Barre Kiwanis Turkey Drive Gathers Communities • Page 17
N ovember 15–D ecember 8, 2018
IN THIS ISSUE:
Pg. 5 GMT Considers
Paratransit Service
Pg. 6 Revisions to State
and Federal Tax Systems
Pg. 12 Questions Remain
for Parking Garage
U.S. Postage PAID
Permit NO. 123
Montpelier, VT
PRSRT STD
ECRWSS
Montpelier, VT 05601
P.O. Box 1143
The Bridge
A Rebel Heart Beats in Downtown Montpelier
By Mike Dunphy
J enny Sebold wears her heart on her sleeve—literally. The
anatomically correct tattoo on her left shoulder and biceps
isn’t just a decoration, but a symbol of inspiration born of
a will to survive and push forward after a divorce and all the
difficult life changes that come with it.
This same rebel heart—and spirit—is now
affixed to her new clothing and accessories
store on State Street.
Rebel Heart Collective has been a long
time coming, growing in Sebold’s mind in
the many years she spent merchandising,
buying, and managing for downtown
shops such as The Trading Company,
Zutano, and Salaam, where she served as
opening manager. The fact that she’s in
the same space as Salaam—which moved
three doors down in August—is not lost
on her. “That was one of the things that
was kind of cool about my space now,
is that I was there when they opened up
Salaam.”
Fashion has always been a source of joy for
Sebold, and she recalls many a trip down
to vintage shops in Boston from her high
school home in New Hampshire to buy overalls she’d convert
into skirts—an extension of the sewing lessons she received
from her family. “I started sewing when I was a kid. My great
aunt Stella taught me how to make Barbie clothes, and my mom
used to make a lot of my clothes, too.” Considering fashion as
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an actual career path took a little more time and acceptance.
“I remember someone asking me at one point, ‘What is it that
you are really good at doing? Do what you love.’ I felt kind of
embarrassed to say ‘shopping.’ I’m really good at shopping.”
Today, she’s turned that embarrassment
into confidence, as she prepares for the
grand opening of the store (yet to be
announced). It started with gutting
the Salaam space, with the help of the
Underwood Brothers Building Company
(discovering long-lost back windows along
the way) to create a tuned-up version of
a classic general store that draws heavily
from Texas tradition. “I love Texas. There
are a lot of good things, fashion wise,
that have come out of Texas. So there is
definitely a western infusion into what I
am presenting now.”
If the distressed 48-star flag hanging
from the wall doesn’t prove the point,
look to the inventory that embraces a
“modern prairie aesthetic,” with wool
Courtesy of Rebel Heart prairie dresses, vintage threads, horse hats,
leather booties and belts, jewelry, body
fragrances, and accessories galore. Many of the brands are by
small-batch producers, such as Charlie 1 Horse, Amsha, Gentle
Fawn, and Revivall, and often local, such as Champlain Leather
Continued on Page 15
PAG E 2 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Nature Watch by Nona Estrin

Watercolor by Nona Estrin

Early Winter

A
stick season sun-rise yesterday is transformed today
into a soft winter scape, snow holding to every
surface, branch and twig, the air filled with more.
Trees loaded with puffs and mini hanging glaciers. Down,
down, down it comes, no shortage of f lakes! A plentitude
of early winter for all!
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 3

HEARD ON THE STREET

Co-op Tries Corn-based Bags for Bulk Foods
Hunger Mountain Co-op is experimenting with a next-generation biodegradable
technology for the bags used by customers to take home products from the store's
bulk food bins. The rolls of green "Biobags" are made from GMO-free corn and break
down into carbon and water without leaving behind tiny bits of microplastics, general
manager Kari Bradley said. The bags can be composted in backyard compost piles, but
they have not yet been certified for organic compost sales.
Goats Pulled from Poison Ivy Patches
Apparently the goats that earned national attention in August for tackling the poison
ivy problem along the Montpelier Recreation Path got too much of a good thing—or
a bad thing. It seems the ivy, or the amount of it, was too much for their digestion,
leading them to be withdrawn from the cleanup operation. Mayor Watson doesn’t
believe this to be the end of the experiment: “I think it means that we’ll make some
adjustments for next year. I’m already having those conversations. Perhaps we need older
goats or more goats.”
Adamant Co-op Studio Transforms into Pop-up Store
Some days Janet MacLeod’s Studio, upstairs at the Adamant Co-op, is just a really
messy studio, and sometimes it’s a meeting place for a book discussion group, an
extension of the neighborhood kids’ haunted barn, or a place to visit and have a cup
of tea. However, in December a couple of co-op people are turning it into The Little
Shop Upstairs—a holiday gift shop of everything from Papier-mâché critters to canned
goods, to little paintings, jewelry, knitted ornaments, tinctures, note cards, and the new
year’s Co-op calendar, with paintings of East Montpelier.
Montpelier Heritage Group Resumes
Montpelier Heritage Group was founded by Margot George, Anthony Otis, and others
in response to the cladding of several historic downtown buildings in the 1960s. With
a lot of effort, many of the State Street buildings we now take for granted were restored
in the ’70s. MHG is now revitalized and seeks new members to fulfill its mission: to
preserve Montpelier's sense of place (its character, its buildings, what makes it special)
and to educate the public and decision makers on the importance of our built heritage.
Stay tuned for a talk about State Street coming up in December.

Parking Ban Returns

If the city’s first major snowfall of the season didn’t herald the return of the parking ban,
the bright yellow and salmon pamphlets being slipped under the wiper blades of cars
around the city stamped it indelibly. When a ban is called by the city manager, cars
parked on city streets will be ticketed and towed, costing $15 for the ticket and a $75 for
the tow. Vehicles may park in the designated areas on Stone Cutters Way, in the Pitkin
Parking Lot, or in the Blanchard Court Lot behind City Hall during declared on-street
parking ban events. Visit montpelier-vt.org for additional information.

Advertise in the
NEXT ISSUE:
HOLIDAYS
In Circulation Dec. 6–19
ALL AD MATERIALS AND AD SPACE
RESERVATIONS DUE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30.
For more information about advertising deadlines,

Fundraising Campaign
rates, and the design of your ad, contact
Rick McMahan • 802-249-8666
rick@montpelierbridge.com
Lee Wilschek • 802-828-7056
Lee@montpelierbridge.com Five months into our $50,000 Bridge to the Future campaign, we are
almost 1/2 of the way to our goal. Thanks to all those who have already
given.
Bridge Community Media, Inc.
P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601 Please send your tax-deductible donation to:
Ph: 802-223-5112 Friends of The Bridge, P.O. Box 1641, Montpelier, VT 05601.

Editor in Chief: Mike Dunphy You can also donate online at www.montpelierbridge.com/make-a-donation/
Managing Editor: Tom Brown
Publisher Emeritus: Nat Frothingham
Copy Editor: Larry Floersch, Valentyn Smith
Proofreader, Calendar Editor: Sarah Davin
Layout: Marichel Vaught
Sales Representatives: Rick McMahan, Lee Wilschek
Distribution: Sarah Davin, Amy Lester, Daniel Renfro
Board Members: Chairman Donny Osman, Jake Brown, Phil Dodd, Josh Fitzhugh, Larry Floersch, Greg
Gerdel, Irene Racz, Ivan Shadis, Tim Simard, Ashley Witzenberger
Editorial: 223-5112, ext. 14 • mdunphy@montpelierbridge.com
Location: The Bridge office is located at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, Stone Science 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.
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Twitter: @montpbridge • Instagram@montpelierbridge
PAG E 4 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

“I appreciate The Bridge as a print and online
newspaper that’s geared for Montpelier life in
news, op-eds, and calendar events. One stop
reading.”
Kevin Crossett, owner of Guitar Sam
“The Bridge has been the best source of
community news for the 20 plus years we have
been in business in Montpelier. It is a good,
local print publication that is always worth
reading.”
Glen Sturgis, owner of Capitol Copy

Planning Your Year-end Giving?

The Bridge Connects Us!
It’s our hometown newspaper.
Consider a 25th Anniversary Gift to The Bridge.

The Cozy Feel of Home!

Family • Friends • Children • The Bridge! • Celebrations • Warm socks •
Blazing fires• The Bridge! • Community Thanksgiving Dinner •
Sledding in Hubbard Park • City Hall Holiday Gift Market • The Bridge! • Concerts •
Holiday Bazaars • Downtown Wagon Rides • Santa! • The Bridge!

“I am grateful to have The Bridge as one of
the anchors in our community. They are an
important source of news and opinions for
Central Vermont and beyond. I make sure to
read every issue.”
Kari Bradley, general manager of Hunger
Mountain Coop
“The Bridge is one of those essential places for
a community like ours, relentlessly local, its
eyes firmly fixed on what makes us unique as a
community and what matters about living here.
I can’t imagine Montpelier without it.”
Thomas Greene, president of Vermont College
of Fine Arts

Friends of The Bridge, P.O. Box 1641, Montpelier, VT 05601

or Donate online at www.montpelierbridge.com
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 5
Green Mountain Transit to Considers Paratransit
Service for Central Vermont By Michelle A.L. Singer
G
reen Mountain Transit is considering the
creation of a dedicated “paratransit” van
service as part of its NextGen Transit plan,
which also aims to increase route efficiency and
improve customer service.
Community-wide discussions are ongoing for
proposed changes to key local bus routes, including
the Montpelier Circulator, Barre Hospital Hill,
Montpelier Hospital Hill, and City Commuter
routes. The plan offers a number of recommendations
for improving efficiency and service, which could be
implemented as soon as March 2019.
Green Mountain Transit’s current Paratransit/ADA
(Americans with Disabilities Act) service allows
deviations from the bus route within three-quarters
of a mile on either side. People wanting to use the
service must schedule it 24 hours in advance, and
in order for buses to keep on schedule, a maximum
of two deviations is allowed per trip. According to
Daniel Currier, program manager for the Central
Vermont Regional Planning Commission, which
works closely with Green Mountain Transit, “There’s Photo courtesy of Green Mountain Transit
some time that’s been added to the schedule to allow
for these deviations, but it can still throw the bus
off by quite a bit. We also don’t have a very good way of notifying people if the bus is
arriving late.”
As part of the NextGen planning process, Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates, a
national consulting firm specializing in transportation systems, mobility, and transit
analysis, looked at all the routes in Central Vermont. They advised that GMT could
make routes more efficient if, instead of offering deviations to the route, they provided
a separate, on-demand, paratransit service, allowing buses to remain on their routes.
Jordan Posner of GMT adds that with all routes, “Federal laws would be adhered to
and accommodations currently offered for lift-equipped transportation would still be
offered when needed.”
Paratransit would be a door-to-destination service. “Depending on the number of
people who need to be picked up,” says Currier, “GMT would link up the rides with
what’s available in the fleet, which could be a car or a van, and deploy.”
The new service would also require an application for eligibility, and requests for rides
would need to be made 24 hours in advance. “I think we’re looking at way over 1,000
people a year who might ultimately take advantage of the service,” says Currier. He also
notes that as the population ages, this plan is a way to get ahead of possible burdens
on the public transit system.
Organizations that work with older adults and people with disabilities in the
community immediately recognized the need to collect feedback and provide education
around the proposed changes. The Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission,
the Vermont Center for Independent Living, the Central Vermont Council on Aging,
Project Independence, and the Agency of Transportation got together and identified
a grant to conduct a planning study. They have designed an input survey and, based
on responses, will prepare an outline of what the paratransit changes would look like.
They wanted to have “a process that would be heavy on engagement and inclusiveness,
inside a population that can potentially use the
service,” says Currier. To participate in the survey
visit centralvtplanning.org.
One issue they will look at is overlap with other
local services. Green Mountain Transit offers
transportation services for adults who are disabled,
over 60 years old, or both, through programs such
as Ticket to Ride, the State of Vermont Elderly and
Disabled grant, which 300 people took advantage of
since July of this year. Rides are provided through
volunteer drivers and, according to Currier, the
volunteer driver pool is very low. “The population
of volunteers is aging and eventually there will be
no one to fill their seats. Many of the volunteer
drivers would qualify for the service themselves,”
he says.
With the implementation of paratransit, older adults
and people with disabilities who are eligible will be
able to take advantage of the new service as well as
overlapping programs, but the people who used the
deviation service who are not eligible would lose
that service. “The question becomes who gets left at
the curb? Some people who use the deviation may
not qualify for paratransit,” says Currier.
However, GMT also has plans to make changes to its routes that will benefit all
riders. They are considering increasing the frequency of the Barre Hospital Hill and
Montpelier Hospital Hill routes, adding bus service to Barre, as well as adjusting other
schedules to run more efficiently. The hope is that commuters will find bus service
dependable and consistent.
Dale Hackett lives in Barre and uses all three of the routes that will be impacted by
the proposed changes. He is visually and hearing impaired and would qualify for the
paratransit services. He says he’s interested and excited about the idea of paratransit,
“if it works and is reliable.” He worries that there won’t “be enough people to get you
where you’re going on time” and there will be a learning curve for getting the logistics
worked out. “I need to see it functioning,” he says.
Hackett says he’s lucky that most of the places he needs to get to are accessible on bus
routes. “I don’t have many places off route that I go to.” However, if he’s going to the
doctor’s office, for instance, and the road from the bus stop to the office isn’t safe, a
paratransit service “would be very useful,” he says. “Whether or not there are sidewalks
could be a huge factor.” Each person would take into consideration their needs, the
location they are going to, and other factors such as how busy a bus route might be.
“People with hearing or vision impairments might end up using paratransit and feeling
better about it.”
Community members can stay informed about the results from the input survey
at two public meetings in December—one in Montpelier and one in Barre. Visit
GMT’s website at ridegmt.com for updates on changes to the bus service, and the
Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission’s website at centralvtplanning.org
for updates on the paratransit service outline and survey results.
PAG E 6 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Property Tax Adjustments and Deductions Affected by New

State and Federal Tax Laws By Phil Dodd

The first of a two-part series on revisions to state and federal tax systems. sensitivity” provisions of state education finance law and impacts the 20,000 taxpayers

A
property tax adjustment change made by the Vermont Legislature last spring
means about 20,000 households with annual incomes of more than $47,000
will receive smaller adjustments on their school property tax bills this year than
they would have under the old law, according to Doug Farnham, policy director and
senior research economist with the Vermont Department of Taxes. A second property
adjustment change will kick in next year and could hit a small number of low-income
Montpelier property owners particularly hard (see accompanying article).
The changes to property tax adjustments were included in Act 11, a tax reform law that
was passed by lawmakers in response to the significant overhaul of the federal income
tax system enacted by Congress last year and is effective for 2018. At both the state
and federal levels, some of the changes could adversely impact some Vermont property
taxpayers, particularly those with higher-priced homes.
Under the new federal system, deductions for state and local taxes (SALT)—such as
property taxes and income taxes—are limited to $10,000, combined. There had been
no limit before. That change has proved controversial in states such as New York, New
Jersey, and California, which have high incomes, high property values, and high taxes.
Vermont also has relatively high taxes, but incomes and property values are lower here,
so a smaller percentage of the state’s population may be affected.
A couple of other federal changes could offset the SALT limitation for some affected
taxpayers, according to accountants. For one thing, the Alternative Minimum Tax—
which eliminated SALT deductions entirely for those who had to pay it—will hit many
fewer taxpayers now. Second, the standard deduction has been nearly doubled, meaning
fewer people will be taking itemized deductions (such as property taxes). According to
Farnham, 30 percent of Vermont taxpayers took itemized deductions under the old
system, and only 9 percent are expected to do so under the new law.
Vermont decided in Act 11 to do away with itemized deductions entirely. Before,
itemized deductions at the federal level flowed through to the Vermont income tax
form. Now, with itemized deductions out the window in Vermont, there is no place to
write off property taxes, even if they are itemized at the federal level. But the state has
added a standard deduction of its own, ranging from $6,000 to $12,000, depending
on family status.
Act 11’s changes to the property tax adjustment system do not appear to have been
driven by the federal tax law but instead by financial pressures. One set of changes,
effective this year and reflected on current property tax bills, affects the “income-
referenced above. Currently, 70 percent of Vermont homeowners receive property tax
adjustments of some type.
After the Supreme Court declared Vermont’s system of funding education was
unconstitutional, the Legislature in 1997 passed Act 60, which created a statewide
education property tax. The Legislature went beyond the mandate of the court and
took the opportunity to create a system that provided income-based relief from school
property taxes to taxpayers with household incomes up to $75,000.
Over the years, that income limit was raised to $90,000. Primary homeowners with
incomes below that level pay their property taxes based on a percentage of income,
up to a point. A provision was also added later to provide a reduced level of relief to
homeowners with incomes above $90,000, phasing out at about $140,000 in household
income. According to Farnham, the amount that a homeowner’s property tax bill is
reduced ranges from as little as $1 to as much as $8,000, which is the current statutory
cap.
With all the changes, the total reduction of money going to the state education fund
as a result of the school property tax adjustment rose to $166 million by 2017. With
some legislators saying the program had become too generous, the Legislature last year
made changes to the adjustments that will reduce or eliminate adjustments for some
taxpayers, particularly those who are sometimes called “house rich, cash poor.”
For households that earn between $47,000 and $90,000, the value of a house that can
receive an adjustment was reduced from $500,000 to $400,000. A homeowner with
income in this range with a higher-priced home will get income-based adjustments on
the first $400,000 in value, but pay the regular school property tax rate for the value
of the property above that level. This change affects 3,000 households statewide and
increases revenue to the education fund by $1.8 million.
For households with incomes above $90,000, the amount of house value subject to
adjustments has been reduced from $250,000 to $225,000. This change affects about
17,000 households statewide and boosts state education revenue by $5.9 million.
According to Farnham, property tax adjustments above $90,000 will now phase out
entirely at about $132,000 of household income.
In 2017, 1,389 homeowners in Montpelier, or 71 percent of the primary homes in the
city, received an education adjustment of some kind. Of those, 947 benefited only from
the school tax income-based adjustment. Another 442 also received a reduction from
the “circuit-breaker” adjustment described in the accompanying article.

Circuit Breaker Change Next Year Could Hurt Some Lower-Income

Montpelier Residents With Medium-Value Homes By Phil Dodd

R
ecent legislative changes to the so-called “circuit
breaker” property tax adjustment could affect some
Montpelier taxpayers with low incomes and high
property values starting next year.
Beginning on July 1, 2019, there will be separate caps on
municipal and school adjustments under the “circuit-breaker”
system, potentially impacting some property taxpayers in
towns with either high municipal taxes—such as Montpelier
and Barre—or elevated school taxes, according to Doug
Farnham, director and senior research economist with the
Vermont Department of Taxes. The changes are included
in Act 11, a tax reform bill passed by lawmakers last session.
“When tax changes are made, there are winners and losers,”
Farnham said. “With the cap on municipal property tax
adjustments, Montpelier residents are more likely to hit
the cap than most other towns, but, in reality, only about
a dozen households have the combination of income and
house value that causes this cap to apply.”
These dozen or so Montpelier households will see an
average increase of just under $300, Farnham said. If the
municipal tax rate rises significantly in the future, more of
the approximately 450 Montpelier homeowners who qualify
for the circuit breaker could see increases, he added.
The circuit breaker, which predates Act 60, ensures that
households do not pay more than a certain amount of their
income in total property taxes. The limit for those with
incomes of $25,000 to $47,000 is currently no more than 5
percent of income. It is 4.5 percent for those with incomes
of $10,000 to $24,999.
Act 11 has made two major changes to the circuit-breaker
program, both affecting property tax bills coming out after
July 1, 2019. First, it sets separate limits for municipal taxes
and school taxes. For those in the $10,000 to $47,000 range,
the adjustment caps municipal tax bills at no more than 3
percent of income. School taxes are capped at no more than
2 percent of income for those in the $25,000 to $47,000
range, and 1.5 percent for those in the $10,000 to $24,999
range.
The second change limits the amount a property owner can
receive under the municipal circuit breaker to $2,400. The
maximum a property owner can receive under school tax
adjustments is $5,600. Under current law, there is an $8,000
combined limit.
The effect of this is to limit tax adjustments for a few
taxpayers in towns with either high municipal taxes or high
school taxes. Montpelier is a town with high municipal
property taxes, among the highest in the state. “The total
cost of the circuit-breaker system shouldn’t change, but some
homeowners in towns with high municipal taxes could hit
that $2,400 limit very quickly,” Farnham said.
To check the impact of the circuit-breaker changes, The
Bridge made some rough calculations for various home
values based on a low household adjusted gross income of
$15,000 and using the same Montpelier tax rates for both
this year and next year.
• For homes assessed at $200,000, the total tax bill with
no property adjustment would be about $6,659. With
household income of $15,000, the total property tax bill
with the circuit breaker would be reduced to $675 this year
and the same amount next year.
• For a home assessed at $300,000, the total tax bill with
no property adjustment would be about $8,010. With
household income of $15,000, the total tax bill would be
reduced to $675 this year, but would increase $300 to $975
next year, a 44 percent increase.
• For a home assessed at $400,000, the total tax bill with
no property tax adjustment would be about $10,694. With
household income of $15,000, the total tax bill would be
reduced to $2,964 this year and would be the same next
year.
In general, households with higher incomes of $25,000 to
$47,000 should see no change either. These calculations
are theoretical, so check with your tax adviser if you have
questions about your situation.
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 7

District Heat Rates to Jump this Winter;

City and School Budgets May Be Affected By Phil Dodd

T
he average bill for users of the Some users are also seeing spikes in
city’s district heating system demand, which is also not efficient.
will rise 22 percent starting Motyka said some of the problems
in January under a new rate structure could be cured by users installing
approved by the city council. The new control systems. “Efficiency
larger-than-usual increase is the result Vermont has an engineer helping
of debt service obligations and higher us,” he said. “They can offer both
wood chip costs, city officials say. technical expertise and financial
Beginning January 1, the system’s incentives for new equipment.”
“capacity” rate is jumping 23.5 Other buildings currently on the
percent and the “energy” portion system include City Center, the
of the bill is rising 18.8 percent, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Vermont
according to figures in a staff memo Mutual, Bethany Church, Christ
to the council recommending the rate Church, the federal post office
changes for the city-owned utility, building, and the Washington
called District Heat Montpelier County courthouse. No new
(DHM). The capacity charge covers customers have joined the system
the city’s operating, maintenance, since it began operation in 2014.
and repair costs, including debt Provencher said potential users are
service. The energy charge includes only likely to consider joining the
the costs of fuel and electricity. DHM system when their boilers need
Todd Provencher, the city’s finance replacement. Motyka said there have
director, said the average capacity charge for the 2017–2018 heating season was been some conversations with the Unitarian Church, but he noted the church is
$2,566 per month (charged for the 7-month heating season October–April), and not located right next to a distribution pipe.
the average monthly energy charge was $1,445 per month for the same period. Motyka said the Taylor Street Transit Center now under construction will not
If usage remains the same this heating season, the average monthly charges will be using district heat, both because it is on the other side of the train tracks
rise to $3,169 for capacity and $1,717 for energy. and because the developer wanted a system that could provide both heating and
Provencher said the main reason the capacity rate is increasing is that the city, cooling, not just heating, which is all that DHM can provide.
beginning in the next fiscal year, must start making principal payments on the There are plans to use district heat for radiant heating on the top floor of the new
$2 million bond used to pay for the system. Until now the city has only been city parking garage in order to minimize salt damage to the concrete structure,
making interest payments. Motyka said. The city has also had preliminary discussions with the developers
Provencher said the energy rate is going up largely because the cost of wood chips of the proposed Hampton Inn and Suites hotel about tapping into the DHM
used by the state to heat the water for the system is higher, and those costs are system, he said.
passed through to the DHM. The state’s contract with its wood chip supplier
expired, and the state put the contract out to bid recently, he explained. Only
one company put in a bid, and it was substantially higher than the old contract,
so costs to DHM for hot water from the state’s heating plant are increasing by
about $50,000.
Three of the 20 buildings heated by the DHM are owned by the city (city
hall, the fire station, and the police station) and one—the Union Elementary
School—is owned by the school district, meaning the increase will likely have
an impact on school and municipal budgeting. Heating costs will rise for those
buildings this winter and likely stay elevated in future years.
Heating oil prices in Vermont have also jumped in the past year, up 26 percent
to about $3 per gallon on October 29, according to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration. However, heating oil prices now are lower than when the DHM
began its first heating season in October 2014. At that time, heating oil was
$3.22 per gallon. It dropped steadily for a couple of years after that, reaching
a bottom of $1.80 per gallon in late February 2016 before beginning to climb
again.
Provencher said it was unlikely DHM rates would take such a big jump next year.
He said DHM plans to work with its customers this year to increase “compliance.”
After taking hot water into their own buildings, users are supposed to return
water that is about 50 degrees cooler, which leads to a more efficient system,
according to City Engineer Kurt Motyka, but this is not always happening.
PAG E 8 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Scenes from Election Day in Montpelier

Photos by Lené Gary
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 9
Montpelier Sets 2050 as Citywide Net-Zero Goal
By Carl Etnier
Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee. Photos courtesy of Net Zero Montpelier
W
hen Montpelier committed
to net-zero carbon emissions
by 2030 in 2014, did it
commit all the residents and business
owners and everyone else in the city to
that ambitious goal, or did it just pledge
to get its own house in order? At its
October 24 meeting, the city council
voted to define the 2030 goal as applying
only to municipal operations. It also
committed everyone and everything in
town to 100 percent renewable energy,
but that goal aims for 2050.
With 12 years left until the 2030
deadline, the Montpelier Energy
Advisory Committee (MEAC) spent the
summer wrestling with the language
from 2014, which simply referred to “the
city.” Chair Kate Stephenson said in a
phone interview, “The understanding
from the committee was that it [the
2014 goal] wasn’t just the city, it was
community wide.” The committee took
another look at the issue, however, to
clarify the language. “We ended up
having two or three energy committee
meetings and a strategic planning
retreat. I would say the committee was
split between, ‘just go for it and set the
big audacious goal’ versus ‘no one in
this room thinks we’re going to be 100
percent net zero by 2030, so let’s end up
with a definition that we might be able
to reach.’”
The result is both a restriction of the
2030 goal to municipal operations—
city buildings, school bus fleets, and
so forth—as well as permission for the
city to use some fossil fuels as long
as the emissions are offset. Offsets
are typically achieved by paying for
emission-reduction projects elsewhere,
for example, building weatherization
or wind turbines. City equipment can
continue to run on diesel, for example,
with the purchase of carbon credits.
The 2050 goal, for 100 percent renewable
energy, allows no offsets. To meet that
goal, all vehicles and equipment would
need to run on electricity or some sort
of biofuel, in addition to heating and
electricity being from renewable sources
such as wind, solar, and hydroelectricity.
The goal is more ambitious than the
state’s official energy strategy of 90
percent renewable energy by 2050.
The council voted to adopt the new
MEAC goal definitions in a resolution
that included, for the first time,
mechanisms to help the city meet the
goals. Stephenson said, “We talked a
lot in the committee about how do you
write it into everyone’s job description
who works for the city of Montpelier
that they have to help toward the
net-zero goal. Right now, it’s not in
anybody’s job description.”
The result was direction to each city
department to find ways to move
toward the net-zero carbon emissions
goal and to report annually to the
council and to develop a 10-year plan
“to achieve the city’s net-zero goal.”
The language doesn’t specify whether
the plan is to focus on the 2030 goal
for municipal operations or the 2050
goal for the entire city, perhaps setting
up another recalibration down the
road. The council also directed staff
members and the planning commission
to recommend ways to align zoning
regulations with the net-zero goal—
changes that could affect land use and
building construction in the city.
While the city council has now
effectively put all staff members—or at
least department heads—on notice that
Montpelier resident pledges to save energy
their job descriptions include finding the energy and facilities coordinator.
ways to move to net-zero energy use, When asked about energy coordinators
both Stephenson and Mayor Anne who save so much money for their
Watson envision hiring someone with employers that they more than pay for
sustainability work as their main focus, their salary, Watson acknowledged she’d
as an “energy and facilities coordinator.” heard that could be the case, at least for
In a letter to councilors and top city staff the first few years. But, she said, “It’s
members, Stephenson cites Lebanon, also possible that, if they’re really good
New Hampshire, and White River at their job, that they’ll put themselves
Junction as creating similar positions. out of work. I want to get to that point.”
Stephenson is urging the city to create Carl Etnier serves on the Select Board and
the position in the fiscal year 2020 Energy Committee in East Montpelier,
budget. which hasn’t adopted a net-zero energy
One thing the coordinator could do plan.
is administer the city’s energy-related
revolving loan fund. In her testimony to
the council on October 24, Stephenson
described how the $20,000 fund
was drawn on in 2017 to pay for a
capacitor at the water treatment plant—
the investment helped reduce peak
electricity demand and has paid for itself
already, she said. Three more projects
are underway, and only $13,000 of the
fund is committed to them. But MEAC
has identified dozens of potential
energy-saving projects in city buildings,
and it’s been a labor-intensive process
for committee volunteers to work with
city staff members to winnow through
them and recommend next steps. A
paid staffer with that job could move
forward more quickly.
Some energy projects offer paybacks
even faster and that are more dramatic
than the water treatment capacitor.
MEAC hired the consulting firm CX
Associates to look at energy use at the
police station, and the company found
that replacing a $20 fan switch could
cut the heating load in half and save
$14,000 a year.
Watson says she’ll recommend to the
council that they fund the position of
PAG E 10 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Early Voting, Huge Turnout Highlight Montpelier Election

By Tom Brown

P
arking, plastic, and politics drew a huge of Republicans and one independent. Perchlik
number of Montpelier voters to the polls, joins longtime Washington County Sens.
especially for a midterm election that Ann Cummings and Anthony Pollina in
featured virtually no competitive statewide races. the 30-member body, where Democrats and
An impressive 73.5 percent of “active voters” Progressives will outnumber Republicans 24–6.
participated in the general election, strongly With a few seats still to be decided, Democrats
approving all four ballot measures and backing and Progressives will likely emerge with a veto-
incumbents, with the exception of Gov. Phil Scott. proof majority of at least 100 members in the
City Clerk John Odum also reported that 37 2019–2020 biennium.
percent of those who voted did so before election In area House races:
day and about 125 new voters took advantage Washington-4 (Montpelier): Democrats Warren
of same-day registration. The turnout, which Kitzmiller and Mary Hooper easily won
dwarfed the last midterm election in 2014 in reelection.
which 41.5 percent participated, was due mainly
to two factors, Odum said. There are roughly Washington-1 (Berlin, Northfield): Republicans
6,200 active voters on the Montpelier checklist hung onto the seat vacated by Rep. Patti Lewis
and 4,560 cast ballots, Odum said. Campaign signs adorn City Hall plaza in Montpelier on a soggy Election Day. as incumbent Rep. Anne Donahue was joined
Photo by Tom Brown by fellow Republican and political newcomer
“The parking garage was really getting people Kenneth Goslant, who edged Democrat Denise
out,” he said, “and the other reason was as a MacMartin by about 100 votes.
referendum on the federal administration. A lot of frustration was being unleashed by
voting.” Washington-2 (Barre Town): Republicans Rob LaClair and Francis “Topper” McFaun,
a Republican/Democrat held onto their seats. Democrat Guy Isabelle finished third.
The $10.5 million city parking garage bond was the closest of the four ballot items,
passing 2,549–1,877. A $16.7 million bond to upgrade the city’s wastewater treatment Washington-3 (Barre City): Democrat Peter Anthony upset incumbent independent
plant was easily approved, as were separate charter change proposals that would allow Paul Poirier in the Barre district. Anthony joins fellow Democrat Tommy Walz in
non-U.S. citizens to vote on municipal ballot items and give the city council the the House. Poirier finished fourth, trailing Republican challenger John Steinman by
authority to regulate non-reusable plastics. roughly 125 votes.
Otherwise, Montpelier voters enthusiastically chose incumbent Democrats or Washington-5 (East Montpelier, Middlesex): Incumbent Democrat Kimberly Jessup
Progressives in races for state offices. The one race in which city voters did not was unopposed.
choose the winner was for governor, where Democratic challenger Christine Hallquist Washington-6 (Calais, Marshfield, Plainfield): Incumbent Democrat Janet Ancel
outpolled Republican incumbent Gov. Phil Scott, 2,578–1,596. was unopposed.
Odum said with more options for early voting available residents are beginning to see Washington 7 (Duxbury, Fayston, Moretown, Waitsfield, Warren): Incumbent
voting as a range of days rather than a single-day affair. Rep. Ed Read, an independent, was knocked off by Democrat Kari Dolan, who joins
“More people are starting to think about it as an election season, I think, with election incumbent Democrat Maxine Grad in Montpelier.
Day as the deadline,” Odum said. Washington-Chittenden (Bolton, Buels Gore, Huntington, Waterbury): Incumbent
Elsewhere in Washington County, Democrats added three House seats by ousting Reps. Tom Stevens and Theresa Wood ran unopposed.
one Republican and two independent incumbents. In the Senate race, Progressive/ Lamoille-Washington (Elmore, Morristown, Woodbury, Worcester): Democrat
Democrat Andrew Perchlik filled the seat left vacant by the retirement of Democratic Avram Patt broke through to oust incumbent Republican Gary Nolan by about 200
Sen. Francis Brooks. Perchlik finished third, more than 5,000 votes ahead of a trio votes. Incumbent Democrat David Yacovone won reelection as the top vote-getter in
the race.
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 11

Article 1
Parking Garage Bond
Yes 2,459 56.7 percent
No 1,877 43.3 percent
Article 2
Wastewater Plant
Yes 3,770 86.7 percent
No 575 13.3 percent
Article 3
Non-U.S. Citizen Voting
Yes 2,857 65.7 percent
No 1,488 34.3 percent
Article 4
Non-Reusable Plastics
Charter Change
Yes 3,322 78.1 percent
No 930 21.9 percent

Montpelier by the Numbers

U.S. Senate
Folasade Adeluola Independent 40
Russell Beste Independent 17
Bruce Busa Independent 5
Edward S Gilbert Jr. Independent 25
Reid Kane Liberty Union 12
Brad J Peacock Independent 35
*Bernie Sanders Independent 3,832
Jon Svitavsky Independent 8
Lawrence Zupan Republican 457
U.S. House
Cris Ericson Independent 119
Laura S Potter Liberty Union 77
Anya Tynio Republican 382
*Peter Welch Democratic 3,873
Governor
Trevor Barlow Independent 21
Cris Ericson Independent 15
Christine Hallquist Democratic 2,758
Charles Laramie Independent 10
Stephen Marx Earth Rights 40
Emily Em Payton Liberty Union 23 State Representative (two elected)
*Phil Scott Republican 1,596
Lt. Governor
Murray Ngoima Liberty Union 71
Don Turner Jr Republican 846
*David Zuckerman Prog/Dem 3,493
Treasurer
Richard Morton Republican 455
*Beth Pearce Democratic 3,886
Secretary of State State’s Attorney
*Jim Condos Democratic 3,841 *Rory Thibault Dem/Rep 3,413
Mary Alice Hebert Liberty Union 142
Sheriff
H Brooke Paige Republican 416
*W Samuel Hill Rep/Dem 3,332
Auditor of Accounts
Marina Brown Liberty Union 163 High Bailiff
*Doug Hoffer Dem/ Prog 3,474 *Mark Hughes Independent 2,311
Richard Kenyon Republican 556 Marc Poulin Rep/Dem 1,103
Attorney General Justice of the Peace (15 elected)
*TJ Donovan Democratic 3,751 *Michael Badamo Democratic 1,435
Rosemarie Jackowski Liberty Union 162 *Mary Alice Bisbee Democratic 2,098
Janssen Wilhoit Republican 402 *Barney Bloom Democratic 1,553
State Senate (3 elected) *Cary Brown Democratic 1,648
Ken Alger Republican 507 *Kim Cheney Democratic 2,178
Chris S Bradley Republican 577 Ben Eastwood Progressive 1,251
*Ann Cummings Democratic 3,405 Robert Gross Democratic 1,188
*Andrew Perchlik Dem/Prog 3,132 *Kathy Johnson Democratic 1,933
*Anthony Pollina Prog/Dem 3,070 *Robb Kidd Progressive 1,329
Dwayne Tucker Republican 470 *Valerie Lewis Democratic 1,749
Barry Wadle Independent 330 *John J McCullough III Democratic 1,456
Judith Newman Democratic 1,727
Adam Norton Progressive 949
*Mary S Hooper Democratic 3,390
*Andrew Perchlik Progressive 1,967
*Warren Kitzmiller Democratic 2,849
*Marjorie Power Progressive 1,666
Glennie Sewell Progressive 1,096
Daniel Richardson Democratic 1,233
Probate Judge Glennie Sewell Progressive 1,265
*Jeffrey P Kilgore Dem/Rep 3,313 *Nancy Sherman Democratic 2,192
*Catherine Simpson Democratic 1,626
Assistant Judge (two elected)
*Ron Wild Democratic 1,351
*Miriam Muffy Conlon Democratic 3,304
*Philip H Zalinger Jr Democratic 1,521
*Otto Trautz Dem/Rep 2,220
* Denotes winner
PAG E 12 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Voters Endorse Parking Garage but Questions Remain
By Tom Brown
V
oters on Election Day gave a solid green light to
Photo by Lené Gary building a proposed city-owned parking garage,
but permitting hurdles and a possible legal
challenge mean the debate is likely to continue.
City residents voted 2,459–1,877 in favor of the public-
private downtown development that would have the
city take on a $10.5 million bond to pay for a four-
story parking structure. The garage will be built in
conjunction with an 80-room Hampton Inn and Suites
hotel behind Capitol Plaza. The bond is expected to be
paid for through parking fees and from revenue gained
from the creation of a special tax district. No property
tax increases are expected to be needed to pay for the
bond, city officials have said.
Downtown merchants, who supported the garage and
hotel projects as a way to provide additional parking
options for local shoppers and tourists alike, were
pleased with the outcome.
“We were excited and thankful for the result,” said
Sarah DeFelice, owner of the Bailey Road clothing store
and president of the Montpelier Business Association.
“It showed how Montpelier residents really value the
business owners’ input, and that they want us here and
will do things to make us stay here in the long run. This
project will create a gateway to economic development.”
DeFelice noted that the additional hotel rooms will
provide a place to stay for tourists who sometimes are
forced to book rooms in Stowe or Burlington and,
therefore, only visit Montpelier for a few hours.
Before those rooms are occupied and any cars are
parked, the project will need to navigate an ongoing
permit process, soil-testing, and a challenge to the city’s
Development Review Board’s permit deliberations.
Nineteen city residents filed a petition with the DRB on
November 5, contending that the project is inconsistent
with the city’s master plan. By submitting the petition
the group hopes to gain party status, should it wish
to appeal the board's decision in state environmental
court. The DRB accepted the petition and closed its
hearing on the garage permit on November 5.
Deliberations on the city’s permit application are
expected to continue at the board’s next meeting on
November 19. The board could decide to approve the
permit as is, approve it with certain conditions, or deny
it. The permit requires at least four votes to be approved
by the seven-member board. Two regular members of
the board, Dan Richardson and Kate McCarthy, have
recused themselves from the case, meaning the board’s
two alternates will vote on the garage permit.
Continued on next page
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 13

Some critics of the proposal have Photo by Lené Gary exceed that amount, which Fraser said
suggested that because the board he doesn’t expect, the city would seek
is reviewing the city’s application, other sources of money for the cleanup,
as opposed to a private developer’s such as state and federal grants.
application for example, the review “I suppose if it were millions of dollars,
process might not be as stringent or that and we couldn’t find it, then we wouldn’t
the city might be held to a lower standard do the project,” he said.
by the DRB. Others have questioned
whether the garage project fits with Also still on the table is a request by
some residents’ vision for the riverfront resident Alan Goldman that the district
area at the downtown confluence of the environmental review commission issue
North Branch and Winooski rivers. an opinion on whether the garage should
be reviewed separately or as part of
“The garage was initially a part of the larger development proposals in the new
hotel project, but now the city is the downtown Tax Increment Financing
applicant,” said Laura Rose Abbott, (TIF) district. Considering the proposals
a Montpelier resident who signed the together could trigger a higher level of
petition. “I think that because of that environmental review.
the city could benefit from the liberty
that municipalities are granted in a Finally, the city is in negotiations with
municipal process.” the Heney Family Trust over a portion
of the proposed parking garage site that
City Manager Bill Fraser said the city the city currently leases from the trust.
works hard to keep its planning and Fraser said the lease needs to be revised
zoning arms separate from whichever to allow construction of the garage and
department’s application is being to determine what will happen on the
reviewed. site at the end of the 49-year lease. He
“We want them to do their diligent and Tim Heney said details are being
review and make sure we comply with finalized on an agreement that would
all regulations and requirements,” Fraser essentially create four scenarios at lease
said. “We’re an applicant, and we’ve end. One option would allow the trust
presented our case basically through our to buy the portion containing the new
architect and professionals.” garage; one would allow the city to buy
If the opponents wish to challenge believes the reasons might be more examination of soils on the proposed site it; one option would extend the lease; and
the board’s decision, they would have philosophical than procedural. “My are expected this month. The site behind perhaps least likely, one option would
30 days to file a notice of appeal in sense is they just don’t like the project Capitol Plaza is a known brownfield restore the site to its original condition
environmental court. and are seeking to impose their will on site where traces of oil, gasoline, and (i.e., remove the garage from the leased
the will of the voters.” byproducts of the dry-cleaning process site). The parties would meet two years
Abbott said her concerns are about the before the lease expires to agree on one of
The DRB permit is not the only are likely to exist. The city has allocated
pace of the project, and that she doesn’t those options, Fraser said.
unresolved issue regarding the $100,000 in the garage proposal to clean
believe the garage fits with the vision for
parking garage. The results of an up the site. Should remediation greatly
Montpelier that various working groups
have endorsed, but added that the 19
petitioners each have their own reasons
for objecting to the project.
“There is no formal position as a group
at this time,” she said. “The outcome
of the vote has made some feel more
strongly that action needs to take place.”
Residents who filed the petition are
Abbott, Dorothy Helling, John Russell,
Sandra Vitzthum, Andrea Stander,
Nathaniel Frothingham, Les Blomberg,
Elizabeth Slayton, William J. Koucky,
Lisette Elise Paris, Cara Barbero, Diana
Baron, Jill Muhr, Sarah Gribbin, Daniel
Costin, Mollie Gribbin, A. David
Gram, Albert P. Sabatini, and Rebecca
Davison. Helling and Frothingham are
former employees of The Bridge.
Gram said he joined the petition because
he believes the project is moving too fast,
and the vote came before all questions
about its construction have been
answered. He said the fact that voters
endorsed the project is important, but
he is not sure what steps the petitioners
will take next.
“I’m still skeptical of the garage but
not unalterably opposed,” he said. “I
still think we should take a little more
time,” noting that pedestrian-friendly
riverfront promenades are at the heart of
many of the world’s great cities.
Fraser said that while the petitioners
are entitled to challenge the project, he
PAG E 14 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Flannel Friday Cozies Up Montpelier
T
his holiday season, skip the mall and ditch
your online shopping apps and visit downtown
Montpelier for an unforgettable holiday
experience. More than 40 unique, locally owned stores
offer products and services you won’t find anywhere
else. Linger a while with a bite to eat and enjoy the
glow of the holiday lights. Fun events and free holiday
parking (starting Dec. 12) await.
Join us in downtown Montpelier on Friday, November
23, for Flannel Friday, a cozier way to shop for the
holidays. Start your morning with a free screening
of the film Miracle on 34th Street at 10 am at the
Savoy Theater before launching into your shopping
adventures at the dozens of unique boutiques
downtown. You’ll find amazing sales wherever you
look. And don’t forget to wear your flannel. Get
spotted by the Flannel Fairies, and you could win
great prizes.
On Monday, November 26, log off the computer and
come to Montpelier’s Cider Monday. There will be
free cider, courtesy of Cold Hollow Cider Mill, at
many of your favorite stores, and free cider doughnuts
(first 100 orders) from The Donut Dude, courtesy of
Montpelier Alive!
See the
back page
of this issue
for more
information
on Flannel
Friday sales!
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 15
A Rebel Heart Beats in Downtown Montpelier
and April Cornell. “When it’s all said and done, my
vision for Rebel Heart is 60 percent clothing and 40
percent other. Pretty much everything in here, I can
say, ‘That’s my favorite.’”
Men’s clothing is a large part of the mix, fluctuating
between 30 and 40 percent of the inventory at
any given time. “I am super excited to sell men’s
clothing,” she explains, but acknowledges the
challenge of it. “Guys are really hard to buy for,
because it’s got to be really well made and really
affordable. If you buy a shirt and love it, you wear
it for 20 years and don’t get another one.”
Will Vermont’s famously relaxed fashion sense
provide enough customers? Sebold does admit the
pressure to dress in fine dudds is not nearly as
strong as in major cities such as Boston, Montreal,
and New York, but that doesn’t mean Vermont
isn’t fashionable. “I think Vermont definitely has a
sense of aesthetics, and in that regard, we have our
own fashion, whether we want to admit it or not,
that some other parts of the country are trying to
emulate,” noting the trend of “lumbersexuals.”
As with any new store opening in Montpelier,
there’s the question of downtown’s retail viability, which has long been suffering, as
expressed by president of the Montpelier Business Association and owner of Bailey
Road, Sarah DeFelice, who noted in a Facebook post before the election, “Many of
us are one bad retail season away from closing our doors.” But Sebold, who has lived
Continued from Page 1
Courtesy of Rebel Heart in Montpelier for 20 years, is optimistic about and
encouraged by the changes coming to downtown.
“I feel really excited about what’s going on in
Montpelier. I feel like there’s energy picking up and
revitalization happening.”
Much of that is tied to the new hotel and parking
garage, which Sebold very much supports. She also
bemoans with a heavy sigh the continued fight
against it, and the resistance to nearly any change
downtown. “Honestly, I think that’s one of the
things that’s kept Montpelier back and made it
so tough for businesses to succeed,” she explains.
“The community talks about how they want to be
vibrant, but when people try to do something, we’re
going to hem and haw, because it’s different.”
The city needs more parking, she emphasizes, and
that it’s been a major problem for a long time. “It’s
a no-brainer,” she explains, “If someone asks, ‘Do
you support the parking garage?’ I say, ‘Yes. I wish
it were four stories taller, personally, so we can have
more space for more people in this town. It’s the
capital of Vermont.’”
And there is no option but success for Sebold. “My
whole entire skin is in this game. My whole entire everything. I did the whole thing:
quit my job, liquidate, and put everything into my dream. It is a big risk, but I came
in thinking, ‘Yes, it’s all going to be great.’ I know it; I’m confident in it; I think if you
have a dream you have to do that.”
PAG E 16 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Shippee Family Eye Care Moving to Main Street
By Larry Floersch
Shippee Family Eye Care plans on being in its
new location at 114 Main Street in Montpelier by
spring of 2019. Photo by Larry Floersch
I
n a letter sent to patients on November 9, Shippee Family Eye Care (formerly
Montpelier Eye Care) announced it will move from its current Montpelier location
at 15 East State Street to three storefronts at 114 Main Street, next to NECI on
Main.
According to the letter, the practice has outgrown its space on East State Street, and
the move will allow it to expand and improve its services to patients. This will include
having more examination rooms, the hiring of an additional physician and staff,
and the installation of advanced diagnostic equipment. This should result in more
examination openings and therefore less wait time in scheduling care.
The clinic has been in its current location for close to 20 years. Dr. Karena Shippee and
Dr. Sam Shippee took over the practice in 2004 from Dr. James Begun, who started
Montpelier Eye Care more than 25 years ago.
The move will provide increased parking for patients—12 spaces compared with two
spaces at the current location.
Three businesses currently occupy the space that will be taken over by Shippee Eye
Care: Vy Vy Nail Salon, Petals and Things, and Yarn. Petals and Things has already
vacated its space. Vy Vy Nail Salon will be moving near the corner of Elm and School
streets, across from the Uncommon Market. Yarn will be moving to the Village
Shopping Center in Waterbury.
The letter acknowledges the sadness that this has caused and wishes those businesses
continued success in the future, but states that the move to Main Street will allow
Shippee Family Eye Care to continue to care for patients downtown and avoid
relocating the practice somewhere outside of the area or outside the city of Montpelier.
This they state helps keep health care accessible and is vital in saving time and cost to
patients.
According to staff member Angela Payette, it will be the spring of 2019 before the space
will be ready and Shippee Family Eye Care can start seeing patients in the new location.
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 17

Barre Kiwanis Turkey Drive

Feeds Communities
By Michael Bielawski

T
he Barre Kiwanis 7th Photo courtesy of Washington County Youth
Annual Thanksgiving Service Bureau/ Boys & Girls Club
Turkey Drive will deliver
200 turkeys to the plates of
those in need throughout the
Barre community and region,
including nine charity/nonprofit
organizations. The organizations
to receive turkeys are Capstone,
the Barre Congregational
Church, the Hedding United
Methodist Church, Project
Independence, St. Monica’s Food
Shelf, the Twin Valley Senior
Center, the Washington County
Youth Service Bureau, and the
Websterville Food Shelf.
Barre Kiwanis Vice President
Morgan Adams told The
Bridge that their organization
takes care of the fundraising,
purchasing, and distribution of
the Thanksgiving birds. The
receiving organizations then
prepare and serve the meals,
which go to those in need and
especially to often-isolated
groups, such as the elderly.
The operation is growing year to year. It started at about 150 turkeys and has been
expanding by about 10 each year.
“I took it over this year and now looking forward, I’d love to get the Montpelier
Kiwanis involved and have an opportunity to deliver 1,200 turkeys to the Central
Vermont area,” Adams said. “It’s one of those feel-good events, and I definitely think
I’d love to see it grow even bigger.”
Christine Hartman of the Washington County Youth Service Bureau said her
organization received 10 turkeys last year from the Barre Kiwanis and another 10 this
year. The Bureau gathers turkeys from different turkey drives, with the biggest haul
this year being 50 from National Life.
Each year, the Bureau puts on a Thanksgiving Day community meal at the Bethany
Church in Montpelier. Last year, the group served 440 people in addition to 314
deliveries. She said the meals go to a wide range of people.
“It’s folks who are alone and who want to have that feeling of community,” she said.
“Sometimes it’s the local people who are visiting the food shelves and the community
meals. We have a wide demographic. It’s all kinds of people and all ages.”
She said the extra boost from Kiwanis is much appreciated.
“They are awesome, they collect a huge number of turkeys,” she said. “When we were
having our turkey drive, we talked to them about how they go about doing theirs. They
are really impressive, and they are such a great community support.”
Rita Copeland with Twin Valley Senior Center receives eight turkeys, which amount
to over 100 meals for the towns they serve. Twin Valley runs the Meals on Wheels
program in addition to numerous services at their center on Route 2 in East Montpelier.
“It’s a big, big help when you are a nonprofit, I know,” Copeland said.
She said they cook the turkeys at the center, package them, and volunteers deliver
them to homes in the five towns they serve, noting that the elderly population stands
out as a group not just in need of the meals but—just as important—the community
interactions, either when they come to the center or chatting a few times a week when
they get home deliveries.
“Some of them are quite isolated, they don’t have company,” she said. “And so it’s a way
that the volunteer drivers are also doing a welfare check on them and make sure they
are okay, to say hello and visit with them.”
Michael Bielawski is a freelance reporter for The Bridge. He can be reached at
bielawski82@yahoo.com.
PAG E 18 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Remembering the First World War at Norwich University

By Nat Frothingham

A
s part of the 100th anniversary of Panel Discussion
the Armistice that ended World War U.S. Marines advancing through the Meuse-Argonne in 1918. In his introduction to the panel discussion,
I (November 11, 1918)—Norwich Sodergren, the panel’s moderator, detailed
University convened a faculty discussion panel some of the major military and diplomatic
on November 9 to reflect on the meaning events during 1918 that led to the Armistice
and significance of the First World War. on November 11, 1918. He went on to say
Often called “the forgotten war,” the four-year that when the Armistice took effect and guns
conflict, from July 28, 1914, to November 11, stopped firing, what the soldiers noticed was
1918, resulted in 116,516 American combat the sudden silence. One American soldier wrote
deaths and approximately 210,000 wounded these words:
and missing among the 4.355 million
Americans who served. At the front our days and nights were filled with
the sounds and smells of bombardment. Never
Norwich University Panelists were we free of it, and we had to learn to live
Participating in the panel discussion were these with it. On November 11 at 11 am, those sounds
faculty members: and vibrations abruptly stopped. The quietness
Rowland Brucken, professor of history and that followed was awesome; you could feel it—
author of A Most Uncertain Crusade: The United almost smell and taste it. There was no singing, no
States, the United Nations, and Human Rights, shouting, no laughter; we just stood around and
1941–1953. This book discusses America’s looked and listened.
uncertain commitment to international human In a wide-ranging discussion the panelists
rights during and after World War II. deliberated on a range of subjects. Sodergren
Reina Pennington, Charles A. Dana Professor offered the idea that World War I had sometimes
of History, an expert in Russian and European history whose first book was Wings, encouraged marginalized people to stand up for themselves, imagining that after the war
Women and War: Soviet Airwomen in World War II Combat. they might be able to renegotiate the prevailing social contract.
Lea Williams, chair of the department of English and communications, who is During World War I, women often stepped into jobs previously performed by men who
presently working on a full-length biography of Ellen N. LaMotte, an American nurse had gone off to war. As the war ended, some women gained the right to vote. In 1918,
who was a graduate of Johns Hopkins Training School for Nurses, an expert in combat women over 30 in Britain got the vote. In 1919, Dutch women got the vote. In 1920,
tuberculosis, and a nurse in a French military hospital during World War I. American women got the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution. Pennington talked about 6,000 Russian women who took combat roles
Steven E. Sodergren, panel moderator, who is chair of the department of history and in the Russian army.
political science. His recently published book The Army of the Potomac in the Overland
and Petersburg Campaigns: Union Soldiers and Trench Warfare is the recipient of the Reflecting on winners and losers after the war, Brucken said, “People of color were big
2018 William E. Colby Award. losers. So were people whose countries had been colonized by the European powers.”
Speaking about African-Americans, Brucken noted that black American veterans in
uniform returning home to the American South after the war often faced physical assault,
if not death. After World War I ended, the Ku Klux Klan re-emerged as a potent force in
the American South. And after World War I colonized people around the world saw their
drive for independence still thwarted.
Professor Lea Williams talked about the literature of war and the difficulty writers were
experiencing in finding language to communicate the harsh reality of trench warfare. The
novelist and thinker Robert Graves had written about noise. What was it about noise, he
asked. How could you describe noise in words?
The war conferred other impacts on writers and artists. After World War I, artists and
writers could talk and write about things that they were not free to before 1914.
The Norwich University faculty panelists deliberated on the question of blame and what
countries were to blame for World War I. Williams thought everyone was to blame.
Brucken said that asking who is to blame is “splitting hairs.” As the discussion proceeded,
there was a growing consensus among the panelists to suggest that there was plenty of blame
and responsibility to share around with all the war’s combatants.
Sodergren raised this question, “How does World War I affect us today?”
Brucken noted that the First World War was the first time that the United States
participated in a war in Europe. Pennington pointed out that the First World War with its
new technologies led directly to the strategic bombing and the Holocaust of World War II.
Pennington drew attention to the massive changes in the world political map because of
World War I. “The modern Middle East emerged from World War I. It had a profound
impact on what is going on in the Middle East today,” she declared.
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 19

OP-ED
Christ Church Renovations Need a Little Help
from the Community By Linda Prescott

C
hrist Episcopal Church on State Street stands as one of the many architectural capital campaign. The more recently built structure—the one with the cinderblock
gems in the heart of downtown Montpelier, just across the street from the old wall overlooking the farmers’ market, which houses our kitchen, meeting rooms,
brick courthouse and a short stroll to our state’s magnificent capitol building. Its and offices—together with the rear parking lot, constitute the area that would be
imposing Barre and Berlin granite facade with the beautiful rose window and impressive reconfigured to accommodate the proposed affordable housing project.
crenelated bell tower is one of the first sights greeting visitors as they enter the downtown The city has identified the need for 150 affordable housing units in the next several years.
area. Many of us who live and work in the city appreciate its aesthetic presence as an In response to that need, the church is working in tandem with the city, Downstreet
historic downtown fixture, where the courtyard offers a place to eat lunch, visit with Housing and Community Development (the former Central Vermont Community Land
friends, listen to the popular Brown Bag summer concert series, or simply sit for a silent Trust), and local architects to provide this type of housing so severely needed by many
moment of contemplation. families and individuals in the area. This project is being conducted in conjunction with
This year, the church is celebrating the 150th anniversary of this iconic Gothic revival- other affordable housing projects either underway or recently completed around the city.
style building. However, a century-and-a-half-old building presents challenges along Downtown Montpelier is on the edge of change as a myriad of new building projects are
with its charms. In the recent past, the Christ Church congregation has undertaken in the offing, especially in the vicinity of the church. Done well and thoughtfully, change
improvement projects, including a kitchen upgrade to support our food ministry, re- has the potential to contribute to the prosperity of our community. Yet the prospect of
beautification of the courtyard for concerts and public use, and a 2016 overhaul of the new development underlines the vital need to preserve the grand old buildings that grace
sanctuary. our city streets. After all, down through the years, our rich architectural heritage has
Now, the time has come to undertake a major preservation project on an unprecedented invariably contributed to the community’s prosperity. It has served to preserve the small
order of magnitude. Decades of Vermont’s harsh weather have exerted a heavy toll on the town character of our state’s tiny and unique capital city, attracting visitors and making
aging building, and we can no longer defer repairs. The buckling walls, eroding masonry, it a fulfilling place to live and work. May it continue to do so.
and other major structural problems threaten the long-term integrity of the building and Linda Prescott is a member of Christ Episcopal Church
must be repaired without delay before the building becomes uninhabitable. Many of the
renovations will be behind-the-scenes and not immediately visible, but the rose window
Photo courtesy of christchurchvt.org
and bell tower seen by pedestrians on State Street will be stabilized and preserved as part
of the project. The installation of an elevator will be included in the project to provide
handicap access to the sanctuary.
We want to inform the community about what is in the works to save one of its
historically valuable downtown buildings. In June, the church launched a capital
campaign, “Hearts on Fire: Forging the Future of Christ Episcopal Church.” Acting
upon the recommendation of an engineering feasibility study and consultations with
masonry experts, we set the goal for the campaign at $700,000, which will address the
most immediate structural needs.
We are happy to report that nearly $600,000 has been raised in gifts from our
parishioners alone. In the hopes that the remaining $100,000 can be raised to begin
the project as soon as possible, we are now embarking upon the community phase of
the campaign by contacting community leaders and citizens who are committed to
preserving the distinctive character of Montpelier, whether it be from a cultural, historic,
or business perspective.
Christ Church is a place of worship, open to any who seek a peaceful sanctuary. Yet
we view our work outside the church walls as essential to our spiritual mission. Our
church building is the foundation for our community outreach work, from the weekly
soup kitchen (in coordination with other local churches) and food shelf, to the free
summer concerts in the courtyard and organ and other public concerts year-round in the
sanctuary. The church makes its space available as a community gathering place as well.
All these activities depend upon the existence of a church building that is structurally
sound and safe for use.
There has understandably been some public confusion about the relationship between
the Christ Church historic preservation project and the prospect of constructing
affordable housing on the church property.
From a financial perspective, these projects are unrelated. The original stone sanctuary
fronting State Street is the part of the church slated for immediate renovations in our
PAG E 2 0 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Five Local Dance Classes to Shake the Winter Away

By Sarah Davin

B
efore I could write, I danced. As a small girl, my parents signed me up for ballet will hear jazz, soul, folk, and drumming, and also incorporate hand weights, core
lessons and bought me tiny ballet shoes with one goal in mind for my teacher: strengthening, and yoga. The class meets twice a week, on Saturday at 8:30 am and
“Teach her how to skip.” This led to many new discoveries and character- Tuesday at 5 pm at the Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio on Langdon Street
building moments during the subsequent 10 years. I will never forget the unrelenting, in Montpelier, with the Tuesday class having the smaller class size. The drop-in fee is
full-bodied itch of a purple-sequined leotard; that every dressing room smelled $16. cdandfs.com
overpoweringly like hairspray during recital night; and that 45-second split drills Fusion Class with Emma Manion
would seem much shorter if you didn’t whine about it. I remember my uncontrollable Emma Manion.
“If you can walk, you can dance,” Photo credit: Emma Manion.
excitement when I finally did my first pirouette in my parents’ basement; my sense of
maturity when I got to be a big toy soldier in the studio’s annual production of The says Emma Manion. Her Fusion class
Nutcracker; and comforting, footstep-like repetition of going to dance class every uses Manion’s playful choreography
Monday. to explore multiple dance styles such
as contemporary, hip hop, African,
Whether you have been dancing for a long time or are someone with a newly budding ballet, and Latin. Manion is a certified
interest, taking a dance class is a great way to strengthen the body or relieve the mind, movement coach/personal trainer and a
focusing on the next two steps rather than the next two days. If you are hoping to graduate of Bennington College who has
incorporate a little more shimmy into your life, here are some local adult classes to help been teaching dance classes throughout
you find your inner Beyoncé or Fred Astaire. Vermont and California’s Bay Area for
more than 12 years. Manion’s class
is accessible for both beginners and
more advanced students, with no prior
experience required. “Professional
dancers can get a lot from this class as
well as those who are still working on
the ‘step-tap.’ “I accommodate all levels
of background and ability,” she said.
The class meets from 11 am to 12:15
pm on Sundays at the Contemporary
Dance and Fitness Studio. The drop-in
fee is $10. revelingemma@gmail.com
Jazzercise at the Barre Jazzercise
Center
Allison Mann's AfroJazz class. Barre Jazzercise offers a wide variety of
Photo credit: Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio. times and types of Jazzercise, including
DanceMixx, Express, and Strike, which
AfroJazz with Allison Mann incorporates kickboxing. Diane Hood,
who is one of 13 certified aerobics
AfroJazz is an easy-to-follow and low-impact form of Afro-Haitian, Afro-Cuban, instructors at Barre Jazzercise, described
and Jazz dancing. Taught by Allison Mann, who has more than 25 years of teaching the space: “The room is 2,000 square
experience and has spent more than 30 years studying dance, “The dance style and feet of very cushiony rubber flooring
instruction are ideal for taking proper care of the joints and spine, and people put with the instructor on a stage in front
out the amount and type of energy that is right for them,” said Mann. Participants leading the class with a microphone.
The music is all top 40.” The DanceMixx classes, which were formerly known as
regular Jazzercize, are one-hour long. If you are looking to fit in something a bit
shorter, the express classes are half the length. The most popular classes happen at 5:30
pm, after work and weekends. Class rates can be found on Barre Jazzercise’s payment
page. jcls.jazzercise.com
Step 'n' Time Line Dancers of Central Vermont
Sid McLam, who has been teaching since 1995, holds line dancing classes in Barre and
Randolph. McLam described the class: “Our first hour is warmup dance, and then
we teach at least one dance a week, and we review whatever we taught the previous
week. The second hour of the evening is open dancing, so I play their requests and
whatever folks would like to dance to.” The dances are typically patterned and set to
eight counts, except for the waltz, which is six counts. The genres most often danced
to are country and pop music, but other genres such as rock, rap, and even Celtic
can also make an appearance. Leather-soled shoes are recommended. The Randolph
class meets on Wednesdays, 6:45–8:45 pm at the Chandler Music Hall, and the
Barre class meets on Thursdays at the Old Labor Hall, 6:30–8:30 pm. By donation.
facebook.com/StepnTimeLineDancersOfCentralVermont
Vermont Swings
Have you ever wanted to break out into the Charleston during a Gatsby-themed
party or wished to up your Lindy Hop game? Vermont Swings is a dance collective,
a nonprofit group led by a team of board members who teach, DJ, and otherwise
donate their time to bringing their love of swing to the community. Vermont Swings
hosts its events and classes at the Champlain Club in Burlington. Beyond dancing,
cleanliness and etiquette are also important elements of swing dancing. “Following
dance floor etiquette helps everyone to have fun. Simply put, it means being courteous
and respectful to those around you. It’s more important for a social dancer to be
a considerate and thoughtful partner than to be a technically expert dancer,” says
the Vermont Swings website. Vermont Swings hosts a weekly practice session every
Tuesday from 7:30 to 9 pm. Vermontswings.com
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 21

Waxing Up for Nordic Skiing in Central Vermont

By Greg Gerdel

Photo courtesy of Greg Gerdel

T
he recent and unexpected closing of the cross-country trail system at the Morse Other Nearby XC Centers
Farm has been met with disappointment—and understanding—among the One of the great benefits of purchasing a season pass at one of the many Nordic ski
many Nordic skiers in Central Vermont, and especially in the Montpelier area. centers in Vermont is the benefit of visiting any of the participating 30-odd areas for a
Despite the loss, there are still many great options in the Central Vermont region, where one-time day pass at no charge, although it is important to note that restrictions may
freshly waxed skis can glide over powder. apply on holidays at some area. The Nordic ski centers below are within an hour’s drive
Hubbard Park (more or less) from Montpelier. Join one and explore!
Because the park trails are multi-use, meaning walkers, runners, snowshoers, and dogs, Blueberry Lake, Warren
the skiing conditions are best when freshly groomed after a new snowfall. For novice Ole’s XC, Warren
skiers, the trail from the New Shelter up to the Tower provides the best terrain. Other
trails, out to and beyond Seven Fireplaces, for instance, provide more challenging Bolton Valley, Bolton
terrain for intermediate, expert, and backcountry skiing. Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe
North Branch Nature Center Stowe XC, Mountain Road, Stowe
The Montpelier Parks Department also grooms a loop around the meadow at the Nature Sleepy Hollow XC, Huntington
Center on Elm Street. This 2-km loop is very accommodating for skiers at all levels and
Catamount Ski Center, Williston
connects with more advanced trails across the footbridge on the east side of the North
Branch River. There, the main trail follows the east bank of the river south for another Craftsbury Outdoor Center, Craftsbury
kilometer. An uphill, more challenging loop branches to the left. For a longer ski, the Highland Lodge, Greensboro
East Montpelier trail climbs to meet Horn of the Moon Road near the Sparrow Farm.
This trail is often packed by snowmobiles but is not groomed specifically for skiing. Rickert Nordic Center, Bread Loaf Campus, Ripton

Montpelier High School Strafford Nordic Center, Strafford

During the high school ski

season, mid-December through
early March, a one-kilometer
training loop is groomed around
the playing fields behind the high
school. Likely the flattest ski trail
in Vermont, it is the perfect place
for beginners to get their footing
on skis or for intermediate skiers
to practice skating technique.
When snow conditions allow,
the Onion River Nordic Club
occasionally holds sprint races
under the lights. Even if you don’t
ski, it’s a great opportunity to see
the area’s racers fly around the
course.
U-32 High School
The coaching team at U-32 has long provided a groomed network of trails on the
playing fields and through the surrounding woods. These trails are open to the
community for skiing, except on the weekends when the school is hosting typically
large meets. On those weekends, spectators are welcome to observe the talented middle
and high school Nordic skiers that Vermont is nurturing.
PAG E 2 2 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

• New Construction Design & Build

Letters
• Renovations Custom Energy-Efficient Homes
Thank You for Supporting
• Woodworking Additions • Timber Frames The Parking Garage
Weatherization • Remodeling Editor,
• General Contracting
Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring We want to take this opportunity to thank our fellow residents, local business
owners, our mayor, city councilors, and city government staff for their support
Tiling • Cabinetry • Fine Woodwork for the recently approved parking garage. The new hotel cannot be built
without the city parking garage, and the parking garage cannot be built and
paid for without the new hotel. This is a true public-private partnership. We
are grateful for the positive vote and excited about the opportunities this project
will create for our home town.
223-3447 We are invested in our community, which is why we are excited to build a new
clarconstruction.com downtown hotel. We want to make this project something about which all
Montpelier residents can be proud.
We are so proud to have made Montpelier our home for the past 56 years, and
we are excited about the future opportunities this project will create for all of
our citizens. Again, thanks to the voters for your support, and please do not
hesitate to stop by the Capitol Plaza to speak with us about any concerns.
With gratitude,
Fred Bashara, Montpelier

Letters to the paper are not fact-checked and do not

necessarily represent the views of The Bridge.

We welcome your letters and opinion pieces. Letters must be

fewer than 300 words. Opinion pieces should not exceed 600
words. The Bridge reserves the right to edit and cut pieces.
Send your piece to: editorial@montpelierbridge.com.
Deadline for the next issue is November 30

Since 1972
Repairs • New floors and walls
Crane work • Decorative concrete
Consulting • ICF foundations
114 Three Mile Bridge Rd., Middlesex, VT • (802) 229-0480 
gendronbuilding@aol.com •  gendronconcrete.com
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 2 3

Real Estate Transactions • July–September 2018

PAG E 24 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Central Vermont Council on Aging Cancels Holiday Dinner
I
t is with a heavy heart that Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) is
canceling its Holiday Dinner and Gifts event this year. This was not an easy
decision for CVCOA. The Holiday Dinner has grown to more than 300 older
Central Vermonters who received meals last year.
It has become challenging to find a suitable venue for preparing and delivering so
many fresh hot dinners, gifts, and groceries on Christmas Day. Our staff is managing
a high caseload while we are experiencing temporary staff vacancies. More pressing
is the growing population of older Vermonters we serve and our commitment to
maintaining the highest quality of services.
We have so many people to thank for giving their time, food, and gifts for this event
each year, but first and foremost we thank CVCOA’s longtime information and
assistance specialist, Chris Shaw. Chris started this holiday giving event many years
ago, and it has been a labor of love for her all these many years. We are so grateful for
Chris Shaw’s contribution. Over the years, volunteers and staff have given of their
time including on Christmas Day. We are so grateful to the many volunteers who
return year after year to deliver the meals and gifts.
We also thank the many local businesses, including Hunger Mountain Co-
op, Hannaford Supermarkets, Price Chopper, Vermont Foodbank, and media
organizations, including The Times Argus and The World for helping us to promote
this event. We also thank our donors for their financial support, and Barre Housing
Authority, City Hotel Cafe, Barre Congregational Church, and Barre Area Senior
Center for providing space over the past several years. We also thank our housing
partners SASH (Support and Services at Home) for logistical support in Barre and
Montpelier.
For those needing holiday meals, there are several organizations providing meals
on or near the holidays. First, your local Meals on Wheels site may deliver meals in
advance of the holiday. There are churches providing congregate community meals
including Hedding United Methodist Church in Barre and Bethany Church UCC
in Montpelier.
For a list of CVCOA’s housing partners you may visit SASH. Central Vermont Council
on Aging has been exploring the potential for a community of partners to deliver
holiday meals to older Central Vermonters. If you or your organization would like to
explore such a partnership, please contact CVCOA’s Executive Director, Beth Stern at
bstern@cvcoa.org. Thank you for your support for older Central Vermonters.
New Human Animal
Interaction Studies
Concentration at Goddard
T he Goddard College Psychology Program has announced a new concentration in
Human Animal Interaction Studies.
Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Animal-Assisted Activities (AAA) have grown
exponentially in popularity in recent years. Animal-assisted therapists work as
professionals and volunteers in a variety of settings, treating issues such as relationship
conflict, depression, and trauma, with children, adults, and aging populations.
Animal-Assisted Activities are recreational, social, or support experiences, and other
activities with the direct inclusion of animals, while Animal-Assisted Therapy involves
humans and animals with a specific focus on therapeutic interventions. The relational
power between humans and animals is incredibly strong, and, in many cases, healing.
“An important aspect of this concentration is the intentionality around honoring the
human-animal bond. One difference we see among animal-assisted therapy programs
is that some view the animal as a tool while others view the animals as a partner in
the work. This latter view is emphasized in our program and aligns quite well with
other relationally based models of therapy. Our program prides itself on graduating
responsible, aware, and conscientious students who are willing and eager to make
positive change in the world,” said faculty lead Dr. Melissa Trevathan-Minnis.
Few academic programs offer students the opportunity to learn animal-assisted therapy
or practices while learning how to be an effective human helper. The Human Animal
Interaction Studies Concentration allows students the ability to specialize in AAT while
working toward their counseling MA degree and professional licensure without adding
additional time to their studies.
The concentration also allows students to earn credit for concurrent participation
in certification programs through other organizations, such as the Equine Assisted
Growth and Learning Association or Pet Partners.
“The Human and Animal Interaction Concentration is an asset to the Psychology and
Counseling Program. It will have a positive impact on our students and their potential
clients,” said Dr. Tracy O. Garrett, Acting Chair of the Psychology and Counseling
Program.
To learn more, visit goddard.edu/academics.
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 2 5
Calendar of Events
Community Events
Events happening
November 15–December 8
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15
Open Ears at Bagitos. Join Montpelier city
councilor Glen Coburn Hutcheson to talk
about the city or anything else. 8:30–9:30 am.
Bagitos, 28 Main St., Montpelier. ghutcheson@
montpelier-vt.org, 839-5349.
Trinity United Methodist Church Community
Lunch. 11:30 am–1 pm. 137 Main St.,
Montpelier.
Central Vermont Career Center Open House
and College Fair. 5:30–7:30 pm. 155 Ayers St.,
Barre.
Third Public Hearing on Privacy. A public
meeting to consider issues relating to privacy
protections for Vermonters. Moderated by
Attorney General TJ Donovan and the
Department of Public Service. 5:30–8:30 pm.
Pavilion Building, 109 State St., Montpelier.
ago.vermont.gov
Green Mountain Club Meeting and
Slideshow. General membership meeting (open
to the public). Phyllis Rubenstein presents “The
Walker’s Haute Route: From Chamonix to
Zermatt”—a talk about her 120 mile hike in the
French and Swiss Alps. 7 pm. T.W. Wood Art
Gallery, 46 Barre St., Montpelier
Central Vermont Climate Action - Monthly
Meeting. Take action for climate justice locally.
Node group of 350Vermont meets every third
Sunday. 7–8:30 pm. Unitarian Church,
130 Main St., Montpelier.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Cycles of Life. We invite you to join with us
in this place of comfort where we can all come
together to listen, talk and share about the
things in life’s cycle we are all experiencing in
our own way now for ourselves and the earth
we live on. 11:45 am–1 pm. Twin Valley Senior
Center, Rt. 2, East Montpelier. 223-3322
The 2018 Chandler Artisans Market Begins.
Market runs through Dec. 23. Chandler Center
for the Arts, 71-73 Main St., Randolph.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30 am–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
Winter Clothing Drive. Free good quality
clothing is available at the Old Schoolhouse
Common gym. If you have good quality
clothes to donate, please drop them off at the
library during the week before the event.
9 am–1 pm. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School
St., Marshfield.
Forum on the Election's Impact on National
and State Legislation. George Twigg,
Representative Peter Welch’s VT Director,
and David Zuckerman, Lieutenant Governor,
discuss their perspectives on the election’s
impact on the Congress and the VT Legislature.
10 am–noon. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St.,
Montpelier. Free; donations accepted.
Orchard Valley’s Annual Holiday Market.
Treat yourself to this fun holiday shopping
event with gifts handcrafted by local artisans.
10 am–3 pm. Vermont College of Fine Arts
Gallery, 36 College St., Montpelier. ovws.org.
456-7400
Sustaining Yourself in the Age of #MeToo:
A Self-Care Expressive Arts Workshop for
Women of all Ages. This two-part workshop
uses writing, music, and art to express and share Performing Arts THEATER, DANCE,
STORYTELLING, COMEDY
thoughts and feelings about how women can Nov 15–17: Smoke and Mirrors. Plainfield Little Theater announces the premiere production of a
new play by local Vermont playwright Tom Blachly about the wild and rollicking 1840 Presidential
find our place in today’s world in a supportive
group setting. For ages 16+. 10 am–12:30 pm. election, with much contemporary relevance to our own political campaigns and culture. 7 pm.
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Plainfield Town Hall Opera House, Rt. 2, Plainfield. $12; students and seniors $10. 229-5290.
Montpelier. 223-3338 blachly@together.net
Nov. 18: A Mighty Outcry Musical. Presented by Winged Productions. An original musical about
Capital City Thanksgiving Farmers’ Market. the life of Joan of Arc, with music and lyrics by Paul Dedell. 3 pm. Christ Church, 64 State St.,
50 local vendors will be selling seasonal produce, Montpelier. $8; students $4.
local meat, artisan bread and cheese, hot food,
handmade crafts, and more. Get everything you Nov. 23: Shimmer: A Winter Cirque Reverie. Astonishing acrobatics, dazzling specialty acts, and
glittering costumes abound in a warm and whimsical world the whole family will enjoy. 3 pm and 7 pm.
need for your Thanksgiving meal from local
Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, 122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe. $45. sprucepeakarts.org
farms. Featuring prize drawings throughout
the day. 10 am–2 pm. Montpelier High School Nov. 23: Kathleen Kanz Comedy Hour. A wide range of talented standup comics, from here and
Gym, 5 High School Dr., Montpelier. 793-8347 away, working longer sets. 8:30 pm. Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre. Free/by donation.
479-0896. espressobueno.com.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18 Dec. 6–8: MHS Masque's performance of Once On This Island. This show is about love and
First Presbyterian Church Community persistence, as well as class divisions. Dec. 6–8 at 7 pm, Dec. 8 at 2 pm. Montpelier High School,
Breakfast. 7:30–9 am. 78 Summer St., Barre. 5 High School Dr., Montpelier. $14; seniors over 65 and students $10.
Dec. 6: Extempo. Locals tell short-format, first-person, true stories–without any notes or
Introduction to Zen. An opportunity to
experience an introduction to Zen practice and reading–before a live audience. 8–10 pm. Mingle Nightclub, 214 N Main St., Barre. $5. 249-4551.
storytelling@extempovt.com. extempovt.com
learn more about our programs. 10:00–11:30 am.
125 Cranberry Meadow Rd., Woodbury. Free. Dec. 7–8: Ballet Wolcott's The Nutcracker. Directed by Artistic Director Brandy Ofciarcik Perez,
shaoshantemple.org. 456-7091 Ballet Wolcott’s Youth Company and students are joined by community members to dance among
imaginative sets and wear stunning costumes created by local designers. Dec. 7 at 7 pm; Dec. 8 at
East Montpelier Song Circle. Amy Torchia 2 pm. Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. Advance tickets: $20; students
and Erika Mitchell facilitate group singing on $15; seniors 20% off. At door: $30; students $20. highlandartsvt.org
the third Sunday of each month. 6–8 pm. Four
Corners Schoolhouse, (Dodge Road/Snow Hill/
Putnam Roads), East Montpelier. Salvation Army Community Lunch. calling 229-9151. 11:30 am–2 pm. Bethany
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre. Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Community Lunch at Unitarian Church THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
Montpelier. 11 am–12:30 pm. 130 Main St., Thanksgiving Service at First Church of Flannel Friday. Downtown Montpelier’s version
Montpelier. Christ Scientist. 10:30 am. Corner of State St. of Black Friday. Shop downtown for amazing
Salvation Army Community Lunch. and Bailey Ave., Montpelier. 223-2477. deals for the holidays.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre. 46th Annual Free Community Thanksgiving Medicine Buddha Sadhana. Medicine Buddha
Dinner. Hosted by The Washington County practice is particularly helpful for those who
Seniors Thanksgiving Dinner. 12:15 pm. Twin
Valley Senior Center, Rt. 2, East Montpelier. Youth Service Bureau/Boys & Girls Club, with may be sick, injured, or are suffering in any way,
RSVP: 223-3322 or twinvalleyseniors@ support from the Central Vermont community. including beings in the animal realm. The center
fairpoint.net All are welcome to partake in this family-style will offer this practice and dedicate it to both the
dinner with all the fixings. Thanksgiving temporal and ultimate happiness of all sentient
Learn About Vermont Health Connect. Topics delivery service is available for those unable beings everywhere. 6 pm. Milarepa Center,
include a review of health insurance basics, an to leave their homes and can be scheduled by 1344 Rt. 5, Barnet.
overview of plans offered by Vermont Health
Connect, some strategies for plan selection and
a discussion of new developments in health care
for 2019. 6:30 pm. Kellogg-Hubbard Library,
135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
Cartooning Club. For kids ages 8–12 who love
to draw, write and read comics. 3–4:30 pm.
Jaquith Public Library, School St., Marshfield.
Trivia Tuesdays. Teams up to six. Questions
start at 6:30 pm. Highland Center of the
Arts, 2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. Free.
Reservations: 533-9399
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21
The Christ Church Community Lunch.
11 am–12:30 pm. 64 Main St., Montpelier.
PAG E 26 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Calendar of Events
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through Nov.16: Nourish — Soil & Soul.
Kathie Lovett’s paintings, sculpture and
installation art. Julian Scott Memorial Gallery,
Northern Vermont University-Johnson.
635-1469
Through Nov. 20: Listening to Rocks: Work
by Dianne Shullenberger and John Snell.
Shullenberger is well known for intricate fabric
collage pieces. Snell is a photographer from
Montpelier. Furchgott Sourdiffe Gallery,
86 Falls Rd., Shelburne Village. 985-3848
Through Nov. 23: Matthew Sylvester
Exhibit. Art by painter and illustrator Matthew
Sylvester of East Calais. Quimby Gallery
at Northern Vermont University-Lyndon.
matthewsylvesterart.com
Through Nov 28: Paintings by Greg Kotyk.
Oil paintings includes mountainous landscapes
from Vermont to Wyoming. The Gifford
Gallery at Gifford Medical Center, 44 S. Main
St., Randolph. 728-2380
Through Nov. 30: Carole Naquin Exhibition.
Soft pastel paintings that capture the energy
of sky, river, and field. Artisans Hand Gallery,
Main St., Montpelier
Through Dec. 2: Driving the Back Roads:
In Search of Old-Time Vermonters. This
retrospective of Ethan Hubbard’s documentary
work and his life living alongside the people of
North-Central Vermont showcases more than
40 of Hubbard’s large-format black and white
photographic portraits. Highland Center for the
Arts, Hardwick St., Greensboro.
Through Dec. 2: Show 28. The Front celebrates
the opening of Show 28, featuring the latest
work of the gallery’s member artists, including
new members. 6 Barre St., Montpelier.
thefrontvt.com
The Lebowski Fest. Watch The Big Lebowski
with buddies. Bathrobes optional. 6–8 pm.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. $5 suggested donation.
highlandartsvt.org
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30 am–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks Open House.
Specials and samples throughout the day.
10 am–4 pm. 1168 County Rd., Montpelier.
morsefarm.com
American Sign Language (ASL). Bring a bag
lunch and a language dictionary, if you have
Work by Dee Christie on display at The
Cheshire Cat through December
Through Dec. 16: Gerald Auten: Graphite
Insomnia. Auten uses powdered graphite or
graphite pencils on dense, smooth, hot-pressed
paper or onto the back of old museum posters
and postcards. White River Gallery, 35 South
Windsor St., South Royalton. 498-8438
Through Dec. 28: Seven Women, Seven
Walls. Featuring rotating exhibits by Vermont
artists Mary Admasian, Alisa Dworsky, Karen
Henderson, Evie Lovett, Hannah Morris, Janet
one. This is not a class, but a place to practice
sign language. Noon–1 pm. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338.
Spruce Peak Lights Festival. Music, lights,
food, and fireworks. 2–7 pm. Spruce Peak
Performing Arts Center, 122 Hourglass Dr.,
Stowe.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26
Cider Monday. Free cider at Downtown
Montpelier stores. montpelieralive.org
Community Lunch at Unitarian Church
Montpelier. 11 am–12:30 pm. 130 Main St.,
Montpelier.
Van Fleet, and Kristen M. Watson. Vermont
Arts Council, 136 State St., Monpelier.
Through Dec. 27: CELEBRATE 3X. Enjoy this
3-floor fine art and craft extravaganza with
work created by more than 80 Studio Place
Arts (SPA) member artists, and CELEBRATE
3X: (1) Find one-of-a-kind handmade gifts &
treasures; (2) Support local artists and crafts
people and fortify our local economy; & (3)
Boost the programs for all ages and abilities
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
Monthly Book Group for Adults. Join us for
the Jaquith book group. For copies of the book,
please stop by the library. New members are
always welcome. November’s book: “Killers
of the Flower Moon” by David Grann. 7 pm.
Jaquith Public Library, School St., Marshfield.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
Cartooning Club. For kids ages 8–12 who love
to draw, write and read comics. 3–4:30 pm.
Jaquith Public Library, School St., Marshfield.
Meditation for the Holiday Season. Guided
meditations on themes of gratitude, peace love,
joy, solstice/light, and mindfulness with Ginny
at SPA, your nonprofit art center. Reception:
Sat., Nov 17, 4-6 pm. Expanded hours in Dec.
Studio Place Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre.
studioplacearts.com
Through Dec. 31: Celebrating Women
Through the Arts. Art Resource Association
Group Show. Montpelier City Center
and La Brioche, 89 Main St., Montpelier.
artresourceassocation.com
Through Dec. 31: Dee Christie & Robin Leone.
Dee Christie repurposes old books into visual
works of art—painting, collaging, and drawing
within the pages to create art infused with
positivity and whimsy. Robin Leone of Robin’s
Hoods handcrafts felted wool hats that are one
of a kind works of art and unique to their wearer.
Reception: Dec. 7, 4–8 pm. Cheshire Cat,
28 Elm St., Montpelier. cheshirecatclothing.com
Through Jan. 2: Digital Photography
Exhibition. Work By Twinfield Digital
Photography Students. Jaquith Library,
Marshfield. 426-3581
Through Jan. 7: Altered Spaces Group
Exhibition. The exhibition opens with
a dynamic collection of work—collage,
photography, painting, and multimedia
installation in September that will build
in layers throughout the fall—inviting the
public to revisit and interact as the exhibition
continues. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center,
122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe. sprucepeakarts.org
SPECIAL EVENTS
Nov. 16: Artist Reception for photo exhibit.
Meet and talk with the f/7 Photographers about
“Grace” hanging in the church through Dec. 30.
Waterbury Congregational Church, 8 North
Main St., Waterbury. waterburyucc.com. 244-
6606
Dec. 7: Montpelier ArtWalk. Showcases works
of Central Vermont artists at multiple locations
throughout Downtown Montpelier. 4–8 pm.
montpelieralive.org
Sassaman. 6–7 pm. Twin Valley Senior Center,
Rt. 2, East Montpelier. Register: csherburn@
myfairpoint.net
Trivia Tuesdays. See description under Nov. 20.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28
The Christ Church Community Lunch.
11 am–12:30 pm. 64 Main St., Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch.
Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29
Open Ears at Bagitos. See description under
Nov. 15.
Trinity United Methodist Church Community
Lunch. 11:30 am–1 pm. 137 Main St.,
Montpelier.
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 27

Calendar of Events Nov. 17: Bella and the Notables (jazz para Marimba y

Live Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. 229-9212.
Bagitos.com
Nov. 15: Italian Session, 6 pm
Nov. 16: Dave Loughran, 6 pm
Nov. 17: Irish Session, 2 pm; Hillary &
Andy Leicher, 6 pm
Nov. 18: Eric Friedman, 11 am
Nov. 24: Irish Session, 2 pm
Nov. 25: Southern Old Time Music Jam,
10 am
Nov. 29: Italian Session, 6 pm
Nov. 30: Latin Dance Party, 7 pm
Dec. 1: Irish Session, 2 pm; Red Clay jazz
band, 6 pm
Dec. 2: Eric Friedman, 11 am
Dec. 6: Colin McCaffrey and friends, 6 pm
Dec. 8: Irish Session, 2 pm; Val Davis, 6 pm
Charlie O’s World Famous. 70 Main St.
Montpelier. Free. 223-6820.
Every Tues.: Karaoke, 7:30 pm
Nov. 16: Slowcookers (folk), 6 pm; Not
Quite Dead (rock), 9 pm
Nov. 17: The Hate Girls/Putsch/I Love You
(punk), 9 pm
Nov. 19: Music Trivia, 7:30 pm
Nov. 22: Free Turkey Day Potluck, 6 pm
Nov. 23: JJ Cyrus (old-time), 6 pm; Different
Strokes (Strokes tribute), 9 pm
Nov. 24: Megan Jean & the KFB (folk-rock),
9 pm
Nov. 28: DuPont Brothers (folk-rock), 7:30 pm
Nov. 30: Z-Jaz (jazz), 6 pm; The Yeahtones
(indie rock), 9 pm
Dec. 1: Happy Spangler/Preece (rock), 9 pm
Espresso Bueno. 248 N. Main St., Barre.
479-0896. espressobueno.com.
Nov. 23: Thomas Gunn (singer-songwriter),
7:30 pm
Gusto’s. 28 Prospect St., Barre. 476-7919.
Ages 21+. No cover unless indicated.
Nov. 15: DJ Rome 802, 8 pm
Nov. 16: Elizabeth Renaud, 5 pm
Nov. 17: DJ LaFountaine, 9:30 pm
Nov. 23: Bon-Fire (AC/DC Tribute to Bon
Scott), 9 pm, $5.
Nov. 24: DJ LaFountaine, 9:30 pm
Nov. 29: Lefty Yunger & Co., 5 pm
Whammy Bar. 31 W. County Rd., Calais.
whammybar1.com
Nov. 15: Open Mic, 7 pm
Nov. 16: The Brevity Thing, 7:30 pm
standards), 7:30 pm
Nov. 23: Kelly Ravin and Halle Jade, 7:30 pm
Nov. 24: Them Boys (Danny Coane, Colin
NcCaffrey, Dave Rowell), 7:30 pm
Nov. 29: Open Mic, 7 pm
Nov. 30: Sky Blue Boys (bluegrass), 7:30 pm
Dec. 1: Liam Alone (solo acoustic funk soul)
7:30 pm
Dec. 6: Open Mic, 7 pm
Dec. 7: Grace and Andy Suits, 7:30 pm
Dec. 8: Bob Hannan and Friends, 7:30 pm
SPECIAL EVENTS
Nov. 15: Schiller & Schiller Father and Son
Blues Duo. 5:30–7:30 pm. Café at Highland
Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St.,
Greensboro. No cover. highlandartsvt.org
Nov. 15: LNT Aid at Lost Nation Theater.
5th annual mega concert with mega-talented
and fun artists doing their remarkable
respective things to raise much needed
funds for Lost Nation Theater. Patti Casey
& friends, Jon Gailmor, Chad Hollister and
George Woodard, additional Special Guests
Stars and Emcee G. Richard Ames. 7:30 pm.
City Hall Arts Center, Main St., Montpelier.
Seating begins at 7 pm. $25. 229-0492.
lostnationtheater.org
Nov. 16: Young at Heart Singers.
1–2 pm. Twin Valley Senior Center, Rt. 2, East
Montpelier.
Nov. 16: Friday Night Fires with Cooie's Jazz
Trio. Free music event at your local winery.
Food sales at 6 pm; music at 7 pm. Fresh
Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery, 4373 Rt. 12,
Berlin. freshtracksfarm.com
Nov. 16: Songs & Tales. A concert and
fundraiser for the Center for Arts and
Learning. Featuring musical performances
and storytelling by Patti Casey and Pete
Sutherland. 7 pm. Center for Arts and
Learning, 46 Barre St., Montpelier. $25;
seniors and students $15; free for kids 5 and
under. Tickets: cal-vt.org, at Bagito’s, and at
Bear Pond Books with cash or check only.
595-5252.
Nov. 16: The Return of Crazy Chase. Fiddle
performance celebrating Alfred “Crazy” Chase,
an eccentric Central Vermont musician in
the early 1900s. 7–8:30 pm. Middlesex Town
Hall. Free. pwiley3@gmail.com
Nov. 17–18: Jane Boxall and Montpelier
Chamber. Boxall will perform the Concerto
Orchestra No. 1, Op. 20
(1957) by Guatemalan
composer Jorge
Sarmientos. Nov. 17 at
7 pm, Nov. 18 at 4 pm.
Vermont College of Fine
Arts Chapel, 36 College
St., Montpelier. Free.
mcovt.org
Nov. 17: 500 Years of
Music for Guitar. Peter
Griggs will perform
everything from an Irish
jig, Spanish flamenco,
and Brazilian samba to
classical works through
the ages (Renaissance
through Contemporary)
along with jazz, blues, and
original compositions.
7 pm. Christ Church,
64 State St., Montpelier.
Free; by donation.
christchurchvt.org.
223-3631
Nov. 17: WORST. SONG.
EVER. Sign up in advance
to cover your least favorite
pop music—from any
era, in any way you
Soprano Jennifer Zabelsky performs with the North
like—at this lighthearted
Country Chorus on Dec 1 and 2
competition/fundraiser.
Semiannual special event Dec. 1: Keeping It All in the Fam Holiday
8–10 pm. Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite St., Show. Legendary fiddler Darol Anger
Barre. Free. 331-0013. info@wooo.tv. wooo.tv performs with his singer-songwriter partner
Nov. 18: The Last Waltz Live - 2nd Annual Emy Phelps, plus masterful mandolinist
First Responders Night. An All-Star Matt Flinner. 7 pm. 2875 Hardwick St.,
recreation of The Band’s classic 1978 concert Greensboro. Tickets start at $20; students $10;
film “The Last Waltz” featuring The Rev Tor seniors 20% off. highlandartsvt.org
Band and musicians from the local music Dec. 1: North Country Chorus Fall Concert.
scene to perform the songs of the film’s original Laud to the Nativity by Ottorino Respighi
special guests. 7 pm. Spruce Peak Performing and Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen.
Arts Center, 122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe. First Congregational Church, Littleton.
$20–45. sprucepeakarts.org $15 advance; $18 at door. Students $5.
Nov. 30: Handel’s Messiah. The Vermont northcountrychorus.org. catamountix.org
Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus will Dec. 2: Handel’s Messiah. See event description
perform its annual Handel’s Messiah Concert. under Nov. 30. 2 pm. Barre Opera House,
The Conductor is Lisa Jablow with Arthur 6 N. Main St., Barre. Adults $20; seniors $15;
Zorn, Assistant Choral Director, and the students $5. vermontphilharmonic.com
soloists are Sarah Cullins (soprano), Wendy
Hoffman (mezzo-soprano), Adam Hall Dec. 2: North Country Chorus Fall
Concert. See event description under Dec. 1.
(tenor) and Erik Kroncke (bass). 7:30 pm.
St. Augustine Church, Barre St., Montpelier. Peacham Congregational Church, Peacham.
$15 advance; $18 at door. Students $5.
Adults $20; seniors $15; students $5.
vermontphilharmonic.com northcountrychorus.org. catamountix.org

Real Estate Basics Workshop. With Jeanne
Felmly of New England Landmark Realty.
1:30–3 pm. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St., Montpelier.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30
A Christmas reading for Middle Schoolers
by Daphne Kalmar. Author Daphne Kalmar,
from Hardwick, Vermont, will talk about and do
a reading from her new middle-grade novel “A
Stitch in Time.” 3:45–4:30 pm. Stowe Library,
90 Pond St., Stowe. 253-6145
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1
Cross-country Ski Stowe with Green
Mountain Club. Moderate. 6 miles. Difficult
terrain. Ski from Barnes Camp over Smugglers’
Notch on the highway (closed to vehicular
traffic) to Jeffersonville. Experience required.
Cross- country (classic or skate) skis required.
Bring water, snacks, and lunch. Contact
Phyllis Rubenstein, 793-6313 or Phyllis@
PhyllisRubensteinLaw. comcastbiz.net for
meeting time and place.
Barre Congregational Church Community
Meal. 7:30 am–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
Annual Holiday Fair. Holiday decor, treats,
and fresh decorated wreaths. Live music, fresh
pecans, baked goods, new & nearly new gift
items, crafts, plants, jewelry, children’s books and
toys– gifts for everyone on your list. 9 am–2 pm.
Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier.
Alpenglow Fitness Intro to Studio Cycling.
An instructor will orient you to the studio, get
your bike fitted properly, and guide you through
a gentle first ride. You’ll learn the positions and
lingo in a supportive setting with other first-
time students. 10:00–10:45 am. 54 Main St.,
Montpelier. Free. Register: alpenglowfitness.com

Send your event listing to

calendar@montpelierbridge.com.
Deadline for print in the next issue is November 30.
PAG E 2 8 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Calendar of Events
An Evening at the Library. The Kellogg-Hubbard Library is honoring Nationally Renowned Vermont
Poet, Major Jackson with guest host, Kerrin McCadden. 6:30 pm. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main
St., Montpelier. $60. Pay at the adult circulation desk or by mail: KHL, 135 Main St., Montpelier, VT
05602. 223-3338
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2
Montpelier Song Circle. Jacob and Gretta Stone facilitate group singing on the third Sunday of each
month. 6–8 pm. Center for Arts and Learning, 46 Barre St., Montpelier.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 3
Community Lunch at Unitarian Church Montpelier. 11 am–12:30 pm. 130 Main St., Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch. Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4
Barre Congregational Church Community Meal. 7:30–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
Cartooning Club. For kids ages 8–12 who love to draw, write, and read comics. 3:00–4:30 pm. Jaquith
Public Library, School St., Marshfield.
Meditation for the Holiday Season. See description under Nov. 27.
Trivia Tuesdays. See description under Nov. 20.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5
The Christ Church Community Lunch. 11 am–12:30 pm. 64 Main St., Montpelier.
Salvation Army Community Lunch. Noon–1 pm. 25 Keith Ave., Barre.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6
Open Ears at Bagitos. See description under Nov. 15
9th Annual Winter Sale at Trinity Community Thrift Store. Dec. 6–8. 10 am–4 pm. 137 Main St.,
Montpelier. 229-9155. store-director@outlook.com
Trinity United Methodist Church Community Lunch. 11:30 am–1 pm. 137 Main St., Montpelier.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7
9th Annual Winter Sale at Trinity Community Thrift Store. See listing under Dec. 6.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8
Home for the Holidays. Christmas cookies decorating, wagon rides through town, holiday music, and a
visit from Santa. montpelieralive.org
Barre Congregational Church Community Meal. 7:30 am–9 am. 35 Church St., Barre.
9th Annual Winter Sale at Trinity Community Thrift Store. See listing under Dec. 6.

Peter Griggs performs 500 Years of Music for Guitar

To see a listing of Weekly Events and more detailed at Christ Church in Montpelier on Nov. 17.
event listings, visit montpelierbridge.com
Rocque Long
Cody Chevrolet Congratulates Painting
The Bridge On 25 Years of Business! • Insured
• 30+ years professional
experience
• local references.
802-223-0389
T H E B R I D G E N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 • PAG E 29

Me2/Orchestra Raises Money

for Suicide Prevention

Me2/Orchestra

W
ashington County Mental Health hosted the Me2/Orchestra at the Barre
Opera House on Sunday, November 11, raising approximately $2,000
for its Zero Suicide initiative, which aims to improve the agency’s ability
to offer support to individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts or behaviors. The
orchestra is the world’s only classical music organization for individuals with mental
illnesses and the people who support them. The theme of the show was reducing
stigma and building supportive and caring communities, and this was demonstrated
well on that day.
About 175 people gathered
to listen to some classical
pieces of music, hear recovery
stories from a few orchestra
members, and also have an
open Q & A. In honor of
Veterans Day, the program
included military themed
music like “Washington Post
March” by John Philip Sousa
and “Music for the Royal
Fireworks” by George Frideric
Handel, as well a discussion
by a vet in the orchestra who
has struggled with mental
health and addiction. Conductor Ronald Braunstein. Photo by David Seaver

The orchestra’s flagship ensemble was launched in the fall of 2011 in Burlington,
rehearses weekly, and performs 3‒4 times annually in traditional concert venues,
and correctional and rehabilitation facilities, and for mental health events. In 2014,
a similar orchestra launched in Boston, performing in venues ranging from museums
to psychiatric hospitals to recovery centers.

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landscaping and full maintenance. Single or multiple offices starting @ $300.00 per month.

Phone: 508-259-7941

THIS PAPER!
PAG E 3 0 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Minter to Lead Capstone Community Action

C
apstone Community Action has hired Sue Minter
as executive director to lead the organization’s
work of empowering families to rise out of poverty
and advocating for economic justice in Vermont.
Minter, most recently the president and CEO of Special
Olympics Vermont, brings a depth of experience in
organizational leadership, community and economic
development, professional planning, and policy making.
The Capstone Community Action Board of Directors
selected Minter after a nationwide search. “We are
thrilled to have Sue Minter leading this organization,
which is so vital to the wellbeing of our communities and
thousands of Vermonters,” states Rubin Bennett, Chair
of Capstone’s Board of Directors. “Sue is committed to
economically vulnerable Vermonters as demonstrated
in her public service tenure. Her bold leadership in
response to Tropical Storm Irene required teamwork,
innovation, and collaboration. These are core values of
this organization over its 53-year history. Sue is exactly
the right person to be leading Capstone at this important
moment.”
Capstone Community Action, formerly known as Central Vermont Community
Action Council, is guided by three overarching priorities: stabilizing lives, nurturing
child and family development, and building resilient households and communities.
The organization has earned a reputation for leadership and advocacy on behalf of
low-income families, and as an incubator for innovative strategies and programs
to transition households out of poverty. Organizations
such as the Vermont Foodbank, Downstreet Housing,
and Community Capital of Vermont got their start at
Capstone.
“This is a tremendous opportunity and an honor to lead
this vital organization,” Minter said. “Capstone’s purpose
of empowering individuals and families to rise out of
poverty and giving voice to members of our community
who are disadvantaged is crucial. In the face of division
and retrenchment of our federal government, local
community action is more critical than ever. I am excited
to bring my experience, passion, and commitment to
social change toward helping to lead and grow Capstone
in these historic times.”
Before joining Special Olympics Vermont, Minter served
as secretary of the Vermont Agency of Transportation
(2015) and deputy secretary (2011–2014). Following
the historic flooding from Tropical Storm Irene in
2011, Minter was appointed Vermont’s Irene Recovery
Officer, responsible for implementation of state recovery
and resilience programs and activities. In 2016, Minter
was elected the Democratic candidate for Vermont governor and served as a state
representative in the Vermont Legislature from 2004 to 2010.
A graduate of Harvard University (BA) and MIT (MA in City Planning), Sue and her
husband, David Goodman, live in Waterbury Center and have two children. She will
join Capstone on December 3.

Kenney named Chief Financial Officer at

Central Vermont Medical Center

S
tephen F. Kenney, MBA, CPA, was named chief financial officer for Central Vermont
Medical Center (CVMC) after an extensive nationwide search, president and chief operating
officer Anna T. Noonan announced November 9.
Kenney, a native of Maine, returns to New England and brings to CVMC more than 25 years
experience in health care, finance, and enterprise resource planning. His most recent role was
senior director for Weill Cornell Medicine in New York.
Kenney’s experience also includes prior service as chief administrative officer for Weill Cornell
Medicine operations in Qatar and as chair of Weill Cornell’s Strategic Planning Committee,
developing its current five-year strategic plan (2014‒2019). His direct reports were responsible
for business services, environmental health and safety, facilities management, finance, human
resources, information technology services, process improvement, and risk management.
“As chief financial officer, Steve will play an essential leadership role in guiding CVMC while
collaborating with local leadership and partners across the UVM Health Network,” Noonan said.
He began in his new role October 29.
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PAG E 32 • N OV E M B E R 15 – D E C E M B E R 8 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE