The Bridge, March 20, 2014

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Connecting Montpelier and nearby communities since 1993 | MARCH 20APRIL 2, 2014
O
n a sunny March afternoon, Joe Aja,
building project manager for Ver-
monts Department of Building and
General Services, gave The Bridge a tour of the
steam plant renovation behind the Depart-
ment of Motor Vehicles. Aja manages state
construction projects in a district that runs
from Brattleboro to Derby and has worked in
Montpelier for the past two and a half years.
The states plant reflects the nations changing
energy approach. It first came online in 1946,
fueled by coal dropped from railroad hopper
cars into a basement bin and hand-shoveled
into boilers mounted on the basement floor.
Those boilers eventually converted to #2 fuel
oil, then #6 bunker (a heavy oil used in
ships) and, in the 1980s, one of three boilers
was converted to wood chips. The renovated
plants new chip furnaces can be retrofitted
with oil nozzles quite quickly, adding flex-
ibility.
The state has burned
wood chips in the Mont-
pelier and Waterbury of-
fice complexes for some
time. More recent Ver-
mont heating conver-
sions have also occurred
at Middlebury College,
Norwich University and
National Life. (Burlingtons McNeill plant
burns biomass to generate electricity but
doesnt distribute its waste heat.)
The renovation in Montpelier surrounds the
original plant on its west, north and east sides,
abutting the Washington County Railroad
on the south where it crosses the Winooski.
Much activity was invisible to casual view
during construction, even with the new floor-
to-ceiling south glass wall, because inside the
original plant some floors were knocked out
and others re-cast. The floor where railcars
entered was knocked out to create an inte-
rior wood chip bin, and the basement floor
was drilled to incorporate ground anchors
(to prevent hydraulic lift during flooding)
with a new floor cast atop it. The new boilers
sit above historic 500-year flood elevation.
Theyre fed by a computer-controlled system
that cleans, screens and transports chips that
arrive via trailer trucks backing in from State
Street.
Aja anticipates little
waste, because the
system incorporates
cleaning magnets,
vibrating convey-
ors, screens and an
auxiliary chipper
to reduce chips too
large for the augers.
All plant equipment, including district heat
circulators, can take power from an on-site
generator in the event of power failure.
There are two new 600-horsepower boilers.
On Thursday, March 6 at 9 a.m., one started
supplying steam for the state office complex.
An older 450-hp oil-fired boiler was retained
for swing months when heat demand may
be insufficient to warrant using the wood fur-
naces. The state will soon disconnect a rented
350-hp unit, which heated the complex this
winter, providing sufficient heat down to 10
degrees below zero (so the retained backup
oil-burning boiler is 100-hp bigger than the
boiler that heated state offices this winter).
Aja noted about the new chip-fired units,
With these two online 100 percent, the emis-
sions are less than what we had before we
W
ith recent snowfall of over two feet
in some places around Vermont
and temperatures hunkering down
right around zero, some may find themselves
wondering what happened to global warming.
Burr Morse of Morse Farm said, I wouldnt
call it global warming, but climate change.
Morse comes from a long line of Vermont
maple sugar producers. As the seventh genera-
tion, he knows a thing or two about Vermont
weather and what good sugaring weather looks
like. Hes optimistic about the recent cold
weather, but doesnt want to be overly opti-
mistic and predict it will be a good year for
maple sugaring.
Last year was a record year for Vermont maple.
George Cook of the University of Vermont
(UVM) Extension said, It was the best year
since the mid 1940s. There was so much
syrup produced last year that some producers
are struggling to get rid of surplus syrup, and
others worry that if this year is as successful
as last year, the market could become over-
saturated. The surplus concerns follow a year,
2012, in which temperatures refused to coop-
erate, reaching 80 degrees right in the middle
of the season and leaving producers with one
of the worst seasons in years. If these trends
have shown anything, it is just how volatile
the maple industry is and how dependent it is
on the weather.
A lack of predictability is something that
maple producers have always had to deal with,
but more and more producers are convinced
that climate change is having a lasting effect
on the maple season. Both Morse and Doug
I N THI S I SSUE :
NET ZERO MONTPELIER
5
SCHOOL BUDGET
6
WINTERS SWEET END
Vermont Maple Sugar

Makers Adapt to
Changes in Climate,
Technology, and
Grading System
by Jerry Carter
continued on page 4 continued on page 11
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Efficiency Improvements
Grace States Heat Plant by Bob Nuner
Making
The Grade
The new Montpelier District Heat Plant at twilight.
Photo by Erin McIntyre.
page 2 march 20 apri l 2, 2014 THE BRI DGE
More stereo. Less typical.
CLASSICAL 99.5 MONTPELIER
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THE BRI DGE march 20 apri l 2, 2014 page 3
HEARD ON THE
STREET
T
onight the Full Crow Moon
rose majestically over the east-
ern mountains, gleaming on the
snow and casting shadows on the
night landscape. And sure enough,
this afternoon we saw, sitting
peacefully in a tree not far from
the house, two crows side by side,
a sure sign that the large flocks of
winter are breaking up now and
forming pairs. Winter is breaking
up. I waded hip-deep in snow up
to the woodchuck den to see if she
had yet dug out of her winter lair.
Only a vapor track leading down,
down through the pack gave any
clue. The snow lies deep and
smooth all around, but not for
long. Change is in the air.

Nona Estrin
Nature Watch
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managing editor: Jerry carter
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copyright 2014 by The montpelier Bridge
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all aD maTerialS DUe Friday march 28
advertising: For information about advertising
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call: 223-5112, ext. 11, or email our ad sales
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A Note to Our Readers
In a typical month, we publish The Bridge twice monthly. We publish our first issue on
the first Thursday of the month. We publish our second issue on the third Thursday of
the month. This schedule will continue through June. Because of the way July Fourth
falls this year, there will be a brief interruption to this pattern, but we will still be putting
out two issues a month. They simply will not be on the first and third Thursdays. Our
normal first and third Thursday distribution will resume in November.
We do not mail our first monthly issue. Instead, we distribute that paper in racks at lo-
cations throughout Washington County. But we do mail our second monthly issue: the
paper that is published on the third Thursday of the month.
Celebration of Excellence Dinner
T
he Montpelier High School Boosters will honor General Richard Cody, a 1968
graduate of MHS, on Saturday, April 5 at their 21st Annual Celebration of Excellence
Dinner. The dinner will be held at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and tickets cost $50 each. All
proceeds will support MHS academic and cocurricular activities. For reservations and more
information regarding the event, please email Boosters@mpsvt.org or please call Theresa
at 802-595-9991.
Ben and Jerry Stand up for Vermont Workers
B
en Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the two founders of Ben & Jerrys ice cream, joined
troves of other concerned Vermonters on Tuesday, March 18, at the State House in
support of the passage of H.208, the Earned Sick Days Bill, and to urge legislators to raise
the minimum wage to a livable wage.
Waterbury Home Show
T
he 21st Annual Waterbury Rotary Home Show will be held on Saturday, March 22,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Cros-
sett Brook Middle School. Admission for this event is $3, and it is good for both days.
Children under 12 are admitted for free. The theme for this years show is Waterbury Is
Under Construction.
Vermontivate!
J
oin environmentally conscious Vermonters throughout the state for this years Ver-
montivate 2104 energy challenges. Vermontivates goal is to build awareness about
renewable energy and energy efficiency through fun and interactive community events
and challenges. This year, events start on Vermont Energy Independence Day, March 21.
For more information on the events, visit their website vermontivate.com or email info@
vermontivate.com.
National Life Group Continues to go Green
N
ational Life Group gained permission from the Vermont Public Service Board the
other day to go ahead with the construction of a 4.5-acre solar field. The solar project
will include 2,090 stationary, ground-mounted panels, according to a report on vermont-
biz.com titled Vermont Public Service Board approves National Life Group solar project.
The report went on to say that if plans go forward, the panels would be installed on 95
racks near the southern portion of the companys property, approximately 325 feet from
the closest neighbors on Northfield Street/Vermont Route 12 and would be screened with
20, five-foot-tall hemlock trees.
A Tribute to Pete Seeger
O
n Sunday, March 23 at 4:30 p.m. there will be a tribute to Pete Seeger held at the
Unitarian Church, at the head of Church Street in downtown Burlington. The event
will feature the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus under the direction of Robert De
Cormier, Counterpoint under the direction of Nathaniel Lew, House Blend and Pete
Sutherland and Lui Collins. The concert is free and open to the public. Donations will be
collected for Pete Seegers Hudson River sloop Clearwater.
Montpelier Concert Crawl
C
ome show your support for music in our local schools on Saturday, March 29, from
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at this years Montpelier Concert Crawl. A recent press release invited
people to Spend a fun-filled evening of music, culinary delights and great company at
three homes in the Meadow neighborhood to benefit [the Orchestras] Project Outreach, a
youth engagement program. Begin your adventure at one house where you munch and sip
and enjoy a performance by one of three marvelous groups: from gypsy jazz to the French
masters with eclectic guitar and vocals in between. Tickets are $50 per person and avail-
able through MontpelierConcertCrawl.eventbrite.com.
Standing for Human Dignity
A
presentation by Artist Sofia Shatkivska in the Hayes Room of the Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 6:00 p.m., Monday, March 24, 2014. Artist Sofia Shatkivska portrays the
revolution in Ukraine through charcoal drawings on paper. Sofia, born in Ukraine, came
to Vermont in 1991. She will give a presentation about the current situation in Ukraine in-
cluding a ORCA Media YouTube Standing for Human Dignity. Sofia believes that what
has happened in Ukraine can happen elsewhere. We all have to wake up, stand up for
our rights and participate in our democracy.. Sofias art will be on display.
started, because of the electrostatic precipitators. Electrostatic
precipitators, along with cyclonic flue gas cleaning equipment,
capture ash from flue gases before they hit the plants smoke-
stack. The ash is valued for sweetening soils.
Asked about wood-chip volume to feed the plant, Aja said its
too soon to say, noting that until the citys system is connected,
the state wont have a firm handle on demand. If district heat
requirements are sufficiently great, the wood-fired boilers can
run during shoulder months that bracket the States sales con-
tract with the city, which extends from October 1 to April 30.
If demand is less, the oil furnace will provide heat at the ends
of the season.
Unlike the steam-heated state office complex, Montpeliers
district heat system circulates hot water. Heat transfer occurs
in the new city room built on the expanded plants southeast
corner. In a small room packed with shiny insulated piping,
heat enters the districts hot water system. The State will bill
the city on a British thermal unit (Btu) basis, measuring tem-
perature differences between the plants steam and the return-
ing condensate after its passed through the heat exchanger.
Three parallel pumps, each sufficient by itself, will circulate
hot water throughout town. To promote minimal wear, all
three pumps will operate together.
Aside from the sunlight flooding through the southern wall,
noteworthy features include an exterior handicapped-acces-
sible ramp designed for educational access; a planned metal
screen on the eastern wall designed to support ivy climbing
from a planter (avoiding brick damage); and, west, of a long,
midwall computer-controlled combustion air intake, a large,
colorful iron medallion from one of the 1946 boilers adorns
the brick wall beside the north entrance.
At the end of the visit, a departing worker was overheard not-
ing the variety of trades working the jobsite from IT techni-
cians, electricians, welders, plumbers and mechanics, to land-
scaping and siding installers the place was busy. However,
Aja estimated the on-site project headcount to have fallen to
around 30. He anticipates completion of the project in June.
Wood chips enter the enclosed two-story chip
storage bin after screening and cleaning. Auto-
mated floor-mounted augers then pull the chips
into the fuel feeding system.
Photo by Bob Nuner.
District Heat Continued from the cover
W
hat would Montpelier be like without the De-
partment of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the
center of town?
Montpelier residents might just find out in the not-too-
distant future if plans to renovate 120 State Street move
from early preliminary stages to actual construction. Engi-
neers are currently looking to get a new proposal on the
drawing board for modernizing 120 State Street, accord-
ing to Guy Norwood, property services section chief with
the buildings and general services portion of the Vermont
Agency of Administration.
The idea for a proposal to renovate was discussed just a
couple of weeks ago, and any actual move would be most
likely years from now, according to Norwood. It is not a
certainty that the DMV would have to move out at all dur-
ing renovations, although it is one of the options. Those
plans are not solidified. Instead, employees might move
from floor to floor during construction.
Rob Ide, the commissioner of the DMV, said there are
no plans for the DMV to move as far as he is concerned.
The building will see some construction as the Education
Agency moves to Barre. As for DMV, we plan to do busi-
ness from 120 State, stated Ide by e-mail.
As part of an effort to consolidate operations of the Ver-
mont Agency of Education (AOE) from two locations into
one, the AOE has already moved out of 120 State Street
this month. We moved the first half last weekend [March
8 and 9] to Barre City Place, Norwood said. The second
half is going to move this coming weekend [March 15 and
16]. Some offices of the agency are being relocated from
the old Harrys building on Route 2. The moves were con-
tracted to happen on the weekend to minimize disruption
to staff.
Workers finished construction on Barre City Place in the
beginning of February, and occupants are quickly moving
in. Other state offices moving into Barre City Place, which
were previously located in other state buildings, are the
Department of Children and Families and another office
from the Agency of Human Services (AHS). This puts two
AHS departments under one roof and consolidates Educa-
tion, Norwood said, noting these moves are nothing earth
shattering and is just business as usual.
Changes Afoot for 120 State Street? by Carla Occaso
(802) 446-6100
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SUMMER CAMPS 2014
The three energy sectors targetted by Net Zero Montpelier. Photo courtesy of EAN.
Net Zero: A Goal for the Future by Jerry Carter
M
ontpelier is taking the lead in the
race to become the nations first net
zero capital. On Monday, March
10, Montpelier city officials took major steps
to help further the states cause in making the
Green Mountain State greener by announc-
ing their support for an initiative to make
Montpelier the nations first net zero capital
by 2030.
The citys efforts are part of a larger statewide
effort to make Vermont 90 percent renewable
by 2050. According to the 2011 Vermont
Comprehensive Energy Plan, this means that
the state hopes to meet 90 percent of its energy
needs from renewable sources and increased
efficiencies by 2050. Montpelier hopes to be a
key player in achieving this goal and a model
city for the rest of the state and the nation. In
order to become net zero by 2030, Montpelier
will have to greatly improve its energy
efficiency, limit its reliance on fossil
fuels and work with public and private
partners to develop new renewable en-
ergy technologies.
While this goal is daunting, project
supporters are not proposing that
Montpelier become completely energy
self-sufficient. A large part of the plan
involves working with companies like
Green Mountain Power to invest in
the further development of renewable
energy off-site. This will include the
continued and increased reliance on
energy from Hydro-Qubec, and pro-
ponents of the plan hope that Montpelier will
be able to reduce its energy needs over time
through increased efficiencies.
In a press release sent out by the city, Mayor
John Hollar was reported saying, This ambi-
tious goal, endorsed by the city council, sets a
new direction for Montpeliers energy future
that will provide the opportunity for every
citizen to engage.
This shift is already underway and reached
a major milestone when the long-awaited
Montpelier district heat plant opened, even
if only in part, earlier this month. While the
heating plant will not be fully operational
until next fall, it is now a visual testament to
the commitment of Montpeliers city leader-
ship and its citizens to shifting to cleaner
alternative energy sources.
While a big step forward, the district heat
project only addresses one of the three energy
sectors outlined by the Energy Action Net-
work (EAN), one of the major forces behind
the push for getting Montpelier to its goal of
net zero by 2030. EAN also cites electric and
transportation as the other two energy sectors
that Montpelier will have to transform in
order to reach its goal of net zero. EAN, in
partnership with the Montpelier Energy Ad-
visory Committee (MEAC), has been work-
ing on the net zero plan for a couple of years.
EAN was formed several years ago when a
group of high-level energy stakeholders came
together to talk about Vermonts energy fu-
ture. Unlike other special interest groups with
the goal of transforming Vermonts energy
economy, EAN attracted a diverse group of
committed partners early on. These groups
include IBM, Green Mountain Power, Associ-
ated Industries of Vermont, Green Mountain
Coffee Roasters, VPIRG and VNRC, among
others. While these groups often dont see
eye to eye, they all share the common goal
of shifting Vermont, said EAN executive
director Andrea Colnes, to a renewable and
efficiency-based energy economy.
Transitioning a whole state from a carbon-
based energy system to a renewable one will
not be easy. EAN acknowledged this right
off the bat. It knew that in order to succeed
it would have to include as many players as
possible. EANs hope is that through com-
munity involvement in Montpelier, with the
help of MEAC, it will be able to connect the
city with the resources and players needed to
realize this goal.
Dan Jones, the chair of MEAC, said that
Montpelier was an ideal place to center the
focus of the statewide campaign, because the
citizens have already shown a commitment
to becoming more sustainable and because of
the visibility factor of Montpelier as the state
capital. In an interview the other day he said,
We have already proven our ability to be this
place [the nations first net zero capital], since
we already weatherized 500 of our homes,
about 15 percent, and that is way above most
other cities like us, especially in aggregate
numbers.
Even with 15 percent of the homes already
weatherized, Montpelier faces weatherizing
another 85 percent, as well as the countless
old state, city and private buildings down-
town in the city center. In order to meet this
need, EAN and MEAC are working to con-
nect people with Efficiency Vermont and try-
ing to establish ways to keep costs down and
incentives high for citizens.
About efficiencies and some of the early en-
ergy retrofits that citizens and the city will
have to undergo, city councilor and SunCom-
mon employee Jessica Edgerly Walsh had this
to say, There is a lot of work that is in front
of us that is pretty easy, before we get to the
big hurdles.
Edgerly Walsh is referring to what EAN calls
the technology adoption curve. Accord-
ing to the curve, the initial adoption of new
technologies, such as solar and home energy
retrofits, starts out slow as people are still
figuring them out and exploring whether or
not they are a good investment. Once a new
technology has reached about 20 percent use,
adoption increases greatly until finally slow-
ing down at around 90 percent. Montpelier
is still in the build-up phase, but most pro-
ponents of net zero Montpelier see the city
as quickly approaching that middle phase in
which renewable energy and efficiency tech-
nologies will be adopted more readily.
Groups like Green Mountain Power, Sun-
Common and the many investors that are
working with EAN are betting that net zero
Montpelier will be a success and that people
will continue to buy into renewable energy
technologies and improved efficiencies. If the
plan works out, these companies will see big
returns on investments as Montpelier, and
Vermont, transition out of an economy and
society dependent on fossil fuels and toward
one based on renewables.
Hollar is confident that the city will be able
to harness some of these investments and not
place the entire financial burden on Mont-
peliers citizens. I think it is a goal that is
achievable. It is going to take some focus and
a lot of buy-in from the community, he said.
This is not something where Montpelier is
going to say every household has to become
net zero. It has to be something as a commu-
nity that we are going to work for incremen-
tally through the efforts of residents.
Hollar, the city and EAN have a
long way to go if they hope to see
this plan through and will need
to increase citizen involvement to
make the goal attainable. Dorothy
Schnure, a corporate spokesperson
for Green Mountain Power, is confi-
dent that the citizens of Montpelier
will rally behind the initiative. She
said, We really see a lot of this as
the future of energy. We believe that
our customers, in particular, want to
see us go in that direction.
When asked if this would increase
customer rates, Schnure was hesitant
to answer, but said, We actually think that
you can do this very cost effectively, and
one of the really wonderful things with the
renewable energy sources is the capital cost
is the largest cost, because the fuel itself is
free, unlike fossil fuels, which can have very
volatile fuel prices. You have a lot of stabil-
ity when you move to renewable energy
sources, provided that you put them into
effect in a cost-effective way to begin with.
We are confident that we can incorporate
renewable energy and move to a very afford-
able energy future.
Proponents and especially those investing
in the net zero Montpelier initiative are
hoping that the upfront costs will pay off in
the long run. The next couple of years are
crucial, and groups like EAN and MEAC
will be hard at work trying to convince the
majority of the people of Montpelier to join
them in investing in a clean energy future.
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C OMMUNI T Y A R T S C E NT E R
Montpelier School
Board Offers Total
Cuts of $158,266
by Michelle A.L. Singer
O
n Town Meeting Day, Montpelier
was one of 35 towns in Vermont
to vote down their school budget
causing what Steven Jeffrey of the Vermont
League of Cities and Towns called a mini-
tax revolt in his March 14, 2014 Legislative
Report. Mini, he noted, only because 85
percent of school budgets actually passed.
However, those 35 school districts represent
26 percent of the students in the state.
The local group, Friends of Montpelier
Schools, points out that the defeat of Mont-
peliers school budget was a slender one it
was defeated by just 81 votes and that
only one-third of Montpelier voters made it
to the polls. They also point to the fact that
the proposed school budget itself had a 2.27
percent increase since last year and the 13
percent increase that tax payers would see
comes mostly from the cost per pupil fund-
ing formula determined by the state.
At the Montpelier School Board meeting on
March 19, 2014, a crowd of at least 70 con-
cerned voters packed the room to hear the
proposed cuts to the failed budget. On the
eve of the first day of spring, as the snow fell
softly outside, Superintendent of Schools
Brian Ricca shared his thinking about a
range of proposed budget cuts. He then
went on to propose three tiers of cuts and
revenue suggested by his administration.
Ricca put forth $168,000 in budget cuts and
$65,000 in revenue from an additional gen-
eral fund contribution, totaling a $233,000
reduction in the budget. If accepted as is,
his plan would have lowered the overall tax
rate from 18.7 to 16.1 percent and put the
per pupil rate at $4.44. Before the board
voted on his proposal, the floor was opened
up to comments.
In the standing-room-only crowd, a vocal
majority was in support of the school bud-
get as it was proposed on Town Meeting
Day, with no cuts whatsoever. A range of
Montpelier voters including people with
kids in schools, people without any kids at
all, business owners, people both inside and
outside of income sensitivity tax brackets,
all agreed that a strong school system was
why they were in Montpelier, why they
stayed in Montpelier, and were in favor
of, as one woman put it, a robust public
school system. She warned against death
by 1,000 cuts that will harm the entire city.
Many spoke in favor of the Community
Connections program, and a few residents
brought up the proposal of renting park-
ing space at Montpelier High School to
the state as a means of revenue. Those in
attendance were reminded that over the last
several years, the school district has already
cut 17 percent of staffing while enrollment
has only declined 8.6 percent.
In the minority, but present, were three
people who advised the board not to ignore
the City Meeting Day vote, to make some
sort of concession, and even to hold to the
cuts proposed.
The school board went into deliberation
with those comments in mind. When it
came time to cast votes, the board was
unanimous in its rejection of a budget with
no changes. They moved on to voting on
each proposed cut one by one. The result
was a vote in favor of seven separate budget
cuts that resulted in $93,266 in reductions:
leasing rather than buying a car for Drivers
Education at MHS; cutting two dwindling
athletic programs, baseball at MSMS and
girls lacrosse at MHS; cutting the Honors
Society at MHS; a reduction from full to
part time for the custodial position at UES;
a $5,000 pay decrease for the two assistant
principal positions; and a reduction of 0.4
full-time equivalent (FTE) in English at
MHS that will actually be combined with
an increase of 0.5 FTE in the SOAR pro-
gram and will result in a net increase of 0.1
FTE for that specific position.
Some of the larger budget cuts that the
board did not accept were an additional cut
to the Community Connections and any of
the proposed cuts to FTE hours in math,
social studies and science, as well as the
proposed cuts to field trip funding. The end
result, including $65,000 from the general
fund as revenue, is a proposed deduction in
the cost of the school budget of $158,266, a
1.73 percent increase from last years school
budget, and an 11.8 percent tax rate in-
crease for Montpelier residents. Ricca hopes
to present this budget to the City Council
at a special meeting on March 20, 2014 and
have a vote on Tuesday, April 15, 2014.
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She knows whats going
on because she reads
The Bridge
Spring Forward By William Fraser, City Manager
A Message from City Hall
This page was paid for by the City of Montpelier.
W
ith the frigid temperatures and steady snow-
fall, it sure hasnt felt like spring is on the way.
Granted Vermont is not known for its lush
colorful spring season, but multiple mornings of subzero
weather is definitely unusual for March.
Most people have noticed that this winters weather has
taken a horrible toll on our roads and roadways all over
the region. A near constant freeze-thaw cycle accompanied
by melting snow, which then freezes into ice, has wreaked
havoc. I read one not entirely inaccurate description of
Barre Street resembling the road from Kabul to Kanda-
har.
Our Public Works Department (PWD) is acutely aware of
the road conditions and has been struggling to keep up.
The constant need for plowing, salting and sanding has
taken away opportunities to patch potholes. Ice and water,
of course, contribute to creating more potholes. The vary-
ing temperatures have also contributed to a large number
of water and sewer line breaks. Each break requires digging
up a street and leaving patches behind.
Cars driving over patches during periods of weather vari-
ance completely deteriorate the patches. Whenever weather
permits, our crews are out patching. When the winter
weather finally clears, they will hit the roads really hard and
begin the summer paving work (more on this later).
Annual Meeting Wrap-Up
After an unusually lively election season, we congratulate
Mayor John Hollar and Councilor Thierry Guerlain on
their reelections and new council members Dona Bate
and Justin Turcotte on their elections. We thank outgoing
council members Andy Hooper and Alan Weiss for their
many years of dedicated service to the community. Con-
gratulations to school board members Ken Jones and Carol
Paquette on their reelections, as well as cemetery commis-
sioner Charlie Wiley and newly elected parks commissioner
Bryan Pfeiffer.
I thank the voters of Montpelier for their strong support of
the citys budget. Each year we struggle with finding the
balance between delivering service and presenting reason-
able budgets for consideration. We are grateful for your
support and will continue to strive to provide the best pos-
sible services for you.
Although it doesnt feel like spring, March is the time for
the city government to move forward with various initia-
tives and plans. A lot is happening in our small city..
Capital Plan
The approved budget contained an additional $166,300 in
our capital plan funding meaning that $332,600 has been
added over the last two years. This was the second year of
a five-year phase-in with another $166,300 planned to be
added in each of the next three years. At the end of this
period, the capital plan (roads, streets, sidewalks, retaining
walls, culverts, bridges, equipment) will be $831,500 (53
percent) higher than the F13 base amount of $1,572,404.
You will see more and more work being done to improve
our old and failing infrastructure. At the City Council
meeting on April 9, DPW will be presenting their work
plan for this funding projected out for five years. This plan
will be posted on the citys website and available for all.
District Heat
The district heat project just observed a very significant
and important milestone. Earlier this month the States
heating plant began preliminary operations using wood
chip (biomass) fuel. Part of this start-up process included
testing the connection to the citys distribution system and
related control systems. This has proceeded successfully:
our district heat mini-system is now providing heat from
the states plant using wood chips for fuel. So far all has
worked as planned.
The state has more work to complete in fine tuning their
plant and assuring that all its operations meet their techni-
cal specifications. It was a huge step, though, to connect
the new plant with our new heating pipes and provide hot
water heat as designed.
This successful connection now allows both the city and
state to gain operational experience and knowledge as well
as continually testing our mutual systems through the end
of April. This means that both ends of the system will be
fully prepared for the launch of the entire customer load
beginning on October 1. The next few months will be spent
assisting all customers with their in-building connections
and training them on how to use the system.
Construction work on the city systems is essentially com-
plete. There will be some paving work being finished up
in the spring and some building connections being tested.
None of these will have the type of disruption that was
seen in 2013.
At the end of January, the citys project was within 0.28
percent of the original budget. Some additional city-related
costs at the state plant may push this to about 1.25 percent
(approximately $80,000 out of a $6.6 million total effort),
but that is still very tight, considering the complexity of
the project over multiple years. This small overage will be
covered through the district heat fund, not from taxpayer
money.
One Taylor Street
Formerly known as the Carr lot, this project is now moving
forward with great momentum. The city was fortunate to
have received two very excellent private development part-
nership proposals for consideration. Both firms, DEW and
Redstone, made public presentations and submitted tre-
mendously thoughtful ideas about how to address this site.
The One Taylor Design Committee, which is guiding this
project, voted to recommend Redstone as the development
partner. This recommendation will be considered by City
Council on March 26.
This projectwhich includes a transit center, a welcome
center, a bike path, a bike/ped bridge over the North
Branch, river access and private upper floor development
has been in the works since the city passed a bond in 2002.
Federal permitting, environmental assessment/cleanup and
redrawing of flood lines all led to years of delay. The proj-
ect is now in full gear, and we look forward to seeing some
major improvements in downtown Montpelier within the
next year or two.
Re-zoning
The Planning Commission has been working on a redraft
of the citys zoning ordinance for a couple of years and has
recently adopted a more orderly process for addressing the
work. I have recommended retaining a planning consul-
tant to work directly with the commission on this project
without the distraction of other city responsibilities. The
council will be considering this recommendation on 19th.
If the contract is approved, the consultant will begin work
immediately.
Planning & Development Director
The city received 27 strong applications for the vacant plan-
ning and development director position. Seven individuals
have been selected for preliminary screening from this ini-
tial pool. Some of those seven will move on to a much more
complete selection process, including an advisory commit-
tee, background checks and the like. I hope to make a final
decision by mid-to-late April with the new person starting
work by or before June 1.
School Vote
The school board met on March 19 to consider their budget
and possible dates for a second budget vote. It is likely that
a vote will be held in either mid-April or very early May.
Charters
With the successful passage of both the city charter revi-
sions and the regional public safety charter, both have been
forwarded to the secretary of state and will be reviewed by
the legislature this session. We will be following their prog-
ress closely and assume that the general assembly will agree
with the choices made by the local voters. I will keep you
posted on this progress.
Goals
March and April is also the time of year when your City
Council establishes its goals and priorities for the upcoming
year. Due to being snowed out on March 12, they have not
yet begun the conversation of how they will approach this
process, but I urge citizens who have interest in this sort of
thing to let their council members or me know if there are
items that are of particular importance to you..
Information
For those of you who want to stay abreast of information
about city government, there are several ways to do so:
All meetings of boards, commissions, committees and the
like are open to the public.
This article in The Bridge is written by the mayor or me
and is published monthly.
The citys website, montpelier-vt.org, includes news, up-
dates, notices and information about projects as well as
agendas, minutes and other meeting documents. All docu-
ments, which go to City Council for meetings, are posted
publicly.
All (or most) council meetings and meetings of major
boards and committees are broadcastand often rebroad-
caston local cable TV.
All (or most) of the above meetings are both streamed and
archived for viewing on the citys website.
The city has a Facebook page, City of Montpelier, VT
official, which posts updates and also links some updates
from the website.
The city has a Twitter account, @VTMontpelier, which
also posts updates and links from the website.
The annual report, distributed in February, provides an
overview of the city governments year.

Finally, of course, please feel free to contact me or your
elected officials with questions or comments about the city
government. I can be reached at wfraser@montpelier-vt.
org or 223-9502. Other city officials e-mail addresses and
phone numbers are available on the web.
Thank you for reading this article and for your interest in
Montpelier city government.
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At its March 10 lunchtime meeting at
the Capitol Plaza Hotel in downtown
Montpelier the Montpelier Rotary
Club announced grant awards in the
overall amount of $13,000 to 20 local
organizations. The following organiza-
tions were recipients of funding support
this year from the Montpelier Rotary
Club.
Capital City Concerts
Capital City Concerts presents unique clas-
sical chamber music concerts performed by
some of the worlds finest musicians, in
collaboration with outstanding Vermont
artists. Founded in 2000 by flutist Karen
Kevra, the series presents five concerts an-
nually. The Rotary grant will help fund Red
Dogs and Pink Skies, a multi media Peter
and the Wolf-style performance, showcas-
ing the art of Paul Gaughin, for instrumen-
tal ensemble plus narrator.
Central Vermont Adult Basic
Education (CVABE)
CVABE offers free instruction for adults
and teens in basic reading, writing, math
and English as another language. This or-
ganization also offers GED preparation/
testing and high school completion. The
Rotary Club of Montpelier supports CV-
ABEs Basic Literacy Program, helping
Montpelier residents learn basic literacy
skills for employment and self-sufficiency.
Central Vermont Home Health
& Hospice
CVHHH is a 103-year-old not-for-profit Vis-
iting Nurse Association serving the residents
of 23 central Vermont towns in their own
homes. CVHHH provides comprehensive,
high-quality home health and hospice care
to all central Vermonters, regardless of ability
to pay, and supports the general welfare of
central Vermont with health promotion and
long-term care services.
Central Vermont Medical Center
(CVMC)
The Rotary Clubs contribution to CVMC
will help pay for the creation of a safe and
supervised enclosed outdoor space, or terrace,
to adjoin the hospitals Inpatient Psychiatric
Unit. The new (14-foot by 14-foot) outdoor
space will make it possible for patients to ex-
perience fresh air and be in touch with nature.
Plans call for the new outdoor space to be
completed by late this summer or early fall.
Family Center of Washington
County
The Family Center of Washington County
is a state-designated parent-child center.
Some children in Montpelier preschools are
at risk from poverty, homelessness, food
insecurity or have a background of trauma
and require intensive on-site services. The
cost of serving them is far greater than state
subsidy reimbursements, and the Family
Center does not charge families a co-pay.
Montpelier Rotary Club funding will help
provide services for one preschool child.
Girls/Boyz First Mentoring
(Community Connections)
Girls/Boyz First Mentoring provides central
Vermont youth with the extra support of a
caring, positive adult. Over 150 children
have been served in the past 16 years. Men-
toring is research based and cost effective.
Girls/Boyz First occurs at a critical time
in the lives of young people when they
are making decisions that will impact their
future.
Green Mountain Council (Boy
Scouts)
The Montpelier Rotary Clubs contribu-
tion to the Green Mountain Council (Boy
Scouts) will predominantly help fund the
councils Campership program. This pro-
gram helps send needy scouts from disad-
vantaged families to attend the councils
summer camp program. Requests for such
help are typically in the range of between
$8 to $10,000 or more each summer. The
Rotary Club contribution will also help pay
for training support materials for those who
lead scouting programs.
Green Mountain Girls State
Based on a Green Mountain Girls State web
site posting, Girls State is a nonpartisan
program that makes it possible for young
women to learn first hand how their state
and local government works. High school
girls who have completed their junior year
spend an intensive week of study, work-
ing together as self-governing citizens. They
learn to participate in the functioning of
their state government in preparation for
their future role as responsible adult citi-
zens.
Green Up Day Vermont
The mission of Vermonts Green Up Day
is to promote the stewardship of our states
natural landscape and waterways and the
livability of our communities by involving
people in Green Up Day and raising public
awareness about the benefits of a litter-free
environment. Green Up Day takes place
on the first Saturday in May, which is May
3 this year. This is a day when children,
families and adults of all ages join together
in their communities to clean up the states
roadsides, waterways and public spaces. The
money donated helps with Green Ups edu-
cation of children through its poster design
and writing contests.
Home Share Now
Home Share Now facilitates shared hous-
ing. Instead of fair market rent, services are
performed by home seekers in exchange for
housing, typically with senior home pro-
viders. As 74 percent of participants are
low income, keeping participant fees low is
critical. A grant from the Montpelier Ro-
tary Club helps make that possible.
Just Basics Inc. (JBI)
JBI is the parent organization of the Mont-
pelier Food Pantry and FEAST, the senior
meals- on-wheels congregate and ToGo
fundraiser meal program operating from
the Montpelier Senior Activity Center. JBI
programs address basic food and nutritional
needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
Kellogg-Hubbard Library (KHL)
Besides traditional reference and lending,
the KHL offers e-book downloads, Wi-Fi
and an average of 450 adult and childrens
programs annually. It partners with oth-
ers for such activities as PoemCity, and it
hosts many events for other organizations.
Calais, East Montpelier, Middlesex, Mont-
pelier and Worcester are contributing com-
munities. KHL will use the Rotary grant
for early literacy programs.
Lost Nation Theater (LNT)
LNT, Montpeliers award-winning resi-
dent professional company, strives to create
high-quality performances and theater edu-
cation programs that are an integral part
of the central Vermont community. Rotary
funding will help support LNTs summer
theater day camps, three annual youth the-
ater productions and guest artist workshops
and master classes.
Montpelier Chamber Orchestra
The MCOs mission is to inspire and enrich
central Vermont musicians and audiences
of all ages through performances of new
and traditional chamber orchestra reper-
tory. The Montpelier Rotary Clubs support
helps the MCO present annual in-school
projects that use music to strengthen the
creativity of young learners.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center
(MSAC)
MSAC is a welcoming community gather-
ing space providing opportunities for healthy
aging, lifelong learning and delicious meals.
Diverse affordable or free activities, events
and services enhance physical, mental, cul-
tural, social and economic well-being for all.
MSAC is grateful for Rotarys grant to im-
prove the Resource Room. www.montpelier-
vt.org/msac, 223-2518.
Peoples Health & Wellness Clinic
The Peoples Health & Wellness Clinic is a
free clinic with a tiny staff supporting over
70 clinical volunteers. Rotary funds provide
primary health care and wellness education to
the uninsured and underinsured residents of
central Vermont who cannot otherwise afford
these services. Why is the clinic still needed
with all the health care reform going on?
Because not everyone is eligible, not everyone
can afford it and not everythings covered.
Vermont Historical Society (VHS)
VHS believes that an understanding of the
past changes lives and builds better commu-
nities. VHS preserves and shares Vermonts
history through exhibitions, public programs,
and assistance with historical and genealogi-
cal research and publications. VHS is also a
dynamic partner with schools and local his-
torical societies statewide. Support from the
Montpelier Rotary Club will aid programs
and activities at the Vermont History Mu-
seum at 109 State Street in Montpelier.
Vermont Horse-Assisted Therapy
(VHAT)
VHAT provides safe, effective and fun thera-
peutic riding experiences to central Vermont
students facing physical, developmental, emo-
tional, social or economic challenges. Rotary
funding for VHATs scholarship program will
help provide hands-on training to a young
Montpelier woman with autism who dreams
of entering this field.
Vermont Mountaineers
Montpelier native Eddie Walbridge first
proposed the idea of a wooden bat baseball
team in Montpelier in 2002, and the Ver-
mont Mountaineers played their first game in
June 2003. A new lighting system had been
installed and the Montpelier Rec Field had
been put in shape. Attendance at Mountain-
eer games has averaged 1200 to 1300 fans per
game with strong business support. Drain-
age has been a problem, particularly with
the heavy rains of last summer. This years
Rotary grant will help to address the drainage
problem.
2014 Montpelier Rotary Club Grant Awards compiled by Nat Frothingham
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A
nine-acre chunk of recreational land
that many hope will become the site of
an expanded medical clinic is generat-
ing controversy in Northfield. Developmental
and conservation interests have been at odds
over the site, owned by Norwich University
and formerly part of its ski area.
The acreage recently received a zoning change
from recreational to urban residential; the
latter designation will allow for mixed use,
including the 10,000-square-foot medical fa-
cility. The plans still need to negotiate several
hurdles: site plan approval from Northfields
Planning Commission, a conditional use per-
mit from the towns zoning board of adjust-
ment, and Act 250 approval from the states
District 5 Environmental Commission.
Some owners of adjoining properties feel
blindsided by the proposal, originally filed
last May. Northfields Conservation Commis-
sion has put on record its misgivings with
the plan. And while the towns selectboard
approved the zoning change unanimously at
a joint January 28 meeting, objections to the
proposal continue.
In a memo to the Planning Commission last
June, the Conservation Commission stated
that two-thirds of town residents favored
additional protection of recreational lands,
a purpose that the rezone did not advance.
Some dissenters have also pointed to the Janu-
ary rezone as spot zoning, accomplished in
isolation from general concerns about rezon-
ing.
The university, builder E.F. Wall of Barre and
Central Vermont Medical Center (CVMC),
whose Green Mountain Family Practice is
slated to relocate to the facility, have spear-
headed the initiative. The university will con-
tinue to own the land; Wall will own the
building and lease it to CVMC. Lease terms
are under negotiation.
For the moment, the site, part of the uni-
versitys Shaw Outdoor Center, remains the
terminus of a sledding hill safely removed
from roads and the portal to a wide range
of recreational pursuits on Northfields Paine
Mountain.
The universitys chief administrative officer,
Dave Magida, says that the medical build-
ing will only occupy three of the nine acres,
but that there may be some minor impact
on current recreational uses. The fate of the
remaining six acres also invites questions.
The selectboard added the nine-acre chunk
to the urban residential zone because, geo-
metrically speaking, it formed a triangular
indentation in the existing zone.
The Conservation Commissions fears center
on the scope of rezoning in the area, as a
general rezone of the town is looming. The
recreational zoning of hundreds of abutting
acres on Paine Mountain could be replaced,
for example, by conservation zoning. That
sounds green, but would in fact allow the
entire mountain to be developed, albeit with
large lots. Originally the selectboard had pro-
posed shifting 26 acres of recreational land to
the urban designation, but reduced that to the
nine acres, at least in part because of the Con-
servation Commissions reservations.
Conservation Commission chair Pam Knox
feels a site elsewhere in Northfield could have
been selected for the medical facility. Were
not opposed to development, she says. We
just want things to be developed responsi-
bly. The medical facility plan appears to have
emerged suddenly.
Magida told The Bridge, We started men-
tioning this to the town several years ago,
on a less formal basis, but could provide no
specific dates or meeting minutes. Michele
Braun, who administers zoning and planning
matters for the town, says, I dont think [any
discussion] was ever part of a formal meeting
or hearing, such as would have generated an
advance notification to owners of abutting
properties.
The universitys Campus Master Plan Up-
date, published in 2011 and covering the
period up to 2019, made no mention of any
new medical facility anywhere on university
property; it did, however, envision improve-
ments to the existing outdoor center. Those
improvements were completed in 2012, un-
derwritten by a gift from a Norwich alumnus.
In May 2013, adjacent landowners received
notice that the current plan to develop the site
was coming before the Planning Commission.
At that meeting, neighbor Lise Ewald recalls,
there was this drawing of a buildingwe
were totally blindsided. Ewald finds Magidas
account of events less than forthcoming. He
told me [last May], You should have known
this is coming. I dont know where hes get-
ting that.
The Planning Commission rejected that site
development plan in May, since it required
the zoning change that the selectboard has
now enacted.
Norwich owns about 1,200 acres, although
only about 100 within the immediate vicin-
ity of the village. Responding to charges
that no other sites were considered for the
offices, Magida concedes that allegation but
describes the choice of the outdoor center
as a nice merging of interests that places
medical care within walking distance of the
campus and village and takes advantage of
the exceptional opportunity posed by the
parcels availability.
The location just makes sense for every-
one, concurs Richard Morley, CVMCs
vice president for support services.
Ewald demurs. She notes that the develop-
ment will include, in addition to the build-
ings quarter-acre footprint, a 52-car park-
ing lot and night lighting, and mentions
such additional unpleasantries as dumpsters
and air-conditioning noise. I admit, right
up front, I am totally NIMBY. Im not
against the clinic. I just dont want it here.
Gretchen Dunn, another abutter, takes a simi-
lar stance. She adds that the nine acres, under
recreational zoning, formed a sort of break in
the urban zone, and that this intermingling of
residential and recreational areas was just what
good zoning should include, not remove, as
the selectboard has done. We need to...maybe
push back against Norwich and say, Can you
look at other properties? she says.
But Ewald, like many in Northfield, discerns
the bottom line: the undertaking will mean
urgently needed employment in a town that
is losing jobs. Ultimately that will make the
issue one of how, and not whether, the medi-
cal facility gets built.
A member of the selectboard told me, with
losing WallGoldfinger furniture plant and the
main office of the Northfield Savings Bank,
tax dollars are just rushing out of here. They
[the selectboard] want the tax revenue, says
Edwald.
Northfield Clinic Plans
Stir Controversy by C.B. Hall
T
he March 17 meet-
ing of the Northfield
Planning Commission
postponed final consider-
ation of an application by
E.F. Wall for the develop-
ment of central Vermont
Medical Centers (CVMCs)
proposed new Northfield
facility see main article.
In a discussion lasting close to
two hours, Wall representa-
tives, Norwich Universitys
Dave Magida, CVMCs Rich-
ard Morley and three owners
of abutting properties traded
opinions and debated possible
courses of action on the devel-
opment, and particularly how to
mitigate its impacts on neigh-
boring properties.
The sites neighbors raised con-
cerns about noise, night light-
ing, the planned stormwater re-
tention facility, lack of privacy
and, by implication, possible
losses in property values.
Some commission members
noted that Wall had not planned
satisfactorily for sidewalk ac-
cess to the facility or indicated
how visual screeningplanting
of trees, essentiallywould be
effected. The lack of such infor-
mation and the sheer profusion
of details falling within the com-
missions purview motivated the
decision to postpone voting on
the application until the bodys
next regular meeting on April
21.
While the meetings tone re-
mained polite throughout, Mag-
ida sounded frustrated in re-
acting to the postponement of
final commission action. Were
going to have to have you guys
make some decisions in April,
he said. We dont want to lose
another month. We cant do
that.
Wall representative Bob Lord
told the meeting that his firm
wants to begin construction by
September 19. Were thinking
maybe the first of June 2015 as
the facilitys opening date, Mor-
ley added.
But, an opening date of June
2015 could be difficult to achieve
given the needed planning ap-
provals. First, the planning com-
mission needs to give its ap-
proval. Then, there is a needed
Act 250 review and approval. If
there are undue delays to either
of these planning hurdles it may
be difficult to open the new fa-
cility by June 2015.
Dr. Steven Sobel, DC
Chiropractic Physician
Holistic Chiropractic care for all ages
Functional Neurology
Safe and effective treatment of back,
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the use of drugs or surgery
Sports, work and auto injuries
Most insurance accepted
1 Blanchard Court, Montpelier
(located above First in Fitness)
drsobel@aligntohealth.com
229-6800
Dr. Steven Sobel, DC
Chiropractic Physician
Holistic Chiropractic care for all ages
Functional Neurology
Safe and effective treatment of back,
neck and extremity conditions without
the use of drugs or surgery
Sports, work and auto injuries
Most insurance accepted
229-6800
1 Blanchard Court, Montpelier
(located above First in Fitness)
drsobel@aligntohealth.com
Auction
Saturday, April 5
Bethany Church,
Preview at 9 a.m.
Bidding starts at 9:30
Art . Antiques . Memorabilia .
Useful Household Items
Refreshments . Door Prizes .
Proceeds benet Bethany Church
Sugaring giclee print by Peggy Watson
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Specializing in quality, down country Toyotas, Hondas, and Subarus.
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I
n the midst of a long day of boiling
maple sap into syrup, Rick and Betsy
Barstow will sometimes be surprised by
a friend or neighbor stopping by their sug-
arhouse to lend a hand. Some come to help
collect sap from the tanks and buckets,
some bring in a load of wood to fuel the
evaporators and others will bring a home-
made meal to share. Rick began making
maple syrup in Adamant in the 1970s;
Betsy joined the operation when she moved
to the area in 1988.
In the season of 1992, they were involved
with Vermont refugee assistance and were
housing three young men from El Salvador,
one of whom had a degree in agriculture
and could drive a tractor. That year, Betsy
and Rick
recall, we had 2,200 taps, our biggest year.
Los tres hombres devised their own work
schedule for gathering sap. They would
have a late breakfast and work through-
out the day. One especially productive day,
they had 500 gallons of sap on the trailer
and began to drive the tractor up the hill
to the dump-off station. The trailer came
unhitched, and it rolled across the road and
into the cold waters of Sodom pond. Our
then 15-month-old son proceeded to say his
first Spanish word: agua.
Betsy and Rick had been sugaring with a
neighbor until they decided to build their
own sugarhouse in 1993. Betsy recalls,
That year we werent quite together, so I
suggested why dont we boil open air? So we
put up some posts and a roof and put the
evaporator underneath. It was a less than
two-week season, as the weather became
warm very fast. In 1994 they completed
building the sugarhouse with the help of
friends, though during the sugaring season
it still didnt have sides. Neighbors called
the finished sugarhouse The Sugar Palace
because it included a sleeping loft for our
two young children.
By number of taps, the Barstow sugaring
operation is much smaller now than the
year of los tres hombres. Betsy and Rick
feel that the current size of the operation is
much more manageable. Years ago, Rick
says, there were times when we boiled till
two or three in the morning when our op-
eration was bigger. Then we would conk out
in the loft where our young children were
sleeping. Betsy was known to drop asleep
occasionally on the woodpile in front of the
evaporator. In recent years, we have down-
sized our operation and are now often done
by 10 or 11 p.m.
Despite the hard work and hours of labor
that go into making maple syrup, Rick and
Betsy love it. One night when they were still
boiling long after midnight, Betsy remem-
bers feeling cold, wet, dirty, hungry and
tired, and asking herself, why do we like
sugaring so much? Rick enjoys observing
the transition from winter to spring that
sugaring marks. There is pleasure in when
the weather starts to get warm enough and
you start to tap and see those first drips of
sap coming from the tree, and you know the
spell of winter has broken.
Though the process of making maple syrup
has remained the same, Rick has noticed
significant changes to the start and end
dates of the season since he began sugar-
ing 40 years ago. In the 70s we never
even thought about beginning until after
Town Meeting Day, and often it wouldnt
be warm enough to start tapping until the
third week of March. We usually produced
most of our syrup in the month of April,
and the season was finished towards the end
of April. Now we need to be ready to tap by
the middle of February and we make most
of our syrup in March. He attributes this
shift to climate change.
When asked about the recent changes to
maple syrup grading in Vermont, Betsy
said, The changes might be a source of
confusion for both producers and consum-
ers, but like any change, people will become
accustomed to it.
This year they will be selling the maple
syrup they produce at the Adamant Co-op
and Hunger Mountain Co-op, as well as
shipping syrup to customers around the
country.
Breaking the Spell of Winter
Local Maple Syrup Producers
Reflect Upon Their Operation
by Julia Barstow
Tapped Sugar Maple trees on the Barstow sugar bush.
Photo courtesy Barstow Family
Barstow sugar house. Photo courtesy Barstow Family
Rick and Betsy Barstow un-
tangle some sugaring lines.
Photo by Julia Barstow.
Making the Grade Continued from the cover
Bragg, another local maple sugar producer
who owns Bragg Farm with his family, agree
that climate change is one of the biggest fac-
tors pushing the industry to innovate and
develop new technologies.
One such new development in the maple in-
dustry was discovered at the Proctor Maple
Research Center, part of the UVM Exten-
sion Service. Recent research by Abby van
den Berg and Tim Perkins has shown that,
by using existing vacuum tube technology,
maple producers can tap maple saplings and
get the same quality of syrup. This research
is still in the early stages of development.
There is no equipment out there, and no-
body is going to jump on board and say,
Next year we are going to do it this way,
said Cook.
While tourists flocking to the state may
not see fields of perfectly lined maple sap-
lings connected by plastic tubing for several
years, there is a plethora of other high-tech
techniques that have become ubiquitous in
the maple industry over the past several
decades. The most common of these is the
transition from bucket collection to gravity
and then, more recently, vacuum tubing.
This transition, especially with the addi-
tion of vacuum, has allowed producers to
become a little less reliant on fluctuations
in temperatures. But even the most sophis-
ticated operations still rely on the fickle
combination of cold nights and warm days
to get the sap flowing.
Within the sugarhouse, producers have
been able to save huge amounts of time
and energy by running fresh sap through
a reverse osmosis machine before boiling
it. The reverse osmosis machine extracts
a large amount of the water from the sap,
using technology originally developed to
separate salt from seawater. Even with the
clear advantages of these new technologies,
many producers have chosen to stay away
from them, preferring the simple, classic
bucket technique and slow wood boil.
Morse said, Sugaring has a romance to
it. People, especially tourists anxious to
visit the country, can get wrapped up in
this romantic view of buckets hanging from
trees. Doug Bragg and his family depend
on this perception, choosing to maintain
the traditional maple sugaring methods, in
hopes that tourists will choose to stop into
their facility over others.
There is more to it than simply trying to
maintain an image, said Bragg. He fears that
the vacuum systems, which are left running
around the clock by some producers, are bad
for the trees. Cook disagreed, saying, No
negative impact has been found, and they
have been studying that for the past 25 to
30 years. No research has ever indicated that
the use of vacuum was creating a negative
impact on the health of the tree. Cook went
on to say, In fact, in some studies, the op-
posite has been shown, because it maintains a
vacuum on that tap hole, and it does not have
the bacteria and organisms that would go
into the tap hole at nighttime when the tem-
perature goes down [which can happen using
buckets]. To combat the possibility of this,
producers such as Bragg have begun using
new taps called health spiles or health spouts,
which are smaller and require a smaller hole.
This smaller hole reduces a trees exposure to
bacteria and foreign microbes.
Whichever technique is used, most producers
seem to be concerned by the growing effects
of climate change. It is becoming harder and
harder to predict when the season will begin.
On the whole, more and more producers are
beginning to tap in late January or mid-Feb-
ruary in preparation for an early March run.
Just a decade or so ago, people werent start-
ing to tap until Town Meeting Day in early
March. An earlier start date does not neces-
sarily mean a longer season. While the sap has
been starting to flow sooner, it has also been
drying up earlier.
As much as we apply technology, there are
some things it is not going to overcome,
said Morse. So while new technologies are
helping to mitigate some of the effects of
global warming, they are not the ultimate
solution to ensuring a good sugar season.
Not having a great year this year might
not be the worst thing, though, because
Morse fears that if there is another good
year, the market could become saturated.
This fear is compounded by an increase in
producers and their adoption of technology
such as vacuum tubing. Ultimately, Morse
fears that the maple industry could run
the course of the dairy industry, producing
more product than the market can con-
sume, making the industry unprofitable.
Cook thinks it is up to producers to make
sure that this does not happen by exploring
new and untapped markets. The Internet is
one tool that has allowed some producers to
reach markets in Asia and elsewhere.
In order to assist in the expansion of mar-
kets, the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers As-
sociation has agreed to adopt a new grading
system created by the International Maple
Syrup Institute. The goal of the shift is to
create one standard and a uniform grading
system that is easy for consumers to un-
derstand. The existing grades will remain
in the new system, but they have been
relabeled to assist in consumer literacy. In-
stead of the traditional Vermont system of
Vermont Fancy, Grade A Medium Amber,
Grade A Dark Amber, and Grade B, con-
sumers will now differentiate the grades by
Golden Color/Delicate Taste, Amber/Rich
Taste, Dark/Robust Taste, and Very Dark/
Strong Taste.
Some producers are concerned that the re-
labeling will hurt the Vermont edge, but
Cook assures producers that Vermont will
still be the only state allowed to use the
descriptor Vermont Fancy when describ-
ing Golden Color/Delicate Taste. The hope
is that it will actually increase Vermonts
competitiveness by allowing producers to
market to a wider consumer base that may
not be familiar with the old grading system.
Despite all of these changes and the need to
prepare for them, maple sugar producers are
gearing up for this years run and hoping
consumers are as ready as they are.
S
arah DeFelice, a 26-year-old native of
Northfield who now resides in Mont-
pelier, lights up with enthusiasm as she
describes what will soon be Montpeliers new-
est business on Main Street. Named after her
great-grandmother and the road she grew up
on, Bailey Road will offer a great shopping ex-
perience for women searching for professional
clothing at accessible prices.
My mission is to create a shopping experi-
ence that allows the professional woman to
walk into an oversized, completely stylish
closet with her own personal shopper. Thats
the image Im going for, she said. The store,
located at 44 Main Street, is entering the
final phase of renovations. The community is
invited to celebrate with DeFelice at her stores
grand opening on April 12.
DeFelice traces her entrepreneurial spirit back
to the third grade when she sold friendship
bracelets, to college, when as a Freshman she
ran a painting company for a year. DeFelice
graduated from the University of Vermont in
2010 with an economics and art history de-
gree, worked for Banana Republic where she
honed her retail management and customer
service skills, and then tried her hand at the
nine-to-five desk job routine.
When that failed to satisfy, she left Vermont
for adventure sailing around the Penobscot
Bay on the Maine Windjammer. After two
cold winters on the Maine coast, she returned
home and found a job with Adorn, a womens
clothing store in Montpelier that recently
closed. This was a great job that combined
that need for creativity and the business drive
that I had been looking for in my last few
jobs, she said. With Adorns closing, I was
losing a job that I loved and starting the job
search all over again.
The job search was frustrating and disap-
pointing. I wasnt able to find a job that fit
who I was, she said. Looking through the
job list, it felt like I would just be settling,
that I would be going job to job, never finding
anything that was my passion, she said.
It was at that point that DeFelice began to se-
riously consider a friends suggestion to open
up her own womens clothing store. Being
able to create your own business and have
the entrepreneurial spirit is something that
you cant make go away. Before I knew it, the
job search had completely stopped, and I was
launched with a business plan, she said.
Knowing she needed advice and financing to
make her dream a reality, DeFelice sought as-
sistance from an advisor at the Vermont Small
Business Development Center who then re-
ferred her to Community Capital of Vermont
for financing. I had the entrepreneurial
spirit, and I had a great business plan and
good credit. But what I dont have is a house
or land to call my own. A traditional bank
wouldnt even approve a loan. Community
Capital creates another way for entrepreneurs
like me to start up. They are able to look at
the merits of my business plan, the industry
and the market in Montpelier, said DeFelice.
Martin Hahn, executive director at Commu-
nity Capital for the last three years, agrees.
He describes Community Capital as a lender
of opportunity (as opposed to a lender of last
resort) that helps entrepreneurs who might
not otherwise qualify for a loan elsewhere get
started or grow their business. Community
Capital is able to look at all aspects of busi-
ness, not just collateral. We are able to balance
other factors to make a loan work. So, there
are a lot of reasons to say yes to Sarah and
Bailey Road, he said.
Community Capital of Vermont is a state-
wide, nonprofit organization that helps small
businesses and lower-income entrepreneurs to
prosper through the provision of flexible busi-
ness financing. Seventy-five percent of their
loans are made to entrepreneurs like Sarah
who are starting a business, with the remain-
der going to existing businesses. We offer
products that are flexible to meet a variety
of needs that a business has to start or grow,
said Hahn. Community Capital offers loans
as small as $1,000 and as large as $100,000.
Loans are generally fully amortized with in-
terest rates between 7 percent to 11 percent,
depending upon the risk of the loan. Loans
to agricultural businesses are offered at a two
percent discount. They finance a wide variety
of business expenses, including working capi-
tal, equipment, inventory, leasehold improve-
ment and refinance of business debt.
Community Capital works with a variety of
entrepreneurs in many different sectors. Hahn
proudly points to many local Main Street
businesses that have flourished with Com-
munity Capitals support, including Kismet,
Capital Kitchen, Next Chapter Bookstore,
Party Central and Ladder 1 Grill. And, we
have recently made a commitment to a new
deli that will open up across the street from
Barre City Place, said Hahn. First launched
locally in 1995 under the auspices of Central
Vermont Community Action Council, Com-
munity Capital grew to cover three counties
of central Vermont, and then statewide after
acquiring Vermont Job Start, a fund appropri-
ated by the state of Vermont to support low-
income entrepreneurs. In 2013, Community
Capital gained access to additional capital to
lend by becoming a certified SBA Microlend-
ing Intermediary.
As DeFelice can attest, applying for a loan
requires time, commitment and organiza-
tion. It helped that the staff at Community
Capital made the loan process accessible and
friendly. Hahn underscores this point We
are committed to making the lending process
as friendly and interactive and responsive as
someone would expect from anyone else they
are going to for their business, he said.
DeFelice invites the community to visit Bailey
Roads Grand Opening on April 12. Hahn
encourages anyone interested in starting or
growing their business to stop by their of-
fice at 107 North Main Street in downtown
Barre, call them at 802-479-0167 or visit
CommunityCapitalVT.org.
Community Capital of Vermont, Lender of Opportunity,
Helps Pave the Way for Bailey Road by Emily Kaminsky
CENTER SPREAD
GOES HERE!!!
CENTER SPREAD
GOES HERE!!!
Tell them you saw it in
The Bridge!
T
he other day I was in need of some
beer to accompany the tacos al pas-
tor that I was planning to serve for
dinner. A particularly spicy batch of salsa I
made to slather on the slow-rendered pork
shoulder demanded a refreshing beverage to
quell the fiery Serrano chilies. So I headed
down to Hunger Mountain Coop to pick up
a six-pack and maybe a lime or two.
The parking lot was unusually packed, forc-
ing me to circle several times to find a spot.
As I approached the entrance, a line was
snaking out the door. I asked a hipster who
was in the line what was going on. He told
me that he was waiting for his allocation of
Heady Topper, an American Double IPA.
Incredulous, I asked, You are waiting in
line for beer? Yep, he said. Been here for
an hour and a half.
Inside I found the line snaking through
the cereal aisle, down past an end cap of
tortilla chips and culminating at the beer
cooler. I asked another seemingly impatient
beer-bellied guy about the queue, and he
confirmed that indeed all of these people
were cerevisaphiles awaiting the latest de-
livery from The Alchemist, a craft brewer
from Waterbury VT. Its the best beer in
the world! he added.
A sign at the front of the line read, Heady
Topperone case limit per customer. An-
other sign just beyond that read, Lawsons
Finest Liquidsone bottle limit per cus-
tomer. I scratched my head as I pondered
supply, demand and how to navigate my way
through the crowd to fetch my six-pack. It
was then that I began to get nervous.
You see, I wasnt there for such a fine,
rarified beer. I was there for something
simple, cold and wet. Dont get me wrong.
I have enjoyed Topper and Lawsons, but
my tacos wanted a less contemplative brew.
This was not the time for an explosion of
hops or a deep, malty mouthful of suds. I
was there for a stringer of Pabst Blue Rib-
bon or maybe some Narragansett Lager, an
old-school brewski.
On the one hand, this was good news for
me, as it meant that I didnt have to wait in
line for one of Vermonts Grand Cru beers,
but it also meant that I was going to have
to cross this line of connoisseurs and afi-
cionados to lift a more pedestrian offering
from the cooler. Would there be judgment?
Would there be snickering at my lowbrow
tastes? Would they think me a neophyte or
maybe a turd in a punchbowl (pardon the
expression)? I pulled my cap down as low as
I could and headed toward the cooler.
As I gazed upon the dizzying selection, I
thought I could feel eyes on the back of my
neck. I scanned the labels, thinking that
perhaps I would compromise to save face.
I passed on the Arrogant Bastard Ale, con-
cluding we are what we eat (and drink). The
Rogue Brewery Yellow Snow Ale seemed to
contradict good advice. Lagunitas Brewery
offered Hairy Eyeball Ale which gave me
the creeps. There was Polygamy Porter with
the byline, Why have just one? Thirsty
Dog Brewery makes a Porter called Old Le-
ghumper! Really. I would have chosen Ali-
mony Ale, The bitterest beer in America,
but I am happily married so that didnt
seem right.
My hands were sweaty and my pulse quick-
ened as I spotted the PBR. It was right there
next to the fancy small batch stuff. At least
it was in good company. In a moment of
braveness, I lifted it from the case. A hush
seemed to come over the line. There was a
split second of silence and then a roar. The
crowd broke out in cheers and applause.
It was deafening. I turned to revel in the
jubilance and perhaps ride on someones
shoulders, when I noticed a large cart being
wheeled toward the group stacked six feet
high with Heady Topper.
I hunched down and quietly made my es-
cape, tail between my legs, as the crowd tore
into the cart of Topper like it was Christmas
morning. I hid my choice in my basket with
a bag of tortilla chips, a couple of avocados
and a bunch of cilantro and proceeded to
the checkout. Of course the lines were full
of happy campers, each with their one case
allotment of Heady Topper. Leaving the
PBR for last, I loaded my groceries onto
the conveyer belt. As the cashier scanned
the six-pack, he paused for a moment and
looked me square in the eye. PBR? he in-
quired as I looked down at my boots. I nod-
ded in acknowledgement. My grandfather
drank PBR, he said. Mine too, I replied,
proudly packing my bag.

BRIDGE BITES:
Tacos Caliente con PBR
by Mark Frano
Mark Frano is a serious eater, a toque-less chef and a wannabe writer who gets
out of bed each morning only because it means three more chances to play with
his food. His new column Bridge Bites is intended to share his passion, obsession
and fascination with gastronomy as it collides with life in Vermont.
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A celebration of
National Poetry Month
Downtown Montpelier, April 2014
Downtown poetry display in 50+ venues,
featuring over 200 poems by Vermonters!
more info at 223-3338
or poem-city.org
this ad
donated
by VCFA
Tue 4.1 | PoemCity Kick-o
with David Budbill
State House, 115 State Street | 7 PM
David Budbill will give a poetry
reading to mark the beginning of
PoemCity 2014. Reading held in
the Vermont State House Cham-
bers, followed by a reception in the
Cedar Creek Room.
Tu 4.3 | You Come Too: Robert
Frost Spring Poems
Vermont Humanities Council,
11 Loomis Street | 5:30 PM
Vermont Humanities Council executive director
Peter Gilbert will lead a discussion of three Frost
poems about spring: Two Tramps in Mud-Time,
Nothing Gold Can Stay and Mending Wall.
Read poems in advance or upon arriving. RSVP
encouraged but not required: 262-2626, ext 307.
Fri 4.4 | Poetry StoryWalk
Reception
Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library,
135 Main Street | 4:30 PM
StoryWalk has taken a creative turn, matching the
poetry of Mary Oliver and Wendell Berry with the
work of local artists and photographers. Original
artwork for this project on display during the
month of April at the library in the Hayes Room.
Fri 4.4 | Poetry Slam
with Geof Hewitt
Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library,
135 Main Street | 7 PM
Join Vermonts slam master in an all-ages poetry
slam. Come prepared to perform three poems up to
three minutes in length. Tis fun, engaging event
oers prizes for all slammers.
T
here is no glass half empty or half
full for the Kerner brothers, Kevin
and Scott. For these two aficionados
of fine brews, the glass is always full. Scott
owns the Three Penny Taproom along with
his good friends Wes Hamilton and Matt
McKarthy, and his brother Kevin manages it.
Situated next to Rivendell Books on bustling
Main Street in Montpelier, Three Penny has
become a mecca for craft beer enthusiasts.
The small taproom attracts some of the most
coveted beers in the world, with many of these
beers being produced right here in Vermont.
When I sat down with the two brothers
at lunchtime on a recent Friday with The
Bridge graphic designer, Jen Sciarrotta,
there were people already posted up at the
bar from southern New England and be-
yond. These people had flocked up to the
North Country to get a taste of some of its
finest offerings, including Lawsons Finest
Liquids, The Alchemist and Hill Farmstead
Brewery. By 5 oclock this group would be
joined by thirsty locals and wayward trav-
elers from afar in search of prized elixirs.
Beating the crowds, The Bridge was fortu-
nate to steal a few moments of the brothers
time in the first of what will be a regular
column.
Whether or not by design or mere happen-
stance, the bar stools throughout Three Penny
are not the plush high-backed stools that you
see lining the mahogany bars of many other
eateries and bars. These stools arent meant for
lounging. Beer is a social beverage after all,
and one should not be constrained to a seat.
The decor, right down to the stools, promotes
a kind of congenial patronage to which the
helpful, talented staff and owners contribute.
For the Kerner brothers, beer is not just a
social lubricant or a thirst-quenching beverage
to gather around. Its a passion. They do not
subjugate this passion to the fringes of hobby
time. No, beer is their job. And luckily for The
Bridge and the people of Montpelier, they are
damn good at it.
The Three Penny Taproom seems to exude
warmth, whether it is coming from the warm
feeling of a beer washing down your gullet, or
the pleasant company that never seems to lull
or the warm sunshine trickling in through
the big glass windows that line the store-
front. Seated squarely in one of the narrow
alcoves caught between two of the storefront
windows, it seemed like all three forces had
aligned. The four of us pulled up some bar
stools and plopped down.
With an elegantly crafted glass in each of
their hands made specifically to enhance
the aromatic qualities of the contents, Kevin
and Scott shared with The Bridge why they
got into the beer business and the beer that
peaked their passion. Both brothers have a
rich history of working in multiple aspects of
the beer trade.
Kevin brings with him nearly a decade of
brewing experience. After college he worked
for nine years as the head brewer at the Flying
Goose Brew Pub & Grille in New London,
New Hampshire. After working there in col-
lege, he was asked to be the head brewer.
Brewing was something that he had never
done before. Having never made a beer in my
life, I wasnt really into beer. I drank beer, but
it wasnt a hobby or anything, he said. Dur-
ing his time at the Flying Goose, Kevin said
he, really learned the craft and how to respect
it. I really learned what goes into it.
Scott also got his start at a brewpub, but
his experience is imported from Portland,
Oregon. After graduating from Goddard
College in the 90s, Scott worked at Bridge-
port Brewing Company, Portlands oldest
craft brewery. I worked myself from the
pub, to tour guide, to cellar master and re-
ally started to understand everything that
goes into making beer in a small format
and with a lot of passion, said Scott. Even-
tually, Scott was drawn back to central
Vermont. After working as a bartender at
some local bars, Scott decided to seize the
opportunity to meet the capitals growing
need for a brewpub that could showcase all
of Vermonts finest beers. The timing could
not have been bettercoming right in the
wake of Vermonts burgeoning craft beer
renaissance, the bar was an instant hit.
There was some risk involved, however, some-
thing that both brothers noted. But where
some people see problems, others see opportu-
nities. As Scott describes it, In the middle of
the recession, three buddies who really didnt
have a lot of money but had a vision, we just
basically built the bar and started bringing
craft beer in, and now it is huge.
Just like the emerging craft beer scene, the
Kerner brothers werent always into good beer.
They both admit that they had their share of
Miller Light growing up, but both distinctly
remember the beer that woke them up from
the flat blandness of mediocrity. Mine is
definitely Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, said Scott,
The whole story is that I was at Primus
opening up for a Rush Concert at the Nas-
sau Coliseum in 1992 or 1993 and the
guys next to us offered us a beer, and it was a
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale bottle. And I was like,
What the heck is this? Then I smelled it and
it threw me back.
Kevin had a similar revolutionizing moment.
He said, I drank a lot of beer at a very young
age, and there was a time period of like 10
years in which I couldnt go near beer I
used to tell people that I was allergic to it,
because it was better than being like I dont
really like beer, and everyone else being like,
What do you mean? What is wrong with
you? Then one day, he continued, A buddy
of mine had a Sam Adams Scotch Ale, and I
smelled it and tasted it, and then I was like,
Oh, thats what beer is.
When we asked them what their favorite beers
were, they fired back in unison, an answer
seemingly long rehearsed, but completely sin-
cere, the one that is in my hand. Scott elabo-
rated, Its so hard to really break that down.
It really depends on the day, what youre eat-
ing, your mood and what you have to do later.
Its very dependent on a lot of those things.
No matter what you are feeling like, with
20 different beers on tap, Three Penny has a
beer for you. Managing all 20 beers, the rest
of the bar, a full kitchen and staff is a lot.
When asked how they deal with working
so closely with one another, Scott said, I
think as with any relationship, it struggles
at times, especially as a brotherly thing.
There is lots of history but this guy
thinks the way that I think and acts the way
that I act and vice a versa. It is kind of com-
forting to know that if he is away, he knows
that Ive got him, and if Im away I know,
that he has me. I trust him with everything.
We own the place, but he runs the place. I
trust him to do everything the right way,
and he does. Sometimes we kind of bark,
but thats what we do. Were brothers.
He barks more than I do, said Kevin,
because I dont really bark. Im an internal
person. I bark at myself.
Quietly, said Scott laughing.
Were basically the same person, but ex-
actly the opposite, said Kevin, So he is
right side, and I am left side. Whatever
he has always been good at, I have always
struggled with and vice versa.
The brothers definitely complement one
another in their dispositions, but when it
comes to beer it is hard to tell who has the
bigger passion. To hear more about the
Kerner brothers obsession with beer, check
out their column right here in the second
issue of The Bridge every month.
SPARGE: /sprj/ verb. A brewing technique
that extracts the sugar from the grains by exposing
the grains to water.
A Conversation About Beer
with the Brothers Kerner
by Jerry Carter with reporting from Jen Sciarrotta
Fashion
Know-How
Fashion Know-How is written by Alyson Lincoln McHugh, owner
of No. 9 Boutique in Montpelier. Hear Fashion Know-How every
Saturday at 7:50am on WDEV. www.shopno9boutique.com
by Alyson Lincoln McHugh
Puddles and mud are on
the forecast, so while the
world is melting around
us, how can we keep our
wardrobes classy? While the wetter
April days will keep us from our
leather boots and dainty fats, they
give us the chance to rock a diferent
footastic style: the illustrious rain
boot. With the potential to be both
pragmatic and adorable, rain boots
can be just as stylish and versatile as
any pair of Fryes.
Footastic Rain Boots
223-3447
clarconstruction.com
New CoNstruCtioN
reNovatioNs
woodworkiNg
geNeral CoNtraCtiNg
Northfields Norwich University will elimi-
nate an undisclosed number of jobs by June, as
reported recently in the Times Argus, but the
institution is keeping mum as to details. The
news adds to labor market woes in Northfield,
which is already coping with the departure of
the WallGoldfinger furniture plant, the home
offices of the Northfield Savings Bank and the
local Rite-Aid pharmacy.
The decision to trim the payroll reportedly
came at a February meeting of the universitys
board of trustees. In a subsequent meeting
with staff and faculty on February 25, univer-
sity president Richard Schneider passed on the
gloomy prospects. Employees were officially
informed of the decision via the institutions
intranet on March 7. The university did not
issue any press release on the layoffs.
A source who requested anonymity speculated
that the bulk of the job losses would come
from within the Facilities Operations Depart-
ment. University spokeswoman Daphne Lar-
kin had no comment on that possibility.
Its an ongoing process of restructuring and
trying to find efficiencies, she told The Bridge,
but declined to provide any further informa-
tion.
Press reports described the work force reduc-
tions as a measure aimed at keeping a lid on
costs of attending the university, where the bill
for tuition, room and board will total $44,796
in the 201415 academic year, according to the
institutions website.
Community leaders were reluctant to react
to the news simply because they had so few
details. Selectboard chair John Quinn, who
also sits on the towns Economic Development
Committee, said,It could be two [layoffs]; it
could be 20.
The layoffs are not a positive thing, espe-
cially for this community, town manager Rob
Lewis said. That just adds to the conundrum.
Local business will suffer.
However many jobs ultimately disappear, the
news maintains the unwelcome drumbeat
of employment losses in Northfield. At the
March 4 town meeting, residents authorized
spending up to $100,000 for economic devel-
opment, with an eye toward creating new jobs
in this community of 6,200.
Impending
Workforce
Reductions at
Norwich
University
by C.B. Hall
Photo courtesy Three Penny
Tell them you saw it in The Bridge! Find us on
V
ermonts maple sap has been col-
lected and consumed by Vermonters
as far back as the early Northeast
Woodland Native American tribes. There
is liquid gold in those maple trees, but to
produce that pure golden amber syrup takes
knowledge, hard work and patience. Ver-
mont and the Northeast, including Canada,
is the only area in the world that can pro-
duce real maple syrup and maple sugar of
scalable amount.
Its a recipe of weather conditions: long,
cold winters with deep frost lines, and then
the fluctuating temperatures of late winter
and early spring, where it is below freezing
at night and above freezing during the day,
produce a sap run. The massive volume of
maple sap that runs, with its higher-than-
average sugar content, is unique only to the
northeastern maple tree. Great fondness of
this indigenous sugar prompted European
colonists and President Thomas Jefferson
to bring maple trees to Europe and even
Virginia for tapping, but those attempts had
futile results: Correct tree selection, wrong
climate.
The simplicity of transforming one ingredi-
ent, maple sap, into delectable syrup, where
nothing else is required except for heat is,
quite simply, amazing. Most food today
is complicated, with long ingredient lists
and additives in almost everything we eat.
Modern refined industrial sweeteners are
not natural and are concocted in labs that
protect their secrets of production. Sure, I
love to have the latest trend-setting herb,
spice or vegetable from Asia, the Middle
East or South America, but local ingredi-
ents win every time.
Maple sugaring is a process that is con-
trolled by nature more than by human ma-
nipulation. The weather and trees together
create the conditions for a sap run, the time
to collect is only a few weeks a year and we
cant control the amount of time or amount
to be collected. Once the sap is harvested,
then we are allowed to make something
special. Vermont maple products are local,
indigenous, organic, free range, sustainable
and pleasing to the palate.
Being a career chef, and having lived in
Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Cali-
fornia and the last four years in the North-
east Kingdom of Vermont working as a chef
instructor at the New England Culinary In-
stitute, I have always managed to surround
myself in local flavors and ingredients. The
staple sweetener used in our home is Ver-
mont maple syrup and maple sugar. Last
spring I bought five gallons of maple syrup
and regularly add maple syrup to every-
thing from baking to breakfast and even sa-
vory dishes. This past fall, we incorporated
maple syrup into my hard-cider production.
The apple trees that supplied the cider are
surrounded by nearby maple trees, and usu-
ally what grows together goes together, and
so far the test results are delicious.
Two of my favorite maple recipes are maple
cream and sugar on snow. Both have only
one ingredient, maple syrup. I have in-
cluded the process below for you to do at
home, along with some sugaring terminol-
ogy. Anyone with a sweet tooth, as my kids
can attest, will love both of these maple
treats.

Maple Cream
1 quart or 2 cups
(quantity varies on how much Maple
Cream is desired) of Vermont maple
syrup
2-quart sauce pan
1 bowl large enough to hold the saucepan
and ice
candy thermometer
wooden spoon
Fill the bowl with ice and set aside.
Pour syrup into saucepan, place on medium
heat and bring to a boil. Be careful not to
boil too hard because the syrup will bubble
over the sides of the pot.
Using the candy thermometer, continue to
heat the syrup to 235 degrees F. (No need to
stir; let it come up to temperature.)
When temperature is reached, move the
pot directly to the bowl of ice, stirring con-
stantly. Keep stirring until the temperature
drops to 100 degrees F.
Then, keep stirring for approximately 10
to 15 minutes until it reaches a smooth,
creamy, light coffee color and spreads like
soft butter.
Cool and place in a jar, then refrigerate, or
you may consume immediately.
Sugar on Snow
2 cups Vermont maple syrup
2-quart sauce pan
candy thermometer
popsicle sticks
1 sheet pan packed with snow
Pour syrup into pan and heat over medium
heat until temperature of the syrup reaches
235 degrees F.
Carefully pour ribbons of syrup onto the
snow about six inches long.
Immediately place a popsicle stick flat and
perpendicular to one end of each syrup rib-
bon, and press lightly.
Then, roll syrup ribbon onto stick and eat
when cool or when still warm.
Tap into Vermonts
Sweet Life by Jeffrey Andre
Residential Care for Men &Women
Come Join Us Every Thursday
10AM - 11AM for Coffee & Scones!
Transportation available Ask for Joan
Located in the heart of Montpelier.
Within walking distance to the library,
post ofce, banks, churches and shops.
Come see available suites
and all we have to offer.
149 Main Street, Montpelier 802.223.3881
www.thegaryhome.com
Residential Care for Men &Women
Come Join Us Every Thursday
10AM - 11AM for Coffee & Scones!
Transportation available Ask for Joan
Located in the heart of Montpelier.
Within walking distance to the library,
post ofce, banks, churches and shops.
Come see available suites
and all we have to offer.
149 Main Street, Montpelier 802.223.3881
www.thegaryhome.com
171 Westview Meadows Road
Montpelier, VT 05602
(802) 223-1068 www.westviewmeadows.com
RETIREMENT LIVING AT ITS BEST
Its not just a place to live; its a way of life.
WINTER IS COMING. At Westview Meadows,
live worry-free, away from the snow, cold and winter
conditions with a friendly staff and great amenities:
Let us welcome you for winter!
1 Meal a Day
Weekly Housekeeping
Trash Removal
Activities
Transportation
Heat & Air Conditioning
Washer & Dryer
Maintenance/Repairs
Water & Sewer
Landscaping
Snow Removal

MAR. 20
Third Thursday: Joseph Smith and Brigham
Young. Bring a bag lunch and join Joseph
Mender as he explores the birth and heritage of
Joseph Smith, 19th-century founder and leader
of the Mormon Church. Noon1 p.m. Vermont
History Museum, 109 State St., Montpelier.
Free. 828-2180. amanda.gustin@state.vt.us.
vermonthistory.org/calendar.
Brain Injury Support Group. Open to all
survivors, caregivers and adult family mem-
bers. Tird Turs., 1:302:30 p.m. Unitarian
Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. 244-6850.
Diabetes Discussion Group. Focus on self-
management. Open to anyone with diabetes
and their families. Tird Turs., 1:30 p.m. Te
Health Center, Plaineld. Free. Don 322-6600
or dgrabowski@the-health-center.org.
Bear Night. Try out the new 2014 Bear bows.
4-8 p.m. R&L Archery, 70 Smith St., Barre.
479-9151.
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support. Monthly
group for people aected by a suicide death.
Tird Turs., 67:30 p.m. central Vermont
Medical Center, conference rm. 1, Fisher Rd.,
Berlin. 223-0924. calakel@comcast.com.afsp.
org.
Transition Town Montpelier: Nature Aware-
ness Through Survival and Primitive Skills.
With Brad Salon and Sarah Corrigan of the
Roots School. 6-7:45 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338.
kellogghubbard.org.
Grandparents Raising Their Childrens
Children. Tird Turs., 68 p.m. Child care
provided. Trinity United Methodist Church,
137 Main St., Montpelier. 476-1480.
Songwriters Meeting. Meeting of the North-
ern VT/NH chapter of the Nashville Songwrit-
ers Association International. Bring copies of
your work. Tird Turs., 6:45 p.m. Catamount
Arts, St. Johnsbury. John, 633-2204.
Song Circle: Community Sing-Along. With
Rich and Laura Atkinson. Song books pro-
vided. Tird Turs., 6:45 p.m. Jaquith Public
Library, Old Schoolhouse Common, 122
School St., Marsheld. 426-3581. jaquithpubli-
brary@gmail.com. marsheld.lib.vt.us.
Book Signing and Reception. Publication of
Vermont College of Fine Arts President Tom
Greenes new novel, Te Headmasters Wife. 7
p.m. College Hall Gallery, Vermont College
of Fine Arts, 36 College St., Montpelier. Free.
828-8600. elizabeth.parker@vcfa.edu. vcfa.edu.
InventVermont Meeting. Kathy Dever from
Stowe, inventor of the I-Mark tape measure,
presents how she took her idea from prototype
to successful product. 79 p.m. Free. Montpe-
lier High School, rm 102, 5 High School Dr.
inventvermont.com. i-marktools.com.
Library Film Series: Writing and Reading.
A 2012 French comedy. 7 p.m. Jaquith Public
Library, 122 School St., Marsheld. For lm
schedule: 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@
gmail.com. marsheld.lib.vt.us.
MAR. 21
central Vermont Council on Aging Assis-
tance. Do you have questions about health in-
surance or other senior services? Sarah Willhoit,
CVCA information and assistance specialist,
answers questions. 9 a.m.noon. Montpelier
Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. By appoint-
ment only, call: 479-4400.
Art and Author Night Friday. Art opening
with Mary Blake: Imaginary Animals. Poet and
novelist, Amy Belding Brown, reads an excerpt
from her new historical ction novel, Flight of
the Sparrow. 6 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122
School St., Marsheld. Free. 426-3581. jaquith-
publiclibrary@gmail.com. marsheld.lib.vt.us.
Tulsi Tales. Share your mud season and spring-
time stories, poems and songs. 7 p.m. Tulsi Tea
Room, 34 Elm St., Montpelier. Free. 223-1431.
tulsitearoom.com.
MAR. 22
Vermont Maple Open House Weekend: More
than 80 Vermont sugar makers invite you to
visit their farms and sugarhouses. Tours, horse-
drawn wagon rides, sugar-on-snow and maple
donuts. Mar. 2223. VermontMaple.org.
Additional Recyclables Collection Center.
Accepting scores of hard-to-recycle items. 9
a.m.1 p.m. 540 N. Main St. (old Times-Argus
building), Barre. $1 per carload. 229-9383
x106. For list of accepted items, go to cvswmd.
org/arcc-additional-recyclables-collection-
center.html
Pruning Trees. With Dave Wilcox, state lands
forester, presents information. Participants
prune trees on library grounds. A Washington/
Orange County Master Gardeners and Montpe-
lier Tree Board Program. 10 a.m.12:30 p.m.
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Mont-
pelier. 223-4665. kellogghubbard.org.
Preview Dorothy Canfield Fisher List. Overview
with Grace Greene of the newly announced DCF
list and resources for building activities around
these books. 11 a.m. Childrens Room, Bear Pond
Books, 77 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 229-0774.
jane@bearpondbooks.com. bearpondbooks.com.
Learn About Time Banking with Onion River
Exchange Outreach. With Heather Kralik,
Coordinator. 2 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, 151
High St, Plaineld. 522-3040 or 454-8504 for
more information.
Runaway Runway: A Spring Fashion Show.
Spring collections from the Blue Moon, No. 9
Boutique and Lennys modeled by local commu-
nity members. Special rae and afternoon tea.
24 p.m. Chandlers Upper Gallery, 71-73 Main
St., Randolph. $25. Reservations: 728-6464.
MAR. 24
Foot Clinic with central VT Home Health and
Hospice. Nurses from CVHHH clip/le toenails,
clean nail beds and lotion feet. 9 a.m.1 p.m.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.,
Montpelier. $15 for 15-minute appointment.
Reservations and information: 223-2518. msac@
montpelier-vt.org.
Monthly Book Group for Adults. New members
always welcome. For book copies, please stop by
the library. Fourth Mon., 7 p.m. Jaquith Public
Library, 122 School St., Marsheld. 426-3581.
jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. marsheld.lib.
vt.us.
NAMI Vermont Family Support Group. Support
group for families and friends of individuals living
with mental illness. Fourth Mon., 7 p.m. central
Vermont Medical Center, room 3, Berlin. 800-
639-6480. namivt.org.
MAR. 25
Clean Water for the Children of Peru. Many ru-
ral areas in Peru lack clean water. Bill Pinchbecks
presentation explains how to help. 12:45 p.m.
Montpelier. 223-2518. msac@montpelier-vt.org.
Business Wisdom Circle. Monthly networking
and mentoring opportunity for women in business
or aspiring to be in business. Nominal fee includes
light refreshments. Last Tues., 4:306:30 p.m.
CVCAC Campus, 20 Gable Pl., Barre. Informa-
tion and registration: 479-9813. info@vwbc.org.
vwbc.org.
Medicare and You Workshop. New to Medicare?
Have questions? We have answers. Second and
fourth Tues., 34:30 p.m. 59 N. Main St., Ste.
200, Barre. Free, donations gratefully accepted.
479-0531. cvcoa@cvcoa.org. cvcoa.org.
Grandparents Raising Their Childrens
Children. Second Tues., 68 p.m. Child care
provided. Wesley Methodist Church, Main St.,
Waterbury. 476-1480.
MAR. 26
Theme-Based Lego Club. With Mike Maloney,
for grades 4 through 6. 12 p.m. Waterbury
Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury.
Registration required. 244-7036.
Community Cinema: Medora. Follows
Medora, Indianas down-but-not-out varsity
basketball team, over a season. Cosponsored
by Vermont Public Television and Independent
Lens. 7 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135
Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338. kellogghub-
bard.org.
DANCE
Mar. 21: Lucky Plush Combines Dance and
Satire. Kingdom County Productions and
Lyndon State College will present the award-
winning Chicago-based Lucky Plush dance
theater in a special performance. 7:30 p.m.
Twilight Teater, Lyndon State College, 1001
College Rd., Lyndonville. $20 and $29 adults;
$14 students $14. 748-2600. KingdomCounty.
org.
Mar. 22: TRIP Dance Company Performs. An-
nual fundraiser for TRIP (Technique, Rehearse,
Implement and Perform): 44 dancers, age 618,
from central Vermont towns, perform all-new
choreography, both innovative and classical. 3
p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Spruce Peak Performing Arts,
7320 Mountain Rd., Stowe. $25 adults; $20
students. Tickets: sprucepeakarts.org, 760-4634
or at the Stowe Dance Academy. Information:
253-5151. info@stowedance.com.
THEATER, STORYTELLING
& COMEDY
Mar. 21: Stroke Yer Joke! Comedy open mic.
Comics get 5min each, with a cap at 15 comics.
Hosted by Sean Hunter Williams. Sign-ups 7:30
p.m. Show starts 8 p.m. Caf Espresso Bueno,
248 N. Main St., Barre. Free. 522-5531. sean-
hunterwilliams@gmail.org.
Mar. 21 and 22: Hick in the Hood: a Vermont
Boy in West Oakland. Lost Nation Teater
hosts actor-writer Michael Sommers in his
original solo comedy. Sommers plays 30 dier-
ent characters in the telling of this true story.
7:30 p.m. Show not recommended for children.
Montpelier City Hall Arts Center, 39 Main St.,
Montpelier. $20 adults; $15 students/seniors.
229-0492. lostnationtheater.org.
Mar. 2123: 28th Annual Cabin Fever Follies. A
mud season, community variety show. Presented
cabaret style. Bring your supper and beverages.
A prize for the best table dcor. Doors open 6:30
p.m.; show at 7:30 p.m. Valley Players Teater,
Rte. 100, Waitseld. $10. Reservations: 583-
1674. Information: 793-8362 or valleyplayers@
madriver.com.
Mar. 22: Assisted Living: The Musical. Assisted
Living Te Musical takes its audience on a tour of
the Pelican Roost Assisted Living facility where
they are introduced to an eccentric cast of char-
acters, 7 p.m. Barre Opera House, 6 N. Main St.,
Barre. $15$30. 476-8188. barreoperahouse.org.
Mar. 25: Are You My Mother? ArtsPowers
one-hour musical adaptation of P.D. Eastmans
classic childrens book. 10 a.m. Chandler Music
Hall, 71-73 Main St., Randolph. $6. 431-0204.
outreach@chandler-arts.org.
Mar. 28: Bueno Comedy Showcase. Featur-
ing comedians Bitsy Biron, Nathan Hartswick,
Natalie Miller and Kevin Byer. Hosted by Sean
Hunter Williams. 8 p.m. Adults only. Caf
Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre. $5. 522-
5531. seanhunterwilliams@gmail.com.
Mar. 29: Eat My Art Out. Watch, snack, discuss.
A dance performance and feedback party with
new work by Taryn Noelle, Sarah Venooker,
Owen Leavey, Bryce Dance Company, Willow
Wonder, Kiera Sauter and Candace Fugazy. 7
p.m. Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio,
18 Langdon St., 3F, Montpelier. $10 suggested
donation. 229-4676.
Mar. 29: Muddy Gras. An entertaining variety
show. Beat the winter blues with some good
old-fashioned, silly fun. 7 p.m. Te Old Meeting
House, 1620 Center Rd., East Montpelier. $8
adults; $5 children; $20 family of four. Tickets
also available at Bear Pond Books, 77 Main St.,
Montpelier. oldmeetinghouse.org.
Apr. 3: Extempo. Tell a 5-7.5-minute, rst-
person, true story from your own life. Sign up in
advance and come prepared without notes. No
theme. 8 p.m. Bridgeside Books, 29 Stowe St.,
Waterbury. $5. 244-1441. storytelling@extem-
poVT.com. extempovt.com.
Apr. 4: Laugh Local VT Open Mic Comedy
Night. Montpeliers monthly comedy open
mic. Sign-ups 7:30 p.m. Show starts 8 p.m. Te
American Legion Post #3, 21 Main St., Montpe-
lier. Free, donations welcome. 793-3884.
Apr. 3, 4, and 5: Monty Pythons Spamalot.
A somewhat-irreverent tale of King Arthur (and
the Knights of the Very, Very Round Table) as
they strive to fulll their quest to nd the Holy
Grail. 7:20 p.m.; matinee Apr. 5, 2 p.m. Not
suitable for all audiences. Spaulding High School
Auditorium, 155 Ayers St., Barre. $10 adults; $8
students/seniors; $5 children. 476-4811. sbren-
shs@u61.net.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Mar. 16 and Mar. 23: Auditions for Fiddler on
the Roof. Auditions open to students age 718.
Chandler Music Hall, 71-73 Main St., Randolph.
E-mail betsycantlin@comcast.net for informa-
tion and to register.
Performing
Arts
Mar. 21: Lucky Plush Combines Dance and
Satire. Photo Credit Benjamin Wardell.
Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 229-
9212. bagitos.com.
Mar. 20: Andy Pitt (acoustic blues/folk)
68p.m.
Mar. 21: Art Herttua and Stephen Morabito
Jazz (jazz guitar and percussion) 68p.m.
Mar. 22: Glenn Roth (solo nger-style gui-
tar) 11 a.m1 p.m.; Irish session with Sarah
Blair, Hilari Farrington, Benedict Koehler,
Katrina VanTyne and others, 25 p.m.;
Acoustic Grateful Dead with Mike Scarpo,
68 p.m.
Mar. 23: Te Winchester Local and Carly
Howard (indie folk/Americana collective) 11
a.m. 1 p.m.
Mar. 25: Te Peoples Cafe: Te Occupy
central Vermont group sponsors an evening
of song, comedy, poetry and education. 68
p.m.
Mar. 26: Padre Pauly/Mac Dates (indie
folk/country/rockabilly) 68 p.m.
Mar. 27: Bang Bang Boomerang (indie folk/
blues) 68 p.m.
Mar. 28: Art Herttua & Stephen Morabito
Jazz (jazz guitar, percussion) 68 p.m.
Mar. 29: Irish session with Sarah Blair,
Hilari Farrington, Benedict Koehler, Katrina
VanTyne and others, 25 p.m.; Te Make
Mentions (blues harmonies) 68 p.m.
Mar. 30: Eric Friedman (folk ballads) 11
a.m1 p.m.
Chandler Music Hall. 7173 Main St., Ran-
dolph. All shows 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 728-6464
or chandler-arts.org.
Mar. 29: Mini Mud. Seventh annual per-
formance celebrating local young talent. 7
p.m. Adults: $14 advance, $17 day of show;
students: $6 advance, $8 day of show.
April 4: John Gorka. Legendary folk
singer-songwriter. Opening for Gorka is the
acclaimed folk duo, Mustards Retreat. 7:30
p.m. Adults: $26 advance, $30 day of show;
students $15.
Positive Pie. 22 State St., Montpelier. 10 p.m.
229-0453. positivepie.com.
Mar. 22: Hot Neon Magic (80s covers) 21+
$5.
Sweet Melissas. 4 Langdon St., Montpelier.
Free unless otherwise noted. 225-6012. face-
book.com/sweetmelissasvt.
Mar. 20: Seth Eames and Miriam Bernardo,
8 p.m.
Mar. 21: Honky Tonk Happy Hour with
Mark LeGrand, 5 p.m.; Michelle Sarah
Band, cover, 9 p.m.
Mar. 22: Andy Pitt, 5 p.m.; Te Usual
Suspects, 9 p.m.
Mar. 25: Andy Plante, 5 p.m.; open mic
night, 7 p.m.
Mar. 26: Wine Down with D. Davis, 5 p.m.;
Carrie Cook, Peter Lind and D. Davis, 7
p.m.
Mar. 27: Rudy Dauth, 8 p.m.
Mar. 28: Honky Tonk Happy Hour with
Mark LeGrand, 5 p.m.; Red Hot Juba, 9
p.m.
Mar. 29: Blue Fox, 5 p.m.; Madmen3, 9
p.m.
ARTISTS & SPECIAL
EVENTS
Mar. 21: Rock, Electronic, Ambient Noise.
Featuring Ian, Couples Counseling, Victoria
Frances and others. 7 p.m. Sovversiva, 89
Barre St., Montpelier. $5 suggested donation.
207-449-7991.
Mar. 22: Tenores de Atere Concert: Music
From Sardinia, Corsica and Italy. Sardin-
ian cantu a tenore features throat-singing,
complex dance rhythms, ringing overtones,
otherworldly and infectiously down-home.
7:30 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St.,
Montpelier. $10$15 suggested donation.
919-866-8822. avery.book@gmail.com,
www.facebook.com/TenoresDeAterue
Mar. 23: Jazz Trio and Photography Recep-
tion. Photos by Peter Forbes and Nathan
Burton. Music by Allison Mann Quartet.
35:30 p.m. Contemporary Dance and
Fitness Studio, 18 Langdon St., Montpelier.
$5$10 suggested donation. 229-4676. direc-
tor@cdandfs.com. cdandfs.com.
Mar. 23: A Musical Confluence: Chamber
Music of Vermont Musicians. Diane Hul-
ing, pianist, Robert Blais, cellist, and Sarah
Belanger, violinist, play Rachmanino cello
sonata and Beethoven piano trio, opus 70,
no.1. 3 p.m. Unitarian Church, Main St.,
Montpelier. Suggested donation $12$16.
hulingperformances@gmail.com.
Mar. 25: Auditions for the Next Genera-
tion. Auditions for the sixth annual Next
Generation performance; open to area high
school age students age 18 and younger
studying classical music of all genres (instru-
mental, ensemble or vocal) and as soloists or
groups. Chandler Music Hall, 7173 Main
St., Randolph. Information: 728-9402.
janet@chandler-arts.org.
Mar. 27: 2nd Annual Mad River Chorale
Spring Cabaret Fundraiser. Featuring the
chorales musical director and conductor,
Piero Bonamico. 7 p.m. Big Picture Teater,
48 Carroll Rd., Waitseld. $20$25. 496-
4781. madriverchorale.org.
Mar. 28: Friday Night Fires. With singer-
songwriter Myra Flynn. 79 p.m. Fresh
Tracks Farm Vineyard and Winery, 4373 VT
Rte. 12, Berlin. Free. 223-1151. freshtracks-
farm.com.
Mar. 29: Montpelier Concert Crawl. Visit
three homes in the Meadow neighborhood,
each featuring one of three musical oerings
and marvelous food and drink. Beneting
the Montpelier Chamber Orchestras Project
Outreach. 6:309:30 p.m. $50. Montpelier-
ConcertCrawl.eventbrite.com.
Apr. 4: WORST.SONG.EVER. Musicians and
non-musicians alike sign up in advance to
cover their least favorite pop music in a light-
hearted competition with audience voting
and trophies for best, worst and more. 7 p.m.
Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre. $5.
479-0896. info@wooo.tv. wooo.tv.
Apr. 5: Haybarn Theatre Fundraiser.
Featuring singer-songwriter Anas Mitchell,
with Kris Gruen opening. Matching a grant
for a new sound system, new theater lights,
and other improvements. 7:30 p.m. Haybarn
Teatre at Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Rd.,
Plaineld. $35 advance. $40 door. 322.1685.
meghammond@goddard. goddard.edu.
Advanced Tickets at www.goddard.edu/concerts
APRIL 5
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MATCHING A VERMONT ARTS COUNCIL GRANT FOR A NEW SOUND SYSTEM, NEW THEATRE LIGHTS & MORE!
WITH AN OPENING SET BY KRIS GRUEN
ANAIS M ITCHELL
Haybarn Theatre at Goddard College
Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 7:30pm
Submit
Your Event!
Send listings to
calendar@montpelierbridge.com.
The deadline for our next issue,
april 3- april 16, is Friday, march 28.
Mustards Retreat opening for John Gorka
Friday, April 4, 7:30 PM and Family Performance
Saturday, April 5, 11 AM at the Chandler Music Hall
Proms & Paws
No. 9 Boutique
75 Main Street Montpelier, VT 05601
802-229-0019 www.shopno9boutique.com
For more information and guidelines visit:
www.shopno9boutique.com/Table/Proms-and-Paws-Guidelines/
Prom season is coming... shop
for your prom dress!
ON MARCH 29 & 30TH,
No. 9 Boutique will be hosting a
gently worn Prom Dress shopping
experience, in which proceeds will
help benefit Golden Huggs Dog Rescue!
If you would like to earn some $$$ for
Prom Dresses, Shos, or Prom Accessories
that are in the back of your closet....
Please bing to No. 9 Boutique
March 23, 24, 25 or 26.
MAR. 27
Ten Point Night:. Try out the new 2014 Ten
Point crossbows. 48 p.m. R&L Archery, 70
Smith St., Barre. 479-9151.
Windows on Waldorf: Come explore the
Orchard Valley Waldorf School and take a walk
through Waldorf education. Faculty will lead a
guided tour of the grade school describing the
core curriculum and showcasing student work.
6:308 p.m. Orchard Valley Waldorf School,
2290 Rte. 14 N., East Montpelier. Registration:
456-7400 or morgan.i@ovws.org.
Ecumenical Group. Songs of praise, Bible
teaching, fellowship. Second and fourth Turs.,
79 p.m. Jabbok Center for Christian Living, 8
Daniel Dr., Barre. Free. 479-0302.
Green Mountain Dog Club Monthly Meeting.
Learn about the club and events. All dog lovers
welcome. Fourth Turs., 7:30 p.m. Commo-
dores Inn, Stowe. 479-9843. greenmountain-
dogclub.org.
MAR. 28
Friday Night Group. For youth age 1322 who
are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or
questioning. Pizza, soft drinks and conversa-
tion. Cofacilitated by two trained, adult vol-
unteers from Outright VT. Second and fourth
Fri., 6:308 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main
St., Montpelier. Free. 223-7035. Micah@
OutrightVT.org.
MAR. 29
54th Annual Vermont State Science and Math
Fair. Vermont students in grades 512 who are
winners of local competitions from 21 public and
private and ve home schools display projects that
address questions and solve problems in all areas
of science, technology, engineering and/or math
(STEM). 9 a.m.4 p.m. Bartoletto Hall and Dole
Auditoreum, Norwich University, 158 Harmon
Dr., Northeld. Free. 485-2319. pinkhamc@
norwich.edu; scifair@norwich.edu.
Capitol City Farmers Market. With music by
Good Old Wagon. Annual Sugar on Snow. 10
a.m.2 p.m. Vermont College of Fine Arts gym,
corner of E. State St. and College St., Montpelier.
Free. 223-2958. manager@montpelierfarmers-
market.com. montpelierfarmersmarket.com.
Sugar on Snow Party. Plenty of award-winning
maple syrup to pour over snow, donuts and
pickles. Chinese auction featuring assorted baked
goods. Rae prizes. 24 p.m. Craftsbury Com-
munity Care Center, 1784 E. Craftsbury Rd.,
Craftsbury. Free. 586-2414. craftsburycommuni-
tycenter.org.
MAR. 30
Embodying Practice. Exploring the interrela-
tionship of meditation and the body with Robert
Kest, Ph.D. 9 a.m.noon. $10 suggested donation
beneting the Vermont Food Bank. Call for loca-
tion: 229-6989. Ryokan@juno.com.
APR. 1
Poet Leland Kinsey Reads. Leland Kinsey reads
from his new book of poetry, Winter Ready. 7
p.m. Bear Pond Books, 77 Main St., Montpelier.
bearpondbooks.com.
ADA Advisory Committee Meeting. First Tues.
City managers conference room, City Hall, 39
Main St., Montpelier. 223-9502.
Library Book Delivery Service. First and third
Tues., 1 p.m. See sign-up sheet near oce for
more info. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58
Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Womens Circle. Women and mothers discuss
motherhood, family life and womens health.
Hosted by midwives Chelsea Hastings and
Hannah Allen. First Tues., 68 p.m. Emerge
Midwifery and Family Health, 174 River St.,
Montpelier.
APR. 2
Theme-Based Lego Club. With Mike Maloney,
for grades 4 through 6. 12 p.m. Waterbury Pub-
lic Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Registra-
tion required. 244-7036.
What Is Critical Psychiatry? An Osher Lifelong
Learning Institute Program. With Sandra Ste-
ingard, M.D., medical director of the Howard
Center and clinical associate professor of Psychia-
try at the UVM College of Medicine. 1:30 p.m.
Optional 12:30 p.m. BYO bag lunch social time.
Montpelier. $20 for one; $35 for two. 454-1234.
pdaggett@myfairpoint.net.
Spring 2014 Writers Series. Featuring acclaimed
poet and playwright David Budbill. Te event
begins with a short reading of Budbills acclaimed
play Judevine by the Norwich Pegasus Players.
Books available for sale, and a signing will follow
the reading. 7 p.m. Milano Ballroom, Norwich
University, 158 Harmon Dr., Northeld. Free.
writers.norwich.edu.
Classic Film Night with Tom Blachly and Rick
Winston: The Maltese Falcon (1941). Directed
by John Huston. Starring Humphrey Bogart,
Mary Astor, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet.
7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St.,
Marsheld. Free. For lm schedule: 426-3581.
jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. marsheld.lib.
vt.us.
Grandparents Raising Their Childrens Chil-
dren. First Wed., 10 a.m.noon. Barre Presbyte-
rian Church, Summer St. 476-1480.
Cancer Support Group. First Wed., 6 p.m.
Potluck. For location, call Carole Mac-Intyre
229-5931.
APR. 3
MBAC Meeting. Meeting of the Montpelier
Bicycle Advisory Committee. First Turs., 8 a.m.
Police Station Community Room, 534 Washing-
ton St., Montpelier. 262-6273.
Everyday Buddhism: Mindful Practice in an
Imperfect World. A panel discussion featuring
ve prominent Buddhist teachers, including Zen,
Tibetan, Vietnamese and American Buddhist tra-
ditions. Followed by questions and answers. 6:30
p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpe-
lier. Donation. 224-1001. nmbe1022@gmail.com.
Diabetes Support Group. First Turs., 78 p.m.
Conference room 3, central Vermont Medical
Center. 371-4152.
The 3rd Annual central Vermont Drag Ball:
Dungeons and Drag-On. Drag performances by
Madame Lustache, Lady SaDiva, Jonathan B1tch-
man, Moonunit, Hunni Badger, Daisy World,
Stella Von Rosenthorn. Drinks and refreshments.
DJ Laser Pony. 7 p.m. Old Labor Hall, 64 Gran-
ite St., Barre. $10 suggested donation beneting
the Freeride Montpelier Bicycle Coop.
APR. 4
Catholic Daughters 24th Annual Flea Market.
9 a.m.2 p.m. central Vermont Catholic School,
79 Summer St., Barre.
Reiki Clinic. With Lynne Ihlstrom, reiki master.
Half-hour or hour sessions available. Noon4
p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St., Montpelier. $15 for half hour. By appoint-
ment: 522-0045.
REMINISCE Group Information Session. Born
before 1940? Join to discuss starting a group to
reminisce. 12:451:45 p.m. Montpelier Senior Ac-
tivity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-8140.
APR. 5
Catholic Daughters 24th Annual Flea Market.
9 a.m.2 p.m. central Vermont Catholic School,
79 Summer St., Barre.
APR. 9
Eyewitness to History: Politicians, the Press
and Elections. With Marselis Parsons and
Kristin Carlson, Newscasters. Tese two popular
broadcasters will present a review of politics and
political campaigns and how they have changed
over the past 40 years. 1:30 p.m. Aldrich Public
Library, 6 Washington St., Barre. 454-1234.
pdaggett@myfairpoint.net
Visual Arts
VISUAL ARTS
Through Mar. 28: Regis Cummings, Faces &
Places on a Journey. A photo ID is required for
admission. Te Governors Gallery, 109 State St.,
5F, Montpelier. 828-0749. Hours: Mon.Fri., 8
a.m.4:30 p.m.
Through Mar. 28: Ellen Eby, Chasing the Blues.
central Vermont Medical Center lobby gallery,
130 Fisher Rd., Berlin. 371-4100.
Through Mar. 28: Ken Leslie, Golden Dome
Cycle and Other Works: Arctic and Vermont.
Diverse media and surfaces. Vermont Supreme
Court, 111 State St., Montpelier. kenleslie.net.
Hours: Mon.Fri., 8 a.m.4:30 p.m.
Through Mar. 29: Jason Mallery, Surreality
to Abstraction. Abstract/surrealist paintings,
collages and more. City Center, Montpelier. 793-
5763. jasonmallery@gmail.com.
Through Mar. 31: Lorraine Manley, Luminous
Vermont. Landscape paintings. Festival Gal-
lery, #2 Village Square, Waitseld. 496-6682.
vermontartfest.com.
Through Mar. 31: Peter Forbes and Nathan
Burton. Photographs of dancers, teachers and
students of Contemporary Dance and Fitness
Studio. CD&FS, 18 Langdon St., 3F, Montpe-
lier. 229-4676.
Through Mar. 31: John Snell, Taking Time to
See. Photographs of natural, often local scenes.
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Mont-
pelier. 223-3338. kellogghubbard.org.
Through Mar. 31: Tom Howard, Mad Dog
Photography. Photos of Ukraine (Kiev and
countryside) and Hungary (Budapest) taken May
2013. Bagitos, 28 Main St., Montpelier. mad-
dog43@comcast.net.
Through Mar. 31: Missy Storrow. Acrylic and
watercolor originals and monoprints. Te Draw-
ing Board, 22 Main St., Montpelier. carystor-
rowart.com.
Through Mar. 31: Robin LaHue, Moonbeams
and Dreams. Water-soluble oils on canvas. Green
Bean Visual Arts Gallery, Capitol Grounds, State
St., Montpelier. curator@capitolgrounds.com.
Through Apr. 4: Cindy Griffith, From Vermont
to Alaska. Large-scale and intimate paintings
in pastel, oil and acrylic. Copley Gallery, Copley
Hospital, Morrisville. 229-4326. cindy.grith.
vt@gmail.com. hungermountainarts.com. Hours:
daily, 8 a.m.5 p.m.
Through Apr. 5: Anne Cummings, Carbon
Footprint Portraits, Local Food, and Climate
Change Eco-Art. Main Gallery, Studio Place
Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. 479-7069. studio-
placearts.com.
Through Apr. 5: The Nitty Gritty. Exhibit of
industrial buildings, quarries, tools and people of
the nearby region. Second Floor Gallery, Studio
Place Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. 479-7069.
studioplacearts.com.
Through Apr. 5: Jeneane Lunn, Lights of Home.
Tird Floor Gallery, Studio Place Arts, 201 N.
Main St., Barre. 479-7069. studioplacearts.com.
Through Apr. 13: The Art of Bethany. Featuring
artists connected to Bethany Church, including
Will Adams, Kevin MacNeil Brown, Kimberley
Greeno, Sarah Munro and Arthur Zorn. Open-
ing gala Mar. 16, 35 p.m. Bethany Church, 115
Main St., Montpelier. $10. arthurzorn@hotmail.
com.
Through Apr. 25: Kent Shaw, Night Photogra-
phy. Elmore photographer examines the eects
of long exposure times. Common Space Gallery,
River Arts, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. 888-1261.
riverartsvt.org. Hours: Mon.Fri., 10 a.m.2 p.m.
Through May 9: The Barre Paletteers, Zebra/
Water/Fruit. Spring group show. Reception Apr.
2, 5:307:30 p.m. Milne Room, Aldrich Public
Library, 6 Washington St., Barre. 476-7550.
Through May 31: Ana Campinile, Lapins Agile.
Studies of feral hares in their element. Reception
April 4, 48 p.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St.,
Montpelier. 223-1431.
Through May: Round. An exhibition of objects
of circular shape, from the Sullivan Museum
collection. Sullivan Museum and History Center,
Norwich University, 158 Harmon Dr., North-
eld. 485-2183. Norwich.edu/museum.
Through Dec. 19: 1864: Some Suffer So Much.
Stories of Norwich alumni who served as military
surgeons during the Civil War and traces the
history of posttraumatic stress disorder. Sullivan
Museum and History Center, Norwich Univer-
sity, 158 Harmon Dr., Northeld. 485-2183.
Norwich.edu/museum.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Mar. 22: Springing Forward. A new wing
and two solo shows at West Branch Gallery.
Te new space will showcase representational
paintings from nine dierent artists while Re-
becca Kinkeads solo-show, Local Color, will be
displayed in the Main Gallery, and Tom Cullins
Recent Works can be viewed Upstairs. Open-
ing reception and gallery talk by Rachel Moore,
Assistant Director and Curator at Helen Day
Art Center. 6-8:30 p.m. West Branch Gallery
and Sculpture Park, 17 Towne Farm Ln., Stowe.
2538943. art@westbranchgallery.com. west-
branchgallery.com.
Mar. 23: Afternoon Jazz Caf and Photography
Exhibit Reception. Photography show by Na-
than Burton and Peter Forbes and live jazz by the
Allison Mann Trio. 35:30 p.m. Contemporary
Dance and Fitness Studio, 18 Langdon St., 3rd
., Montpelier. Donations. 229-4676.
Mar. 25: Teen Art Studio: With illustrator Helen
Mask. Get inspired and make art with profes-
sional artists. 6:308:30 p.m. Age 1118. Helen
Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Free. 253-
8358. education@helenday.com. helenday.com.
Apr. 4: Gretchen Besio: Art Opening. Quilts
in many forms featuring hand-dyed fabrics and
uniquely sewn pieces. 48 p.m. Te Cheshire
Cat, 28 Elm St., Montpelier. 223-1981. cheshire-
catclothing.com.
Gretchen Besio: Art Opening. At The Cheshire
Cat, Montpelier. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Weekly
Events
ARTS & CRAFTS
Beaders Group. All levels of beading experience
welcome. Free instruction available. Come with
a project for creativity and community. Sat., 11
a.m.2 p.m. Te Bead Hive, Plaineld. 454-1615.
Noontime Knitters. All abilities welcome. Basics
taught. Crocheting, needlepoint and tatting also
welcome. Tues., noon1 p.m. Waterbury Public
Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. 244-7036.
BICYCLING
Open Shop Nights. Volunteer-run community
bike shop: bike donations and repairs. Tues.,
68 p.m.; other nights. Freeride Montpelier, 89
Barre St., Montpelier. By donation. 552-3521.
freeridemontpelier.org.
BOOKS & WORDS
Lunch in a Foreign Language. Bring lunch
and practice your language skills with neighbors.
Noon1 p.m. Mon., Hebrew; Tues., Italian;
Wed., Spanish; Turs., French. Kellogg-Hubbard
Conversations with the Word Weaver. Examine
the roots and denitions of words we use in daily
conversation. Tues., 1:30 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St. 223-3338. kellogghubbard.
org.
English Conversation Practice Group. For
students learning English for the rst time. Tues.,
45 p.m. central Vermont Adult Basic Education,
Montpelier Learning Center, 100 State St. 223-
3403.
Ongoing Reading Group. Improve your reading
and share some good books. Books chosen by
group. Turs., 910 a.m. central Vermont Adult
Basic Education, Montpelier Learning Center,
100 State St. 223-3403.
BUSINESS & FINANCE,
COMPUTERS
Personal Financial Management Workshops.
Learn about credit/debit cards, credit building
and repair, budgeting and identity theft,
insurance, investing, retirement. Tues., 68 p.m.
central Vermont Medical Center, Conference
Room 3. Registration: 371-4191.
Computer and Online Help. One-on-one
computer help. Tues. and Fri., 10 a.m.1 p.m.
Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St.,
Waterbury. Free. Registration required: 244-
7036.
Business Building Blocks Workshops: Keys
to Your Business Success. Micro Business
Development Program of central Vermont
Community Action. Turs., 68:30 p.m. To Apr.
17. 20 Gable Pl., Barre. Free. Sign up: 477-5214
or 800-639-1053. mferguson@cvcac.org.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Lectures,
discussions and lms on a variety of topics. Wed.,
1:30 p.m. Trough May 7. (No program on Mar.
26.) Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St., Montpelier, or Aldrich Public Library, Barre.
Call for topic, location and fee: 454-1234 or
pdaggett@myfairpoint.net.
FOOD

Community Meals in Montpelier. All welcome.
Free.
Mon.: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., 11
a.m.1 p.m.
Tues.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St., 11:30
a.m.1 p.m.
Wed.: Christ Church, 64 State St., 11
a.m.12:30 p.m.
Turs.: Trinity Church, 137 Main St., 11:30
a.m.1 p.m.
Fri.: St. Augustine Church, 18 Barre St., 11
a.m.12:30 p.m.
Sun.: Last Sunday only, Bethany Church, 115
Main St. (hosted by Beth Jacob Synagogue),
4:305:30 p.m.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Social Anxiety Support Group. Meet other
people with similar experiences and learn
techniques to reduce anxiety. Supportive and
condential. New group to meet weekly; time
and place to be determined. freefromsa@yahoo.
com.
Turning Point Center. Safe, supportive place
for individuals and their families in or seeking
recovery. Daily, 10 a.m.5 p.m. 489 North Main
St., Barre. 479-7373.
Sun.: Alchoholics Anonymous, 8:30 a.m.
Tues.: Making Recovery Easier workshops,
67:30 p.m.
Wed.: Wits End Parent Support Group, 6 p.m.
Turs.: Narcotics Anonymous, 6:30 p.m.
Sex Addicts Anonymous. Mon., 6:30 p.m.
Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. 552-
3483.
Diabetes Prevention Series. Reduce your risk
for type 2 diabetes and gain tools for healthy
living. Learn how the YMCAs Diabetes
Prevention Program can help you reach healthy
living goals. Tues. Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St. 225-5680. Lisa.willette@
cvmc.org.
Overeaters Anonymous. Twelve-step program
for physically, emotionally and spiritually
overcoming overeating. Fri., noon1 p.m. at
Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. 223-
3079. Tues., 5:306:30 p.m. at Episcopal Church
of the Good Shepherd, 39 Washington St., Barre.
249-0414.
HIV Testing. Vermont CARES oers fast oral
testing. Turs., 25 p.m. 58 East State St., ste. 3
(entrance at back), Montpelier. Free. 371-6222.
vtcares.org.
KIDS & TEENS
Open Hearth Moretown Community
Playgroup: Free play, Mondays 9:30 - 11am.
Moretown Elementary School Gym. Free, open
to all. Trough June 2.
Mad River Valley Youth Group. Sun., 79 p.m.
Meets at various area churches. Call 497-4516 for
location and information.
Sit N Knit. For rst-timers or superstar knitters
alike. Bring a project you are working on
or start one with Joan Kahn. Age 6 and up;
under 9 accompanied by adult. Mon., 3:304
p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St.,
Montpelier. 223-4665. kellogghubbard.org.
Te Basement Teen Center. Cable TV,
PlayStation 3, pool table, free eats and fun events
for teenagers. Mon.Turs., 36 p.m.; Fri.,
311 p.m. Basement Teen Center, 39 Main St.,
Montpelier. 229-9151.
Story Time at the Waterbury Public Library.
Baby/toddler story time: Mon., 10 a.m. Preschool
story time: Fri., 10 a.m. Waterbury Public
Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. 244-7036.
waterburypubliclibrary.com.
Story Time at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library.
Stories, songs and special guests. Birth to age
5. Tues. and Fri., 10:30 a.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
kellogghubbard.org.
FiddleFest Storytime with Katie Trautz. Enjoy
Katies magical melodies woven into your favorite
books. Tues., 10:30 a.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
kellogghubbard.org.
Story Time at the Jaquith Public Library.
With Sylvia Smith, followed by play group with
Melissa Seifert. Birth to age 6. Wed. 1011:30
a.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St.,
Marsheld. 426-3581.
Story Maps. Chart the wilds of your
imagination. Age 36. Wed., 11 a.m.
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St.,
Montpelier. Preregistration required: 223-4665.
kellogghubbard.org.
Read to Coco. Share a story with Coco, the
resident licensed reading therapy dog, who loves
to hear kids practice reading aloud. Wed., 3:30
4:30 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main
St., Montpelier. Sign up ahead: 223-4665 or at
the childrens desk. kellogghubbard.org.
Read with Arlo. Meet reading therapy dog Arlo
and his owner Brenda. Sign up for a 20-minute
block. Turs., 34 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
kellogghubbard.org.
Origami Club. Learn to make magical paper
creations come alive with Kim Smith. Turs.,
34 p.m. Trough May. Kellogg-Hubbard
kellogghubbard.org.
Drop-in Kinder Arts Program. Innovative
exploratory arts program with artist/instructor
Kelly Holt. Age 35. Fri., 10:30 a.m.noon.
River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville.
888-1261. RiverArtsVT.org.
Teen Fridays. Find out about the latest teen
books, use the gym, make art, play games and
if you need to, do your homework. Fri., 35
p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St.,
Marsheld. 426-3581.
Write On! Are you full of ideas? Looking
to spin a story? Willing to play with words?
Drop in once or join us for the series. Age
610. Fri., 3:304 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
kellogghubbard.org.
MUSIC & DANCE
Barre-Tones Womens Chorus. Open
rehearsal. Find your voice with 50 other
women. Mon., 7 p.m. Alumni Hall, Barre.
223-2039. BarretonesVT.com.
Dance or Play with the Swinging over 60
Band. Danceable tunes from the 1930s to the
1960s. Recruiting musicians. Tues., 5:307:30
p.m., Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58
Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Monteverdi Young Singers Chorus
Rehearsal. New chorus members welcome.
Wed., 45 p.m. Montpelier. Call 229-9000 for
location and more information.
Gamelan Rehearsals. Sun., 79 p.m. Pratt
Center, Goddard College. Free. 426-3498.
steven.light@jsc.edu. light.kathy@gmail.com.
Ukelele Group. All levels welcome. Turs.,
68 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St. 223-2518.
Ballroom Dance Classes. No partner or
experience necessary. Sponsored by Montpelier
Recreation Department. Tues., Apr. 1, 8, 15,
22. Waltz 67 p.m.; East Coast swing 78
p.m. Union Elementary School, Montpelier.
Registration: 225-8699. Information: 223-
2921
RECYCLING
Additional Recycling. Te Additional
Recyclables Collection Center accepts scores of
hard-to-recycle items. Tues. and Turs., 12:30
p.m.5:30 p.m. ARCC, 540 North Main St.,
Barre. $1 per carload. 229-9383 x106. For
list of accepted items, go to cvswmd.org/arcc-
additional-recyclables-collection-center.html.
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
Womens Group. Women age 40 and older
explore important issues and challenges in their
lives in a warm and supportive environment.
Facilitated by Amy Emler-Shaer and Julia W.
Gresser. Wed. evenings. 41 Elm St., Montpelier.
262-6110.
SPIRITUALITY
Christian Science Reading Room. A place to
dig deep into your spirituality. Bibles and Bible
study aids available. Tues., 11 a.m.8 p.m.;
Wed., 11 a.m.7:15 p.m.; Turs.Sat., 11 a.m.
1 p.m. 145 State St., Montpelier. 223-2477.
csrr_mpv_librarian@myfairpoint.net.
Christian Science Church. All welcome to
attend services. Sun., 10:30 a.m.; Wed. 7:30
p.m. 145 State St., Montpelier.
Free Lenten Book Study. Led by Reverend
Mark Pitton, discussing Te Last Week by
M. Borg and J. Crossan and the metaphorical
meaning of the Bibles descriptions of Jesuss
last week. Sun.,11:30 a.m. To Apr. 13. Red
Door Room, Bethany Church, Montpelier.
reddoorroomtable.blogspot.com.
Deepening Our Jewish Roots. Fun,
engaging text study and discussion on Jewish
spirituality. Sun., 4:456:15 p.m. Yearning for
Learning Center, Montpelier. 223-0583. info@
yearning4learning.org.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. For
those interested in learning about the Catholic
faith, or current Catholics who want to learn
more. Wed., 7 p.m. St. Monica Church, 79
Summer St., Barre. Register: 479-3253.
SPORTS & GAMES
Apollo Duplicate Bridge Club. All welcome.
Partners sometimes available. Fri., 6:45 p.m.
Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier.
$3. 485-8990 or 223-3922.
Roller Derby Open Recruitment and
Recreational Practice. central Vermonts
Wrecking Doll Society invites quad skaters
age 18 and up. No experience necessary.
Equipment provided: rst come, rst
served. Sat., 56:30 p.m. Montpelier
Recreation Center, Barre St. First skate free.
centralvermontrollerderby.com.
Coed Adult Floor Hockey League. Join
women and men in a oor hockey game.
Equipment provided. Sun., through Apr.
13. 1:154:15 p.m. rst Sunday; 36 p.m.
otherwise. Montpelier Recreaction Center, 55
Barre St., Montpelier. $5. bmoorhockey@
gmail.com. vermontoorhockey.com.
YOGA & MEDITATION
Shambhala Buddhist Meditation.
Group meditation practice. Sun., 10
a.m.noon; Tues., 78 p.m.; Wed., 67
p.m. Shambhala Meditation Center, 64
Main St., 3F, Montpelier. Free. 223-5137.
montpeliershambala.org.
Christian Meditation Group. People of all
faiths welcome. Mon., noon1 p.m. Christ
Church, Montpelier. 223-6043.
Zen Meditation. With Zen Aliate of
Vermont. Mon., 6:307:30 p.m. 174 River St.,
Montpelier. Free. Call for orientation: 229-
0164.
Yoga and Meditation. With Katy Leadbetter.
Meditation: Mon., 1 p.m. (unlimited).
Introduction to yoga: Tues., 4 p.m. (four-class
limit). Consultation: Fri., 11 a.m. (one per
person). 56 East State St., Montpelier. Free.
272-8923.
HELP WANTED
The Bridge is seeking a well-organized,
friendly and energetic person to be-
come a member of our advertising
sales team.
We are looking for someone who
knows and likes The Bridge and who
wants to help us reach out to and
work with our ad clients in the central
Vermont business community.
You will work with other members of
our solid ad sales team.
This is an ideal part-time position for
someone who wants to add to their
income or for someone who wants to
break into the workforce and get to
know people in montpelier and nearby
communities. Interested? e-mail
Nat Frothingham, editor and publisher,
at nat@montpelierbridge.com.
Class listings and classifieds are 50 words for $25; discounts available. To place an ad, call Carolyn, 223-5112, ext. 11.
HELP WANTED
The Bridge is looking for a talented proof
reader to join our team. Duties include
reviewing the paper before it goes to press
and making last minute edits. The chosen
candidate will be responsible for familiar-
izing themselves with The Bridges style
guide. interested? contact the publisher, Nat
Frothingham, at 223-5112 ext. 10 or by email
nat@montpelierbridge.com
Classifieds
FOR SALE
CHINA CABINET FOR SALE. Solid oak, curved
glass. $200. Call 223-4865.
FOR RENT
VACATION CLOSE TO HOME: Cozy get-away
cottage in North central Vermont; PRIVACY;
open elds and woodland trails; elegant simplic-
ity; enjoy a weekend or a longer stay; basic supplies
provided; reasonable rates. claudia@vtlink.net
CLASSES AND
WORKSHOPS
WRITING COACH. Struggling with beginning,
continuing, nishing? Need tools to start you up
and keep you working from concept to comple-
tion? Art is long, and life short. WRITE NOW is
what we have. Tirty years working in lm, TV,
theater and prose, coaching writers in all genres.
Free initial consultation. Tamarcole21@gmail.com
802-225-6415.
WRITES OF SPRING: Explore Memoir, Deepen
Your Story: Ten Tursdays, April 3- June 5,
Noon- 2 p.m., $200. Guided Writers Work-
shop, for experienced writers: Ten Fridays, April
4- June 6, 10 a.m.- Noon, $200. Classes held at:
Christ Episcopal Church, 64 State Street, Mont-
pelier. Maggie Tompson, MFA, Instructor
To register or for more information,
call 454-4635.
TAI CHI CHUAN: Beginners Class. Cheng Man-
chings simplied yang-style. Taught by Patrick
Cavanaugh of the Long River Tai Chi. Begins
Tuesday, April 1st from 78 p.m. at Bethany
Church, 115 Main Street in Montpelier. For more
information, contact Patrick, 490-6405 or email
patrick@longrivertaichi.org. Cost: $65 per month
SPRING ELIXIR: A 5-week beginning Aikido
course to cultivate energy, harmony, and well-be-
ing, that is geared to the physical abilities of adult
participants. Starts 6:00 p.m. Tursday, March
27th, at 1 Granite St. in Montpelier. For more in-
formation call Robert Lamprey at (802)757-3722
or visit www.aikidoofmontpelier.org.
ART PROGRAMS AT
HELEN DAY ART CENTER. Adults and
Teens: Beyond the Pencil: Drawing II,
March 25th April 29th. Rustic Furni-
ture workshop, March 29th. Youth: Pa-
per Marionettes workshop, April 12th. Spring
Break Camp: Stop Motion Anima-
tion with Clay, April 14th-18th. Register at:
www.helenday.com. 90 Pond Street, Stowe.
802-253-8358.
SERVICES
SOMETHING SEW RIGHT: Same quality
sewing Same fair prices since 1986 new location
in Montpelier 250 Main Street, Suite 103 in
the former NECI building at the top of the hill.
Patty Morse, 229 2400, pmorse52@live.com
Tell them you saw it in The Bridge!
Since 1972
Repairs New floors and walls
Crane work Decorative concrete
Consulting ICF foundations
114 Three Mile Bridge Rd., Middlesex, VT (802) 229-0480
gendronbuilding@aol.com gendronconcrete.com
FRUIT TREE PRUNING
expert annual pruning maintenance performed now
or should open your trees for initial late-winter pruning soon
call Padma 456.7474 ~ earthwiseharmonies.com
Les Church Chris Lackey
802-249-1030
dles51854@aol.com
freerangebuildingvt.com
Remodeling
New Construction
Kitchens and Bathrooms,
Additions,
Doors and Windows,
Ceramic tile,
Hardwood and Laminate Floors,
Stairways and Railings,
Painting
229-6575
QUALITY REMODELING
& BUILDING
Conscientious contracting
Int./ext. makeovers & paint
Healthy whole-home solutions
Deep energy retrofits
Kitchens, baths, additions
Doors, windows, roofs
David Diamantis
ph: 229-8646 fax: 454-8646
Certified Green Professional
EMP/RRP EcoStar Roof Applicator
Design & Build
Custom Energy-Ecient Homes
Additions Timber Frames
Weatherization Remodeling
Kitchens Bathrooms Flooring
Tiling Cabinetry Fine Woodwork
GREGS
PAINTING
Metal Roof Painting
Interior & Exterior
FREE ESTIMATES INSURED SINCE 1990
802- 479- 2733
gpdpainting@aol.com
Rocque Long
Painting
Insured
30+ years professional
experience
local references.
802-223-0389
LI GHT MOVI NG, LANDFI LL
RUNS, AND ODD JOBS.
WEVE GOT THE TRUCK.
Give us a call at: 224.1360
T&T Truck for Hire
Opinion
Editorial
You live in a world of illusion where every-
things peaches and cream - Steve Miller
W
hat we consider local is actu-
ally a tangle of competitive politics
and personal indulgence. For this
years April Fools joke, I submit the following
because it represents one crazy view on this
tangle of interrelated issues that make up our
local scene.
City ballot item 11--the Downtown Improve-
ment District (DID) calls for the (re)beautifi-
cation of Montpelier. I support this initiative
with one big reservation. The city admits the
parking meters in town exist only because A
FEW MERCHANTS want them there to
force customers to cash in and move on. It
seems hypocritical to ask the public for DID
taxes to induce people to linger downtown
and then penalize them when they do. Unfor-
tunately, this tax em twice behavior seems
to be normal for our state and our town.
Currently there has been talk of Vermonts
recovering dairy industry and our new export
capabilities, but we forget that exportation
of things like food means some other person
loses their farm. Meanwhile, Vermont allows
illegal immigrants (with whom I sympathize)
to own a drivers license. These immigrants
come to Vermont and take the difficult ag-
ricultural jobs only because their situation is
made desperate because of international laws
like the Leahy-supported North American
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). NAFTA-ish
regulations call for subsidizations that force
other farmers off their land while keeping our
farmers addicted to aid. Aid-addicted farmers
need cheap labor, thus the licenses for the il-
legals. The real alternative to getting our (ad-
mittedly spoilt middle class) workers to want
farm jobs is to provide decent conditions and
wages. But honestly earned, non-subsidized
food would mean that people pay a true price
for it. This is converse to Shumlins value
added image, which caters to the higher in-
come, conspicuous consumption crowd who
go to the Hunger Mountain Co-op (HMC).
Where, according to many of my fellow
unionists, the work shifts in certain depart-
ments have been routinely understaffed. One
guess-timate was that in one department alone
there was the equivalent of two full-time posi-
tions that subs were used to fill. But often
subs cannot come in to work, so the shift is
shorted and the remaining staff is rushed and
overworked. Injuries occur, and management
then blames the workforce for increased costs
of workplace accident claims, yet there has
been a direct correlation between (1) increased
sales volume but NOT a relative increase in
the workforce, and (2) a lack of training of
new staff for basic job skills and the number
of work accidents.
Through this contradictory policy, the Co-op
saves money because having fewer full-time
employees means requiring less full-time
health care coverage. Yet, while obsessing
over health care costs and safety issues, the
HMC also wastes money on failed attempts
at expansion. Meanwhile, we have a pseudo
community oriented Co-op whose wealthi-
est spenders are those people who profit from
the dishonest policies of our nearby statehouse
where cut wages but expand the operation
is the normal mindset. Lastly, I would point
out that in the January 9-22 issue, The Bridge
dedicated its pages to the opinions of state
politicians who had nothing to do with our
local scene. Meanwhile, The Bridge requires
that locals like myself, who actually support
The Bridge financially, limit our commen-
taries to 800 words or less because space is
limited. D.I.D. you catch the irony there? But
what bothered me the most was that, despite
all the talk of fixing the economy, schools,
The Local Joke? Hunger Games in a
Neighborly Economy by Gerard Renfro
H
ow often in your educational experi-
ence did you wonder, When am I
ever going to use this? As an educa-
tor, this is the dreaded question. It questions
the relevance of what we do, challenging us
to identify how our teaching is preparing our
students for their futures. Many teachers hate
this question, but it is an important one that
we should be willing to ask ourselves and that
we should be ready to answer when working
with our students, their families and our com-
munities.
We live in a constantly changing world, and
education needs to reflect the pace at which
the world moves. The reality of our world
is that nobody can predict what the future
will look like. We cant group our students
into traditional careers like accountants, auto
mechanics and teachers. The top 10 fastest
growing jobs in 2012 did not exist in 2004.
With the exponential changes we are seeing
in technology, all current projections have
similar expectations for the next ten years.
Our old ways of preparing students for the
future need to change. In many ways, they
already have.
As educators, we need to inspire and empower
our students to be the citizens, stewards and
leaders that our communities need in order
to face the challenges of this century. This
21st Century Education:
It Still Takes a Village
by Luke Foley, 2014 Vermont Teacher of the Year
S
everal years ago I advocated that courses
in the humanities be offered and taught
to those within Vermont who might
have otherwise gone without the opportuni-
ties and benefits of these. For example: people
living in poverty; people living homeless; per-
sons incarcerated in jails, prisons or other
institutions; and people living in the throes of
drug or alcohol addiction. What I had been
urging be established was for programs along
the lines of the Clemente Course on the Hu-
manities model.
The Clemente Course on the Humanities is
the brainchild of Earl Shorris, who died in
2012 at the age of 75. The title of his obitu-
ary in the June 3, 2012 issue of the New York
Times mentioned that he had fought poverty
with knowledge. His obituary noted, in part,
how he was a social critic and author whose
interviews with prison inmates for a book
inspired him to start a now nationally recog-
nized educational program that introduces
the poor and the unschooled to Plato, Kant
and Tolstoy.
Given the needs and resulting consequences
at stake, as well as the current focus these
days on doing something more meaningful
and lasting to help address drug addiction,
crime, incarceration rates and poverty, as well
as homelessness and the like, it would appear
to be high time to finally consider offering
courses in the humanities to all of those whose
quality of life could be improved. The cost of
not doing so is being borne out day after day,
year after year. Programs and courses like
these work and have been proven successful.
One does not have to look very far for ex-
amples of these types of programs and their
benefits. An example is Writing Inside Ver-
mont, a program offered to female prisoners
in the state. According to its website, [s]ince
2010, writing inside VT has forged trusting,
pro-social relationships with more than 200
of Vermonts incarcerated women.
Does it take much more than simply provid-
ing courses in the humanities and the like in
order to break the cycle(s) of poverty, home-
lessness, drug or alcohol addiction, as well as
crime and so on? Yes, indeed, it does. How-
ever, one of the longstanding missing com-
ponents of our collective efforts thus far, with
which to address these and related matters in
a meaningful fashion, has been the lack of
certain educational opportunities being made
more available, including the humanities.
If the state were to invest in providing greatly
expanded access to programs along these
lines, on a much grander scale than might
currently exist, to those willing to partake of
opportunities for higher learning, including
by networking and working with educational
institutions across Vermont, those participat-
ing would not only be gaining knowledge, but
also the potential of greater personal, social,
economic and civic power.
Whatever financial investment and other
resources might be needed and involved in
order to help provide programs and classes
along these lines would be well worth it. So-
ciety at large would benefit as well. If we as a
society hope to sow and impart knowledge,
as well as aid in the growing of wisdom and
then collectively reap the results, we have to
be willing to do what is required to plant the
seeds and fertilize the process in a fashion
that benefits as many as possible. If we do
not, then the underlying causes, as well as the
ongoing cycle(s) of poverty, addiction, crime,
homelessness and hopelessness will never be
effectively dealt with and eventually broken,
no matter how much funding and other as-
sistance programs are made available in an
attempt to do so.
It has been my observation over the years that
when there are others who have faith in and
believe in the future of those most in need,
including that their hopes can be realized
and their dreams achieved, such persons are
in a much better position to be able to begin
to do so.
Although those previous advocacy efforts of
mine a decade or so ago were not successful,
it is still my hope that collegiate-level courses
in the humanities will eventually be offered,
whether in classroom settings or online when
and where feasible (or both), on a voluntary
and free basis to those who could greatly ben-
efit from these.
Knowledge Is Power: Providing Access to
Knowledge Is Essential in Fighting Poverty
by Morgan W. Brown
F
or the past 43
years weve had a Green Up Day in
Vermont, and traditionally this has
been the first Saturday in May. It is a single
day of our year when Vermonters gather
together in their communities to clean up,
sweep up, renew and affirm the beauty of
our precious and lucky natural landscape,
including roadsides, waterways and public
spaces.
No other state in the American union has a
Green Up Day. Its ours alone. It therefore
feels almost improbableno, impossible
that Green Up Day could ever disappear
in Vermont.
But according to Green Up Vermont pres-
ident Melinda Vieux, if present funding
trends continue Green Up day could end
after 2015, its forty-fifth anniversary. This
could happen if declining corporate support
is not replaced by an increase in State of
Vermont funding and an increase in indi-
vidual giving that could be possible by add-
ing a check-off box on the Vermont income
tax form.
Talking about the downward turn in cor-
porate support for Green Up Vermontand
remember Green Up is not a state govern-
ment activity, its a private not-for-profit
organization--Melinda Vieux said, Since
2009 lost corporate support totals $54,000
offset by $20,000 in new support.
Reasons provided for that downturn in
corporate giving
include: budget cuts, a rise in requests for
human services support (food for hungry
people, emergency shelter for the homeless)
and change in criteria.
In this session of the Vermont Legislature,
Green Up Vermont is asking for an in-
crease in state funding, which remained the
same from 1979 through 2005 ($8,600 plus
space) with an increase ($10,500 plus space)
from 2006 to the present. Green Up Ver-
mont is also seeking legislative support for
H.683, a bill that would make it possible for
anyone filing a Vermont income tax form to
place a mark in a check-off box and make
a financial contribution to Green Up.
Green Up Day this year is Saturday, May 3.
Long may Green Up Day continue to cause
each one of us to work with our neighbors in
cleaning up, picking up litter and renewing
the roadsides, waterways, and public spaces
of our priceless Green Mountain State.
H.683 was passed by the Vermont House
and will now be considered by the Vermont
Senate. Please write a note or make a phone
call or talk in person with Senators Doyle,
Cummings, and Pollina, and ask them to
support increased state spending for Green
Up and the critical check-off box that can
inspire individual giving for our annual
springtime community clean-up, spruce-up
renewal activities.
Greening Up by Nat Frothingham
etc., nothing was said of issues like the cost
of the shock and awful Mid-East war, our
too big to jail stock market economy, or the
Oh, bomb us reforms that did nothing to
reduce medical costs. We need to bring the big
picture down into the small frame. So I would
ask The Bridge, in the future, to speak to
our own locals about (and give them enough
space to discuss) local issues and not rely on
overpaid wind bags to fill its sheets, even if it
means that sometimes an honest discussion
turns nasty.
We like to think of ourselves as open-minded
citizens who belong to a friendly neighbor-
hood small town. But I believe that people are
nice only when their situation allows them to
be so. When things turn sour, as our economy
has, people show a different side. I am not ask-
ing that we change human nature, only that
we give ourselves reasons not to show our ugly
side. If we do not find real solutions to our
economic problems, then we will be forced to
find petty ways to scam money from the only
easy targets around--each other.
Gerard Renfro belongs to the Hunger Mountain
Co-op Union, but is speaking for himself and no
otherperson or organization
means engaging in projects and learning ex-
periences that immerse our kids in their com-
munities-- learning from experts and working
together to solve real-world problems. If we
want students who have a creative ability to
think outside of the box, then we need to
question why their education only happens
in a box?
Many of the recent shifts in education in our
state--Personalized Learning Plans, Flexible
Pathways to Graduation and the adoption of
the Common Core State Standards--acknowl-
edge that we should be emphasizing skills, not
content; and student engagement, rather than
conformity. Regardless of what their career
choices might be, there are certain skills and
aptitudes that they will need to master. For
example, it doesnt matter if you are a lawyer
in a courtroom, a business person giving a
pitch or a contractor giving an estimate, you
will need to be persuasive and you will need to
have evidence to support your claim. You will
also need to be an effective communicator and
willing to work with a wide range of people.
These are things we all know and expect in
the workforce. These are also skills that we are
explicitly teaching in our schools.
The face of education is changing, as is the role
of the teacher. With students designing proj-
ects ranging from trail networks, to outdoor
classrooms, to greenhouses for our school gar-
dens, I cant expect to teach them everything
they need to know about their topic. I can,
however, put them in touch with experts in
each field, giving my students a chance to en-
gage with professionals, to work on meaning-
ful projects and to develop skills that they can
apply across a broad range of possible careers.
This is where the village comes in.
For too long, the responsibility of preparing
our children for the future has been shoul-
dered too heavily by the education system.
We need the support of our communities in
order to give our students the opportunities
that they will need in order to lead success-
ful and engaged adult lives. For businesses,
this means opening your doors to interns and
giving them an opportunity to see what will
be expected of them in the future. For profes-
sionals, it means being willing to share your
expertise with students who have an interest
in learning more about what you do. For all
of us, it means recognizing the fact that the
most important job any of us can ever have
is in making sure that we are preparing our
children, as best we can, for the future paths
that they will take.
Luke Foley, 2014 Vermont Teacher of the Year
and STAR Alternative Program teacher at
Northfield High School, lives in Warren, VT.
To the Montpelier School Board
To the Editor:
It is impossible to believe that there is a move-
ment in Montpelier to encourage the School
Board to resubmit the budget that was re-
cently voted down. How can this be? We
sincerely hope the School Board is not listen-
ing to these people.
Joanna and I are retired and cannot afford
what these increases would mean for our
taxes. If we continue on this course, taxes
to support the Montpelier school budget are
likely to rise 40% over the next few years. It
is ridiculous!
There are under 1,000 students in our school
system, why are we not combining schools?
It would be logical to explore this possibil-
ity. The Montpelier School Board needs an
oversight committee to go into Montpeliers
schools, look at what is happening there, and
make recommendations on how to create pos-
itive and cost effective change to education.
We have two grandchildren attending schools
in Montpelier and believe that carefully made
cuts and well thought out changes will in-
crease, not damage the quality of their educa-
tion.
Angelo & Joanna Caserta
Montpelier
Vote Yes on the School Budget
To the Editor:
My wife and I own a home in Montpelier. We
are ineligible for income sensitivity reductions
to our property tax bill. We have no kids.
We voted yes for the school budget. We would
do so again.
Montpelier is right to be proud of its schools
and of the recognition they have earned our
community as a great place to live and raise
children. Even though we do not have chil-
dren, we believe firmly in maintaining the
high quality of our schools for the good of
our neighbors, our communitys reputation
and the future of our society. This requires a
continuing investment.
The economics of education in Vermont
today are complicated. It takes hard work to
understand how to achieve the educational
outcomes we all want for the fairest price.
Focusing on the needs of our students, school
buildings and talented educators, the school
board presented a responsible budget on Town
Meeting Day after much hard work.
The vote was close--an 89 vote margin on
a day when 2/3 of our citys registered vot-
ers chose not to participate. A commanding
mandate for major budget cuts it is not. As the
board and administration get back to work,
I hope they will keep in mind that a vibrant
community is not one in which a school sys-
tem is laying off teachers; cutting integral
elements of the full educational experience
such as music, debate and sports; or neglecting
upkeep of safe and clean facilities.
Anthony Iarrapino, Montpelier
Montpelier Needs a Better
School Budget
To the Editor:
School Board Chair Susan Aldrich and the
school board: Montpelier voted the increase
in our taxes down. It was a surprise to many.
Taxpayers didnt form a group, rally support,
organize letters, make calls or put bumper
stickers on their cars that I know of. No one
asked me for support before the vote to vote
the school budget down. I voted no, for the
first time in my life, because I cannot sustain
another increase in my taxes and because I
know there are ways to tone down the budget
without loss of staff.
Please dont just resubmit the same budget.
How insulting that would be to taxpayers who
voted this notice to you? 2015 does not need
to be a school budget year where there are
battle signs in every yard. Consider thinking
outside the box, consider asking the public for
ideas. While I am proud of our schools, there
clearly needs to be some progressive planning
and have the current budget part of a long
range plan.
Ask us about our ideas. We have a whole com-
munity full of bright, innovative people who
can help by adding ideas to the mix for you to
consider. Making a list of needs and wants can
be an enlightening experience.
Barbara Bruno, Montpelier
Support the School Budget as
Presented
To the Editor,
I supported the Montpelier Public Schools
budget as presented. I appreciate all the hard
work performed by the school board, admin-
istrators and, of course, the teachers and staff
on behalf of our community and our children.
That said, I hope the school board will refrain
Letters
from making significant cuts to the school
budget based on the recent vote on Town
Meeting Day. The margin was so narrow that
it clearly shows the community is closely di-
vided, and there are almost as many support-
ers of the original budget as opponents. There
is no mandate to support drastic cuts. In fact,
the school board has been actively cutting
away for years. Voters should also know that
over the last eight years the school district has
actually cut 17 percent of its staffing, while
facing only an 8.6 percent reduction in enroll-
ment. This is not a spend-happy gang.
Some people appear to be misrepresenting the
modest and reasonable budget (2.27 percent)
by equating it with a 13 percent increase in
property taxes. The bulk of that is attributable
to the education funding formula and not in
the direct control of local voters. Equating the
two is a disservice to voters who may be con-
fused between the two. Those who wish to
protest the education funding formula should
do so by contacting their legislators, not by
voting down responsible school budgets. The
budget as proposed was actually the smallest
increase in the last few years.
My wife and I, and our two young chil-
dren, moved to Montpelier last year for many
reasons, but a big one was in order to live
in this school district, which is known for
its excellence and for supporting its public
schools. We are happy to pay our fair share
to contribute to a vibrant Montpelier; we
reject austerity as a means of achieving that
community goal.
We will certainly support and vote for the
next school budget. I hope other supporters
will tell the school board not to overreact or
overcompensate for a tiny margin at the polls,
to make minimal adjustments to the original
budget and to preserve valued programs, ac-
tivities, sports and personnel.
Christopher J. Curtis, Montpelier
Voters Call for School Budget
Reduction
To the Editor:
Democracy was in action on Town Meeting
Day here in Montpelier. The citizens had the
opportunity to vote, and vote we did. In a
society where free speech is still respected
and encouraged, the lead up to Town Meet-
ing Day provided the opportunity for citizens
to voice their opinions about candidates and
issues throughout the city. We encountered
each other outside farmers markets and while
canvassing neighborhoods. We wrote Op-Ed
pieces and Letters to the Editor for publica-
tion in local newspapers. This is what we do
in a democratic society--we talk about issues
and candidates. We ask questions and expect
answers. We voice opinions and expect that
someone is listening.
On Town Meeting Day the residents of Mont-
pelier used the ballot box to send a very clear
message to the school board: reduce the school
budget to something we, the taxpayers, can
afford. It is time for them to sharpen their
pencils and critically evaluate the budget line-
by-line to create a rank-order list from which
to draw in making cuts that are the most ra-
tional and least painful to the community. If
the school board does not have the expertise to
create an affordable budget, they need to put
together a panel that goes beyond the experts
in the superintendents office to help them fix
the problem.
Voters do not expect the school board to solve
problems within the next few weeks that it has
taken years to create. We do expect the school
board to present us with a budget for the
next fiscal year with a minimum reduction of
$200,000. If they expect this budget to pass,
the school board must present voters with a
plan that lays the groundwork for attaining
long-term fiscally responsible quality educa-
tion in Montpelier. Voters know this can be
accomplished, and we will be watching and
ready to vote down any budget that maintains
the current status quo.
Roberta Tracy, Montpelier
Lets Reconsider Opiate
Prescription Doses
To the Editor:
In the letter about opiate abuse and chiroprac-
tic care in the last issue of The Bridge, James
M. Lynch says that opiate addiction is, by and
large, prescription drug addiction and that
chiropractic care could replace much of that
drug use. I also think we should be limiting
the amount of opiates prescribed by healthcare
professionals through regulations. I went to
see The Hungry Heart when it played at Main
Street Middle School, and I was interested in
the number of people there who had used opi-
ates after surgeries. Several reported getting
40 or more doses when they only needed 4-10
doses. I can understand prescribing 20 doses
(for someone who lives way out of town).
However, regularly prescribing 40 doses is a
prescription for addiction.
Perhaps our healthcare system should rethink
the appropriate amount of opiates to prescribe
for patients with pain. But dont leave that to
the drug companies. In my book, drug and
insurance companies are the biggest part of
the problem.
Dianne Richardson, Montpelier, VT
Early Educators Have a Right to
Organize
To the Editor:
I support Vermont Early Educators right to
organize. I hope my legislators will also sup-
port this right during the legislative session.
Providing quality early education for every
child is the key to fighting the cycle of gen-
erational poverty. Early childhood educators
care for children so their parents can go to
work or school.
I am glad that Vermont Early Educators
United is working with providers so they can
have the right to form a union. Those who
are interested in learning more can visit www.
kidscountonme.org.
Stephanie Muller, Montpelier, VT
What Do You Think?
Read something that you
would like to respond to? We
welcome your letters and
opinion pieces. Letters must be
fewer than 300. Opinion pieces
should not exceed 600 words.
The Bridge reserves the right
to edit and cut pieces.
Send your piece to: editorial@
montpelierbridge.com.
A Note to Readers
of The Bridge

Dear Friend of The Bridge:
Your envelopes and support continue to
reach us at The Bridge. Our annual fun-
draising campaign continues. How can
I put in words what can I say to thank
you enough?
As many of you know already despite
the timely and valued support of our ad-
vertisers in any given year theres a gap
between what it costs to produce The
Bridge and our income from advertising
and subscriptions.
If you havent made a contribution yet
may I ask that you consider weighing in
with your support.
Please write a check, made payable to
The Bridge and mailed to this address:
The Bridge, P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier,
VT 05601. Or visit us at our office at
the lower level of Schulmaier Hall on the
campus of the Vermont College of Fine
Arts.
Your support means a great deal to us.
And we are grateful.
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