The Bridge, January 8, 2015

Meet
New
A HS
Chief
H al
Cohen
Page
The Legislative Session Begins

IN THIS ISSUE:
6: Leahy Visits KelloggHubbard
8: East Montpelier Dog
Ordinance
21: When the Governor's
Race Had No Majority
2015: New Legislature, New Ideas?

by Carla Occaso and Nat Frothingham
The Bridge interviewed Washington Countys three senators
recently to find out what their priorities are for the upcoming
legislative session. We asked them each to tackle the topics of
education, the economy and jobs, health care, and any other
concerns for Vermont this coming year. Themes of reining in
spending and cutting down on government employees while trying to preserve services to the poor emerged. While these three
senators are seasoned lawmakers, they each hope the new session
will bring with it a fresh new wave of ideas to wake up the Legislature to spark a new era of job growth and economic health.
The Bridge Publisher Nat Frothingham and Managing Editor
Carla Occaso started out interviewing Senator William Doyle, a
Republican, by speaker phone on Monday, Dec. 29.
PRSRT STD
CAR-RT SORT
U.S. Postage
PAID
Montpelier, VT
Permit NO. 123
On Education:
Sen. William Doyle: I will introduce a bill to recruit international high schoolers. There is a tremendous amount of support
for this already. The number of international high school stu-
dents has increased (by the thousands) in five years. They are
being recruited by Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Each
student brings in $10,000. The international students can bring
new life into the schools. It is one way to take a little pressure
off property taxes. That is obviously why I am enthusiastic by
the bill.
Nat Frothingham: So lets go to your committee, which is
Education. The city of Montpelier saw a 24-percent increase in
Education costs over two years. Is that sustainable in your view?
Doyle: No, it is not.
Frothingham: What proposals are you going to make to address
shrinking school enrollment and school spending (staffing) additions?
Doyle: I will ask the people who come into the committee to
talk to anyone connected to the issue how they plan on bringing
the costs under control. I dont think youll see that much of an
increase again.
On The Economy and the Deficit:
Frothingham: I see an economy that has
stagnated. The income tax receipts are
down. The state is facing a deficit of over
$100 million. What is your blueprint for
turning things around?
The Bridge
P.O. Box 1143
Montpelier, VT 05601
Doyle: I am aware of the fact income

taxes are down. It is getting increasingly
difficult because of that. And I worry
about the loss of population. Obviously,
when you lose population, you lose income tax.
Frothingham: Lets say you are facing a
deficit. Would you cut or tax? If you are
going to cut, what would you cut specifically? If you are going to tax, who has to
pay the extra taxes?
Photo by Don Shall
Doyle: That is the job of the appropriations committee from day one. That is
where the cuts should be.
Continued on page 12
Photo by Marichel Vaught
January 8 January 21, 2015
PAG E 2 J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015
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J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015 PAG E 3
T H E B R I D G E
HEARD ON THE
STREET
Nature Watch
by Nona Estrin
Frigid Air Outside,

Cozy Inside
Call for Submissions: PoemCity 2015 Accepting Poetry
MONTPELIER The Kellogg Hubbard Library is accepting poetry submissions from

Vermont poets for Public Display. Submissions will be accepted until Jan. 31.
Poetry has an important place in the lives of Vermonters, said Kellogg-Hubbard Library
Program and Development Coordinator Rachel Senechal. PoemCity collaborates with
many organizations, schools, and individuals, to read, hear, write, and discuss poetry, the
language of the soul. With the many poems displayed in our downtown windows, it is our
goal to make poetry accessible to our community, and to inspire new readers and writers
of poetry, she said.
Selected poems will be displayed in shop windows throughout downtown Montpelier
during April. In addition to the text display, PoemCity features poetry/art installations,
poetry-related workshops, and readings. Submit your work online at https://kellogghubbardlibrary.submittable.com/submit. If you absolutely cannot submit online, you may also
mail your submissions to: PoemCity 2015, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street,
Montpelier, VT 05602.
Drawing by Nona Estrin
great mass of frigid air settles over

us. Even small tasks outdoors become more challenging. Being
inside takes on new meaning. It's nothing
short of miraculous that we can be inside,
warm, and buffered against such terrible
cold. But it's more than simply warmth.
In Denmark and other northern countries
there are actual words to describe gratitude
that one may feel, well-being reserved for
coziness, alone or especially between friends
and family. In the grip of cold its a mental thing boreal bliss or in Danish,
"hygee". Now there's a word I would like to
understand better!
Architecture Projects Win Awards

NORTHFIELD This year was a banner one for Norwich Universitys School of Architecture and Art, with two design projects garnering more attention and awards from the
American Institute of Architects.
The Institute awarded its 2014 Peoples Choice award to the Delta T-90, an affordable,
solar-powered home design that represented Norwich University in the most recent U.S.
Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. Since the competitions close, the Delta T-90
house has delivered on its mission to educate the public about residential-scale renewable
energy and green-design by becoming part of the Westcott Center for Architecture and
design in Springfield, Ohio. The center seeks to promote architecture and design in order
to educate K-12 students in social studies, math, science and the arts. AIA also awarded a
citation for excellence in architecture to the Archistream, a refurbished 1969 Airstream
trailer reimagined as a roving design ambassador and classroom.
Norwich University offers both bachelors and masters degree programs in architecture. To
learn more about both projects, check out the College of Professional Schools newsletter at
http://profschools.norwich.edu/newsletter/.
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Blue Cross and Cabot Hosiery Donate Socks

BERLIN Thousands of Vermont youngsters will be able to enjoy warm, high-quality
socks again this winter, the seventh year that Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Cabot Hosiery
Mills and the states community action agencies and homeless shelters have joined forces to
improve the health and comfort of children.
Blue Socks for Kids project volunteers will deliver 8,400 pairs of merino wool socks to
the community action agencies and homeless shelters for distribution to children in need
of warm clothing. Blue Cross and Blue Shield, through its charitable foundation, the Vermont Caring Foundation, provided $21,000 to finance 8,400 pairs of the wool socks made
specifically for Blue Socks for Kids by Cabot Hosiery Mills of Northfield, the states (and
Northeasts) only sock manufacturer.
Research from Canada and the U.S. indicates that warm underclothing is high on the list
of needs among the low income and homeless living in cold climates. An Oregon summit
on the needs of low income folks and the homeless in winter came up with two priorities
socks and healthcare.
Photography Exhibit Opens

MORRISVILLE River Arts is pleased to present "Through Our Lens", a photography
exhibit created by teens and young adults participating in the The Big Picture Project, Jan.
8 - March 2, 2015 in the Copley Common Space Gallery at the River Arts Center in Morrisville. There will be an opening reception on Thursday, Jan. 8, 5-7 p.m.
The Copley Common Space Gallery is on the main floor of the River Arts Center. Gallery
Hours are Monday-Thursday 9-4 p.m., Fridays 9-2 p.m., closed Saturday and Sunday. For
more information, call 888-1261, or visit www.RiverArtsVT.org.
Call for Submissions: Poems for PoemTown St. Johnsbury

ST. JOHNSBURY St. Johnsbury will become a satellite site for Montpeliers PoemCity
in April, in recognition of National Poetry Month. Catamount Arts, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and St. Johnsbury Chamber of Commerce are collaborating on the project, which
will celebrate poetry through the posting of poems on business windows, poetry readings
and slams, writing workshops, and more.
Poets are invited to submit one or two original poems on the theme At Home in the
Kingdom. Poems may address the topics Small Town Life, Savoring the Seasons, or
Honoring Our Heritage, but are not limited to those topics. Poems must be submitted to
Catamount Arts by Feb. 15. Submission guidelines are posted on the Catamount Arts website (http://www.catamountarts.org/poemtown-st-johnsbury/) and may also be requested
by calling 748-2600, extension 108. Poetry submissions are not limited to professional or
published poets; PoemTown St. Johnsbury welcomes all Vermonters, of any age, who wish
to have a forum for their writing.
P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601

Phone: 802-223-5112
Fax: 802-223-7852
Published twice a month
Editor & Publisher: Nat Frothingham

Managing Editor: Carla Occaso
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Editorial: 223-5112, ext. 14, or editorial@montpelierbridge.com.
Location: The Bridge office is located at the Vermont College of Fine Arts,
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THE BRIDGE
In The State House

House Priorities: Water, Climate, Education, Health Care
by Ed Sutherland
understanding how a pollution tax would work. I am

also looking forward to revisiting campaign finance
reform and continuing to focus on criminal justice
issues, including managing drug abuse."
s lawmakers get ready for another legislative session, a number of issues are on the
table, including drinking water, health care,
budgets, education reform, and taxes. With so many
topics on tap, The Bridge contacted a few Washington
County representatives to ask what is uppermost in
their minds.
Rep. Warren Kitzmiller, D-Washington-4 district,

which includes Montpelier, is a former Montpelier
City Council member. Kitzmiller was appointed to
the seat in 2001 to fill the post left by the death of
his wife, Rep. Karen Kitzmiller. Since then, Warren
Kitzmiller was elected five more times. Co-founder
of Onion River Sports, Kitzmiller was the ranking
member of the House Committee on Commerce and
Economic Development in the previous session.
Rep. Adam Greshin, is an Independent who represents Washington-7, the district that includes
Duxbury, Waitsfield, Moretown, and Fayston. The
54-year-old Warren resident sat on the House Ways
and Means Committee, which oversees revenue and
taxation issues, during the previous legislative session.
An executive in the company owning Sugarbush Resort, Greshin is also a financial analyst.
"Personally, the issue of protecting Vermont's drinking water sources will be my top priority," Kitzmiller
said, referring to a controversy that started two years
ago over the public recreational use of Berlin Pond the primary source of drinking water for Montpelier.
In August of 2014, the Department of Environmental
Conservation refused to ban all human activity on
the pond, allowing continued nonmotorized recreational activities. "The folks who are charged with
protecting the water not only do next to nothing to
protect the cleanliness of drinking water around the
state, they have knowingly taken steps that increase
the risk," Kitzmiller said. "This is the only source of
drinking water for Montpelier, our Central Vermont
Medical Center, and much of the Town of Berlin."
"Education funding reform combined with a plan to

lower the growth in education costs; a plan to provide
a working health-care exchange either state or federal for our citizens; and a plan to continue and
bolster the slow, steady economic growth trajectory in
Vermont," are Greshin's priorities for the new session.
The Democrat representing the Washington-7 district, Maxine Jo Grad, is a seven-term House member. Grad is expected to become chair of the House
Judiciary Committee, a step up from last year's vice
chair position.
"Education finance and property tax reform, water
quality and environmental protection, enhancing the
local economy, public safety, and health care," are all
important to the self-employed Moretown resident.
Photo by Marichel Vaught
Rep. Mary Hooper, D-Montpelier, is a second-term House member. The former fourterm mayor of the City of Montpelier previously sat on the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions as well as the House Mental Health Oversight Committee.
"Folks in Montpelier, as is true for people all over the state, are concerned with maintaining their quality of life, with being able to live a good life and one that offers hope for a
good future for themselves, their children, and our community," Hooper said.
When it comes to Montpelier residents, "economic issues, including income inequality,
make it difficult for people to see how they will be able to sustain a good life," she said,
adding, "the big issues include maintaining an outstanding school system while ensuring
we can continue to afford our school property taxes; continuing to work toward affordable
health care for all, and combatting climate change."
As for her goals for this general assembly, Hooper is focused on taxes, climate, and campaign finance reform. "I am looking forward to working on the fairness of our tax policies
and would very much like to see the state of Vermont move toward an income tax system
based on adjusted gross income. With a fairer tax system as a base we can more logically
tackle property tax policy."
A co-chair of the caucus on climate change, Hooper said she and the group "will be working on finding a mechanism that will allow us to continue adequately funding low-income
weatherization, reducing emissions from vehicles through alternative transportation, and
Aside from water quality concerns, Kitzmiller predicts "serious discussions about the increasing cost of education. We'll also see what steps
can be taken to control the rising cost of health care now that a single-payer system has
been delayed. Plus, everyone knows there is a nearly 100-million-dollar deficit to be dealt
with."
Although readers can take some educated guesses about what issues will be front and center, there undoubtedly will be surprises that no one can foresee. That is the only constant
of which voters can be assured.
Condos Launches New

Lobbying Information
System
MONTPELIER Secretary of State Jim Condos today announced the launch of the
new Vermont Lobbying Information System. The new system allows lobbyists, lobbyist firms, and lobbyist employers to register, manage their information, and make
payments online.
Secretary Condos explained the new system not only makes lobbyist registration and
disclosure simple and intuitive to use for anyone from lobbying firms to local small
businesses and nonprofits that needs to register their activities with our office, it also
provides the public with immediate access to more consistent and accurate information
through a variety of search options.
The Lobbyist Disclosure System is the second system in the new Elections Platform to
go live. It follows the new Campaign Finance Information System (CFIS) that went
live in August and becomes mandatory for all campaign finance reporting this month.
CFIS allows candidates, PACs, and political parties to enter financial transactions
(contributions and expenditures) and file reports on the relevant filing deadlines. The
system also tracks Mass Media expenditures. Information contained in any reports
filed by candidates, PACs, and political parties is immediately searchable using the
database search functions.
The development of online filing systems for both lobbyist disclosure and campaign
finance that provide searchable information for the general public, in real time, has
been long overdue, Condos said. I am pleased to be able to provide Vermonters with
these powerful new tools that bring increased transparency to how money flows in
Vermont political campaigns and in lobbyist activities. Vermonters have a right to know
who is working to influence their legislators and themselves.
The new Lobbyist Disclosure System can be accessed at:
https://lobbying.sec.state.vt.us/
The new Campaign Finance Information System can be accessed at:
https://campaignfinance.sec.state.vt.us/
Note: The above is a press release from Secretary of State Jim Condos office.
T H E B R I D G E
Superintendent Ricca Presents a Draft Budget

by Richard Sheir
MONTPELIER Montpelier Public Schools Superintendent Brian Ricca presented his

draft budget to the Montpelier School Board for their consideration Dec. 12. The board
had given Ricca the charge of delivering a budget that would keep any increase under 5
percent. The budget as presented came in at under 2 percent.
Two years ago, a budget of $16,986,916 was passed for 997 pupils at a per-pupil cost of
$13,985. Last years first budget request was rejected by voters on Town Meeting Day.
The budget that ultimately passed was $17,281,225 for ten fewer students than the prior
year. The per-pupil spending rose by 4.3 percent from $13,985 to $14,588 per student.
This years proposed budget is for five more students than the prior year. Proposed perpupil spending is predicted to rise by 1.8 percent, which is significantly lower than the
prior years 4.3 percent. The average property tax bill is projected to rise by 1.9 percent in
contrast to last years 7.6 percent.
The schools again dipped into their fund balance in order to offset property taxes. Last
year, prior to the second school budget vote, the board used $171,000 in order to balance
the budget without staff cuts. This year the sum allocated is $150,000. An additional
$235,000 is set aside to pay for renovations required at Main Street Middle School to
accommodate fifth graders from Union Elementary School.
The school budget reflects changes in policy, particularly the reshaping of special needs
education, where there will be a transition from a program based on instructional assistants to a model that is based less on paraprofessionals and more on licensed professionals.
Last years budget cut the number of instructional assistants, and this years budget re-
flects that trend. The recommendation is for the removal of 6.57 full-time-equivalent instructional assistant positions. These positions will be replaced with two full-time special
educator positions, one of which will be at Union Elementary School. The duties of the
other special educator will be determined later. There is also a restructuring planned for
support services in terms of substitutes, summer hires, and tuition. These recommendations account for over $180,000 in reductions. However, some of the reductions are offset
by the addition of a 0.5 full-time-equivalent custodian at Union Elementary and an additional 0.5 full-time-equivalent custodian at Main Street Middle School. A new 0.4 fulltime-equivalent sustainability coordinator slot will be added at Montpelier High School.
Additionally the district proposes to reduce the transportation budget by nearly $57,000.
A sum of $36,250 is set aside for the recreation program. This is funding for which the
district assumed responsibility when a federal grant ended. Funding for the Community
Connections programs was a point of contention in last years budget determinations.
The board cut part of the Community Connections line item from the prior years budget
but reinserted some additional funding after hearing from parents who advocated for the
program.
Programmatically, the proposed budget also adds a 0.4 full-time-equivalent for music
at Union Elementary (creating a full-time music teaching position) and a 0.2 full-timeequivalent for French at Main Street Middle School. It also budgets money for cross
country and ultimate Frisbee activities at Main Street Middle School.
The district will have budget hearings open to the public prior to Town Meeting.
Rice & Riley, PLLC

94 Main Street, 2nd Floor, TD Bank Building
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-223-3479
ricerileylaw@comcast.net
Gloria K. Rice
John P. Riley
Georgiana O. Miranda
Glenn C. Howland
Areas of practice include: Real Estate Law; Commercial Transactions;

Wills, Probate and Estates; Business Representation;
Zoning and Land Use; Municipal Law & School Law
Photo by Carla Occaso
Vermont Unemployment Rate

Decreases to 4.3 Percent
STATEWIDE The Vermont Department of Labor announced Dec. 19 the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for November 2014 was 4.3 percent. This
represents a decrease of one-tenth of a percent from the revised October rate (4.4 percent). The equivalent national average was 5.8 percent, which experienced no change
from the previous month's estimate.
"Private sector hiring continues to be positive, and accounts for all the job growth seen
in the past year in Vermont. Employer-reported job increases are also mirrored by increased levels of employment reported by Vermont households. This growth has pushed
up statewide labor force and pushed down the unemployment rate. This is positive data
as Vermont heads into the winter months. Employers in the leisure and hospitality sector are reporting a strong start to the winter season, and, as anticipated, are hiring. The
Vermont Department of Labor will connect job seekers to current job openings, which
allows our business community to prosper and expand. Contact the Department of
Labor through any one of our 12 regional offices, to learn about our extensive services,"
said Annie Noonan, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Labor.
Unemployment rates vary by area, ranging from 2.4 percent in Hartford to 5.1 percent
in Newport. Jobs in construction and leisure and hospitality are up while jobs in the
financial industry and in manufacturing are down. The unemployment rate and jobs
report for December is scheduled to be released Jan. 27.
*From a press release
THE BRIDGE
And Why Was the U.S. Capitol Police at the Library Last
Week?
by Tom McKone
was in the office, the Senator took the photo down and gave it to him, later printing and
framing a new one for himself. When the Dalai Lama was in the Senators office, he liked
the photo, as well.
Admiring one of Craigs photos from Peru, Leahy commented that he had never been
there. Youve been to Cuba, though, I said. He beamed, and he and his wife then told
several stories related to his recent secret-until-it-was-over trip to Cuba to exchange imprisoned American Alan Gross for three Cuban prisoners held by the United States. The
President called me and told me he wanted me to go, he said. He and his wife had some
notice; however, his security detail had two hours notice, and his staff didnt learn about
it until he was coming back into U.S. air space on the return trip. In response to someones
question, Mrs. Leahy said that she hadnt been invited to go. Yes, but the president of
Cuba said his wife wants you to go down there to go scuba diving, the Senator said. He
talked about other secret trips and meetings over the past two years, some of which took
place in Canada.
Walking through the childrens library, Leahy recounted stories of how he used to visit the
library after school as a child and how it helped him to become an avid reader.
Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Photo by Carla Occaso

MONTPELIER The U.S. Capitol Police arrived about 45 minutes in advance. It was
Monday, Dec. 29. Carol, a circulation staff member, came around the corner and leaned
into my office: Tom, the security people are here. I went out and met two friendly,
athletic men who were waiting for me. A few minutes later I was talking with one of
them about his library back home in Virginia, but they werent in the Kellogg-Hubbard
Library to look at books. For one thing, they were the first people I had seen in the library
wearing microphones and police radios with earbuds. Plus, they had that clean-cut, welldressed, presidential police look we have seen in the news and movies. They exuded
professionalism. As we toured the building and I answered their questions, one of them
appeared to be putting my answers in his phone. The stairs? The elevator? Other exits?
If he needs to make a phone call, can he use your office? Sure, I said, hoping he would
get an urgent call from the White House and need to go into my office to take it. What
a story that would be.
It was Sen. Patrick Leahys last week as Senate President Pro Tem, the third person in line
for the presidency; the U.S. Capitol Police escort that had been part of his life for two
years would soon end.
He enjoyed showing his grandchildren the plaque we have in the childrens library recognizing Senator Patrick Leahy, Our Super Hero, for not being intimidated by thugs
and supporting the KHL through the royalties he donates from the parts he has had in
Batman and Dark Knight movies. Turning to me, he said, Lets hope they dont cut one
scene from the next Batman movie. It will be very good for the library if they dont.
Thats one reason we have a lot of Batman fans around here.
More than an hour later, Senator and Mrs. Leahy headed towards the front door. Their
grandchildren, who had spent some time reading books in the childrens library, were over
at Bear Pond Books buying some books to take home to Virginia. Their father and the
Leahys son-in-law a White House photographer had gone over with them. After
Bear Pond, it would be lunch at Coffee Corner. Coffee Corner doesnt usually take reservations, but the security crew had had no problem getting them to hold the large front
window table for the Senator and his party. Of course, he could have gotten the table
even without the U.S. Capitol Police asking for him.
One of the last things Senator and Mrs. Leahy did before leaving the library was to sign
the petition to have library funding on the Town Meeting Warning in their hometown,
Middlesex. I wish I could have been there when the next Middlesex resident who signed
the petition at the adult circulation desk and saw the two previous names: Patrick Leahy,
Marcelle Leahy. It is an honor to be in such distinguished company, even when it is just
on paper.
Note: Tom McKone is the director of the Kellogg Hubbard Library
A Montpelier native and a longtime friend of his beloved childhood library, the senator
was coming by for a visit and to see Calais resident Craig Lines photography exhibit.
Craig has been friends the senator for decades, and they share a love of photography
Craig as a professional, and the senator as a serious amateur. The next day the senator was
going to Brattleboro for a reception at his own photo exhibit. Craig had invited Leahy to
see his exhibit, and the Senator had been promising to visit the library, so it was arranged.
When Leahy arrived, we became a more substantial group: his wife, his sister, his sonin-law, two grandchildren, an aide from his Montpelier office, Craig and his daughter
and more D.C. police. As we walked through the building, Leahy made a point of
greeting library employees, and several people who were using the library came up to
thank him for his work. By coincidence, one frequent patron who had strongly criticized Leahy in some newspaper editorials was here. The two had a brief, civil, politically
charged conversation, calling each other Mr. Leahy and Mr. ___. I only heard part of the
conversation, but it ended on a good note.
Once we reached Craigs photos, the conversation turned to photography. A professional
photographer for decades, Craig has photos from around the world. The senator is similarly well traveled. He told about a particular Tibetan photo he keeps on the wall opposite
his desk and that Bono really liked. Yes, Bono, the U2 lead singer and globe-trotting
activist for human rights. The photo is of a man and child in Lhasa, and the man is secretively showing the senator a picture of the Dalai Lamaan act of support for which
the man would have been arrested, if he were discovered. Admiring the courage of the
man, Senator Leahy refers to the print as his conscience photo. One time when Bono
Kent Reflections
from Craig Line's
photography exhibit
at Kellogg-Hubbard
Library.
T H E B R I D G E
Police Beat
Excerpts from Montpelier Police Department Media Report
January 4:
Police responded to the report of a male sleeping inside Bethany Church.
A wallet was lost on State Street.
A suspicious vehicle stopped with lights out, revving its engine and flashing four-way
flashers. The vehicle left before police were dispatched to Colonial Drive and Northfield Street.
A Bernese Mountain dog was reported missing from the Chestnut Hill Road area.
The Department of Public Works was contacted for icy sidewalks.
Directions were given to a tractor trailer driver on Bailey Avenue.
A winter parking ban was in effect necessitating police enforcement that included tickets and towing due to storm.
An unwanted person was removed from Cummings Street who was otherwise refusing
to leave.
January 3:
Someone called in a disturbance at Sabins Pasture. A report of multiple gunshots fired
in the area of Sabins Pasture was reported. Police checked into the area and surrounding areas and no further noise was reported.
Police received a report of a possible transient inside a vacant apartment at 5 Cliff
Street.
Police stopped a motor vehicle on Elm and Winter Streets for defective equipment.
Police stopped several motor vehicles on River Street for expired inspection stickers or
expired registrations.
January 2:
Photo by Carla Occaso

MPD assisted State Police at a rollover crash near the Montpelier Exit off Interstate 89.
There was a report of an injured deer near Northfield Street and Derby Drive.
December 29:
Salmon Valle, 20, of Montpelier, was arrested for domestic assault and simple assault.
Valle was lodged at the Barre City Police Department pending arraignment.
A deceased deer was found in the middle of the road on Northfield Street by the Econo
Lodge.
Some juveniles were stopped for possession of drugs.
A ticket was issued for expired registration on Berlin Street
A motor vehicle was stopped on Sparrow Farm Road.
Police responded to a general public request on Cliff Street to assist an individual attempting to get property back.
Someone reported attempted arson at a new construction site on Cedar Street.
Police responded to a civil dispute over a vehicle purchased at a dealership on Gallison
Hill Road
A vehicle was towed away from River Street after it was found to have no inspection
sticker, no registration, no insurance and registration plates that were not assigned to
the vehicle.
Police assisted Berlin Police Department in a car versus deer crash at the town line on
Northfield Street.
December 26:
January 1:
Police responded to a domestic disturbance on Barre Street involving a verbal argument

between a male and a female.
Unwanted text messages were reported.
Michael McMahon, 59, of Montpelier was arrested for domestic assault.

A loud party with loud voices keeping people awake was reported on Cedar Hill Lane.
Police received a report of an unwanted patron outside an establishment on Langdon
Street.
December 31:
Police booted a vehicle on Langdon Street for four or more unpaid parking tickets.
Larceny was reported from a building on Main Street.
Police received a report of someone screaming and throwing things at a Barre Street
apartment.
A grey and white long-haired cat was reported missing.
Two yellow Labrador retrievers took off from owner. Owner sought police help to locate
them.
There was a report of a male going through vehicles in the parking lot of the Wayside
Restaurant.
A rape - sexual assault - was reported in Montpelier. The case is under investigation.
Someone reported a skunk behaving strangely in the area of College and Sibley street.
December 24:
There was a report of a fight on Langdon Street.
People were accused of staying at a hotel room on Northfield Street and leaving without
paying.
December 23:
A burglary on Main Street is under investigation.
Someone reported a suspicious person on State Street hanging around state buildings.
December 19:
December 18:
Protesters rallying at the Green Mountain Health Care Board meeting required police
monitoring.
Police provided a citizen assist with repossessed vehicle on Barre Street.
Someone lost a purse at a local business on Main Street in Montpelier. Upon calling
the business, the victim was told the purse was secured inside. Then, when the victim
went to the business to retrieve it, the purse had been left in a public area and had been
removed, the police report states.
A mans wallet was lost downtown.
Pedestrians Re-Routed From Barre Sidewalk

For Safety Reasons
by Carla Occaso
BARRE When you are walking down Main Street in Barre, you will notice part of the
sidewalk roped off over where J.J. Newberrys used to be. This is to keep pedestrians away
from a potentially unsafe facade the building owners are working to correct.
It all started in November when a 10-foot by 15-foot wooden section of the neighboring
building fell down and broke one of the trees on the sidewalk below, said Matthew Cetin,
fire marshall and captain with the Barre City Fire Department Inspection Division.
Although the debris was cleaned up that night, Cetin and the Vermont State Fire Marshalls engineer went up on the fire departments tower and inspected the building. That
building seemed sound, but the building next to it, known as the J.J. Newberry building
at 143 North Main, had questionable structural integrity on the outside face.The building
was constructed in 1910.
Some of the facade appears to be loose, Cetin explained. We both felt strongly it could
potentially collapse. It could go another 10 years without collapsing, or it could collapse
in the next half hour. So, they decided to rope off the sidewalk below and re-route foot
traffic through the parking spaces. The buildings owner, Steve Lewinstein and Overlake
Park, LLC., have been working to hire a contractor and rebuild the unsafe part of the
structure.
The owner has been working with the city and the fire marshall to get this done as soon
as possible. They have been in touch with multiple masons to correct the problem, Cetin
said, adding that the fix might hopefully be complete by early February.
In addition to the masonry work, the owner also has to pay for the parking spots they
block off, according to City Clerk and Treasurer Carol Dawes. The cost for long term
parking spaces is $9 per space per day.
THE BRIDGE
Dog Ordinance Goes into Effect Unless Citizens Petition

Against It
by Carla Occaso
EAST MONTPELIER Come February, East Montpelier residents will have a more
detailed dog ordinance to adhere to than they have in the past, which could result in a
$50 fine for first offense running at large or impoundment at the owners expense unless
townspeople petition against it.
It all started over a year ago with three bothersome dogs on Upper North Street, according to Selectman Carl Etnier during a telephone conversation over the holidays. Etnier
received complaints from a social group living in that area concerning three Labradoodles
that roamed around their neighborhood and frightened people on the road and on the
trail system, according to Town Administrator Bruce Johnson. One of the dogs even bit
someone once. The situation was recorded in selectboard meeting minutes dated Dec.
16, 2013 that state, Sandy Conti (animal control officer) came to the selectboard to
talk about some aggressive dogs owned by the Thornton/Kelly family on North Street.
A townsperson was bitten by one of the dogs on a trail west of Upper North Street. Mr.
Conti will serve the owners with a citation and a fine. These three dogs have been bothering people and other dogs on North Street and the trail system. Apparently talking to
the owners did not result in keeping the dogs from bothering people, so Etnier set about
updating the existing rules.
Prohibited under the new ordinance includes: Dogs creating a nuisance such as running
at large - not on a leash, defecating, and making noise such as barking, snarling, crying,
etc. for an extended period of time. The remedy the town can take under the ordinance
is to fine the owner and impound the dog at the owners expense. Violation fees may be
levied beginning at $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense and $200 plus
impoundment for the third offense. Subsequent offenses would be fined at $400.00.
Working farm dogs and hunting dogs are exempt from the ordinance.
Johnson said the ordinance is for extreme circumstances and would not be used lightly.
The selectboard is not sending out the animal control officer to pick up every dog in
town. The intent is not to all of a sudden throw the dogs of East Montpelier into a morass
of legal trouble, Johnson said.
Etnier said he was prompted to draft a more detailed and comprehensive ordinance than
the one on file for several reasons, since he did not succeed in controlling the situation
by talking directly to the dogs owner on Upper North Street. Etnier agreed to answer a
series of questions posed to him by The Bridge. It should be noted that the author lives
at her childhood home in East Montpelier and owns a dog she adopted last month from
Random Rescue in Williamstown.
Occaso: How did the dog ordinance come about?
Etnier: As we discussed on the phone, the dog ordinance dates back to 2003. I was not
on the selectboard at the time, and I haven't researched the history of it. We've merely
updated the existing ordinance, which has not generated any complaints during the years
I've been on the selectboard. The ordinance was also updated in 2010.
Occaso: Why do we need a new one? State law governs dealing with vicious dogs, licensing, etc. Isn't that enough?
Etnier: The updating began after the selectboard heard multiple complaints about dogs
whose behavior was creating unease in a neighborhood. Residents were not satisfied with
the range of options available to the selectboard to respond to complaints about dogs that
were behaving aggressively, even attacking other dogs. The selectboard agreed that a wider
range of options for enforcement in these cases would be desirable.
rules of procedure and rights and responsibilities for the complaintant and the dog owner.
Occaso: Who is going to pay for the town's demanding a particular kind of tag with the
name, etc. on it? If the town is mandating it, shouldn't they pay for it?
Etnier: I don't understand the question. The licensing procedure is part of state law.
VLCT's Big Book of Woof (p 8) explains it this way:
The establishment of licensing programs in Vermont and around the country in the 1940s and
50s was instrumental in abating the proliferation of rabies by requiring all dogs of a certain
age to be licensed and that their owners show proof of current vaccination as a prerequisite to
licensing.
The fees for licensing pay for the license tag that each dog owner receives annually.
Occaso: If a dog goes missing, is lost, etc., should the owner fear impoundment and a fine
rather than seek help recovering it?
Etnier: No. If the animal control officer sees a dog running at large, he's likely to stop
and try to find its home. Sandy Conti, the town's animal control officer, tells the selectboard about his work, and from what he's told us, he uses the easiest, least legalistic way
of resolving dog issues. That's in accordance with the selectboard's wishes.
Occaso: Why is the first offense $50? Why not a warning or two first?
Etnier: I have never heard of our animal control officer issuing a ticket for a first offense,
without a warning. The ordinance provides the option of doing so, but it's completely the
animal control officer's call as to whether to issue a warning or a ticket.
Occaso: If the town takes someone to court because their dog got out or is barking...who
pays the town lawyer fees?
Etnier: Tickets issued under this ordinance, if contested, are handled in traffic court. If
the town asks a lawyer to help it, the town pays.
Occaso: If the select board orders the dog owner to take a dog training course of its
choosing, who pays?
Etnier: The dog owner.
Occaso: What if a person can't afford the fine or mandated requirements?
Etnier: I have seen various officers of the town work with residents and business owners
on many issues. I've been impressed with the approach of working to create a solution
that works for everyone.
To view the complete ordinance, go to: http://eastmontpeliervt.org/wp-content/
uploads/2014/08/2014-EM-Dog-Control-Ordinance.pdf
If you want to disapprove the ordinance, it can be done by following the below instructions before Jan. 28:
From the East Montpeliervt.org website:
Town of East Montpelier citizens may petition for a town vote on the question of disapproving this ordinance. The petition must be signed by not less than 5 percent of the
qualified voters of the Town of East Montpelier and submitted to the Town Clerk at the
Municipal Building no later than 5 p.m. Jan. 28, 2015. Absent such a petition, the ordinance will take effect February 13, 2015.
The primary change in the ordinance update is expanding the range of situations in
which the state's "vicious dog" hearing process can be applied. The hearing process allows the selectboard to be creative in tailoring solutions that best fit the circumstances at
hand, rather than simply issuing a ticket. Under the old ordinance, the hearing process
can be applied if a dog bites someone off the owner's premises and in limited other circumstances. With the update, the hearing process can also be applied in circumstances
like a dog attacking other pets or behaving aggressively towards humans without actually
biting them.
Occaso: What is a "potentially" vicious dog? (I read the ordinance and it sounds like
almost any dog is a "potentially" vicious dog).
Etnier: The definition of a "potentially" vicious dog has been created so the town has
a wider range of enforcement options than simply issuing a ticket when a dog threatens
the safety of people or animals in a neighborhood in a way that doesn't trigger the state's
"vicious dog" hearing process. In other words, it doesn't bite a human off its owner's
premises.
Occaso: Who decides what a nuisance is? Is there a committee or panel?
Etnier: The animal control officer is the primary person to decide whether an animal
is creating a nuisance. He is empowered to ticket the owner of a dog that is creating a
nuisance.
Occaso: What specific signs must the dog exhibit to be deemed potentially vicious?
Etnier: See the language in the ordinance. And remember, this is a complaint-driven
process. Plus, like a person who is innocent until proven guilty, no dog is "vicious" or
"potentially vicious" without due process--in this case, a selectboard hearing with specific
East Montpelier residents will have a more detailed dog ordinance to adhere
to than they have in the past unless townspeople petition against it.
Got a news tip? We want to know!

Send it to us at: editorial@montpelierbridge.com
T H E B R I D G E
An Interview with Hal Cohen, New Agency of Human

Services Secretary
by Joyce Kahn
going to be able to do it, but one of my priorities will be to ensure that we have affordable housing, that we have the opportunity
to live in a safe home, and that no one goes
to bed hungry. Cohen then spoke about
several success stories. For example, a teenage mother who took advantage of parenting education, Head Start, the high school
equivalency program and the Community
College of Vermont. These actions led her
to a career. Another success story involved
a political refugee who took advantage of
Capstone's business counseling, a financial
literacy course and a matched saving program which helps participants find capital
and build assets. This refugee was able to
start a food-related business and build a factory. Cohen emphasizes asset development
as a way to move out of poverty. What we
realized is that people who develop assets
do not live in poverty. One of the reasons
is that when you have an asset or when
youre trying to build an asset, youre not
just thinking about getting by today. Youre
thinking about the future.
everal days ago I sat down with Hal

Cohen, the newly appointed secretary
of the Agency of Human Services,
and talked with him about his interesting
and colorful career. For the past 18 years,
Cohen was executive director of Central
Vermont Community Action, now called
Capstone. Before that, he worked with difficult adolescents, was the director of a drug
and alcohol center in Lynn, Massachusetts,
and helped found two homes for children,
one in New Hampshire and one in Israel.
He also worked in the field of major gifts
fundraising. Cohen said, I worked for the
Jerusalem Foundation, where I worked with
Teddy Kollek, who was the mayor of Jerusalem for over 30 years, rebuilding the city.
I helped build hospitals and day-care centers
and parks. In the interview that follows,
Cohen looks back on his years at Capstone
and forward to his new job.
Reflecting back on Capstone, Cohen talked
about what it was like when he got there
in July, 1996. At the time, there had been
no executive director for seven months and
there were some budget difficulties. Cohen
said, I had all of these programs that were
closed in on themselves and didnt want to
be part of a larger organization. They were
nervous. They were scared. The agency
was not doing outreach, had given up
emergency-type services, and people werent
coming in the door. Cohen brought back
outreach workers and re-opened the food
shelves. Cohen said, When somebodys
hungry, when somebodys homeless, when
somebodys cold, you cant talk to them
about moving out of poverty. You have to
stabilize families. The focus became to stabilize first and then look for ways to help
move them out of poverty.
As Cohen looks ahead to his new position, he stated his priority to ensure that
vulnerable Vermonters, people who cant
protect themselves, are protected. He then
listed the spread of departments under the
umbrella of Human Services: the Department for Children and Families (DCF); the
Department of Corrections (DOC); the
Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living (DAIL); the Department
of Health (VDH); the Department of Mental Health (DMH); and the Department
of Vermont Health Access (DVHA). He
then quickly seized on the need to integrate
services.
In discussing the tragic cases of the two children who died even though the DCF was
involved, Cohen underlined the need for
better interdepartmental communications.
Hal Cohen. Photo by Carla Occaso.

In reading the reports, I realized there were
connections between all the departments.
This is not to blame one department. For
example, there were substance abuse issues that falls under the Department
of Health. If you are a typical person in
poverty, you have to go to all these different
programs to get services. One of my staff
drew a map of what a person goes through
to get the different services. That person has
to go to ten different places. They would
spend their lives going from one office to
another. So we have to find a better way to
integrate our services so a family can more
efficiently and more realistically get onestop shopping. Cohen noted that AHS has
been working on integrating services, and
that is something he will emphasize and
push. He also noted, We have to ensure
that we have the procedures, the policies,
and the resources to do everything possible
so that these tragedies dont happen.
Cohen views limited resources as one of
the biggest challenges he faces. He also sees
the need to prioritize and be more efficient.
Cohen spoke about the efficacy of bundling
resources and how the flexibility to move
funds around to go where the priorities are

can lead to better outcomes.
Cohen draws a distinction between situational poverty a series of events that
result in a persons dropping out of the middle class and into poverty for a short time
and generational poverty, where one is
born into poverty and it is passed on from
one generation to the next. He said, I dont
know the statistics on it, but my guess is
that there are as many people in situational
poverty as generational poverty. But it is difficult to move out of either form. I think we
have more success with situational poverty.
For people who are in situational poverty,
sometimes being on something like Reach
Up for a temporary period of time and getting certain forms of government assistance
gives them the basis to make that jump out
of poverty. In Vermont, many people live
on the edge, and all it takes is one thing
to knock them off the edge. It could be
Tropical Storm Irene. It could be sickness.
It could be losing a job. It could be divorce.
But one thing Cohen is passionate about is
that no one should go to bed hungry or be
homeless. Cohen stated, I dont know if Im
Speaking about how to reduce the number

of incarcerated people in the state, Cohen
favors early release. He said, Weve been
working with the Department of Corrections (to find) housing so that men and
women who have met their minimum sentences are getting early release. I think its
a great concept. First of all, its much less
expensive than keeping somebody in prison.
Second, its a transition into the community.
So I think it really helps in terms of reentry.
Im going to look at more opportunities to
do that. Were talking about non-violent
offenders. He also emphasized the need for
treating people with addictions instead of
incarcerating them. Cohen praised Governor Shumlin for having the courage to draw
attention to the drug problem in Vermont,
resulting in a waiting list for people needing
treatment.
I found Hal Cohen to be a thoughtful, softspoken man whose career of service will
serve him well as Secretary of the Agency of
Human Services. Noting wryly that while
many people have congratulated him, and
a few have offered condolences, he concluded the interview with these words: I
look around and I hope in six months I still
have friends, but Im going into this job
knowing that I have a great deal of support,
and that people are really pulling for me. I
think that really makes a difference. I am
really excited, and Im happy to be doing
this. I hope I can make a difference.
Eleven-Year-Old Filmmaker Wins Video Award

BARRE Eleven-year old Henry Putney from Manchester earned the top honor of
Peoples Choice in this years Button-Up Video contest. Putney plays seven different
characters in his humorous self-produced entry "What Do You Do If You're Cold?" The
two-minute story placed first in Novembers national online voting competition. It can be
viewed at ButtonUpVermont.org.
Capstone Community Action sponsored the contest to inspire Vermonters to take action
to lower their heating costs and do something positive for the planet. Eleven finalists
in different age groups developed clever, artistic, and highly original looks at the theme
of buttoning up our homes to make them cozier, save energy dollars, and fight climate
change.
Putney is a sixth grader at Manchester Elementary Middle School. He created his movie
with a laptop computer provided by the school. This is the first contest hes ever entered
and he says he was motivated by the challenge of creating a video that would entertain
and inform. The $300 prize will go towards his purchase of a video camera. Putney was
awarded Most Humorous for 8th Grade and Younger in the qualifying round to capture
a finalist spot.
For more information visit ButtonUpVermont.org, Button Up Vermont on Facebook, or
contact Paul Zabriskie, paulz@capstonevt.org. Button Up Vermont is located at 19 Gable
Place in Barre, Vermont.
Henry Putney as Grandma.
THE BRIDGE
Book Review
Review of The Headmasters Wife
by Thomas Christopher Greene
by Carla Occaso
he Headmasters Wife, the latest book by Vermont

College of Fine Arts president Thomas Christopher
Greene, plunges the reader into a surprising, suspenseful, and multi-layered portrait of two people struggling to
make sense of a privileged life on a carefree path of preordained
destiny. Or are they on a preordained path? The unfolding of
events in this book shows how unpredictable things happen even
in what seems like predictable circumstances. What happens
when the son next in line to multiple generations of headmasters
at an elite boarding school turns his back on academia? Or when
the headmasters sanity falters? Or when the headmasters wife
bends under the burden of sorrow?
ing an academic career, instead joins the army and goes to Iraq in
the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11. This greatly disappoints
Arthur, who doesnt understand why his son would deviate from
the family calling. Arthur seems to look down on his sons choice
given how obsessed Arthur is with money and status.
Father grows apart from son. Wife grows apart from husband.
And the reader would never guess which character comes closest
to surviving the march of time.
Arthur Winthrop is slightly reminiscent of Shakespeares character, Hamlet, because, although Winthrop is not in line to be
a king, he is in line to be the third headmaster of a prestigious
Vermont boarding school, following in his fathers and his fathers
fathers footsteps. He doesnt have to search for a career or prove
himself. He just has to go through the correct motions, including
attending the right schools (starting with his fathers own Lancaster School). Also, like Hamlet, he wrestles with a complicated
inner disturbance of fulfilling deep and forbidden desires while
maintaining a veneer of having control over himself.
"The Headmasters Wife" mixes a suspense thriller with psychological overtones with a kind of epic literary work that echoes the
timeless philosophical questions brought up in the classics, such
as: What is the point of life? What does it mean to love? If a
person has everything he or she needs and more what appears
to be a perfect life why cant he or she be happy or at least
satisfied?
The main characters have what looks like a perfect life. They live
on the fictional Lancaster School campus and have all their needs
met by school staff. Headmaster Arthur Winthrop has a prestigious and well-paid job, a marriage, a child, and a beautiful home in a situation where
the Winthrop family need not cook, clean, or mow their own lawn. And yet his wife
ceases to enjoy the trappings and social obligations that come with being a headmasters
wife and withdraws into her own world obsessed with tennis and her sons safety. Her
son, Ethan Winthrop, chooses to buck the Winthrop tradition, and, rather than follow-
I read The Headmasters Wife in one nonstop session. It is that

engaging. It is also sick, sad, authentic, and, in the end, hopeful.
Upon closing the book after reading the acknowledgments at the
end, I realized the story left behind the sense that time, life, love and all that is important
flash around in surprising swirls that disappear as fast as they appear, like foam on the
dark surface of the Connecticut River.
The Headmasters Wife was published in 2014, in New York, by St. Martins Press.
Fairpoint Fails: No Phone at Home for Weeks

by Mason Singer
lost FairPoint Communications administered phone service on Dec. 16 and have had
no phone at my home since then more than three weeks and counting. It appears
that I am far from alone and that a significant but unknown number of others have
the same trouble.
Calling FairPoint's repair line elicits only this response: "We are
aware of the situation. We'll get to it as quickly as possible. Your
business is top priority to us." Baloney. When pressed for a repair
schedule (weeks, months, years?) an unusually candid supervisor finally told me that no one in the company can answer that question,
adding that she would give me a date if I really wanted one. Meaning,
I understood, that she'd just make something up.
Contacting the Public Service Board yielded little information beyond a repeat of FairPoint's excuses and the fact that complaints go back to October. The PSB representative
also noted that they are in "...regular contact with FairPoint and it is also of great concern..." to them, and that they have asked FairPoint to "...prioritize repairs for customers
with medical needs and those without access to cellphone service in
their homes." Lot of good that has done.
Opinion
FairPoint would like us to think that stalled labor negotiations are causing delays in
service. That claim doesn't carry water. The company has the resources in finances
and personnel to fill any temporary gaps if it suits their purposes. I appreciate that
the December ice storm complicated matters for FairPoint over and above the local work
stoppage. That does not explain why this company with its high tech capabilities cannot
even provide the bare minimum, a rough schedule for repair.
This has moved beyond incompetence, beyond indifference. FairPoint is knowingly, and
I supect willfully, refusing to invest in repairs and provide a service for which they have
contracted and for which we have been paying. At the very least, these people are playing
us for chumps.
Beyond any inconvenience (as noted, many of us also have no cell service where we live), house fires cannot be called in, accidents cannot
be reported. There are Vermonters with serious health needs who are
without easy access to emergency services. We are heading into a spate
of deep cold and icy conditions. These customers will be even more
vulnerable. This becomes a public safety matter.
How many people are affected? How long have these folks been without service? What is
FairPoint's game plan for repairs? How backlogged are they really? Why are they not able
to provide emergency service for those with medical conditions? On behalf of us all, these
are questions the PSB should be demanding answers to. The Department of Public Service
claims to get regular updates from FairPoint on this situation. Make that information
public so that we have some idea of the scope of the problem.
It's pretty obvious that something bigger than my little broken phone line appears to be in
the works. So, what is the real story? News reports indicate that some members of the state
legislature are waking up to this question. Representative Shap Smith, for one, seems to
believe that FairPoint is aiming to leave the state and is intentionally implementing what
amounts to an unacknowledged corporate slowdown. Speculation has it that the investment firms that own FairPoint want to strip the company of as many expenses as possible
and sell it off, with pesky Vermont being dumped along the way. If true, state regulators
and administration leaders need to wade in here and develop a plan in anticipation of
FairPoint turning tail and fleeing the state.
Reportedly, the Department of Public Service has opened an investigation into FairPoint's
service quality (or lack thereof). You can submit comments to be included in the record
by sending an email to psb-clerk@state.vt.us (reference docket #8390). Let the PSB and
your representative know what you think about FairPoint and their policies. Let's dump
FairPoint before they dump us.
Mason Singer is a Calais resident.
Column
T H E B R I D G E
Timing
by Miriam Hansen
Hands-on
Gardener
ell weve rung in the New Year and I couldnt resist running a photo of the beautiful lettuce, spinach and cruciferous greens growing in January in our single-ply
greenhouse with a door that doesnt fully shut. We transplanted those greens into
the greenhouse at the end of October. Ive never started them this late and had them full
grown this early. The whole question of time and timing is one that plays a huge part when
you are trying to figure out which seeds to discard and what to order.
of 70 to 75 day and night and 16 hours to 1 inch from a bank of grow lights. All this to
say, before you order your flower seeds to start indoors, look at the particulars of germination
and maturity requirements. See whether it tolerates transplanting. Try to find a picture of
the whole plant in bloom. Frequently pictures in catalogs show close ups of the flowers. That
doesnt tell you much about what it will look like when it is in your garden. Be a bit adventurous. If theres something youve always wanted to grow a lot of, look it up and see whether its
feasible. But for the main, stay with the tried and true.
Sparge:
With the exception of the onion family, whose seeds are only really viable for one year, vegetable seeds will still germinate at decent rates for two to five years with the cabbage family
Happy ordering!
closer to five and the carrot family closer to two or three. Seed for annual flowers should last
/sprj/ verb. A brewing technique that extracts the
from one to three years and perennial flowers one to four. I usually try to order seed in small
enough quantities that there are few packets to discard.
sugar from the grains by exposing the grains
to water.
Photo courtesy
of Miriam Hansen
I order most of my seed from Fedco, with Johnnys as a runner-up. So far Ive only ordered
flower seeds. I splurged and bought them from Parks, because they have certain cultivars like
the dwarf snapdragon Twinny series that are only available from them. But I discovered a new
catalog Pinetree Garden Seeds in New Gloucester, Maine. It is a self-described family
owned and operated business since 1979, founded with the simple mission of offering low
prices on quality seeds to home gardeners. Pinetree has an extensive list of flower, vegetable,
herb and perennial seeds, with average prices below $1.50 a packet. That is half to a third
those of Parks! So I made two flower seed orders this year. Im excited.
Many people still buy annuals and perennial flowers to transplant rather than growing them
from seed. There are reasons for this. For one, flower seeds can be tricky to germinate. If you
are new to starting flower seeds indoors, Id suggest starting with easy ones like marigolds,
calendula, cosmos and zinnias. What makes these easy is in part because their seeds are fairly
large. With many flowers, the seeds are so tiny they need to be broadcast on the surface and
watered in rather than covered. Another issue, and this is most true with perennial flower
seeds, is that the seeds can require a period of chilling or freezing, scarification (nicking the
seed), and very particular day and night time temperatures. On the other hand, if you want
one or two dozen of something, paying a couple of dollars for seed will save you a lot of
money compared to buying the plants in flats.
Some of the perennials Ive found fairly easy to start from seed have been pinks (dianthus),
penstemon, salvia, iberis (candytuft), doronicum, lupin, nepeta (catmint), oriental poppies,
columbine and delphinium. While Ive had good luck starting poppies, Ive done so in individual pots because they have tap roots and dont like to be transplanted from flat to pot.
Even annuals can have stringent germination requirements. The wonderful cleome, for
instance, which readily self-seeds, is tricky to grow indoors from seed. After a few years of
trying, I decided to just get a few plants from a friend who has them as welcome volunteers in
her garden. While this has worked and they now self-seed for me, something in my stubborn
nature has impelled me to try one more time. Ive purchased a $2 packet of Sparkler Blush
cleome from Pinetree and will follow the germination recommendations chill seed in the
refrigerator crisper for a week, sow and barely cover the seed and give warm temperatures to
the flat during the day and cool temperatures at night. This is obviously a lot of trouble to
go to but if it means Ill have a huge clump of Sparkler Blush cleome blooming from July to
October, Ill do it.
Aside from conditions for germination, perhaps the most important piece of information on
the seed packet is the number of days from planting or transplanting to maturity in the
case of vegetables or bloom in the case of flowers. That number of days tells you how early
to plant it and whether this is a plant that will mature and/or thrive in our climate. Check
the zones in which the plant is hardy. We are zone 4 in Central Vermont, but there are often
protected areas around a house that are closer to zone 5. This gives us a lot of options.
A friend asked me whether Id ever grown the gorgeous lisianthus. I had not, but gamely
looked it up. A biennial in zones 8-10, it can be grown as an annual this far north. BUT. It
takes six months from seeding to flower. It is tricky to start, requires constant temperatures
THE BRIDGE
The most important thing you can do to strengthen the economy is to

put money in the pockets of people so they can pay their bills, care for
their families, generate tax revenue and support local businesses.
- Senator Anthony Pollina
In my darker moments, I say it t

child...it takes a community to kill a
raising taxes. - Senator Ann Cumm
Continued from page 1

Frothingham: State spending is increasing, and state employment is increasing state
spending faster than private sector employment and income. Isnt that why were in the
mess were in?
Real income is lower today than it was 10 years ago. The most important thing you can
do to strengthen the economy is to put money in the pockets of people so they can pay
their bills, care for their families, generate tax revenue, and support local businesses.
Doyle: That is unsustainable. I think this new legislature is not going to work in that
direction.
I am introducing a resolution to get the Senate to go on record expressing concern over

declining incomes and increasing income equality, it will say, Be it resolved that we are
not going to support policies that increase the wealth gap.
On Health Care:
Carla Occaso: The last thing we wanted to ask about is health care. What is your
thought on the health care program?
Doyle: As for health care, all I can stay is state employees have an excellent program.
I would have moved in that direction. I would have had something that has already
worked and built on something that has worked.
Occaso: For everybody?
Doyle: Yes, of course. I would not single out those who have wealth. I would have had
something that has worked and built on something that has worked for everyone.
Occaso: Do you think we wasted money?
Doyle: Yes I do.
Frothingham: Why didnt the Legislature hold the governors feet to the fire on this
thing? Why did they let this thing go on for so long?
Doyle: Cynthia Browning, the Bennington County legislator, sued for the information
and lost. I have great respect for her. The Legislature has read the tea leaves and recognizes the unsustainability of where we are going. I am confident this new legislature will
proceed in a way that is very appropriate.
On the afternoon of Dec. 29, Sen. Anthony Pollina, a Progressive/Democrat/Working Families, visited The Bridge offices and spent over an hour with us talking about the issues of the
day.
On The Economy:
Frothingham: Government is growing and a deficit is staring us in the face. There
certainly are more people in need of food assistance now than I think there were twelve
months ago.
Pollina: Over time income tax revenues have not met expectations. Income tax revenues
are down because incomes are down. When you have incomes going down there are more
deficits. People are not buying goods and services, so local businesses are undermined.
Budget deficits lead toward budget cuts, so we are cutting needed services at a time when
people need them the most. I am not saying there is an easy way to turn it around, but
I think we have not really admitted that this is the problem.
Frothingham: I am a business owner, and I know the economy is flat because advertising is off. That means other business owners are also feeling the stress. What about
businesses?
Pollina: The highest income earners have seen their incomes increase, but there are only
so many pizzas those people are going to buy. They are going to reinvest added money
and buy a car for example. If you give that added income to someone in the middle class
or a low-income earner, they are going to spend it on Main Street.
On Jobs:
Pollina: If you were to ask merchants on Main Street in Montpelier, or Barre how to
hire people and create more jobs and expand their businesses, what they would say is they
need more customers. They need local people with money to spend who can come in to
support the businesses. They need people to buy their stuff - their goods and services. It
plays into the fact that most Vermonters have seen their incomes decline in recent years.
On Education:
Frothingham: Personnel numbers are growing in the school system. The number of
students is going down. What should we do?
Pollina: When you look at the cost of living, the cost of doing business, youve got to
look at schools in a similar way. As long as they are going to have to put diesel fuel in
the buses, heat the buildings, provide the food, pay salaries and benefits, maintain the
physical plant, theres all these things that schools do that are fixed costs. It is hard to
expect any of those costs to go down over time. I am not saying we shouldnt be looking
at these things or looking at ways to cut costs. I am just saying you have to look at it in
the context of declining incomes as well.
When it comes to education, Vermont has a spending problem. We are spending more
money than we have. But, is it that we have a spending problem or an income problem?
Most Vermonters are glad to support their local schools. But the fact is, costs are going
up over time. I dont expect my plumber to charge less than he or she did ten years ago. I
dont expect a coffee shop to charge me less next year than they do this year. You expect
costs to go up because the cost of doing business goes up. But what we should also be
able to expect is while costs go up, wages are going up along with it so that we can all
keep pace. That is not happening. A lot of people are being left behind. The declining
income of Vermonters and the growth in income inequality is really the central issue.
I opposed forced consolidation because there was no evidence presented that it would
save money. I do think we should move away from relying on property taxes to pay for
education. We developed a convoluted system, and there are a lot of things we are expecting schools to do that we didnt before. School has become a center for social services.
School replaces the family function. I think we need to look at the things schools do.
Still, I think schools are the best investment. What better investment can you make than
in your schools?
On Health Care:
Frothingham: What do you have to say about the single payer health care plan?
Pollina: I dont think the discussion about single payer is over.
Frothingham: Why is it off the table after years and years of study, consultants, and
millions of dollars?
Pollina: There was not the willingness to have the debate to raise the revenue to make
it work.
Frothingham: I have become a little impatient with the governor for not acting on his
promise to share the funding mechanism earlier.
Pollina: The governor decided he didnt want to move forward with it, but he still has to
present the budget, and the Legislature can still move forward and debate it. I am a supporter of single payer. The goal is to get everybody health care that is publicly paid for. I
would like to lower or eliminate co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses. I am proposing an
additional subsidy that allows you to pay little or no premium at all. We would have to
raise the revenue to do that, but it is an affordable step. We are not talking about raising
billions of dollars. We are talking about raising revenue that would eliminate premiums
and expenses for the middle class.
T H E B R I D G E
takes a whole community to raise a

a child ... This is all a result of not
mings
The legislature has read the tea leaves and recognizes the unsustainability
of where we are going. I am confident this new legislature will proceed in
a way that is very appropriate. - Senator William Doyle
On Friday, Jan. 2, Sen. Ann Cummings, Democrat, of Montpelier visited The Bridge office.
She addressed some of the topics we were asking about. She also explored additional issues that
weren't on our list of questions.
the higher education communities to work with the business communities so we make
sure the money we are spending is training people for jobs that are really there.
Frothingham: We would like to talk about jobs, the business climate and the economy,
schools, and that nexus of issues and problems. State spending has increased faster than
the economy has grown. Were here to listen to you. You have been on the Senate Finance
Committee.
Frothingham: There is a lot of interdependence. I dont think it is any secret we are trying to keep this little paper open.
On The Economy:
Cummings: Yes, twelve years on the Finance Committee and I chaired it for ten. The
more I am in this business, the more I see that everything is interconnected. We are all
together, and you cant do one thing without impacting the other. Education is tied to
the economy. The state budget is tied to the economy. We are all tied to the national
economy, and as much as we would like to be an independent nation, we are not.
The economy is cyclical. It goes up. It goes down. Normally, Vermont lags a year or so
behind the nation. It has not come back at the rate it normally does.
When the economy is down there is more demand for state services. When the demand
for services goes up, our cost rises. We are seeing the results of the wealth gap, and people
in this state, especially middle-class, working class people, are feeling at the edge. Wages
have been stagnant for ten years. For the last nine years, the cost of heating has gone up.
I dont know how people feed their families.
On the Decline of Newspapers:
Cummings: Every newspaper I know is struggling to keep its doors open. The decline of
newspapers has an impact on the State House. In (the House Committee on) Economic
Development, we have found that people do not know what is going on. It used to be
they always knew if we did something. We worked on a bill called fair share, which
required state employees pay a share of dues even though they were not part of the union.
We then found that state employees were coming in complaining. This was unusual.
Well, there had been no press stories. They didnt know about the bill. In the past we
never had to worry about telling people what we were doing. Another example. Some
new rules went into effect two years ago about the buying and selling of precious metals. The intent was to try to cut down on burglars robbing a house, selling the precious
metals to a jeweler, and the gold or silver being on its way to be melted down in less than
24 hours. Mainstream people who do a lot of trading in precious metals did not know
that they were supposed to be following the new rules. There had been no news stories,
so how would they know?
Cummings: Property tax is the focal point for a lot of built-up frustration. We do have a
problem with the property tax. It is rising unsustainably, even in a good economy. Were
going to need to work with local towns and local school boards to more effectively deliver
education in this state.
There is a communications gap. And there is still a whole generation of people who like
to sit down with their coffee and read their newspaper. Somehow, holding that screen
in front of you doesnt do it for them. But that decline in the fifth estate is having an
impact on the democratic process in my view. When you get a new reporter who doesnt
know the history of the issue, you dont get a very complete picture. I remember the days
when you couldnt take a breath on the city council. Reporters used to listen with a glass
up against the door.
I think the state is catching a lot of the blame for rising property taxes, which frustrates
us, because the local voters vote the property taxes. We just vote in the tax increase to
cover it. We havent put as much money into it as we did in the past because we havent
had the money.
I recently sat there one night and watched the sheriff serve all us council members subpoenas, and the press corps never asked what was going on. The sheriff came in a suit,
not his uniform, but no-one ever said, Whats he doing? Obviously they didnt know
he was the sheriff.
What Can Happen When You Dont Raise Taxes?
On Health Care:
Cummings: I served on the child protection committee this summer looking into any
ways we failed the two children who died.
Cummings: I supported the single-payer approach. The cost of health care is outstripping economic growth. That is a problem that is not going away. Having spent the years
Ive spent as a member of the national conference of insurance legislators, I cant say that
I am surprised the numbers didnt work.
On Education:
Frothingham: That gives you a special understanding.

Cummings: In my darker moments, I say, It takes a whole community to raise a child...
it takes a community to kill a child. The economy was down, people were hurting. We
didnt raise taxes. People didnt want us to raise taxes. If you voted to raise taxes, you
didnt get elected, so you didnt raise taxes. You made cuts. You were told that we can
handle the cuts, but when you look at it, you can only do more for less for so long. We put
our front line social workers in an untenable position. When they were finally allowed
to talk to us, they said, Yes. We are triaging. We are only able to do the most serious
cases. You cant handle double the caseload that is recommended and do it well. This is
all a result of not raising taxes.
On Jobs:
Carla Occaso: I think you pretty much covered everything except health care just then.
I dont think I heard you say anything specific about jobs.
Cummings: For the last year and a half I spent time on the (committee of) economic
development. We had employers saying they have jobs but cannot get people qualified to
fill them. I just got a list of two-year degrees that help recipients get jobs that pay over
$50,000 a year. They are in medical technology and technology in general. Machines do
a lot of the manufacturing people used to do. What they cant find is people to service
the machines. They need people who take advanced math and science. We tried getting
We looked at a system at one point called play or pay. You say We cant make you join,
but youre going to pay. We got experts from all over the country on the phone. In my
reading this was precedent setting because it is a guaranteed lawsuit. Wed be the first to
do it, and that makes you think twice about it. But if you cant include all those younger,
healthier people, then youve got a much more expensive pool.
Occaso: So, what kind of system would work? You are talking about what wouldnt
work.
Cummings: What (the governor) looked at was a platinum plan. It was top of the line.
Rather than start at a level where someone would have to give up something, you start
at a level where everyone would get something.
The other thing we are doing is working on switching the payment model. We keep expanding the test cases trying to have a whole-health home where one doctor, your doctor,
manages your health care and gets paid a certain amount to keep you healthy.
Costs have continued to rise. I am not sure there are enough wealthy people and wealthy
businesses to tax the solution. t
THURSDAY, JAN. 8
Green Mountain Care Board Public Meeting.

Vote on the Data Governance Councils data
stewardship procedures and policies, executive
session and possible vote on contracted technical
assistance for All Payer Model. 11 a.m.12:30 p.m.
GMCB Board Room, City Center Building, 89
Main St., 2F, Montpelier. gmcboard.vermont.gov.
THE BRIDGE
Watercolors by Amanda Amend now on display through January at Three

Mountain Caf in Waitsfield. See Visual Arts section of calendar. Pictured
here is Middlebury Barn Summer.
Deep Energy Efficiency for the Zero Energy

Home. Examination of opportunities for and
cost-effectiveness of achieving efficiency improvements in Vermont homes. This event is part of a
series of workshops for residents and businesses on
how we can each move toward Net Zero, hosted
by the Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee in
partnership with Efficiency Vermont. 6:30 p.m.
Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
229-3559. tshea@nationallifegroup.com. http://
eanvt.org/net-zero-montpelier/
THEATER, STORYTELLING
& COMEDY
FRIDAY, JAN. 9
Technology Assistance. All seniors are invited

to drop-in for free technology assistance provided
by a local student. 10:4511:45 a.m. Montpelier
Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.
Free. 223-2518. msac@montpelier-vt.org.
Understanding Non-Profit Financials for Board
Members. Suzanne Eikenberry, a consultant specializing in non-profit financial services, explains
financial responsibilities for board members.
Noon1 p.m. North Branch Caf, 41 State St.,
Montpelier. Free. Seating is limited; RSVP to
reserve a space. Suzanne: 522-3901. Suzanne.
eikenberry@gmail.com.
Perfect Pairing with Vermont Salumi. Join Vermont Salumi in the tasting room for free samples
of Cured Pepe Salumi paired with complementary samples of wine. 5:30 p.m. Fresh Tracks Farm
Vineyard & Winery, 4373 VT Rte. 12, Berlin.
Free. 223-1151. freshtracksfarm.com.
Introduction to Massage for Couples. Learn
massage techniques, which include tapping, reflexology, and massage for the head and neck that will
relax and rejuvenate your partner. This is a "clothes
on" workshop. 67:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain
Coop, 623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. Free;
donations welcome. Register: 223-8000 ext. 202.
Friday Night Group. For youth age 1322 who
are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or
questioning. Pizza, soft drinks and conversation.
Cofacilitated by two trained, adult volunteers from
Outright VT. Second and fourth Fri., 6:308 p.m.
Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
223-7035. Micah@OutrightVT.org.
Photo Big Year: A Quest to Photograph North
Americas Birds. Part of Naturalist Journeys
2015 Slide Show and Lecture Series. 78:30 p.m.
Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. $5
Performing
Arts
donation. 229-6206. info@northbranchnaturecenter.org. northbranchnaturecenter.org.

Charlie Bondhus Poetry Reading. Poet and Goddard College alumnus Charlie Bondhus (MFAW
'05) reads from his work. Presented by the MFA
in Creative Writing Program's Alumni Reader
Series. 7 p.m. Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Rd.,
Plainfield. Free. 454-8311. goddard.edu.
SATURDAY, JAN. 10
Young Adventurers Club Outing. YAC is a Green

Mountain Club group helping parents and kids get
outdoors together. Easy. Contact Lexi at 229-9810
or Mike at 223-8493 for trip location, details and
meeting time and place.
Cross-country Ski Craftsbury with Green
Mountain Club. Craftsbury Nordic Center. All
abilities. Various distances. Trail Fee. Call Mary
G. at 622-0585 or Mary S. at 505-0603 for meeting time and place.
Overeaters Anonymous. Twelve-step program for
physically, emotionally and spiritually overcoming
overeating. Second Sat., 8:309:30 a.m., Episcopal
Church of the Good Shepherd, 39 Washington St.,
Barre. 249-3970.
Quick Books Training. With Elizia Meskill, CPA
from Davis & Hodgdon Associates. Free QuickBooks training for small businesses. 9 a.m.noon.
Capstone Community Action, 20 Gable Pl., Barre.
Free. Mandatory to call or email to enroll. Laura:
477-5176 or lsudhoff@capstonevt.org. Margaret:
477-5214 or mferguson@capstonevt.org.
Montpelier Memory Caf. The Montpelier
Memory Cafe celebrates its one-year anniversary

with musical guests Eric Friedman and Gretchen
Doilon. Montpelier Memory Caf is a social gathering where people experiencing memory loss and
their care partners come together to connect and
support one another in a relaxed, non-judgmental
atmosphere. Participants enjoy social time, refreshments, entertainment and other fun activities.
1011:30 a.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Conversations from the Working Landscape
in Cabot. Chris Pierson, Northeast Marketing
and Community Relations Manager of the Cabot
Creamery Cooperative, will explain how to set
prices and why. He will discuss the pricing structures used in the industry and how to effectively
market a company through sales representatives,
brokers, or your own efforts. Part of a series of
exciting, free workshops for local businesses and
entrepreneurs presented by the Cabot Agricultural
Network and the Cabot Community Association.
10:15 a.m. Cabot Town Hall (Willey Building),
3084 Main St., Cabot. Free. 563-3338. info@
rhapsodynaturalfoods.com.
MONDAY, JAN. 12
Musical Story Time with Lesley Grant. Singa-long with local musician and songstress Lesley
Grant. Ages 18 months4 years. 10 a.m. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury.
Free. 244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com.
Barre-Tones Guest Night. Women who love
singing and can carry a tune are invited to join for
an evening of a cappella singing in the barbershop
Jan. 9: Laugh Local Vermont Open Mic

Comedy Night. Montpelier's monthly comedy
open mic. Signups 7:30 p.m.; show starts 8
p.m. The American Legion Post #3, 21 Main
St., Montpelier. Free; donations welcome. Bob:
793-3884.
Jan. 15: Kathleen Kanz Comedy Hour. Featuring Kathleen Kanz, David Klein, Jonah Cipolla
and Senator John Rodgers. Adult content.
Every third Thurs., 7 p.m. Capitol Grounds. 27
State St., Montpelier. $5. 223-7800. capitolgrounds.com.
Jan. 24: M or F? Vermont Pride Theater at
Chandler presents a world-premiere benefit, the
stage adaptation of popular book "M or F?" in a
staged reading. A talkback with the actors and
the books authors will follow the performance.
7 p.m. Chandler Music Hall, 71-73 Main St.,
Randolph. Adults $12; students $6. 728-6464.
chandler-arts.org.
style, entertainment and refreshments. The ability

to read music is not necessary, though a good singing voice is required. 6:30 p.m. Barre Auditorium,
Alumni Hall, Barre. Susan: 498-8545.
Bereavement/Grief Support Group. Open to
anyone who has experienced the death of a loved
one. 6-7:30 p.m. Conference Center. 600 Granger
Road, Berlin. Free. 223-1878.
TUESDAY, JAN. 13
Cross-country Ski Morse Farm with Green

Mountain Club. Easymoderate. Various distances. Bring snack and water. Meet at Morse
Thank you for supporting

The Bridge!
T H E B R I D G E
Farm, 1168 County Rd., Montpelier. Trail fee or

season pass. Call Reidun or Andrew for meeting
time and place: 223-3550.
Medicare and You Workshop. New to Medicare?
Have questions? We have answers. Second and
fourth Tues., 34:30 p.m. 59 N. Main St., Ste.
200, Barre. Free, donations gratefully accepted.
479-0531. cvcoa@cvcoa.org. cvcoa.org.
Free VSAC Workshops at Montpelier High
School and Stowe High School. These workshops
from Vermont Student Assistance Corps offer
guidance on filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and Vermont grant
forms. Students and parents can also ask questions
and learn about the college financial aid process,
including scholarships. Internet access will be
available and space is limited. Participants should
bring the following: Social Security number, most
recent federal tax return and most recent W-2
or year-end pay stub. All documentation will be
confidential and used solely to fill out individual
forms. 5:30 p.m. at Montpelier High School, 5
High School Dr., Montpelier. 67:30 p.m. at
Stowe High School, 413 Barrows Rd., Stowe.
vsac.org.
Grandparents Raising Their Childrens
Children. Second Tues., 68 p.m. Child care
provided. Wesley Methodist Church, Main St.,
Waterbury. 476-1480.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14
Foot Clinic at Twin Valley Senior Center. Bring

clippers, foot soap, lotion, towel and basin. Twin
Valley Senior Center, Rte. 2, Blueberry Commons, E. Montpelier. $15, cash or check made
out to CVHHH. Call CVHHH for a morning
appointment: 223-1878.
Celiac and Food Allergy Support Group. With
Lisa Mas of Harmonized Cookery. Second Wed.,
4:306 p.m. Conference room 3, Central Vermont Medical Center. lisamase@gmail.com.
Quilting Group. Working meeting of the Dog
River Quilters. Second Wed., 5:30 p.m. Community room, Brown Public Library, Northfield.
Jean, 585-5078 or jeanjolley@myfairpoint.net.
Free VSAC Workshops at Peoples Academy and
Randolph Union High School. These workshops
from Vermont Student Assistance Corps offer
guidance on filling out the FAFSA (Free Applica-
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through Dec. 18: The Paletteers of Vermont
Fall Art Show. Milne Room, Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington St., Barre. Free. 476-7550
Through Jan. 15: Nature Artists' Showcase. An
ongoing exhibit of nature art from the boreal
forest. Presented by The Wilderness River Expedition Art Fellowship (WREAF). 9 a.m.4:30
p.m. Eliot D. Pratt Library at Goddard College,
123 Pitkin Rd., Plainfield. Free. 454-8311. goddard.edu.
Through Jan. 17: Celebrating the Dishtowel.
Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St., Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
Through Jan.10: Vera Van Stone Fogg: A
Lifetime Retrospective. Watercolor paintings,
pastels, pencil drawings and wood cut. Closing
reception: Jan. 10, 35 p.m. Gallery hours:
Tues.Fri., 11 a.m.5 p.m.; Sat., noon4 p.m.
Studio Place Arts, Main Floor Gallery, 201 N.
Main St., Barre. studioplacearts.com.
Through Jan. 23: Shamus McCaffrey Langlois,
Totems and Lovers, Clowns and Villains.
Sculpture, painting and drawing exploring the
transitional spaces between experience, desire
and transformation. Gallery SIX, 6 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 552-8620. gallerysixvt@gmail.com.
http://gallerysix.weebly.com/
Through Jan. 30: Tibetan Buddhist Thankgas.
Various artists. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St.,
Montpelier. 223-1431. tulsitearoom.com.
tion for Federal Student Aid) and Vermont grant

forms. Students and parents can also ask questions
and learn about the college financial aid process,
forms. 6 p.m. at Peoples Academy, computer lab,
202 Copley Ave., Morrisville. By appointment
only, noon8 p.m. at Randolph Union High
School, 15 Forest St., Randolph. Call guidance
office for appointment: 728-3397. vsac.org.
Bereaved Parents Support Group. Second
Wed., 68 p.m. CVHHH, 600 Granger Rd.,
Berlin. Jeneane Lunn 793-2376.
Armchair Travel: Costa Rica. MSAC member
Sally D. discusses her trip Cross Cultural Solutions last winter in Cartago, CR. See slides of her
volunteer work and travels in this tropical country.
6:308 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Montpelier City Council Meeting. Second and
fourth Wed., 6:30 p.m. City Council Chambers,
Montpelier City Hall. 39 Main St., Montpelier.
montpelier-vt.org.
Song Circle: Community Sing-A-Long. With
Rich and Laura Atkinson. A singing background
is not necessary and song books will be provided.
Rich and Laura use a variety of instruments to
accompany the singers. Musicians are welcome
to bring their instruments to accompany the
singers. People of all ages and stages are welcome.
6:45 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St.,
Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.
org.
THURSDAY, JAN. 15

Board business including but not limited to Payment Reform, Insurance Rate Review, Certificate
of Need, Hospital Budgets, Rulemaking and new
business. 14 p.m. GMCB Board Room, City
Center Building, 89 Main St., 2F, Montpelier.
gmcboard.vermont.gov.
Brain Injury Support Group. Open to all survivors, caregivers and adult family members. Third
Thurs., 1:302:30 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130
Main St., Montpelier. 244-6850.
Diabetes Discussion Group. Focus on selfmanagement. Open to anyone with diabetes
and their families. Third Thurs., 1:30 p.m. The
Health Center, Plainfield. Free. Don 322-6600 or
dgrabowski@the-health-center.org.
Free VSAC Workshops at Harwood Union High
School. These workshops from Vermont Student
Assistance Corps offer guidance on filling out
the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid) and Vermont grant forms. Students and
parents can also ask questions and learn about the
college financial aid process, including scholarships. Internet access will be available and space
is limited. Participants should bring the following: Social Security number, most recent federal
tax return and most recent W-2 or year-end pay
stub. All documentation will be confidential and
used solely to fill out individual forms. 5:30 p.m.
Harwood Union High School, 458 VT Rte. 100,
Moretown. vsac.org.
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support. Monthly
group for people affected by a suicide death. Third
Thurs., 67:30 p.m. Central Vermont Medical
Center, conference rm. 1, Fisher Rd., Berlin. 2230924. calakel@comcast.com.afsp.org.
Grandparents Raising Their Childrens
Children. Third Thurs., 68 p.m. Child care
provided. Trinity United Methodist Church, 137
Main St., Montpelier. 476-1480.
Third Thursday: Vermont in the War of 1812.

Just back from sailing the schooner Lois McClure,
Art Cohn regales our lunchtime audience with
tales of Vermont in the War of 1812. Art is the
former director at the Lake Champlain Maritime
Museum in Vergennes. Bring a bagged lunch.
Noon1 p.m. Vermont History Museum, 109
State St., Montpelier. Free. 828-2180. vermonthistory.org/calendar.
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.
Through Jan. 31: Michael T. Jermyn, New

American Impressionism. Local photographer
Michael T. Jermyn presents some new photographic works along with a few old favorites.
Tues.Sun., noon10 p.m. Chill, 32 State St.,
Montpelier. 223-2445 or 223-1570.
scientific, historical and a mix of imagined

and real. Opening reception: Jan. 16, 6 p.m.
Gallery hours: Wed.Sun., noon5 p.m. Helen
Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Donations.
253-8358. mail@helenday.com. helenday.com/
exhibitions/east-gallery-upcoming
Through Jan. 31: Richard Ambelang, Photographic Abstraction. Abstract inkjet (giclee)
prints of derelict boxcars: graffiti, rust, peeling
paint without larger context. Mon.Fri., 7
a.m.7 p.m.; Sat. 7 a.m.5 p.m. City Center, 89
Main St., Montpelier.
richarda@sover.net.
Through Mar. 2: Through Our Lens. Photography exhibit created by teens and young adults
participating in the The Big Picture Project.
Reception: Jan. 8, 57 p.m. Gallery hours:
Mon.Thurs., 9 a.m.4 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m.2 p.m.
Through Jan. 31: Amanda Amend, Vermont

Watercolors. Opening
reception: Jan. 9, 57
p.m. Three Mountain
Caf, Mad River Green,
off Rte. 100, Waitsfield.
652-9893; amanda.
amend@gmail.com.
Three Mountain Caf:
496-5470.
Through Jan. 31: Sedona
and Grand Canyon.
MSAC members recently
travelled to Sedona and
the Grand Canyon and
will exhibit photographs
from their journeys.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 223-2518.
Jan. 16Feb. 22:
David Powell and Peter
Thomashow Exhibition.
Two-person exhibition of sculpture (Peter
Thomashow) and collage
(W. David Powell).
The work is playful,
FRIDAY, JAN. 16
CVCOA Chats. Have questions about health insurance/senior services? Sarah Willhoit, information
and assistance specialist with Central Vermont
Council on Aging, is available by appointment.

Call 479-4400 to set up a time. 9 a.m.noon.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.,
American Red Cross Blood Donation: All blood
types needed. Blood donor card, drivers license or
two other forms of identification are required at
check-in. Individuals who are 17+ years of age (16
with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds
and are in generally good health may be eligible
to donate blood. 27 p.m. Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints, 113 LDS Lane, S. Royalton.
1800-RED CROSS. redcrossblood.org.
SATURDAY, JAN. 17
Quick Books Training. With Elizia Meskill, CPA

from Davis & Hodgdon Associates. Free QuickBooks training for small businesses. 9 a.m.noon.
Capstone Community Action, 20 Gable Pl.,
Barre. Free. Mandatory to call or email to enroll.
Laura: 477-5176 or lsudhoff@capstonevt.org.
Margaret: 477-5214 or mferguson@capstonevt.
org.
Additional Recyclables Collection Center. Accepting scores of hard-to-recycle items. Third Sat.,
9 a.m.1 p.m. 540 N. Main St. (old Times-Argus
building), Barre. $1 per carload. 229-9383 x106.
For list of accepted items, go to cvswmd.org/arccadditional-recyclables-collection-center.html.
Magic: The Gathering Tournament. An informal
tournament every first and third Sat., 10 a.m.1
p.m. Aldrich Library, Teen Room, 6 Washington
St., Barre. Free. 476-7550. aldrichlibrary@gmail.
com. aldrichpubliclibrary.org.
Capital City Indoor Farmers Market. Featuring
over 30 farmers, food producers and craftspeople.
10 a.m.2 p.m. Montpelier City Hall, 39 Main
St., Montpelier. manager@montpelierfarmersmarket.com. capitalcityfarmersmarket.com.
and are in generally good health may be eligible to
donate blood. 11:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Berlin Mall,
282 Berlin Mall Rd., Berlin. 1800-RED CROSS.
redcrossblood.org.
The Copley Common Space Gallery at River

Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. 8881261. riverartsvt.org.
Through Apr. 10: Green Mountain Graveyards:
Photo Exhibit. Fascinating look into the past
with these photographs. Vermont History
Museum, 109 State St., Montpelier. Exhibit
included in museum fee. 828-2180. amanda.
gustin@state.vt.us. vermonthistory.org/calendar.
Jan. 16Apr. 12: Play. Exhibition on the theme
of play filled with interactive artwork from regional and national artists. Opening reception:
Jan. 16, 6 p.m. Gallery hours: Wed.Sun.,
noon5 p.m. Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond
St., Stowe. Donation. 253-8358. mail@helenday.com. helenday.com/exhibitions/upcoming.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Jan. 17: Gallery Opening: Art of Place. Through
examination of the world around them, artists
show us new ways of seeing the world. The
exhibit invites viewers to share in these new
visions through works inspired by artists interactions with the space they inhabit. 69 p.m.
Chandler Gallery, 71-73 Main St., Randolph.
gallery@chandler-arts.org.
Jan. 18: Art of Place Artist Talk and Brunch.
Artists with work in the Art of Place exhibit will
be discussing place and its influence, and will
answer audience questions. 11 a.m. Chandler
Gallery, 71-73 Main St., Randolph. Free; open
to the public. gallery@chandler-arts.org.
Photo by Crystal Crosby on display at

Common Space Gallery in Morrisville
as part of Through Our Lens photography exhibit.
SUNDAY, JAN. 18
Waterbury Historical Society Winter Meeting. After a short business meeting, the program
will be a review of A Walk Through Waterbury,
a book created by students at Thatcher Brook
School that chronicles the towns history. Dessert potluck. 2 p.m. Waterbury Congregational
Church, 8 N. Main St., Waterbury. Free. 2448089.
Families of Color. Open to all. Play, eat and discuss issues of adoption, race and multiculturalism.
Bring snacks and games to share; dress for the
weather. Third Sun., 35 p.m. Unitarian Church,
130 Main St., Montpelier. Alyson 439-6096 or
alyson@suncatchervt.com.
Film Screening: The Horses Mouth. Joyce
Carys novel is the source of this droll, iconic 1958
comedy starring Alec Guinness. Commentary by
film historian Rick Winston. Q&A and discussion follow the film. 6 p.m. Chandlers Upper
Gallery, 71-73 Main St., Randolph. $9. 431-0204.
outreach@chandler-arts.org.
MONDAY, JAN. 19
Free VSAC Workshops at South Royalton High

School. These workshops from Vermont Student
Assistance Corps offer guidance on filling out
the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid) and Vermont grant forms. Students and
parents can also ask questions and learn about the
college financial aid process, including scholarships. Internet access will be available and space is
limited. Participants should bring the following:
Social Security number, most recent federal tax
return and most recent W-2 or year-end pay stub.
All documentation will be confidential and used
solely to fill out individual forms. 6:30 p.m. South
Royalton High School library, 223 S. Windsor
St., South Royalton. vsac.org.
Plainfield Book Club. Third Mon., 78:30 p.m.
Cutler Memorial Library, 151 High St. (Rte. 2),
Plainfield. Free. 454-8504. cutlerlibrary.org. Our
book club page on-line: cutlerlibrary.org/resources/bookclub.
THE BRIDGE
TUESDAY, JAN. 20
Artwork by Vera Van Stone Fogg,

pictured here, now on display through
Jan. 10 at Studio Place Arts in Barre.
See Visual Arts section of calendar.
Photo by Jack E. Fogg.
Cross-country Ski Bolton with Green Mountain Club. Bolton Touring Center. All abilities.
Various distances. Trail Fee. Call Mary G. at
622-0585 or Mary S. at 505-0603 for meeting
time and place.
Library Book Delivery Service. First and third
Tues., 1 p.m. See sign-up sheet near office for
more info. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58
Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Home Share Now Info Session. Find out what
home sharing is all about and have your questions
answered. Third Tues., 5:306 p.m. Home Share
Now. 105 N. Main St., Ste. 103, Barre. 479-8544.
Dealing With Emotions, Buddhist Teaching.
Tenzin Chogkyi will teach you techniques to deal
with the most common disturbing emotions. 6
p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St.,
Montpelier. Free. 223-3338. kellogghubbard.org.
Natural Marshfield: A Series About the Local
Environment. Roger Hill will discuss climate
change. Through this series, learn about wetlands,
wildlife corridors, climate change, bees, bats, pollinators and more with Vermont naturalists. Third
Tues., 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School
St., Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21
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.
and are in generally good health may be eligible to
donate blood. 10:30 a.m.3:30 p.m. Vermont Law
School, 164 Chelsea St., S. Royalton. 1800-RED
CROSS. redcrossblood.org.
Code for Kids. Kids in grades 46 will learn

how to make their own interactive stories and
animation using code through programs such as
Scratch, Hopscotch and Arduino. A great way to
augment STEM learning. 34 p.m. Waterbury
Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Free.
Call to register: 244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com.
All in the Family Film Series. A wide variety of
family themed films about a wide variety of families. Third Wed., 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library,
122 School St., Marshfield. Free. Call for film
title: 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
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.
Healing the Heart of Democracy Circle. With

S.B. Sowbel and David Leo-Nyquist. Participate
in conversations about our role as active citizens
in the challenging enterprise we know as the
American democratic process. Explore ideas from
Parker Palmer's book Healing the Heart of Democracy: The Courage to Create a Politics Worthy
of the Human Spirit. Third Wed. through June.
6:158:30 p.m. Unitarian Church, Fireplace
Room, 130 Main St., Montpelier. dleonyquist@
gmail.com.
Montpelier School Board Meeting. 7 p.m.
Montpelier High School library, 5 High School
Dr., Montpelier. 225-8000.
T H E B R I D G E
THURSDAY, JAN. 22
Multiplici-Tea! Informal meet up and tea time

for parents experiencing the unique challenge of
caring for multiple birth children (twins, triplets,
etc.) Play space for toddlers, resources provided.
Free coffee and tea. Fourth Thurs., 9:3011:30
a.m. Good Beginnings of Central Vermont, 174
River St., Montpelier. 595-7953. gbcv91@gmail.
com. goodbeginningscentralvt.org.
Free VSAC Workshops U-32 and Northfield
Middle High School. These workshops from
Vermont Student Assistance Corps offer guidance
on filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for
Federal Student Aid) and Vermont grant forms.
Students and parents can also ask questions and
learn about the college financial aid process,
forms. 5:30 p.m. at U-32, 930 Gallison Hill Rd.,
Montpelier. By appointment only noon8 p.m.
at Northfield Middle High School, 37 Cross St.,
Northfield. Call guidance office for appointment:
485-4500. vsac.org.
Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 2299212. bagitos.com.
Jan. 8: Andy Pitt (blues/roots) 68 p.m.
6-8pm.
Jan. 10: Irish Session with Sarah Blair, Hilari
Farrington, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne
and others, 25 p.m.
Jan. 11: Eric Friedman and Gretchen Doilon
(folk ballads) 11 a.m.1 p.m.
Capitol Grounds. 27 State St., Montpelier. 68
p.m. Free. 223-7800. capitolgroundsmusic@
gmail.com
Jan. 8: Abby Jenne (acoustic)
Jan. 9: Miranda Moody Miller (singer-songwriter)
Charlie Os World Famous. 70 Main St., Montpelier. Free. Call for show times if not listed:
223-6820. Additional performances T.B.A.
Jan. 8: Clint Boyd (blues) 9 p.m.
Jan. 9: Abby Jenne, 7 p.m.; Boomslang, Free
The Optimus (hip hop) 10 p.m.
Jan. 10: Broken String Band (bluegrass) 7 p.m.;
Charlie-O's A Go- Go Beach Party, 10 p.m.
Jan. 15: Spice on Snow Feature: The Rear
Defrosters (rockabilly) 9 p.m.
Jan. 16: Abby Jenne, 7 p.m.; Pariah Beat
(Americana) 10 p.m.
Jan. 17: Dan Zura, 7 p.m.
Jan. 21: Green Mt. Playboys (Cajun) 9 p.m.
Jan. 23: Abby Jenne, 7 p.m.; Donna Thunder
& the Storm, The Wards
Band (rock) 10 p.m.
Jan. 24: Sara Grace, 7 p.m.
Jan. 30: Paul Caltado, 7 p.m.; Enemy Self,
Burning Monk (hip hop) 10 p.m.
Jan. 31: Wes Hamilton, 7 p.m.; Amadis
(metal)
North Branch Caf. 41 State St., Montpelier.
7:309:30 p.m. Free. 552-8105. donia@thenorthbranch.com. thenorth-branch.com.
Jan. 10: Emma BackGypsy (songstress, fiddler)
Jan. 15: James Secor (kora, guitar)
Jan. 23: Borealis Guitar Duo (Celtic, American, Scandinavian, Klezmer)
Jan. 24: Michelle Rodriguez (jazz/blues)
Submit your calendar

listing by using our
online submission form at
montpelierbridge.com/
calendar-submissions OR
send listing to
calendar@montpelierbridge.com

Presentation on the development of standardized
edits and payment rules. 14 p.m. GMCB Board
Room, City Center Building, 89 Main St., 2F,
Montpelier. gmcboard.vermont.gov.
Botswana: A Gift of Life. Part of Naturalist Journeys 2015 Slide Show and Lecture Series. 78:30
p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. $5 donation. 229-6206. info@northbranchnaturecenter.org. northbranchnaturecenter.org.
Green Mountain Dog Club Monthly Meeting.

Learn about the club and events. All dog lovers
welcome. Fourth Thurs., 7:30 p.m. Commodores
Inn, Stowe. 479-9843 or greenmountaindogclub.
org.
SATURDAY, JAN. 24
FRIDAY, JAN. 23
Cross-country Ski Bolton with Green Mountain Club. Moderate. Approximately 4 miles.
Honey Hollow. Ski a short section of the Catamount Trail and the Honey Hollow Road. Call
Steve for meeting time and place: 479-2304.
Friday Night Group. For youth age 1322 who

are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or
questioning. Pizza, soft drinks and conversation.
Cofacilitated by two trained, adult volunteers
from Outright VT. Second and fourth Fri.,
6:308 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St.,
Montpelier. Free. 223-7035. Micah@OutrightVT.
org.
Conversations from the Working Landscape

in Cabot. Calley Hastings of Fat Toad Farm and
Mari Ormland of Green Mountain Girls Farm
and Floating Bridge Food and Farm Coop present
Starting Your Own Business and Organizing
a Town Wide Business Cooperative. Part of a
series of exciting, free workshops for local businesses and entrepreneurs presented by the Cabot
Agricultural Network and the Cabot Community
Technology Assistance. A local student will be

available in the MSAC computer lab to provide
free technology assistance to seniors. Call to
confirm times. 10:4511:45 a.m. Montpelier
223-2518.
Positive Pie. 22 State St., Montpelier. 229-0453.

positivepie.com.
Jan. 9: Kina Zor (Mozambican-American)
21+. $5.
Jan. 16: Soule Monde (instrumental funk) 10
p.m. 21+. $5.
Jan. 23: The Lynguistic Civilians, 10 p.m. 21+.
$5.
Sweet Melissas. 4 Langdon St., Montpelier. Free
unless otherwise noted. 225-6012. facebook.com/
sweetmelissasvt. Additional performances T.B.A.
The Whammy Bar. 31 County Rd., Calais. 7
p.m. Free. 229-4329. whammybar1.com. Call for
performance times if not listed.
ARTISTS & SPECIAL

EVENTS
Jan. 10: Shady Rill: Patti Casey and Tom

McKenzie in Concert. Part of the Adamant
Winter Music Series. Optional potluck 5:30 p.m.;
show starts 7 p.m. Adamant Methodist Church,
1180 Haggett Rd., Adamant. $10 advance at the
Adamant Coop; $15 at door. 223-5762.
Jan. 14: Vermonts Own 40th Army Band
Concert Band. Presented by The Vermont
National Guard and the Office of the Adjutant
General. The program titled Vermont in the
Civil War; Connecting to the Legacy of Vermonts Military will feature traditional patriotic
American tunes, as well as contemporary musical
selections from Clare Grundman, Mark Williams
and James Swearingen. 7:30 p.m. House Chamber at the Vermont State House, Montpelier.
Free; open to the public. 338-3480. 40th Army
Band on Facebook and Twitter.
Jan. 1518: Spice on Snow Winter Music
Festival. Dance, music and cooking workshops
and performances all weekend long in downtown
venues. Featuring the Louisiana Revelers, Starline
Rhythm Boys, the Green Mountain Playboys, Jay
Ungar and Molly Mason and more. For information, full schedule and tickets: summit-school.
org.
Jan. 17: Neel Murgai Ensemble. Raga chamberjazz, combining sitar with violin, cello and tabla.
Neel's original compositions and rearrangements
of traditional material are brought to life in their
dynamic group improvisations. 8 p.m. Haybarn
Theatre at Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Rd.,
Plainfield. $15 advanced; $20 at door. 322-1685.
meg.hammond@goddard.edu. goddard.edu.
Kids Creating Music with Bob Brookens. Sing,

dance and play instruments in this lively story
hour. Ages 18 months4 years. 10 a.m. Waterbury
Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Free.
244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com.
Association. 10:15 a.m. Cabot Town Hall (Willey

Building), 3084 Main St., Cabot. Free. 563-3338.
info@rhapsodynaturalfoods.com.
Jaquith Library Volunteer Appreciation
Luncheon. All volunteers are welcome: library
trustees, Friends of the Jaquith Library, program
presenters, artists, newsletter designers, shelvers,
book processors, circulation desk people and volunteers of all kinds! Come celebrate what it takes
to keep the Jaquith Library vibrant, alive, active
and growing. We want to honor the work you do
for the library. 1 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122
School St., Marshfield. RSVP by Jan. 20: 4263581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
Submit Your Event!

Send listings to
calendar@montpelierbridge.com
The Center for Leadership Skills

BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Lindel James coaching & consulting

Taking You from Frustration to Enthusiasm
802 778 0626
lindel@lindeljames.com
lindeljames.com
THE BRIDGE
Ukelele Group. All levels welcome. Thurs., 68

p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St. 223-2518.
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.
Noontime Knitters. All abilities welcome. Basics taught. Crocheting, needlepoint and tatting
also welcome. Tues., noon1 p.m. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. 244-7036.
Women Knitting for Peace Group. Knit/crochet
items to be donated to those in need world-wide.
Bring yarn and needles. Thurs., 1011 a.m. and
67:30 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518. For basic info.
and patterns: knitting4peace.org.
BICYCLING
Open Shop Nights. Volunteer-run community
bike shop: bike donations and repairs. Tues., 68
p.m.; other nights. Freeride Montpelier, 89 Barre
St., Montpelier. 552-3521. freeridemontpelier.org.
BOOKS & WORDS

Lunch in a Foreign Language. Bring lunch and
practice your language skills with neighbors.
Noon1 p.m. Mon., Hebrew; Tues., Italian;
Wed., Spanish; Thurs., French. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338.
English Conversation Practice Group. For
students learning English for the first time. Tues.,
45 p.m. Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, Montpelier Learning Center, 100 State St.
223-3403.
Ongoing Reading Group. Improve your reading
and share some good books. Books chosen by
group. Thurs., 910 a.m. Central Vermont Adult
Basic Education, Montpelier Learning Center, 100
State St. 223-3403.
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.
Lunch & Learn. Jan. 13: Tea and your health with
Lauren Parker; Jan. 20: How you can be happier
and why it matters so much with Ginny Sassaman.
Every Tues., noon1 p.m. North Branch Caf, 41
State St., Montpelier. Free. Limited seating. Reservations: 552-8105. Detailed info. on each topic:
thenorth-branch.com/upcoming-events/
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.
FOOD & DRINK

Community Meals in Montpelier. All welcome.
Free.
Mon.: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., 11
a.m.1 p.m.
Tues.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St., 11:30
a.m.1 p.m.
Gamelan Rehearsals. Sun., 79 p.m. Pratt Center, Goddard College. Free. 426-3498. steven.
light@jsc.edu. light.kathy@gmail.com.
Wed.: Christ Church, 64 State St., 11 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
Thurs.: Trinity Church, 137 Main St., 11:30
a.m.1 p.m.
Fri.: St. Augustine Church, 18 Barre St., 11
a.m.12:30 p.m.
Sun.: Last Sunday only, Bethany Church, 115
Main St. (hosted by Beth Jacob Synagogue),
4:305:30 p.m.
Lunches for Seniors. Mon., Wed., Fri., Noon.
Twin Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E.
Montpelier. $4 suggested donation. 223-3322.
twinvalleyseniors.org.
HIV Testing. Vermont CARES offers fast oral

testing. Thurs., 25 p.m. 58 East State St., Ste. 3
(entrance at back), Montpelier. Free. 371-6222.
vtcares.org.
RECYCLING
Growing Older Group. Informal drop-in group

to share experiences, thoughts and fears about
aging. Every Fri., 10:3011:30 a.m. Montpelier
223-2518.
Additional Recycling. The Additional Recyclables

Collection Center accepts scores of hard-torecycle items. Tues. and Thurs., 12:30 p.m.5:30
p.m. ARCC, 540 North Main St., Barre. $1 per
carload. 229-9383 x106. For list of accepted items,
go to cvswmd.org/arcc-additional-recyclablescollection-center.html.
KIDS & TEENS
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
Baby & Toddler Story Time. Every Mon., 10a.m. Womens Group. Women age 40 and older exWaterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Water- plore important issues and challenges in their lives
bury. Free. 244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com. in a warm and supportive environment. Facilitated
by Amy Emler-Shaffer and Julia W. Gresser. Wed.
Orchard Valley Playgroup. An early childhood
evenings. 41 Elm St., Montpelier. 262-6110.
educator will lead the group, featuring seasonal
songs, lap games, a puppet story, free play and
conversation. For ages 4 and under and their parent/caregiver. Every Mon. through May, 12:30
p.m. Orchard Valley Waldorf School, 2290 VT
Rt. 14 N, E. Montpelier. Space limited to 10 fami- Christian Science Reading Room. Need a daily
lies; pre-registration required. morgan.i@ovws.org. lift? Dial 617-450-3430 and listen to a brief inspired thought intended just for you today. Shared
The Basement Teen Center. Cable TV, PlaySta- with love from Christian Science Reading Room.
Turning Point Center. Safe, supportive place
tion 3, pool table, free eats and fun events for
for individuals and their families in or seeking
11 a.m.5 p.m.; Wed., 11 a.m.7:15 p.m.; Thurs.
recovery. Daily, 10 a.m.5 p.m. 489 North Main teenagers. Mon.Thurs., 36 p.m.; Fri., 311 p.m. Sat., 11 a.m.1 p.m. 145 State St., Montpelier.
Basement Teen Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier. 223-2477.
St., Barre. 479-7373.
229-9151.
Sun.: Alchoholics Anonymous, 8:30 a.m.
Christian Counseling. Tues. and Thurs. Daniel
Tues.: Making Recovery Easier workshops,
Story Time and Playgroup. Story time with Syl- Dr., Barre. Reasonable cost. By appt. only: 47967:30 p.m.
via Smith and playgroup with Melissa Seifert. For 0302.
Wed.: Wits End Parent Support Group, 6 p.m. ages birth6 and their grown-ups. We follow the
Twinfield Union School calendar and do not hold Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. For those
Thurs.: Narcotics Anonymous, 6:30 p.m.
interested in learning about the Catholic faith, or
programs when Twinfield is closed. Every Wed.
Early Bird Bone Builders Class. With Cort
through June 3. 1011:30 a.m. Jaquith Public Li- current Catholics who want to learn more. Wed.,
Richardson, Osteoporosis exercise and prevention brary, 122 School St., Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. 7 p.m. St. Monica Church, 79 Summer St., Barre.
program. Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy
Register: 479-3253.
jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
shoes. Light weights provided or bring your own.
Deepening Our Jewish Roots. Fun, engaging text
Read to Coco. Share a story with Coco, the
All ages. Every Mon. and Wed., 6:307:30 a.m.
resident licensed reading therapy dog, who loves to study and discussion on Jewish spirituality. Sun.,
Twin Valley Senior Center, Rte. 2, Blueberry
4:456:15 p.m. Yearning for Learning Center,
Commons, E. Montpelier. Free. Cort: 223-3174 or hear kids practice reading aloud. Wed., 3:304:30
Montpelier. 223-0583. info@yearning4learning.
p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St.,
238-0789.
org.
Montpelier. Sign up ahead: 223-4665 or at the
Bone Building Exercises. All seniors welcome.
childrens desk. kellogghubbard.org.
Every Mon., Wed. and Fri. 10:4511:45 a.m. Twin
Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E. Mont- Read with Arlo. Meet reading therapy dog Arlo
and his owner Brenda. Sign up for a 20-minute
pelier. Free. 223-3322. twinvalleyseniors.org.
block. Thurs., 45 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library,
Tai Chi for Seniors. Led by trained volunteers.
135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-4665. kellogghub- Roller Derby Open Recruitment and RecreEvery Mon. and Fri., 12 p.m. Twin Valley Senior bard.org.
ational Practice. Central Vermonts Wrecking
Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E. Montpelier. Free.
Doll Society invites quad skaters age 18 and up.
Preschool Story Time. Every Fri., 10 a.m. Water- No experience necessary. Equipment provided:
223-3322. twinvalleyseniors.org.
bury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. first come, first served. Sat., 56:30 p.m. MontLiving Strong Group. Volunteer-led group. Sing Free. 244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com.
pelier Recreation Center, Barre St. First skate free.
while exercising. Open to all seniors. Every Mon.,
centralvermontrollerderby.com.
Drop-in
Kinder
Arts
Program.
Innovative
ex2:303:30 p.m. and every Fri., 23 p.m. Montpeploratory
arts
program
with
artist/instructor
Kelly
lier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Free. Register: 223-2518. msac@montpelier- Holt. Age 35. Fri., 10:30 a.m.noon. River Arts
Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. 888-1261.
vt.org.
RiverArtsVT.org.
Sex Addicts Anonymous. Mon., 6:30 p.m. BethaYoga and Meditation. With Katy Leadbetter.
ny Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. 552-3483. Teen Fridays. Find out about the latest teen
Meditation: Mon., 1 p.m. (unlimited). Introducbooks, use the gym, make art, play games and if
Overeaters Anonymous. Twelve-step program for you need to, do your homework. Fri., 35 p.m.
tion to yoga: Tues., 4 p.m. (four-class limit).
physically, emotionally and spiritually overcoming Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St., Marshfield. Consultation: Fri., 11 a.m. (one per person). 56
overeating. Two meeting days and locations. Every 426-3581.
East State St., Montpelier. Free. 272-8923.
Tues., 5:306:30 p.m. and second Sat., 8:309:30
Christian Meditation Group. People of all faiths
a.m. at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Mad River Valley Youth Group. Sun., 79 p.m.
Meets at various area churches. Call 497-4516 for welcome. Mon., noon1 p.m. Christ Church,
39 Washington St., Barre. 249-3970. Every Fri.,
location and information.
noon1 p.m. at Bethany Church, 115 Main St.,
Zen Meditation. With Zen Affiliate of Vermont.
Wed., 6:307:30 p.m. 174 River St., Montpelier.
Free. Call for orientation: 229-0164.
Feast Together or Feast To Go. All proceeds
benefit the Feast Senior Meal program. Tues.
and Fri., noon1 p.m. Live music every Tues.,
10:3011:30 a.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Seniors 60+ free with
$7 suggested donation; under 60 $9. Reservations:
262-6288 or justbasicsinc@gmail.com.
SPIRITUALITY
HEALTH & WELLNESS
SPORTS & GAMES
YOGA & MEDITATION
MUSIC & DANCE
Meditation Sitting Group. Facilitated by Sherry

Rhynard. A weekly meditation group offers ways
to find out more about meditation and gives support to an existing or a new practice. Every Thurs.,
5:306:30 p.m. Central Vermont Medical Center,
Dance or Play with the Swinging over 60 Band. 130 Fisher Rd., Berlin. Free. 272-2736. sherry@
easeofflow.com.
Danceable tunes from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Recruiting musicians. Tues., 10:30 a.m.noon.
Shambhala Buddhist Meditation. Group mediMontpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.,
tation practice. Sun., 10 a.m.noon; Tues., 78
p.m.; Wed., 67 p.m. New location: Center for
Barre-Tones Womens Chorus. Open rehearsal.
Find your voice with 50 other women. Mon., 7
p.m. Alumni Hall, Barre. 223-2039. BarretonesVT.com.
Monteverdi Young Singers Chorus Rehearsal.

New chorus members welcome. Wed., 45 p.m.
Montpelier. Call 229-9000 for location and more
information.
Piano Workshop. Informal time to play, refresh

your skills and get feedback if desired with other
supportive musicians. Singers and listeners welcome. Thurs., 45:30 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Free; open
to the public. 223-2518. msac@montpelier-vt.org.
Culture and Learning, 46 Barre Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-5137. montpeliershambala.org.

Sunday Sangha: Community Ashtanga Yoga.
Every Sun., 5:407 p.m. Grateful Yoga, 15 State
St., 3F, Montpelier. By donation.
T H E B R I D G E
Class listings and classifieds are 50 words for

$25; discounts available.
To place an ad,
call Michael, 223-5112 ext. 11.
CLASSES:
HOUSING WANTED:
ALLIANCE FRANAISE WINTER SESSION:

"VOYAGE INTO FRANCOPHONIE"
THE CENTRAL VERMONT COMMUNITY

LAND TRUST is seeking to rent one-bedroom
apartments now through September 2015 to
house our established long-term tenants during
a renovation project. If you have apartments
in Montpelier and are interested in guaranteed
rent and lease enforcement, please contact Liz
Genge, Director of Property Management at
477-1333 or LGenge @cvclt.org.
This 6-week French class will be offered in

Montpelier from Jan. 12 to Feb. 16.
Descriptions and sign-up at aflcr.org.
Contact Micheline Tremblay at
michelineatremblay@gmail.com or at
881-8826.
SEEKING LAND TO
PURCHASE:
BUYER: Land with timber, requires 25 or more
acres. Cash buyer. Quick closing. Send contact
information to: Landwithtimber@comcast.net.
EVENT/MEETING
SPACE FOR RENT:
MONTPELIER SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER
Consider renting the historic Montpelier Senior
Activity Center for your next event or meeting.
Bright and beautifully renovated ADA-accessible and LEED-Platinum certified facility available. Room options fit 10-130 people and prices
start at $30. Wi-Fi included. A/V equipment
and on-site catering available. Call Dan at 2626284 or email dgroberg@montpelier-vt.org.
VACATION CLOSE
TO HOME:
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over 100 private acres of woodland trails and
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just relaxing by the woodstove.
dogpondacres.com or 456-1452
SERVICES:
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Glenn Beatty L.I.C.S.W.
Couples, individuals, adolescents and children.
30 years' experience. Most insurances accepted.
Available for Saturday appointments in Montpelier office. 802-488-0235.
Offices in Montpelier and Burlington.
Advertise in THE NEXT ISSUE:
Health and Wellness, 75th

Anniversary of Adamant Coop
Jan. 22 - Feb. 4, 2015
Do What You Do Best.
Bookkeeping Payroll Consulting
802.262.6013 evenkeelvt.com
GREGS
PAINTING
Metal Roof Painting

Interior & Exterior
802-479-2733
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local references.
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ALL AD MATERIALS AND AD SPACE

RESERVATIONS DUE FRIDAY, JAN. 16, 2015
For information about advertising
deadlines, rates and the design of your ad call
223-5112, ext. 11, or email our ad sales
representatives at michael@montpelierbridge.com or
rick@montpelierbridge.com
New Construction
Renovations
Woodworking
General Contracting
LIght movIng, L andfILL

runs, and odd jobs.
Weve got the truck.
223-3447
Since 1972
Give us a call at:
224.1360
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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
Design & Build

Custom Energy-Efficient Homes
Additions Timber Frames
Weatherization Remodeling
Kitchens Bathrooms Flooring
Tiling Cabinetry Fine Woodwork
PAG E 2 0 J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015
THE BRIDGE
Gathering Signatures in Montpelier to Get on the Ballot

by Nat Frothingham
From now until January 22 friends of The Bridge will be circulating petitions with the aim of gathering 600-plus signatures from
registered voters in Montpelier so that The Bridge can request an
appropriation of $27,254 at this years Montpelier City Meeting on
Tuesday, March 3.
For the past 21 years, The Bridge has published a community newspaper in Montpelier that is free, local and independent.
Editorial
When we began publishing in December 1993 we wanted to serve readers in Montpelier.

Over time we discovered two things. First, we discovered that many people who live in
neighboring communities were reading The Bridge. They wanted to know what was happening in Montpelier because Montpelier is their state capital and for many people as well
the city is an important market town and cultural center. Second, we discovered that our
readers in Montpelier wanted to know what happening in neighboring communities and
over time we have extended our coverage to our sister city, Barre, and to other communities across Washington County.
Despite these changes to our editorial coverage our focus on Montpelier continues
to be strong. The Bridge is a free paper. The Bridge is also a paper that is printed twice
monthly and mailed without charge once a month to every household in Montpelier.
Now The Bridge is seeking financial help at this years City Meeting from Montpelier
residents and voters.
Heres whats happening.
Over the past 21 years, we have kept the paper alive financially through advertising sales
and subscriptions. A number of years ago when we found that we could no longer make
ends meet with ad sales and subscription revenues we turned to our readers and friends
for help. That help has been forthcoming throughout the year and during our annual
end-of-the-year fundraising campaign and we are grateful.
At the end of 2009 in the aftermath of the worldwide banking collapse, The Bridge almost
shut down. But instead of shutting down, we re-organized. Part of that reorganization
was making a move to office space at Vermont College of Fine Arts. I cant thank the college enough for the office space that has been made available to us since December 2009.
Now if we are going to continue to publish we need to seek the help of our readers and
friends and voters in Montpelier.
We are doing the best we can. Our talented and hardworking staff
are putting out a good paper but at a very modest wage. We are grateful for the continued support of our advertisers. But ad sales are off
this year compared to last year at this time. But taxes, and all the
costs of putting out the paper printing, postage, delivery these
costs are all up.
As recently as a couple of years ago, I was making a nominal wage. Now I am working
without pay. Last year I took out a personal loan to benefit the paper. I am not complaining. Across the state, many other Vermonters are facing hard times but have decided not
to throw in the towel. Not to quit.
Over the past several years I have explored with attorneys, accountants and the like
whether or not The Bridge might be organized as a not-for-profit organization. Apparently
thats not an option for a newspaper that received most of its income through advertising
sales.
But times change and IRS rules change. We will therefore keep investigating the not-forprofit option. But at the moment, The Bridge is an LLC a limited liability corporation
under Vermont state law. I mention this because if voters in Montpelier appropriate
public money to support The Bridge I see an important responsibility to audit and report
on that public money. The public needs to be satisfied that the money they appropriated
is being spent for the purpose that was intended. I commit to that.
One more important point.
If Montpelier voters appropriate money to support The Bridge, that would be a powerful vote of confidence in the paper and its future. At the paper, we can take that vote of
confidence and seek funds at least equal to the city appropriation. Our aim, as always, is
to provide a community newspaper that serves the needs of its readers and to maintain
the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
In all times, but particularly in difficult times, we need a free press. We need to know
whats going on. We need to listen and read and learn and test our ideas against the ideas
of others. We need to describe our values as a community and see that those values are
protected.
A free press can do that.
Caf Makes for Meaningful Memories

by Lisbeth Dodd
MONTPELIER The Memory Caf has been a wonderful place to go during the last
year. Dementia is understood there, its accepted, not feared, and need not be explained;
and the organizers celebrate abilities, build foundations for enjoyment, and understand
what kinds of activities will work well for the participants. My father can have a good
time, but for me, its been nice to get to know others dealing with similar issues, says
Barbara Gefvert Gramuglia of Berlin.
Last Januarys ice storm didnt chill the spirits of hardy participants at the first Memory
Caf. Having performed then, Eric Friedman and Gretchen Doilon, are hoping for better
weather when they will once again be guests, for the one-year anniversary caf to be held
Saturday, Jan. 10. Starting at 10 a.m., the Caf is free, open to the public, and includes
refreshments. These Saturday monthly cafes are for individuals with Alzheimers disease
and related memory disorders. A care partner should accompany each participant.
Over 30 other guest presenters have offered diverse programming from poetry and flower
arranging, to board games, and exercise demonstrations and Irish harp tunes to a ukulele
ensemble. Forced indoors to its home base at the Montpelier Senior Activity Center, located at 48 Barre Street, a planned picnic with guests Red Sox pitcher, Bill Spaceman
Lee, and Mountaineers General Manager, Brian Gallagher, was still a huge hit with caf
fans. (Potential guest presenters/performers are encouraged to contact the caf.)
Since opening, over 350 visitors have enjoyed the caf, with participants coming from
Montpelier, Berlin, and other neighboring communities, and their family and friends
visiting from New York, Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. When started, the Montpelier
Memory Caf was only the second in Vermont, and individuals from other communities
hoping to start their own Caf have visited and gained assistance from the Montpelier
group.
As a community-based initiative, the caf is organized by a steering committee composed
of people whose lives have been affected by dementia. A goal is for participants to help
guide the direction of the Montpelier Memory Caf, and is being realized. Ellen Sholk,
volunteer and steering committee member, expressed these sentiments, The Memory
Caf provides a fun and enriching environment where my mother and I can enjoy conversation, entertainment and refreshments together. People there know her and greet her
with warmth and enthusiasm when she arrives. We look forward to each caf and have
attended almost every one in the past year!
For further information contact Lisbeth Dodd, 229-9630, or visit the Montpelier Memory Caf website. http://sympavt.wix.com/montpeliermemorycafe.
Former Red Sox pitcher, Bill

Lee and Jeremy Carpenter of the
Montpelier Memory Caf. Photo
courtesy of Montpelier Senior
Activity Center.
T H E B R I D G E
Vermonters Need Universal Health Care

by Peter Sterling
Opinion
he governor shocked the political world by announcing his

administration is no longer supporting a tax package to
publicly finance health care. The plan had been to eliminate
insurance companies and the roughly $3 billion we Vermonters pay
them each year in the form of deductibles, premiums, co-pays, and
the like with a roughly $2 billion package of taxes to fund the nations first universal health care system. I truly believe the governor
and his team left no stone unturned in their effort to develop a financing package for this
new system that was workable.
But before I go into the details of the governors decision, its important to remember the
most important reason why we must change the way we pay for health care it has been,
and always will be, about people. Everyone one of us healthy, sick, young or old, rich
or poor, employer or employee is affected by the high cost of health care. And there are
many reasons one could identify but the main culprits are the lower wages we are paid at
work to offset our employers rising health care premiums, the debt from unpaid medical
bills and increased taxes to pay for the almost 50 percent of us already receiving some sort
of publicly financed health care.
According to the last estimate, there are about 40,000 uninsured Vermonters, people
living a single accident or unexpected illness away from financial catastrophe. Theres a
reason that unpaid medical bills are the number one reason for bankruptcy in our country. They add up fast. Even having insurance in todays world is no guarantee of being
free from harm. For example, nationally over 100,000 people diagnosed with cancer file
for bankruptcy every year despite being insured.
And Vermont Health Connect, the health care exchange mandated by Obamacare,
doesnt go nearly far enough to make health care truly accessible and affordable for low
and middle income Vermonters. For starters, its open enrollment period is only three
months long. After that, you need a special qualifying event to get
insurance. And as an example of its high costs, take a couple whose
gross income is $47,000 a year who buys the most common plan.
They are still on the hook for over $11,000 every year in premiums,
deductibles, and related costs before insurance will cover all of their
medical bills.
Without a universal system, it is going to be nearly impossible to make sure people can
actually afford the care they need, when they need it while truly reining in the rising
cost of health care. Under the governors proposal, every Vermonter would have had next
to no deductible or co-pays, much like our incredibly successful Dr. Dynasaur program.
It would have divorced all of us from getting insurance through our employer so we all
could be free to change jobs, start a businesses or retire early without going uninsured.
One Band-aid solution is for the state to further subsidize insurance costs for low and
middle income Vermonters incurred under Vermont Health Connect. This would have
the very real impact of lowering consumers' premiums, deductibles and other out of
pocket costs and thus greatly easing the financial strain of paying for care. One possible
source of financing for this subsidy that has been widely discussed is a tax on sugary
beverages such as soda, sports drinks and energy drinks. This tax would raise upwards of
$30 million a year, more than enough to fund this and other initiatives to help Vermonters live healthier.
So the question for all of us to ponder in light of the governors announcement is how do
we keep moving forward to achieve the goals of creating a health care system that insures
everyone, is truly affordable and stops the rising cost of health care?
Peter Sterling is the director of Vermont Leads, a non-profit advocacy organization dedicated
to enacting a universal, publicly funded health care system in Vermont.
Proposed Dog License Fees Too High

by Cindra Conison, owner of The Quirky Pet
ontpeliers (dog license) fees are on the high end of fees in New
England but also higher than other major cities.
Chicago, IL $5.00
Boston, MA $6.00
New York City, NY $8.50
Montpelier Present $10.00
San Diego, CA $15.00
Phoenix, AZ $16.00
MONTPELIER PROPOSED $22.00
Opinion
Dog tagging promotes the up-to-date rabies shots that keep cities safe. As word gets
around, many of those who habitually buy dog licenses might join the other owners in a
quiet protest not to by licenses and by 2016 or so Montpelier would likely not even have
enough required for a bulk purchase discount on dog tags.
The mayors rationale for the new tax is that every Montpelier dog owner should be
paying for dog waste removal from Hubbard Park regardless of whether their dogs ever
step foot in Hubbard Park which I am convinced that the majority of Montpeliers
460 licensed dogs dont.
Some case might be made to force every dog owner to pay for refuse removal were there
no other special interest subsidies in the same proposed city budget. There are many; most
notable involving downtown commuting bicyclists. The same city budget that is proposing to raise dog licenses to one of the highest levels in the nation is dedicating $47,943 of
new spending for downtown bicyclists with no required payments. As city hall insiders
close to the mayor and several on council, downtown commuting bikers negotiated a total
free ride; pun intended.
In addition, every weekday, 350 people ride the Circulator for free
to middle class jobs at National Life and nearby state offices. The
proposed budget does not ask them to contribute even 50 cents to
help defray the costs of a property tax subsidized service.
This proposed budget includes $40,000 to provide a free bus ride

for hundreds of workers as well as nearly $50,000 for the handful
of downtown bicycling commuters. Surely a miniscule amount can be found for refuse
disposal in a city park. In a $12,530,000 budget, assessing a 120% tax hike on a select
340 households to try and raise a paltry $4,700 strikes me as oddly petty. My principal
concern however is that the proposal is incredibly reckless.
In my view, the bottom line isnt canine refuse or high taxes. The real focus has to be on
our public health and safety. For humans, rabies shots are an extremely painful multishot protocol definitely best avoided. Ironically, the mayor and councils cavalier attitude
towards rabies is a product of our present voluntary system that has worked so well. Our
town has been near rabies free for so long that the council now blithely ignores rabies as
a potential public health threat blind to the fact that the low cost dog tag itself has
always been the lynchpin of the towns successful voluntary rabies effort. In fact, a very
inexpensive dog tag is the foundation of every citys successful rabies abatement effort.
In early January an online survey will be posted to query the public. Montpelier, as well
as neighboring communities, will be asked to weigh in on actual dog usage in Hubbard
and the actual reaction of dog owners to the proposed higher fees in terms of future
participation in the citys dog tag program. The results will be made available prior to
the budget hearing of Jan. 22 so that the issue can be discussed in the light of what the
people have to say.
Learn from the Past:

Many Cases When Governors Race Had No Majority
Lieutenant Governor Silas Jenison Named Acting Governor
by Sen. Bill Doyle
Opinion
rom the 1830s until the Civil War, there was a high degree
of political instability in Vermont. There were many cases
during this period when no candidate for governor was able
to gain a statewide majority and the decision fell to the legislature.
The ultimate of political instability was reached in 1835, when no
candidate for governor was able to gain a majority, and, after three
days of wrangling and 65 ballots, the unicameral legislature was incapable of choosing
a governor. As a last resort it was decided that Lieutenant Governor Silas Jenison should
also become acting governor.
This debacle was an important factor in the adoption of a constitutional amendment in

1836 that abolished the Governors Council and created a Vermont State Senate, which
was based upon population. But there was also disappointment that the Legislature
couldnt make a decision with regard to electing a Governor in 1835.
Jenison was elected Governor in 1836 and served until 1841. Jenisons address to the
Legislature in 1838 called for the abolition of the death penalty and opened up an era
of reform of the Vermont penal system. He wrote that imprisonment and rehabilitation
could better deter crime than capital punishment.
In his address to the Legislature in 1838 he said experience shows

that crime is not increased but diminished if the criminal laws of the
country become less barbarous and vindictive. Retaliatory punishment has in a measure ceased and sound and substantial reasons
for infliction of punishment are based upon the reformation of the
criminal and security of the public. That is evidently the policy of
our laws in all cases except in the infliction of the punishment of death.
Jenison is one of the first governors to have become politically attuned since the War
of 1812. This was an era of idealism, optimism, and reform, and his generation had no
memory of the days of the American Revolution and the uncertainty that followed. The
political agenda during this period was dominated by the antislavery movement and the
temperance crusade. In 1852 the Legislature enacted a prohibition law.
Jenison was born in Shoreham in 1791. His father died when he was only one. Much of
his success was attributed to the strength of character of his mother. He worked on the
farm in his early youth and could only attend school a few weeks each year. His education
consisted of extensive reading and devoting his nights to study, which became a habit of
his life.
PAG E 2 2 J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015
Letters
Thank You for Editorial

Supporting Milne
To the Editor:
I admired what Nat Frothingham had to
say about electing Scott Milne. I am not a
Republican. Not a Democrat, exactly. I am
not like the others. But Nat got it right.
The fact of the matter is, Shumlin is, and
has always been, a liar. He probably never
had any intention from way back to do single
payer. But the lie got him votes.
When he took credit earlier this year for
GMO labeling, that was another like, and
an insult to the thousands of activists who
have worked on the GMO issue in Vermont over the years the Michael Colbys,
the Brian Tokars, and people like me who,
when I worked at Rural Vermont, ran into a
Looking Glass on the issue with then Senator
Shumlin. (Yeah, he said, Im gonna vote this
way in committeeoh, never mind). Seven
Days Fair Game column by Paul Heintz
already called him out on this right after he
took credit for GMO labeling. But the lie
got him votes.
Now, Nat mentioned figures votes and
the Vermont Constitution not stating that
the Legislature must elect the candidate for
governor the one who gets the most votes
when all the candidates come in at under
50 percent. And how Shumlin had all the
money, media support, and an overwhelming Democratic majority in the legislature.
That it was a David versus Goliath campaign.
But what if, as Paul Burns suggested in his
Bridge piece there had been such a thing
as an Instant Runoff Vote in, say, midDecember? How many of Felicianos 8,428
votes would Milne have gotten? And what if
Shumlin hadnt gotten all these votes on his
lies about single payer and GMO labeling?
Thank you, Nat, for coming out and saying
what very few dare to say in this politically
correct environment that has taken over Vermont thanks in part to the likes of Shumlin and other liars. Hope your readers dont
come for you bearing torches and pitchforks.
That would be politically incorrect that is,
unless theyre all Dems.
Peter Buknatski
Montpelier
Here's a sample of Milne's thinking that

might demonstrate his fitness for office: Recently, when asked about his preparation for
taking over as governor in January, Milne
cavalierly dismissed "all this mumbo jumbo
about how tough it is to be governor and how
you've gotta do all this stuff." That certainly
doesn't sound like a man with the slightest
understanding of what the governorship is
about.
At one point, Milne said: Our strategy was:
Dont talk about ourself, talk about Shumlin. It appears that the editor of The Bridge
very much approves that strategy.
Vince Rossano
Montpelier
Milne Curbed Enthusiasm

During Campaign
Editor:
Unfortunately, Scott Milne has shown more
energy and enthusiasm in trying to persuade
Vermont's legislators to elect him governor
than he did trying to convince the electorate before Nov. 4. I can't say if Milne would
make a better governor than Shumlin, but
I would say this to Scott Milne: If you ever
run for office again, act like you want to be
elected. Figure out your positions and put
out your messages earlier in the campaign
and with more enthusiasm. Make sure you
have some financial backing in place so that
you have some sort of presence in the media.
Meet and greet people so they can get to
know you as a person. Most of all, act like
you really want and expect to be elected,
not like you lost a bet and are being forced
to run. I think if you had done these things,
it might be the current governor who would
now be trying to convince the legislature to
give him another chance.
Never have I been so disappointed with an

editorial in The Bridge as that in the December 18th issue supporting Scott Milne.
The first third of the editorial is taken up
with explaining the "painfully clear" message
the editor would deliver to the Legislature
regarding the rules for selecting a governor
when none has received a majority of votes.
But there is nothing mentioned that isn't already UNpainfully clear to anyone with the
slightest knowledge of Vermont government.
I have yet to hear any legislator suggest that
he had a constitutional obligation to vote for
the candidate who won the most votes, as
the editor seems to feel legislators commonly
believe.
The rest of the piece is dedicated to complaining about Peter Shumlin's shortcomings
(many of which I, myself, complain about),
but nowhere is any information given that
would support electing Scott Milne to the
governor's office instead. There is nothing
that would persuade anyone that Scott Milne
might not, in fact, be a much worse governor
than Peter Shumlin. A litany of statistics
is presented describing Milne's dark horse
candidacy, how he spent far less money and
started with far less name recognition than
Shumlin. So that's why he should be governor? I have even less name recognition than
Milne (almost none, in fact), does that mean
I'm qualified to be governor? I don't think
so.
Disappointed by Milne
Endorsement
Editor:
I am disappointed you broke your 21-year
record and endorsed a candidate seemingly
based largely on your concern about taxes.
The major complaint was the Vermont
Health Connect program and single payer
health care initiative. The Governor has always said that if the numbers did not work
out, it would not happen. Its not a total failure. The Green Mountain Board was created
and health care costs have come down.
You attributed Peter Shumlins plurality to
his service in the House, the Senate, and two
elections to the governors office, whereas,
you note that Scott Milne has never served
in political office. Think about your own
comparison.
We know that the 14 counties in Vermont
are not equal in population and they are
certainly not equal in industry or household
income. A regional tax rate in Springfield
and in Burlington would not be equal. Thats
why Act 60 attempts to equalize the cost
of educating all of Vermonts children. In
terms of household income, not once does
Scott Milne suggest raising the minimum
wage or supporting a livable wage. Underpaid workers subsidize Vermont businesses
every day. Your interview ignores the Agency
of Human Services, the largest agency he
would administer. Taxes are an important
issue, yet there is more to life in Vermont.
That single focus does not convince me that
the legislature should vote for the candidate
that did not win the plurality of votes. An
endorsement did not serve The Bridge well,
in my opinion.
Johanna Nichols
Guy Tapper
Montpelier
Endorsing Milne Cost

The Bridge Support
From The Bridge's Facebook page:
Dont Like Editorial,

Dont Want Paper
Disappointed in Editorial
Dear Editor:
THE BRIDGE
Editor:
Hello, Nat Frothinghams editorial in the
Dec. 18 edition of The Bridge was one of the
most inane things I've read in recent years.
After acknowledging the precedence and
importance of majority rule, it argues that
Shumlin should not be re-elected because...
something about having lots of advantages,
yet being hurt by the bungled rollout of
Vermont Health Connect? This is drivel, and
the fact that it marks a departure from The
Bridges practice of not endorsing only compounds my frustration.
Please stop delivering The Bridge to our residence.
Tom Delaney
Montpelier
Sent from my iPhone
I feel that the endorsement of a candidate for

governor was an unfortunate tradition for
The Bridge to break, at an odd time, with the
wrong candidate and race. I support the idea
of a free, independent and local newspaper,
but I can't support The Bridge on this one
in spirit, deed, or financial contribution.
Michelle Barber
ORS Employee on Bike Board?

Not A Problem.
Editor:
There is no conflict of interest for an Onion
River Sports employee to sit on the committee that sets biking rules for Hubbard Park.
Do the people who claim such a conflict
believe that merchants shouldnt serve on
the parking committee because it might help
their businesses? That the bookstore owner
shouldnt serve on a literacy committee because someone might buy a book from her
store? We certainly hope not!
This is a small community where people play
many roles. The people who volunteer their
time on city committees use their skills and
enthusiasm to enhance the life of the city. As
long as they are not benefiting financially,
the fact that their employment and personal
interests overlap can be a good thing.
If the parks commission were buying a fleet
of loaner bikes from ORS, that would be a
conflict. If the hypothetical literacy commission were buying books from the bookstore
owners shop, that would be wrong. But there
is nothing wrong with someone promoting
a passion for bicycling through both his job
and volunteer time.
Lets keep the debate about bikes in Hubbard
Park focused on the real issues.
Paul Carnahan and Eve Jacobs-Carnahan
DPW Saved the Day on

Christmas Eve
Dear Bridge,
There is a Santa Claus two of them
and they work for the City of Montpelier.
Ready to collapse into bed after a long drive
from a Christmas Eve dinner, we got home
to Montpelier at 11:30 p.m. When I walked
through our basement entry into darkness,
my foot went "splash." We had a sewer line
backup foul, dark water an inch deep and
rising! and ten people coming the next
day for Christmas dinner.
We called the Department of Public Works
number; the after-hours voicemail sent us
to the Police Department dispatcher, who
called in an on-duty DPW staffer. Less than
an hour later, two gents showed up in a
City panel truck: Mike Papineau and John
Shangraw. They set to work with a giant
plumber's snake, but 100 feet later couldn't
resolve the blockage. So they went back
for their large truck Santa, Rudolph and
the sleigh couldn't have looked cheerier to
us than that blinking-orange-lighted behemoth which proceeded up Towne Street
to a manhole entry. They did whatever magic
DPW people do, and half an hour later we
heard that "giant sucking sound" of a drain
cleared and our sump starting to empty.
Mike suggested sluicing out the basement
floor with our garden hose, helping us with
that and the squeegeeing to clear the floor.
When all was back to normal, the two took
their leave, waving away our thanks and
regrets about spoiling their Christmas Eve
with, "it's our job we know this will happen when we sign on."
Throughout the two-plus hours of work it
took to fix this problem, Mike and John
were friendly, efficient, and thoroughly professional. We're very lucky to have dedicated
City employees like this. As far as we're concerned, they deserve medals!
Robbie Harold and Wayne Fawbush
Montpelier
What Do You Think?

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T H E B R I D G E
Letters
Praise for Talented Member of
Younger Generation
Editor, The Bridge:
On page three of the Dec. 18 issue of The
Bridge, Ms. Lindsey Grutchfield writes,
When my generation is mentioned in
conversation, we tend to be described as
tech-obsessed, culturally shallow, emotionally vacant and utterly disinterested
in anything outside of ourselves and our
favorite celebrities. Even though Grutchfields characterization of her generation
failed to include civically out of touch,
ungrounded in history, mathematically
inept, and totally bereft of skills in verbal
and written expression, my response to
her opening salvo was, My sentiment,
exactly.
Nevertheless, as I read on, I realized that it
cant be true of anyone capable of writing
what was I reading. So after finishing that
piece, I read another under her byline on
page eleven about MiddleGround Florist.
Nice. Very Nice. It is indeed a pleasure to
see at least one person in her age group
who is capable of bucking the prejudice.
I would like to add to Grutchfields praise
that it is to The Bridges credit that it provides journalistic opportunities to talented
young people like Ms. Grutchfield, and to
Ms. Grutchfields credit that she is skilled
enough to pull it off.
I still think Grutchfields initial characterization of her generation is accuratefor
some. But Im glad to see that it isnt true
for all of them. I hope Grutchfield realizes
also, that her initial characterization of
her generation is also true of many in her
parents generation as well except for
one thing. Most of them werent very tech
obsessed instead, they were obsessed
with sex, drugs, and rock n roll not
necessarily in that order.
Steven Farnham
Plainfield
J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015 PAG E 2 3
THE BRIDGE
Governor Shumlin lights the menorah in front of the State House on Dec. 22.
Photos by Michael Jermyn.
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Meet

The Legislative Session Begins

2015: New Legislature, New Ideas?

Doyle: I am aware of the fact income

Photo by Don Shall

Photo by Marichel Vaught

January 8 January 21, 2015

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Please consider a financial contribution to The Bridge

J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015 PAG E 3

Frigid Air Outside,

Call for Submissions: PoemCity 2015 Accepting Poetry

MONTPELIER The Kellogg Hubbard Library is accepting poetry submissions from

Drawing by Nona Estrin

great mass of frigid air settles over

Architecture Projects Win Awards

Advertise in The Bridge,

Blue Cross and Cabot Hosiery Donate Socks

Photography Exhibit Opens

Call for Submissions: Poems for PoemTown St. Johnsbury

P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601

Editor & Publisher: Nat Frothingham

Keep in touch with your

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PAG E 4 J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015

In The State House

understanding how a pollution tax would work. I am

Rep. Warren Kitzmiller, D-Washington-4 district,

"Education funding reform combined with a plan to

Photo by Marichel Vaught

Condos Launches New

J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015 PAG E 5

Superintendent Ricca Presents a Draft Budget

MONTPELIER Montpelier Public Schools Superintendent Brian Ricca presented his

Rice & Riley, PLLC

Areas of practice include: Real Estate Law; Commercial Transactions;

Photo by Carla Occaso

Vermont Unemployment Rate

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Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Photo by Carla Occaso

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Photo by Carla Occaso

Police responded to a domestic disturbance on Barre Street involving a verbal argument

Michael McMahon, 59, of Montpelier was arrested for domestic assault.

Pedestrians Re-Routed From Barre Sidewalk

PAG E 8 J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015

Dog Ordinance Goes into Effect Unless Citizens Petition

Got a news tip? We want to know!

J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015 PAG E 9

An Interview with Hal Cohen, New Agency of Human

everal days ago I sat down with Hal

Hal Cohen. Photo by Carla Occaso.

funds around to go where the priorities are

Speaking about how to reduce the number

Eleven-Year-Old Filmmaker Wins Video Award

Henry Putney as Grandma.

PAG E 10 J A N UA RY 8 - J A N UA RY 21, 2 015

he Headmasters Wife, the latest book by Vermont

I read The Headmasters Wife in one nonstop session. It is that

Fairpoint Fails: No Phone at Home for Weeks

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The most important thing you can do to strengthen the economy is to

In my darker moments, I say it t

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