Connecting Montpelier and nearby communities since 1993 | M AY 17JUNE 6, 2012

IN THIS ISSUE
GATEWAY TO GARDENING

HEATING UP
by Cassandra Hemenway Brush

City Revises District Heat Plan, Hears Citizen Input

Illustration by Barbara Car ter

Special supplement on working with seeds and soil

G.14
LIVING PROOF Theatre Virscess newest production

9
WHATS HAPPENING IN REAL ESTATE ? Transactions and market update

he Montpelier City Council has been looking at a variety of options for pursuing its end of the $20 million, jointrun city/state district heating system to which Montpelier taxpayers pledged $2 million last year. Faced with a large upfront cost for hooking up to the elementary school, having to cut the high school out of the plan, a variety of route options for piping and the arrival of $1.75 million from the Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) earlier this month, not to mention one citizens detailed input into the process, city officials have been busy figuring out how best to go forward. High School Off; Elementary School On? In its original plan, the district heating plant would have served City Hall, the fire station, the police station, Union Elementary School (UES) and Montpelier High School (MHS), as well as the state buildings along State Street and an unknown number of private customers. Recently, city officials have decided to eliminate the high school from the plan. It would cost $1.2 million to run pipe to the high school, said City Manager Bill Fraser. For now, the high school wont be in, but possibly [it can hook on] at some point in the future. Thomas Wood, director of facilities for the Montpelier public schools, confirmed that the high school is not happening as part of stage one. Theres a plan to have additional phases that may connect to the high school and may eventually connect to the middle school as well, he said. The UES board has voted to hook into district heating, Fraser said. However, it comes at a cost: $730,000, to be exact, and thats just the citys part of the deal, which pays for running pipe to the school. That cost could be defrayed some by private customers who may want to hook in as well, he said. The school would also have to pony up an additional $500,000 or more, Wood said, in order to change its existing steam heat system to be compatible with the district plants hot water piping. Wood said the school boards

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goal is to do the upgrade within its existing budget. Fraser also noted that the school would need to do their work in time to get on to the system. The school will have to upgrade its heating system one way or the other, Fraser said, and Wood seconded the sentiment. Although UES Head Custodian Todd Keller reported that he has made adjustments over the last year reducing the systems oil use from 240 gallons to just 25 gallons a day, the system dates back to 1937, and Wood said that it should have been updated two decades ago. We are using [the district heating project] as rational for long-needed updates, Wood said. Even if we werent going to hook in, we would have to do this anyway, whether three years from now or five years from now. . . . This is a good initiative to try to do it now. But its not a simple upgrade, according to Keller. Theres the initial conversion to equipment that can handle hot water from the old steam equipment, he confirmed. But the changeover also means that UES no longer controls its own heating system. Heat will be controlled off site, Keller said. We would have to purchase a hot-water system as a back-up in case the district system went down. Keller also pointed out that nobody yet knows if any savings in heat costs would be eaten up in electricity bills needed to run water pumps. The discussion can only go so far without hard numbers, though. Wood averred that the school system is currently in the process of figuring out just that. Were at the point where were now going back through the project again and trying to add definition. [Were] trying to get hard numbers to take it out of the rhetorical discussion. . . . [The end of] that process is probably a couple months away. Big Check and a Revised Plan Mayor John Hollar accepted a check from Governor Peter Shumlin on May 2 for $1.75 million from the CEDF, $1 million of it a see DISTRICT HEAT, page 4
FILE PHOTO BY KEN RUSSELL.

The Bridge P.O. Box 1143 Montpelier, VT 05601

PAG E 2 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

THE BRIDGE

THE BRIDGE

M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 3

STREET
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Court: Montpelier Cant Prohibit Rec Use of Berlin Pond
ontpelier has lost an appeal before Vermonts Supreme Court regarding its authority to regulate recreational use of Berlin Pond, its water supply. The city owns all but 85 feet of pond shoreline but does not own the 256-acre pond itself, which is state property. The court, noting that its own water is affected by the decision, wrote, Although we are sympathetic to the Citys significant concern for regulating the source of its drinking water, the Citys powers are limited to those conferred upon it by the State of Vermont. After careful examination of the state statutes and the Citys charter, we are unable to find any direct or indirect authorization for the City to regulate recreational use of Berlin Pond. On the contrary, the State has developed its own regulatory schemes to govern both public water sources and recreational use of public waters. Under neither of these schemes has the State prohibited the recreational uses at issue here. The court continues, however, Our opinion today does not hold that recreational use of Berlin Pond must be permitted. We conclude only that valid regulation would require action by the Stateeither by direct regulation [by the Agency of Natural Resources] or by delegating such power to the City [by a charter change approved by the legislature]and this has not yet occurred. City Manager William Fraser explained that the city must now decide what actions to take to protect its interests in light of the citys concerns about pollution, zebra-mussel infestation, petroleum and turbidity issues, some of which are not amenable to filtering technologies. Bob Nuner

HEARD ON THE

ast weekend (and wasnt it a beauty!) I did something new. Got in the car and went in search of the birds that didnt come back to our hill the last two years. I just missed them so much that I went looking for orioles, kingbirds, tree swallows, and great crested flycatchers. I wanted to hear them, see them and catch that wave of joy that birds can impart. And I found them and a lot of others, not too far away, in primo habitat, around the Berlin Pond area. Well, not the great crested flycatcher, but the others. Spent hours there until almost noon, then came home to find a few tree swallows swooping around our bird boxes and a great crested flycatcher Weep! Weeeep!-ing in the tree canopy at the edge of the yard. Im still hoping for that flash of orange and the clear, slightly off-key call of the oriole. Nona Estrin

Nature Watch

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Funding the Kellogg-Hubbard

ellogg-Hubbard Library, which last year absorbed $340,946 in property taxes, will be involved in discussions this summer and fall over the future of its funding. The library is simultaneously inside and outside the formal city budget. In 2000, Montpelier and the other joint municipal partners (East Montpelier, Middlesex, Worcester, Berlin and Calais) set a formula for the repayment of the then-new wing of the library. Montpelier issued a 20-year bond for $600,000 to pay its share. The yearly payment marginally diminishes in time. Last years payment of $45,468 was part of the citys debt repayment that is folded into the core budget. The rest of the citys contribution$293,975 was voted as a separate issue that passed with the approval of 77 percent of voters. The formula used to arrive at the request for Montpeliers $293,975 is part of a six-year plan that ended this last election. The plan, agreed to by all municipalities, involved two years of budget increases and four years of level funding. For several years, Berlin opted out of the plan and voted down the librarys request, but it has since returned to the fold. The first 30 percent of the librarys tax-derived budget is funded solely by Montpelier property owners, with the rationale that the library is in town, within easier commute or walking distance, and enhances the citys prestige. The librarys bylaws state that a majority of the librarys board will be Montpelier residents. The Montpelier City Council appoints two members, one a sitting councilor. The other five municipalities are guaranteed a seat on the board. The other 70 percent of the tax-derived budget is allocated by formula that roughly considers use. The librarys check-out software is presently not able to ascertain exact circulation by town and will not be replaced until after next years town meeting vote. The present allocation of the remaining 70 percent is as follows: Montpelier, 65 percent ($293,973); East Montpelier, 10 percent ($32,296); Middlesex, 8 percent ($25,543); Calais, 8 percent ($24,489); Worcester, 5 percent ($16,739); Berlin, 4 percent ($12,557). The present 30 percent/70 percent formula has technically expired, as has the librarys promise to come in for level funding. The upcoming discussions, in which the library will consult the select boards of all six partner towns, will review the level of town funding as well as the future of the present funding formula. The meetings of the librarys board of directors are held on the third Wednesday of the month except in the summer. The meetings are open to the public and minutes are publicly available. Richard Sheir

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Attic Music Space Closed

P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601 Phone: 802-223-5112 | Fax: 802-223-7852 montpelierbridge.com; facebook.com/montpelierbridge Published every first and third Thursday
Editor & Publisher: Nat Frothingham General Manager: Bob Nuner Production Manager: Marisa Keller Sales Representatives: Carl Campbell, Carolyn Grodinsky, Rick McMahan Graphic Design & Layout: Dana Dwinell-Yardley Calendar Editor: Dana Dwinell-Yardley Bookkeeper: Kathryn Leith Distribution: Kevin Fair, Diana Koliander-Hart, Daniel Renfro Web Master: Michael Berry Advertising: For information about advertising deadlines and rates, contact: 223-5112, ext. 11, carolynatthebridge@yahoo.com or ccampbell@montpelierbridge.com Editorial: Contact Bob, 223-5112, ext. 14, or editorial@montpelierbridge.com. Location: The Bridge office is located at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, on the lower level of Schulmaier Hall. Subscriptions: You can receive The Bridge by mail for $50 a year. Make out your check to The Bridge, and mail to The Bridge, PO Box 1143, Montpelier VT 05601.
Copyright 2012 by The Montpelier Bridge

or almost three years, folk artist and arts presenter Susan Reid had offered a third-floor space in her homecalled the Atticfor intimate folk-music performances. Now, after a recent visit from Montpeliers fire chief and the citys building inspector, Reids upstairs space has been shut down because of fire and safety concerns. Reid said that as many as 50 to 60 people phoned or e-mailed her to express regret that the Attic was closed down. In the years that Reid has been presenting artists at the Attic, shes brought in folk musicians of all kinds from Scotland, Canada, the American Midwest, and, of course, the local area. There are a lot of low-paid artists, Reid said. These artists benefit the community. If an artist appears at a public space, often theres a $50 to $100 charge for the venue. Sometimes the venue makes more than the artist, Reid said. Sometimes the artist makes nothing. The house-concert idea was a way of putting the artist first and making sure that the artist got paid. In order to reopen the Attic where it is, I would have to put in an exterior fire escape and a sprinkler system, Reid said. Were talking probably over $10,000. Reid hopes that the house concert idea will continue in some form, but shes convinced that a first-floor space is essential. Perhaps theres someone else with an available first-floor space in their house who might want to carry the torch. Alternatively, she said, We could go with a venue that isnt a house. But on her fundamental point, Reid is not budging. She believes strongly that wherever an artist is present, that artist deserves to be valued and paid. Nat Frothingham

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tual and Union Mutual Insurance Companies, both of which have signed letters of commitment. The city has also received 15 letters of intent from potential customers along State Street and in the School Street area, including the Federal Building, Christ Church, Bethany United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Church, Kellogg-Hubbard Library and the New England Culinary Institute. A letter of intent, however, only means there is interest in the project, Fraser said; it is not a commitment. Deciding to commit depends on variable costs, including where the boiler is located, piping, what the building has for an existing heating system, and, ultimately, how you feel about the price of oil in the future, Fraser said. The whole project appears to boil down to just that. Oil prices are slated to rise at an average of 8 percent per year; at least, thats what the city has found to be the historical average rate of increase for its own use. Developing the states existing wood-chip plant would not necessarily decrease the citys total of approximately $350,000 annual heating cost, but it would create a largely fixed cost. Citizen Input Montpelier resident Joseph Keane brought questions and concerns about the district heating project to the city council during its May 9 meeting. In fact, Keane, a retired project manager, had prepared a 10-page memo containing a detailed list of questions for the council to consider. Keanes concerns ranged from urging the council to gather more information from other large-scale biomass plants before pursuing requests for proposals (and in fact visiting some plants), to details of the citys contract with the state; questions about who signs off on the piping system once its in place and who is liable should Montpeliers ancient water mains get damaged during construction. He also had some specific questions, such as What liability (if any), would the city have in the event that a portion of the system failed and a commercial customers water pipes froze, causing damage to their building? Keane also had concerns about the cost of wood chips, which Fraser said cost about $1 to every $4 spent on oil for the same amount of heat produced. Keane wrote in the memo, Wood pellets and wood chips have been made from sawmill scrap and trimmings. With the increased use of woodpellet stoves in the Northeast, a number of industry articles discuss the shortage of this supply. So, it appears that in the very near term timber will have to be harvested and kiln dried to supply wood pellets and wood chips. Does the city have any reliable information on projected costs of wood chips in the future(?) . . . and if the above is accurate, does the State plan on locking in long-term contracts for wood chips to control their future costs(?) Fraser said, I thought [Keane] raised a lot of interesting questions and comments. I think its worth looking into. Fraser also said that the council had given Keanes memo to the project team to prepare answers. Someone puts that much time and effort into a document like that, well give it serious thought. No answers to Keanes questions were prepared by the city before press time of this article.

DISTRICT HEAT, from page 1

grant and $750,000 a deferred loan. The huge check used for photo ops sat propped on a bookshelf behind Fraser as he discussed the heating project May 14. While the grant made news earlier this month, he said, it actually came as no surprise; the money had been awarded prior to the citys April 2011 bond vote. Also funding the project are $8 million from the federal Department of Energy, $7 million allotted to the project in the capital bill, along with $1.2 million of in-kind services from Vermonts Department of Buildings and General Services, and the $2 million from Montpelier taxpayers. Fraser is largely upbeat about the project, particularly after the city council voted to approve a plan for going forward that he presented on April 13. The plan includes eliminating the high school from this phase of the project; paying off a $1.077 million debt to the state with the CEDF grant and loan; looking into a couple of alternate route options for piping the heat; continuing to pursue the customer development process; developing a low-interest loan fund to help customers with up-front connection costs; and, perhaps most importantly, according to the memo, the city will not entertain the option of any additional bonding, assuring that sufficient construction reserve funding is available before starting work and assuring that a sufficient user base is in place to safely cover annual expenses. In other words, Fraser said, Were not going to be over budget. We wont do it if it is. Fraser said the city has thus far secured two major private customers: Vermont Mu-

Montpelier City Manager Bill Fraser holds the display copy of the $1.75 million check the city received from the Clean Energy Development Fund for its district heat project. Photo by Cassandra Hemenway Brush. Keane, who describes himself as a citizen who wants to see the project be successful, said, If we screw this up, this is going to make the Scott Construction Company debacle look like a little bump in the road. This is $20 million in funds going to be extended. Its a very important project. God forbid what would happen if this thing doesnt work as advertised, and/or not get permitted because of excess pollution. . . . The better we do our homework, the better the project will come along, he concluded.

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THE BRIDGE

M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 5

Money Matters
The War on the Sisters
I am saddened that the progress we have achieved over the past 50 years is apparently a fantasy. I am concerned that legislation concerning women is heading down a backward path, that the price for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act seems to be acquiescence to laws restricting womens reproductive rights, defunding Planned Parenthood, and gutting collective bargaining and equal pay statutes in many states. I am disturbed that those who are most affected are those least able to fight. For the young, the poor and the uneducated, the recent raft of laws cut off their access to affordable health care. In the interest of full disclosure, I have never used any of Planned Parenthoods services. But what of those women who are just beginning their working lives at low-paying jobs with few benefits? What of the needs of those who have no access to medical services other than what Planned Parenthood provides? Is it acceptable that someone who cannot afford a mammogram or a Pap smear may die of a cancer that is otherwise treatable for someone with a private physician? This ongoing spate of antiwoman legislation will amplify health and societal costs from unwanted pregnancy, from illegal abortion and from an ever-growing population of families in poverty in a world of shrinking benefits. To deny health benefits for gender-related issues is grossly one-sided and hypocritical. I personally have no need for prostate or testicular cancer tests or treatments and will not ever require a prescription for Viagra. Still, my insurance covers these without comment or controversy. To disguise misogyny by draping it in colorful banners of religion and morality runs counter to the intent of the founders, and places us in good company with the Taliban and the government of Iran. Your religion is not my religion and should not govern my actions. No one is suggesting that you do anything to compromise your beliefs, but you should, respectfully, not impose them on me. In this country, women in poverty outnumber men; if this current rash of legislation is allowed to stand, the problem only becomes worse. It is no longer enough to wave our coat hangers on the statehouse steps as spectators, expecting the men that govern to do the right thingwe must storm the house itself. By our actions and our contributions, we have earned these rights, we deserve these rights, and no one should ever be able to take them from us. As for my niece, whose ears are still burning, this is now her fight. She is smart, educated and capable, in spite of her gender; unfortunately, and perhaps because my generation thought the war was already won, she will soon find that her battle towards full citizenship is just beginning. Margaret Atkins Munro, EA, is a licensed tax professional living in Essex Junction. She is the author of 529 & Other College Savings Plans for Dummies and coauthor of Taxes 2009 for Dummies and Estate & Trust Administration for Dummies (coauthored with Kathryn A. Murphy, Esq.).

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by Peggy Munro

ecently, my mother, my two sisters and I spent an evening explaining gender politics and the economic realities of womanhood to my 21-year-old niece. I dont know what was most distressing, her lack of knowledge or her seeming disinterest. Regardless, I can safely say she caught an earful from two generations of her family (three, if you count my grandmother in absentia, a woman far ahead of her time). The current reality is catapulting women back generations to battles we thought long ago decided. We are once again fighting for the right to think for ourselves and are in grave danger of being relegated to a Saudi Arabian level of gender inequality. Our hardwon gains in reproductive rights, equal pay, equal access to education and equal access to justice are slipping away, and the women to whom this should make the most difference seem somewhat oblivious. What I am describing is not a war on women. To ascribe a sound bite to this regression of basic human rights is to trivialize all that we, our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers have fought for. I do not know what sticks most in my craw: laws being proposed and promulgated that assault my person and limit my choices, existing laws designed to protect me that are impermanent and lack necessary substance, or the absence of any law that gives me equal legal stature with the ruling minority. I may stand shoulder to shoulder with a sisterhood comprising 51 percent of the U.S. population, but state and federal legislatures remain overwhelmingly male. In 2012, only 16.6 percent of Congress, 23.3 percent of state legislatures, and 12 percent of governors are women, and those percentages have dropped, not risen. To the man who says, I know how you feel, Im sorry, but you dont. I have worked harder through longer days, and earned less, than men in comparable positions. I have been castigated for neglecting my family due to career and criticized for placing my job above the needs of family. Societal norms state that, because I work from home, the work I do is insignificant; if it were my husband toiling in the basement, no one would ever comment on the value of his job.

Tell them you saw it in The Bridge!

PAG E 6 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

THE BRIDGE

The Art of Creative Aging

Andy Plante (802) 223-5409

1991 Ward Brook Rd Montpelier, VT 05602

Design Installation Maintenance Stone Walls Walks Patios Veneer Sheds/Barns Fencing Lattice

Transplanting Pruning Hedges Trees Shrubs Perennials Vegetable Gardens Lawns

IRONWOOD LANDSCAPE

entral Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) has mounted its third annual juried show of works by older (70-plus) visual artists living in Washington, Lamoille and Orange Counties. The 26-piece show graces the upstairs front room at Kellogg-Hubbard Library until Tuesday, May 29. The shows jurors, Linda Mirabile, David Schutz and Adelaide Tyrol, chose primarily two-dimensional works that include pencil, acrylics, pastels, watercolors, prints, oils and photographs. All of the works are for sale, and the artists share sale proceeds with CVCOA and the library.

Lecture on Healing Effect of Prayer

ark Swinney, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship, will speak at a free lecture on Friday evening, May 25, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier. Swinney, described in a press release as known for his honesty, humor, and candid style, has travelled the U.S. and overseas giving a presentation called The Healing Effect of Your Prayers. According to Swinney, Theres a potent, healing effect that results when the power of God is allowed to transform your thoughts. Swinneys talk will offer practical examples from his 25 years as a Christian Science practitioner and teacher. For more information, call 223-2477, First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Montpelier. all items and photo by Bob Nuner

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M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 7

Council Discusses District Heat, Goals and Radiation

by Bob Nuner

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t the May 9 city council meeting, Mayor John Hollar requested that a senior-center dues policy be extracted from the consent agenda of routine approvals; council member Tom Golonka moved that the discussion be tabled until the next meeting, and council member Sarah Jarvis seconded. Montpelier resident Joseph Keane offered observations on the district heat project (see cover story), urging that the city spend time, effort and expense up front on a request for information (RFI) that would include site visits, enabling the city to get a firsthand look at similar projects. He endorsed confidentiality agreements with operating sites to enable frank discussion about vendor experience. Keane saw an unfavorable allocation of expenses to the city in the joint city-state project, and that there appeared to be a limitation on the citys ability to expand it. He promoted the Vermont Monitoring Cooperative, which includes UVM professors and Vermont state air pollution specialists, as a useful resource for suggesting project testing and acceptance criteria, and noted that Middlebury Colleges heat plant needed a year to obtain its operating license, due to emissions complications. A district reapportionment committee reported its recommendations. They were accepted, and voters will vote on a slight realignment on November 6. Mathematically, each district should represent 2,599 voters. The committee suggested moving residents in the area bounded by Main Street, the Winooski River, Main Street roundabout, and North Branch river from District 3 to District 1. That change brought all three districts well within a level of statistical deviation that the court allows. A difference in beliefs aired about microwave radiation. A Hebert Road resident asked that a wastewater system transmission tower in her front yard be altered or an alternative technology be adopted (fiber optics, wireline, cellphone or cable-based communications) to lessen her familys exposure to pulsed microwaves. In her presentation, she argued that the current setup was potentially damaging to her familys health, although she acknowledged that the Vermont Department of Health epidemiologist

characterized the microwave levels as safe. Hollar and councilors Thierry Guerlain and Andy Hooper questioned how the city could act, given the health authoritys determination (and that other microwave devices are ubiquitous). Councilors Sarah Jarvis, Angela Timpone and Tom Golonka instead suggested a committee review to see if there were an affordable and mutually satisfactory alternative. Hollar asked, What is the goal? of such a committee, and he expressed concern that the city might be setting a precedent for future expenditures of money and staff and council time that already have required public works superintendent Todd Laws attention. A committee including Guerlain, Golonka and Timpone was formed, to report back in two meetings. The balance of the meeting continued the councils work on goals, including those relative to Montpeliers current and future budgets. A wide-ranging discussion ensued about streets and sidewalks, the citys power to enforce removal of double utility poles, the need for adequate parking (particularly if the city pursues downtown economic development), and the need to lessen the water plants cost burden. Discussion ensued about how to plan for infrastructure maintenance and improvement, and the role of a citizens budget advisory committee. There was agreement, not wholehearted, that it was useful to examine how other towns conduct their affairs, to see if there were more efficient means to deliver services. Golonka pointed out that the city is locked into union contracts that limit its ability to pursue new avenues yet acknowledged that rather than nitpick a budget it would be preferable for the council to provide overall guidance. This last appears to be a hard issue. When Hollar questioned City Manager Bill Fraser about previous budget exercises, he questioned credibility of last years 5 percent reduction option. Fraser in turn suggested that it would be incumbent upon the council to take a stand if they really wanted reductions, rather than nibble around budget edges, looking for painless cuts. The evening ended with agreement that the city needed to examine its internal, regulatory and marketing communications. Further discussion about council goals remains for another meeting.

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PAG E 8 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

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THE BRIDGE

M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 9

Whats Real and Whats True: Proof in Plainfield

by Robbie Harold

ver wonder if youre going crazy? If you havent wondered that about yourself, you probably have about someone you love. Catherine, the young math-nerd heroine of David Auburns award-winning play Proof, worries that she may have inherited her fathers madness along with his mathematical genius. Her worry is shared by her sister, Claire, and her fathers grad student, Hal. To complicate things, Hal gets erotically entangled with Catherine while searching for evidence of her fathers brilliant late-life work. Opening at the Plainfield Community Center on May 24 under the guidance of Theatre Virscess founders Dawn Rose Kearn and Aaron James, the play features three young graduates of U-32s celebrated theater program: Kohl Comtess as Catherine, seen in last years Virsces production of Porcelain and Pink; Alison Goyette, back in her first central Vermont role after a 10-year acting hiatus, as Catherines pulledtogether older sister Claire; and Ryan Flannery as future PhD Hal Dobbs, equally fascinated by Catherines work and Catherine herself. For my fellow math-phobes, be assured that the mathematical proof, about which we only learn that its legendarily difficult and has something to do with prime numbers, is a McGuffin, a quest-object of desire that drives a plot, as well as a multilayered metaphor. You can enjoy this play without being able to add two plus two, says Clarke Jordan, a veteran of Unadilla, Shakespeare in the Hills and other local theater groups, who plays Catherines troubled but loving father, Robert. What matters to the plays characters and audience is not the nature of the proof, but whodunitcould Catherine, who dropped out after one semester of college to care for her father in his descent into madness, possibly have solved one of the greatest puzzles in mathematical history? Or is she claiming credit for her fathers work? Numerous time shifts between scenes and acts disorient the audience and compel us to question further the characters interactions and perceptions. Are Catherines conversations with her father flashbacks, dreams or hallucinations? Does Claire want to take her to New York to resume her education and live in comfort, or is she trying to confine and control her younger sibling from jealousy over Catherines closer

Alison Goyette (left) and Kohl Comtess play two sisters in Theatre Virscess production of Proof. Photo by Robbie Harold. relationship with their father? Does Hal really care for Catherine, or is he just after the invaluable mathematical work in her possession? Like the sought-after proof itself, the plays dialogue is elegant, hinting at as much as it reveals, as in Claires appraisal of her family heritage: I probably inherited about a thousandth of my fathers ability. Its enough. Catherine got more . . . Im not sure how muchor of what, exactly, were left to wonder. Claires assessment of Hals feeling for her sister is wonderfully terse: I think youre a little bit of an idiot, she says, but youre not dishonest. The plays setting, the crumbling front porch of Catherines family home, lends itself to simple sets and props, consistent with Theatre Virscess mission of producing theater thats open to everyone, whether as prospective cast members or audience (admission is free). Director Kearn and assistant director James chose the play for its strong characters who blaze complex trails of emotion and leave intriguing mysteries for the audience to untangle: are we dealing with genius, insanity, hidden agendas or all of the above? The proof, of course, is in the viewing. Proof opens at the Plainfield Community Center, 153 Main Street (above the Plainfield Coop), on Thursday, May 24, and runs Friday and Saturday, May 25 and 26. All shows are at 7 p.m. Age 10 and up. Admission free, but donations gladly accepted. Call 522-8005 or e-mail theatrevirsces@gmail.com to reserve seats in advance.

Arts

Equine Summer Day Camp

for Children With All Levels of Needs
August 1317, 2012 Water Tower Farm, Marshfield, VT
Five days of focused Equine Assisted Activitiesan inclusive camp opportunity for youth with and without disabilities with a focus on mentoring, building social and communication skills, offering riding, horsemanship, arts and music activities. Our instructors are NARHA certified riding instructors and certified in CPR and BLS. Full-day program $250.00 for the week Half-day program $175.00 for the week For registration forms, go to rhythmoftherein.org, e-mail rhythmoftherein@aol.com or call 426-3781. Some scholarship assistance may be available for participants with disabilities.

Summer Camps!

MONTPELIER RECREATION DEPARTMENT

Summer Day Camp

Licensed Child Care Program

Licensed childcare programs state subsidy is available upon request. Kindergarten to 12 years old Weekly MondayFriday June 18 through August 17 7:30 dropo, 4:45 pickup Half days or full days Montpelier Recreation Field Special trips weekly & swimming daily Resident Fees: $120.00 per Week-5 Full Days $70.00 5 half days mornings or afternoons Additional Family Members $105.00 per Week- 5 Full Days $60.00 5 half days mornings or afternoons Non-Resident Fees: $160.00 per Week 5 Full Days $100.00 5 half days morning or afternoons Additional Family Members $140.00 per Week 5 Full Days $90.00 5 half days mornings or afternoons Lunch Program TBA

Tall Pines Summer Camp

Weekly day camp from June 25August 17, 2012 for children age 512
Explore the local forest, meadow and pond, swim at the Montpelier pool, harvest garden snacks, wake up with stretches, journaling and camp songs, and express yourself through music, dance, theater and the arts. Through creative teaching, children will be learning math, science, history, literature and culinary skills through our Weekly Themes. This is a place where friendships last, and where laughing and learning never stop. Come and join the Turtle Island Community at Tall Pines Summer Camp!
Info and registration: call or visit Turtle Island Childrens Center 659 Elm Street, Montpelier 802-229-4047, ext 240

Other Summer Opportunies Tennis Lessons (sessions running all summer) Red Cross Swimming Lessons (June through August) Youth Soccer Camp Youth Multi-Sport Camp Basketball Camp Fishing Camp Teen Adventure Camp

For more information, please call our office: 225-8691 www.montpelierrec.org

PAG E 10 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

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arpentry id Lathrop C Dav

229-0921

Tech Check
QUALITY REMODELING & BUILDING

Dont Believe Everything You Read

.com is one of the most famous sites for this. It is a great site to investigate any Internet rumor youve heard about. Heres a spoiler the vast majority of them are false. If youd like to check if you have this infection, you can visit this site: dns-ok.us. An Apple Virus? I Told You So Ive long declared the need for antivirus on every platform. Whether its Windows, MacOS, Linux or even a smartphone, there is clear need for protective software. The very nature of infections has always made this sort of software reactive, making it impossible for someone to know when theyre at a higher risk for infection. By the time you know youre at risk, you might already be infected. I often receive criticism for including Apples MacOS in the list of systems that need antivirus software. Some say the platform is inherently secure. Others say the lack of market share means its flying under the radar of those that create the infections. A couple of weeks ago some Russian security researchers discovered a large group of infected Apple computers. More than 600,000 of them, actually. While this doesnt make it the largest infected group that has been discovered, it is significant. These sorts of groups, called botnets (robot networks) give the owner of the infection the ability to remotely control the infected computers. This control can be used for anything from sending out spam e-mail to coordinating attacks on websites. To Apples credit, they moved quickly to release a tool that would remove the infection. However, the lesson here is a great one. Even though there had been plenty of Apple MacOS infections in the past, this one was the biggest yet. Dont think this will be the last well see of Apple infections, either. Where theres one, there are others. It will take years to convince Apple computer owners of a fact that Windows computer owners have known for a long timeif you have a computer, youre vulnerable. The age of innocence is over, if it even existed in the first place. Jeremy Lesniak founded Vermont Computing (vermontcomputing.com) in 2001 after graduating from Clark University and opened a store on Merchants Row in Randolph in May of 2003. He also serves as managing editor for anewdomain.net. He lives in Plainfield.

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Y
SCHEDULE OF THE DAY
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy at Saint
Jacob of Alaska Orthodox Church (376 Route 12, Northeld Falls, VT, 802485-9121. Rev. Caleb Abetti, Rector: Abetti@gmail.com)

2:00 PM Poetry reading at Brown

Public Library (93 South Main Street Northeld, VT, 802-485-4621) hosted by Poet Laureate of Vermont Sydney Lea. Other poets reading include Baron Wormser, Meg Kearney, Cleopatra Mathis, and David Keller.

6:00 PM Great Vespers with Pan-

ikhida Memorial Service following at St. Jacob of Alaska Orthodox Church. Refreshments and supper will be provided.

Tell them you saw it in The Bridge!

ou might have read recently about the fate of hundreds of thousands of computers that are infected with something being called DNSChanger. This infection isnt a virus but a spyware infection. As the stories go (yes, I am choosing that word carefully) these computers will stop working on July 9, 2012, when the FBI shuts off the control system that these infected computers are communicating through. I dont deny any of these facts. What upsets me is the implication that this issue will affect a large number of Americans. Ive seen a story on this subject from nearly every publication I follow, and every one of them has been little more than fear-mongering. Less than one out of three of these infections are in the United States, which represents an infection rate of five out of every 10,000 U.S. computers. More computers suffer hardware failures, on a daily basis, than are infected with this virus. The way it has been presented in the press is irresponsible. Your antivirus software is great at removing virus infections but probably not at removing spyware, which is a different class of infection. There are many optionstoo many to go into in this short space. Just make sure you have some spyware protection optionprobably more than one. The best programs are free. You should also be ready to investigate the claims that people make on the Internet, especially about computer security. Snopes

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THE BRIDGE

M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 11

Upcoming Events
FRIDAY, MAY 18
Rummage Sale Proceeds support charitable works in the community. 9 a.m.2 p.m. St. Augustine parish hall, 16 Barre Street, Montpelier. Sale continues Saturday, May 19. Spring Sale 9 a.m.4 p.m. Trinity Community Thrift Store, 137 Main Street, Montpelier. 229-9155. Sale continues Saturday, May 19.

SATURDAY, MAY 19

Bird Fest First-ever family-friendly bird and birding festival. Walks and workshops, live raptors, bird-banding demos, keynote by loon biologist Eric Hanson, guest appearance by Bryan Pfeier and more. 7 a.m.3 p.m. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier. $10 adults, free for children. 229-6206. Work Hike with the Green Mountain Club, Montpelier Section All abilities welcome for a 3- to 4-mile work hike along Bamforth Ridge in Duxbury. Wear sturdy boots, work clothes and gloves. Meet at 8 a.m. at Montpelier High School. Eric, 223-1406 or trails@gmcmontpelier.org. Spring Bird Walk with Bob Popp Popp is a botanist for the State of Vermont, is part of the Marsheld Conservation Committee and has been bird watching since he was a teenager. 8:3010:30 a.m. Meet at the Stranahan Forest parking lot. 4263581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. Spring Sale See Friday, May 18, for description and information. Rummage Sale Fill a bag for a dollar on Saturday. 9 a.m.noon. St. Augustine parish hall, 16 Barre Street, Montpelier. Child Car-Seat Safety Check Child passenger safety technicians check your car seats, booster seats and seat belts for free. 10 a.m.1 p.m. Cody Chevrolet, 364 River Street, Montpelier. Free. Play Piano Now!: Free Introductory Session Simply Music is an Australian-developed piano learning method that has students playing great-sounding pieces immediately, from their very rst lessons. For ages 4 to 104. 10:3011:30 a.m. Westwood Drive, Montpelier. Register with Nicholas at 595-1220 or loveplayingpiano.org. Event repeats Saturday, May 26. Free Childrens Rolng Clinic Local structural integrators Rebecca Riley, Irvin Eisenberg and Diane Rodgers donate their professional services in honor of the 116th birthday of Dr. Ida P. Rolf. 10:30 a.m.2:30 p.m. Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library in Montpelier. To make an appointment, contact 223-7678, ext. 2, or irvin.eisenberg@gmail.com. fascialbodies.com.

Poets and Writers Reading 11 a.m. Cutler Library, Route 2, Plaineld. Free. 454-8504 or cutlerlibrary.org. Event happens every third Saturday. Home Funerals and Green Burials Lee Walker leads a presentation and group discussion on home funerals and eco-friendly rituals and burial options at the annual meeting and conference of the Funeral Consumers Alliance of Vermont. 1 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 2238140, 855-698-8322 or mbisbee@myfairpoint.net or funerals.org. Pokemon Gathering Trainers, traders and masters come together to do battle or simply swap cards and hang out with other lovers of the game. Bring your own cards. 1 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard childrens library, Montpelier. 223-4665. Arts First Free art activities for youth age 710. 13:30 p.m. Studio Place Arts, Barre. Free, but space limited; register at 479-7069 by Friday, May 18. Moon Group With Mary Anna Abuzahra. Track the moon cycle in your astrological natal chart, gain self-awareness and learn a helpful way to study astrology. 2 p.m. Private oce, 34 Elm Street, Montpelier. $10$20. Preregistration required; contact Mary Anna, 272-0827. Central Vermont Roller Derby: Tiki Takedown Bout Authentic, hard-hitting, at-track roller-derby action. Doors open at 6 p.m.; whistle at 7 p.m. BOR arena, 20 Auditorium Road, Barre. $10 in advance $15 at the door, free for children 8 and younger. centralvermontrollerderby.com. Shape-Note Sing Ian Smiley leads tunes from The Sacred Harp. All welcome; no experience necessary. 6:308 p.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm Street, Montpelier. By donation. Ian, 229-4008 or vtshapenotesingers@gmail.com. Event happens every rst and third Saturday. Montpelier Community Gospel Choir Spring Concert Directed by John Harrison and accompanied by a live band, the choir performs exuberant, uplifting soul, jazz and original and traditional gospel music. 7 p.m. Waterbury Congregational Church, 8 North Main Street. Free-will oering will be taken. 778-0881 or vtgospel.com. Concert repeats Sunday, May 20. Contra Dance All dances taught; no partner necessary. All ages welcome. Bring soft-soled shoes. 811 p.m. Capital City Grange, 6612 Route 12 (Northeld Street), Berlin. $8. 744-6163 or capitalcitygrange.org. Event happens every rst, third and fth Saturday.

Contact Improv Class and Jam Learn to cultivate your awareness and listening skills, nd ease in your movements and safely move with other people. Accessible to all levels of skill and mobility. 1011 a.m., class; 11noon, open jam. $5$10 sliding scale class and jam, $3$5 jam only. Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio, 18 Langdon Street (third oor), Montpelier. 318-3927. Feldenkrais: Integrating Arms and Hands Learn a series of Awareness Through Movement lessons to help you reduce tension, increase sensitivity and improve comfort in your hands, arms and shoulders. 1:303:30 p.m. Yoga Mountain Center, 7 Main Street, Montpelier. $30. Register at 735-3770 or info@vermontfeldenkrais.com. Dramatic Reading of Blow Your House Down This original play by Vermont playwright Tom Blachly condenses the whole history of theater into eight scenes of comic mayhem. Read by local Vermont actors. Opportunity to provide feedback to the author and the cast follows. 2 p.m. Parlor, Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. Tom, 426-3955 or blachly@together.net. Planning Your Home Orchard Learn what you need to know and decideincluding site selection, varieties and number of treesbefore you start digging holes. 2 p.m. Walden Heights Nursery and Orchard, 120 Route 215, Walden. Free. 563-3012 or waldenheightsnursery.com. Montpelier Community Gospel Choir Spring Concert See Saturday, May 19, for description and information; note change in venue. 7 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. Free-will offering will be taken. 778-0881 or vtgospel.com. Young Singers Chorus of Vermont Spring Pops Concert Three ensembles of children in grades 112 explore 100 years of motion-picture music, including pieces from from Annie and Enchanted. 7 p.m. Barre Opera House. $15 adults, $12 students, free for children 11 and younger. Tickets at 496-4781 or madriverchorale.org.

MONDAY, MAY 21

SUNDAY, MAY 20

Montessori School Open House Visit the school, see classrooms and meet sta and families. 10 a.m.noon. Montessori School of Central Vermont, 89 Karl Circle, Berlin. 223-3320 or info@mscvt.org.

Kids Creating Music Story Time With Bob Brookens. Kids age 18 months to 4 years sing, play and dance their way into spring. 10 a.m. Waterbury Public Library. Free. 244-7036 or waterburypubliclibrary.com. Retirement Financial Seminar For people thinking of retirement or recently retired. Mark Perry and Matt Calhoun of Edward Jones talk about managing your retirement income and answer questions about Social Security. 67 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 46 Barre Street, Montpelier. Free. Register at 223-2518. Plaineld Book Club 6:30 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, Route 2, Plaineld. Free. 454-8504 or cutlerlibrary.org. Event happens every third Monday.

see UPCOMING EVENTS, page 12

LIVING WITH ADVANCED OR METASTATIC CANCER Second Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m. Cancer Center resource room, Central Vermont Medical Center. Lunch provided. 225-5449 WRITING TO ENRICH YOUR LIFE For anyone aected by cancer. Third Tuesdays, noon to 1 p.m. Cancer Center resource room, Central Vermont Medical Center. 225-5449. BEREAVED PARENTS SUPPORT GROUP Facilitated by Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice (CVHHH). Second Wednesdays, 68 p.m. CVHHH, 600 Granger Road, Berlin. Jeneane Lunn, 793-2376. CELIAC AND FOOD ALLERGY SUPPORT GROUP With Lisa Mas of Harmonized Cookery. Second Wednesdays, 4:306 p.m. Conference room 3, Central Vermont Medical Center. lisamase@gmail.com. CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Third Wednesdays, 6 p.m. Potluck. For location, call Carole MacIntyre, 229-5931. MAN-TO-MAN PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Third Wednesdays, 68 p.m. Conference room 2, Central Vermont Medical Center. 872-6308 or 866-466-0626 (press 3). NAMI: CONNECTION A peer-led, recovery-oriented group for individuals living with mental illness. First and third Thursdays, 67:30 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier. 800-6396480 or connection@namivt.org. SURVIVORS OF SUICIDE Facilitated by Cory Gould. Third Thursdays, 56:30 p.m. Board room, Central Vermont Medical Center, Fisher Road, Berlin. Karen, 229-0591. DIABETES DISCUSSION GROUP Focus on self-management. Open to anyone with diabetes and their families. Third Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. The Health Center, Plaineld. Free. Don, 322-6600 or dgrabowski@the-health-center.org. MENS GROUP Men discuss challenges of and insights about being male. Thursdays, 6:158:15 p.m. 174 Elm Street, Montpelier. Interview required: contact Neil Davis, psychologist-master, 223-3753. DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP First Thursdays, 78 p.m. Conference room 3, Central Vermont Medical Center. 371-4152. OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS Twelve-step program for physically, emotionally and spiritually overcoming overeating. Fridays, noon1 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. 223-3079. NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND, MONTPELIER CHAPTER First Saturdays. Lane Shops community room, 1 Mechanic Street, Montpelier. 229-0093. FAMILIES OF COLOR Open to all. Play, eat and discuss issues of adoption, race and multiculturalism. Bring snacks and games to share, and dress for the weather. Third Sundays, 35 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. Alyson, 439-6096 or alyson@suncatchervt.com.

Support Groups
HURRICANE IRENE SUPPORT GROUPS Share your story, listen to others, learn coping skills, build community, and support your neighbors. Refreshments provided. In Berlin on June 10, 6 p.m., Berlin Elementary School, 279-8246. In Waterbury on fourth Thursdays, 6 p.m., St. Leos Hall, 279-4670. In Randolph on Mondays, 11 a.m.noon, Ayers Brook Center, 35 Ayers Brook Road, 279-7697. In Rochester on Mondays, 5:306:30 p.m., Rochester High School library, 222 Main Street, 279-7697. TURNING POINT CENTER Safe, supportive place for individuals and their families in or seeking recovery. Alchoholics Anonymous, Sundays, 8:30 a.m. Making Recovery Easier workshops, Tuesdays, 67:30 p.m. Wits End Parent Support Group, Wednesdays, 6 p.m. Narcotics Anonymous, Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Open daily, 10 a.m.5 p.m. 489 North Main Street, Barre. 479-7373. KINDRED CONNECTIONS For anyone aected by cancer. Get help from Kindred Connections members who have been in your shoes. A program of the Vermont Cancer Survivor Network. Call Sherry, 479-3223, for more information. vcsn.net.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP For anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. Every other Monday, 68 p.m., through August 20. Every other Wednesday, 1011:30 a.m., through August 15. Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre. Ginny, 223-1878. BRAIN INJURY SUPPORT GROUPS Open to all survivors, caregivers and adult family members. Evening group facilitated by Marsha Bancroft; day group facilitated by Kathy Grange and Jane Hulstrunk. Evening group meets rst Mondays, 5:307:30 p.m., DisAbility Rights of Vermont, 141 Main Street, Suite 7, Montpelier, 800-834-7890, ext. 106. Day group meets rst and third Thursdays, 1:302:30 p.m., Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier, 244-6850. GRANDPARENTS RAISING THEIR CHILDRENS CHILDREN First Wednesdays, 10 a.m.noon, Barre Presbyterian Church, Summer Street. Second Tuesdays, 68 p.m., Wesley Methodist Church, Main Street, Waterbury. Third Thursdays, 68 p.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 137 Main Street. Child care provided in Montpelier and Waterbury. Evelyn, 476-1480. HURRICANE IRENE SUPPORT GROUP FOR RECOVERY WORKERS Get peer support and help processing emotions, strengthen relationships and learn coping skills. Every other Monday, 3:30 p.m. (next meetings May 28 and June 11). Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. 279-4670.

PAG E 12 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

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UPCOMING EVENTS, from page 11

TUESDAY, MAY 22

East Montpelier Elementary School Bond Vote Polls open 7 a.m.7 p.m. East Montpelier Town Hall. Harp and Soul in Woodbury and Worcester Flutist Anne Janson and harpist Heidi Soons of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra show kids how the instruments work and perform some familiar music. 10 a.m., Woodbury Elementary School; 1 p.m., Doty Memorial School, Worcester. Eleanor, 800-876-9293, ext. 14. Medicare and You New to Medicare? Have questions? We have answers. 34:30 p.m. Central Vermont Council on Aging, 59 North Main Street, Suite 200, Barre. Free. Register at 479-0531. Event happens every second and fourth Tuesday. Central Vermont Adult Basic Education Volunteer Info Session Current and prospective volunteers: nd out about volunteer opportunities at CVABEs Waterbury Learning Center and share your experiences. Light refreshments. 56 p.m. Waterbury Learning Center, 141 South Main Street. Gale, 476-4588, or Sue, 244-8765. Pilaf and Biryani With Delna Boyce. Learn about the wide range of pilaf and rice dishes (cooked with lentils and vegetables) and biryani. Taste samples and bring home recipes. 57 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. $10 member/owners, $12 nonmembers. Register at 223-8004, ext. 202, or info@hungermountain.com. Ballroom Dance Class Check out the Latin Sampler (rumba and cha-cha) or the Smooth Sampler (waltz and foxtrot). 5:306:30 p.m., Latin; 6:307:30 p.m., smooth. Union Elementary School, Montpelier. $14. 225-8699. Building the Foundation for a Safe and Just Community With Yvonne Byrd, director of the Montpelier Community Justice Center; Anthony Facos, Montpelier police chief; and John Gorczyk, former commissioner of the Department of Corrections. Learn about what makes a civil community, crime prevention and response, and how to become more involved. 68 pm. Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier. Free. 223-9606. Financial Planning Workshop for Flood Survivors Learn how to budget, access available donations, increase your credit score and nancial literacy and more. Simple stress reduction techniques will also be taught. Refreshments provided. 6 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. 279-4670. Sponsored by Starting Over Strong Vermont, Central Vermont Community Action Council and Central Vermont Long-Term Recovery Committee. Madeleine Kunin: The New Feminist Agenda Looking back over ve decades of advocacy, Kunin analyzes where progress stalled, looks at successes in other countries and charts the course for the next feminist revolution. 7 p.m. Bear Pond Books, 77 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 229-0774.

Waterbury Community Band Concert The band presents a variety of marches, show-tune favorites, and other concert band selections. 7 p.m. First Baptist Church, 24 Washington Street, Barre. By donation. Bill, 223-2137 or info@waterburycommunityband.org .

THURSDAY, MAY 24

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23

Learn How to Make Cottage Cheese and Yogurt Panna Cotta from Raw Cows Milk Presented by Rural Vermont and taught by Margaret Osha of Turkey Hill Farm. 14 p.m. Turkey Hill Farm, Randolph Center. $20$40 sliding scale; benets Rural Vermont. Preregistration required; 223-7222 or shelby@ruralvermont.org. Enjoy the Wonders of Fungi With Eric Swanson of Vermush. See projects Eric has been working on, and learn how to culture and grow mycelium into fungi. Everyone will bring home their own oyster mushroom spawn. 57 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. $10 member/owners, $12 nonmembers. Register at 223-8004, ext. 202, or info@hungermountain.com. Berlin Historical Society: Songs by Peace and Pardon Merry Kay Shernock, Page Guertin and Cybil Aitken perform songs from the Civil War and the late 1800s and early 1900s. Potluck precedes performance. 6 p.m., potluck; 7 p.m., performance. Berlin Corner Congregational Church. Free, but registration required. Cheryl, 223-5306 or poorcheryl@myfairpoint.net. Living with Alzheimers for Early-Stage Caregivers What does the diagnosis mean? What kinds of plans need to be made? What resources are available to help? Free three-part series provides answers. 68 p.m. Central Vermont Council on Aging, 59 North Main Street, Suite 200, Barre. Register with the Alzheimers Association at 800272-3900 or kate.romm@alz.org. Button Up Vermont Workshop Learn why building eciency is important in Vermont, how homes lose energy and steps you can take to address home energy loss. 68 p.m. Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce, 33 Stewart Road, Berlin. Free. 479-8544 or homesharenow.org/news. Cosponsored by Home Share Now and the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District. Gross National Happiness and Other Well-Being Indicators Linda Wheatley, founder of Gross National Happiness USA, shares her experiences in Bhutan. 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street, Marsheld. 4263581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. Ecstatic Dance Freestyle boogie with DJ using Gabrielle Roths mediative dance form, 5Rhythms. 79 p.m. Plaineld Community Center. $5$10 donation. Fearn, 505-8011 or fearnessence@gmail.com. Event happens every fourth Wednesday, and rst and third Wednesdays at the Worcester Town Hall. 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Through May 29. 223-3338. KORONGO GALLERY Love Songs, drawings, paintings and mixed-media works by Marie LaPre Grabon. 18 Merchants Row, Randolph. Through June 3. 728-6788 or korongotex@aol.com. STUDIO PLACE ARTS Sweet!, artistic sweets and other delights; The Teeny Tiny, 4-inch-square works to support Studio Place Arts educational and exhibition programs; and My Sketchbook Made Me Do It, works by Hal Mayforth. 201 North Main Street, Barre. Through May 26. 479-7069 or studioplacearts.com. SULLIVAN MUSEUM Tol ko Po Russky, Pozhaluista (Russian Only, Please), chronicling the history of the Russian school at Norwich University, 19682000. Norwich University, Northeld. Through January 2013. 485-2183. VERMONT COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS Re Count and Re Connect, works by Kim Goertner Darling, Sabrina B. Fadial, Diana Gonsalves, Susan Sawyer and Sumru Tekin. College Hall, 36 College Street, Montpelier. May 30July 6. vcfa.edu. VERMONT SUPREME COURT A solo show of new paintings by Vermont artist Ed Epstein. 111 State Street (rst-oor lobby), Montpelier. Through May 31. Tracy, 828-0749.

Free Legal Advice for Seniors Carolyn Jarrett of Vermont Legal Aids Senior Citizens Law Project gives 20-minute consultations to folks age 60 and older. Questions must be about your own issues, not those of a family or neighbor; Jarrett also cannot help with criminal cases or problems. 9 a.m.4 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 46 Barre Street, Montpelier. Free, but appointment required: 223-2518. Sponsored by Vermont Legal Aid and by the Central Vermont Council on Aging. Foot Reexology for Health With Alicia Feltus, foot reexologist. Enjoy an aromatherapy foot bath and learn basic reexology techniques, benets and self-care to promote health and well-being. 5:306:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. $5 member/owners, $8 nonmembers. Register at 223-8004, ext. 202, or info@hungermountain.com. Ukulele Group All ages and abilities welcome. 68 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 46 Barre Street, Montpelier. 223-2518. Event happens every second and fourth Thursday. Spring Service of Remembrance Honoring and remembering those served by Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice. 6 p.m. CVHHH conference center, 600 Granger Road, Berlin. RSVP with Silke: 223-1878 or smusik@cvhhh.org Poetry Reading: Barry Goldensohn The Vermont poet reads from his new book, The Listener Aspires to the Condition of Music. 7 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier. Free. 223-3338. Ecumenical Group Songs of praise, Bible teaching, fellowship. 79 p.m. Jabbok Center for Christian Living, 8 Daniel Drive, Barre. Free. 476-3873. Event happens every second and fourth Thursday. Green Mountain Dog Club Monthly Meeting. Learn about the club and events. All dog lovers welcome. 7:30 p.m. Commodores Inn, Stowe. 479-9843 or greenmountaindog club.org. Event happens every fourth Thursday. Green Mountain Comedy Festival Vermont comics Kathleen Kanz, Phil Davidson, Josh Star, Sydney McEwen, Tim Shaw, Tommy Waltz, Ryan Kenyon and Joel Chaves star in an 18+ show. 8:30 p.m. Black Door, 44 Main Street, Montpelier. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Tickets at vtcomedy.ticketleap.com/gmcf. greenmountaincomedy.com/schedule.

FRIDAY, MAY 25

Spring Migration Bird Walk: Hubbard Park Explore Hubbard Park for spring migrants, such as warblers, thrushes and tanagers. Binoculars available for loan. 78:30 a.m. Call North Branch Nature Center for directions to meeting location. $10, free for nature center members. 229-6206.

calendar continues after the gardening supplement, page 13

Art & Exhibits

SPRING OPEN STUDIO WEEKEND Artists and craftspeople open up their creative workplaces for vistors and viewers. Local artists include: Annie Tiberio Cameron, photography, Montpelier Elissa Campbell, handmade books, Blue Roof Designs, 846 Gallison Hill Road, Montpelier Ira Sollace and Cindy Grith, painting, ber sculpture and woodturning, Hunger Mountain Arts, North Middlesex Missy Storrow and B.W. Cary, ne art, 710 Wheeler Road, Calais Vanessa Compton, mixed-media collage, Krinshaw Studios, Greensboro May 2627. Various locations throughout Vermont. For map and studio guide, visit Artisans Hand, 89 Main Street, Montpelier or vermontcrafts.com.

CENTRAL VERMONT MEDICAL CENTER The Anatomy of Light, photographs by Andrew Kline. Lobby, 130 Fisher Road, Berlin. Through July 6. cvmc.org. COFFEE CORNER Paintings by Sylvia Walker and Annie Limoge. 83 Main Street, Montpelier. June 130. 223-2906. GODDARD COLLEGE The History of Goddard College, 1969 1979, photographs, lms and archival documents, curated by Goddard sta member and alumnus Dustin Byerly. Pratt Center Library, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Road, Plaineld. Through June. 454-8311 or goddard.edu. GOVERNORS GALLERY Work by sculptor John Brickels and painter/photographer Wendy James. Pavilion building, 109 State Street, Montpelier. Through May. Photo ID required for admittance. 828-0749.

Coming up on June 21: SUMMER EVENTS CALENDAR!

We are collecting listings now for a comprehensive special guide to area summer events. Send listings to calendar@montpelierbridge.com. Deadline is Friday, June 15. (You can also send us listings for our June 7 paper; deadline is June 1.)

Theater
MURDER TAKES THE STAGE A thespian-themed murder mystery thriller presented by Cabot Community Theater. Friday, May 18, and Saturday, May 19, 7 p.m.; 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Cabot School Performing Arts Center. $5, $20 family. 563-2669. ALMOST, MAINE Presented by the Montpelier High School Masque. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal and the hearts mendalmostin this midwinter nights dream. Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May 26, 7:30 p.m. Montpelier High School. $7 adults, $5 students; tickets at the door. AT LOST NATION THEATER Now playing: Lyddie, the world premiere of this stage adapatation of Katherine Patersons novel of a Vermont farm girl in the 1840s who goes to work in the Massachusetts woolen mills to regain the farm and reunite her family. Up next: I Love You, Youre Perfect, Now Change, a musical comedy detailing the trials and tribulations of relationships. Lyddie through May 20; I Love You June 724. Lost Nation Theater, 39 Main Street, Montpelier. Thursdays and Sundays, 7 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; 2 p.m. Sunday matinee May 20 and June 24. $25 Thursday, $30 FridaySunday, $10 age 611, $5 discount for students and seniors. Tickets at 2290492 or lostnationtheater.org.

SPRING CHEAP ART SALE May 2628, 11 a.m.5 p.m. (15 p.m. on GREEN BEAN ART GALLERY Saturday). 54 Ridge Street, Montpelier. Textural Abstracts, works by Linda Maney Barbara, 223-0352 or baleber@gmail.com. and Missy Storrow. BLINKING LIGHT GALLERY Capitol Grounds, 27 State Street, MontpeSpring Bloom, watercolors, oil paintings lier. Through June 2. Reception Saturday, and pastels by Northeld artist Kathrena June 2, 4 p.m. curator@capitolgrounds. Ravenhorst-Adams. com. 16 Main Street, Plaineld. Through June KELLOGG-HUBBARD LIBRARY 30. info@blinkinglightgallery.com or Art of Creative Aging, juried exhibit of blinkinglightgallery.com. current work by local visual artists age 70 and older. SUBMIT YOUR EVENT!
calendar@montpelierbridge.com.

Gardening
GETTING STARTED

{A conversation with an anxious beginner}

by Miriam Hansen; illustrations by Barbara Carter

What do I need to do to succeed? Ive never succeeded.

First and foremost, think of success as more than what you get out of the garden the first year. Think of it as the lessons you learn, the fun you have doing it and how youll build on what you learned next year. If its your first garden, start small with the plants that are suited to your location. Make sure your soil has good tilth and nutrients available, get yourself some nice stocky seedlings, plant them out in overcast or rainy conditions, and grow the things you love to eat. Dont be seduced into growing things you dont even like.
more answers to your questions w

May 17, 2012 A special pull-out supplement to The Bridge

Sponsored by:

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Why do a garden?

Where else can you exercise, enjoy the outdoors, get down in the dirt, learn geology, biology and botany, meditate, be entertained and enjoy something delicious at the end of the process? Gardening teaches us to look at the glass half full instead of the glass half empty. Maybe slugs ate some of your kale. But your cherry tomatoes produced gangbusters, and youve never tasted sweeter carrots!

Why is soil so important?

How much time do I have to devote?

Plants cant move. They live in the soil, and the soil is the source of the water, nutrients and air that roots need to grow. When you add compost and manure to the soil, you create the large pore spaces that give roots access to the air they need. Soil is teeming with animal life, and the organic matter you add is food for those soil animals. They break down the organic matter and make it accessible to the plant. When the soil is sterile, the soil animals die and the soil collapses.

When your plants are small, you should pay attention to them. Make sure they get enough water, thin them if you seeded them too close, protect them from pests, and dont let them be smothered by weeds. Once theyre established, theyll shade out a lot of the emerging weeds. Then just when you think youre home free, problems can arise. What is causing holes in the leaves, why are the leaves yellow, how did the weeds get ahead of me? Dont get discouraged. Its all part of the process. Now you have problems to solve. Youre learning by doing. Talk to more experienced gardeners, check the Web for answers, or ask someone at the garden supply store. You may not be entirely successful, but youve just grown your first tomato or pepper or cucumber. It tastes better off the vine than anything youve ever tasted. And you grew it yourself!

Will adding manure burn up my garden?

Fresh manure will burn your plants, so you should always use rotted or composted manure. While its true that cow manure can contain a lot of weed seeds, if you keep after them early on, theyre not a big problem. Weve used cow, chicken, pig and horse manure, all with great success. My preference is for compost, a blend of decomposed plant and animal materials. It gives you a more balanced fertilizer, but unless you make your own, it costs something to buy. The more organic matter you can add to your soil, the better.

Do I need to buy a Ph kit or pay for a soil test?

Where should I put my garden?

If you have a sunny yard, put it there. Most vegetables prefer six to eight hours of sun, but if you only have four hours of morning or midday sun, you can still grow leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce, chard, arugula, carrots, peas and radishes. A friend says shes grown tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes and green beans in an area that only gets afternoon sun! Its not optimal, but its still possible. If you have a sunny balcony, grow a couple of cherry tomatoes and peppers out there. My neighbor creates an arbor on her back south porch with four half barrels filled with soil. She arches tree branches from barrel to barrel, plants pole beans, sweet peas and nasturtiums in each one and munches on beans while she reads in the shade of her flowering arbor.

Ph is the measurement of your soils acidity or alkalinity. Most vegetables like a slightly acid soil. Its not essential to have a soil test, but it can be useful if you suspect your soil is deficient. For less than $5, you can buy a kit that gives you a general idea of Ph and the three macronutrients, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. For a more complete picture, you can get a soil test from UVM. Theyll give you a more exact Ph, macro- and micronutrient levels, and recommendations on improving soil fertility.

Should I plant in beds or rows?

Beds are a much better use of space. You lose less space to paths and can plant more intensively. You dont walk on the bed, so you dont compact the soil around the plant roots. And there is less area for weeds to grow. In our garden we hill up either side of a 16-inch path to make beds about 3.5 feet across.

What do I need to begin?

You need a garden space or balcony with containers and decent soil. A gardening fork and trowel would be handy. You need seeds or seedlings and, ideally, some composted manure. If youre starting with a postage-stamp garden, borrow tools from a neighbor or make do with a gardening fork. You dont need to acquire all the tools the first year.

How can I keep ahead of the weeds?

What if Im starting with a lawn right now?

You can lift the sod to get rid of the grass roots and dig in a few inches of compost or rotted manure with a fork. This is a bit of work but, if you start with a small area, not too overwhelming. Another way to start a small garden quickly is called lasagna gardening. Like lasagna, you make this garden in layersa thick overlapped layer of newspaper over the sod, followed by leaves, peat moss, compost and even kitchen scraps until youve got a deep enough bed in which to plant. I like the idea of smothering the sod rather than removing it. That way you dont lose all the topsoil. There are all kinds of books and Web pages on lasagna gardening. On a larger area, till in the grass, add compost or rotted manure, and seed successive crops of buckwheat, mustard or Canadian peas over the summer. This puts nitrogen and organic matter into the soil. Then plant winter rye in the fall and till it in the spring. Winter rye will get rid of the witch grass.

When seeds are just coming up, weed thoroughly and diligently. Once seedlings are big enough to shade out new weeds, you dont have to weed as often. Growing two or more different kinds of vegetables in the same bed also helps. This is called intercropping. For instance, you can grow lettuce or spinach, quick-growing crops that appreciate some shade, around slower-growing vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. Mulch your paths with newspapers and a light covering of straw. Avoid using hay; it contains a lot of weed seeds, which defeats the purpose of mulching. The key is getting weeds out before theyve had a chance to grow huge root systems and go to seed. As the saying goes, One years seeding, seven years weeding!

What if I plant and nothing comes up?

This happens. Maybe the seeds were old or the garden got too dry. You planted too shallow or too deep. Try to time your planting for either before or after a rain. If thats impossible, give them a good soaking after you plant. Some plants, like carrots, really need to stay moist to germinate well. If were in for a long dry spell, once weve watered them in, we can lay boards across the bed. After about seven days, I check to see if theyre coming up. If they are, I remove the boards. If not, I keep checking every day until they come up. The boards keep the bed moist.

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Dont be too impatient. Some plants like parsnips and parsley take a really long time to germinate. If youve waited and nothing germinates or there are empty spaces, just replant. Theres no shame in it.

What if I planted too thickly?

If your seedlings are too close together, you can either move some of them to make room between them or thin them out, eating as you go. It depends on the crop. You cant move root crops, but you can move lettuce and spinach, though frankly, Ive never had much luck moving spinach. Thin the plants that are too close together and eat them. Baby spinach is delicious!

summer lettuce, you need to pick a variety or mix that tolerates heat without going to seed. I plant green beans late because I dont want to pick them at the same time as the peas. I grow a lot of them and stagger two or three plantings 10 days apart so they come in over a longer period of time. I plant carrots and beets three times in the course of the summer, starting early May and ending towards the end of June.

If I want to start my own seedlings, how late can I start them?

Should I follow directions on the seed packet to figure out when to plant?

Instructions on seed packets give good guidelines, but the most useful information is the number that comes before the word days. That tells you how long it takes for that vegetable to be ready to eat from the time it comes up in the garden, not from the time you plant the seed. This makes sense, since germination can be fast or slow. If you put it in the ground as a seedling, like tomatoes and peppers, it is the number of days from when you plant in the ground. Work back from that number to figure out how long you have before you can start harvesting.

It depends on the vegetable. You can plant lettuce every two weeks from April to August. Like peas and spinach, broccoli and cauliflower like cooler temperatures. You can start them as seedlings in April and then again in June for a fall crop. Mid-May is not too late to start cucumbers and summer and winter squash seedlings. Squash takes a lot of room, but cucumbers like to climb, so even if your garden is small, you might have room for a couple.

How do I prevent insects and animals from destroying my garden?

What does that percent number on the seed packet mean?

That number (sometimes after the abbreviation germ.) tells you what percent of the seed is likely to come up. If it says 88 percent, most of the seeds you plant should come up. If it says 70 percent, less than three-quarters will come up. As a rule, the older the seed, the fewer seeds will germinate.

Should I plant everything at once or stagger planting at different times?

If something is eating your plants, you need to figure out what it is. In a wet summer, most of us have problems with snails and slugs. In addition to picking them off and killing them, I use Sluggo, a product that is safe and biodegradable. It really works! Flea beetles make tiny holes in plant leaves and can just about wipe out seedlings in the early spring. You can sprinkle a botanical insecticide like rotenone or use a floating row cover over the plants. This keeps the flea beetles out long enough to get the plant beyond the seedling stage. Pretty little white cabbage moths, cucumber beetles and Japanese beetles are the other regulars in our pest brigade. We use B.T., a disease specific to cabbage moth larvae, and handpick the cucumber beetles. They are easy to spot because they congregate in the squash flowers. Try to get out in the garden early in the morning to see what damage is being done and who is doing it!

Many gardeners plant their entire gardens on Memorial Day weekend. Thats fine, especially in a small garden. But if you stagger plantings, youll have a steady supply of vegetables from June to October. The key is to understand the needs of the vegetables you are growing. Peas, lettuce and spinach tend to like it cool. You dont plant spinach in the heat of the summer, and, if you want

What are floating row covers?

Floating row covers are a permeable, lightweight material you can either lay directly over plants or over hoops above the plants. Sun and rain will penetrate. Its amazing how much bigger your crops grow when you start them out this

more answers to your questions w

Sale on Composts and Potting Mixes, through 5.28!

Includes Moo, Foster Bros., VT Compost, and Grow Compost.
Our greenhouse is open with vegetable starts and flowers. The Fruit and Nut Hut is open with organic fruit plants and trees from Elmore Roots. We also have seed potatoes, onion sets and asparagus!

HOURS: MonFri, 86; Sat 85

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way. I use them over basil and peppers all summer. My basil plants resemble small trees by August!

Are there any vegetables that are foolproof to grow?

Its funny. Radishes are the only vegetable I have problems growing, and most books tell you they are easiest of all! In my experience, peas, kale, beans, snowball turnips, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, zucchini and chard are all pretty easy to grow. Celery, eggplant, melons, cauliflower, fennel and parsnips can be a bit trickier.

Hands-On Gardener
Successes and Failures
by Miriam Hansen

How do I decide what to grow?

First consider what you like to eat. Then ask yourself how much space you have. Corn takes a lot of space because you have to grow a good block of it for cross pollination. It is also a deep feeder, so your soil has to be very rich. Do you have enough sun for that crop? Make the best use of your space by intercropping, and grow vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers and pole beans that grow vertically. If you love green beans but dont have much space, grow pole beans instead of bush. Varieties like Fortex and Northeaster produce incredibly long, huge, sweet beans that never get tough.

Is there a good time of day to work in the garden?

It depends on what youre doing. Early morning is the best time to catch pests in the act. Weeding is easiest when the ground is moist but not soaking wet. To avoid spreading disease, dont handle plants when they are wet. Late afternoon is when we hunt Japanese beetles. Other than that, work in the garden when it is convenient. If you feel forced to garden, you wont enjoy it as much!

How do I know when to water and how much to water?

Its important not to overwater. You can drown your plants. Sometimes on a hot sunny day, Ive noticed broccoli and squash looking wilted even though the soil has plenty of moisture. Apparently, wilting protects them from harsh sun by minimizing the leaves exposure. When the sun goes down, the plants perk back up. The best way to figure out whether you need to water is to stick your finger in the soil not at, but near the base of your plants. If the soil is moist in the root zone, you dont need to water. If it is dry, you do.

What is your favorite gardening book?

I like the Web because you can type in any specific question and get a specific answer. There are a zillion beginners gardening books out there, but if you want an overview from one of the best gardeners Ive ever known, read Complete Home Gardening: Growing Secrets and Techniques for Gardeners by Miranda Smith. Her style is punchy, and she taught gardening for 35 years.

Is gardening going to cost me an arm and a leg?

There will be some initial cost. You probably will need gardening tools, and youll have to buy seeds and seedlings. But you dont have to spend an arm and a leg. Garage sales are a great source of gardening tools. I water seedlings with a Pepsi bottle, start seeds in all kinds of found containers and make labels out of snipped up cottage-cheese containers. As you gain confidence, you may decide to buy peat pellets to start some of your seedlings or invest in a decent watering can. This year I bought knee pads! You dont have to get all the tools at once. Start small when it comes to expenses. Steady as she goes! And happy gardening!

his has been a humbling month in some respects. All but one of the cucumbers I planted in the greenhouse in April died. I was sure they had cucumber wilt, a bacterial disease passed along by cucumber beetles, until my neighbor explained hed had greenhouse cucumbers do just that when they got too cold. Remember that four-day cold snap? When I pulled up the wilted plants, they were pinched in at the base, just as Joe described. I started new seedlings and will set them out this week. Ive had great success with lettuce and spinach planted around cherry tomatoes and peppers in the greenhouse. When I pulled the spinach I started last March, I thought I was pulling six or seven plants. It was one plant, a couple of feet high and about a foot across! That says everything about the difference a greenhouse can make. The Jericho Cos and Morges de Braun, two Romaine-like varieties I planted six weeks ago, are a foot high! I have a gorgeous array of lettuce in one cold frame Nancy Butterhead, Blushed Butter, Lollo de Vino, Sweet Valentine, Magenta and North Polewith colors ranging from bright green to blushes of pink to wine red. The salads were eating are beautiful as well as delicious! Given the choice of kohlrabi, Chinese cabbage, early cabbage and tatsoi seedlings, the flea beetles chose the Chinese cabbage. We sprinkled rotenone on all of them, pulled row cover over a bed of cauliflower and broccoli, and, as usual, Im grateful to the beetles for thinning out the weaker plants. I did the stupidest thing Ive done in a long time. A few days before I set out the cauliflower seedlings, I planted carrots and parsnips. As I dug holes and popped the cauliflower in, my husband commented that the soil in that part of the garden is so deep and loamy, it would make a great place to plant carrots. That twigged a memory, and I realized I was transplanting cauliflower into the bed Id just planted with carrots and parsnips a couple of days earlier! I moved the cauliflower plants and am waiting to see what a crazy quilt of carrots and parsnips will develop in the soil I disturbed.

More questions? Go to

Planning and Planting Your Garden

Workshop for beginners and intermediates. Bring your questions and interests. Saturday, May 26, 9:30 a.m.noon, at Miriam Hansens house. $20. Minimum of five participants, maximum of 10. Contact Miriam at freshair460@gmail.com.

The peas we planted at the end of March have been a huge success and a partial failure. The Sugar Snaps came up thickly and are already 10 inches high, but the two kinds of shelling peas (Green Arrow and Telegraph) and the Blizzard Snow Peas came up patchy. We dug around to figure out what happened and could barely find any seed. We finally replanted, and Im pleased that even if it was unintentional, well be eating peas over a longer season than originally intended. We have added horse manure to all the beds and sprinkled lime (sort of like icing on a bundt cake) on the one well plant to beets. We still have a quarter of a bed of overwintered carrots under their huge bed of leaves. Ive been amazed at how sweet and firm they are, not even a sign of sprouting. The same is true of the cippolini, Copra onions, shallots and garlic in the root cellar. Most of them are still rock hard and delicious. I made my traditional Mothers Day visit to Cadys Falls just outside Morrisville, a favorite nursery for quality, price and unusual offerings. Ive been filling in a couple of shady beds with hellebores, trillium, primroses and epimedium. We bought three more heathers, and I side dressed the heather garden with a mixture of wetteddown peat moss and composted horse manure to lighten and acidify the soil. The last two summers some of our clematis has come down with clematis wilt, a fungal disease whose symptoms are pretty discouraging. Leaves blacken and eventually the entire vine just shrivels and looks dead. But every spring new healthy shoots emerge. Aside from cutting back and disposing of the infected stems, Lela Avery of Cadys Falls suggested we sprinkle lime around the base of each plant. She said they prefer a neutral soil, and since weve never added lime to the perennial bed, it seemed like a good idea to try it. Writing an article for beginners has been another humbling experience. I realized how many truisms I spout based on what I read rather than my own experience. For instance, gardening literature states that its not worth growing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in only four hours of afternoon sun. Thankfully, I have a friend who has always gardened on the north side of her house and though those plants dont perform as well as the shade lovers, she said she still had as many cherry tomatoes as she could eat and gave cucumbers away at the end of the season. Similarly, I have always believed that the last spring frost coincides with the full moon and have timed plantings accordingly. A friend challenged this assumption, examined years of climate data and reported no evidence to support this belief. It made me wonder what other wrong-headed information I have stored in my head that someone told me and I believed. Im sure there is some. None of us is immune. But I hope you readers will let me know if I pass information along that goes against your own experience! Happy gardening! Miriam and her husband, David, live in East Montpelier, where they grow most of their own vegetables, berries and meat on less than 1/4 of an acre. Your questions and comments are welcome. You can reach Miriam at freshair460@gmail.com.

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M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 13

Giant Plant and Book Sale Beautiful potted owers and vegetables and hundreds of books on all subjects. Benets the Cutler Memorial Library. 9 a.m.5 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, Route 2, Plaineld. 4547767. Event continues Saturday, May 26. Soft Rummage Sale Gently used spring and summer clothes and other ber items. 9 a.m.6 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. Sale continues Saturday, May 26. 793-1462. Kava Kava and Confections A night of kava kava cocktails and raw desserts hosted by Grian Herbs and Amai Bijoux. Celebrate spring with raw treats, tonics and the traditional euphoric kava beverage of the Pacic. 69 p.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm Street, Montpelier. No entry fee; cocktails and treats available for purchase. The Healing Effect of Your Prayers Mark Swinney of Albuquerque, New Mexico, speaks from his 25year experience as a practitioner and teacher of Christian Science. 7 p.m. Capitol Plaza Hotel, 100 State Street, Montpelier. Free. 2232477. Sponsored by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Montpelier. Heliand Consort: Classics for Piano and Winds The ensemble performs classical chamber music by Mozart and Thuille as part of their spring tour of Vermont. 7:30 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main Street, Montpelier. $15$20 suggested donation. 735-3611 or heliandconsort.org.

SATURDAY, MAY 26

and surrounding city parks to search for basking turtles, breeding frogs, stream salamanders and more. 10 a.m.noon. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm Street, Montpelier. $10 nature center members, $12 nonmembers, $5 children. 229-6206. Play Piano Now!: Free Introductory Session See Saturday, May 19, for description and information. Green Mountain Monteverdi Ensemble of Vermont in Concert The serious ensemble with a tongue-in-cheek name, dedicated to performing compositions of the 16th and 17th centuries, performs secular music of Claudio Monteverdi and sacred music of his student Heinrich Schtz. 3:30 p.m. Christ Episcopal Church, 64 State Street, Montpelier. $20 suggested donation. Stephen, 223-0687 or gmmev@steadmanhill.com. Pacems Second Annual Spring Feastival A celebration of spring, good food and the joy of eating together. Food slam and fabulous eats, music and dancing. Semi-formal event (no jeans and T-shirts). For all ages. 68 p.m. Pacem School and Homeschool Center, 29 College Street. $15 or one dish for the food slam. pacemschool.org Traditional New England Dance Bill Olson calls singing squares, circle mixers and his own nutty dances to tunes by the Homegrown Chestnuts house band. No partner needed. Bring shoes not worn outside and a dessert to share. 7:30 p.m., newcomers instruction; 8 p.m., dance. Capital City Grange. 6612 Route 12 (Northeld Street), Berlin. $8, $4 for rsttimers. Merry, 225-8921.

low musicians. Band instrument players of all ages welcome. Bring your instrument and a music stand. 7 p.m. Bethany Church, Montpelier. Practice continues Wednesday, June 6; concerts start Wednesday, June 13. Getting Started with Homeschooling Workshop Have you been thinking about educating your child at home? This one-time workshop will get you started. 78 p.m. Pacem School and Homeschool Center, 29 College Street, Montpelier. $15, free for those enrolled in Pacem for fall 2012. pacemschool.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 31

2012: A Druids Perspective Ivan McBeth of the Green Mountain Druid Order talks about the awesome times in which we live and how they can launch us, individually and as a race, into a new way of being. 67:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. $8 member/owners, $10 nonmembers. Register at 223-8004, ext. 202, or info@hungermountain.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 1

Work Hike with the Green Mountain Club, Montpelier Section All abilities welcome for work hikes of various distances on the Elephants Head and Sterling Pond Trails in Smugglers Notch. Wear sturdy boots, work clothes and gloves. Meet at 8 a.m. at Montpelier High School. Eric, 223-1406 or trails@gmcmontpelier.org. Spring Fundraiser Yard Sale Lots of interesting new and gently used items. 8 a.m.1 p.m. Pacem School and Homeschool Center, 29 College Street, Montpelier. Giant Plant and Book Sale See Friday, May 25, for description; note change in time. 9 a.m.3 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, Route 2, Plaineld. 4547767. Plant Give-Away for Irene Survivors Take home perennials, annuals and ornamental shrubs for reclaiming your yard and gardens after Tropical Storm Irene. Plants are free and available to anyone aected by the storm. 9 a.m.noon. St. Leos Hall, 109 Main Street, Waterbury. 279-4670. Sponsored by ReBuild Waterbury and St. Leos Hall. Soft Rummage Sale See Friday, May 25, for description; ll a bag for $2 on Saturday. 9 a.m.1 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. 793-1462. The Road Taken: A Memorial Celebration for Don Sheehan Poetry reading with local poets, hosted by Vermont Poet Laureate Sydney Lea, plus divine liturgy, vespers and supper to honor Sheehan, long-time professor at Dartmouth College, rst executive director of the Frost Place in Franconia, New Hampshire, and a subdeacon in the Orthodox Church. 9:30 a.m., divine liturgy; 2 p.m., poetry reading; 6 p.m., vespers, memorial service and supper. Poetry reading at Brown Public Library, 93 South Main Street, Northeld; all other events at Saint Jacob of Alaska Orthodox Church, 376 Route 12, Northeld Falls. 485-9121 or 485-4621. Reptile and Amphibian Walk Join Larry Clarfeld for a walk around North Branch Nature Center

MONDAY, MAY 28

One Flower Blooms, the World Arises Talk by Issho Fujita, Japanese Zen master. 7 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 4567091 or shaoshantemple.org. Adult Book Group Copies of the book available at the library. New members welcome. 78 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, Old Schoolhouse Common, Marsheld. 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. Event happens every fourth Monday.

Acro Yoga Therapeutics and Thai Massage With Lori Flower and Abbi Jae. Beginner-friendly class: come with a partner or by yourself. 6:309 p.m. Yoga Mountain, Montpelier. Details at sattvayoga. wordpress.com. Benet Concert with Benjamin Elton Capps The principal cellist with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas performs to benet Prevent Child Abuse Vermont as part of the Burlington Ensemble Believer Tour. 7:30 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. $20. Tickets at 598-9520. 229.2724 or pcavt@pcavt.org.

SATURDAY, JUNE 2

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30

Cooking for Healing With Lisa Mas of Harmonized Cookery. 57 p.m. $35, includes class, recipes and shared meal. For location and registration, contact 872-8898, allison@ayurvedavermont.com, or lisamase.blogspot.com. Investigate Before You Vaccinate With Charlotte Gilruth, certied in classical homeopathy. Become an informed consumer. Film and discussion of real, though littlepublicized, vaccine risks, and alternative ways to build immunity. 5:307:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. $5 member/owners, $7 nonmembers. Register at 223-8004, ext. 202, or info@hungermountain.com. Central Vermont Catholic School Spring Concert Performances by students in preschool through eighth grade. 6 p.m. Gymnasium, 79 Summer Street, Barre. Free. 476-5015. Wildlife Tracks and Signs With Angella Gibbons from EarthWalk Vermont. All ages welcome. Follow tracks, learn dierent signs and play games during a springtime walk along the Winooski River. 6:30 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street, Marsheld. 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. Capital Band Practice Interested in playing with the Capital Band on the State House lawn this summer? Come see the music and meet some friendly fel-

Hike with the Green Mountain Club, Montpelier Section Bushwhack through the Middlesex Town Forest to Chases Mountain. Dicult hike; 2257-foot elevation. Hardwood forest with some steep pitches. No trails. Limited group size: registration required. Contact leader John Buddington, 229-0725 or webmaster@gmcmontpelier.org. East Montpelier Trails Work Day Celebrate National Trails Day by helping build a plank bridge. For more information, e-mail Dave at dhwebb67@comcast.net. Walk for Animals Walk 3.1 miles through downtown Montpelier to raise funds and awareness for pets in need. T-shirts and gifts for all walkers; prizes for top earners. Well-behaved, leashed dogs welcome. 9:30 a.m.1 p.m. Montpelier Recreation Field, 1 Poolside Drive. $25 minimum pledge per walker. Visit cvhumane.com. 10th Annual Adamant Blacky Festival Parade, live music, food, and family fun all day long. 11 a.m.5 p.m.; parade at 2 p.m. Adamant Co-op, 1313 Haggett Road, Adamant. 223-1772 or blackyfestival.org. Eighth Annual Montpelier Fashion Show More than 75 local models strut their wild stu in a wildlifethemed show, showing o fashionable attire by local businesses and designers. Street performers, live music and more. 11:30 a.m.3 p.m.; 1 p.m. runway show. State Street, Montpelier. Free. Anne-Marie, 279 5762 or info@montpelierfashionshow.org. Nonprot partner: Nongame Wildlife Fund.

see UPCOMING EVENTS, page 14

NECI ON MAIN: THE CELLAR 118 Main Street, Montpelier. All shows 69 p.m., no cover. 223-3188 or necidining.com. Thursday, May 24 Mark LeGrand (rock/blues) Thursday, May 31 Borealis Guitar Duo (Celtic/English/old-time) NUTTY STEPHS CHOCOLATERIE Route 2, Middlesex. All shows 710 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 229-2090 or nuttystephs.com. Every Thursday Bacon Thursdays, hot music and live conversation, 6 p.m.midnight SKINNY PANCAKE 89 Main Street, Montpelier. 262-2253 or skinnypancake.com. Every Sunday Old-time sessions with Katie Trautz and friends, 46 p.m. (intermediate to advanced players welcome to sit in) Sunday, May 20 The Bloodroots Barter (bluegrass) Sunday, May 27 Jordan Tice (Americana) Sunday, June 3 Arthur Krakow (indie/folk)

Live Music
BAGITOS 28 Main Street, Montpelier. All shows 68 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 229-9212 or bagitos.com. Every Saturday Irish/Celtic session with Sarah Blair, Hillary Farrington Koehler and Benedict Koehler, 25 p.m. Every Tuesday Jazz with Karl Miller Every Wednesday Acoustic blues jam with the Usual Suspects Friday, May 18 Siena Facciolo, Forest Hanson, Jaimen Sather and friends Saturday, May 19 Stefanie Capizzi and friends Sunday, May 20 Brunch with Paul Reynolds and Dayve Huckett (classical viola and guitar), 11 a.m.1 p.m. Thursday, May 24 Bad Mr. Frosty presents Abby Jenne, 69 p.m.

Friday, May 25 Theo Exploration and Tiger Swami Saturday, May 26 John Mowad Sunday, May 27 Brunch with Gabe Sequeira (classical/Spanish guitar), 11 a.m.1 p.m. Friday, June 1 Michael Jermyn and the Aristocratic Peasants Saturday, June 2 Nancy Smith and friends Sunday, June 3 Brunch with Eric Friedman, 11 a.m.1 p.m. BLACK DOOR 44 Main Street, Montpelier. All shows start at 9:30 p.m. with $5 cover unless otherwise noted. 225-6479 or blackdoorvermont.com. Friday, May 18 One-Year Anniversary Party with MadMan3 (electronica) Saturday, May 19 Marvin and the Cloud Wall with The K. Lowell Lander Show (folk/blues/indie) Friday, May 25 Queen City Bossa (bossa-nova)

Saturday, May 26 Rusty Belle with Swampcandy (indie-folk/blues) CHARLIE OS 70 Main Street, Montpelier. 223-6820. Every Tuesday Karaoke Friday, May 18 In This Century and Mark LeGrand (alternative) Thursday, May 24 First Crush and the Jordan Catalanos (indie) Friday, May 25 Pariah Beat (indie/folk) Saturday, May 26 Lava Moss (rock) Friday, June 1 Starline Rhythm Boys (honky-tonk/rockabilly) Saturday, June 2 Bad Dog and Dino Bravo (rock) CIDER HOUSE RESTAURANT Route 2, Waterbury. 244-8400 Every Saturday Dan Boomhower (piano), 6 p.m.close FRESH TRACKS FARM 4373 Route 12, Berlin. 223-1151 or info@freshtracksfarm.com. Saturday, May 19 Karen Krajacic and Jon Rose (folk/rock/country/Americana), noon4 p.m

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT! E-mail calendar@montpelierbridge.com.

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UPCOMING EVENTS, from page 13

Moving Light Dance Presents La Fille Mal Gardee This touching tale of two determined lovers and their quest to marry is one of the oldest and most important works in the modern ballet repertory. 7 p.m. Barre Opera House. $10$15. Tickets at 476-8188 or barreoperahouse.org. Event repeats Sunday, June 3.

SUNDAY, JUNE 3

Hike with the Young Adventurers Club Easy climb on Spruce Mountain in Plaineld for all ages. YAC is a group of the Montpelier section of the Green Mountain Club devoted to helping kids 06 and their parents get outdoors to hike, play, learn and make friends. Call leaders Alyssa Krebs, 485-4312, or Gretchen Elias, 223-6360, for meeting time and place. Moving Light Dance Presents La Fille Mal Gardee See Saturday, June 2, for description; note change in time. 2 p.m. Barre Opera House. $10$15. Tickets at 476-8188 or barreoperahouse.org. Goddard College Concerts: Ang Li The internationally acclaimed piano virtuoso plays an afternoon of classical music. Doors open at 3 p.m.; show at 3:30 p.m. Haybarn Theater, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Road, Plaineld. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Tickets at Buch Spieler in Montpelier or wgdr.org.

Red Tail Ring at Green Mountain Girls Farm Laurel Premo and Michael Beauchamp share a raw blend of original compositions and interpretations of old ballads and dance tunes from Appalachia. Optional farm-fresh picnic before the concert. 46:30 p.m., picnic and tour; 7 p.m., concert. Green Mountain Girls Farm, 923 Loop Road, Northeld. Concert: $7$10 suggested donation; picnic and tour: $15 adults, $5 kids. eatstayfarm.com or redtailring.com. Onion River Chorus: Where Everything is Music The Montpelier chorus, directed by Larry Gordon, performs contemporary a cappella choral pieces, including works by Burlington composer Don Jamison and Colorado composer Toby Tenenbaum. 7 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main Street, Montpelier. Suggested donation: $12 adults, $8 students, $25 families. 476-4300.

TUESDAY, JUNE 5

Intro to Meditation For Stress Management, Improved Health and Inner Peace With Sherry Rhynard. Whether youve never meditated or tried but found it dicult to continue, learn theory and eective techniques, and get some practice time. Handouts provided. 67:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Montpelier. $10 member/owners, $12 nonmembers. Register at 223-8004, ext. 202, or info@hungermountain.com.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 THURSDAY, JUNE 7

Capital Band Practice See Wednesday, May 30, for description and information.

MONDAY, JUNE 4

Vermont Womens Business Center Networking Luncheon Paul Haigh gives a talk on Best Retirement Investment Tips for Women. Bring bag lunch if desired. 11:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. 327 Barre-Montpelier Road, Berlin. Free. 479-9813. Classic Book Club 6 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, Route 2, Plaineld. Free. Daniel, 793-0418. Event happens every rst Monday.

Science of Mind Principles Study group for inquiring minds of all faiths. 68 p.m. Universal Rivers of Life, 28 East State Street, Suite 4 (second oor), Montpelier. 223-3427 or robin@universalrivers.com. Event happens every rst and third Thursday.

calendar@montpelierbridge.com
Zen Meditation Wednesdays, 6:307:30 p.m. 174 River Street, Montpelier. Call Tom for orientation, 229-0164. With Zen Aliate of Vermont.

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT!

Weekly Events
ACTIVISM
Weekly General Assembly for Occupy Central Vermont Saturdays, 35 p.m. Outside City Hall, Montpelier; rain location Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Agendas and locations at occupycentralvt.org. Heather, bettypageturner@gmail.com.

Saturdays, 11 a.m.2 p.m. The Bead Hive, Plaineld. 454-1615.

BICYCLING

Open Shop Nights Have questions or a bike to donate, or need help with a bike repair? Come visit the volunteer-run community bike shop. Mondays and Wednesdays, 57 p.m. Tuesdays, 68 p.m. Freeride Montpelier, 89 Barre Street, Montpelier. By donation. 552-3521 or freeridemontpelier.org. Weekly Rides at Onion River Sports Come in proper physical condition depending on ride, bring water and a snack and dress appropriately for weather. Helmets required. Anyone under 15 must be accompanied by an adult; anyone under 18 must have a signed parental permission form. Mondays Cyclocross Cruise, 6 p.m., 1- to 2-hour, moderate, casual cyclocross ride, climbing and descending beautiful dirt roads Tuesdays Cycling 101 with Linda Freeman, 5:30 p.m., all levels welcome Wednesdays Mountain Bike Ride, 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., intermediate to advanced rides on dierent area trails each week; for carpooling and more information, e-mail kip@onionriver.com Onion River Racing Wednesday Night World Championships, 5:30 p.m., fast ride with town line sprints and competitions for bragging rights, route announced at ride time; onionriverracing.com Thursdays Onion River Racing Thursday Night Nationals, 5:30 p.m., pace is zone 1 and 2, no-drop ride, route announced at ride time; onionriverracing. com.

story, art, song, nature activities and cooperative games. Dress for the weather. Story time: Mondays, 10 a.m. Playgroup: Wednesdays, 1011:30 a.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School Street, Marsheld. 426-3581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. Capital City Farmers Market Vegetables, milk, cheese, eggs, meat, maple syrup, Spring Storytime for Toddlers ne crafts, prepared foods, plants and more. Live Story, craft and snack. music and demos all summer. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Ainsworth Public Library, Saturdays, 9 a.m.1 p.m. 60 State Street (corner of Main Street, Williamstown. Through May 16. State and Elm ), Montpelier. Through October 27. 433-5887. Carolyn, 223-2958 or manager@montpelierfarmers Cub Capers Storytime and Songs market.com. For children age 35 and their families. Gospel Brunch: A Community Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. Childrens room, Bear Pond Meal Books, 77 Main Street, Montpelier. 229-0774. All-you-can-eat buet. Drinks available for purMorning Playgroup chase from both Red Hen and Nutty Stephs. Storytelling inspired by seasonal plants, fruits Sundays, 10 a.m.2 pm. Nutty Stephs and Red and herbs with in-house astrologer Mary Anna Hen Baking Company, Route 2, Middlesex. $10 Abuzahra, plus crafts, games and activities. Walk adult, $5 children 12 and under. nuttystephs.com. follows. All ages welcome. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. tulsiteallc@gmail.com. Second-Language Story Time Apollo Duplicate Bridge Club Tales in American Sign Language, plus monthly All welcome. Partners sometimes available. special events with native speakers. Fridays, 6:45 p.m. Bethany Church, Montpelier. Tuesdays, 3 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, Route 485-8990 or 223-3922. 2, Plaineld. Free. 454-8504 or cutlerlibrary.org. Story Time at Onion River Kids Outdoor adventure tales and childhood classics. Sundays, 10:30 a.m. 7 Langdon Street, Montpelier. Free HIV Testing 223-6025. Vermont CARES oers fast oral testing. Thursdays, 14 p.m. 58 East State Street, suite 3 (entrance at the back), Montpelier. vtcares.org.

FOOD

SPORTS

GAMES

Roller Derby Open Recruitment and Recreational Practice Central Vermonts Wrecking Doll Society invites quad skaters age 18 and up to try out the action. No experience necessary. Equipment provided: rst come, rst served. Saturdays, 56:30 p.m. Montpelier Recreation Center, Barre Street. First skate free. centralvermontrollerderby.com. Coed Adult Floor Hockey Equipment provided. Sundays, 35 p.m. Montpelier Recreation Center, Barre Street. $5. 363-1531, bmoorhockey@gmail .com or vermontoorhockey.com.

THRIFT STORES

HEALTH

Trinity Community Thrift Store Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.4 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m.5 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church, 137 Main Street (use rear entrance), Montpelier. 229-9155 or tctsvt@yahoo.com.

WELLNESS

KIDS & TEENS

LANGUAGE

SPIRITUALITY
Christian Science Gods love meeting human needs. Reading room: TuesdaySaturday, 11 a.m.1 p.m.; Tuesdays, 58 p.m.; and Wednesdays, 57:15 p.m. Testimony meeting: Wednesdays, 7:308:30 p.m., nursery available. Worship service: Sundays, 10:3011:30 a.m., Sunday school and nursery available. 145 State Street, Montpelier. 223-2477.

CRAFTS

Beaders Group All levels of beading experience welcome. Free instruction available. Come with a project for creativity and community.

The Basement Teen Center Cable TV, PlayStation 3, pool table, free eats and fun events for teenagers. MondayThursday, 36 p.m.; Friday, 311 p.m. Basement Teen Center, 39 Main Street, Montpelier. 229-9151. Story Time at the Waterbury Public Library Mondays, age 1836 months. Wednesdays, age 018 months. Fridays, age 36 years. 10 a.m. Waterbury Public Library. Free. 244-7036. Library Activities for Kids Story time, Tuesdays, Wednedays and Fridays, 10:3011:30 a.m. Crafts, rst Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. Games, second Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. Lego club, third Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. Teen Advisory Group meeting, fourth Tuesdays, 3:30 p.m. Chess club, Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. (call Robert, 229-1207, for info) Young Adult Nights (games, movies, food, crafting and more for youth age 1017), third Fridays, 69 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier. Free. 2234665. Youth Group Games, movies, snacks and music. Mondays, 79 p.m. Church of the Crucied One, Route 100, Moretown. 496-4516. Story Time and Playgroup Story time: for children age 06. Playgroup:

Lunch in a Foreign Language Bring lunch and practice your language skills with neighbors. Noon1 p.m. Mondays, Hebrew. Tuesdays, Italian. Wednesdays, Spanish. Thursdays, French. Fridays, German. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier. 223-3338.

Hurricane Irene Stress Reduction Series Learn self-soothing techniques, guided meditation, stress-reduction movement, and mindfulness exercises. Refreshments provided. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. 168 Wall Street, Northeld. Through May 23. 279-8246.

YOGA

MUSIC

Sing With the Barre Tones Womens a cappella chorus. Mondays, 6:30 p.m. Alumni Hall (second oor), near Barre Auditorium. 223-2039 or rjmorgan1956@comcast.net.

SPIRITUALITY

Deepening Our Jewish Roots Fun, engaging text study and discussion on Jewish spirituality. Sundays, 4:456:15 p.m. Yearning for Learning Center, Montpelier. Rabbi Tobie Weisman, 2230583 or info@yearning4learning.org. Christian Meditation Group People of all faiths welcome. Mondays, noon1 p.m. Christ Church, Montpelier. Regis, 223-6043. Shambhala Buddhist Meditation Instruction available. All welcome. Sundays, 10 a.m.noon, and Wednesdays, 67 p.m. Program and discussion follow Wednesday meditation. Shambhala Center, 64 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-5137.

Sliding-Scale Yoga Classes With Lydia Russell-McDade.Weaving in seasonal poetry and myth, these intermediate-level classes help you build strength and exibility while learning safe postural alignment. Mondays, 5:306:45 p.m., River House Yoga, Plaineld. $5$20 suggested donation. sapremayoga.com. Midday Yoga Break With Amy LePage-Hansen. Unwind, regroup and move your body. All levels welcome. Mondays, 12:151:15 p.m. Shambala Center, Montpelier. $10$15 suggested donation; rst class $5. amylepage.alh@gmail.com or emergeyoga.net. Rhythmic Flow Vinyasa With Lori Flower. Outdoor practice if weather permits. Tuesdays, 67:15 p.m. All Together Now, East Montpelier. Through the summer; no class June 12 or 19. $5$15 suggested donation. 324-1737 or sattvayoga.wordpress.com.

indicates new or revised listing

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M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 15

Classes
OUTDOORS
A WOMENS QUEST IN THE WILDERNESS July 714 in northern Vermont. It will change your life! Connect with the Earth, other women and your own wisdom. Renew vision, meaning and purpose. For self-identied women ages 21 and up. For information, contact Fran Weinbaum, stillpointlifecoach@yahoo.com, fran@ vermontwildernessrites.com or 802-249-7377.

NOW is what we have. Thirty years writing and coaching writers in all genres. Free consultation. tamarcole21@gmail.com, 225-6415.

Fully renovated and move-in ready. Quiet street. 802-917-2121, 4edwardsstreet@gmail.com or 4edwardsmyblog.wordpress.com. ARTIST, MUSICIAN SPACE Studios available this spring in assorted sizes at 46 Barre Street (site of Monteverdi and Summit School). Reserve your space and become a part of the Montpelier areas center for the arts, learning and music. For details, call Paul Irons at 2232120 or 461-6222.

Classifieds
EMPLOYMENT
PART-TIME OFFICE POSITION Small Montpelier print and Web publisher seeks careful, ecient, organized oce assistant for data entry, answering phone, proofreading, assembling mailings, Web work, more. Up to 18 hours per week over 3 days, some exibility. $12.50 per hour to start, paid vacation. Send letter and resume to: Oce Position, PO Box 1564, Montpelier, VT 05602, or e-mail: phildodd@vermontproperty.com.

Evenkeel Bookkeeping has an immediate opening for a permanent, 2 day/wk (Wed & Thurs)

SALES

TAI CHI

YARD SALE Saturday, May 19, 9 a.m.6 p.m., 104 college Street, Montpelier. Rain or shine. 498-3294. More stu than you can shake a stick at.

SUMMER CLASS IN HWA YU STYLE TAI CHI Begins Monday, June 11, at 64 Main Street, Montpelier, third oor. No prior experience necessary, beginners welcome. Instructor Ellie Hayes has been practicing and teaching tai chi since 1974. For info and to preregister, call Ellie at 456-1983. Registration deadline Sunday, June 10.

SERVICES

WRITING

WRITING COACH Are you struggling with beginning, continuing, nishing? Do you need tools and rules to keep you working from concept to completion? Art really is long, and life really short. WRITE

HOME FOR SALE $259,000. Beautiful 3-bedroom, 2-bath home located one block from the College of Fine Arts green. 2-car garage, deck. Brand new roof. Sunny and well-insulated. Walk to work, schools, stores and restaurants. Hardwood oors.

REAL ESTATE

CAREGIVER For individuals needing support with daily living tasks including food shopping, errands, meal prep, grooming, transportation, light housekeeping, laundry, companionship. No lifting. Serving seniors as well as those recovering from injury or surgery. Seeking clients in Calais, Marsheld, Plaineld, Montpelier, Worcester. Trained, experienced, reliable, references. Julie, 456-1443. HOUSE PAINTER Since 1986. Small interior jobs ideal. Neat, prompt, friendly. Local references. Pitz Quattrone, 229-4952.

If youre self-motivated, goal/closure oriented, and possess a working knowledge of QuickBooks and Excel of at least 2 years, we need you! Ability to memorize/retain processes and sequences very important. Looking for a sharp, mathematically framed individual serious about working hard in a professional, organized, clean, bookkeeping ofce on Langdon Street in downtown Montpelier. Must be comfortable and technically procient with computers. Must have a positive attitude and be committed to healthy, open, and productive communication/idea sharing. Now interviewing! Send resume, letter of interest, and 3 references (2 professional, 1 character) to PO Box 41, Montpelier, VT 05601 or email ryan@evenkeelvt.com. References will not be contacted until after rst interview and never without your expressed permission. Pay commensurate with abilities, skills, and experience in the industry.

Bookkeeper / Oce Manager.

EPR Biofeedback

Stress & Pain Relief Improves Energy Aids in Weight Loss & Sports Performance
Nan Kenney, CBT, CPT Riverside Chiropractic 136 Main Street, Montpelier njki15@yahoo.com 802-274-0634

Pet must be child-friendly Personalized pet care in our home Daily hikes We happily meet special needs

Sophie Bowater / 229-0378 Shona R. MacDougall / 229-4176

PAG E 16 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

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The Montpelier School Page

This page was paid for by the Montpelier Public Schools and compiled by Richard Sheir.

Thank You, Volunteers!

tise in classroom settings. And these are only the parents. There are the legions of others who volunteer in Montpelier schools who dont have children in the schools. Then there are the many businesses that take on students for community-based learning. Montpelier schools are desirable schools not only because the community funds them properly. They are quality because of the many in the community who truly careand volunteer. Every year, this list inadvertently excludes some who richly deserve recognition; for this oversight, I apologize in advance. Richard Sheir

or several years, I have, as a volunteer, been compiling the list those who volunteer in Montpelier public schools. They range from the incredible snack fairies, who arrange for nutritious snacks at Union, to the many who are extremely active in organizing the parent-teachers groups that make special things happen at the three schools, to the parents who are active as the athletic boosters who provide the grease that makes those many gears mesh smoothly. There are the parents who make Crafters Edge work so well, and the parents who help with theater. The parents who come into the schools to lend their experAt Union Elementary School: Emmanuelle Montheith Alice Colwell Elmira Fallahi Kim Smith Michele Braun Steve Hinds Beth Boutin Andy Boutin Elise Annes Roy Schiff Carolyn Desch Carolyn Scoppettone Greg Scoppettone Tricia Curran Jeff Stetter Jean Stetter Ginger Bartlett Chrystal Crane Cynthia Abbasi Lesley Allen Jay Hollingsworth Amy Tatko Tracy Montminy Hilary Sales Julie Smart Heather Weinstein Linda Setchell Brian Zeigler Dustin Rand Kathleen Bryant Paul Wallich Julie Robicheaux Heidi Tringe Jim Tringe Heather Bouchey Tom Delaney Bridget Asay Amanda Ellingson Sigrid Lumbra Chris Lumbra Alice Sparito Keith Porter Suzy Spence Denise Ricker Carol Paquette Jen Bean Juliana Jennings Adri Luhr Karen Bruzzese Susannah Noel Steve Robinson Sue Aldrich Chief Tony Facos Chief Bob Gowans Rep. Mary Hooper Officer Mark Moody Bill Merrylees Suzanne Smith Renee Affolter Lyn Munno Angela Mongeon Christine Zahm Emily Keller Dave Keller Tiffiney Pollard Jim Bransfield Angela Timpone Peter Timpone Sam Talbot-Kelly Raina Launderville Diana Koliander-Hart Christopher Smith Carolyn Desch Berenice Sarafzade Linda Abbott Shawn White Laura Bozarth Chris Pierce Melissa Pierce Leon Eggleston Donna Curtin Tanya Morehouse Judith Ehrlich Brent Ehrlich Andrea Brassard Deb Buley Alison Lamanga Dawn MaCall Britt Richardson Luay Bakir Lincoln Centers Brandi Jagemann Cara Robechek Donald Robechek Rodger Krussman Kristy Krussman Chrissy Rohan Barb LaRosa

ommunity Based Learning (CBL) is one of the handful of programs that makes Montpelier High School stand out from other schools. At any given time, approximately 60 students will be applying their classroom-learned skills in real-life settings and gaining insight into the real world of work. Many students do more over the course of their time in high school. Just under 50 percent of all students will experience a CBL before they graduate. The range of experiences offered is indeed impressive.
Montpelier High School CBL Community Partners Fall and Spring 20112012 A-1 Graphics Adamant Music School Annie Tiberio Cameron Associates in Pediatrics Barre Technical Center, Adult Education Program Bear Code Bear Pond Books Bear Swamp Veterinary Clinic Berlin Elementary School Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Berlin Veterinary Clinic Black River Design Bolton Valley Resort Brian Pendergast-Graphic Designer Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center Carriveaus Service Center Central Vermont Humane Society Central Vermont Medical Center Central Vermont Memorial Civic Center Department of Labor DevSupport, LLC DeWolfe Engineering Associates Dr. Lindsay Herbert, DMD Dr. Richard Herbert, DMD EarthWalk Vermont Family Center of Washington County First In Fitness Fletcher Allen Childrens Hospital Freelance Automotive GNI, Global News Intelligence Gossens Bachman Architects Green Mountain Orthopedics Green Mountain Power Green Mountain Self Advocates Green Mountain Transit Agency Headwaters Construction Kellogg-Hubbard Library Liliane Savard, DPT Lois Morse LMFT Madtech Sound Reinforcement and Recording Services Main Street Middle School Mark Moody Montpelier Fire Department Montpelier High School Montpelier Mud Montpelier Parks Department Montpelier Public Schools Montpelier Recreation Department National Life Group National Wildlife Federation Neighbor-to-Neighbor Americorps New England Culinary Institute Northfield Police Department Northstar Fireworks Norwich University Office of Governor Shumlin Onion River Community Access (ORCA) Operation Military Kids Paul Brown, game warden Paul Perley Cellos Prevent Child Abuse Vermont Price Chopper Slope Style Ski and Ride State of Vermont Building & General Services, Safety and Security Division Sugarbush Resort TD BankNorth The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus The Bridge Plainfield Health Center The Point Independent Radio The Return House The Washington County Family Center EEE Program Tom Stuwe, DVM Trinity Church Thrift Store Union Elementary School Uttons Automotive Vermont Agency of Transportation Vermont Center For Independent Living Vermont Dept. of Motor Vehicles Vermont Fish and Game Department Vermont Grocers Association Vermont Humanities Council Vermont Secretary of State Vermont Sports Magazine Vermont Violins Washington County Mental Health Washington County Sheriffs Department Washington County States Attorney Washington County Youth Services Bureau WGDR Yestermorrow Design Build School Youth Build

At Main Street Middle School: Chris Ebersole Carolyn Scoppettone Greg Scoppettone Nancy Farrell Paul Alfarone Dan Barlow Miriam Bernardo Kevin Crossett Erin McDermott Tim Newcomb Melissa Perley Paul Perley Cathy Metz John Klimenock Michael Close Chris Stork Alexis Murphy-Egri Linda Goodell Kerri Zurowski Lauren Chabot Betty Hammond Christine Gibson-Davis Alice Day Ann Ambrecht Peter Farrell Joy Partridge Trisha Clark Dave Brigham Anne Fraser Bill Fraser Jennifer Skinder Ron Sarquiz Katherine Isaacs Marita Frey Jamie Huntsman Laura McKinstry Mary Nowlan Buffy Boyce Crystal Crane Daniel Sagan

Nancy Smith Laura Nace Eric Keck Veronica Eldred Chuck Eldred Ann Bushey Kathy Grupp Tammy Browning Newton Baker Kathleen McGranaghan Rick Vanden Bergh Kate Vanden Bergh Renee Affolter Tammy Quinn Michael Clasen Cynthia Golonka Cara Barbero Becky Bowen Cheryl Holt Anna Flanzala Elmira Behzadikia Mohsen Fallahi Soren Pfeffer Theresa Murray-Clasen Paul Gambill Irene Facciolo Cheryl Flanagan Melissa Story Carolyn Casner Fran Koucky Courtney Parento Merrick Grutchfield Cassandra Brush Lori Rose Michelle Lesnak Beth Bingham Numa Hasse Joy Worland Krista Chadwick Jessie Lynn Johanna Straavaldsen Karla Ruiz Bustillo

Ginger Basa Kelly Grey Beth Sheftman Lisa Cassetty Linda Becker Scott Adams Chrissy Rohan Leif Richardson Chris Robertson Mathew Dowling Chloe Gordon Major Jeff Grey Mark LeGrand Cynthia Murphy Justin Verette Latasha McDonald Cpl. Matt Knisley Jesse Lavosco Gwen Lyons-Baker Sarah Wisner Jeb Wallace-Brodeur Tom Badowski Lisa Ransom Jess Sankeu Michelle Morris Hannah Driesendacker Clare Eagan Davis Sutherland Allison Thomas Linnea Cecere David Guilliani Karl Miller Lisa Bova Trilene Roach Jody Andreoletti Gina Laveroni Paul Bova Paige Montague Chris Winters Rusty Reader Dave Rapacz NECI

At Montpelier High School: Denise Mercandante Mike Mercandante Ginger Basa Bill Basa Robin Dowling Dan Dowling Nancy Cunningham Jon Cunningham Jen Galfetti Gail Barrows Barbara Taylor David Blythe Buzz Surwilo Floyd Dickinson Beth Schwarz Tess Kessler Betty Cossett Christina Pace Ruth Holmes Michael Clasen

Theresa Murray-Clasen Irene Facciolo Tricia Curran Christine Murphy Roy McDonald Vivian Tomasi Gail Barrows Bill Haines Nancy Mears Nancy Post Steven Chico Martinez Jim Burke Janet Burke Bruce Hudson Ashley Hudson Karen Noone Jayson Capobianco Rome Aja Ken Jones Bill Haines Lisa Ransom Scott Baughman

Grow Compost Carolyn Shapiro Gwen Lyons-Baker Central Vermont Solid Waste Tom Badowski Moretown Landfill Geoff Wilson Montpelier Water Filtration Bob Fischer Montpelier Wastewater Treatment Facility Jessica Sankey Chittenden Solid Waste District Brad Watson Wendy Watson Courtney Parento Adrienne Brownlee John Hollar Amy Dickinson Ellen Connor Stephanie Pinard

THE BRIDGE

M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 17

A Message from City Hall

This page was paid for by the City of Montpelier.

Updates from City Hall

From the Mayor
by John Hollar, mayor

aving served as mayor of Montpelier for only two months, I have been struck by how much is happening just below the surface. This is a thriving, dynamic place with amazing residents who are volunteering to make this an even better place to live, work and play. From John Snell, who is using his passion as an arborist to ensure that our trees remain healthy, to Edmar Mendizabal, who created a beautiful travel brochure to promote Montpelier to tourists, there are many, many people throughout our city who are working long hours for no compensation and little recognition simply to make our community a better place. What better testament could there be to a city than that? In addition to meeting with many residents and community groups, much of my time over the past two months has been spent getting a firm understanding of the many projects that we have underway and trying to determine how I can best move them forward. Heres a brief overview of where they stand: District Heat Project: The state will soon begin construction of a new wood-fired plant that will heat state offices as well as buildings located throughout downtown Montpelier. The state is solely responsible for the construction and maintenance of the plant. The city is responsible for constructing a new distribution system that will deliver heat throughout downtown Montpelier. Engineering work is underway that will provide detailed cost projections for the project. That work should be completed by August. Virtually all of the work that will be performed until then will be financed with state and federal grants. By August, we will know both the cost of the system, and the revenues we can expect from private users. The city will commit municipal funds at that point only if the project has adequate margins. A recent newspaper article stated that the project has razor thin margins, but in reality it will only go forward if it is on solid financial footing, with adequate margins to protect local tax dollars. Carr Lot Readers may have noticed that the empty lot located on Taylor Street, owned by Alan Carr, is fenced, and construction work is occurring. Mr. Carr has initiated work to remediate contaminants that are located on the site. The city has completed an appraisal of the property that, under federal law, must be reviewed and approved by the state Agency of Transportation. That review has been pending for more than two months. We have expressed our displeasure with state officials that this reviewa very minor piece of an important projecthas taken so long. Once the states review of the appraisal is completed and approved, we will begin negotiations with Mr. Carr with the goal of purchasing the property at a fair market price.

Bike Path The completion of the bike path east of Hunger Mountain Coop has been stalled for several years due to the reluctance of Vermont Railway to allow the city to use a portion of its right-of-way for the bike path. After a lengthy delay, the state is expected to begin discussions with Vermont Railway in the near future to determine an appropriate location for the bike path. We will be working closely with the state to encourage them to approve a suitable location so that the final leg of the bike path can be built. City Goals and Priorities The city council has held two sessions to discuss the citys priorities for the next two years. We are about halfway through the goals that have been established by each of the councilors, and we have reached agreement on the following: Balance and control municipal budgeting, taxes and services relative to current population and grand-list tax base. Maintain all city streets, bridges, sidewalks and other infrastructure (tennis courts, parks, rec paths, etc.) in (at minimum) fair or good condition as per appropriate rating indices. Provide sufficient parking throughout the city for shoppers, visitors, businesses and housing. Additional discussion will be held around the outside agency funding process, communications and services. At the request of a group of concerned residents, we agreed to appoint a citizen committee to investigate spending on municipal functions in other communities in Vermont and elsewhere. Based on that investigation, this committee will attempt to establish benchmarks for city spending on police, fire, public works and other departments. Our next meeting will include discussion of goals related to communications, housing, economic development and funding of nonprofit organizations. We will also discuss how we can become a more bikeand pedestrian-friendly community. Berlin Pond Last week, the Vermont Supreme Court issued a decision holding that Montpelier does not have the authority to prohibit swimming, fishing and boating on Berlin Pond. According to the court, that authority must be provided explicitly by the legislature. The council will discuss its response to this decision, and the options that are available to the city, at its May 23 meeting. I am confident that we will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the water quality of Berlin Pond is not compromised.

From the City Manager

William Fraser, city manager
District Heat o follow up on the mayors comments, on April 18 the city council approved a plan for proceeding with the project in a way that protects Montpeliers financial risk. The plan consisted of the following key elements: Eliminate the high school connection from this phase of the project. This reduces construction costs by $1.2 million. It also requires replacing the estimated high school heat usage in the system. That has been largely accomplished through letters of commitment from Vermont Mutual and Union Mutual Insurance Companies, as well as a strong indication of interest from the federal government for the post office building. Authorize final engineering design of the distribution system using the deferred Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) loan and Department of Energy grant but not city bond funds. Make the $1.077 million capacity payment obligation to the state using CEDF grant and loan funds, not city bond funds. Ask our engineers to prepare bid alternates with discernible route clusters that can be priced independently. Two examples are the extension to Union Elementary School or an added loop to the corner of Main and School Streets (which could serve the library, NECI and Bethany and Unitarian Churchesall of whom have signed letters of intent). This accomplishes two thingsit ensures that we can select a package that is within our available funding and presents options of using our funds strategically for, perhaps, a smaller system with more customers. Continue the customer-development process with the goal of having more signed letters of commitment before bids/contracts are awarded in August or September. This will allow us to properly project our future operating costs and revenues to assure that the system is on solid financial footing. Develop a low-interest revolving loan or grant fund to assist with connection costs, particularly with smaller buildings. Prior to awarding any bids and using local property-tax-backed bond money, assure that the selected project alternative falls within both existing project funding and annual budget commitments. This means we will not entertain the option of any additional bonding, assuring that sufficient construction reserve funding is available before starting work and assuring that a sufficient user base is in place to safely cover annual expenses for the selected project configuration.

pleted by August or September. If estimates indicate that there is sufficient funding, bids will be released. If bid results fall within available funding, the project will be awarded in mid-fall of 2012. Construction will begin in spring of 2013, and the contracted start date is October 1, 2013. The state will have completed its construction of the central heating plant by that time as well. Carr Lot In addition to the appraisal process referred to by the mayor, the city has begun engineering work on the bike path and bike/ pedestrian bridge portion of the project. We have also begun preliminary site-plan design and are about to seek architectural services for the main building itself. As a reminder, the Carr lot project consists of a transit center that will serve both Greyhound and Green Mountain Transit buses and also serve as the states welcome center. The project includes a bike path that will connect the existing path (which ends at Taylor Street) with the next path segment on Stone Cutters Way. This will add a new bike/ pedestrian bridge across the North Branch near the rail bridge. It will also include site improvements, with some sort of public gathering place near the river and parking associated with the use of the main building. Assuming that property negotiations can begin relatively soon and that they are successful in a timely fashion, the current schedule is for all design work to be completed through this fall and winter with the project out to bid in the spring, under construction during 2013 and operating by 2014. Senior Center Things are progressing very nicely at the renovated senior center at 58 Barre Street. The construction work is in the final phases. The current thinking is that the project will wrap up by the end of May, that June will be spent moving in and setting up, and that the new center location will be open and functional for July. Community Justice Center Montpelier is fortunate to have energetic and involved citizens who care about our city. We are blessed live in such a safe and lovely place, but we are always looking for ways to make it better. The Montpelier Community Justice Center, a department of the city, is hosting a forum on May 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Kellogg-Hubbard Library to explore the role we can all play in making our city a safer and even better place to live. Please join the Justice Center for a lively, informative and interactive evening led by Yvonne Byrd, Community Justice Center director; Anthony Facos, Montpelier police chief; and John Gorczyk, Montpelier resident and former commissioner of the Department of Corrections. They will talk about fundamental principles that guide our individual and collective thinking about preventing and responding to crime and help us all deepen our understanding of the essential contributions government and citizens make to a civil community. We hope you will attend and learn how to become more involved.

As always, I welcome your input and feedback. Please feel free to contact me at jhollar@montpelier-vt .org or 225-5505.

The timetable is that design work will be com-

Thank you for reading this article and for your interest in Montpelier city government. Please feel free to contact me at 223-9502 or wfraser@montpelier-vt.org with questions or comments.

PAG E 18 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

THE BRIDGE

Real Estate Transactions

SELLER Fecteau Residential Inc. Wood, Michael & Nancy Blythe, David J. & Taylor Blythe, Barbara M. Waring, Jennifer G. et. al. Youngblood, Caroline L. Falker, Robert L. Holman, Peter P. & Ann E. Lizzari, Robert L. & Brenda M. Greenberg, Joanne L. & Propper, Herbert Thorn, James C. & Peer, Laura K. BUYER Palmer, Tonja M. & Simpson, Linda E. OLeary, Ann M. Curtin, Julie F. & Paul Buck, James M. Brush, Cassandra & Daniel Young, Gail Mueller, Joachim G. & Burns, Lisa Pike-Biegunska, Edith Sinnott, Timothy M. & Reid, Hannah S. Edsell, Mark P. & Elizabeth G. ADDRESS 6 Lague Drive 22 Terrace St, unit 2 9 Greenfield Terrace 10 Independence Green 77 Bailey Avenue 61 College Street, unit 5 4 Parkside Drive 3 Highland Avenue 9 Sunnyside Terrace 186 Main Street DATE 2/13/12 2/14/12 2/24/12 2/27/12 2/28/12 3/16/12 3/16/12 3/22/12 3/23/12 3/30/12 PRICE 182,000 88,738 260,000 150,000 225,000 150,000 335,000 159,500 254,500 214,000 TYPE Single Condo Single Condo Single Condo Single Single Single Single

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THE BRIDGE

M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 19

Low Mortgage Rates Help Real Estate Market

by Bob Nuner

ooking for a sense of the real-estate market, we checked with a few realtors and banks and hear that sales are picking up. According to Community National Banks senior vice president and chief credit officer, Terrie McQuillen, We are experiencing a slight increase in requests to finance new purchases, and refinance activity is still keeping us very busy as mortgage rates remain at historically low levels. Some challenges that we are facing include a tightening of credit standards in the secondary mortgage market and more stringent disclosure requirements, which has made the loan underwriting and processing function more time consuming and expensive for everyone. Chuck Karparis, vice president and lending officer at the credit union VSECU, said, Because mortgage rates remain at historical lows, VSECU continues to see healthy mortgage activity throughout Vermont. He

noted an increased trend of refinance activity from large, out-of-state banks to VSECU from people that want to do business with a local institution. Our purchases have also picked up significantly since last year at this same time, although the numbers are still not what they were prior to the economic downturn. Noting that some federal assistance for home buying exists, Peter Goodall, senior manager of retail lending at Northfield Savings Bank, said, We are presently seeing a healthy pickup in purchase activity. . . . Northfield Savings participates in an annual program made available by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston wherein grants to assist first-time home buyers are made available in amounts up to $10,000. We look forward to capturing some of that grant money for local purchases, including homes in Montpelier. Goodall notes also, Over the past three years credit standards have tightened somewhat; however, contrary to some national

news stories, applicants are not required to have perfect credit to obtain a loan with favorable interest rates. Among realtors, the sentiment seems positive. Lori Pinard, of Century 21 Jack Associates, said that two of seven houses that she had planned to show to clients from away went under contract in the last few days, so thats going to be disappointing to them, but I guess its a good sign about the market. So there is an optimism in the air. The interest rates are still fabulous. The inventory is good but seems to almost be getting inadequate now, as people start looking around and fighting over things. Tina Golon, of Coldwell Banker, observes that lower-end houses, what she calls affordable housing, are selling at a rapid pace. Everyone is looking for a deal: Foreclosures, estate sales, short sales. The foreclosure sales and short sales are not, she noted, the results of job loss as much as symptoms of divorce, where two incomes formerly supported the original mortgage. In addition to these kinds

of troubled properties hitting the market, Golon notes, People are jumping into the market because interest rates are below 4 percent. Most recent mortgages have been at a historical low of 3.875 percent. People are starting to realize that. Golons observation that people are most active on the low end of the price spectrum is congruent with Vermont Business Magazines recent report that, Vermont home prices fell 4.8 percent over the last year, according to a national rating service. This put Vermont eighth worst, one spot ahead of seventh worst New Hampshire in prices for single-family homes. But perhaps this should be viewed in the context that Vermont did not experience the dramatic value declines that occurred elsewhere in the U.S. Northfield Savings Banks Goodall notes of Vermonts property values, We typically saw a 2 to 3 percent drop in values over the past two years, and this appears to have firmed up now.

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PAG E 20 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

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THE BRIDGE

M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2 012 PAG E 21

Editorial
Remembering Jim Wallace

Letters
Governor Meddles in Farmers Market Business To the Editor: When is it appropriate for the governor of Vermont to meddle in the affairs of a private corporation, as Peter Shumlin did when he wrote a letter to the president of the Capital City Farmers Market (CCFM) on behalf of Pete Johnson? Perhaps when Shumlin wants to make sure that nothing interferes with Johnsons ability to repay a generous state loan that was so publicly promoted by Shumlin. Boots Wardinski, CCFM vendor and former board member, South Ryegate H.722 Is About Our Right to Know To the Editor: Andy Leader [Genetic Engineering Saves Lives, opinion, May 3] may be a student of genetics, but does he understand business? A company that believes in its product should want to promote it far and wide. Monsanto Corporations actions (which include threatening litigation against the State of Vermont if the GMO labeling bill passes) seem to demonstrate that it wants the opposite: to keep its productand consumersin the dark. This alone should raise suspicion in anyone with minimal critical thinking skills. Mr. Leaders letter can be attacked on numerous fronts, but that is unnecessary. Vermonts GMO food labeling bill as written is simply about ensuring a consumers right to know (this includes consumers such as Mr. Leader, who ostensibly wish to eat more GMOs). Therefore, anyone who wishes to know what is in their foodwhether they desire a particular ingredient or notshould support H.722. Jeff Euber, Montpelier Rutland Treasurer Done Good To the Editor: Rutland City Treasurer Wendy Wilton achieved a clean audit for the first time in 32 years. This means a lot to the state auditors office, where we assist many Vermont towns with financial management and audit issues. As Rutland was getting its house in order, I witnessed firsthand how Wendy worked tirelessly, asked lots of questions and gave sustained attention to correct chronic problems. Rutlands clean audit speaks to a government getting serious about weaknesses. In addition, Wilton has helped our office for years create better tools to fight embezzlement statewide, resulting in an initiative that finally made it into law this session. Thank you for your contribution, Treasurer Wilton; it is an example to others and will make a lasting difference. Ya done good! Tom Salmon, Vermont state auditor

ith writinga dusting of words on papercan any of us fully contemplate, much less describe, a thing as beautiful and complex and mysteriousor as greatas a life? Jim Wallace, who died of heart failure unexpectedly in New York State on May 8 while on a trip with his close companion Joanne Payne to his boyhood home in Katonah, was for a number of years a valued member of our editorial team at The Bridge. On the papers masthead, Jim was listed as our proofreader, but he was much more than that. He was an editorial force at The Bridge. His understanding of writing, experience with editing and passionate love of language brought a needed consistency and growing rigor to the paper. Jim, who worked in concert with graphic artist and editor Kate Mueller and others at the paper, created a style sheet that continues to guide us. His editorial standards were high, and no detail of head- Jim Wallace. Photo by Iain Wallace. lines, writing, grammar, punctuation and clarity of expression escaped his disciplined attention. Jim earned his credentials. As a boy growing up Westchester County, New York, Jim was awarded a full scholarship to Middlesex School in Concord, Massachussetts. After high school, Jim studied English literature at Williams College. After graduating from Williams, he pursued graduate studies in English at Yale University. In his professional life, Jim served as an editor for the McGraw-Hill book companys college textbook division in New York City. After coming to Vermont, he worked as a freelance editor and was a published writer. For three years he lived in Japan, where he taught English as a second language. After returning to the U.S., he worked for a number of years as a proofreader at Capital City Press in Barre. Jim was also a longtime friend. He and I first came to know each other in the summer of 1961. Both of us were participants in the groundbreaking Teachers for East Africa (TEA) project of Teachers College, Columbia University and the U.S. Department of State. In some ways, the TEA project was a precursor to the American Peace Corps program, which followed about a year later. When Jim and I and others in the first wave of American teachers arrived in East Africa in that summer of 1961, all three East African countriesKenya, Uganda and Tanganyika (later Tanzania)were on the verge of becoming independent. And in the final moment of British colonial administration, you could travel with unfettered freedom from Lake Victoria on the west to Mombasa and the Indian Ocean on the east, across lowlands, highlands, mountains, and through the Great Rift Valley and the vast, wild animal preserves. Jim loved travel and adventure. Later, when we got back to the United States, Jim and I joined a group of naturalists on a boat trip down the Ogeechee River in Georgia, with its miles and miles of cypress swamps and undeveloped forests. Jim and I were often traveling together in our late 20s and early 30s. I remember a hike with Jim along the Appalachian Trail to a campsite on Sabbath Day Pond in Maine. It was cold at night, and we found a ruined wooden boat, broke it apart and made a splendid campfire. In 1972, when I directed a production of Shakespeares Twelfth Night in Randolph, just when Chandler Music Hall was being rediscovered, Jim agreed to play the part of Duke Orsino, who opens the play with these words, If music be the food of love, play on. Jim was, to use the East African (Swahili) expression, a fundisomeone who isnt afraid to fix things, who even delights in doing so. For a time Jim was a VW car mechanic. He could handle a chainsaw and work in the woods. He delighted in mud season and the challenge of grinding a car up a mud-clogged, rutted road. If he saw a canoe that had drifted downriver in the ice of early spring, he thought nothing about getting out onto the river and rescuing it. When Jim married Kate Mueller, he honored me with an invitation to be his friend and witness at a tiny ceremony on the porch off Kates apartment in Montpelier. Later, when Kate gave birth to a son, Iain, I remember the tender messages that passed between us. I remember Jims thrill at being married and having a son. Friendship, however long, has its ups and downs, and the past two or so years were a rough period in our friendship. We were just putting our friendship back together at the time of his death. He had addressed a very recent e-mail message to me as his reconstituted friend. We shared a lunch at the new Clean Slate Restaurant and another lunch at a Rotary Club meeting at the Capitol Plaza Hotel. But I never was able to tell my longtime friend Jim Wallace that I loved him. I was never able to give him a blessing. As I struggled some days ago to find the words to write about Jim after his all-too-sudden death, I got to the point of not finding the words. As I turned off my computer, it flashed a standard message, The conversation you wanted does not exist. No other words are needed to describe the sudden stop of Jims death and my own regrets at missing the conversation I wanted with him but could no longer have.

Rescuing Irish

couple of weeks ago, I went to feed Irish, a 35-year-old horse. He always hears me coming and gives me a loud greeting. But this day, there was only silence. It was a nice day, and I thought he was over the hill feeding on the fresh grass. I went to call him and saw a white spot over near the old barn foundationit was his ear. Irish had fallen into the cellar hole and was lying on his side in a 2-foot-deep hole that just fit his body, with his head down hill. He was in so tight that there was no way to roll him to get his feet under him. I called the vet, and he said Irish had a 5050 chance. I drove to my neighbor, John Picard and asked him to bring his backhoe, straps and his rifle. John arrived with his rival excavation contractor, Ray Hickory. The pasture was so wet that the backhoe kept on getting stuck in the mud. John used the bucket to push the machine through the mud; it looked like an insect, crawling across the field. He arrived and shook his head. Ray got the straps and we worked them under Irishs body with Ray directing John to place the backhoe. John very gently lifted Irishs head and pulled him so his head was uphill. We let him rest and get comfortable, but he was very weak. John looked at me and asked, What should we do? I said we had nothing to lose if we at least got him on his feet. Ray figured out how to make a sling with the straps and we worked the straps under his butt. John smoothly and gently lifted him. With his feet under him, he was weak and needed the sling for support. An injection of Flu-Nix and a gram of bute allowed him to relax. We waited while he gained strength, and finally he started to move his feet. John slowly released the sling. After a half an hour, he was standing on his own. John said, Hes a tough old bird. After another hour he took his first wobbly steps. I said, I guess we wont need the rifle. John said, I didnt bring it. It took an hour for Irish to get back to his stall. When I thanked John and Ray, Ray said, Were just being neighbors. And again, I thank my neighbors. story and illustration by Tom Leytham, Middlesex

PAG E 2 2 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

THE BRIDGE

Techno Fakes: Health by Stealth with Vaccines and GMOs

by Gerard Renfro
They say We ll do our brothers good! then drub them just as mobsters would. E. Scott Farley

n the April 19 food issue is an opinion piece by Rural Vermont Director Andrea Stander describing the nonexistant media coverage of GMO labeling legislation. Another article, Seed Saving for Self Sufficiency, discusses seed genetics, soil quality and genetically modified golden rice. These are all important issues by themselves, but they take on a greater significance when connected to the larger debate around human health. In the May 3 issue, UVM genetics student Andy Leader condemns the GMO labeling bill, claiming that biotechnology can be used to tweak the minor flaws in our DNA to promote health. Rather than respond to the science (or lack thereof) of the technofix mobsters, I present this assortment of information that I have collected over the last 12 years: Diseases like diabetes are caused more by diet than by flawed DNA. White refined flours and sugars (including GMO highfructose corn syrup) are major culprits. Dr. Johnathan King, professor at MIT, has debunked the flawed DNA argument, saying that cancer is not a problem with our

genes, but rather a consequence of living in certain hotspotsareas of higher exposure to industrial pollutants. King also said that biotechnology could be used to identify specific industrial carcinogens, but that biotech is not being used for prevention. Instead, biotech treatments are being patented and sold as treatment after a person gets sick. Golden rice is discredited as a cure for blindness. Nutritional deficiency is largely a result of the monoculture agribusiness practices of the last few decades. The cure is to allow countries to grow a nutritional diversity of food, which they would do if they did not have to compete with subsidized monocrops. GMOs are the enemy of seed savers, specifically because of the risk of genetic drift. GMOs are a patented product, thus the seed saver is at risk of being sued for patent infringement if their seeds become contaminated. This is completely upside-down logic and hardly makes for self-sufficiency, but it is the kind of power-tripping nonsense that the mobsters love. Lastly, soil nutritionalist Dan Kittredge has stated that plants have an unstable protein matrix when grown in poor-quality soil and that GMO plants by design (or lack

Opinions

thereof) have the same unstable protein matrix. Perhaps GMO crops can be successfully grown in poor-quality soil, but their protein structures are the same as sick plants. Kittredge has also said the unstable matrix in our food is what can contribute toguess what?disease. Disease. Dis ease. Disrespect for simplicity leads to sickness. Who would have thought. Actually, lots of us. Which brings us to the present controversy over vaccinations. The April 23 Times Argus has the mobsters claiming that the drop in Vermonts immunization rates must be halted to preserve . . . herd immunity, meaning the risk of an outbreak can be reduced if sufficient numbers of the Vermont population are vaccinated. I consider this attitude to be dishonest, since history tells me the herd immunity rational is upside down. The agenda pushers are creating paranoia with the herd-immunity argument in order to influence the herd mentality. Although vaccines have been useful in controlling disease outbreaks, it is the development of public sanitation, good personal hygiene, and healthy diet (go figure!) that has kept the public healthy in the long run. Herding crowded populations into filthy

living conditions is what often causes the spread of disease but, ironically, exposure is what develops immunity. Nature has managed to find a way to help us despite our own stupidity. Therefore, vaccination goes contrary to the last few hundred (or thousand) years of our evolution. The mobsters are trying to portray nonvaccinator parents as irresponsible, saying that the unvaccinated child is putting the vaccinated child at risk. But if the vaccinated child is at risk, it proves the vaccination does not work. Whether the vaccine works or not, we are unintentionally helping the disease, not ourselves. It has been long understood that diseases can build up a resistance to vaccines, so if we continue with the misguided agenda of large-scale vaccination, we contribute to the evolution of stronger diseases. Therefore, the unvaccinated child is actually the true contributor to herd immunity benefit that comes from building up a natural resistancewith time. The mobsters always claim their humanitarian agenda is grounded in science, but in truth they grind the alternative view into silence. Sometimes the best science is healthy soil, food and lifestlye, or patience, or the lack of paranoia, or simply a respect for nature and human diversity. Gerard Renfro is a writer who lives in Montpelier.

Dont Conflate Genetic Engineering Issues

by Bob Messing

n Genetic Engineering Saves Lives [opinion, May 3], Andy Leader has bundled the issues surrounding GMO foods with the development of genetically engineered drugs and has suggested that those who are concerned about GMO foods, at least some of them, to be local farmers who choose to scare people into buying their produce. Others, who would like to see GMO foods labeled as such, form their opinions on no scientific basis and [these opinions] have some potentially harmful consequences. Apparently, if you are concerned about GMOs in your food and want them to be labeled, you are against the developments in medicine that are a result of genetic technology. There are developments in food technology that are products of genetic engineering, such as the enzyme used in the production of cheese, where bacterium or fungi have been genetically altered to produce what used to

be obtained from the lining of a calfs intestine. Then we have rBGH, which squeezes more milk from cows while shortening their life and increasing the need for antibiotic use to treat mastitis. It has been shown that milk produced this way has an increased level of IGF, and that may have some health effects on humans, but people can make the choice to purchase milk from cows that are not treated with rBGH: its on the label. The big GMO players in the agricultural arena are corn, soy and sugar beets, but the list is growing. In general, these crops are engineered to withstand herbicides, as in Roundup ready soy and alfalfa. BT corn has been altered to contain the toxin in Bacterium thuringensis, which is the organic farmers weapon of choice in defending corn crops and others against some types of insects. Alfalfa is also engineered to express the BT toxin. The concern, beyond contamination of the organic crops, is the emergence of insects that have developed a resistance to this toxin. With organic agriculture, the bac-

terium attacks the pest and kills it. With the GMO technique, the toxin is in the plant, so the pest may not consume enough to kill it, plus the human at the end of the food chain gets to eat it. Roundup-resistant weeds are on the rise as well. Mr. Leader gives a bit of attention to the question, you could say, of whether evolution has been all that great after all. Natures means of genetic engineering is trial and errormutate genes constantly, keep what works and kill off what doesnt. Of course, if genes mutated constantly, how could nature keep what works? But anyway, evolution does work sort of that way, and its a hard-fought harmony with plenty of imperfections. I know science is rational; its what rational is, but its still just us humans trying to do something. Thats why it takes a really long time, many decades, to discover the real consequences of something we introduce into the world, and maybe longer, maybe much longer. Mr. Leader points out that all our ancestors ate non-GMO foods

and they are all dead. The GMOs we now consume can do no worse, and they hold the promise of improving both the span and health of our descendants lives. He has a point of sorts, but I think he is thinking again of drugs here. GMO crops tend to rely on chemical farming techniques. Some people are concerned about environmental issues and pesticide and herbicide residues in food. There are plenty of questions about whether this is sustainable and energy efficient, regardless of health issues. Mr. Leader says, The new science of genetic engineering has already saved millions of human lives through production of hardier crop species and important pharmaceuticals, and I wouldnt contest the pharmaceuticals claim, I just wouldnt bundle them together and I certainly wouldnt accept being unable to choose between GMO and non-GMO. All I ask is they be labeled. Bob Messing lives in Montpelier.

Social Security and Medicare: Vermonters Deserve a Say

by Jim Leddy

ast month, the Social Security and Medicare trustees issued their annual evaluation of the programs. According to the trustees, Social Security can pay full benefits until 2033, and roughly threequarters of promised benefits beyond that time. Medicares Hospital Insurance Trust Fund faces a shorter time frame for action. Thats obviously not good enough. Its past time for our elected national leaders to listen to their constituents about the undeniable importance of Medicare and Social Security. Its not some abstract numbers gamethe reality is that these programs are vital to the well-being of thousands of Vermonters. In Vermont, one in four Social Security recipients rely on these benefits for 90 percent of

their income, and for 56 percent, it makes up more than half their income. As for Medicare, about 113,000 Vermonters count on it to help them afford health care, including guaranteed coverage for doctors, hospitals and prescription drugs. These are real people, not statistics. The trustees reports are a call to action. The longer Washington waits to address the challenges ahead for Medicare and Social Security, the more difficult it will become for workers trying to plan their futures. Now is the time for an open, national conversation focused on strengthening health and retirement security so todays seniors and future generations receive the benefits they have earned. Thats why AARP has launched Youve Earned a Sayto help Americans make their voices heard about the future of Medicare

and Social Security and to take the debate out from behind closed doors in Washington. Over the next year, AARP is hosting local meetings, debates, bus tours and informational forums across the nation. In Vermont we are traveling to senior centers, retirement communities, churches and even colleges in an effort to listen to Vermonters in person. AARP members will also hear from us by phone, by mail and online as part of our plan to help Americans have their voices heard about programs that are critical to their personal and financial health. Why should residents of the Green Mountain State care about joining this conversation? Because their health and retirement security are both at stake. And while Washington may not be listening yet, we are. AARP wants to hear what Vermonters are

thinking, and we want to ensure that your voices are heard in the upcoming election and throughout the halls of Congress. The next president and Congress are likely to make decisions about the future of Social Security and Medicare that could affect Vermont seniors today and generations to come. Whatever is proposed, our elected officials need to hear how it would impact you and your family. They need to know that the future of Medicare and Social Security isnt just a debate about budget numbersits about decisions that will alter peoples lives. To make your voice heard about Social Security and Medicare, visit earnedasay.org Jim Leddy is AARP Vermont state president.

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That Was The Day That Was

by Jules Rabin

reen Up Day was chilly and the sky overcast when my wife, Helen, and I set out in good enough spirits to clean up a near section, amounting to a mile and a half, of Hollister Hill Road, our address for the last 40 years. We started from our mailbox at 8:30 a.m. and headed in the direction of Plainfield Village. Hollister Hill is in a modest way a thoroughfare, and so we get our Vermont share of beer cans, McDonalds packaging, etc. Roll down the window, stranger, andHoopla!out it flies and away! Picking up trash from the side of the road is perversely a kind of treasure hunt, once you steel yourself against the yuck factor of the game. For one thing, because of the cleansing action of long exposure to the

Opinion

weather and the secret habits of animal and insect scavengers, there is practically no real Yuck! What you deal with mainly on Green Up Day, on a road like ours, is plastic matter, the curse of land and sea, and cardboard and bottles and cansnone of it stinky, hardly any of it organic and squishy. Archeologist for a day of the common stuff of civilization, what kinds of junk did I find by the side of Hollister Hill Road on a Saturday morning in early May 2012? Beer cans and soda bottles foremost Styrofoam coffee cups Sweet-drink containers McDonalds Get Quenched Minute Maid orange juice Poland Spring water The prize find: Arnold Palmers LITE 1/3 Less CaloriesHalf Iced Tea Half-Lemonade23 ounces An extravagantly large tail-light assem-

bly smashed into a hundred pieces, but with its two little light bulbs intact And an odd assortment of trash all in a bunch: a dozen and a half perfect plastic Easter eggs with goofy, cartoon faces printed on them; a fat, squat, and soggy photo album, its plastic sleeves empty; and a heavy little decorated case with mirrors and velvet-lined compartments and sporting a plastic hook for hanging up necklaces On Green Up Day it behooves the volunteer to keep cool about the offenses that he or she encounters against the de facto commons of the roadside. But I was annoyed by the boast that appeared on that nuisance of a carton, that insipid Budweiser is the King of Beer, and to read that the carton held 18 12-ounce bottles. Eighteen! Why is there this constancy of roadside litter, up and down the land? Why do people drop/fling/let fly trash by the common roadside, the world at large doubling as an occasional dumpster? Is it because people are fuzzy-minded or lazy, and

dont consider or want to consider for one second the effect of that trash on the peace and sensibility of othersdont care that the roadside is in a way the outer living room of the rest of us? Or because they do suppose that, and 1. theyre too lazy to take the trouble, or 2. they need, they really want, to say F--- you at the rest of us, the whole rotten world they find themselves in? Because their minds and days and their own homes are in a state of litterment, and it suits them just fine to recreate the world in the image of their own soulstheir daily experience of themselves? Is it, As I am, so you must be, too? Is it, As what you, lousy world, have made me, so I will make you? Making whats inside outside. Universalizing the internal mess and the pain that roars in the head. The first maxim of the Green Up Day volunteer is: dont get righteous about your roadside act. But I might also say, dont recriminate. Jules Rabin lives in Plainfield.

Managing Storm Water Runoff and Pollution Begins in Your Own Backyard
by Lauri Brewster

torm water is rain or snowmelt that runs off of rooftops, driveways, streets and other impervious surfaces. As storm water travels along, it collects trash, sediment, animal waste, and pollutants such as oil, fertilizers and pesticides, and it deposits them directly into local waterways. With the amount of flooding Vermont experienced last spring, its now hard to deny the economic, environmental and health repercussions of storm water runoff and pollution. Did you know the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that storm water is responsible for 70 percent of surface water pollution, and 50 percent of that is from residential yard care? But the good news is that you can greatly reduce your impact by making some simple changes around your property. Here are some steps you can take

in your own backyard to help manage storm water runoff: Redirect or disconnect your downspout. Instead of using your gutter downspout to send storm water directly into a storm drain or sewer system, consider storing the water for later use or redirecting it to a pervious surface away from your basement. Use a rain barrel. Rain barrels are fast and easy to build on your own or can be purchased from most garden centers. Simply connect the barrel to your rain gutter downspout and collect water for later use. Build a rain garden. A rain garden is a shallow depression planted with native plants that withstand short periods of standing water. Storm water is directed into the garden and slowly absorbed, mimicking natural processes. Minimize your lawn area. Replace or supplement lawn areas with shrubs and trees, which have deeper roots and absorb more

storm water than lawn does. Test your soil before adding any amendments, and avoid using phosphorus. You can get a soil test kit at your local garden store or send a soil sample to UVM for affordable testing. Fix automobile leaks and dispose of all hazardous waste at appropriate facilities. Use only native plants around your yard. Native plants require less water and fertilizer than nonnative plants because they are already acclimated to Vermonts climate and conditions. Pick up your pet waste. Pet waste carries viruses, bacteria and parasites that can harm humans, wildlife and water quality. Pet waste also contains nutrients that contribute to eutrophication.

Opinion

Instead of paving your driveway or walkway, look into alternative options such as permeable pavers or stone, which create a more permeable surface than pavement. Get involved and learn more. The Friends of the Winooski River, in conjunction with the Lake Champlain Sea Grant and the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District, will be putting on a free backyard-storm-water management workshop in Northfield on June 5. To register for the workshop or for more information about storm water management, please contact the Friends of the Winooski River at info@winooski.org. Lauri Brewster is project manager for the Friends of the Winooski River.

Outdoor Education on the Long Trail

by Marge Fish

n an era when kids spend most of their time in front of a screen, the Long Trail, Appalachian Trail, Kingdom Heritage Land trails and other Vermont hiking resources can open childrens minds to the natural world outside their doors. The Green Mountain Clubs mission is to protect and maintain the Long Trail and also to help the mountains play a larger role in peoples lives and foster stewardship through education. Our founder was a school teacher who looked out from Stratton Mountain in 1910 and dreamed of a long trail that would help his students have access to the place where he sat. In keeping with that tradition and our mission, the Green Mountain Club has launched longtrailbound.org to serve as an online resource and forum for Vermont educators and parents interested in providing safe and fun outdoor learning experiences for their children and students.

Opinion

Longtrailbound.org provides educators and parents with fun outdoor educational activities; informative videos; ideas for teaching about such things as mountain ecosystems, nutrition, appropriate hiking attire and Leave No Trace etiquette; suggested reading about hiking with children; and suggested kids hikes from every region of the state. The website builds off of decades of education programing provided by the clubs dynamic volunteers and committed staff. The club currently leads summer camp and youth education programs, provides resources and guidance to group trip leaders, and provides adulteducation workshops for day hikers, backpackers and trail workers. In addition, some of the clubs sections have launched their own education programing. The Montpelier section has the fantastic Young Adventurers Club, through which parents and children go on hikes together. A child who learns to love hiking and other outdoor activities at an early age is more

likely to continue these healthy practices later in life, as well as have a strong commitment to conservation and an interest in our natural ecosystems. In my own Manchester section, we have involved school groups from the Mountain School in Winhall, Burr Burton Academy and the local Girl Scouts in routine fall and spring trail maintenance. As the children get to work on the trail, they not only develop an appreciation for being out in the woods but also an appreciation for all the work required to keep trails in usable condition for hikers to enjoy while protecting the resource. But even with 10,000 members and 1,000 volunteers, the club itself cannot provide enough programming for all the parents, teachers and students interested in learning from Vermonts outdoor classroom. The club will use longtrailbound.org to help equip Vermont educators of all sorts with the tools

they need to educate children in the mountain classroom. Vermonts mountains may be mighty and old, but they are also fragile in many ways. The club can help advise educators, parents, and group leaders on how to enjoy the mountains in ways that assure that the trails and the mountain ecosystems are as unspoiled as possible for future generations. In this day and age, when we face an obesity epidemic and many children are spending too much time indoors, we must engage with our natural world. The Green Mountain Club will continue its long tradition of helping to foster this engagement and support those who see our woods and our trails as excellent outdoor classrooms. Marge Fish, an ICU/ED nurse and educator from Londonderry, is president of the Green Mountain Club, a statewide organization based in Waterbury Center.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Send letters and opinions to editorial@montpelierbridge.com.

PAG E 24 M AY 17 J U N E 6 , 2012

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central vermont food hub CSA

community-supported agriculture made EASY

Local, fresh food, plus extras. We know youre busy. Thats why we pack your share boxes with a healthy supply of fresh, local vegetables plus extras like eggs, Red Hen bread, local meat, and artisanal cheeses with no add-on charges or extra fees. To make it easier to turn your box of food into healthy delicious meals, Joe Buley, our chef-farmer, writes up simple but flavorful meal ideas and cooking instructions for every share. Pick-up sites that work for you. Convenient pick-up sites in Montpelier and at Dog River Farm. And well create new sites when 10 or more members request the same location. Talk to your neighbors or coworkers and let us know where you want to pick up. Online sign-up and lots of payment choices. We've tried to make our CSA accessible and affordablejust $560 for 16 weeks of food. Plus, our new signup system offers payment by check, credit card, or bank debit in one, three, or five installments. Support local food producers. Were a CSA operation that supports emerging food producers right here in Central Vermont. Your membership can have a direct impact on the success of start-up businesses in our local community.

SIGN UP NOW to secure your place in the Summer 2012 CSA!

Click "Join Our Summer CSA" at centralvermontfoodhub.com. Questions? Just call. Joe Buley, 461-5371; George Gross, 249-0383.

Tell them you saw it in The Bridge!