Mid-Winter Follies
Saturday, February 6
7:30 p.m.
Capitol Plaza
IN THIS ISSUE:
Pg. 7 New Zoning Map
and Regulations
The Bridge
P.O. Box 1143
Montpelier, VT 05601
PRSRT STD
CAR-RT SORT
U.S. Postage
PAID
Montpelier, VT
Permit NO. 123
by Carla Occaso
We are not just here for the rich and powerful although we dont discriminate
against them, either we are here for the
children, the impoverished, the food insecure, the disabled, mentally ill, uninsured
and disenfranchised. We are here for the
artists, the writers, poets and actors. We are
here for the mayor, the department of public works and the city council. We are here
for the tourists, restaurants and downtown
stores. And the movie theaters. And the
library. But enough! Back to the show! The
following fine citizens writers, thespians,
comedians, musicians have donated their
precious time to participate in our event.
MID-WINTER FOLLIES
223-5112, ext 12
Seats are limited!
THE BRIDGE
T H E B R I D G E
eaders and friends of The Bridge have now contributed $11,108 as part of our annual
fundraising campaign.
That campaign which began this year with our paper of October 15 fills a critical dollar gap
between what the paper receives from advertising and subscriptions and what it costs to write,
edit, design, publish and distribute the paper.
In a typical year we hope to raise $15,000 in our annual campaign. So with $11,108 we are
74 percent of where we need to be.
In years past I used to regret having to ask our readers and friends for money so that The
Bridge could continue to publish. I wanted the paper to be able to stand on its own two feet
as a successful business.
In the abstract, Id still like that to be the case. At the same time, I look at what The Bridge
achieves in writing news stories, providing a calendar and publishing letters and opinion
pieces from a range of people without regard to their personal political convictions.
I like it that The Bridge is a free paper. I like to think that anyone in our community can pick
up The Bridge and find out whats happening and follow the news and explore public issues.
I believe The Bridge has a value and its value is not unlike the value of a good book, or a
library, or a college, or a theater or a great radio station. And in seeking your help we are
acknowledging the papers value and acknowledging things as they are.
We are at 74 percent of what we need in our current campaign for support.
If you have already helped us please accept our thanks. If you would like to help but havent
helped us yet, please write a check made payable to The Bridge and send it to this address:
The Bridge, P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601. Or stop by our office in Stone Science
Hall (62 Ridge Street) on the campus of Vermont College of Fine Arts. You can also call, mail
or fax in a credit card donation. Our fax number is 223-7852. In addition, if you arent feeling
well or are just getting around to your estate planning, please dont forget to add a token to
help bolster our continued sustainability in your last will and testament.
Again, thanks sincerely both now and in the past for your timely and generous support.
Nature Watch
by Nona Estrin
ig thanks to Chip Darmstadt for writing this piece while I was in southern
France, where every day was a bit cooler than Vermont during November and
December! Now we grumble about the cold, but bear, jumping mice, bats,
woodchucks, raccoons, skunks, and chipmunks, and reptiles and amphibians
too, have finally been able to stop burning their precious fat stores, and are now either
hibernating or in a torpid state. It's good to be home and find that the natural world has
returned to normal!
VALENTINE'S DAY
Promote Valentine's Day events
Advertise treats for sweethearts
Issue in circulation:
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RESERVATIONS DUE FRIDAY, JAN. 29.
For more information about advertising deadlines,
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or email our ad salesrepresentatives at
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You!
THE BRIDGE
Carla Occaso: How would legalization decrease unregulated illegal growth and sales by
unlicensed individuals?
Cheney: Your question implies that the current system of prohibition is a more effective
system for control of marijuana use and abuse (both by use and law evasion) than legalization. The premise needs to be looked at.
Legalization, together with a comprehensive regulatory system of licensing sellers, restricting sales to minors, controlling THC content, pricing below black market rates and enforcement is proposed as an alternative to the existing system of rewarding manufacturers
and distributors by maintaining high prices for their product though creation of the risk
of criminal sanctions. The collateral costs of that system including police, corrections,
and courts is high, while individual costs imposed by a criminal record are economically
debilitating. Legalization proposes directing profits to public control to be used for rehabilitation, education, and improvements to public health. Prohibition, on the other hand, is
a system for directing profits to criminals who have an incentive to develop more customers
and it has been quite successful in doing so. Certainly, people will continue to seek ways
to profit from evasion of either system by evading laws. Marijuana can be and presently is
grown in Vermont, both inside and outside. Either process requires work and investment
in time, money, creation of a distribution system and a risk of criminal penalties.
Whether legalization can produce a quality supply with known properties at a price that
makes such work and risk unattractive is unknown. The proposition is that prohibition
has not produced the results society seeks. Reasonably, people would try some other way
to achieve those results.
Occaso: How would legalization prevent youths from getting marijuana?
Cheney: Probably people under 18 who want marijuana will continue to get it just as
they do now from friends and illicit suppliers. The legalization proposition is that such
friends and suppliers will at least not also be in the business of selling heroin or other drugs.
Possibly a legal market place will reduce the number of illicit growers and pushers. It is
hard to see how legalization would make matters worse.
Occaso: Do you think the use of marijuana has any detrimental effects (physically) on
human beings? If so, what?
Cheney: My position is that all drugs, wrongfully used, are harmful. The policy proposal
to end prohibition rests on the known facts that prohibition has not been an effective
harm reduction strategy. Insanity, as Einstein reminds us, is doing the same thing over
again and expecting a different result.
MONTPELIER The United States Environmental Protection Agency recently released the 2012 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (http://www.epa.gov/cwns). This survey
compiles 2012 data for wastewater and stormwater projects planned for the five years following the survey. The five-year cost for these projects across the nation was $271 billion,
of which Vermonts share was $154 million.
Local communities can obtain low-interest loans for wastewater and stormwater projects through Vermonts clean water state revolving fund, which receives an infusion of
roughly $17 million a year from federal and state sources, which includes funding for
project planning.
Local communities can access planning funds to initiate water quality projects. Preliminary engineering is a critical first step to advancing capital improvement projects,
commented Eric Blatt, Facilities Engineering Division Director for the Department of
Environmental Conservation. Communities interested in learning about these funds are
encouraged to contact the Facilities Engineering Division.
tor from 2001 to 2009. Joe is one in a million. He is always upbeat and has a positive
outlook on life. Its a pleasure to be around him. He is a good friend.
Tom McKone, executive director, asked the board of trustees to write a proclamation
honoring Joe Tetreault for his many years of volunteer service at the library. Joes
work has been so important to the library and he is the longest serving volunteer at the
Kellogg-Hubbard Library. We wanted Joe to know that he has made a difference in our
lives.
Congratulations, Joe!
T H E B R I D G E
able to keep under its previous years Cost Containment Per Pupil Threshold, as defined by
Act 46, will see district property tax increased by a penny for every $100 spent above a given
threshold amount. As such, a drop in student population in a small district may translate into
a tax penalty, increasing the pressure to merge with neighboring districts.
Holcombe acknowledged that districts shouldnt be motivated into reform by financial incentives which critics say are being dangled to entice districts to consolidate. They are short
term supports to help you make system changes and if you dont have a clear vision for what
your system changes are and how they are going to leave you in a better place in five years, it
would be absolutely a mistake to rush into something because you wouldnt end up where you
needed to be, she added.
pause, stated Secretary Holcombe. We used to have 25 percent of our kids on free and reduced
lunch, the average now is 40 percent but in the Northeast Kingdom we have schools with
70 percent, said Kelley.
As a result of shrinking student population, tuition towns (communities lacking schools of their
own) are finding their students are becoming a commodity in a marketplace where pupils are up
for grabs by districts trying to raise their average daily membership, its like a game of musical
In his opening remarks, Kelley cautioned not to rush into school district consolidation mo- chairs, some people are going to be left standing, says David Kelley. He pointed to Craftsbury
tivated by a piece of legislation (Act 46) that as he put it, had to be explained to him by two Academy as an outstanding educational institution that could suffer under Act 46 as nearby
lawyers for over an hour (even though he himself is an attorney). In his opinion, small schools districts entice students to join their consolidated schools.
are the heart and soul of many towns, and preserving them safeguards a valuable tradition. Both panelists described Vermont as increasingly stratified socioeconomically. Schools that
Taking those schools out would be like ripping their hearts out, he warned, adding that he serve large numbers of students who live in poverty are becoming schools that serve even higher
was apprehensive about Act 46 for a half dozen reasons. Among them, the loss of students and numbers of students living in poverty and our more affluent towns are becoming more affluthe evisceration of budgets.
ent they are becoming more like gated communities its something that should give us
A rapidly growing rate of poverty and the problems associated with living in poverty are challenges that will test Vermonts leaders in the coming years. According to Secretary Holcombe,
40 percent of the kids in state custody are under age 5, and these children will soon join the
Under Act 46, districts choosing to move forward with accelerated mergers (an action requir- school population. While a solution is not contemplated by Act 46, Vermonts high cost of living
ing voter approval by June 30, 2016) will benefit from a property tax reduction the first year. is clearly not doing much to attract families with school age children into the state.
This number will fall by 2 cents each subsequent year, for a total 5-year tax incentive of 30 cents. The Jan 14 presentation, entitled Expanding Educational Opportunities for our SchoolchilGrants are also available to carry out merger feasibility studies.
dren during Tough Economic Times is the first of a series planned by The Bridge, and is part of
At its core, the law aims to reshape Vermonts education landscape through district consolida- its transition into a Vermont non-profit and eventually a federal tax-exempt 501c3 organization.
tion at a time of falling student population and fiscal tightening. Enrollment in schools fell by
1,200 this academic year, according Holcombe, continuing a negative trend which will inevitably result in the closure of small schools by shifting and combining student populations to
larger schools, as Kelley argued. The stated intent of the legislation is to better position districts
to serve their student populations many small schools dont offer a good education due to
their size, and children dont have a chance at a good education simply because of the zip code
in which they live, something Holcombe considers fundamentally offensive in a state that is so
proud of its strong commitment to equity. Act 46 proponents emphasize its deference to local
decision making/local control when it comes to deciding whether or not to merge with nearby
districts, however, critics believe the financial penalties associated with failure to comply may
result in rushed decisions by many communities.
As explained in late December by Brad James, the agencys finance manager, any district un-
by Larry Floersch
ADAMANT As has recently happened at many convenience and small grocery stores
in the area, the Adamant Cooperative store was robbed December 29, 2015, possibly by the
same perpetrator involved in the other robberies. This was the first time in recent memory
and perhaps ever in its 80-year existence that the co-op was robbed during store hours. In
the case of the co-op robbery, the perpetrator did not appear to have a weapon. Instead, he
waited until after dark, then, when the person working the counter was alone and had turned
away, he grabbed the cash register, yanked it loose, and ran out of the store. Weve had some
break-ins after hours over the years, said Janet MacLeod, a co-op member who has an art
studio above the store, but this is the first time weve had a crime during store hours.
Winter is our slowest time of the year, said store manager Regina Thompson, and many
of our transactions are charges, so the robber didnt get much cash. Still, the store is a closemargin operation and this is the toughest time of the year. We did lose money and we had to
replace the cash register. And it has our staff very concerned about safety.
Responding to that concern, members of the cooperative and local residents have circled
the wagons around the little store in a creative way. Since the robbery, the co-op has been
having an open house every afternoon and evening in support of the staff member running the store so that person is not alone after dark. And the open house now features live
music. Local musicians have worked up a schedule for live performances in the store. The
first concert took place Tuesday, January 12. Plans are in the works to add poetry readings,
game nights and group sing-alongs. The community has really come together over this and
has been extremely supportive, said Thompson, We really appreciate it.
It was a fantastic afternoon, said co-op staff member Andrea Serota of the concert, The
support of the Adamant community is wonderful. They have taken a bad situation and
turned it around, kind of like making lemonade when given lemons.
Store manager Thompson added that she hoped anyone with any information about the robbery will contact the state police.
THE BRIDGE
ontpeliers Town Meeting Day ballot will include an item asking voters
to approve a charter change authorizing the city to adopt a local option
tax. If approved, the city would assess an additional one percent charge
on local rooms, meals and alcohol sales. The tax would not extend to items that
are subject to the general sales tax.
After considerable discussion, the city council decided that revenue from the
tax, if approved by voters, would be designated solely for infrastructure improvements, such as roads, bridges and sidewalks.
T H E B R I D G E
he latest issue of my
favorite weekly science
magazine had an article on some of the latest
ICD codes developed by
the World Health Organization (WHO).
As we all know from
our advanced placement pre-med classes
in high school, ICD stands for the International Classification of Diseases. Now in its tenth revision, the codes
in the ICD are used by doctors to designate a diagnosis
from an elaborate list of diseases and injuries, because, as
you are well aware, doctors have notoriously bad handwriting and reading a badly scribbled code is easier than
reading a badly scribbled transsphenoidal hypophysectomy.
Exactly how patients might have come by some of the
injuries listed in the ICD is hard to explain. For instance,
the description for code W55.21 is, and Im not making
this up, bitten by cow. Having written in these pages
about the hidden intelligence of cows and possible willful aspects of their behavior, I can understand that a cow
might want to bite someone, but the fact that cows lack
upper incisors makes the mechanics of such an act difficult. They cant exactly sneak up and nip you on the ankle
like, say, one of those malicious little wiener dogs.
The mishaps behind other codes are more explicable even
though unusual, such as V95.40, unspecified spacecraft
accident injuring occupant (no doubt popular in Area
51); V97.33, sucked into jet engine and V96.00, unspecified balloon accident injuring occupant. And there
is W56.22, struck by orca, which probably doesnt get
much use in most of the 48 states. One of my favorites is
V91.07, and again, Im not making this up, burn due to
water-skis on fire. How water skis catch fire while in use
escapes me, as does why the user of the skis wouldnt just
fall in the water to avoid being burned.
Even though these new codes just went into effect back
in October of 2015, I am here to tell you that they are already out of date. I base this on a scientific analysis of the
codes I performed myself using some recent news reports
concerning the activity of burglars in our country. I wont
bore you with all the science stuff. Quite simply, I tried
THE BRIDGE
by Larry Floersch
T H E B R I D G E
Collectibles Abound At
Antique Center
by Joshua Jerome
ocated in one of the oldest buildings in downtown Barre, the Wheelock Office Building
built in 1871 houses the Barre Antique Center. Created last year, the antique store was the
brain child of Pierre Couture and was created to leverage the existing antique dealers in
downtown Barre. Couture, owner of the Lodge at Millstone Hill in Barre, has been collecting
antiques for nearly 40 years and while getting to know many of the antique dealers throughout
Vermont, the creation of an antique collaborative was looked at as a way to keep administrative costs down and offer antique shoppers a unique experience.
Downtown Barre was the ideal location for the antique collaborative as it already had three
traditional antique stores, incuding Last Time Around Antiques and Grakles. In addition, Exile
on Main Street has thousands of collectable vinyl records, Coins & Hobbies has their unique
toys and Goodfellows Fine Jewelers has their estate collection and upcoming Americana and
fine art collection. Identifying the ideal location to house this collaborative was thoughtful and
deliberate. After consideration of several locations, the city-owned Wheelock Office Building
was chosen and renovations began forthwith. To this author, the idea of an antique collaborative made a lot of sense and it was clear there was much interest with antique dealers in the
area. Through The Barre Partnership, a grant application was completed for submission to
the United States Deptartment of Agriculture Rural Development office for a Rural Business
Development Grant and was awarded in the fall of 2015.
I asked Couture if it was difficult to get enough antique dealers on board with the concept.
No, it wasnt. The collaborative concept allows for a critical mass of dealers to show their various collections at reduced cost. When the Barre Antique Center opened last June, there were
around 15 antique dealers that had agreed to lease space. Currently, there are over 30 antique
dealers who lease space and an additional 30 that have merchandise on consignment. In fact,
the collaborative effort has garnered so much support that a second location, The Old Town
Hall Antique Center, opened this past November. It is fitting that The Old Town Hall building is their second location as it was built originally in 1860 and acted as the town enlistment
center during the Civil War.
The collaborative effort seeks to grow into Vermonts Antique Center, strategically located on
the I89 corridor between two other antique areas, Burlington/Essex Junction and Quechee.
Couture has worked on building relationships with dealers from both locations which has led to
a mutual understanding of the importance of the I89 buy-way as Couture calls it. And their
first joint marketing initiative is coming up with their Super Bowl Antiques Weekend starting
on Friday, February 5 through Sunday, February 7. The Five Corners Antique Mall along with
the Barre Antique Center, Old Town Hall Antique Center, Last Time Around Antiques and
Grakles will each offer light refreshments and food to shoppers and those who can make it to
all five locations during the weekend can have their name entered in a raffle for various gift
certificates.
The great thing about Barres antique stores
is that they have a diverse selection of anBarre Antique Center
tiques from smalls, vinyl records, maritime, furniture and everything in between.
Couture says that people who are interested
in antiques look for opportunities where they
can visit several locations in one area, making
Barre the perfect location to drive consumer
traffic towards. And keeping merchandise
fresh and appealing to a broad demographic
is important. This seems to be working. As
a case in point, Ive witnessed teenagers all
the way to people in their 80s who shop at
the Barre Antique Center. Teenagers and
elders are at different stages in their lives.
They have different tastes. But according to
Couture, the one thing that unites both teens
and elders is that no matter who Couture is
talking to, they always associate something
of interest to their grandparents.
And remember even todays grandparents
had grandparents which is what makes antiques constantly interesting.
The writer is executive director of The Barre
Partnership.
THE BRIDGE
played folk music, and then in college was part of a working duo.
On his own will be singer/instrumentalist Donny Osman,
a former member of the House who served on the House
Education Committee. Osman has experience spanning
over 25 years as a touring theater artist. For this show I
will sing one or two songs by folk artists Peter and Lou
Berryman. They write very funny and satirical songs,
some of my performance heroes are The Marx Brothers,
Bill Irwin, Steve Martin, Osman told The Bridge. Osman
said donating his time in this way will support The Bridge,
which is important as independent, local media is a rare
and important community resource.
Susan Reid, who is donating her talents, is a locally renowned fiddler/violinist. Reid will playing two original
fiddle tunes that will take four minutes, and, if there is
time, she will bless us with a song. In addition, Nancy and
Lilly Smith, a mother and daughter singing duo, known
for their folky rocky acousticy goodness, according to
Lilly Smiths Facebook page, will lay it on us.
Another special act is offered by a young but vibrant talent. Ivan Jermyn, a veteran performer with Circus Smirkus
and a senior at Montpelier High School will show off his
fabulous skills of comedy and wonder. His charismatic
father, Michael Jermyn also The Bridges advertising
manager is also scheduled to perform. Michael Jermyn
is going to perform with his gorgeous daughters in an act
they are calling Michael Jermyn and the Sapphire Singers. They will perform original songs.
Patt said though the band started out with a larger number
of people during a splash of interest in Klezmer music in
the 1980s, it has dwindled to the four original dedicated
members: Patt (drums), Stephen Light (trumpet, recorder,
What good is si
And finally, we are pleased to welcome The Nisht Geferlach Klezmer Band, which has been in our community
since 1981, according to founding member Avram Patt.
string bass), Kathy Munson Light (clarinet, harp and recorder) and Rick Winston (accordian and piano). Shortly
after their first performance, they were approached to play
at weddings and other celebratory events.
Klezmer is a type of Yiddish dance music that had its origins in Eastern Europe, Patt told The Bridge. It arrived
in the U.S. in the late 1800s and picked up a signifigacnt
jazz influence. It influenced early Tin Pan Alley vaudeville, Broadway, Hollywood. Ethnically, musicians in
those orchestras were coming from the Klezmer tradition.
The name, Nisht Gerferlach literally means not dangerous but also is understood to mean not so good or not
so bad. We say It wont kill you, Patt said. Patt said he
grew up in a Yiddish speaking household, which was the
reason he was recruited into the band, I was the only person around who spoke Yiddish. After we got more serious I
got a drum set and taught myself rudimentary drumming
for Klezmer.
To get the idea for the light hearted or even heart warming
kind of topics to be expected, one of the songs they commonly do is called Akhtzik Er Un Zibbtsic Zi. Translation: Hes 80, shes 70 a 50th wedding anniversary
song.
As the event gets closer and The Bridge hopes readers will
reach out to all their friends and come to the show.
As we have told our readers in previous issues, The Bridge
needs $15,000 to bridge our spending gap between what
we earn in advertising and what our expenses cost. The
Bridge is in a unique position to connect members of the
community to one another, municipal government, state
government, the arts, science, employment and the natural
world. This continues to be highly valued by our readers,
or so we hear in calls, letters and personal visits.
So, Put down the knitting, the book and the broom. It is
time for a holiday! (From Cabaret, lyrics by Fred Ebb)
And join us at the Capitol Plaza Hotel February 6 at 7:30
p.m.
T H E B R I D G E
Matt Crop
Shadis: When we look out here on this crowd were going to see a lot of Bernie supporters, do you have an opinion on that candidate?
Laughy: Im not out here to disparage any other candidate, Im here for Donald, Im not
out here against anyone. Ive been out here since 68. I know how a rally works. Youre
going to have a lot of people who are going to want to turn it into a protest or a contest,
thats fine. Im here to support my man. This [his sign] doesnt say I dont like Bernie,
this says I like Donald Trump.
Shadis: Is there anything else youd like to add?
Laughy: Donald Trump makes me proud to be an American.
Finn Yarbrough
Shadis: Can you tell me what youre doing out
here tonight?
Yarbrough: Well, its pretty simple, were here
to send light, peace, and compassion into the
gathering there and amongst one another as an
alternative to anger and hatred.
Shadis: Do you feel that theres something
embodied here which is hateful, and which is
what youre responding to?
Yarbrough: Yeah, I think that Trumps campaign so far has awakened a kind of a fear and
mutual suspicion that is to some extent inherent in human nature but it doesnt need to be
fed, and we want to appeal to the better angels
of our nature and not the worse one.
Shadis: Can you tell me about this gathering,
I see that its not just you here, I see a couple of
other individuals who have candles.
Yarbrough: There are about 50 of us here who
will be committed to silence.
Randy Leavitt,
East Barnard
Trump is a very sad person,
he is just filled with hate
and he hasnt grown up
to me, he acts like a 4-yearold. I hate to cast aspersions
on 4-year-olds, but he is just
having a tantrum right now.
Its sad really the fact that
he has so many children
little spoiled children on
his side is sad.
Richard Aiguier
Richard Aiguler: Racism is not helpful, which
Donald Trump seems to be projecting, and
neither is the religious bigotry that he seems
to be projecting and neither really seems to be
something that should be brought as a topic for
presidential qualifications and its divisive and
Id like to see a calming.
Shadis: Do you have an opinion on Bernie
Sanders or any of the other candidates? Is there
someone specifically who you would like to see
in office, or is it only that you are opposed to
Trump?
Aiguier: I would support any of the Democratic candidates, I would prefer Bernie Sanders
because I think he understands what some of
the basic problems are in this country better
than some of the other candidates, but whoever is the Democratic nominee I would vote
for because Donald Trump might be the most
outrageous Republican candidate but his sentiments are somewhat shared by some of the other
Republican candidates as well. I would prefer a
Democrat.
THE BRIDGE
Opinion
Trumped!
That cheery lynch-mob talk of Trump reminded me of something I first heard about
as a boy in the 1930s the administration
of big doses of castor oil by Mussolinis Black
Shirts to political dissidents. What could be
funnier than the sight of your political opponent clutching his stomach and needing to
run to the bathroom and not being allowed
to. In the same decade of the 1930s, Adolf
Hitlers Brown Shirts, with their own lynchmob mentality, got their kicks by compelling
old bearded Jews to get down on their knees
and scrub the public sidewalk clean with a
toothbrush. The old photographs show smiling faces among the crowd that gathered to
watch the show. And show it was.
T H E B R I D G E
Community
Events
Events happening
January 21 February 6
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21
Calendar of Events
Songwriters Meeting. Meeting of the Northern
VT/NH chapter of the Nashville Songwriters
Association International. Bring copies of your
work. Third Thurs., 6:45 p.m. Catamount Arts, St.
Johnsbury. John, 633-2204.
MONDAY, JANUARY 25
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22
SATURDAY, JANUARY 23
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
Family Dance and Fun Day. Face painting, a balloon artist and crafts, 3 p.m. Family dance with
David Kaynor and the Vermont Fiddle Orchestra,
3:305 p.m. Mac & cheese dinner with veggies
and dessert, 5 p.m. Short kids movie until 6 p.m.
Capital City Grange Hall, 6612 VT Rt. 12, Montpelier. $5 per person; $20 family. Benefit for the
Friends of the Capital City Grange Hall.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26
THEATER, STORYTELLING,
COMEDY
Jan. 22: Bueno Comedy Showcase. A handful of talented
comics, from here and away, doing longer sets. 8:30 p.m.
Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre. $6. 479-0896.
events@espressobueno.com. espressobueno.com.
Performing
Arts
Live Music
Calendar of Events
SPECIAL EVENTS
Jan. 22: Jazzyaoke. Sing the standards to a live
six-piece jazz band; all lyrics provided. 7:30 p.m.
The North Branch Caf, 41 State St., Montpelier.
$5. 552-8105. info@wooo.tv. wooo.tv
Espresso Bueno. 248 N. Main St., Barre. 4790896. Free/by donation. events@espressobueno.
com. espressobueno.com.
Jan. 23: The Odd Wednesdays (new wave/progressive) 8 p.m.
Feb. 5: Belle of the Fall (indie/folk) 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24: Capital City Concerts presents Canciones Calientes. Chamber music inspired by Latin
song and dance from Brazil, Argentina, Spain
and France. Joining Grammy-nominated flutist
Karen Kevra are pianist Jeffrey Chappell, soprano
Mary Bonhag and double-bassist and composer
Evan Premo. 3 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main
VENUES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29
SATURDAY, JANUARY 30
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2
THE BRIDGE
REHEARSALS
Jan. 25: Mad River Chorale Rehearsals. 7 p.m.
The concerts will be May 6 and 7, locations to be
determined. Harwood Union High School, 458
VT-100, Moretown. 496-4781. madriverchorale
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Bereavement/Grief Support Group. Open to
anyone who has experienced the death of a loved
one. 1011:30 a.m. Conference Center. 600
Granger Road, Berlin. Free. 223-1878.
Grandparents Raising Their Childrens Children. First Wed., 10 a.m.Noon. Barre Presbyterian Church, Summer St. 476-1480.
Off Target: What Hollywood, Journalists and
Shooters Get Wrong About Guns. With Professor Mark Timney. An Osher Lifelong Learning
Institute program. Doors open 12:30 p.m. for
those wishing to bring a brown bag lunch; program starts 1:30 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Donations.
pdaggett@myfairpoint.net.
Cancer Support Group. First Wed., 6 p.m.
Potluck. For location, call Carole MacIntyre
229-5931.
U-32 School Board Meeting. Open to the public
and community members are always welcome to
attend. 6 p.m. U-32, Rm. 131, 930 Gallison Hill
Rd., Montpelier. 229-0321.
Montpelier School Board Meeting. 7 p.m.
Montpelier High School library, 5 High School
Dr., Montpelier. 225-8000.
John Quincy Adams: A Spirit Unconquerable!
Veteran actor Jim Cooke will portray Americans
sixth president, John Quincy Adams as part of the
Vermont Humanities Councils First Wednesdays
lecture series. 7:30 p.m. State House, Montpelier.
Free. vermonthumanities.org/first-wednesdaysmontpelier/
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4
T H E B R I D G E
Calendar of Events
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6
First Shot!
SPECIAL EVENTS
Weekly Events
ART & CRAFT
Beaders Group. All levels of beading experience
welcome. Free instruction available. Come with
a project for creativity and community. Sat., 11
a.m.2 p.m. The Bead Hive, Plainfield. 454-1615.
Calendar of Events
BICYCLING
BUSINESS, FINANCE,
COMPUTERS, EDUCATION
Computer and Online Help. One-on-one computer help. Tues. and Fri., 10 a.m.1 p.m. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury.
Free. Registration required: 244-7036.
Personal Financial Management Workshops.
Learn about credit/debit cards, credit building and repair, budgeting and identity theft,
insurance, investing, retirement. Tues., 68 p.m.
Central Vermont Medical Center, Conference
Room 3. Registration: 371-4191.
THE BRIDGE
RECYCLING
Additional Recycling. The Additional Recyclables Collection Center accepts scores of hardto-recycle items. Mon., Wed., Fri., noon6 p.m.;
Third Sat., 9 a.m.1 p.m. ARCC, 540 North
Main St., Barre. $1 per carload. 229-9383 x106.
For list of accepted items, go to cvswmd.org/arcc.
RESOURCES
Onion River Exchange Tool Library. 80 tools
both power and manual. Wed., 46 p.m.; Sat.,
911 a.m. 46 Barre St., Montpelier. 661-8959.
info@orexchange.com.
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
Womens Group. Women age 40 and older
explore important issues and challenges in their
lives in a warm and supportive environment. Facilitated by psychotherapist Kathleen Zura. Every
Mon., 5:307:30 p.m. 41 Elm St., Montpelier.
223-6564. Insurances accepted.
SPIRITUALITY
Christian Science Reading Room. You're invited
to visit the Reading Room and see what we
have for your spiritual growth. You can borrow,
purchase or simply enjoy material in a quiet study
room. Hours: Wed., 11 a.m.7:15 p.m.; Thurs.
Sat., 11 a.m.1 p.m. 145 State St., Montpelier.
223-2477.
A Course in Miracles. A study in spiritual transformation. Group meets each Tues., 78 p.m.
Christ Episcopal Church, 64 State St., Montpelier. 279-1495.
Christian Counseling. Tues. and Thurs. Daniel
Dr., Barre. Reasonable cost. By appt. only:
479-0302.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. For those
interested in learning about the Catholic faith, or
current Catholics who want to learn more. Wed.,
7 p.m. St. Monica Church, 79 Summer St.,
Barre. Register: 479-3253.
Deepening Our Jewish Roots. Fun, engaging text study and discussion on Jewish
spirituality. Sun., 4:456:15 p.m. Yearning
for Learning Center, Montpelier. 223-0583.
info@yearning4learning.org.
T H E B R I D G E
Classifieds
CLASSES
NUTRITION
TAI CHI
Hwa Yu Tai Chi winter-spring semester starts
February 1, twelve weeks/$120. Payment plans
available. New students welcome. Mondays
5:00-6:00 pm, in the Taplin Room, Christ
Church, 64 State St, Montpelier.
Instructor Ellie Hayes has been teaching Tai
Chi since 1974. 456-1983, info@elliehayes.net
HOUSING WANTED
HOUSING WANTED
Nice lady desires nice cottage to rent, long
term. Clean, quiet, references. (619) 420-3312.
Evenings best.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
CARDIOLOGIST
Central Vermont Medical Center, Inc. seeks a
Cardiologist (non-invasive) to work at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, VT
& treat/diagnose various types of heart disease & defects as well as perform a variety of
tests & procedures to assist in diagnoses of &
treatment of cardiac disease. CVMC does not
have a catheterization lab. Must have MD,
DO, or for. equiv. deg. + Cardiology Fellowship training & have (or be eligible for) VT
med. license. Must also be BC/BE in Cardiology, possess valid DEA certificate & be able
to obtain hosp. privileges.
Send CV & cover letter with salary requirements to:
Sarah Child,
Manager of Physician Services,
Central Vermont Medical Center,
P.O. Box 547
Barre, VT, 05641
Rocque Long
Painting
Insured
30+ years professional
experience
local references.
802-223-0389
SERVICES
Weatherization Remodeling
Kitchens Bathrooms Flooring
Tiling Cabinetry Fine Woodwork
WORKSHOPS
VERMONT CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE
HERBALISM (252 MAIN ST.);
PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Wild Carrot Seed for Natural Contraception
February 3rd 6-8 pm; $12
Herbs, Spices & Foods for Romance
February 10th 6-8 pm; $16
Introduction to Indigenous Ethnobotany
February 22nd 6-9 pm; $17
for details and registration, visit vtherbcenter.org
New Construction
Renovations
Woodworking
General Contracting
223-3447
clarconstruction.com
Since 1972
802.262.6013 evenkeelvt.com
Opinion
THE BRIDGE
Our public school system is perceived as a step to the better life thru college. The big crash and the college debt
crisis have put that myth in the grave. Meanwhile, it is the
finest colleges that have the biggest drug usage because
wealthy students do go to college to party before they enter
their world of upperclass privilege. Serious students are
Our ridiculously expensive national priorities are also not finding other options through less prestigious institutions.
helping. This includes the cost of our prison industrial ME BEING CAUSTIC: Lastly, to paraphrase a comment
made by educational reformer John Gattom we do not
complex which connects to another issue:
DRUG ABUSE: This was discussed at the forum, but send children to school for 12 years because it takes that
not coherently. Our current drug problems are partly an long to teach them, but because it takes that long to break
artifical construct of hypocritical laws, cultural prejudices, their spirit. School sucks, not because teachers are bad or
and elitist privilege. Our country's "drug problem" started overworked, but because it is not natural for the human
at the turn of the last century when our government de- mind to be told what to think. Learning is a healthy extencided that qualified doctors could not give perscriptions sion of curiosity- with some people are more curious and
to addicts. These addicts were fully functional, responsible expressive than others. Neither intelligence nor initiative
people of the working classes that happened to be hooked, can be enforced upon the mind. Our system ignores this
but were otherwise harmless. Now, a century later, in last and has, throughout its history, by substituting genuine
years "State of the State Address" Shumlin admitted that learning with artificial conditioning. First there was the
devotion to industrial agenda and the belief in the "survival
Opinion
A
by Gerard Renfro
widely acknowledged economic problem of this political year is the increasing gap
in wealth between the so-called 1 percent and the rest of us. Economic inequality was
recently explored in the Jan/Feb 2016 issue of Foreign Affairs. In one of the essays the
author quoted the so-called Bossuet paradox God laughs at men who complain of the consequences while cherishing the causes. It struck me that this was a precise description of the
situation in our economy today.
The articles on inequality highlighted the problem, but the solutions offered were all, in effect,
trial and error patches. Nowhere were why questions asked. It seems that the nature of the
economy is so cherished, that is, so accepted, that it is immune to serious questioning.
Fundamental to the operation of an economy is the nature of the units of production created
to deliver goods and services, and how the money supply is to be made available to fully utilize
the productive energies of our citizenry.
We complain of economic consequences such as inequality, but cherish the present form Two scientifically legitimate why questions that challenge what we cherish, but for this reaof the market economy that causes such inequalities. The common suggestion in the above son cannot be asked without derisive responses, are:
referenced articles and in what passes for political discussion these days, is that these consequences can be avoided by proper government regulation. Nowhere is it suggested that the 1. Why does our economy still overwhelmingly support largeness in the units of producbasic structure of the economy itself is the cause, and that fundamental change rather than tion that deliver goods and services to the population, when modern technology now makes
that unnecessary?
piecemeal regulation is required.
A professional lifetime as an independent scientist using basic research to understand causes 2. Why is money creation still left in the hands of the private banking sector when modern
of fundamental industrial problems allowed me as an entrepreneur and businessman to suc- technology now makes that unnecessary?
cessfully create new process equipment and test instruments now widely used throughout the I have explored these two questions in my newly published book, Escaping an Evolutionary
Pulp & Paper Industry. What these experiences taught was that when something doesnt work Dead-End. Should The Bridge be willing that these not to be asked questions, be publicly
well the usual approach is to come up with trial and error patches. These only shift problems, posed, those willing to accept them as being scientifically legitimate can satisfy their curiosnever solving them. Alternatively, asking the proper why questions and seeking scientifically ity by visiting authorwfc.com.
valid answers typically identifies the need for fundamental changes, not patches. This in
turn frees the imagination to come up with the ideas needed to implement such changes.
T H E B R I D G E
Editorial
T
Letters
Support Local Option Tax
Editor:
As a 30-year resident of Montpelier I write
in support of the 1 percent local option
meals, rooms and alcohol tax proposal.
From 1981 to 1986 I lived 100 feet from
the Montpelier City border, in East Montpelier only three miles from downtown.
I used everything that Montpelier had to
offer, plowing, recreation fields, Hubbard
park, local stores and restaurants. I called
the police department when my car was
broken into at the commuter parking lot
and late at night when Gould Hill Road
wasn't plowed. I worked in downtown
and twice a day would walk throughout
town buying lunch or shopping at the local
stores.
I never gave a thought to what services I
used but knew my town property taxes
were lower than my Montpelier neighbors.
The majority of my coworkers did not live
in the city and enjoyed the conveniences of
Montpelier without thinking about who
was paying for their police and fire protection and plowed sidewalks.
In 1986 I moved into the city and started
paying for the services that friends cowork-
THE BRIDGE
Poetry
Old Cat Gazes
The old cat gazes
at the world between minutes
I think more of now.
by Reuben Jackson,
host of Friday Night Jazz on
Vermont Public Radio
The Bridge publishes every
1st and 3rd Thursday of the
month, except in July when
we publish only on the 3rd
Thursday. Our next issue
comes out February 4.