly@essexreporter.com
Thursday
Miles Gasek x 209
miles@essexreporter.com
SPRING INTO
SOMETHING SPECIAL
$369,900
It won’t be long and the
warmth of Spring will finally
reveal the estate like setting
and grounds of this exceptional home and property.
This impressive, character
filled, historically significant
4+ bedroom property has
been diligently maintained,
modernized and caringly improved. Highlights include 4+ car finished garage, Art/hobby studio, modern kitchen, comfortable formal and informal
areas, an inground pool and much more. This is a must be seen to be fully
appreciated property. Call for your private showing. South Milton
Four Seasons Real Estate Inc. 802-893-4316
Hometown experience, service and pride . . . everyday.
NEW LISTING!
The
Hometown
Team
Jack associates
(802) 893-2436
MILTON - NEW LISTING!
Very nice 3 bedroom, 1.5 Bathroom Ranch on a .5 acre lot in a
184gas
Waverly
Circle,laminate
Colchesterflooring, hardwood
great location! Includes
fireplace,
Newer
3 Bedroom,
full bath mobile
home
in desirabledeck,
Colchester
park.back
Rear
under
carpet
in LR,2 partially
finished
basement,
fenced
deck,
largestorage
storage shed,
shed and
a frontdrive,
screened
porch arewater
just a and
few features.
yard
with
paved
municipal
more!
Come and see! $56,900.
Enjoy this great neighborhood home which is in the village and close
to shopping, banks, grocery and both schools. Call Don Turner and
the Hometown Team at C21 Jack Associates at 893-2436 today for
more information! Call Don Turner & the Hometown Team at C21
Jack Associates at 893-2436. MLS 4149939. $204,900.
THE WOODLANDS AT LANG FARM
Located in a desirable neighborhood this home has it all! Great floorplan with
custom features throughout, hardwood floors, fireplaced family room, gourmet
kitchen, formal dining room, finished lower level with rec room. Close to bike
path, shopping & area schools. Offered at $510,000.
Carol Audette | (802) 846-8800 | www.carolaudette.com
Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty
Friday
VFW Meal. The VFW Post 6689 will be hosting their weekly community meal. On the
menu this week, The Ladies Auxiliary Friday Night Special. Live entertainment by
the Browns River Band. VFW Post 6689,
Essex Junction, 5:30-7 p.m. $6. Information: 878-0700.
Contra Dance. Queen City Contra will be
holding it’s monthly contra dance. Music
will be provided by Sarah Blair and Colin
McCaffrey. The dances will be called by
Sarah VanNorstrand. All dances taught,
no partner or experience necessary.
Please bring clean, soft-soled shoes for
dancing. Beginners’ session at 7:45 p.m.
Edmunds School, Burlington, 8 p.m. $8
adults and children under 12 are free.
Information: 371-9492.
Rock Point School Fundraiser Dinner and Silent Auction. The Rock Point School will
be hosting a dinner and silent auction to
benefit their scholarship fund. The event
will also include music, school tours, and a
student art show. RSVP is required. Rock
Point School, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
$30. Contact C.J.: 863-1104 or cspirito@rockpointschool.org.
Artful Eating and Gardening Fundraiser.
Gardener’s Supply invites gardeners and
ESSEX CHIPS’
BARGAIN DRESS
BASH!
Join Essex CHIPS for their 5th annual
Bargain Dress Bash. This event offers
gently used dresses and gowns for sale
at deeply discounted prices. Dress sales
support Essex CHIPS and Teen Center.
In addition to dress sales there will be
refreshments, raffles, and prizes. Essex
CHIPS, Essex Junction, 3-7 p.m. Contact:
Adriane: Adriane@essexchips.org or
878-6982.
APR
11
gastronomes to celebrate
spring with a fundraiser to
benefit the work of the Vermont Community Garden
Network statewide. “ Artful
Eating and Gardening: A
Benefit for the Vermont Community Garden Network”
will feature stunning tablescapes and local refreshments, as well as remarks by
food writer Ed Behr. Guests
may tour the lush, fragrant
Gardener’s Supply greenhouse and discuss tablescaping and other topics with
Gardener’s experts. Throughout the evening, Sugarsnap will serve creative, appetizers and desserts made from scratch
using delicious local cheeses, meats and
vegetables. A cash bar will also be available. Gardener’s Supply Greenhouse,
Williston, 4:30-7 p.m. $15 in advance;
$18 at the door. Information: 861-4769.
12
Saturday
Greek Pastry Sale and Take-out Dinner. The
Greek Orthodox Church in Burlington will
be hosting a pastry sale and take-out
dinner. A wide variety of Greek pastries
and spinach pies will be sold. Chicken
souvlaki and beef gyro available for dinner. Greek Orthodox Church, Burlington,
Sale 10 a.m. and dinner begins at 11
a.m. Information: 862-2155.
“Turn Your Job Search Inside-Out to Find
the Perfect Work for You!” Jim teaches a
unique approach to creating career happiness and living the life you have only
dreamed about. Whether you are unemployed, underemployed, or not satisfied
with your present job discover true alignment with your soul purpose. Being true
to yourself can results in work you love.
Dorothy Alling Memorial, Williston, 1112 p.m. Free. Information: 878-4918 or
www.williston.lib.vt.us.
Fine Arts Department Music Festival. The St.
Michael’s College Fine Arts Department
presents a student music festival. The annual end-of-year festival features performances by various departmental ensembles and student-led a cappella groups.
McCarthy Arts Center Recital Hall, St. Michael’s College Campus, 12-3 p.m. Free.
Pasta Dinner & Silent Auction. St. James Episcopal Church will be hosting a community
pasta dinner and silent auction to benefit
the parish. The menu will include pasta,
tomato sauce, salad, garlic bread and
selection of beverages. St. James Episcopal Church, Essex Junction, 6-10 p.m.
$10 individual/$25 family. Information:
878-4014.
Young Tradition Touring Group Concert.
Young Tradition Vermont presents their
final concert to prepare and raise funds
for the 2014 performance tour to England and Scotland. Help celebrate and
support this group of 18 energetic, dedicated and talented teens as they perform tunes, songs and dances that will be
shared at concerts, festivals and schools
abroad. Special guests the Strawberry
Hill Fiddlers will also be performing. All
proceeds to benefit costs associated with
the tour. All Souls Interfaith Gathering,
Shelburne, 7 p.m. $15 suggested donation. Information: mark.sustic@gmail.com
or 233-5293.
Pre-Party for The Big Chill-Be A Hero for Epilepsy. Epilepsy Foundation of Vermont
will be hosting this event as a fundraiser
in preparation for their Big Chill event.
The event will feature musical entertainment by the band, THEM. There will be
a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. This
event is open to the public and raises
funds to help children who have epilepsy.
Eagles Club, South Burlington, 7-11 p.m.
$5. Information: epilepsy@sover.net or
318-1575.
13
Sunday
Artsy Egg Demonstration. Frog Hollow Craft
Center will be hosting an egg decorating demo. Juried artisan, Theresa Somer-
set will demonstrate the art of PysankyUkranian egg decoration. Frog Hollow
Vermont State Craft Center, Burlington,
12-2 p.m. Free. Information: 863-6458
or info@froghollow.org.
Ukulele Mele. Join other Burlington-area Ukulele lovers in a group to learn and play
the Ukulele together. Program designed
for adults and children 10 years and older. Bring your own Ukulele. Starting with
2-3 chord songs, simple visual prompts
will assist in learning songs together each
session. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington,
4:30 p.m. Free. Information: 865-7211.
14
Monday
Author Talk. The Milton Library presents author Don Brown speaking about his latest
work, “The Morphine Dream.” Meet the
author and learn how he overcame great
obstacles in his life. Refreshments will be
served. Sign up required. Milton Public
Library, Milton, 6:30 p.m. Information:
893-4644. 15
Tuesday
CVAA Senior Meal. CVAA will be hosting a senior citizens meal at Pizza Hut. The menu
will an “all you can eat” pizza buffet. Pizza Hut, Essex, 10 a.m. check in; 11 a.m.
lunch. $5. Information: 865-0360.
Math Talk. St. Michael’s College presents a
math talk, “Creating and using mathematical Models in Biology: Why, When, and
How,” by Raina Robeva. The speaker will
look at the use of mathematical models,
by the media and elsewhere, in the natural, social and life sciences, for everything
from weather patterns to behavioral
changes and public health emergencies.
Cheray Hall 101, St. Michael’s College
campus, 4:30 p.m. Free. Information: 6542000.
16
Wednesday
Pediatric Asthma Talk. The Vermont Chapter
of the University of Connecticut Alumni
Association will sponsor a presentation
by Dr. Thomas Lahiri, Director of Pediatric
Pulmonology at Vermont Children’s Hospital. The topic will be “Pediatric Asthma
and Exercise.” Participation is free but is
limited to 90 attendees and registration
is required. Fraternal Order of Eagles,
South Burlington, 7-9 p.m. Free. Information: 888-822-5861.
17
Thursday
Unfiltered Wine and Poetry at Shelburne
Vineyard. Shelburne Vineyard will debut
an night of unfiltered wine and poetry.
All poets are invited to bring their own
work to share. Poets will read their work
aloud and an audience of poets and poetry lovers will provide encouragement
and feedback. Bring snacks to enjoy with
your wine. Wine for sale by the glass.
Shelburne Vineyard Winery and Tasting
Room, Shelburne, 6 p.m. Free. Information: 985-8222.
All about Electric Cars Seminar. New England
Federal Credit Union will be hosting David Roberts, an electric vehicle consultant
who will discuss these efficient machines.
This seminar will teach more about how
electric cars work, their benefits, and why
you might want to make your next car an
electric vehicle. Registration encouraged.
New England Federal Credit Union, Williston 5:30-7 p.m. 879-8790.
Ongoing
Essex Eats Out Community Meals. Essex Eats
Out seeks to build community connections by providing healthy, free meals in
a warm, safe, and inclusive atmosphere.
Meals will be served: 1st Friday at First
Congregational Church; 2nd Friday at
Holy Family/St. Lawrence Parish Center;
3rd Friday at St. James Church; 4th Fri-
7
CALENDAR
day at Essex United Methodist Church;
and 5th Friday when applicable at St.
Pius X Church. 5:30-7 p.m. each week.
Information: essexeatsout@gmail.com or
www.essexeatsout.org.
Mount Mansfield Scale Modelers Meetings.
The Mount Mansfield Scale Modelers
meetings are informational gatherings
of scale model enthusiasts that happen
on the third Thursday of each month.
Builders of all areas of interest and skill
level are welcome. The meetings offer an
opportunity to showcase individual projects, discuss tips, offer helpful technique
advice, and gain inspiration. Brownell
Library, Essex Junction, March 20, April
17, and May 15; 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free.
Divorce Care Support Group. The Essex Alliance Church presents a 13-week support group for those going through divorce starting March 11. Feelings of
separation, betrayal, confusion, anger
and self-doubt are common during divorce. Discussions will be led by people
who have already experienced divorce
and are meant to provide a safe place
and process to help make the process
easier. Runs through June 3. Essex Alliance Church, Essex Junction, Tuesdays
6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Contact Sandy:
989-4081.
Bagpipe and Drum Lessons. The St. Andrew’s
Pipeband of Vermont offers instruction
for bag piping and drumming as an encouragement and incentive for attracting
new members. The instructional program
is designed to integrate and transition
a piper or drummer into the “parade”
band at a level of basic competency.
St. James Episcopal Church, Essex Junction, Wednesday evenings. Free. Contact
Beth: 343-4738.
Drop-In Pottery Wheel Class. Spend Friday
nights with our pottery instructors learning the basics of wheel working. Try the
wheel and have some fun with other beginner potters. Through demonstrations
and individual instruction, students will
learn the basics of preparing and centering the clay and making cups, mugs
and bowls. Price includes one fired and
glazed piece per participant. Additional
fired and glazed pieces are $5 each. No
registration necessary but space is limited. First come, first serve. Begins Jan.
31. BCA Print and Wheel Studio, Burlington, Fridays 8-10 p.m. $12. Contact:
865-7166.
Drop-In Life Drawing Class. This drop-in
life drawing class is open to all levels
and facilitated by local painter Glynnis
Fawkes. Spend the evening with other
artists, drawing one of our experienced
models. Bring drawing materials and paper. No registration necessary. No class
on Feb. 17. Ages 16 and up. BCA Center,
Burlington, Mondays 6:30-8:30 p.m. $8.
Contact: 865-7166.
Free Yoga for Survivors. H.O.P.E. Works is
offering a free and confidential traumainformed yoga program for survivors of
sexual violence. Meets on the first Saturday of each month. Registration is required to attend. Laughing River Yoga,
Burlington, 1:30 p.m. Free. Contact: 8640555, x19 or atsarah@hopeworksvt.
org.
Bolton After Dark. Bolton Valley Ski Resort’s
mini party complete with night skiing and
riding for all ages and public screenings
of movies by Meathead Films. Bolton
Valley Ski Resort, Bolton Valley, 4-8 p.m.
Saturday evenings through March 15.
Tickets $19. Contact: 877-926-5866.
Tai Chi for Arthritis Beginners. A fun, joint
safe activity proven to reduce pain while
improving balance, agility and increasing lower and upper body strength. Participation in this program can help you
maintain your independence. Tai Chi for
Arthritis can be done seated or standing. Classes are led by certified instructors Sponsored by CVAA. Mondays and
Wednesdays April 1-May 28. Congregational Church, Essex Junction, 10:3011:15 a.m. Free for adults 50 years or
older. Contact: 865-0360.
Creative Tuesdays. Artists exercise their
imaginations with recycled crafts. Children under 10 must be accompanied by
an adult. Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 3:15-5 p.m. Contact: 865-7216.
Line Dance Classes. Denise Brault Line Dance
presents Beginner and Beginner Plus
classes. No experience needed. St. Joseph School Gym, Burlington. Mondays
through March 31. Beginners’ class, 6:157:15 p.m. Beginners’ Plus class 7:15-7:45
p.m. $4 for beginner class and $6 for
beginner and beginner plus classes. Contact Denise: 658-0096.
Bingo. Sponsored by the Whitcomb Woods
LEE J. WELTMAN D.D.S.
905 Roosevelt Highway, Suite 230, Colchester, VT 05446 Above The Rehab Gym
Wand Technology for an Anxiety-Free Experience
• Veneers/Bonding
• TMJ
• INVISALIGN
• Digital X-Rays
• Implants
New Patients & Emergencies Welcome
EVENTS AT BURNHAM MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Monday, April 14
Outsiders: Inventing the Feeble Mind. In this four-part Vermont Humanities Council program, we’ll be discussing groups who fell outside cultural norms. Helene Lang, a
retired University of Vermont professor, will lead the discussions. This month, we’ll
discuss “Inventing the Feeble Mind: A History of Mental Retardation in the United
States” by James W. Trent, Jr. Copies of the book are available for checkout. 6 p.m.
Tuesday, April 15
Tuesday Afternoon Adult Book Club. The club meets on the third Tuesday of every
month. This month, the club is reading “The Yellow Birds,” by Kevin Powers. 1 p.m.
Ukrainian Egg Workshop. At the Bayside Activity Center. Learn the centuries old art of
pysanky. Because of the use of hot wax, permanent dyes, and open flame, the session
is only open to those age 12 to adult. Bring or wear old clothing. Register online.
6-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Apr. 16
Pajama Storytime. Little ones of all ages cuddle up in pajamas and listen to bedtime
stories. Cookies and milk will be served. No signup required. 6:30 p.m.
Scrabble Meetup at the Library. Join us for a friendly game of Scrabble at the Library.
6:30 p.m.
655-5305
www.DentistVT.com
VT
• www.sunnyhollowdental.com
h ll
SUNNY HOLLOW DENTAL WHERE SUNNY SMILES GROW
Special event
coming up?
Susan would love
to hear about it!
Email Michael at:
colchestersun.com/calendar
Thursday, Apr. 17
Burnham Library Trustees Meeting. The library’s trustees meet monthly, and meetings
are open to the public. 4 p.m.
Ongoing
Free Tax Filing Help for Seniors and Lower Income Households. Saturdays (except
Feb. 8). AARP’s Tax Aide Service volunteers file taxes for seniors and lower income
households. To setup an appointment call 264-5660. 9:15 a.m.- 1:15 p.m.
Burnham Knitters. Knitters of all skill levels meet Wednesdays. Beginners welcome. Colchester Meeting House or Burnham Memorial Library. 6-8 p.m.
Preschool music with Derek. Wednesdays. Derek brings music and fun every Wednesday. Best for ages 3-5. 1-1:30 p.m.
Drop-in gentle Hatha yoga. Tuesdays. Bring a mat and enjoy poses for mindful stretching
and relaxation. Beginners and intermediates welcome. 4:30-5:30 p.m. Call 8780313 to sign up.
Drop-in story-time. Saturdays. A weekly selection of music and books for children of all
ages. No sign-up required. 10 a.m. Contact: 878-0313.
Toddler Story Time. Tuesdays (starting Jan. 21). A weekly selection of music, rhymes and
stories. For ages 18 months-3 years. Call to sign-up. 10:30 a.m.
Preschool story-time. Mondays and Thursdays. Join us for stories followed by a craft or
activity. For ages 3-6. Call to register. 10:30 a.m.
Burnham Library hours
Monday, Wednesday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Friday: 12-5 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
898 Main Street, Colchester
Contact: 879-7576 or jmuse@colchestervt.gov.
Residents Association. Whitcomb Woods,
128 West Street, Essex Junction. Mondays at 6 p.m. Contact: 879-1829.
Beginner yoga classes. Tuesdays. In lieu of a
fee, please bring a non-perishable item
or monetary donation for the Richmond
Food Shelf. Richmond Free Library, 201
Bridge Street, Richmond, 6-7 p.m. Contact: ldiamond@uvm.edu or 318-5570.
Burlington Writers Workshop. A free writing
workshop for all Vermonters. Meets every Wednesday in downtown Burlington.
Free and open to the public. Participants
must register at meetup.com. More info:
burlingtonwritersworkshop.com.
Cell Phones For Soldiers. Local residents can
support these collection drives by donating their old cell phones at A. W. Rich
Funeral Home, 57 Main Street, Essex
Junction or at the American Legion, 3650
Roosevelt Highway, Colchester. Collections accepted 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact:
849-6261.
Champlain Echoes. A women’s four-part
harmony chorus group seeks additional
women to sing in their holiday performances. Meetings are Monday nights.
The Pines, Aspen Drive, South Burlington,
6:30 p.m. Contact: 655-2174.
Colchester-Milton Rotary meeting. Thursdays. Serving the communities of Colchester, Milton and the Champlain Islands. Hampton Inn, Colchester, 12 p.m.
Community Wellness Day. Practitioners offer Reiki, Shiatsu, aromatherapy, acupressure, energy work and more to
those looking to experience alternative healing. 2 Wolves Holistic Center
in Vergennes, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. most
Fridays. Sliding-scale donations; preregister the Tuesday prior. Contact: 2wolvescenter@gmail.com or 870-0361.
Early Birder Morning Walks. Sundays starting May 4. Enjoy the start of the day
with birds, and other woodland inhabitants. Walks are led by experienced
birders familiar with Vermont birds. Best
for adults and older children. Free, donations welcomed. Birds of Vermont Museum. 900 Sherman Hollow Road, Huntington, 7-9 a.m. Contact: 434-2167 or
museum@birdsofvermont.org.
English As A Second Language Classes. Improve your English conversation skills and
meet new people. Wednesdays. Administrative Conference Room: Intermediate/Advanced. Pickering Room, 2nd
Floor: Beginners. Fletcher Free Library,
Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Contact:
865-7211.
Essex Art League. Meets the first Thursday of
the month. The meeting agenda includes
a business and social time, and features
a guest artist presentation. Essex Junction Congregational Church on Main
Street, Essex Junction, 9-11 a.m. Visit:
www.essexartleague.com.
Essex Rotary Meeting. Essex Rotary Meetings are held on Wednesdays at 12:10
p.m. at The Essex. Serving the communities of Essex, Essex Junction, Jericho and
Underhill.
Family Support Group. Outright Vermont
holds support group meetings for family members of youth going through the
process of coming out. One Sunday evening and one Wednesday morning each
month at Outright Vermont. Contact:
865-9677.
German-English Conversation Group. Improve your German conversation skills
and meet new people. First and third
Wednesday of each month. Local History Room, Fletcher Free Library, Burlington, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Contact: 865-7211.
Italian Conversation Group. Open to all interested in learning/hearing the Italian
language. Room 101, St. Edmunds Hall,
St. Michael’s College, Colchester. Every
second and fourth Wednesday of the
month, 7-9 p.m. Contact: 654-2536.
Mount Mansfield Scale Modelers. Informal gathering of model enthusiasts. All
skill levels welcome. Third Thursday of
each month. Kolvoord Community Room,
Brownell Library, Essex Junction, 6:308:30 p.m. Contact: 878-0765.
Toy Library Playgroup. Fridays. Ages birth
through five years. Memorial Hall, Essex, 9:30-11 a.m. Contact Lauren: 8786715.
VCAM Access Orientation. Free. Vermont
Community Access Media, 208 Flynn Avenue 2-G, Burlington. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.10 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact:
651-9692 or www.vermontcam.org.
For more calendar events, visit
www.colchestersun.com/calendar
Colchester
Religious Directory
Daybreak Community Church
67 Creek Farm Plaza, Colchester VT. 05446
802-338-9118 or brentdaybreak@gmail.com
www.daybreakvermont.org
Sunday Service at 10:30am
Lead Pastor, Brent Devenney
Holy Cross Church
416 Church Road, Colchester; 863-3002
Mass Schedule
Saturday: 4:30 p.m.;
Sunday: 9 a.m.; 11 a.m.;
Monday - Wednesday & Friday: 9 a.m.
For Catholics who are returning home to the Church,
welcome. We are happy that the Holy Spirit is leading you
and we are pleased to welcome you.
Come Join Us!
Islamic Society of Vermont
182 Hegeman Avenue. 655-6711
Islamic Society of Vermont. Join Imam Islam Hassan
(imam@isvt.org) for the five daily prayers. Timings at
ISVT homepage www.isvt.org The call for Friday Jumah
prayers is exactly at 1:00PM followed by Khutbah and
prayer. Additional Friday night lectures between Magrib
and Isha prayers. Weekend Islamic classes on Sundays
9:45AM-1:30PM for all children 4 years and older during the
school year. Interested non-members always welcome.
(802) 655-6711 or salam@isvt.org or Facebook.
Malletts Bay Congregational Church UCC
1672 West Lakeshore Dr.
658-9155. Rev. Mary Nelson Abbott, Pastor.
Worship Service: Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Church School: Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Fellowship time: Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Childcare provided.
All are welcome!
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church
1063 Prim Road, 658-0533.
Rev. Lisette Baxter, Rector
Sundays: 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.,
Holy Eucharist 10 a.m.
Sunday School: Nursery & all grades
Wednesdays: 11:30 Bible class; 12:30 Holy Eucharist
For evening services & Adult Education,
check answering machine. All are always welcome.
United Church Of Colchester - ABC
Rte 2A-Village Green, 879-5442.
Pastor Josh Steely.
Worship: 10:30 a.m.
Adult Sunday School: 9:00 a.m.
Youth Sunday School during 10:30
worship; pre-school through 11 years.
Nursery care available during worship.
Christ Centered - Family Oriented.
8
for a free quote or to place an ad
PHONE:
FAX:
EMAIL:
MAIL:
802-878-5282
802-651-9635
classifieds@colchestersun.com
The Colchester Sun
42 Severance Green, Suite 108
Colchester VT 05446
HIRING
Small
construction
business looking
for part-time
bookkeeper/
accountant. Send
resumes to Rob
Vadnais. 864
Lake Rd., Milton,
Vt. 05468.
FOR SALE
Hot Point
Washer $150.00
Whirlpool
Dryer $100.00
Whirlpool
electric stove
$150.00. 32
inch flat screen
TV $75. All
appliances are
clean and in
working order.
Limited free
delivery. Call
Dean 343-8275.
SERVICES
Tool Wizard
Repair-AirElectric Tools
Small EnginesTrailers
Plows and
Sanders
Call 7 days 7am7pm
DEADLINES
Friday at 5 p.m. for line ads
to run in the following
Thursday paper
Kevin 802-4345041
We are in Milton.
Maple
Syrup. YATE’S
FAMILY FARM.
Fancy Grade A,
Medium grade.
Gallon: $44, Half:
$24 Quart: $15,
Pint: $10. Garry’s
Barbershop: 8784010.
How To Write A Classified
Friday at 5pm
for display ads
CONTACT US
Lafayette
Painting is ready
to take care
of all of your
interior painting
needs. Home
or business,
our work is
guaranteed to
look beautiful for
years to come.
Visit Lafayette
PaintingInc.
com or call us
at 863-5397.
APPLIANCES
HUMIDIFIER,
WEST BEND, $35.
Call 802-8683507.
MICROWAVE,
Daycare Space for Rent!
Open floor plan in a quiet setting in the Fort Ethan Allen
Colchester with 1500 square feet of classroom space & 120
square feet of storage. This is a perfect daycare setting with
four spacious rooms that include their own bathrooms, sinks
and kitchen areas. In addition, there is an outdoor, fenced in
play area. Contact Elizabeth Sightler at 655-0511 ext. 120 or
esightler@ccs-vt.org
SUNBEAM, $20.
802-393-2744.
MICROWAVE,
STAINLESS STEEL,
Frigidaire, has
sensors. Paid
$189., will take
$150. 802-8482076.
ANTIQUES
AMMO BOX,
WOODEN,
vintage, from
WWII. In perfect
shape. $85. 802485-8266
BOOKENDS, FULL
HORSE, antique,
clear glass. $40.
or best offer.
802-868-5606.
SPOOL BED,
1800'S, Jenny
Lind. Would be
beautiful to make
into hall bench.
$100. 802-4858266.
SPOOL BED,
ANTIQUE, white,
with matching
vanity stand.
MARKETING REP
The Essex Reporter and The Colchester Sun seek a highly
motivated individual interested in advertising sales for print
and web. The position has a good existing client base with
strong repeat customers, and the prospects going forward
are considerable. The successful candidate will possess strong
organizational skills, a sense of optimism, a drive to sell and
grow his-or-her client list and enjoy reaping the corresponding
financial benefits. Looking for a self-starter and a go-getter.
Send your resumé to
elsie@colchestersun.com.
$150. or best
offer. 802-8685606.
WATER JUG,
GLASS, tall, 5
gallon, vintage,
from OwensIllinois. $150. or
best offer. 802524-1139.
CAMPING
SUPPLIES
SLEEPING BAGS,
(2),
$40. for both.
802-524-2201.
CLOTHING &
ACCESSORIES
BURTON JACKET,
GIRLS, like new.
$40. 802-7529234.
SWEATER,
BEAUTIFUL
NORWEGIAN
Herman Mehren,
hand knit, with
pewter buttons.
Size small. $80.
802-485-8266.
Always start with a keyword that makes it clear
what you are advertising. Include as much
description as you can so the buyer or potential
employee knows exactly what you are offering.
This may avoid unnecessary calls with redundant
questions!
Still need some help, call us and we will help
write your ad and design it for FREE!
COLLECTIBLES
CERAMIC
ANGELS, 75-100,
$25. for all. 802524-9691
CERAMIC BEARS,
75-100, $25. for
all. 802-524-9691
CERAMIC DOLLS
(2), very fancy
and pretty. $10.
for both. 802848-7818
STUFFED BEARS,
BIG and small,
around 100
bears. $25. for
all. 802-524-9691
THOMAS
KINKADE,
VILLAGE
house pieces.
Manufactured
prior to his
death. 12-15
pieces. Excellent
condition. Must
see! Asking $30.
each. 802-5242010, leave
message.
graphic
position
Graphic designer - web
(St. Albans, Vt.)
Full time position for a graphic artist with web
experience: Vermont daily newspaper in St.
Albans has a position for a graphic artist who
has an interest in making ideas come alive for
our clients. Candidates must be proficient in
all Adobe programs, in particular InDesign,
Illustrator and Photoshop. Position is a day-shift,
M-F, slot. The right candidate will be a team
player and be confident enough to offer insights
of their own. Web design skills, including being
familiar with code -- WordPress and HTML - a
big plus.
Please send resume to:
emerson@samessenger.com.
Class A CDL Delivery Driver
New England Federal Credit Union, Vermont’s largest Credit Union with 7 branch
locations, is a growing organization committed to excellence in price, convenience,
service, simplicity, and to sharing success. NEFCU offers a stable, supportive,
high-standards work environment, where employees are treated as key stakeholders.
Please visit our website - www.nefcu.com to learn more about the great opportunities
and benefits that exist at NEFCU.
Teller, Chittenden County Locations
Monday-Friday Full-Time, 40 hours
Rotating Saturdays required.
Vermont’s largest credit union is growing and has full-time teller opportunities
available for the right person. Preferred candidates will present a responsible work
history preferably in a retail environment and be comfortable and skilled with face
to face communication.
This position requires standing and/or sitting at a computerized work station. Daily
member interactions include cash handling and processing of all member transactions.
Extensive keyboarding and the ability to use multiple system applications are required.
This position requires occasional lifting of coins and cash, up to 20 pounds.
Interested candidates please submit an up to date resume and a cover letter
explaining your interest in a specific position and relevant qualifications to
HR@NEFCU.com or provide the same information via NEFCU.com on-line
application process.
NEFCU enjoys an employer of choice distinction with turnover averaging less than
10%. More than 96% of our 165 staff say NEFCU is a great place to work. (2013
Annual Staff Survey) If you believe you have the qualifications to contribute to this
environment, please send your resume and cover letter and salary history to: HR@
nefcu.com
EOE/AA
Reinhart Food Service is seeking Class A
CDL Delivery Drivers to deliver products
to our Customers. Trucks dispatch out of
the Colchester, VT location.
For more information or to apply,
please visit www.rfshires.com
or call 1-877-573-7447.
AAP, EEO, M/F/H/V/D, Drug Free Workplace
WRITER
WANTED
at The Essex Reporter & The
Colchester Sun
Are you a highly motivated, gogetter who loves to cover local
sports and town news? Do you
have excellent time-management,
an eagerness to learn and
impressive writing skills?
If so, we want you to join our team!
Email a cover letter, resume
and 2 samples of your writing
to
news@colchestersun.com.
It is your responsibility to check your ad on
the first day of publication for any errors.
Refunds are not issued for classified ads, but
if notification is given to our department after
the first day of publication, we will run your
corrected ad for one extra day. We will not
be responsible for more than one incorrect
publication of each ad.
COMPUTERS/
SUPPLIES
EQUIPMENT/
MACHINERY
COMPUTER
TOWER WITH
CD availability.
Monitor,
Windows XP.
Keyboard, mouse
and pad. Printer
with additional
tapes, and
computer desk.
$50. 802-8685177
SAWMILLS FROM
ONLY $4897.
MAKE AND SAVE
MONEY with your
own bandmill.
Cut lumber any
dimension. In
stock ready to
ship. FREE Info/
DVD:
www.Norwood
Sawmills.com
1-800-578-1363
Ext. 300N.
COMPUTER
TOWER,
WINDOWS XP,
works great. $25.
802-752-9234
DESKTOP
COMPUTER,
DELL, Windows
XP, comes with
everything.
Works great.
$40. 802-7529234.
CHILDREN'S
ITEMS
LAPTOP
ACTIVITY GAMES
for kids age 6 and
older. Battery
operated. $5.
each. 802-8487818
BOWL AND
CANDY dish,
stone glass,
clear, very fancy.
$10. for both.
802-848-7818
EXERCISE/
SPORTING
EQUIPMENT
GOLF CLUBS,
ASSORTED, (1520). $2. each. Call
for details. 802524-1139.
FARM
EQUIPMENT
MILK METER,
DHIA, (1), $100.
802-782-5000.
FURNITURE
COUCH, TURNS
INTO a bed. Good
shape. $50. 802752-9234.
END TABLE,
STENCILED, four
legged, round.
$75. 802-4858266.
BOWL, FRENCH
CUT glass, by
Copper Craft,
with copper
base. In original
box. $30. 802485-8266
SWIVEL ROCKER
RECLINER,
brown, good
condition, 2 years
old. $200. Call
802-524-1340.
CHAFING DISH,
VINTAGE 1960's,
orange. Mint
condition. $20.
802-485-8266
FURNISHINGS
MILK GLASS
CREAMER and
open sugar bowl,
vintage, Harvest
Grape pattern.
Excellent
condition. $15.
Call 802-8916140.
ELECTRONICS/
CAMERAS/ETC.
NOKIA, VERIZON
PHONE, 822
Windows, $150.
802-393-2744.
AIR MATTRESS,
FULL size. Brand
new, still in box.
$35. 802-5242201.
ARMCHAIR TV
TRAY, clamps
to arm on chair.
New, still in the
box. $16. Call
802-891-6140.
BATHROOM
SET, J.C. Penney,
standard lid
cover and 24"
x 40" bath mat.
Blush pink. Never
been used. $17.
for the set. Call
802-891-6140.
COMFORTER,
KING SIZE,
brown. $15. Call
802-848-7818.
HEALTH
SUPPLIES
WHEELCHAIR,
MANUAL, GOOD
shape. $150. or
best offer. 802524-1139.
HUNTING/
FISHING
SUPPLIES
BINOCULARS,
BUSHNELL, $100.
802-393-2744.
LAWN/GARDEN
PRIVACY
HEDGES: SPRING
Blowout Sale,
6 ft. Arborvitae
(cedar). Regular
$129. Now
$59. Beautiful,
nursery grown.
FREE Installation/
FREE delivery.
518-536-1367
www.
lowcosttrees.com
Limited Supply.
LIVESTOCK
FEED/SUPPLIES
HAY FOR SALE
Large Square
Bales
Processed First
Cut
Call 802-8645382
or 802-578-7352.
MULCH HAY, 60
bales, $2. per
bale. 802-7825000.
MISCELLANEOUS
BACK PACK,
LL Bean, $35.
802-524-2201.
MOVIES/CDS/
TAPES/ETC.
CDS, MISCELL.
VARIETY of
music. Around
20 CDS. $2. each.
802-848-7818.
OFFICE
SUPPLIES
2-DRAWER FILE
$15
802-868-3507.
SOLUTION
Successful candidates for this position will provide friendly, fast and accurate service
to members. The ability to explain our various products and services as well as the
ability to recognize and suggest solutions to our members will be necessary.
SOMETIMES ERRORS OCCUR
9
GOT AN
IDEA?
THEME:
GARDENING 101
ACROSS
1. Torah expert
6. Chain letters
9. Barred bed
13. Shoelace tip
14. *First
gardening mo.?
15. Unit of money
in Poland
16. Abdul or Zahn
17. White House
Dwight
18. Big dipper
19. *Climber
support
21. *Tiny garden
shovel
23. Afflict
24. Lick
25. “Be quiet!”
28. “Ta-ta!” in Italy
30. *Cross
between varieties
35. Church sound
37. Mojito, _ ___
drink
39. Wintry mix
40. Norse capital
41. Brightest star
in Cygnus
43. Approximately,
two words
44. Japanese port
46. Slash mark
47. Drawn tight
48. House cat, e.g.
50. Greek H’s
52. *Special
Hawaiian flowers
form this garland
53. Getting warm
55. “Street” in Italy
57. Hang a banner,
e.g.
60. *Refuse turned
fertilizer
64. Ancient
assembly area
65. Unagi
67. Like outsideof-mainstream art
68. Relating to
aquarium scum
69. Shag rug
70. “Spaghetti
Western” maker
Sergio _____
71. Short of
“history”
72. Sophomore’s
grade
73. Dog-_____
book
DOWN
1. Feeling great
delight
2. Lab culture
3. *Like many
Gentians or
Delphiniums
4. Swan of
“Twilight”
5. Emphatic, in
print
6. Honoree’s spot
7. *Short for
nitrogen,
phosphorous,
potassium
8. Thin mountain
ridge
9. Old-fashioned
bathtub foot
10. *What
gardener did to
riding lawn mower
11. It will,
contraction
12. “So long!”
15. Plural of #15
Across
20. Homeric epic
22. Rally repeater
24. Club enforcer
25. Tina Fey/Amy
Poehler schtick,
e.g.
26. “Siddhartha”
author
27. Conforming to
dietary laws for
Muslims
29. Greek god of
war
31. Soak some ink
32. Opposite of
urban
33. Question in
dispute
34. Hindu garment
36. Mischievous
Norse deity
38. *What Venus
Flytrap eats
42. Opera house
exclamation
45. *One-time
plant
49. Poetic
“always”
51. “He fights like
a lion,” e.g.
54. Warn or
arouse
56. Sleeper’s woe
57. Wrinkly fruit
58. Wooden pegs
59. Short for
brotherhood
60. Family group
61. *The corpse
flower is famous
for its bad one
62. Cosine’s buddy
63. ____ up a golf
ball, past tense
64. “I see!”
66. *Potato bud
WE’RE ALL EARS
write to us at:
news@colchestersun.com
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
ACCOUNTING
CONSTRUCTION
CONSTRUCTION
Your professional Roofing Contractor
862-1500
Asphalt Roofs
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FREE upgrade
Low Slope Roofs
www.BlueSkyRoofingvt.com
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Slate & Snow Guards
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Help
CONSTRUCTION
Concrete Contracting
R.G. RUGG
CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Foundations • Footings • Walls • Floors
Insulated Concrete Forms
Residential and Commercial • Fully Insured
www.concreteconstructionmiltonvt.com
802 893-7332
LANDSCAPING
Over 20 Years Experience Serving
The Champlain Valley
NOW- Seamless Gutters
SPRING
CLEAN
UP!
DENTIST
Glen B. Moyer, D.D.S.
?
“THE GENTLE DENTIST”
DENTAL CARE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Run a
Help Wanted Ad
in the
Colchester Sun
Most insurances accepted including VT Medicaid
Accepting New Patients
Call: 802-878-5282
•
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BRUSH HOGGING • GARDEN CLEANUP
AND MUCH MUCH MORE!
879-1353
REAL ESTATE
For the results you deserve...
Moving across town or across the country...
Rely on an Experienced Realtor!
Janice Battaline
Cerified Residential Specialist • Seniors Real Estate Specialist
802-861-6226 | janbatt7859@aol.com
Your Partner in SUCCESS since 1983!
NORTH PROFESSIONALS
(802) 372-3737
Adam’s Plumbing
“Living & Working In Essex Junction For Over 35 Years”
CATHEDRAL CEILINGS
STAIRWAYS
TAPING
RENOVATIONS
|
PLUMBING
PAINTING
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Call TJ Valley • 802- 355-0392
Did you know
that 86 MILLION Americans read
community newspapers
every week?
Vermont is home to 60 of the best
community newspapers in the country!
Vermont Press Association c/o
St. Michael’s College Journalism Department
(802) 654-2442
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UNIFORMS & EMBROIDERY
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(802) 862-0290 • www.joannsuniforms.com
10
WHAT:
Ukrainian Egg
Decorating Demo
Current
Exhibits
September
WHO:
Theresa Somerset
WHEN:
Sunday, April 13 from 12-2 p.m.
Spotlight on
egg decorating
Artsy egg demonstration
at Frog Hollow
On April 13 from 12-2 p.m. Theresa Somerset will
demonstrate her craft, the art of Pysanky-Ukranian
egg decoration at Frog Hollow, Vermont State Craft
Center, on Church Street in Burlington.
WHERE:
Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center,
85 Church Street, Burlington
COST:
Free and open to the
public
“Re-Envisioned.” Artist Dianne
Shullenberger’s fabric collages and colored
pencil drawings never fail to amaze her
audience. She begins a fabric piece with
large blocks of color in the background,
working toward finer detail, applying
smaller pieces one at a time with a
hatpin, strategically placing them in the
composition. Manipulation of the fabric
by wrinkling, coiling, and pulling threads
results in landscape and flora and fauna
works that are truly like paintings in every
way. Shullenberger’s other works are
colored pencil drawings on black paper,
resulting in luminous pastel-like textures,
yet with finer detail. These unique media
produce works of incredible and exquisite
beauty. Photo id required for admission.
The Governor’s Gallery in the Pavilion
Building in Montpelier. Open Monday
through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Contact
State Curator David Schutz at 828-5657 or
david.schutz@state.vt.us.
Fourth Annual Vermont High School
Student Photography Exhibit. This
exhibition presents a selection of images by
students attending Vermont high schools.
Bringing together a collection of individual
visual voices, these photographs reveal
the excitement of an unfolding future as
it celebrates life and its many visible and
intangible idiosyncrasies. Runs through
April 30. Dark Room Gallery, Essex Junction.
This event is free and open to the public.
Somerset is a graduate of Castleton State College
with a B.A. in Fine Arts. She has an interest in
painting watercolors, acrylics and oils. Her subjects
are usually children within landscaped, and stilllives with antique and sentimental objects from her
past. She also works in paper mache, perfecting her
own recipe for paper clay using recycled magazine
glossies. She casts decorative bowls by hand, and
embellishes them with metallic and iridescent
glazes, as well as applying various types of metal
leaf.
Her precise attention to detail has been touted as
one of her trademarks. She is probably best known
for her intricate Pysanky-Ukranian eggs that she
decorates in traditional and non-traditional designs
and incorporates into her still-life paintings.
Somerset is based out of her studio in Essex
Junction and is a member of the Essex Art League.
Upcoming
Events
September
In the Studio with Mary Bryan.
Celebrating the 30th anniversary of its
founding, the Bryan Memorial Gallery
will be hosting an exhibition entitled “In
the Studio with Mary Bryan” in memory
of the late founder Alden Bryan’s wife
Mary. The exhibition of 100 paintings
includes watercolors, oils, collages and
egg tempera paintings, painted over a
30-year period in Vermont, Massachusetts,
Alaska, the Southwest, England and the
Caribbean. Opening May 2 and running
through September. Bryan Memorial
Gallery, Jeffersonville. Information: www.
bryangallery.org or 644-5100.
Call to Artists. Established and emerging
artists are invited to submit one or two
pieces in any medium on the theme “The
Warm Seasons” for a show to be hung in
the Jericho Town Hall from May through
August 2014. The show is non-juried and
you don’t have to live in Jericho, but the
subject of all work submitted must have
some connection to the town of Jericho.
Deadline for registration will be April 15,
2014. For information and registration
forms: 899-2974 or blgreene@myfairpoint.
net.
Sand Mandala Painting. Over a period
of one week, two Tibetan Buddhist
monks from the Namgyal Monastery will
meticulously create a sand mandala of
the Buddha of Compassion in the UVM
Fleming Art Museum’s Marble Court.
Upon completion, the sand mandala will
be cast into a body of water, in a gesture
that symbolizes the impermanence of
existence and the ideal of non-attachment
to the material world. The public can
watch the construction of the mandala
during museum hours and is invited to
join us for the dismantling of the mandala
in the Marble Court on April 16, at 5 p.m.
April 9-16. Information: 656-0750.
For more listings visit
www.colchestersun.com/
arts-and-entertainment
First impressions last..
set your
business
apart.
Free logo
creation and
digitizing for
opening orders
of 12 pieces
or more.
T-shirts
Sweatshirts
Hats
794 West Lakeshore Drive
Colchester
(Across from Dick Mazza’s)
Free Strength Training Program for
Older Men with Knee Osteoarthritis
Are you an otherwise healthy, non-smoking man
between 60 and 80 years of age that suffers from knee
osteoarthritis and is considering knee replacement?
Interested in participating
in research studying how
knee osteoarthritis affects
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and how exercise may
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Contact Patrick Savage
at 847-4545 or Patrick.
Savage@vtmednet.org.
;LIRXLIHIXEMPWQEXXIV]SYGERVIP]SRXLIYRTEVEPPIPIHI\TIVXMWISJSYVXIEQ%X*PIXGLIV%PPIRSYV
802-862-0290
www.joannsuniforms.com
XIEQ MRGPYHIW JIPPS[WLMTXVEMRIH 9RMZIVWMX] SJ :IVQSRX 1IHMGEP +VSYT 6EHMSPSK] TL]WMGMERW IRWYVMRK XLEX ER
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11
Sports
THE COLCHESTER SUN / APRIL 10, 2014
“An
uphill
climb”
TENNIS
Lakers work to rebuild ladder
By KELLY MARCH
The Colchester Sun
The Colchester High School girls’ tennis team reached the state
semifinals for the first time since 1995 last year. With the squad’s
number one and number two players —seniors Alana Feeley and
Cassidy Wells — returning this season, the Lakers are hoping to
build on that success this spring. Bolstering those hopes is the
team’s strength in numbers.
“Tennis might be catching on in Colchester,” reflected head
coach Mark Ellingson, who’s entering his sixth season with the
Lakers. “We have our largest team ever…(with) 14 freshman and
27 players this year. Unfortunately, due to the weather, I haven’t
had the opportunity to evaluate the freshmen’s talent level.”
The freshmen’s talent level — and ability to compete in the
varsity arena — will be a big factor in the team’s success this
season, as the Lakers graduated eight seniors last May and will
need to rebuild their ladder.
“We lost eight senior letter winners from last year’s team, so
we have some gaping holes to fill,” Ellingson admitted. “This
season is going to be an uphill climb; replacing so many letter
winners is going to be difficult, (especially) with our new schedule
playing every Metro team twice.
“Our goals are going to be to get better every day and hopefully
be playing our best tennis at the end of the year so we can make
some noise in the state tournament,” he added.
The Lakers first two scheduled games against Burlington and
Stowe on Monday and Thursday were cancelled because of court
conditions. Colchester is slated to host the Essex Hornets for its
first match of the season on Saturday, April 12, starting at 11 a.m.
“We lost eight senior letter winners
from last year’s team, so we have some
Colchester senior Alana Feeley
will help lead the Lakers girls’
tennis team this season.
gaping holes to fill.”
Coach Mark Ellingson
FILE | OLIVER PARINI
Shaking off the rust
Colchester takes to the courts
By KELLY MARCH
The Colchester Sun
The Lakers haven’t won a boys’ tennis match
in two straight years, but their losing streak could
come to a close this season.
Part of the team’s problem over the last few
years has been its single-digit roster numbers, and
this season the team has 12 players. That might not
sound like much, but it’s close to the combined
team numbers of the last two years. Still, how those
12 student-athletes will fare on the courts is largely
unknown.
Like most Chittenden County teams, the Lakers
have been stuck inside for most of the preseason.
So while Colchester has spent a lot of time
conditioning and shoveling off its courts, the tennis
team hasn’t spent all that much time playing tennis.
“We have spent most of our preseason time
conditioning,” said head coach Dave Sharkey,
who’s entering his eighth year with the program.
“We have a solid foundation of athletes and that
will help our team down the road…(But) I know
the beginning of the season will be difficult
because we haven’t had any time on the courts yet.
Physically I think we will be in a good spot, but
our tennis skills will need a little time to shake the
rust off. ”
After shaking off the rust, Sharkey is hoping to
help the Lakers build their tennis skills and, in the
process, develop their love of the game.
“In terms of improvement from the last two
years, I am really hoping that the boys get a feel
for the game of tennis,” Sharkey reflected. “I am
hoping that they can take some of the skills they
learn with them past this season to use for the rest
of their lives. Tennis is a sport that you can play
your whole life and I hope the boys get a little
passion for the game.”
The first two games on Colchester’s 2014
schedule were cancelled because of court
conditions. The Lakers are now expected to open
their season against the Essex Hornets at home on
Saturday, April 12, starting at 11 a.m.
Colchester junior Michael Chambers and the Lakers
boys’ tennis team will open their season against
Essex at home on Saturday, April 12.
schedule
Lakers’
FILE | OLIVER PARINI
BASEBALL:
4/15 Colchester
at MVU 4:30 p.m.
BOYS’ LACROSSE:
4/10 Colchester
at CVU 4 p.m.
BOYS’ TENNIS
4/14 Colchester
vs. St. Johnsbury3:30 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS:
4/12 Colchester
vs. Essex
11 a.m.
SOFTBALL:
4/15 Colchester
at MVU 4:30 p.m.
4/14 Colchester
vs. Harwood
4/16 Colchester
at MMU
3:30 p.m.
4/14 Colchester
at St. Johnsbury 3:30 p.m.
4/17 Colchester
vs. Rice
3:30 p.m.
4/16 Colchester
vs. MMU
3:30 p.m.
TRACK:
4/16 Colchester
hosts
3:30 p.m.
4/16 Colchester
at Spaulding
4p.m.
4p.m.
12
SPORTS
THIS WEEK IN
ST. MICHAEL’S
COLLEGE ATHLETICS
St. Francis Xavier’s seventh- and eighth-grade girls’ basketball team gathers together after
placing second in the 2014 New England Regionals CYO Basketball Tournament held in
Providence, R.I., on March 28-30. Pictured, from left to right: Back row — Kylie Acker, Klaire
Ware, Lydia Nattress and Emmalee Smith. Front row — Madison Gorrigan, Mercy Beaudoin,
Olivia Lesage and Kristina Pretty.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Xavier places second at regionals
After winning the state championship, St.
Francis Xavier’s seventh- and eighth-grade
girls’ basketball team advanced to the New
England Regional CYO Basketball Tournament
in Providence, R.I., on March 28-30, where the
squad finished second.
The Xavier girls secured a spot in the regional
championship game with a convincing 39-25
win over a squad from Bridgeport, Conn., only
to fall to a strong Immaculate Conception Parish
team from Boston, Mass. St. Francis Xavier was
one of just two Vermont teams to make it to a
championship matchup at regionals.
This St. Francis Xavier team has now won
four state championships in a row, as well as one
regional championship and the recent runner-up
in regionals. The girls’ overall record for the last
four years is 69-7.
Colchester gears up for season opener
The Colchester High School baseball team
has gone 14-5 before falling in the Division I
semifinals for two consecutive seasons. While
some programs might hold that as a score to
be settled, the Lakers take it for what it is: a
testament to the team’s competitiveness in
recent years.
“We just try to keep being competitive,
play hard and see how we do,” said head coach
Tom Perry, who’s entering his seventh season
with the team. “(Our goal is to) compete every
game and try to give ourselves a chance to
win.”
After graduating eight seniors from last
year’s squad, including two strong pitchers,
Colchester is working to put together a winning
lineup before it opens play this spring. That
process includes identifying a new ace pitcher.
“We don’t have an established pitcher
returning,” Perry admitted. “But we have a
couple good ones.”
With practice, “a couple good ones” could
be enough to get the team by, especially since
Perry said an expected team strength is being
“not afraid to swing the bats.”
The Lakers will open the 2014 season at
Missisquoi on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. The team
will then host Harwood for its home opener on
Thursday, April 17, starting at 4:30 p.m.
—Kelly March
Softball drops three
The St. Michael’s College softball
team (1-14, 1-6) went 0-3 in Northeast-10
Conference play last week, losing to
nationally-regarded Southern New Hampshire
University, 8-0, in five innings on Thursday
and dropping a pair of games to American
International College, 7-1 and 8-1, on Sunday.
Southern New Hampshire received a vote
toward the National Fastpitch Coaches
Association (NFCA) last week.
At Southern New Hampshire, in its first
game since March 23, and its first contest
in New England this season, St. Michael’s
received a strong start from senior Lea
Gipson, who blanked the hosts until there was
one out in the fourth inning. She ultimately
yielded five runs in four-plus innings.
Classmates Amanda Brigante, of Colchester,
and Greer Lemnah and junior Sarah Murray
all picked up hits.
At AIC, first-year Rachel Tshonas carried
a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the opener
before yielding four earned runs on six hits
in 5.1 frames. Senior Bethany Falls doubled,
stole a base and scored while breaking the
program’s record for career assists (316) on
the day. Brigante walked twice, and Murray
had an RBI. In game two, Murray went
2-for-3 with her first home run of the year,
and Brigante and sophomore Judi Barcavage
added hits. Gipson took the loss after yielding
six earned runs in seven innings over two
stints in the circle.
Men’s lacrosse draws even in pair
of NE-10 games
The St. Michael’s College men’s lacrosse
team (3-6, 3-3) went 1-1 at home last week
in Northeast-10 Conference play, falling to
Bentley University, 12-6, on Tuesday and
winning against Pace University, 10-9, on
Saturday.
Against Bentley, senior Evan Antolino
scored twice for St. Michael’s, while
classmates Cooper Quenneville and Asa
Sargent both tacked on a goal and an assist.
Quenneville was also 5-of-7 on face-offs.
Senior Chris Casserly and first-year Tim
Connor both added their first goals of the
season, while Casserly scooped five ground
balls. Senior Andrew Landers made 11
saves, and junior Sean Curtin and first-year
Salvatore Loris both caused three turnovers.
Against Pace, senior Connor Glackin
deposited the tie-breaking goal with 3:29
remaining as St. Michael’s overcame an
early four-goal deficit. Antolino had two
goals and three assists for St. Michael’s,
which won for the 10th time in its last
11 outings against Pace. Senior Tim
McDonald added two goals and a helper,
and first-year Ben Overslaugh scored twice.
Quenneville posted a goal and an assist
while going 3-for-4 on face-offs, first-year
Tom Fitzgerald tacked on a goal and an
assist, and Sargent scored. Sophomore T.J.
Bicknell made 12 stops in 51:09 of relief,
yielding only four goals and collecting the
victory.
Women’s lacrosse tops Merrimack
The St. Michael’s College women’s
lacrosse team (5-2, 3-2) won its only game
of the week, downing Merrimack College,
9-7, on Wednesday during Northeast-10
Conference action. The victory was the
Purple Knights’ first home win against the
Warriors since April 10, 2004.
St. Michael’s, which had been 1-9
against the Warriors since 2005, received
two goals and three ground balls from
senior Claire Martin and two goals and
five ground balls from junior Kate Boyer.
Classmate Courtney Piper scored while
dishing out three assists, and first-year Ali
Gosselin had a goal, two assists and three
ground balls. First-year Grace Gunning had
one second-half save in earning her first
collegiate win, and sophomore Casey Curtin
stopped four shots in the opening stanza.
Senior Crystal King posted a goal and an
assist, while junior Hannah Beardsley and
sophomore Steph Bonewald also scored,
with Bonewald collecting three draw
controls. Junior Taylor Midgley controlled
five draws.
U12 champions
The Colchester Funks club soccer
team is all smiles after capturing
a second U12 championship win
at the Essex Nordic Center on
Saturday, April 5.
Pictured, from left to right: Back row
— Coach Mike Ianni, Colby FaneCushing, Timothy Abele, Joey
Klemm, Andrew Ianni and Coach
Doug Viau. Middle row — Holdyn
Giard, Ethan Fischer, Foster Viau
and Keegan Conrad-Pawlik. Front
row — Alex Daigneault.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
We Have an
IRA for You
Invest for your retirement in an IRA at NorthCountry Financial
Services, available through CFS.* We can show you a variety of
options, discuss potential tax benefits,** and help you find the IRA
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660-3258 or (802) 859-7551.
*Non-deposit investment products and services are offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (“CFS”), a registered
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www.northcountry.org
(click “Investments & Insurance”)
13
SCHOOLS
St. Francis Xavier
students excel at
Vermont State Science
and Math Fair
St. Francis Xavier Middle School students won multiple awards at this years
Vermont State Science and Math Fair held at Norwich University on March
29. Pictured in the back row: Zachary McCormick, of Colchester, Katrina
Garrow, of Milton, Jonathan Burke, of Colchester, and Science Teacher
Mary Ellen Varhue, of Georgia. Pictured in the front row: Maggie Martell, of
Winooski, Tyler Daniels, of Colchester, and Abigail Monahan, of Colchester.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
S
ix St. Francis Xavier Middle School students won multiple awards
at the 2014 Vermont State Science and Math Fair, held at Norwich
University on March 29. Four Colchester residents — Jonathan
Burke, Tyler Daniels, Abigail Monahan and Zachary McCormick — won
gold and silver medals while also receiving multiple awards and prizes from
state businesses and science organizations. Maggie Martell, of Winooski,
and Katrina Garrow, of Milton, were also award winners. These St. Francis
Xavier students were among 16 state science fair attendees from their
school who were selected based on projects they presented at their school
science fair in early March. Mary Ellen Varhue is the science teacher of
these St. Francis Xavier students. The following is a list of awards and
prizes for each student. Jonathan Burke
1. 2014 VPA Superior (Gold) Medal
2. American Chemical Society--Green
Mountain Section 3. Northeast Section, Institute of Food
Technologists: Best food-related science
project, $200
4. Vermont Energy Education Program:
Best project in grades 5-9 investigating
energy conservation 5. $10,000 per year Next Generation
Scholarship to Green Mountain College
Tyler Daniels
1. 2014 VPA Superior (Gold) Medal
2. Efficiency Vermont: Best project
investigating energy efficiency – prize
package worth $150
3. TCorp Inc., Energy Management
Services: Best project demonstrating
some aspect of energy conservation, any
grade - $150 4. Broadcom Masters- Rising Star Award
Abigail Monahan
1. 2014 VPA Excellent (Silver Medal
2. VSSMF Agricultural Award ($50)
Zachary McCormick
1.2014 VPA Excellent (Silver) Medal
2.GroSolar: Best in project any grade dealing
with solar energy - prize package CHS
COLCHESTER
SCHOOL
DISTRICT
Calendar
of Events
APRIL 10
What: Porters Point School presents the musical
“Hats!”
Where: Colchester High School theater
When: 6:30 p.m.
APRIL 11
What: Colchester Middle School Dance
Where: CMS cafeteria
When: 6 – 8 p.m.
APRIL 15 – 16
What: Colchester School District Art Show
Where: Colchester High School gymnasium
When: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
APRIL 16
What: Malletts Bay School Inoming Third-Grade
Parent Night
Where: Malletts Bay School cafeteria
When: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
UMS
APRIL 16
Colchester High School will host the 2014 Colchester
School District Annual Art Show April 15-18 in the CHS
gymnasium from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.
And on the evening of April 17, join us at CHS for the
Artist Reception event from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The reception
is for students, family members and the community, and it
provides an opportunity for the artists to discuss their work.
Refreshments will be served.
The art show features works from every grade level in the
district. In addition, all CHS art students will write an artist
statement reflecting upon their work and the creative process,
which not only hones their writing skills but also helps the
viewers to understand the specialized artistic techniques the
students learned through the art program.
For more information, contact CHS at 264-5700. Submitted
by Colchester School District.
Union Memorial School recently hosted a book fair provided
by children’s book publisher Scholastic, and proceeds from the
fair support programs, technology and materials for UMS’s
library, benefiting our students and providing them with new
opportunities to add to their personal book collections. Because
students are more likely to read books that they can select
themselves, allowing them to choose books that cater to their
interests will encourage them to read.
More than simply vast book repositories, CSD’s libraries
are wonderful resources. Increasingly celebrated as twentyfirst-century learning environments, they serve important
purposes in education. Along with teaching and empowering
students to distinguish relevant, quality information from
erroneous materials they might find on the Internet, they also
serve as powerful sources of technology implementation and
investigative collaboration in students’ daily lives.
For more information, contact UMS at 264-5959. Submitted
by Colchester School District.
CMS
PPS
MBS
Part of Colchester Middle School’s eighth-grade Spanish
students’ curriculum includes topics like Nicaraguan weather
and food as well as more complex topics like challenges of
poverty and creating solutions to address it.
As part of that learning, the Spanish students, along with
members of the Caring Cougars and Community Service clubs,
will team up with the Pulsera Project, a nonprofit organization
dedicated to bettering the lives of Nicaraguans, by selling
pulseras during lunch periods from April 14-18. The sales will
return to the Pulsera Project to further the organization’s work.
“In essence, Nicaraguan artists make bracelets — pulseras
in Spanish — by hand, and the Pulsera Project sends them to
us so we can sell them and raise money for their efforts back
in Nicaragua,” said CMS Spanish teacher Meghan TiernanFisher.
For more information, call CMS at 264-5800, or e-mail
Meghan Tiernan-Fisher at tiernanfisherm@csdvt.org.
Submitted by Colchester School District.
Porters Point School kicked off an after-school RunVermont
youth running program called Ready, Set, Run on April 2, which
will take place at PPS on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. for
the remainder of the school year.
While registration for the program has closed because of the
overwhelming response, organizers are thrilled with the student
interest. “Over 65 students have signed up, which far exceeds
our original expectations,” PPS teacher Natalie LaRose said.
“Since the number of participants is so high, many adults have
stepped up and said they would help out with the program …
which speaks volumes about the wonderful community we have
at PPS.”
PPS’s Kerry Connor and Tessa Warren initiated the
program, and Greg Kriger, Allison Donnelly, Jennifer Randall,
Meg Terrien and Natalie LaRose have teamed up with them to
ensure its success.
For more information, call PPS at 264-5920. Submitted by
Colchester School District.
Students in Peggy Rogers’ fifth-grade class at Malletts
Bay School have been learning about ecosystems. One of
the primary learning goals is for students to understand the
codependent natural of plants and animals, and to do so, they
have created terrariums and aquariums containing plant and
animal life. The students are recording their observations in
text and in sketches and are reading about the relationships
between plants and animals, as well.
Hands-on study and application of science is important
because making real-world connections to abstract classroom
learning piques student engagement and attention — thus
encouraging out-of-the-box thinking and enhancing learning.
It also strengthens students’ observational skills and allows
them to actively engage in their learning, providing additional
sensory activities and expanding their curiosity.
For more information, call MBS at 264-5900, or e-mail
Peggy Rogers at rogersp@csdvt.org. Submitted by Colchester
School District.
P
H
O
T
O
S
WEDDING
VACATION
KIDS
SEND US
YOURS
www.colchestersun.
com/submit
Pet of the Week
Swiper
5 year-old Spayed Female
Reason Here: Not a good fit for household.
SUMMARY: “Swiper no swiping!” is a phrase we don’t hear
around here very much, as Swiper
isn’t much of a thief. This girl is quite
shy at first, but once you give her
time, treats, and pets, you are sure
to win her over and receive tons
of love and affection in return.
Swiper’s shy side is just a test to
see who is really dedicated into
trying to win her over! Even if
Swiper wanted to swipe, she is
declawed so she can’t! If you’re
willing to provide a quiet and
loving environment for Swiper to
thrive in, she would love to meet
you today!
Experience with:
Cats - Needs to live without.
Dogs - Needs to live without.
Humane Society of Chittenden County
802-862-0135
What: Colchester Middle School Dance Sixth-Grade
Parent Information Night
Where: CMS cafeteria
When: 6:45 – 7:30 p.m.
APRIL 17
What: Colchester School District Art Show
Where: Colchester High School gymnasium
When: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; artists’ reception
from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Spring
Open House
Saturday, April 12th NOW TAKING
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
EASTER
OUR
FARM
MARKET
CARD IS
BACK!
Pay $250
Get $275
Value in Plants,
Bakery and
HomeGrown
Veggies
Now thru April 30th
See Store for details
We’ll be
serving
STRAWBERRY
SHORTCAKE
Made with
Our Own Fresh
Frozen Berries
$3.00 ea.
FUDGE
EASTER
BUNNIES
FARM MARKET • BAKERY • GREENHOUSES
802 • 655 • 3440
in your
favorite flavors
• 277 Lavigne Road, Colchester
STORE HOURS: Mon-Sat 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.; Sun. 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Open til’ 1 p.m. Easter Day
BAKERY
ORDERS
HOT CROSS BUNS,
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Register to win
Prizes and Enjoy
Free Food sampling.
sammazzafarms.com
See our monthly sale
coupon! • MC/Visa/Disc
14
SCHOOLS
from page 3
in staffing or educational costs.
Vermont
Agency
of
Education statistics show
that statewide public school
enrollment was 94,623 in
fiscal year 2004, and 86,113
in fiscal year 2013 — a 9
percent drop. Over that same
period the number of teachers
and paraeducators went from
12,529 to 12,569. And the
National Center for Educational
Statistics shows that per-pupil
spending in Vermont rose from
$9,806 in fiscal year 2002 to an
estimated $18,571 in fiscal year
2012 — an 89 percent increase.
Promoters
of
school
consolidation say that if cutting
the number of districts and
boards doesn’t cut spending on
education, it will at least slow or
halt its growth. Rep. Johannah
Donovan,
D-Burlington,
for instance, has said that
H.883 will “bend the curve in
education spending.”
“No one is saying we’re
going to save money right off
the bat, the efficiencies will
only be realized down the
road,” Cole-Levesque said.
He pointed to an example in
Rutland South. When he came
to the supervisory union four
years ago, school buses were
owned by individual school
districts. They each had their
own bus replacement fund,
did their own maintenance
and hired their own drivers.
During his second year they
consolidated the buses into
the supervisory union and as a
result upgraded all of the buses,
cut down on maintenance costs
and consolidate some routes.
Three years in, the
supervisory union is spending
the same even though fuel costs
have doubled.
“It’s not dramatic or
instantaneous,
but
it’s
efficiency,”
Cole-Levesque
said. “It also saves boards a
whole lot of time from having
to address those issues.
“Systemic
improvement
improves
efficiency
of
operations,” he said. “Over
time, it has the most dramatic
potential to bend the cost curve
to better match education
spending
with
student
populations, and that obviously
has to happen.”
Local control
But consolidating resources
across schools can only go so
far, some superintendents say.
And doing away with many
local boards that can sell school
budgets to citizens could be a
recipe for disaster.
Rutland
Northeast
Superintendent John Castle in
Brandon has created efficiencies
and saved money by contracting
with the Abbey Group for food
service at all seven RNeSU
schools, and by consolidating
busing. He said administrators
RNeSU look at ways to save
money and streamline services
every year.
Nevertheless, he wouldn’t
look forward to putting a single,
consolidated budget before
voters in the seven towns in the
union. He said consolidating all
the school’s budgets into one
would result in a spending plan
of $30 million, give or take.
“I got to be honest with you,
I’m not sure I want to put a $30
million budget forward that
people have a disconnection
to,” he said. “With centralized
bureaucracies there is at the
very least a healthy skepticism
of us; and the potential for
a very removed public, that
actually could create a level of
distrust, and that would concern
me.”
According to numbers
crunched by the RNeSU
Business Office, because of
the shift in accounting and
spending under a consolidated
budget, the tax rate in Brandon,
which failed on Town Meeting
Day, would actually go up.
Many Vermonters like to
make decisions for themselves
and simply trust decisions made
closer to home. As a result,
school consolidation is a tough
sale to many.
An example of local control
in action occurred last month
at the Whiting annual school
meeting, where all the voting
was done from the floor, just as
it has been for over 250 years.
Whiting, population roughly
420, serves 39 students in
grades kindergarten-6.
When discussion at the
March 4 meeting turned to the
local school budget, School
Board Chair Carol Brigham
explained that the federal funds
used to pay for the Whiting
school’s preschool program
dried up. The school board
debated the issue and decided
not to include the $25,000 in the
Whiting School budget to pay
for the program. The Whiting
preschoolers could go to the
Neshobe School pre-school
program in Brandon.
Instead,
the
Whiting
community on Town Meeting
night voted from the floor to
add roughly $25,000 to the
budget to fund the preschool
program themselves.
“That’s the perfect example
of local control,” Castle said.
“But I could see some people
say that that’s what’s wrong
with our system. Should
decisions about what’s best for
our children be made by people
closest to our children?”
While the Vermont School
Boards Association is working
with the Legislature to craft
H.883, some local school
boards are already set against
it because members say they
will lose control of their
schools. Last week, the Rutland
Northeast and Rutland Addison
supervisory union boards both
passed resolutions rejecting
H.883, in part because they said
it pressures small schools to
close.
While some backers of
school consolidation say it
would offer a greater breadth of
educational options to students
in small schools, Castle said
small schools already offer
more than some larger schools.
“Some of our small schools
provide as strong if not better
learning opportunities at times
than large schools,” he said.
Castle said often what
small schools lack in resources,
they make up for in making
connections with students and
support systems within the
school.
“It’s a value thing at times,”
he said. “Someone may value
language, and someone else
may want more social studies
time.”
Superintendent Nichols in
Franklin Northeast said school
consolidation doesn’t have
to mean small schools would
close.
“We wouldn’t close any of
our schools,” he said.
Instead, he suggested that
small schools could become
centers for certain specialties.
But when it comes to
consolidation leading to fewer
board members, Nichols is all
for it. He pointed out that too
much local control can lead to
conflicts of interest. On every
board in his supervisory union
at least one board member is
related to a school employee.
With larger consolidated boards
that’s less likely to occur, he
suggested.
Other downsides
Even
consolidation
advocates acknowledge that
changing the legal ownership
of school buildings, adding
infrastructure and merging
policies — not to mention
teacher contracts — could be a
logistical nightmare.
And given Vermont’s
geography, with rivers and
mountains that isolate some
communities, Milton’s Barone
said consolidating schools
would not work everywhere. It
might not be in students’ best
interest to shuttle them on buses
to a central school, he said, and
it’s costly.
And a central school would
mean bigger classes for some.
Research shows smaller class
sizes lend themselves to oneon-one attention and better
results.
Castle
observed
that
Vermont is going through a
socio-cultural change, and
he said Vermonters must
balance the need to modernize,
streamline and stay current
with the rush of technology and
education policies while staying
true to the state’s rural roots.
“We’re a society that’s
at a crossroads, and I think
Vermont is at a junction
between being a rural state
and trying to operate within
the context of the 21st century
and the conventions of a more
suburbanized
environment,”
he said. “We’re not willing to
accept our identity as a rural
state with rural communities.
There’s a sense that we need to
modernize, that bigger is better.
“Vermont’s identity, the
townships, the rural character,
has persisted a sense of
community that is identified
with the local town more so
than with other states in our
country,” Castle said. “I don’t
think we should reject that, I
think we should embrace that.”
Nichols takes a different
tack.
“Local control is very
important, but I don’t think
local control at the level we
have it in Vermont makes any
sense,” he said. “We need to
redefine what local means.”
Nichols pointed out that
there are 55 students per school
board member in Vermont.
Barone likes the Rockwell
painting on his wall in Milton.
It’s a comfortable image
of school days steeped in
nostalgia. But he sees the image
for what it is and wonders if
Vermont schools’ fondness for
small classes and low studentteacher ratios is sustainable.
“We’re going to have to
have a real hard look at: Can
the taxpayers of the state of
Vermont continue to financially
sustain those small school
districts?” he said.
This story was reported by
Courtney Lamdin of the Milton
Independent, Michelle Monroe
of the St. Albans Messenger,
Polly Lynn of the Mountain
Times and Lee J. Kahrs of the
Brandon Reporter.
John Castle
Supervisory
unions
anticonsolidation
By LEE J. KAHRS
Brandon Reporter
BRANDON / FAIR
HAVEN — The Rutland
Northeast and Rutland
Addison supervisory
unions on March 26
both passed resolutions
officially rejecting H.833,
the school consolidation
bill.
The RNeSU resolution
reads as follows:
“The RNeSU Full
board hereby rejects Bill
H.833. We believe that
the elimination of local
school board governance
is not conducive to
promoting our democratic
ideals, fostering social
capital and the effective
leadership of our
community schools. We
encourage the legislature
to work with the
Vermont Superintendents
Association, the
Vermont School Boards
Association and the
Agency of Education
to identify specific
statutory adjustments
that would strengthen the
effective coordination and
management authorities of
supervisory union boards
while maintaining local
district boards.
“We also call for
adequate funding to
restore the capacity of
the Agency of Education
to provide meaningful
support and technical
assistance to support the
effective practices at all
levels.
“Furthermore, we
pledge to participate with
the VSBA, VSA and AOE
in promoting best practices
to attract, support and
retain superintendents and
principals.”
Ned Kirsch
Jay Nichols
RNeSU Superintendent
John Castle said the
resolution will be sent
to the House Education
Committee, Vermont
Education Secretary
Rebecca Holcombe, and
Gov. Peter Shumlin,
as well as the Senate
Education Committee,
which will take up the bill
next.
On the same day in
Fair Haven, the board
that includes members
representing the Orwell
Village School approved
a resolution along
the same line. Like
RNeSU, the AddisonRutland board called
for cooperation among
statewide associations of
superintendents and school
board, as well as state
government, to improve
coordination of resources
within the existing
education framework.
The Addison Rutland
resolution reads, in part:
“The Addison Rutland
Supervisory Union
School Board hereby
rejects Bill H.883 …
(The board) believes that
eliminating local school
board governance is not
conducive to promoting
our democratic ideals and
fostering social capital.
And … (the board)
believes that Bill H.883
will increase costs not
limited to legal fees,
consolidating personnel
merging salary structures.
The board also “believes
that consolidating to Pre K
to 12 School districts will
ultimately put pressure on
small schools to close.”

April 10, 2014 - The Colchester Sun

Transcription

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