The Bridge, December 12, 2013

I N THI S I SSUE
ANOTHER YEAR,
ANOTHER BUDGET
GAP
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GEORGE SPAULDING,
LOVER OF BOOKS
AND PEOPLE
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COOKING ON A
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Celebrating
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IN CENTRAL VERMONT PAGES 14-15
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Special
Supplement
Inside
Featuring
The Bridges
20th Anniversary
Connecting Montpelier and nearby communities since 1993 | DECEMBER 11JANUARY 9, 2013
page 2 December 21, J anuary 8, 2013 THE BRI DGE
She knows whats going on because she reads The Bridge
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453 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier
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Workers Compensation | Social Security Disability | Personal Injury
THE BRI DGE December 21, J anuary 8, 2013 page 3
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copyright 2013 by The montpelier bridge
O
ur earth has now tilted as far away from the sun as it does. These last days do not
add noticeably to the length of night, nor to the low angle of the sun. But on clear
days, it often shines with that gold and orange hue of low light, unless the air is dessicat-
ingly dry and cold, with not a particle of moisture to diffuse the light. So few of us are up
and about to see the world like this. Many birds have flown; mammals are mostly out of
sight. Only we humans along with rodents, weasels and dog and cat family members are
out making a living these cold days and nights. And of course, the few birds that have
not flown south. Ive surely forgotten some, but its become nighttime already, and Im
feeling like curling up for a long nap!

. Nona Estrin
Support the Food Pantry This Holiday Season
I
f you want to support the food pantry, but dont know what to get or have time to stop in,
the food shelf would welcome your monetary donation. These donations can be mailed in,
saving you another trip out during this busy year. Make checks out to Just Basics, Inc., and
send to Just Basics, 137 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.
Park Your Rig for Free
T
his week marks the beginning of free parking downtown. Sponsored by Montpelier
Alive, drivers can enjoy free parking in all two-hour parking spaces and extended hours
at select downtown stores through December 24, 2013. Normal time limits on parking still
apply. So come on downtown and enjoy the beautiful lights, festivities and great shopping.
Merchants Bank Teams up with WARMTH
M
erchant Bank has launched a campaign to match donations dollar for dollar to
WARMTH, a Vermont nonprofit working to bring heat to low-income Vermonters.
The campaign runs through December 31, 2013. Merchant Bank will match up to $40,000.
To make donations or to learn more, visit MBVT.com .
Montpeliers First Annual Chili Cook-Off
O
n New Years Eve from 1 to 3:30 p.m., Montpelier Alive will be hosting its first annual
chili cook-off. Beat the cold with some warm and delicious chili prepared by your fa-
vorite local restaurants. Come out and make sure your vote is counted this New Years Eve.
The event will be held on Langdon Street in the heart of festive Montpelier and is sponsored
by Cabot Creamery.
Local Mentoring Program Needs Your Help
G
irls/Boyz First mentoring program needs your help raising $30,000 to continue operat-
ing. Girls/Boyz First has been serving youth 8 to 18 years old in Montpelier and the
Washington Central Supervisory Union since 1997. During this 16-year period, Girls/Boyz
First has paired up local adults with kids who could use an added presence in their lives. The
program has been a huge success with 93.2 percent of mentees graduating from high school.
Following federal spending cuts, the program has lost most of its funding and is now looking
to the community for help. Please visit girlsboyzfirst.causevox.com and show that you care
about this valuable program by making a donation.
Imagining the Future of Vermonts Working Landscape
T
here will be a summit, Tuesday, December 17, at the Vermont Technical College to
discuss the future of Vermonts working landscape. Over 90 speakers and panelists will
present ways to strengthen and revitalize Vermonts working landscape. Special appearances
will be made by Governor Peter Shumlin and Speaker Shap Smith. Admission is $30.
Vermont Fourth and Eighth Graders
Lead the Nation in Reading and Math
A
ccording to results of this years National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP),
Vermont fourth and eighth graders rank in the top five states out of the 50 states tested
in both reading and math. The test results also revealed a discrepancy along socioeconomic
lines here in Vermont, with poorer Vermonters scoring lower than their better-off peers. For
more information visit, nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard.
Harwood and Twinfield Union Schools
Are on the Cutting Edge
H
arwood and Twinfield Union Schools have been inducted into the League of Innova-
tive Schools. The league, which encourages the expansion and implementation of best
practices and cutting-edge strategies, offers support to partnering schools. Harwood was
recognized for its commitment to student-directed learning, working with students to find
the learning strategy that works best for them. Twinfield Union was acknowledged for its
long-standing commitment to developing personalized learning programs.
VCLF Donates $3.75 Million Toward Helping Vermonters
T
he Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) has donated $3.75 million in the third
quarter of FY2013 toward creating and maintaining jobs and assisting Vermonters in
need of housing. They hope that this money, which was given to 11 organizations and busi-
nesses, will help improve access to a better quality of life for Vermonters.
Vermont Womens Fund Is Seeking Organizations to Fund
T
he Vermont Womens Fund is encouraging organizations to apply for grants for up to
$10,000. They seek to fund organizations that are dedicated to promoting the growth
and education of young women and girls.
Knights of Columbus Donates $25,000 to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta
T
he Waterbury Knights of Columbus has donated $25,000 to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. The
camp offers a summer camp experience for children with cancer. Funds will be used to
complete the Camp Ta-Kum-Ta Memorial Chapel, which will offer children and their fami-
lies a place to pray, meditate and reflect.
Nature Watch

ADVERTISE
Our next paper, comes out
THurSDay, January 9TH
advertising deadline:
FrIDay, January 3.
Thursday, January 23rd
is our Health and Wellness issue

Call 223-5112 for Carolyn (x11) or
Rick at 479-0970.
She knows whats going on
because she reads The Bridge Thank
you!
O
ur sincere thanks to all of you
who responded to our reader
survey, helping us give our ad-
vertisers a better idea of who reads The
Bridge. Congratulations to Alice Day
of Montpelier, winner of the random
drawing among respondents for a $100
gift certificate to Sarduccis Restaurant.
Age
Discrimination
T
he Bridge is exploring an ar-
ticle on age discrimination in
employment, particularly in the
hiring process. If youve had this experi-
ence and would be willing to talk about
it, wed like to hear from you. Interviews
are confidential, and sources will remain
anonymous, if desired. Please contact
editorial@montpelierbridge.com or 223-
5112, extension 14, and leave a message
with your contact information; well be
in touch.
HELP WANTED:
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
The Bridge seeks someone with strong
graphic design and computer skills to
assemble the paper, start to finish, in-
cluding creating high-quality ads to cus-
tomer specifications, designing covers
and laying out feature stories.
experienced designer preferred, but
willing to consider anyone with a
strong aptitude for graphic design and a
high comfort level with computers and
design software. We use adobe cre-
ative Suite on a mac platform.
position requires strong interpersonal
skills, ability to perform well under
deadlines and pressure, multitasking,
and ability to work with our team and
the general public to create effective
ads.
Interested? For more information, please
contact nat Frothingham: 223-5112
or nat@montpelierbridge.com.
Another Year, Another
Budget Gap
State Budget FY2014
By Jerry Carter
W
hen the Vermont State Legis-
lature assembles on Tuesday,
January 7, 2014, lawmakers will
face the task of digging themselves out of
a deeper budget hole. In FY2013 the state
found itself with a budget gap of $50.6 mil-
lion. This gap has deepened to $67.3 million
in FY2014, and administration economists
predict that it will continue to grow. Cur-
rent estimates predict that the state could
find itself staring up out of a $72-plus-
million hole for FY2015.
It is unclear how legislators will grapple
with such a large gap, while maintaining
and selectively adding state programs that
continue to outpace incoming state rev-
enues. Nor have two of the states financial
experts, Thomas E. Kavet and Dr. Nicolas
O. Rockler, offered much hope. Both men
have respectively served as the state econo-
mist and principal economic advisor to the
Vermont State Legislature since 1996. At a
November 20 legislative briefing, they cited
details to suggest that todays slow economic
recovery is all but pervasive.
In their remarks before the legislative
briefing, Kavet and Rockler said that [t]he
painfully slow recovery has yet to achieve
prerecession levels. They also cited such
important economic measures as employ-
ment, real wealth, property valuations, con-
struction activity and real wages as failing
to rise to prerecession levels.
In addition to revenue issues, Vermont
lawmakers are facing big problems on the
spending side. Topping the list is a broken
teachers retirement fund, which has out-
spent its assets by $20 million.
The state also faces ever-growing costs:
increasing educational costs, rising energy
prices and continued costs connected to
recovery following Hurricane Irene. A struc-
tural deficit within the transportation fund
and increasing human services costs are also
contributing to the deficit. These programs
and other new initiatives, such as the states
projected single-payer health care system,
continue to add more costs to a small state
with insufficient revenue to meet its needs.
Governor Shumlin himself commented
on growing education costs in a letter to
educational leaders throughout the state on
November 25, 2013. The governor noted
that student enrollment is down for the
16th straight year. And yet expenditures this
year are up about 5 percent, and next years
expenditures are expected to rise about 3.8
percent. This is not a sustainable rate of
increase that Vermonters can afford, the
governor concluded.
James Reardon, the commissioner of the
Department of Finance and Management,
and Marcia Howard, executive director and
editor of Federal Funds Information for
the States, also spoke at the November 20
briefing and added another warning about
the growing discrepancy between revenues
and expenditures. They both doubt that
Vermont can continue to rely on the level of
federal government assistance it has enjoyed
in recent years.
Reardon fears that this will cause lasting
problems for the state. During a presenta-
tion in front of the House Committee on
Appropriations on December 2, he said,
I dont want to be coldhearted, but we,
as a small state, do not have the capacity
to backfill federal funding cuts to these
programs.
The programs that Reardon is referring to
include the Supplemental Nutrition Assis-
tance Program (SNAP), Section 8 Housing
and K12 education. These programs, which
many Vermonters rely on, are likely soon to
feel the pinch of a tightening federal purse.
One of the chief forces pulling the strings
on this shrinking purse is the Budget Con-
trol Act, which is responsible for sequestra-
tion. At the November 20 legislative briefing,
Howard stated that she did not foresee Wash-
ington coming to a resolution any time soon.
New reports out of Washington by the New
York Times suggest, however, that the gov-
ernment may be closing in on a temporary
solution. Early this week, leading Democrats
and Republicans drafted a resolution that, if
passed, would get the country through the
next two years with limited additional cuts.
Howard believes we have an even bigger
issue to worry about in the debate surround-
ing the federal debt limit that will consume
Washington this February. Reardon agreed,
stating that he was concerned that the de-
bate surrounding the debt ceiling would
result in another federal government shut-
down. The federal government shutdown in
October, which lasted two weeks, cost the
government billions of dollars.
The dysfunction in Washington has clear
implications for Vermont and only worsens
the states ability to balance its budget. The
incoming legislature will have to figure out
ways to prepare for an unpredictable flow
of federal funding and reevaluate state-run
programs if it hopes to narrow the gap and
create a responsible budget.
The Budget Adjustment Act
T
he governor and his team of economists produced their recommended budget
adjustment a week early this year. Jeb Spaulding, secretary of administration, and
James Reardon, commissioner of the Department of Finance and Management, hoped
that this early release would allow the legislature enough time to sufficiently review the
budget adjustments before the upcoming legislative session begins in January.
These recommendations, which make up the FY2014 Budget Adjustment Act
(BAA), came in at just over $18 million. The BAA gives legislatures the opportunity
to bridge any gaps between the actual cost of running the government and what they
predicted it would be at the time the budget was passed last year. It allows the legisla-
ture some flexibility midway through the fiscal year to reevaluate what they actually
are spending and the opportunity to try and find the revenues to meet the costs.
Of the $18 million requested, $5.5 million will go to the Corrections Department
as repayment for the recently acquired St. Albans office complex, while $3.22 mil-
lion was spent on temporary housing for struggling Vermontersa large portion of
which went toward the purchase of a motel off Shelburne Road, outside Burlington.
Another $2.85 million went to the Vermont Veterans Home to settle retroactive
Medicaid payments ($980,000) and to bridge the $1.87-million budget gap run up
by the project. A savings of $6.8 million was possible thanks to a four pay period,
health premium rate holiday and a health premium decrease taken by state employ-
ees, which greatly reduced the total amount asked for in the BAA.
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City Budget Holds the Line Again
by William Fraser, city manager
I
d like to start this article by, again, thanking residents
and merchants for your patience during the long and
difficult district heat construction season. The system
is starting up and, as of Monday, is heating City Hall, the
police station, the fire station and Union Elementary School.
Two private buildings will be added in another week or so,
which will constitute the full mini-system for this winter.
Upon completion of the states heating plant (expected in
March), the full 20-building, wood-fired system will be op-
erational for next years heating system.
With most construction and project work concluding for
the winter, we turn our attention to the citys budget process.
On Wednesday night, December 11 (the night before this is
published), I am presenting the city managers budget pro-
posal to City Council. The council will consider the budget
during a series of work meetings in December and January
and formal public hearings on Wednesday, January 15, and
Thursday, January 23. Voters will consider budget, funding
and other proposals on March 4, 2014.
City Managers Recommended Budget
The following guidelines were used in preparing this
budget proposal:
Budget must reflect City Councils adopted goals and
priorities and enable those goals to be advanced.
General fund budget increase must remain within 1.8 percent.
Must continue increased funding for infrastructure and
capital needs based on the steady state plan adopted by
City Council.
Proposed tax increase must reflect the increased capital
spending only.
Must deliver responsible levels of service to the residents
of Montpelier.
Should continue FY14 funding levels for the community
fund and community enhancements and include the circula-
tor bus funding.
Should minimize impact on existing employees to the
extent possible.
Budget Numbers
FY15 budget for all funds and all revenues is $19,350.730.
Compared to $18,717,988 for FY14, this is an increase of
$584,799 or 3.38 percent.
FY15 General Fund Budget (which determines property
taxes) totals $12,171,456, which is an increase of $185,778
(1.5 percent) from the comparable FY15 spending plan. This
number includes the recreation and library budget assump-
tions. Without those two items, the increase is 1.7 percent.
FY15 general fund nontax revenues total $3,880,766,
which is an increase of $19,478 (0.5 percent) from FY14
nontax revenues.
Revenues from the state of Vermont, such as payments
in lieu of taxes, highway aid, grand list maintenance funding
and the Community Justice Center basic grant, have been
assumed to remain at their present funding levels.
Grand list value is calculated at the FY14 level. With
the current grand list, $84,343 represents one cent on the
tax rate.
Property Tax Impact
Requires a two cent increase in the property tax rate. This
is $166,300, which represents the increase in the capital plan.
The remainder of the budget requires no tax increase. A two
cent increase represents a 2 percent property tax rate increase
after a five cent (0.25 percent) increase in FY14. For the av-
erage residential property valued at $223,000, two cents on
the tax rate represents $44.60 on the tax bill. The two year
combined increase of 2.25 percent compares to a two year
combined inflation rate of 3.2 percent (1.7 percent and 1.5
percent respectively).
Infrastructure
No bonds are proposed.
The Capital Projects, Equipment and Debt Service Pro-
gram is funded at $1,905,004. Of this, $677,570 is in annual
funding, $712,434 is in existing debt service and $515,000
is for equipment. This matches the long-term funding plan.
This results in an additional $118,596 (21.2 percent) in an-
nual funding for FY15 infrastructure improvements.
The capital/equipment plan anticipates additional in-
creases of $166,300 in each of the next four budget years
FY15 through FY18in order to bring funding levels to
the projected steady state of maintenance and improvements.
Personnel
No positions have been eliminated. One full-time po-
sition has been added using stormwater (85 percent) and
water/sewer (15 percent) funds to meet new requirements.
Other positions have been adjusted somewhat resulting in
a net increase of 1.10 FTE including the new Department
of Public Works (DPW) stormwater position. General fund
personnel costs are essentially the same as FY14.
Cost of living allowances and step increases are built into
all employee wage and salary accounts consistent with collec-
tive bargaining agreements and personnel policies. For this
budget, that represents a 2.25 percent contracted adjustment
for fire union employees. A 1.5 percent adjustment for all
other employees is budgeted. Neither DPW nor police union
contracts are in place for FY15 yet.
Operating
No major changes or reductions operating costs are pro-
posed. As with prior years, many lines have been trimmed to
stay within fiscal guidelines.
Heating costs for City Hall/fire station and the police
station have been calculated based on the district heat cost
estimates.
The budget continues contracting ambulance billing with
the city of Barre rather than performing this function with city
staff.
The Community Justice Center budget includes all
funding for all programs with commensurate revenue offsets.
There is no net property tax funding projected.
Other Funds
The water and wastewater budgets have both been bal-
anced. The wastewater fund is now in a small surplus posi-
tion, and the water fund is steadily reducing its deficit. The
budget assumes no water rate change, a 5 percent sewer rate
increase and no sewer or CSO benefit charge changes. The
rate structure for these funds is under review now. Funding
from the CSO benefit charge is being used to address new
stormwater requirements.
Tax funding for the senior center is held at the FY14 level.
This budget includes a net addition of 0.2 FTE as the center
continues to adjust to its new activity level. These expenses
are offset by anticipated revenues including larger contribu-
tions from neighboring towns.
The parking fund is balanced while including the new
parking fee increases.
The district heat fund budget is included representing
the first full year of complete operation. The general fund is
realizing approximately $55,000 in benefit from district heat,
$20,000 to pay the 2009 bond and $35,000 for DPW costs
to maintain and operate the system.
Community Services
The Housing Trust Fund is funded at $41,000, the same
as FY14.
The Montpelier Community and Arts Fund is funded
at $118,175, which is the same amount of funding as
FY14.
Community enhancements including Montpelier Alive
and various festivals; lighting and events are funded at
$31,000, up from $29,500 in FY14.
The budget includes $40,000 funding for the GMTA
circulator bus route.
Service Impacts
Overall services should remain about the same as presently
being delivered. We expect some efficiency improvements
through various internal changes as well as departments ad-
justing to reduced staff loads from last years budget.
Police: The police department has functioned satisfactorily
with the FY14 staffing level but has struggled at times to keep
up with investigation work and with crime activity in the com-
munity. This budget invests in more training for specific needs
within the department. Before the FY16 budget, we will need to
face decisions about the delivery of dispatching services. School
resource officer shared 50 percent with school is included.
Fire: The fire department budget eliminates the full-
time EMT-only position and replaces it with a full-time
firefighter/EMT position. This allows the department to
return to the shift scheduling, which existed prior to last
years budget reduction.
Fire Administration: Ambulance billing remains con-
tracted out. Duties such as payroll and accounts payable have
been shifted to existing department firefighting staff and the
finance department. This system has been only moderately
successful, and we continue to seek means of providing more
administrative support to the department.
Planning, Zoning and Community/Economic Develop-
ment: The Planning and Development Department budget
has been left unchanged. The department and public are still
adjusting to the change to a half-time zoning administrator.
Public Works: Last years cut to the street division
resulted in problems with both winter and summer main-
tenance. This was particularly evident with more funding
for projects and fewer people to work on those projects. The
biggest area that suffered was in meeting our mandated
stormwater management obligations. This years budget adds
a position back to the department, but funds it, along with
portions of existing positions, from stormwater funding,
which reduces the cost to the general fund.
Performance Measurement
In this budget document you will see that each depart-
ment has established goals and performance measures. These
measures will be reported on a quarterly basis to the city
manager, City Council and public. These measures will also
be used by the city manager and department heads to make
programmatic and resource allocation decisions.
Conclusion
It is my professional opinion that this budget directly
reflects the goals, funding priorities and financial limits
articulated by City Council.
General fund budget increase is under the 1.8 percent target.
Funding for infrastructure is increased as per the steady
state plan.
Two cent proposed property tax increase is limited for
infrastructure only.
The capacity to advance projects including district heat, the
Carr lot, bike projects, economic/housing development, commu-
nications and consolidation of community services is maintained.
Level of services is unchanged.
All community funding is maintained at FY14 levels.
I appreciate the hard work of our management team and
all city employees. We are pleased to present a fiscally respon-
sible budget that does not reduce services.

Thank you for reading this article and for your interest in
Montpelier city government. Please feel free to contact me at
223-9502 or wfraser@montpelier-vt.org with any questions or
concerns. I wish everyone a very happy holiday season.
K
e
V
I
n

c
L
a
r
K
A Message from City Hall
This page was paid for by the City of Montpelier.
City Council Meeting
DECEMBER 4, 2013
S
everal downtown merchants spoke out
over the impact of the district heat proj-
ect on Montpeliers downtown commerce
during City Council meeting on December 4.
Confronting the mayor, the council and the
city manager, these business owners expressed
discontent over the citys handling of the proj-
ect, citing a fumbling of communication so
grievous that Cindra Conison, owner of The
Quirky Pet, described it as disrespectful.
The merchants asserted that proper communi-
cation between the city, the business commu-
nity and consumers was lacking and needed to
be handled better for future projects.
In an interview appearing in the Novem-
ber 21 issue of The Bridge, City Manager Bill
Fraser had explained the situation by saying
you put a road through someones neighbor-
hoodthe people along that street, they get
the dust. They get this so that everyone else
can drive over the road . . . theres always
winners and losers. This characterization es-
pecially rankled Conison, who organized the
hearing between the city and the merchants.
Were not losers; we are your downtown
commerce, said Conison. The bottom line
is no one ever talked to us . . . We had no idea
what was going on. Conison said she lost
about $10,000 in sales due to construction.
Robert Kasow, owner of Rivendell Books,
said, I also lost about $10,000 . . . We were
blockaded for the better part of 10 weeks: I
mean it was a blockade that would have been
worthy of the Cuban missile crisis . . . There
was giant construction equipment blocking
the whole store.
Kasow said the lull in his business was an
effect of the construction. We dont want to
stop progress, but we dont want to get run over
by it either . . . There seems to be some sort of
political disconnect that I would like to bridge
between the merchants and City Hall, he said.
Jason Jack Merrihew, one of the owners of
Sweet Melissas on Langdon Street, said, For
us, its been the new kid in town . . . an up-
hill battle just getting known and people to
respond to a new restaurant in a town full of
restaurants, [and] every time my door would
open, theres a cloud of dust that would come
through. Along with the dust, he talked
about water being siphoned from his spout
by the road workers and road work that set
the whole building shaking and drove away
customers. A grandpa, a grandma and a
grandchild [came in during a quiet period],
all smiles and happy [saying] I love what
youve done with the place, said Merrihew,
and then the shaking started again. There
was a mortified look on their face; they asked
for the check and left.
Only Yvonne Baab, owner of Global Gifts
on Langdon Street, had a markedly different
story. I attend all the Montpelier Business
Association meetings every month. I feel that I
was given a reasonable amount of updates about
things that are going on, said Baab. Most of
my complaints are with the local people who
just abandoned downtown merchants.
The merchants offered suggestions to the
city, such as putting up informational signs
to let shoppers know what the construction is
about and when and where it would be hap-
pening, putting money into a community
loan fund that some businesses could use to
brush the dust off and get back to work, and
instituting a moratorium on heavy construc-
tion during leaf season.
I certainly wasnt as aware as I should
have been . . . I do think the city should
have done more to reach out, conceded
Mayor John Hollar. However, he suggested
that fault also lay with Montpelier Alive, the
nonprofit. The city helped create it, gave
it space, gave it funds, with the idea that it
would be an independent agency which re-
ally was looking out for downtown, he said.
Hollars comments suggested that Montpe-
lier Alive had not functioned properly: We
do rely on Montpelier Alive . . . If theyre not
working for you, we need to find out some
other way. Hollar further argued that it was
up to the merchants to be organized in a
way that can present a voice to the commu-
nity and put it to the City Council.
Fraser followed by explaining that he felt
his offices top priority during the project,
besides coordinating the work, was respond-
ing to concerns brought to his attention by
the downtown community and described
a constant push and pull with Kingsbury
Construction. Virtually every week we were
presenting concerns that we had heard about;
we were pushing them to accommodate these
merchants and to understand what blocking
sidewalks meant and to understand what
leaving equipment meant . . . We put a lot
of effort about communicating with them
about those concerns, and I feel very badly
that, that did not come out to the commu-
nity in that way, said Fraser.
A representative of Kingsbury Construc-
tion explained that the district heat project
was a far more technically involved project
than simply laying water pipes, and the dis-
covery of even small inconsistencies required
that new schematics be drawn up. To give the
city and engineers time to redraw these, they
would move construction to another part of
the city in the interim, thus generating the
seemingly random appearance of work crews.
The representative asserted that movements
were communicated to the city and that [we
did everything we could during this particu-
lar and strange project.
Phayvanh Luekamhan, executive director
of Montpelier Alive, spoke in defense of her
group, saying that early in the year, Mont-
pelier Alive had been led to believe that an
outreach component was included in the
project bid. When they realized no outreach
was forthcoming, they scrambled to step up
to the plate in May.
It was really late in the games in terms of
our game plan . . . I think on Montpelier
Alives part, we were waiting to see what
the plan was on your part . . . People know
that its a city project, not a Montpelier Alive
project. Thats why theyre here talking to
you and not in my office talking to me
about the fumbles that are happening, said
Luekamhan.
No specific actions or remediations were
carried out by the council during that meet-
ing, but it is possible that the talks will carry
weight during a December 11 council meet-
ing, when councilors will discuss how to or-
ganize the Downtown Improvement District
fundmonies from which have overwhelm-
ingly gone to Montpelier Alive.
In other council news, it was decided that
5 percent of parking revenue would go to an
alternative transportation fund and that the
bike committee would be tasked with com-
ing up with a proposal for spending.
Merchants Confront City Hall over
Construction Fallout
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The Montpelier School Page
A Message from
Superintendent Ricca
T
o the Montpelier Community,
December greetings from the superintendents office.
We are delighted to work with The Bridge to bring you a
snapshot of what is happening in the public schools that you
consistently support.
Recent trends in mainstream, national media have put
the spotlight on standardized tests, which is sadly mis-
guided in my opinion. Fortunately, the leadership and edu-
cators in Montpelier Public Schools do not allow such data
to direct our work; instead, it is one of many ways in which
we assess student learning.
I would like to take this opportunity to address standard-
ized tests and highlight what we are doing well. William J.
Mathis is the managing director of the National Education
Policy Center, a former Vermont school superintendent and
a current board member on the Vermont State Board of
Education. He recently noted that the federal government
ranked Vermont seventh in the world on science and math.
The only state that outscored us in the United States was
Massachusetts. Further, 73 percent of children in Vermont
attend college, up from 45 percent in 1960. My thanks to
Mathis for his detailed research, which demonstrates we are
doing some things wellin fact, very well!
That said, we always have room for improvement. In
Montpelier Public Schools, we are working hard to ensure
that all of our studentsprekindergarten through grade
12are educated in a manner that is engaging, thoughtful,
thorough and full of inquiry and passion. We are moving
toward a system of student assessment that is a true measure
of growth and development, not simply tied to a standard-
ized number. We are proud of what we have accomplished
and excited about our future.
What you will read below is just a glimpse of what we do.
Our faculty and staff are tremendous, student-centered edu-
cational professionals. Our administrators are forward think-
ing and collaborative. Our Board of School Commissioners
work hard to respond to the communitys desires and needs,
while honoring the professional educators in our buildings.
I am proud of what we do; I am proud of who we are. I
am proud to serve this community. I welcome anyone to
come and see us in action: it would be my pleasure to give
any community member a guided tour of our buildings. I
welcome your feedback and delight in the children of this
community. Enjoy reading about us in this issue, and thank
you for investing in Montpeliers future.
Brian G. Ricca, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Latest Technology
Applications at Montpelier
Public Schools

by Michael Martin
M
ichael Martin, the new director of curriculum and
technology for Montpelier Public Schools, has deeply
appreciated the warm welcome he has received from his new
school community. He believes that curriculum and technology
are inextricably connected and equally enjoys working with
teachers, students, parents, administrators and school board
commissioners. Martin thinks that schools need to help students
connect coursework with the learning they do at home, online
and in the wider community. Since starting in this new posi-
tion, he has been struck by the many strengths of Montpelier
Public Schools, notably in the areas of personalization, com-
munity and sustainability.
Martin is a doctoral candidate in the University of Ver-
monts Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program,
a senior associate with the Rowland Foundation and a com-
mentator for Vermont Public Radio. He previously worked as a
French teacher and teacher leader at Champlain Valley Union
High School. Martin has the following to say about the exciting
events he sees happening in Montpeliers schools:

Main Street Middle School
M
ain Street Middle Schools Team Summit (seventh
grade at MSMS is divided into two teams: Team
Sirius and Team Summit) is now using the open-world
online game Minecraft to re-create the ancient civilizations
they are studying in social studies. In their shared virtual
world, students are building 3-D models of key concepts,
including monumental architecture, the division of labor,
advanced agriculture and resource management. Student
Adam Blair worked on building a designated server at the
school last summer, and teacher Don Taylor has found
Team Summits work with Minecraft to be a dynamic,
problem-solving exercise that engages students, builds col-
laborative skills, and reinforces curriculum concepts. An-
other Main Street student, Will Rider of Team Sirius,
shared his Minecraft expertise as a copresenter at Vermont
Fest, a statewide technology conference.
Team Summit is also using Hapara, a teacher dashboard
that allows teachers to better manage the suite of learning
applications students now use in Google drive. In addition
to enabling teachers to oversee student collaboration and
submissions in electronic documents, the approach is also
saving some trees. The cost of Hapara subscriptions is being
paid for by a School Zero Waste Grant awarded by Central
Vermont Solid Waste Management.
In other technology news from Main Street, teacher Eli
Rosenberg has just been awarded a $20,000 grant to imple-
ment STEM curriculum as the Vermont state winner of
the 2014 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. Rosenberg
will now represent Vermont as he goes on to compete at the
national level for additional support from Samsung.
Montpelier High School
M
ontpelier High School math classes spent much of
this week working on computer programming in
honor of the national Hour of Code initiative. Teachers
found their students engaged with the inquiry-based ap-
proach to the work and developed new levels of persever-
ance as they problem solved. Some students shared that
they were doing additional Java script activities at home just
for funnot for a grade! Some female students shared their
realization that coding is not just for guys.
After attending the Rowland Foundations annual school
transformation conference at UVM last month, MHS
students shared some of their positive ideas for high school
in the future with the school board. By all accounts, Isa
Ansari, Fred Bashara, Reed Bingham, Aurora Brush, Ben
Field and Jillian Reed provided a moving presentation on
key areas for growth in the school curriculum, including
personalized learning, student voice, relationships and rel-
evance. You can see Ben Fields The Road Ahead online at
goo.gl/p9CtvC.
MHS students in the new student-directed Soar program
are using digital portfolios to maintain their work and
reflect on their learning. The Soar mission is to pursue
their passions through deep independent studies and real-
world experiences. It also teaches students how to maintain
healthy ownership of their education, while drawing on the
community for direction, inspiration, and support. Soar is
now accepting applications from MHS students interested
in joining the program next semester. For information, visit
Soar online at goo.gl/pBNuyc.
Students in Tom Sabos environmental applications class
are working with Gwen Lyons-Baker of Central Vermont
Solid Waste Management District to conduct a paper audit
at the high school. T.J. Dellipriscoli, Forest Hanson, Jen
Sweeney and Cody Therrien will be looking for ways to use
less paper as a way for the school to save moneyand also
save trees.
You can follow Michael Martin on Twitter @Mike_MPS.
This page was paid for by the Montpelier Public Schools and compiled by Richard Sheir.
Montpelier High School students work on computer programming for national Hour of Code initiative.
Sketch from Middle School student.
Reed Bingham and Fred Bashara present to the school board.
Model of ancient ziggurat built in Minecraft.
December 4 School
Board Meeting
State Parking Lot Nixed,
School Budget Pending
by Bob Nuner
A
mong subjects discussed at the meeting of the Montpelier Board of School Com-
missioners, held on December 4 at Montpelier High School, was a proposal, from
the state of Vermont, to use a lawn adjacent to the parking lot for state employees
to park their cars. The state offered to pay the school for use of the lot, known in the MHS
community as the mud lot. Reasons for additional parking included the ongoing need to
deal with annual legislative session parking shortages as well as a general perception of a
state employee parking shortage.
Although the subject had come up in the previous board meeting minutes and was
warned on the agenda, board member Lowell VanDerlip suggested that vagueness in the
description about the subject in both the minutes and the agenda had the effect of veiling
its importance. Public interest in the question was pronounced, after robocalls were sent
out to MHS students families the evening before the meeting.
Following a presentation by Michael Clasen, deputy secretary of administration, and
Thomas Wood, facilities director for Montpelier Public Schools, about the parking pro-
posal, described as in the scoping phase, audience opinion was negative. A VSECU
(Vermont State Employee Credit Union) representative noted considerations for both their
operations and for the safety of state employees crossing Bailey Avenue en route to work.
Board member Michele Braun noted that increased maintenance costs could offset added
revenue, and a parent cited the possibility of high school students being blamed for break-
ins into state employee cars.
Board member Charlie Phillips suggested that the public should be more involved in
this decision and that his initial enthusiasm for the revenue-generating possibilities of the
idea had lessened. Eventually, a straw vote among the board confirmed that there was little
interest in pursuing the idea further, particularly since, as VanDerlip noted, board members
had received more queries about the parking lot proposal than about the budget. Board
members Ken Jones and VanDerlip both suggested that such a decision should take into
account the citys struggles with parking and whether such a project would be seen as useful
or detrimental to future city plans, such as Montpeliers aspirations to be a bike-friendly city
weaning itself from cars and the amount of real estate the city should devote to parking.
The board then received a presentation from the Montpelier recreation departments
director Arne McMullen. He described a level-funded budget, for a third year in a row,
although department expenses have risen, primarily due to salary, health insurance and
retirement expense hikes. These increased costs, McMullen said, could be reasonably met
with assorted increases in pool and outdoor activity fees. On the plus side, he noted reduced
fuel use at the rec center, attributing it to warmer winters and new roof insulation. Overall,
he noted some increase in adult programs and a bounce in younger program attendance.
The bounce in that age cohort, VanDerlip observed, echoed what the schools are seeing in
elementary grades. The board approved the Recreation Departments budget of $575,230,
which works out to 0.068 on the grand list. Chairperson Sue Aldrich commended McMul-
len for having kept the budget at the same level as last year.
After a brief discussion about procedures for completing an evaluation of the superinten-
dent, the board turned to the school budget, and Superintendent Brian Ricca reported that
the budget had not yet been finalized. He noted that the school administration had been
advised by the state tax commissioner that a five cent increase in the statewide property tax
program was likely in the next fiscal year. Board members questioned Ricca about timing of
costs for improvements associated with the anticipated move of the fifth grade to the middle
school next year. Funds for such renovations as the school bathrooms and conversion of a
locker room into a classroom will have to come from the FY15 and FY16 budgets. Board
members noted concerns about spending priorities, mentioning expenditures on bleachers
in the context of needed classroom renovations.
At the close of the open meeting, under remarks and questions, Thomas Wood stated
that the new hot water heat system at Union Elementary School was significantly more cost
effective than the old (1938) steam system and was performing well, although the school
would continue working out a few kinks as it makes the transition. In later clarification,
Wood said the school has redundant, backup, hot-water boiler capacity as it transitions
to the district heat-supplied hot water (which started to come into the school on Tuesday,
December 11).
Church Services
Christ Episcopal Church
64 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05602
802-223-3631
www.christchurchvt.org
Thursday, December 19, 2013, 7:00PM
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
Tuesday, December 24, 2013, 5:00PM
Christmas Eve Family Service & Celebration
of Holy Eucharist with carols
Tuesday, December 24, 2013, 9:00PM
Festive Choral Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist
Wednesday, December 25, 2013, 10:00AM
Christmas Day Celebration of Holy Eucharist with carols
Sunday, December 15th
10 am Worship, Lighting of the
Third Candle in the
Advent Wreath
6:30 pm Community Carol Sing

Sunday, December 22nd
10 am Worship, Lighting of the
Fourth Candle in the
Advent Wreath
11:15 am Blessing the Dinner for the
Good Samaritan Haven
Tuesday, December 24th
Christmas Eve
6 pm Family Christmas Service
with Pageant
10 pm Candlelight Service of
Lessons and Carols

Sunday, December 29
The Fifth Day of Christmas
10 am Worship with Carol Sing
Collection of Food for
the Montpelier Pantry
Bethany
Church
Tere is no fear in
love, but perfect love
casts out fear; for fear
has to do with punish-
ment, and whoever
fears has not reached
perfection in love.
I John 4:18
St. Monica Church
79 Summer Street
Barre
479-3253
Christmas Masses:
4:00PM Mass
6:00PM Christmas
Pageant
6:30PM Mass
11:00PM Christmas
Concert
(45 Voice Choir, Flutes,
Trumpets, Bells & Drums)
12:00AM Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
Masses:
8:00AM Mass
10:00AM Mass
The Wise Still Seek Him
Christmas Mass Schedule
St. Augustine
Church
16 Barre Street
Montpelier
223-5285
December 24:
4:00PM
and
7:00PM
December 25:
10:00AM

North American Martyrs
Marshfeld
December 25: 9:00AM
Winter Holiday Services
Unitarian Church of Montpelier
130 Main Street 223-7861 unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org
Rev. Steve Edington, Minister Catherine Orr, Director
of Music Sally Armstrong, Director of Religious Education
Winter Solstice Service, Sunday, December 22
7 pm . . . A worship service to honor the longest night of the year and the
return of light amid darkness, with word and song.
Christmas Eve Services, Tuesday, December 24
4:30 pm Early Service . . . Especially for families with young children,
but all are welcome.
6:30 pm Traditional Candlelight Service
To Say Teir Names Sunday December 29
10 amthis service intersperses readings and the Hospice Choirs music
with candle-lighting to honor departed loved ones in a spiritual practice
of remembrance.
Childrens message from St. Nick,
singing, music, message, and candlelight
137 main St., montpelier (802) 229-9158 trinitymethodistvt.org
Christmas is Coming, Ready or Not! -
love breaks in when we least expect it
Triiy Unied Metodit Chuc
christmas
eve Service,
Dec. 24,
7 p.m.
HELP WANTED:
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
The Bridge seeks someone with strong graphic design and computer skills to as-
semble the paper, start to finish, including creating high-quality ads to customer
specifications, designing covers and laying out feature stories.
experienced designer preferred, but willing to consider anyone with a strong ap-
titude for graphic design and a high comfort level with computers and design soft-
ware. We use adobe creative Suite on a mac platform.
position requires strong interpersonal skills, ability to perform well under dead-
lines and pressure, multitasking, and ability to work with our team and the general
public to create effective ads.
Interested? For more information, please contact nat Frothingham: 223-5112
or nat@montpelierbridge.com.
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Lunch: Mon - Sat 11:30-2:30
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Bring the Holidays Back Home
At the Corner of State and Main the
Hubbard Block has been Providing Montpelier
with Gifts for Every Holiday Season Since 1826

This Holiday Season Pamper Yourself
or Someone You Love With:
Fine jewelry at KATIES JEWELS
A new hair style at ONDINE
Exotic crafts and beads at COOL JEWELS
A facial at HOLISTICA ORGANIC
SKINCARE STUDIO

Help Keep Montpelier VibrantShop Locally, and Bring the Holidays Back Home
But T&T TRUCK FOR HIRE is still available.
Give us a call at 224.1360
T&T Repeats is closing
CLEARANCE SALE going on until December 31
st
Tell them you saw it in The Bridge!
George Spaulding at Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Photo by Annie Tiberio Cameron.
George Spaulding
Lover of Books and People, Embodying Vermont Values
by Lisbeth Dodd
G
eorge Spaulding, with his trade-
mark colorful T-shirts and long,
white mane of hair, is a readily rec-
ognizable Montpelier citizen, whether seen
behind the large oak desk at Kellogg-Hub-
bard Library or the counter at Bear Pond
Books. George, a genial soul, greets hun-
dreds of people a day at Kellogg-Hubbard,
his warm How may I help you today?
putting smiles on patrons faces.
A self-effacing Vermonter from South
Royalton, George milked cows on the dairy
farm that has been in his family for gen-
erations until he was 27 years old. Still a
member of 463 Middle Branch Grange,
George is proud of his heritage. I dont
mind milking cows, he says. I just dont
do it anymore. Since losing his watch while
milking, being a practical Vermonter, he
has never bothered to replace it. He notes,
I always just know what time it is, anyway.
Change came slowly to rural Vermont.
Georges family had one phone with a party
line. It was while listening in on the line
that his mother heard about the JFK assas-
sination. His family didnt get a television
until 1969. We got one for us to watch the
moon landing, he says.
He started school in one of the build-
ings that now houses Vermont Law School.
He went on to attend the University of
Vermont, taking six years to complete an
undergraduate degree in agriculture, while
minoring in history and English. George
remarks, Being on the longer path at UVM
had its benefits; it kept me from having to
milk cows.
George remembers being just off the
farm and quite unsure of myself, when he
began work at the UVM Counseling and
Testing Center. I never saw any of the
ghosts people say are in the centers build-
ing, but one of my first days on the job, I
did meet this guy flapping down the hall-
way in paint-spattered pants. He stopped to
say hello, and it turns out that he was Rich-
ard Does, director of the center. It really was
a great job. While at UVM, George was a
member of Alpha Gamma Rho, a national
collegiate agricultural fraternity and started
a speakers series there, still held by the fra-
ternity today.
After graduating in 1982, George farmed
for five years, then joined Ben and Jerrys
in 1987, working the third shift. He recalls,
It is still the best job I ever had, really fun.
First in production, then in the tasting lab.
But after 10 years, when they were going
through some transitions, it was time to
move on.
When he moved to the area, he noticed
that Bear Pond and Kellogg-Hubbard were
about the only things open when Id drive
through town on my way to Worcester at
night after work. Eventually, he says, Jane
Knight at Bear Pond offered him a job.
My job at Ben and Jerrys paid as much
as my two present jobs combined, but I
guess thats the way it often goes here, says
George.
Over five years ago, George started the
Bear Pond Mystery Book Club, at the be-
hest, he says, of Claire Benedict, one of
the owners of the bookstore. He proudly
counts the club membership at 160 read-
ers and still growing. The club is open to
new members, and George invites mystery
readers to attend the clubs meeting at Bear
Pond Bookstore the last Monday evening of
each month.
George is a strong advocate for com-
munity support for libraries. Libraries are
so egalitarian, anyone, rich or poor, can
come in and check out a book and use our
services, he says. Georges personal library
contains thousands of volumes, even after a
significant purge. I never run out of things
to be curious aboutthat is why I read so
widely, he says.
Georges life is a web of relationships of
people, books and the values therein. He
estimates his public contacts at thousands
per week, between his jobs at the library
and the bookstore, plus people who just
stop him on the street. They approach him
in grocery stores and local eateries and have
even rolled down their car windows while
stopped at a traffic light, asking his opinion
about a book or inquiring if one has come
in for them yet.
I love all these connections. It is what
makes this community what it is, says
George. But, sometimes I just like to go
where no one knows me. Like recently,
I wanted a break, so I visited the Calvin
Coolidge birthplace in Plymouth. What a
fascinating place! Everyone influences oth-
ers one way or another in Montpelier. Its
interrelatedness is what makes this commu-
nity so special. I wouldnt want to change
that.
George embodies the Vermont values
of independence and self-reliance. He ob-
serves, We dont need to import so much
food. We dont really need so much. When I
was a kid we got a box of oranges at Christ-
mas, and that was a very big deal.
The Staff of The Bridge Wishes Our Readers a Happy and Safe Holiday.
Eleventh-Hour
Showstopper
Gasoline Wholesaler/Retailer
Skip Vallee Appeals
Black Bear Biodiesels Permit
Design & Build
Custom Energy-Efcient Homes
Additions Timber Frames
Weatherization Remodeling
Kitchens Bathrooms Flooring
Tiling Cabinetry Fine Woodwork
223-3447
clarconstruction.com
New CoNstruCtioN
reNovatioNs
woodworkiNg
geNeral CoNtraCtiNg
First Annual New Year's Eve
Chili Cook-Off
December 31, 2013 13:30 pm
Langdon Street, Montpelier (if inclement weather, in City Center)
Warm your heart and belly on New Years Eve by tasting deli-
cious chili made by your favorite local restaurants and vote
for a winner. Event is FREE of charge!
In addition to the Cook-O, there will be music and activities for kids:
face painting, snow sculptures, games and more.
Generously sponsored by
by Ricka McNaughton
I
n the close-knit business community of
tiny Plainfield, Vermont, where friendly
competition goes without much saying, a
permit dispute has arisen between two re-
cent arrivals. The business owners involved
have markedly different ideologies concern-
ing free enterprise, and one of them has now
prevented the other from opening his doors,
at least temporarily.
Entrepreneur Jim Malloy plans to convert
waste cooking oil from area restaurants into a
biodiesel product that can fuel vehicles as well
as heat homes and businesses. At Black Bear
Biodiesel, his shop on Route 2, Malloy wants
to collect and process waste oil, sell fuel and
seasonally host a small rotation of outdoor
food carts. Plainfield resident Peter Young
owns the building, not the business, but has a
collegial interest in his tenants success. Mal-
loy had been all set for his grand opening in
early November until someone brought him
up short. That someone was R.L. Skip Val-
lee, CEO of R.L. Vallee, Inc., owner of the
Maplefields chain of 38 convenience stores/
gas stations in Vermont, New York and New
Hampshire. And now Plainfield.
Last month, Vallee filed an appeal of
Black Bears permit with the Environmental
Division of the Vermont Superior Court,
alleging that it wasnt issued in accord with
the policies, purposes, or terms of the plan
or bylaws of the Town of Plainfield. This
effectively blocks Black Bear from doing
business until the appeal resolves. Its not
the first hardball Vallees thrown.
Vallees company recently purchased and
undertook a costly renovation, completed
last month, of the former Tims Conve-
nience Store and gas pumps, now rechris-
tened Maplefields Twinfield. Its a gleam-
ing, impressively designed expansion that
takes creative advantage of the existing site.
Many appreciate what it has to offer.
That business is a half mile from the
building Black Bear Diesel now occupies.
After buying Tims, Vallee purchased at
auction a foreclosed Plainfield food and
gas business called the Red Store, the only
other such place in town. Peter Young
had also hoped to buy and reinvigorate
the Red Store, once a community hub,
but Vallee outbid all comers. Then, Vallee
promptly relisted the Red Store for sale
with a noncompete clause hooked to the
deed. It could no longer be a convenience
store or sell gasoline or groceries. In the
year since, the Red Store has stood vacant
and unsold.
Young subsequently bought the property
that now houses Black Bear Biodiesel. It sits
just a french frys throw from Vallees Red
Store and shares a continuous blacktop. For
years, under various former owners, the two
properties have had an accommodating, re-
ciprocal right-of-way arrangement. Vallee
has proved less accommodating.
Malloy said that a letter he received from
Vallees attorney last July claimed that Black
Bears proposed food carts and fuel pumps
were located in the reserved circulation and
parking area. Peter Young phoned Vallee to
try and work things out, but Vallee opposed
his and Malloys wishes. We acquiesced [to
a disappointing compromise], said Malloy,
because the fledgling business just needs
to open its doors and start selling some
biodiesel. All appeared settled, until now.
Vallee seems drawn to roles involving
competitive strategy. In addition to growing
Maplefields, Vallee serves as a high-level
Republican loyalist, having been variously
a prospective candidate, campaign manager
and presidential appointee.
Last spring when international buying
club giant Costco received an Act 250 per-
mit to offer self-serve pumps at its Col-
chester, Vermont, warehouse, bringing the
threat of lower-priced gas to his market area,
Vallee and a few other dealers appealed, cit-
ing traffic issues and the danger posed by
gasoline pumps to nearby wetlands. Vallee
is both a wholesaler and a retailer.
Having a personal profit motive does not
preclude someone from having a persuasive
environmental point. The Vermont Agency
of Natural Resources subsequently ruled a
significant portion of the Costco site a Class
II wetland. Its not certain yet whether the
ruling will sink Costcos plans. It certainly
bogged things down.
In 2012, Vermonts independent U.S.
Senator Bernie Sanders called upon the
Federal Trade Commission to determine if
some gasoline dealers in Chittenden County
were colluding to keep prices high in that
region. Thats one of Vallees market areas.
When Sanders later backed Costcos plan
to sell cheaper gas, Vallee launched an at-
tack video positioning the widely perceived
champion of the little guy as a big busi-
ness corporate crony and looming danger to
Vermonts environment.
When asked about the impetus for his ap-
peal, Vallee reported via e-mail exchanges,
Our issues with our neighbor on biodiesel
are settled. We had asked the town to make
clear this [permit] was for biodiesel only since
no evidence was presented relating to factors
for other uses. In a clarification he added, I
dont believe [Black Bears] final application
had any food vendor use proposal.
An application document obtained from
the Environmental Court makes clear refer-
ence to the food trucks. According to Janice
Walrafen, chair of the Plainfield Develop-
ment Review Board, The food carts were
noted and discussed throughout the applica-
tion process. But because they are seasonal
. . . less than six months a year . . . we did
not feel they required a conditional use
permit.
Vallees appeal of Black Bear Biosdiesels
permit is set for a status conference in the
Environmental Division of Superior Court
in January. At a special meeting held on
December 4, Plainfields select board de-
cided that the town of Plainfield will make
an appearance.
More background on this issue can be found
in a pair of articles the author previously wrote
for the November 7, 2013, issue of The Bridge:
The Refueling of Plainfield and the compan-
ion piece Who Is Skip Vallee?
recycle this paper
Have You Seen The Cow Cab?
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Now offering reformer classes and private sessions 6 days a week at
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Therapeutic Riding Program
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All proceeds go to supporting
Rhythm of the Rein
Therapeutic Riding Program
in Marshfeld, VT.
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Freedom & Unity: Te Vermont Movie is a six-part collaborative documentary
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Buy the Box Set, read about the flm and flmmakers, topics and advisors!
Holiday Events
Barre (City)
Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Holiday pops
Date: December 13
Location: barre Opera House
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $30 adults; $24 seniors (65+)
and aarp members; $9 youth 18 and
under
Tickets/Information: 476-8188 or barre
operahouse.org
Join us for another festive celebration of
the season. The theater will ring with
holiday favorites not to be missed!
green mountain youth Symphony
Winter concerts
Date: December 14
Time: gmyS repertory Orchestra and
concert Orchestras 3:30 p.m.; Senior
Orchestra 7:30 p.m.
Admission: afternoon concert: $5 dona-
tion; 18 and under free. evening concert:
$15 adults; $10 youth 18 and under.
operahouse.org
The Green Mountain Youth Symphony
presents two winter concerts showcasing
100 young musicians in three orchestras.
The Green Mountain Nutcracker
Date: December 2122
Time: Saturday 6 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m.
Admission: $14$26 advance
operahouse.org
This holiday season, experience real joy
and authentic creativity produced by local
artists in Moving Light Dance Com-
panys annual production of The Green
Mountain Nutcracker.
christmas Show
Date: December 22
Location: church of god of prophecy/
morningstar, 10 brook Street
Time: 5 p.m.
Admission: Free.
Information: 557-7539, 814-428-9635,
814-428-2696, or bcruzbc39@gmail.com
Participants from five area churches sing
and read.
East Montpelier
Humane Heroes Holiday party
Date: December 21
Location: central Vermont Humane
Society adoption center, 1589 route 14S
Time: 12 p.m.2 p.m.
Admission: Donation
Information: 476-3811
or events@cvhumane.com
Join in the fun with crafts, visiting with
the animals, food and festivities. Admis-
sion is donation of canned pet food for
the shelter animals. There will be lots of
activities including making treats, catnip
toys, dog enrichment toys and cat beds.
Holiday with the animals
Date: December 24
Location: central Vermont Humane
Society adoption center, 1589 route 14S
Time: 10 a.m.2 p.m.
Admission: Donation
Spread goodwill to shelter animals and
help fill their stockings. Join us for a
fun time with food and festivities. Please
bring donations for the shelter animals
so they can enjoy the holidays. Expect an
appearance from Santa, too!
Marshfield
Song circle: Holiday Sing-a-long
with rich and Laura atkinson
Date: December 18
Location: Jaquith public Library,
122 School Street
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Singers of all ages and abilities are
welcome; songbooks provided.
Montpelier
Touch of Vermont Holiday gift market
Date: December 14
Location: montpelier city Hall
Time: 9 a.m.4 p.m.
Information: 310-1725 or info@
touchofvt.org
Buy your holiday gifts from Vermont
craftspeople while helping to raise money
with an amazing raffle benefiting OUR
House of Central Vermont. There are
raffle prizes from every single vendor as
well as grand prizes worth over $250.
Holiday book Sale
Date: December 14
Location: Kellogg-Hubbard Library,
135 main Street
Information: 810-223-3338. vista@
kellogghubbard.org
This sale offers thousands of books, from
shiny new bestsellers to antique curi-
osities. You can also find CDs, DVDs,
music and more. Hardcovers are $2
apiece, softcover are $1.
green mountain brass Quintet
Date: December 16
Time: noon12:50 p.m.
Location: Kellogg-Hubbard Library,
135 main Street
Lunchtime concert of familiar Christmas
carols and holiday songs. Singing along
highly encouraged.
The 43rd annual community carol Sing
Date: December 15
Location: bethany united church of
christ, 115 main Street
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Information: 223-2424 x224 or arthur
zorn@hotmail.com
Choirs sharing music, the audience sing-
ing carols and the Hallelujah Chorus
accompanied by the pipe organ and the
Green Mountain Brass Quintet. Bring
food donations for the food pantry.
Waitsfield, Warren
International boutique
Date: December 714
Location: mad river masonic Lodge,
4376 main Street, Waitsfield
Time: Dec. 7, 10 a.m.8 p.m.; Dec. 813,
10 a.m.6 p.m.; Dec. 14, 10 a.m.4 p.m.
Information: 583-7664 or international
boutique.org
Imagine holiday shopping in Haiti,
Nepal, Thailand, Mexico, Bali, India, Af-
rica, Peru, or Brazil without leaving Ver-
mont. Well, its possible at the Interna-
tional Boutique. This weeklong shopping
event benefits Amurtel, an International
Womens Relief Organization. All profits
go to support programs for women and
children around the world.
A Christmas Story
Date: December 1315
Location: The Valley players Theater,
4254 main Street, Waitsfield
Time: Dec. 1314, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2
p.m.
Admission: $12 adults; $8 children 12 and
under
Tickets/Information: 583-1674 or valley-
players.com
In this play by Jean Shepard, adapted
by Philip Greclar, Ralphie, a young boy
growing up in the 40s, dreams of own-
ing a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to
convince the world this is the perfect gift.
But along the way, he runs into opposi-
tion from his parents, his teacher and
even good ol Santa Claus himself.
Holiday concert mad river chorale
Date: December 14
Location: Waitsfield united church,
4355 main Street
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Admission: $15 adults; $12 seniors and
students; under 12 free
Information: 496-4781 or madrivercho
rale.org
Enjoy a joyous opening to the December
holiday season, with a program of tradi-
tional and imaganitive holiday selections,
and a family-friendly audience participa-
tion in a rousing sing-along.
Farm Fresh Fa-La-La: a Holiday Social,
Swap and Soiree
Date: December 15
Location: 1824 House, 2150 main Street,
Waitsfield
Times: 47 p.m.
Admission: Free, $10$20 suggested
donation
Information/Registration: madriverlocal
vores.org
Swap and music at 4 p.m., followed by
potluck dinner and party at 5 p.m.. Bring
a dish big enough to serve four to six
people. Please register for the swap and
the party.
Dog parade
Date: December 31
Location: gate House Lodge, courtyard,
Sugarbush
Time: 3 p.m.
Admission: $10
Information: 583-6571 or sugarbush.com/
vermont-activities-events/holiday-week
Bark in the New Year with your very best
K9 friend! Join us for the 4th Annual
Dog Parade and costume contest led by
Win Smith and Lili Ruane with their
dogs Rumble and Zoe.
Family Fun night with Street performers
Date: December 31
Location: gate House cafeteria,
Sugarbush
Time: 57 p.m.
This family-friendly evening will feature
street-style entertainment from acrobats,
jugglers, face painters and the balloon
man! The Gate House Cafeteria will
be serving its famous pizza and other
family-friendly meals. Join us for the best
fireworks show in the Vermont starting
at 7 p.m.
Torchlight parade and Fireworks
Date: December 31
Location: Lincoln peak
Time: 7 p.m.
Information: kturnbull@sugarbush.com
The Torchlight Parade and Fireworks
will begin promptly at 7 p.m. Come see
Sugarbush staff light up Spring Fling
with their annual Torchlight Parade,
then enjoy the fireworks above the Valley
House Lodge.
Timbers new years eve celebration
Dates: Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Location: Timbers restaurant, 1840 Sug-
arbush access road, Warren
Time: 9 p.m.12:30 a.m.
Information/Reservations: sugarbush.
com/vermont-activities-events/holiday-
week
Join us for a New Years eve celebration
youll never forget! Enjoy homemade
dinner, drinks and dancing in Timbers
Restaurant at Lincoln Peak. Ring in the
New Year with a special champagne toast
at midnight. Reservations are required.
Worcester
a celtic christmas concert
Date: December 14
Location: Worcester united methodist
church, 35 Worcester Village road
Time: 7 p.m.
Admission: Donation
Information: 223-3047 or sjyefchak@
comcast.net
The Sky Family from Prince Edward
Island is a family of Celtic musicians
and dancers. They will present A Celtic
Christmas Concert, a high-energy pro-
duction that combines fast-paced Celtic
music with riverdance-style Irish dance.
Stowe
ruckus: a cirque Spectacular
Date: December 28
Location: Spruce peak performing arts
center, 122 Hourglass Drive
Time: 7 p.m.
Admission: $38
or trapeze@sover.net
A unique show that embodies the excite-
ment and mystique of a circus mixed
with dance and theater. It is close up and
personal, dazzling and uplifting as the
characters come alive on a small stage.
Inspired by the fun of old vaudeville
shows and featuring an award-winning
ensemble cast, this show is perfect for the
entire family and special enough for a
date night out.
Trapp nordic cup Time Trial Series
(every Tuesday for 10 weeks)
Date: December 13February 25
Location: Outdoor center at Trapp
Family Lodge
Time: 9 a.m.4 p.m.
Admission: $60 for series, or $8 per race
Information: pm@trappfamily.com
A timed 5K race for classic and/or skate.
Compete each week on a marked race
course complete with timing and start
area. A 10-week series with prizes for
both skate and classic. A great introduc-
tion to Nordic racing for the beginner
and awesome training for the experienced
skier.
by Lisa Mas

W
inter is here. Now is the time to
savor sweet, earthy foods like
winter squash, oats, rice, beans
and root vegetables. For more recipes, visit
harmonizedcookery.com.
Tuscan Ribollita Soup
My family keeps a pot of this soup bub-
bling on the stove during holiday time. It is
a complete meal that leaves us satisfied.

3 garlic cloves, minced
2 onions
3 carrots
1 celery stalk
cup olive oil
lemon juice or white wine
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock (make your
own or choose a brand with no sugar)
1 cup cooked cannellini or great northern
beans
2 teaspoons each thyme, oregano and rose-
mary
1 bunch kale
2 zucchini
cup rolled oats
To cook dry beans, soak them overnight.
Rinse and drain. Bring to a boil in a me-
dium stock pot with four cups water. Skim
off foam, reduce heat and cook for 30 min-
utes or until they are tender. If using canned
beans, choose a brand with no salt added.
Chop the celery, onions and carrots. In
a large pot, saut the garlic, onion, celery
and carrot in olive oil over medium heat for
about five minutes. Add a splash of lemon
juice or white wine (about two tablespoons).
Add the broth, spices and three cups water.
Bring to a boil, reduce heat, then simmer,
covered, for 30 minutes.
Rinse and chop kale and zucchini. Add to
the pot with oats and cooked beans. Bring
to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20
more minutes. Serve with pesto or Pecorino
Romano cheese if desired.

Pumpkin Custard
Winter squash and pumpkins are won-
derful vegetables that warm our whole being
and help our bodies rejuvenate through
their high omega 3 essential fatty acid con-
tent. They nourish us with dietary fiber,
folate and beta-carotene.
1 pumpkin or buttercup squash
1 can whole-fat, organic coconut milk
cup maple syrup
teaspoon each cinnamon, cardamom,
allspice
teaspoon each nutmeg, cloves
pinch salt
4 eggs
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake the
squash on a cookie sheet for one hour. Once
squash is soft, remove it from the oven, cut
it open and let it cool for 10 minutes. Peel,
remove seeds and place flesh a bowl.
Add milk, syrup, spices and salt to two
cups of cooked squash. Mash everything
together with a potato masher until all is
well incorporated. In a separate bowl, whisk
four eggs. Add eggs to squash mixture, mix
together and pour into baking dish. Bake at
375 degrees for 20 minutes, or until custard
has set.
This is delicious, either alone or as pie
filling. Leftovers make a terrific addition
to oatmeal.

Oaty Pie Crust
1 cup cornmeal
cup leftover oatmeal
pinch sea salt
cup organic butter or coconut oil

Combine flour and salt in a bowl. Stir
chunks of coconut oil or butter into the flour
mixture until it pulls together into a ball.
Tear off two squares of natural waxed
paper. Place one on the counter, put the
dough ball on it, cover with the second
square and press the ball flat with your
hand or a plate to make a circle. Then roll
the dough with a rolling pin, turning it
every few strokes to create a thin, even circle
of dough.
Peel off one sheet of paper, place a pie
plate upside down and centered over the
dough, flip the plate and dough over, and
peel off the second sheet of paper. Press the
dough into the tin, trimming off the excess
or sculpting it into a fancy raised edge.
Add your filling and bake the entire pie,
crust and all, at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Then reduce the heat to 350 degrees for an
additional 40 minutes, or whatever length
of time your filling recipe suggests.

Chocolate Pecan Filling
After you have made the pie crust, you
can fill it with anything! My favorite fillings
include roasted roots and white beans; cara-
melized onions, kale and roasted chicken
strips; and mashed sweet potatoes and al-
monds. Try this filling for a decadent treat.
It is delicious on its own, too, without the
crust.

1 cup pecans
cup cocoa powder
cup butter or coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
cup maple syrup
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon flour (any kind you like)
pinch salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast the
pecans on low heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add
butter or coconut oil and let it melt. Add
cocoa powder, maple syrup and vanilla.
Stir to incorporate and remove any lumps.
Remove from heat, pour into a mixing bowl
and cool for 5 minutes. Add flour, salt and
beaten eggs. Pour into pie crust or into an
oiled loaf pan. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool
and enjoy!
Healthy Recipes
for Peaceful Holidays
by Kate Mueller
T
is the season to be jolly. So put on
your fancy (and fun) duds, join the
chorus and make merry. And a big
part of the merry making is tippling deli-
cious holiday cocktails.
Several traditional drinks make the
round this time of year. Perhaps foremost
is eggnog, with or without rum. This mix
of milk or cream, sugar and eggs may date
back to the Middle Ages, with the nog in
eggnog referring to a wooden mug used
to serve alcohol. Another theory puts the
origins to Colonial America. Grog, a com-
mon term then for a drink made with rum,
was coupled with egg, referred to as egg and
groglater eggnog.
Eggnog is readily available in grocery
stores this time of year, but if youre feeling
venturesome or want to produce a higher
quality drink with local, organic ingredients,
its not too difficult to whip up a batch
rum or brandy optional (see recipe below).
Another Medieval beverage is wassail,
originally made of hot mulled cider, ale or
mead mixed with sugar, cinnamon, ginger
and nutmeg and topped with slices of toast.
The wassailing ceremony entailed singing
and drinking to the health of trees, particu-
larly apple trees. Modern versions of wassail
vary widely, some using wine, fruit juice or
ale as the base with brandy or sherry added,
along with spices.
Then theres glgg, a Scandinavian Christ-
mas drink that is essentially mulled wine,
but with some vodka thrown in for added
punch. The British have a version of this as
well. As with all of these drinks, there are
endless variants.
Below are some recipes. Heres to your
health, good tidings and joy!
Eggnog
Serves 12.
4 cups milk
5 whole cloves
teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
12 egg yolks
1 cups sugar
2 cups light rum (optional)
4 cups light cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine milk, cloves, one-half teaspoon
vanilla and cinnamon in a saucepan, and
heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes.
Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.
In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and
sugar. Whisk together until fluffy. Whisk
hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs.
Pour mixture into a saucepan. Cook over
medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 min-
utes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture
to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool
for about an hour.
Stir in rum (optional), cream, two tea-
spoons vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate
overnight before serving.
Wassail
Serves 20.
1 cup water
4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon grated nutmeg
2 teaspoons ground ginger
teaspoon ground mace
6 whole cloves
6 allspice berries
1 stick cinnamon
1 dozen eggs
4 bottles sherry or Madeira
2 cups brandy
Combine in a saucepan the water, sugar
and spices. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Separate the whites and yolks. Beat the
12 whites until stiff but not dry. Beat the 12
yolks separately until light in color. Strain
sugar and spice mixture into yolks, combin-
ing quickly.
Bring the sherry and brandy almost to
the boiling point. Incorporate it with the
spice and egg mixture, pour slowly while
stirring briskly. Lastly, fold in the whipped
egg whites.
Glgg
Serves 8 to 10.
2 bottles dry red wine
bottle of Port wine
1 cup vodka
lb dried figs, sliced
lb raisins
2 skins of two oranges
8 ounces light brown sugar
2 star anise
5 cloves
7 cardomom pods
3 cinnamon sticks
Place all ingredients in a large pot and
bring mixture to a simmer, stirring from
time to time. Remove from heat and
allow the glgg to sit for 2 hours. Strain
when ready to use, reheat and serve with
blanched almonds, raisins or ginger snaps
on the side.
Get in the Spirit Libations, Alcoholic and Non, for the Holidays
MonFri 106; Sat 105:30; Sun. 114
24 State St. Montpelier 223-4272
Woodbury Mountain Toys
Explore the universe!
chemistry sets
telescopes
science kits
For budding
Einsteins
Open 8am-8pm daily
Need a break
from cooking?
We also have GrabnGo
seasonal side dishes
Check out our Bulk Department!
Its an affordable way to buy as
much or as little as you need of
grains, beans, nuts, dried fruits,
holiday spices, and more
Celebrating gluten-free,
vegan, or vegetarian-style?
Weve got plenty of choices
623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier, VT
802.223.8000 www.hungermountain.coop
Make your Holiday Meals
Extra Special
with locally raised meats, organic produce,
hand-crafted baked goods, distinctive wines,
and artisan cheeses from The Coop!
Did You Know?
You can wrap gifts with cloth, newspaper,
maps, grocery bags and more.
And, wrapping paper is recyclable!
Central
Vermont
Solid Waste
Management
District
802.229.9383
CVSWMD.ORG
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27 State Street, Montpelier
Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4
Find us on Facebook!
Store Closing!!
40%-80% OFF STOREWIDE
Including NYDJ
Thank You Montpelier and
Happy 20
th
to the Bridge!!
Our 13
th
Year
With delicious
hams and
turkeys for
your holiday!
EVERYBODY LOVES
HOLLISTER
HILL FARM

2193 Hollister Hill Rd.
Marsheld, VT 05658
www.hollisterhillfarm.com
Open daily 9am-5pm
Bring the family to visit the farm
454-7725
4373 Rte 12 Berlin, VT | 802.223.1151 | freshtracksfarm.com
Visit Our Online Store for More Holiday Ideas
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O
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eautiful Gift B
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Keep Montpelier Vibrant!
Shop
Local
Keep Montpelier Vibrant!
SuzAnimal
House of Design
Custom Hand Knits
suz.mullikin@gmail.com
Featuring
Plus Size Aprons
and Aprons
with Criss Cross
Straps.
802-230-6099 www.vermontapron.com
Accvssovivs vov Ho:v, Sviv ~xb Svivi:
We are bursting with abundance,
come in to see our selection!
Fclt stockings, ornamcnts & nativity scts
lrom around thc world.
Gilts lor him, hcr & thc kids.
Find us on Facebook for special deals
9 langdon street 229-2777
open 7 days a week
Local Artists
ARTISANS HAND
Contemporary Vermont Crafts
89 Main at City Center, Montpelier
artisanshand.com
Facebook for more images
hand made ornaments-
Many choices!
Julia Emilios
hand painted gourds
Shop
Local
Soversivva: A Radical
Gathering Place for All

Clear Acne

Fade spots and wrinkles

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unwanted hair
Imagine Beautiful Skin
Electrolysis & Skin Care Salon
Kathy Waskow
Licensed Electrologist and Esthetician
www.ElectrolysisInVt.com
'Tis the Season~Book your appointment now
and have beautiful skin in time for all of your special events.
Gift certificates available. 229-4944
by Ivan Shadis
S
oversivva is a room at 89 Barre Street let
out for free by a collective for community
events. Five members of the six-member
collective sat down with me on November 22
to talk about what they are offering. They
identified themselves only by their first names:
Robert, Kelly, Emer, Jeff and Benny. Below is a
summary of my conversation with them.
What is Soversivva ?
We chose Sovversiva as our name to promote
the radical history of the area. It means sub-
versive in Italian; we want this space to be a
radical space.
That is a reference to Cronaca Sovversiva
the Italian anarchist periodical out of Barre in
the early 1900s. They fomented militant anar-
chism and were tied to the Wall Street bombing
of 1920. Is this what youre about ?
Never have we claimed to be an extension
of Cronaca Sovversiva. We have adopted that
name out of an anarchist lineage in this place.
What need do you serve ?
[We provide] a radical gathering space
[where] people can come together and where
there can be events and . . . literature . . . You
dont have to buy anything to be here, you
dont have to be rich, you dont have to smell
good. We welcome homeless people just as
much as anybody else . . . Its a space where
unlike, say, just walking down the street in
Montpelier, you can feel comfortable and safe
to be a woman, to be homeless, to be queer to
be transwhoever you are. Since the closing
of Black Sheep Books and Langdon Street
Caf, many people have noted and mourned
a lack of community space in Montpelier.
We hope this project will help fill that hole
and offer a space where people can come to
organize, socialize and work together.
What does radical mean? Youre not fire-bomb-
ing Wall Street . . .
Providing a space where coffee is free and
Internet is free and people can stop by and
host an event and not expect to make any
money off of it or have to charge anybody any
money to get to it is radical . . . Showing that
there is something that isnt capitalism. Capi-
talism is so pervasive that a lot of people dont
realize that there are other options.
So, no selling or buying. What are your costs?
How do you pay them?
Our rent is pretty cheap, especially for
Montpelier, around $500 and utilities. These
costs are paid almost entirely by committed,
monthly contributors who give between $5
and $50, with the average being $10, for six
months at a time. Any remainder has been
covered out of pocket by collective members.
When did you open ?
Winter of 2012. We just celebrated our first
year open.
What kind of events have been done here?
This year we hosted numerous successful
events, workshops, series and meetings . . . a
fairy-wing-making workshop, a regular movie
night, most recently a documentary on Lucio
Urtubia. There have been book-binding work-
shops; there have been book tours, a Spanish-
speaking group, tarot study groups, informal
a cappella singing groups, as well as prison-
letter-writing workshops, a presentation on the
Quebec student strikes of 2012 and meetings
of people organizing to fight the Vermont Gas
pipeline. Also some great parties and dances.
How can a person know what is going on?
We have a regularly updated events calen-
dar on the Internet at radspacemontpelier.
wordpress.com/shifts-and-events/.
Who may have an event here?
Anyone. Sovversiva collective acts as an
incubator for people to have their own events
here. We act as curators, but we really want
this space to be used by people.
Why dont you have a phone number or regular
business hours ?
Well, we are reliably open on Wednesdays
from 5:30 to 8, but all six of us central col-
lective members have jobs, other activist com-
mitments or school. We cant do everything
by ourselves, but we want other people to get
involved and feel empowered to use the space.
How should someone who wants to do an event
or make a contribution to support the project
get in touch with you?
Anyone interested should contact us at sov-
versiva@gmail.com, on our Facebook page
facebook.com/sovversiva.openspace or come
to an event at 89 Barre Street and talk to a
collective member.
Municipal ADA Committee
Needs New Members
by Kim Brittenham
H
aving lived in Montpelier for 25
years and having a family mem-
ber who now uses a wheelchair to
navigate the downtown, accessibility is very
important to me. Using a wheelchair in a
northern city with historic stepped-entrance
buildings is not easy and at times impos-
sible. Luckily, I am not alone in my need to
improve access and have had the opportu-
nity to work with a few tremendous advo-
cates and responsive city employees through
service on the Montpelier ADA (Americans
with Disabilites) Committee.
The city of Montpelier is committed to
providing equal access to community members
with disabilities. For the past four years, munic-
ipal staff and community members have been
meeting monthly (the first Tuesday) at City
Hall to identify ways in which Montpelier can
meet its responsibility to the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). Since 2009, the Mont-
pelier ADA Committees work has resulted in:
appointment of a municipal ADA coor-
dinator
more wheelchair-accessible parking spaces
downtown
adoption of ADA grievance procedure
recommitment to the ADA for 20th ADA
Anniversary
circulation of signboard and sidewalk
display guidelines
accessible bathrooms at the baseball field
and city pool and at July Third celebrations
amended ADA loan fund for businesses
ADA-compliance assessment of all mu-
nicipal buildings
automatic doors and accessible book drop
at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library
training for public works staff at national
ADA symposium
policy for law enforcement working with
people with disabilities
emergency response planning
improved auditory warning signals at
main intersections
updated draft ADA Transition Plan to
monitor ADA compliance
improved accessibility of city meeting
agendas and minutes for people with visual
impairments
walk-through of downtown road con-
struction areas with advocates and navigators
for people who are blind
assessment of Montpeliers 25 miles of
sidewalks, which will be used as a tool to
prioritize and repair sidewalk segments (just
completed this summer)
This list could be a lot longer! What do you
want to access in Montpelier? Tell our city of-
ficials. Or better yet, become an advisor to
one by serving on the ADA Committee.
The city is actively recruiting new mem-
bers. People with disabilities are encouraged
to apply. Nominees should send a letter of
interest to Office of the City Manager, City
Hall, 39 Main Street, Montpelier, VT 05602.
For questions or to request a reasonable ac-
commodation for the application process,
e-mail spitonyak@montpelier-vt.org or call
223-9502.
Kim Brittenham is chair of the Montpelier
ADA Committee.
Consider Serving on
Your School Board
Make a Difference for Children
by Stephen Dale
P
ublic education is foundational to our
democracy. It is the way that we assure
our children acquire the skills, infor-
mation and understanding that will equip
them to thrive in their personal and work
lives and to contribute to life in a free society.
In Vermont, our schools are better than
those in most states by most national mea-
sures. We can be proud of that fact. At the
same time, we all know we can do much bet-
terthat we continue to have gaps in levels of
achievement between students from different
economic situations.
Vermonts relative success can be attributed
to excellent educators and strong communi-
ties. Vermonters care deeply about education.
They support their schools. That concern and
commitment is translating into a passion for
continued change in our approach to educa-
tion with greater focus on personalization and
on the achievement of proficiency.
Vermonts locally elected school boards
guide and support this effort on behalf of their
communities. School boards exist for two
reasons: to assure every child receives a high-
quality education and to assure that taxpayers
are receiving good value and a good return on
their substantial investment. In short, school
boards exist to assure schools are effective
and efficient. And in the 21st century, school
boards can and must be strong catalysts for
change that will help Vermont achieve the best
public education system in the country.
Town meeting day is three months away. It
comes quickly, however. The holidays distract
many of us, and when school resumes in the
New Year, petitions for municipal office are
due in most towns within a few weeks. Now
is a good time to consider serving your com-
munity and your children through school
board service.
The Vermont School Boards Association
(VSBA) exists to provide a collective voice
for Vermonts school boards in the creation
of public policy and to support school board
members in successfully fulfilling their roles.
If you have decided to run for your school
board or if you are considering it, we at VSBA
invite you to join us for a free webinar on
December 17 at 6 p.m. The purpose of the
session is to help clarify the role and the
obligations of board membership, to talk a
bit about Vermonts education system and to
answer questions. We will be encouraging you
to run for school board, but also to be sure
that you enter into the process with your eyes
wide open. To join us for that session, register
on the VSBA website at vtvsba.org.
Stephen Dale is executive director of the
Vermont School Boards Association.
recycle this paper
Robert Dumas, left, stands on top of
USS Oklahoma City SSN 723.
by Robert Dumas
O
OOGA. OOOGA. The dive alarm
sounds, and a flurry of activity begins as
the ship rapidly descends through the depths.
The crew instinctively performs their dive
checks ensuring the ship is safe. For me, it
triggers an immediate concern as to whether
my cake was going to run off the back of the
pan during our down angle. Of course, any
good submariner knows you dont bake cakes
when the ship is about to dive.
I had the pleasure of serving on board the
USS Oklahoma City SSN 723 from 2005 to
2010. I was a culinary specialist, as well as the
ships diver. During my time on board, we
completed two deployments, an engineering
overhaul and many other smaller underways
and training operations. When I arrived on
the ship, I was 19 years old and I had been
a cook for four years in Louisiana, where I
grew up. Upon checking in, I quickly began
to realize that this was going to be the hardest
cooking experience of my life.
A Los Angelesclass, fast-attack submarine
is one of the most advanced warships in the
world, and with that being said, you probably
realize that it was not necessarily the most
spacious and well-outfitted kitchen one could
work in. The real challenge wasnt the size of
the kitchen, though; what really made cooking
hard on the sub was the lack of space to store
food. We would load the submarine with up
to three months worth of food for 150 people.
First of all, getting that much food on the
boat was a heck of an undertaking. Typically, if
we had a big stores load, the entire crew would
stop working, and we would form an assembly
line to pass every can and box from the pier
across the bow and down the hatch to their
respective storage locations. Now depending
on the food item, it would either be frozen or
put in dry storage. If it was frozen, it would get
packed in the freezer as tightly as possible until
the freezers were full from top to bottom and
front to back. If it was a dry item, it could end
up in any number of interesting places, from
number-10 cans getting packed into an unused
auxiliary tank or maybe going under the main
engines in the aft part of the submarine. At
times we would even line the deck with cases of
cans, and then lay down plywood so we could
walk on top of them. Needless to say, finding
the items you needed was a full-time job for
one of the cooks in my division.
Aside from storing food, there were many
other challenges to cooking on a submarine.
Obviously with only having frozen and dry
storage, fresh vegetables and fruits were non-
existent after about a week at sea. As sad as it
was to say good-bye to fresh fruits and veg-
etables, it was even more difficult to part with
fresh milk and eggs. The shelf-stable replace-
ments such as powdered eggs and powdered
sour cream were a sad replacement, to say the
least. However, as with all hardships in cook-
ing (and life), you cant just give up; you must
make the best with what you have.
Being from Louisiana, I was already a pas-
sionate foodie by an early age, and I knew
that my love for food could be a lifelong
affair, so I enrolled in my high schools culi-
nary program with the local community col-
lege and began cooking in area restaurants.
Of course, it wasnt glamorous work; being
a teenager in a kitchen typically means the
least desirable tasks are yours, and that was
good practice for me, as I would realize later.
I brought that passion for food with me,
and I was able to really do a lot with what
I had on board the sub. The crew, which is
kind of like having a really large dysfunc-
tional family made up only of men, really
appreciated the effort and extra time I put
into the food. We had four meals a day at sea,
and in port we would have three. A typical
meal would have one or two main proteins,
a starch, two vegetables, a sauce, fresh bread,
soup and a dessert. As you could probably
imagine, the crew didnt have the most re-
fined palate, and their favorite meals were
always burgers, pizza and fried chicken.
My favorite meals to prepare were always
the holiday dinners. If the ship was going
to be in port for the holiday, you could re-
ally go all out and plan a very exciting meal,
which, as you can imagine, was always a
huge morale booster for both the crew and
the cooks. I will always have fond memories
of preparing and enjoying Thanksgiving and
Christmas meals with my shipmates on the
USS Oklahoma City.
Since arriving at NECI, I have had the
opportunity to help develop a relationship be-
tween NECI and the navy. A few weeks ago,
I got to take Chef Jean Louis for a tour of a
Los Angelesclass submarine as a precursor to
an Adopt a Ship visit, which will hopefully
take place this coming year. We will also have
the pleasure of hosting a current sub cook this
week here at NECI. He is the personal aide
to the admiral in charge of the Atlantic fleet,
and he will be receiving some training from
the chefs here at NECI. I hope that we can
continue to grow our relationship, as I truly
believe it is mutually beneficial to give back
to our sailors and soldiers who are feeding our
military and directly influencing the morale
and esprit de corp of our troops.
I was recently asked if I could go back in
time, would I still choose to go to a subma-
rine. I answered immediately a resounding
yes. It was one of the best decisions I have
ever made and a true honor to have served
my country as a submariner in the U.S. Navy.
Robert Dumasa is a NECI student who grad-
uated from the BA in Culinary Arts program.
Cooking on a Submarine
by Ron Merkin
S
ince moving to Montpelier three years
ago, Ive noticed that pianist Diane
Huling seems to give more concerts
locally than any classical musician Im aware
of. Shell be featured December 25, at 10
p.m., on my new ORCA (Onion River Com-
munity Access) TV program Vermont Musi-
cians on the Air. I talked with Huling on De-
cember 5, after filming the program, about
her music.
You chose for my program three of the most
challenging piano compositions. Why?
Ive played the Chopin Polonaise since
around age 13. It reminds me of my Polish
teacher, Krystyna Krystek. I began lessons
with her when I was 10. She had a difficult
life, then was murdered when I was 12. But
she gave me my love of Chopin. When I play
the Polonaise, I think of her and of Poles who
have endured hardship. The Bach Toccata
gives me the opportunity to perform some-
thing originally written for organ. It s noble,
spiritual. I feel close to heaven when I play
it. What Busoni did when transcribing this
piece for piano is use piano sounds to create
an organlike sound, writing octaves for both
hands where he wanted to make it sound like
the organ stops were pulled. Busoni wrote
incredibly difficult things, like a melody in
octaves and a trill in the middle of it, all
with one hand. Last, the Rachmaninoff G
Major Prelude, is sheer beauty, haunting in
its delicacy, treacherous because every note is
exposed. It conjures up the Siberian steppes,
cold and lonely.
You ll soon be giving three fundraising con-
certs. Whats that about?
One is a house concert. Viennese music
with Viennese food. It was originally sched-
uled for my home in Cabot, but Ive moved
it to a more spacious house in Barre. Were
expecting lots of people. People can e-mail
me for information or reservations: huling-
performances@gmail.com. I think everyone
should find a way to give something to a
deserving cause. The causes in this case are
close to my heart. One is the Davis family
in Jericho, whose son passed away recently.
Another is a group of musicians in Burundi
who play and dance for refugees in the Bwa-
girizi refugee camp and need a piano. Again,
e-mail me. Ill also try to put performance
information on my website dianehulingpia-
nist.weebly.com.
Partly because audio or video recording can
always be stopped and redone, I feel more ner-
vous when performing live. You told me its the
opposite with you. Why?
When I perform live, Im connecting the
music to an audience. Im creating a life
ephemeral, magicalfor people. The peo-
ple are also an entity. They absorb, gather
together and, whether they understand it
or not, give back to me. Theres an energy,
emotion, transformation that happens in
live settings. It feels like the composer is
reborn and envelops all of us in this incred-
ible beauty. It lasts for a short while during
the performance and for a while after. Past
that, its only memory. Playing for a record-
ing feels dead to me. When I record, Im
self-critical, listening for the right notes, not
sending the music to a group of people. It
feels clinical and stale. Usually my perfor-
mance, at least to me, sounds artificial. Yes,
you can play something twice and take the
better performance, but usually the second
take is worse than the first. Id rather play
live any day!
My cameraman, Ora Paul, admitted after
filming program on Huling that, although
hes not a classical music fan, there were mo-
ments as Huling played when his eyes were
closed and his mind couldnt help dancing
to her rhythm. Readers who enjoy more
obvious rhythms may be interested to know
that, to add a little variety to this program,
Huling agreed to accompany me singing the
ragtime standard Aint Misbehavin. Tune
in for the fun!
Pianist Diane Huling
to Be Featured on ORCA
The Kellogg-Hubbard Library dressed up for the holidays. Photo by Amy Brooks Thornton
Cody Chevrolet Congratulates
The Bridge on 20 Years of Business!
A Tribute to
Peter Miller
Delivered to the
U.S. Senate,
November 20, 2013
by Senator Patrick Leahy
M
r. President, for generations, Ver-
monters have contributed to our
national culture through art,
music, film and prose. Peter Miller is one
such artist whose impressive work through-
out his life, as both a photographer and
author, has showcased Vermont and its resi-
dents and enriched us all.
As an amateur photographer, I have fol-
lowed Peters work for decades with ad-
miration. From his early beginnings as a
U.S. Army photographer to his travels across
Europe with Yousuf Karsh, he has channeled
his passion and energy into a remarkable art.
Over the past 20 years, his unique ability
to capture the Vermont spirit has been well
documented, and his consistent approach to
producing authentic depictions of the Ver-
mont way of life is unparalleled. He shuns
the commercialization of art and instead cre-
ates his work solely to share and promote the
values of our small and community-based
state. This attitude was evident more than
ever when, being honored as the Burlington
Free Press Vermonter of the Year in 2006
for his book Vermont Gathering Places, he
frankly said, I dont shoot for galleries. I
shoot for myself and the people I photo-
graph.
His appreciation and respect for the tradi-
tional culture that defines Vermont is read-
ily evident in his work. He has photographed
farm-dotted landscapes, village communi-
ties and generations of Vermont families.
When I wrote the foreword to his 2003 book
Vermont People, I noted that the Vermont
faces in this book speak worlds about liv-
ing in the State that gave them character,
wrinkles and wisdom . . . through their
faces, you can see Vermont. Peters most
recent work, A Lifetime of Vermont People,
is another testament to his tenacity and tact
as a Vermonter. A product of over a years
worth of photography, fundraising and self-
publishing, this book is truly a labor of love.
His addition of background stories helps
provide greater insight and meaning to the
photographs included, and through his pho-
tography and the recent addition of writing
to his repertoire, he gives a face and a voice
to Vermonters.
Peter lives the lifestyle he captures in his
photography. A Vermonter for over five de-
cades, he has embraced the way of life that
makes the state so special. Like his black-
and-white photographs, which draw focus
squarely on the subject of the piece, rather
than relying on flashy colors to convey a
message, he is not interested in glitz and
glam. His books have themes that exemplify
Vermont: farm women, gathering places,
small communities. He laments the waning
of iconic farms, the erosion of small-town
values and the fading of the once imperme-
able Vermont way of life. His resiliency is
remarkable, and his uncanny ability to dis-
play the beauty of Vermont in a way words
cannot do justice serves as an inspiration for
photographers everywhere.
recycle this
paper
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Available now at Bear Pond Books & Rivendell Books
From Vermont raised author Stephen Jennings
comes Kane, a story of truth & understanding,
love & loss and the alternating emotions of
triumph & despair experienced by a family
struggling with poverty in small town New
England. Poignantly told, the heartfelt story
touches the very soul of all weve come to know
in Vermont for they are the people we know
and the people we love.
Splash Naturals is bubbling
over with natural gifts for
your loved ones! Full lines of
Dr. Hauschka, Jane Iredale
Make-Up, Thymes, and so
much more!
68 Main St., Montpelier 223-7752
by Jeremy Lesniak
T
he holiday season is now upon us, and
with the season comes a number of chal-
lenges. I cant help you reduce the stress of
visiting family or tell you where to find great
deals on gifts. I can, however, offer some
help. Technology doesnt disappear during
the winter holidays, so its best we tackle the
tech beast head on.
Gift Ideas
Im often asked about the best technology gift
ideas. I try to skip the obvious and the pricey
items like tablets, computers, televisions or
game systemsand come up with a few that
are a bit less obvious and often more fun.
Pebble Watch: I love my Pebble (getpebble.
com) watch, but for a different reason than
many others. This handy watch displays my
smartphones notifications in full text on my
wrist, be they text, e-mail or calendar ap-
pointments. I love it not because its cool,
which it is, but because it is far safer than
checking my phone while driving. As much
driving as I do, its been a lifesaver. $150.
Roku: The king of budget media players
is certainly the Roku (roku.com). A favorite
among those cutting their cable bills, the
Roku gives you access to a massive amount of
content, including content unavailable else-
where. Netflix, Hulu and more are here and
ready to go. Roku models start at just $50.
Portable Speaker: There are so many op-
tions for portable speakers, its hard to even
name a few. Most of these devices connect to
a smartphone with Bluetooth and include a
rechargeable battery. This way you can leave
your phone charging and carry the tunes
around your home, office or campsite. You
can find great models for under $100 from
the likes of Cambridge Soundworks, JBL
and many others.
Avoid Holiday Scams
Many of us are in a particularly generous
mood during the holidays. Its not uncom-
mon to be solicited for donations to any
number of charities, both local and national.
Unfortunately, the unethical see this as a
prime opportunity to capitalize on your gen-
erosity. The usual e-mail scams often take a
turn for the season.
Rather than address the specific scams, its
just best to remind you of a few key points.
Dont open attachments unless you were
expecting them. If you werent, write a sepa-
rate e-mail to the sender and see if he or she
intended to send it.
Never e-mail credit card or bank infor-
mation to anyone, even if its for a donation.
If you must communicate that information
to a person, use the phone.
Dont click links in e-mails, especially
ones calling for donations. Its fairly easy
to build a site that looks like a well-known
charity, but instead simply steals your credit
card information.
Traveling with Technology
It can be quite a challenge to manage
your life while on the road, whether it be for
business or pleasure. Many of us travel with
children this time of year, which can add a
whole other dynamic. Technology can make
this time of year easier or harder, depending
on how you approach it.
Some of us will find a need to work over
the holidays, and local coffee shops are a
popular destination. Please, if youre going
to plug electronics in to any electrical outlet,
use a surge protector. Portable surge protec-
tors start at under $20 and are much cheaper
than replacing a computer.
Its easy to forget your various charg-
ing cords, so I suggest keeping one of each
needed type in your vehicle. Brand-name
cords arent necessary, and generic versions
can be had for a few dollars each. Theres
nothing worse than going three days without
your phone because you forgot your cable.
Traveling with children can be tough, but
this is one place where technology can make
it much easier. If theres one device you can
give a child that will make holiday travel more
pleasant, its a tablet. With quality Android
tablets starting at under $200, and off-brand
devices as low as $50, its easy to put a tablet
in your childs hands. They may not be as
versatile as a computer, and cheaper products
are less functional than others, but theyre
certainly worth the cost. Load up a few mov-
ies and games before you depart, and youll be
surprised at how quickly the trip will go.
And there you have it, my tips for wearing
your tech-Santa hat while making the most of
the holidays. I certainly have more ideas, so
stay tuned to my writings for more. Cheers!
Jeremy Lesniak founded Vermont Comput-
ing (vermontcomputing.com) in 2001, after
graduating from Clark University, and opened
a store at 23 Merchants Row, Randolph, in
May 2003. He also serves as managing editor
for anewdomain.net. He resides in Moretown.
Holiday Technology Survival Guide,
2013 Edition
Tech Check
Remembering
James
Countryman
Scientist, Skier,
Gourmet Cook
and Gentle,
Loving Soul
by Marie Countryman
J
ames Countryman, 58, died December
4 after a long, hard-fought battle with
multiple sclerosis (MS). A resident of Mont-
pelier, James was born in Waterbury, Con-
necticut, on March 8, 1955. He is survived
by his sister, Ginger (Ruth) Burke, and her
husband, Victor, and his nieces Laura and
Lindsay; by his sister-in-law, Diane Coun-
tryman, widow of his brother, John, and
his nephew Scott and niece Carissa and
three grandnieces and two grandnephews.
Additionally, he is survived by me, Marie
Countryman, his ex-wife, partner and care-
giver of 30 years.
James was a scientist with multiple de-
grees from Tufts University, the University
of Connecticut and Yale University, where
he was working on his doctorate when he be-
came disabled by MS in 1991 and we moved
to Vermont, his favorite state. He was an
avid skier and loved Mad River Glen, where
he was still able to ski for two more years.
He loved running, hiking above the timber-
line and exploring rural roads, small towns
and camping. We spent many years camping
on Cape Cod, just outside Provincetown.
While he was still able, we made a bucket
list, which included one more Red Sox game
at Fenway, climbing Mount Algonquin and
Cascade Mountain in the Adirondacks and
seeing the Grateful Dead on tour. We did
them all with great delight.
When his physical activity became more
restricted, he channeled his passions in new
directionsto music and becoming an ac-
complished, self-taught gourmet cook. He
cooked for and shared his lifelong love of
music with his friends, and music became
his greatest solace toward the end of his life.
James was much more than the sum of his
parts: he was a gentle soul with a great sense
of humor. He was much loved by all mem-
bers of his in-home support agency Pride
and much loved and admired by the staff at
Central Vermont Hospital, where we spent
a great deal of time, both in the ER and as
an inpatient, as well as by his palliative care
team, without whom I would not have been
able to bring him home one last time. He is
already sorely missed.
A private memorial service is to be held
at Groton State Forest in the spring. Please
send memorial contributions to the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Tell them
you saw it in
The Bridge!
A Robotic Love Story
Babys Debut at FIRST Tech Challenge
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by Eli Pandolfo
O
ur robots name was Baby. Baby
was our pride and joy, our little
bundle of love. We looked down
at Baby and felt a warmth blossom inside.
None of us had real children, but if we did,
we would have loved Baby more. Baby was
about 18 inches wide, 18 inches long and 16
inches high. You may be confused. To un-
derstand what Im talking about, you need
to know what Baby is.
Dean Kamen is best known for inventing
the Segway, the little two-wheeled vehicle
that has become so beloved to our nations
mall cops. Dean also, however, founded
the nonprofit FIRST: For Inspiration and
Recognition of Science and Technology.
FIRST, among other things, hosts an an-
nual robotics competition for high schoolers
across the country. Its called FIRST Tech
Challenge, or FTC.
Heres how it works. Each team has about
six months to build a robot out of alumi-
num Tetrix parts, which can do specific
tasks. Last year, we received our challenge
in September and had until March to com-
plete our robot.
Our robots assigned task was to grab
plastic doughnuts off a rack and lift them
onto pegs 48 inches off the ground. This
sounds simple. It is not. To accomplish this
feat, our dedicated group of high-school
engineers and programmers had to collabo-
rate and work as a team. Through months
of brainstorming, designing, prototyping,
building and testing, Baby was born.
Our team is based out of U-32 High
School, in East Montpelier. Last year we
had about 12 kids and half that many adults
on a given Friday, from 4:30 to 8:30 at
night. Everyone brought a dish for potluck
dinner, and while we ate, we discussed what
went well, what needed work and how awe-
some the food was. This was only the teams
second year doing FTC, and my first year.
We did not have a lot of experience to go by,
and without the collaboration of everyone
on the team, it would have been an abject
failure.
We divided ourselves into groups: the
chassis (the body of the robot), the lifter, the
grabber and the programmers. Each group
assigned itself specific tasks to do at the
beginning of each session, and at the end,
we all went over what we had accomplished.
I was the only one working on the grabber
for most of the year, but our awesome adult
mentors helped me, along with kids who
had nothing to do that meeting.
The competition was held at UVM in
Burlington. Teams from all over New Eng-
land showed up to test their robots. We had
a positive outlook leading up to the compe-
tition: we knew it was unlikely we would
win any awards or get first place, but our
team relished the experience of meeting new
people and admiring other teams ideas.
Let me stray from the topic here to talk
about Murphy. As many of you know, Mur-
phy was a man who invented a law. This
law is called Murphys Law, and I believe
it accurately describes how we did at the
competition.
On our very first match, a motor burned
out on Baby, and we lost our autonomous
program. That meant that we had noth-
ing to do for the first 30 seconds of the
two-minute match but sit there and look
sheepish. But the competition picked up
after that, and even though Baby broke
numerous times, we worked together to
fix it.
I remember one match in particular: min-
utes before it started, half our team was
rushing the robot to our repair station,
while the other half was careening down the
hallways with the cartful of our spare parts.
At the same time, I was trying to unscrew
another motor that had just burned out.
We were rushing and frantic and strung
like piano wire, but I relished every minute.
I loved running around, the sight of every-
one else running around, everyone having
something to do. That day, no one was
bored for a second.
It was a hectic day, and we didnt get every-
thing we hoped for: we finished 18 out of 28
teams. But the competition and the months
leading up to it were a great experience, and
it drew our team closer than ever before.
This is a new year, with a fresh challenge,
a new team and original ideas. Our team
has built on the mistakes of the past, from
both an engineering standpoint and a social
one. We are a cohesive whole built from
unique parts, working as one well-oiled ma-
chine. We are stronger than we weremore
experienced and out to win.

Eli Pandolfo is a 10th-grade student at
U-32 High School. He wrote this story through
Write Mondays, an immersion writing work-
shop for middle and high school students, run
by Gary Miller and Deb Fleischman and held
at Local 64 in Montpelier.
Students at the 2013 competition held at UVM with Baby. Photos courtesy of Deb Fleischman.
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1 Blanchard Court
Above First in Fitness
Montpelier
drsobel@aligntohealth.com
Most Insurance Accepted
Dr. Steven Sobel, DC, is pleased to announce the opening of
Align To Health, a wellness-based chiropractic clinic. The offce
is located upstairs in the First in Fitness building. Dr. Sobel has
over 16 years of experience in private practice as a chiropractic
physician and has completed over 450 hours of post-doctoral
studies in Functional Neurology. In 2005, he was recognized
as Chiropractor of the Year by the Vermont Chiropractic As-
sociation. He looks forward to offering his services to care for
his local community. Appointment times are flling. Call or email
today to reserve your slot.
Dr Steven Sobel, DC
Chiropractic Physician
Functional Neurology
Chiropractic Care
For All Ages
229-6800
229-6575

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DEC. 12
Annual Holiday Sale. All clothing $1. 47
p.m. Trinity Community Trift Store, 137 Main
St., Monpelier. 229-9155. tctsvt@yahoo.com.
Indoor Garden Workshop: Salad Greens.
With Peter Burke. Learn how to grow greens
indoors year-round. 67 p.m. Hunger Mountain
Coop community room, Stone Cutters Way,
Montpelier. $10 member-owners; $12 non-
members. Preregister: 223-8000 x202 or info@
hungermountain.coop.
Needle Felting for Teens and Adults.
Learn this fun and easy craft and make small
decorations and/or gifts. 6:308 p.m. Water-
bury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Water-
bury. Registration: 244-7036.
Reading and Book Signing: Lies You
Wanted to Hear. With James Whiteld
Tomson. One of 10 books on LibraryReads
November list of recommendations and Red-
books book of the month for November. 7 p.m.
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Main St., Montpelier.
Ecumenical Group. Songs of praise, Bible
teaching, fellowship. Second and fourth Turs.,
79 p.m. Jabbok Center for Christian Living, 8
Daniel Dr., Barre. Free. 479-0302.
Wine and Cider Tasting. With music
from Audrey Bernstein Jazz. Wines and
ciders from Artisanal Cellars, Vermont Wine
Merchants Co. and Citizen Cider. Also
food from Fat Toad Farm, Vermont Cream-
ery, Scouts Honor Ice Cream and Marsh Hol-
low Jams. 79 p.m. Fat Toad Farm, 787 Kibbee
Rd., Brookeld. $10. 279-0098.
DEC. 13
a.m.5 p.m. Trinity Community Trift Store,
137 Main St., Monpelier. 229-9155. tctsvt@
yahoo.com.
Navigating the New Vermont Health
Care Exchange. Get help nding the right
plan for you. 24 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-4665.
vista@kellogghubbard.org. kellogghubbard.org.
Event repeats on Dec. 16, 18 and 23.
Local Holiday Trunk Sale: Indoor Arts
and Crafts Market. Handmade crafts, foods
and more. 47 p.m. Plaineld Community
Center, 153 Main St, Plaineld. Free.
Full Moon Snowshoe Hikes. Explore Mont-
peliers hillsides with NBNC sta. Snowshoes
and hot chocolate provided. 78:30 p.m. North
Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpe-
lier. $5 members; $10 nonmembers. 229-6206.
northbranchnaturecenter.org.
Singles Event. Adult singles learn more about
each other by asking and answering one question
apiece, followed by open mingling. Adults only; all
welcome. 7 p.m. Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St.,
Barre. Free. 479-0896. info@wooo.tv. wooo.tv.
Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
229-9212. bagitos.com.
Dec. 13: Winston Ball (pop/folk rock)
68 p.m.
Dec. 14: Peter Farber (jazz) 11 a.m.1 p.m.
Irish session with Sarah Blair, Hilari Farrington
Koehler, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne
and other traditional Irish musicians, 25 p.m.
Dec. 15: Sunday brunch with Eric Friedman
(folk ballads) 11 a.m.1 p.m.
Dec. 17: Old-time music session, 68 p.m.
Dec. 18: Keith Williams: Blues with Papa
GreyBeard, 68 p.m.
Dec. 19: New local band with Jason Pugliese,
Mark Daly, Michael Friedmanand Leon
Wells, 68 p.m.
Dec. 20: Michael Arnowitt, Jazz Piano
Benet. Donations to benet heating fuel
assistance. 5:308 p.m.
Dec. 21: Irish session with Sarah Blair, Hilari
Farrington Koehler, Benedict Koehler, Katrina
VanTyne and many other ne traditional Irish
musicians, 25 p.m.
Barre Opera House. 6 N. Main St., Barre.
Tickets: 476-8188. barreoperahouse.org.
Dec. 13: Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Holiday Pops. 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 14: Green Mountain Youth Symphony
Winter Concerts. GMYS repertory and
concert orchestras: 3:30 p.m. Senior orchestra:
7:30 p.m. $5$18.
Charlie-Os. 70 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
223-6820.
Dec. 13: Swillbillies, Dirty Blondes (rock).
Dec. 14: Dance party (all request).
Dec. 19: DJ Crucible (metal).
Dec. 20: Te Wrong Numbers (gypsy-swing).
Dec. 21: Dance party (all request).
Dec. 27: Stone Bullet, 2 Tone Joker (rock).
Dec. 28: Dance Party (all request).
Dec. 31: Karaoke New Years Party.
Nutty Stephs Chocolaterie. Rte. 2,
Middlesex. Bacon Turs.: 6 p.m.midnight.
229-2090. granola@nuttystephs.com.
nuttystephs.com.
Dec. 12: Andric Severence.
Dec. 19: Andric Severence. Bra and
panties night.
Dec. 31: 26th Annual DRAG with Z
Jazz. Dress as a woman, in celebration of
the Eve in us all. $5 cover for undrag men,
Positive Pie. 22 State St., Montpelier.
10:30 p.m. Free unless otherwise noted.
229-0453. positivepie.com.
Dec. 13: Apex (funk/jazz). 21+ $8.
Dec. 14: Hot Neon Magic (80s covers).
Dec. 21: Te Michelle Sara Band.
Skinny Pancake. 89 Main Street, Montpelier.
Wed., 68 p.m. Jay Ekis and extremely special
guests. Free. 262-2253. skinnypancake.com.
Dec.15: Matt Schrag (bluegrass).
Jan. 5: David Richardson (Americana).
Sweet Melissas. 4 Langdon St., Montpelier.
Free unless otherwise noted. 225-6012.
facebook.com/sweetmelissasvt.
Dec. 12: Mothership Orchestra, 8 p.m.
Dec. 13: Honky Tonk Happy Hour with
Mark LeGrand, 5 p.m.; Red Hot Juba, 9 p.m.
Dec. 14: Blue Fox, 5 p.m.; Steady Betty,
9 p.m., cover
Dec. 17: Bruce Jones, 5 p.m.; open mic night,
7p.m.
Dec. 18: Wine Down with D. Davis, 5 p.m.;
open bluegrass jam, 710 p.m.
Dec. 19: Seth Yacovone (acoustic) 8 p.m.
Mark LeGrand, 5 p.m.; A Fly Allusion,
9 p.m., cover
Dec. 21: Andy Pitt, 5 p.m.; Stone Cold
Roosters, 9 p.m.
Mark LeGrand, 5 p.m.; Eames Brothers band,
9 p.m.
Dec. 28: Blue Fox, 5 p.m.; Te Big Lonesome,
9 p.m.
Dec. 31: TallGrass GetDown/New Years Eve
Masquarade Ball, 9 p.m., cover.
Whammy Bar. Maple Corner Store, 31 W.
County Rd., Calais. Fri. 7:30 p.m. Turs and
Sat. 7 p.m. Free. 229-4329. whammybar1.com.
Dec 12: Brian Fitzy with Chad Hollister.
Dec 13: Big Hat No Cattle (Texas swing).
Dec 14: Doug Perkins.
Dec 19: June Morse Christmas Carol
Sing-a-Long.
Dec 20: Auburn Mode.
Dec 21: Audrey Bernstein and Joe Capps
(jazz).
Dec 26: Open mic.
Dec 27: Chad Hollister.
Dec 28: Hot Diggity blues with Abby Jenne,
Artie Toulis, Sid Morse, Jamie Brooks, Erich
Fagginger-Auer, Brent Kinsley.
ARTISTS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Dec. 1215: Sing Noel! A Counterpoint
Christmas. $20 adults; $15 seniors; $5 stu-
dents and nancially challenged.
Dec. 12: United Methodist Church, 21 Buell
St., Burlington. 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13: St Johns Episcopal Church,
15 Summer St., Randolph. 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 14: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St.,
Montpelier. 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15: North Congregational Church,
1325 Main St., St. Johnsbury. 4:30 p.m.
Dec. 13, 31: Dave Keller. davekeller.com.
Dec 13: Solo. 7 p.m. Cork, Waterbury. Free.
corkvt.com. 882-8227.
Dec 31: New Years Eve Soul-ebration with
Te Dave Keller Band. 8:30 p.m. City Hall,
Montpelier. $10 advance; $15 day of show.
Dec. 14: Mayfly. An old-time traditional
duo featuring Katie Trautz and Julia Wayne.
Optional potluck 5:30 p.m. Show 7 p.m.
Adamant Community Club, 1161 Martin Rd.,
Adamant. $10 advance; $15 door.
Dec. 1415: Mad River Chorale, Rejoice
and Be Merry: Songs of the Season:
Familiar and imaginative holiday music by John
Rutter, Stephen Paulus, Bob Chilcott and Itzhak
Trebker. $15 adults, $12 seniors 65+ and stu-
dents, children 11 and under free. $1 discount
for food shelf donation. Information and tickets:
496-4781 or madriverchorale.org.
Dec. 14: Waitseld United Church, Rte. 100,
7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15: Warren United Church, Warren
Village, 4 p.m.
Dec. 16: Green Mountain Brass Quintet.
Lunchtime concert of familiar Christmas
carols and holiday songs. Singing along highly
encouraged. Noon12:50 p.m. Kellogg-
Hubbard Library, Main St., Montpelier.
Dec. 2122: Onion River Chorus Pres-
ents O Morning Star Concerts.
$12 adults; $10 seniors and students; $25 family
rate. 540-1784. contact@counterpointchorus.
org. counterpointchorus.org.
Dec. 21: Universalist Church, 19 Church St.,
Barre, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 22: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St.,
Montpelier, 4 p.m.
Dec. 28: Come to Vienna: A House
Concert and Dinner. Experience a lavish
dinner of food from the Hapsburg Empire and
Viennese music. Diane Huling, pianist, and
friends. 6 p.m. dinner; 7:30 p.m. performance.
410 Camp St., Barre. $45 dinner and music;
$15 music only. Reservations required:
563-2860 or hulingperformances@gmail.com.
Jan. 4: Young Tradition Reunion Con-
cert. Performing traditional folk music.
7 p.m. Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center,
7320 Mountain Rd., Stowe. $20.
youngtraditionvermont.org.
Jan. 5: Saint-Sans Christmas Oratorio.
Favorite selections from the Christmas portions
of Handels Messiah. Performed in English by
the Bethany Church Choir. 3 p.m. Bethany
United Church of Christ, 115 Main St., Mont-
pelier. Donation.
continued on page 27
Sing Noel! Counterpoint performs Sing Noel! at the Unitarian Church, Montpelier.
Ranunculus (2012) by Kirsten Hoving. Digi-
tal print on archival paper, 11 by 11 inches,
showing at BigTown Gallery.
DEC. 14
Family Walk: Barre City. With Young
Adventurers Club. Easy. 2 miles. Contact leader,
Mike Wetherell, for time and meeting place:
223-8493.
a.m.5 p.m. Trinity Community Trift Store,
137 Main St., Monpelier. 229-9155. tctsvt@
yahoo.com
Annual Holiday Arts, Crafts and Good-
ies Bazaar. 9 a.m.4 p.m. Montpelier Senior
Activity Center, 58 Barre St. 223-2518.
Planting Hope 20th Annual Solidarity
Craft Fair. Over 40 craft vendors, silent auc-
tion, food, face painting. Proceeds benet Plant-
ing Hopes programs in Nicaragua and Vermont.
9 a.m.4 p.m. Unitarian and Bethany churches,
Main St., Montpelier. 778-0344. beth@plant-
inghope.org.
Stowe High School Craft Fair. Forty Ver-
mont craft vendors, food, rae, prizes. Proceeds
benet Terapy Dogs of Vermont. 10 a.m.4
p.m. Stowe High School, 413 Barrows Rd.
therapydogs.org.
Touch of Vermont: Holiday Gift Market.
Fifty Vermont vendors. Potters, photographers,
artists, wood and metal workers, artisan foods
and spirits. Rae benets OUR house of Cen-
tral Vermont. Free. 9 a.m.4 p.m. City Hall,
Montpelier. 310-1725.
The Marshfield School of Weaving Holi-
day Studio Sale. Featuring handmade objects
crafted by local artisans: baskets, pottery, glass,
ironware and textiles. 10 a.m.5 p.m. 589 Eaton
Hill Cemetery Rd., Marsheld.
EarthWalk Craft Party. Live music, silent
auction, bake sale and crafts for sale. Plus craft-
ing: candle making, block printing, wreath
making and felting. 14 p.m. Christ Church,
64 State St., 2F, Montpelier. Free. $10 suggested
donation for craft making. All proceeds benet
EarthWalk scholarship fund. info@earth-
walkvermont.org.
Rabbis in Love: Personal Stories. By Mari-
lyn Bronstein and Philip BeLove. Book reading
and discussion. 3 p.m. Te North Branch Tea
and Wine Bar, Main St., Montpelier. 454-1346.
Family Day at Helen Day Art Center. In
conjunction with Festival of Trees and Light
exhibit, families can decorate gingerbread houses
with NECI students and play dreidel games.
Seasonal sweets and local music. 14 p.m. Helen
Day Art Center, 90 Pond St. Stowe. Free. 253-
8358. education@helenday.com. helenday.com.
53rd Plainfield Christmas Bird Count.
We will scour the greater Montpelier area for ev-
ery bird we can nd to census birds in central
Vermont. Join for part or all day. 7:15 a.m.5
p.m. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St.,
Montpelier. Free. Preregistration required: 229-
6206. northbranchnaturecenter.org.
DEC. 14JAN. 18
Holiday Book Sale. Tousands of books,
CDs, DVDs and more for sale. Hardcovers $2,
softcovers $1. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Main
St., Montpelier.
DEC. 15
Snowshoe or Hike Mt. Monadnock. With
the Green Mountain Club. 5+/- miles. Moun-
taintop features a recently rebuilt observation
tower with views east into the northern White
Mountains and Canada. Bring food, liquids, and
dress for winter outing. Contact leader, Michael
Chernick, for meeting time and place: 249-0520
or chernick5@comcast.net.
Embodying Practice. An exploration of
mindfulness, movement, and character in
meditation practice and daily living. 9 a.m.
noon. $10 (may be donated to the Vermont Food
Bank). 229-6989. Ryokan@juno.com.
Families of Color. Open to all. Play, eat and
discuss issues of adoption, race and multicultur-
alism. Bring snacks and games to share; dress
for the weather. Tird Sun., 35 p.m. Unitarian
Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. Alyson 439-
6096 or alyson@suncatchervt.com.
The 43rd Annual Community Carol Sing.
Choirs sharing music, the audience singing
carols and the Hallelujah Chorus accompanied
by the pipe organ and the Green Mountain Brass
Quintet. 6:30 p.m. Bethany United Church of
Christ, 115 Main St. Bring food donation for
the food pantry. 223-2424 x224. arthurzorn@
hotmail.com.
DEC. 16
Event repeats on Dec. 18 and 23.
Do-It-Yourself Gifts. With Dana L. Wood-
ru, community herbalist and health educator,
Dandelioness Herbals. Learn how to make af-
fordable handmade herbal gifts using ingredients
from your backyard and afar. Kids accompanied
by a grown-up welcome. 67:30 p.m. Hunger
Mountain Coop community room, Stone Cut-
ters Way, Montpelier. $10 member-owners; $12
nonmembers. Kids half price. Preregister: 223-
8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop
DEC. 17
The Future of Vermonts Working
Landscape. Summit to celebrate and foster
rural renaissance and identify next steps to
advance public policy and investment in
Vermonts working landscape. Keynote speaker
Governor Shumlin. 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. Vermont
Technical Center, 124 Admin Dr., Randolph.
223-6091. $30. Registration: vtworkinglands.
org.
Winter Wildlife Tracking. With John Jose,
biologist. Using sand-lled trays and plaster
casts, learn to identify animal tracks and track
patterns. 67:15 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop
community room, Stone Cutters Way, Montpe-
lier. $10 member-owners; $12 nonmembers; $5
children. Preregister: 223-8000 x202 or info@
Washington County Stamp Club Meet-
ing. Meeting is free and open to the public. 7
p.m. First Baptist Church, corner of School and
St. Paul, Montpelier. 223-2953. edsbobnan9@
myfairpoint.net.
Plainfield Book Club. Tird Mon., 78:30
p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, 151 High St.
(Rte. 2), Plaineld. Free. 454-8504 or cutlerli-
brary.org.
DEC. 18
plan for you. 10 a.m.1 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
Event repeats on Dec. 23.
Home Sharing Info Meeting. Find out what
home sharing is all about. Refreshments served.
Tird Wed., 5:306 p.m. Home Share Now, 115
Performing
Arts
DANCE
Dec. 2122: Green Mountain
Nutcracker. Presented by Moving Light
Dance Company. Dec. 21, 6 p.m. Dec. 22, 2
p.m. Barre Opera House. $14$26. 476-8188.
barreoperahouse.org.
THEATER, STORYTELLING
& COMEDY
Dec. 7, 14: A Childs Christmas in Wales.
By Dylan Tomas. Dramatic reading with
Tom Blachly, Susannah Blachly, Adam Blachly,
Elizabeth Wilcox, Diane Holland, Jack Fannon,
Naomi Flanders. Suggested donation: $12.
Dec. 7: Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier,
2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Dec. 14: Church of Our Savior at Mission
Farm, Killington, 7 p.m.
Dec. 1115: A Christmas Survival Guide.
By James Hindman and Ray Broderick.
Presented by Green Mountain Teater
Group. A musical review; music mix DJ by
Jim Severance. 7 p.m. Haybarn Teater,
Goddard College, Plaineld. $15. 249-0414.
greenmountaintheater.org.
Dec. 13: Laugh Local VT Open Mic
Comedy Night. Jokesters take advantage of
a lighthearted atmosphere and perform brief
material before a live audience. Signups 7:30
pm. Show 8 p.m. American Legion Post 3, 21
Main St., Montpelier. Free, but dough nation$
welcome. 793-3884.
Dec. 13: Drive. Cabot High School seniors
present an event highlighting Vermonters and
their elds of expertise through interviews and
media productions. 6 p.m. Cabot School Per-
forming Arts Center, 25 Common Rd, Cabot.
bboyes@cabotschool.org. jhewitt@cabotschool.
org.
Dec. 14: Scrooge: A Christmas Carol.
Presented by No Strings Marionette Company.
Eighteen large-scale marionettes whisk you
through the London streets in Charles Dickenss
classic tale. 1 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St. 223-2518.
Dec. 15: Bread & Puppet Theater, The
Total This & That Circus. Social and politi-
cal commentary, reections on daily life and
sheer silliness. All acts accompanied by circus
band. 34 p.m. Plaineld Community Center
(above the co-op). 525-1271. breadpuppetlin-
da@gmail.com.
Dec. 21: Stories for a Winters Eve.
Original Vermont stories and music with Patti
Casey and friends. 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Te Old
Meeting House, Center Rd., E. Montpelier. $15;
$10 age 12 and younger. 229-9593. oldmeeting-
house.org.
Green Mountain Nutcracker. Presented by Moving Light Dance Company at the Barre Opera House.
Main St., Barre. RSVP at 479-8544 to ensure
ample refreshments.
The Onion River Exchange Time Bank.
With Heather Kralik, Onion River Exchange
outreach coordinator. Learn about time banking:
a network of individuals, organizations and busi-
nesses that exchange services using time instead
of money. 67 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop
community room, Stone Cutters Way, Montpe-
lier. Free. Preregister: 223-8000 x202 or info@
Man-to-Man Prostate Cancer Support
Group. Tird Wed., 68 p.m. Conference room
2, Central Vermont Medical Center. 872-6308
or 866-466-0626 (press 3).
Song Circle: Holiday Sing-a-long. With
Rich and Laura Atkinson. Singers of all ages
and abilities are welcome; songbooks provided.
6:45 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St.,
Marsheld. 426-3581.
Montpelier Shambhala Study. With
Katie Back. Discovering ease, relieving pain:
an introduction to the Alexander technique for
meditators. 7:15 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Montpelier
Shambhala, 64 Main St., 3F. 223-7230. info@
montpeliershambhala.org. montpeliershamb-
hala.org.
DEC. 19
Diabetes Discussion Group. Focus on self-
management. Open to anyone with diabetes
and their families. Tird Turs., 1:30 p.m. Te
Health Center, Plaineld. Free. Don 322-6600
or dgrabowski@the-health-center.org.
Amnesty International Write for Rights.
AI has selected 12 cases of people around the
world facing persecution for who they are, or for
defending their basic rights. Send a card to them
or a letter urging action on their behalf. Light
refreshments and materials will be provided.
47 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Main St.,
Montpelier.
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support.
Monthly group for people aected by a suicide
death. Tird Turs., 67:30 p.m. Central Ver-
mont Medical Center, conference rm. 1, Fisher
Rd., Berlin. 223-0924. calakel@comcast.com.
afsp.org.
Researching Jewish Roots. Diane Sophrin
of the Beth Jacob Synagogue will share her ex-
ploration of Jewish genealogy search techniques.
6:308:30 p.m. Vermont History Center, Leahy
Library, 60 Washington St., Barre. Free. 479-
8509. paul.carnahan@state.vt.us. vermonthis-
tory.org/calendar.
Guided Partner Thai Bodywork. With Lori
Flower of Karmic Connection. Learn a few basic
techniques for a blissful feeling and peaceful
mind. Come with a friend. Mats and cushion-
ing provided. 6:457:45 p.m. Hunger Mountain
Coop community room, Stone Cutters Way,
Montpelier. $8 member-owners; $10 nonmem-
bers. Preregister: 223-8000 x202 or info@
Songwriters Meeting. Meeting of the
Northern VT/NH chapter of the Nashville
Songwriters Association International. Bring
copies of your work. Tird Turs., 6:45 p.m.
Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury. John, 633-2204.
Library Film Series: Shakespeare in
Love. Tis vivid, witty lm (1998) won seven
academy awards. 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library,
122 School St., Marsheld. 426-3581.
DEC. 20
Orchard Valley Waldorf School Annual
Winter Solstice Celebration. A celebration
of the season, including dance, song, drama,
poetry, music, comedy. 6 p.m. Montpelier
High School Auditorium, 5 High School Dr.,
Montpelier. Free. 456-7400. ovws.org.
DEC. 21
Snowshoe Fayston. With the Green
Mountain Club. Moderate. 4+/- miles. Snowshoe
or hike, depending on snow depth. Explore the
new Hemlock Hill Trail into the Phen Basin
wilderness. Contact leader, Steve Lightholder, for
meeting time and place: 479-2304.
Capital City Market Indoor Farmers
Market. Tirty-ve vendors. Local foods and
products: maple syrup, wine, artisan cheeses,
jewelry, pottery and more. Live music: Full
Circle. 10 a.m.2 p.m. Vermont College of Fine
Arts gym, Montpelier. 223-2958. manager@
montpelierfarmersmarket.com.
Humane Heroes Holiday Party. Making
treats, catnip toys, dog enrichment toys and cat
beds. Noon2 p.m. Central Vermont Humane
Society Adoption Center, 1589 Rte. 14S, E.
Montpelier. Admission is donation of canned pet
food for the shelter animals. 476-3811. events@
cvhumane.com.
Winter Solstice Free Tea Tasting. Cel-
ebrate winter solstice with a free sample of our
house herbal blend: Tulsi Rose. noon8 p.m.
Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St., Montpelier. Free,
one sample per customer. 223-0043. tulsiteallc@
gmail.com. tulsitearoom.com.
Contra Dance. All dances taught; no partner
necessary. All ages welcome. Bring shoes not
worn outdoors. First, third and fth Sat., 811
p.m. Capital City Grange, 6612 Rte. 12, Berlin.
$8. 744-6163. capitalcitygrange.org.
DEC. 22
Christmas Show. Participants from ve
area churches; singing, readings, and a nativity
scene. 5 p.m. Church of God of Prophecy/
Morningstar, Brook St., Barre. Free. 557-7539.
814-428-9635. 814-428-2696. bcruzbc39@
gmail.com.
DEC. 23
Monthly Book Group for Adults. Fourth
Mon., 7 p.m. New members always welcome.
City of Women by David Gillham. For copies
of the book, stop by the library. Jaquith Public
Library, 122 School St., Marsheld. 426-3581.
jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. marsheld.
lib.vt.us.
DEC. 24
Holiday with the Animals. Spread goodwill
to shelter animals and help ll their stockings. 10
a.m.2 p.m. Central Vermont Humane Society
Adoption Center, 1589 Rte. 14S, E. Montpelier.
Please bring donations for the shelter animals.
Christmas Eve Services. 5 p.m. family
candlelight service; 7:30 p.m. candlelight service.
Old Meeting House, Center Rd., E. Montpelier.
229-9593. oldmeetinghouse.org.
DEC. 26
Green Mountain Dog Club Monthly
Meeting. Learn about the club and events. All
dog lovers welcome. Fourth Turs., 7:30
p.m. Commodores Inn, Stowe. 479-9843 or
greenmountaindogclub.org.
Ecumenical Group. Songs of praise, Bible
teaching, fellowship. Second and fourth Turs.,
79 p.m. Jabbok Center for Christian Living, 8
Daniel Dr., Barre. Free. 479-0302.
DEC. 27
Advance Directive Assistance. By ap-
pointment only; schedule at least one day ahead.
Includes information on funeral planning. 24
p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St. Free, but donations to MSAC appreciated.
223-8140.
Lama Tsong Khapa Day: Light Offerings
and Lama Chopa Tsog. With Ven. Tenzin
Chogkyi. Join us in lighting candles for this
special day before our Lama Chopa Tsog and
feel free to bring tea lights and snacks to share.
6:30 p.m. Milarepa Center, Barnett. Free. mil-
arepacenter.org.
DEC. 28JAN. 1
Annual New Years Vajrasattva
Purification Retreat. With Ven. Tenzin
Chogkyi. Appropriate for all levels of
practitioners. Dec. 28, 6 p.m. Jan. 1, 12:30
p.m. Milarepa Center, Barnett. milarepacenter.
org.
JAN. 3
Coffeehouse. Enjoy live music and share your
own. Fellowship, potluck snacks and beverages.
First Fri., 79 p.m. Trinity United Methodist
Church, 137 Main St., Montpelier (park and
enter at rear). Free. 244-5191, 472-8297 or
rawilburjr@comcast.net.
Espresso Brain-o. Assemble your best small
team, and enjoy beer, wine, small plates and caf
treats while playing a dynamic trivia game. 7
p.m. Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre.
Free. 479-0896. info@wooo.tv. wooo.tv.
JAN. 4
National Federation of the Blind,
Montpelier Chapter. First Sat. Lane Shops
community room, 1 Mechanic St., Montpelier.
229-0093.
JAN. 7
Happiness Meditation. With Ginny
Sassaman, MS in meditation, creator of the
Happiness Paradigm in Maple Corner and a
cofounder of Gross National Happiness. Learn
how to meditate. 5:307:30 p.m. Hunger
Mountain Coop community room, Stone
Cutters Way, Montpelier. $8 member-owners;
$10 nonmembers. Preregister: 223-8000 x202 or
info@hungermountain.coop.
continued from page 25
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through Dec. 16: Small Works. Artwork
by students, faculty, sta and alumni of
Community College of Vermont. CCV,
660 Elm St., Montpelier.
Through Dec. 18: Celebrate. Annual
holiday season show; wide variety of ne art
and crafts created by SPA member artists. All
three oors. Expanded hours: Trough Dec. 21,
Tues.Wed., Fri. 10 a.m.5 p.m., Turs.
11 a.m.7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Dec. 2328
(closed Dec. 2425), Mon., Turs.Fri. 10
a.m.5 p.m., Sat. noon4 p.m.
Through Dec. 20: Annie Tiberio Cam-
eron, Robert Frost in Images. Montpelier
photographer pairs photographs with poetry
from Robert Frost. Montpelier Senior Activ-
ity Center, 58 Barre St. 223-2518. 223-2204.
jnichols@montpelier-vt.org. annie
@anniecameronphotography.com. montpelier-
vt.org/msac. anniecameronphotography.com.
Through Dec. 20: Round. An exhibition of
objects of circular shape, from the Sullivan Mu-
seum collection. Sullivan Museum and History
Center, Norwich University, 158 Harmon Dr.,
Northeld. 485-2183. Norwich.edu/museum.
Through Dec. 20: These Honored Dead:
Private and National Commemoration.
Stories of Norwich alumni from both sides of
the Civil War conict in 1863. Sullivan Mu-
seum & History Center, Norwich University,
Northeld. 485-2183. norwich.edu/museum.
Through Dec. 27: Georgia Myer, Authen-
ticity. Abstract oil, pastel, charcoal and water-
color. Governors Gallery, 5F, Pavilion Oce,
Montpelier. Hours: Mon.Fri., 8 a.m.4:30 p.m.
Through Dec. 27: Jen Morris. Photography
by Landmark College art professor Jen Morris.
Vermont Supreme Court, 111 State St., Montpe-
lier. 828-0749. thaddeus.gibson
@state.vt.us.
Through Dec. 29: Ceilidh Galloway-
Kane, The People, The Places. Watercolor,
pen and ink, and graphite. Green Bean Visual
Art Gallery, Capitol Grounds, Montpelier. cura-
tor@capitolgrounds.com.
Through Dec. 29: Peggy Watson, A
Glimpse of Montpelier. Small paintings
and studies of local scenes. Monteverdi Music
School, 46 Barre St., Montpelier.
Through Dec. 29: White Stuff. Group
member exhibit featuring the moods of snow.
Plus holiday gifts: ne art, crafts, music and
books. Blinking Light Gallery, 16 Main St.,
Plaineld. Hours: Turs., 26 p.m.;
Fri.Sun.,10 a.m.6p.m. Expanded hours:
Dec. 23, noon8 p.m.; Dec. 24, 10 a.m.2 p.m.
454-0141. blinkinglightgallery.com. info
@blinkinglightgallery.com.
Through Dec. 31: Lisa Forster Beach.
Watercolors and acrylics. Festival Gallery,
2 Village Square, Waitseld. Hours: Mon.Fri.,
10 a.m.3 p.m.; Sat. by appointment.
496-6682. vermontartfest.com.
Through Dec.: Art Resource Association
Holiday Show. ARA members exhibit work.
City Center, Montpelier.
Through Dec.: Winter Show: Juice
Bar. Gallery members choices, featuring
constructions by Richard E. Smith and Jessica
Straus. BigTown Gallery 99 North Main St.,
Rochester. 767-9670. bigtowngallery.com.
Through Jan. 2: Paul Gruhler. Abstract
paintings. Gallery at River Arts, River Arts
Center, 74 Pleasant St., 2F, Morrisville. Hours:
Mon.Fri., 10 a.m.2 p.m. 888-1261. riverar-
tsvt.org.
Through Jan. 2: Chris Stearns, Vermont
on Aluminum. Photographs of landscapes
printed on sheets of aluminum. Gallery at River
Arts, River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., 2F,
Morrisville. Hours: Mon.Fri., 10 a.m.2 p.m.
888-1261. riverartsvt.org.
Through Jan. 7: Frederick Rudi, Laundry
and Eggs. Recent paintings. Jaquith Library,
Old Schoolhouse Common, Marsheld.
Through Jan. 10: Janet Fredericks, Quiet
Observations: Anthills, Insects & Water.
Drawings and paintings about the seen and un-
seen life of the natural world. Central Vermont
Medical Center Lobby Gallery, 130 Fisher Rd.,
Berlin. 371-4100.
Through Jan. 21: Janice Walrafen, Grief
and Praise. Eight clay decorative masks
reecting a seven-day walk-about fast. Contem-
porary Dance and Fitness Studio, 18 Langdon
St., 3F, Montpelier. 228-4676. cdandfs.cm.
Through Jan. 31: Buddhist Thangkas.
Hand-painted Buddhist thangkas by artists
from Nepal and India; fundraiser for Child
Haven International, a nonprot organiza-
tion that operates homes for children in India,
Nepal, China and Bangladesh. Tulsi Tea Room,
34 Elm St., Montpelier. 223-0043.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Dec. 1314: Cheap Art Show. Sale of
inexpensive original art by local artists. Dec.
13, 47 p.m. Dec. 14, 10 a.m.4 p.m. Christ
Church, 64 State St., Montpelier. 223-0352.
225-6628. baleber@gmail.com.
Man in Graphite by Ceilidh Galloway-
Kane, exhibiting at the Green Bean Gallery,
Capitol Grounds, Montpelier.
Weekly Events
ART & CRAFT
Beaders Group. All levels of beading
experience welcome. Free instruction available.
Come with a project for creativity and
community. Sat., 11 a.m.2 p.m. Te Bead
Hive, Plaineld. 454-1615.
Noontime Knitters. All abilities welcome.
Basics taught. Crocheting, needlepoint and tat-
ting also welcome. Tues., noon1 p.m. Water-
bury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury.
244-7036.
Life Drawing Sessions. Usually brief, dy-
namic poses. Wed., 79 p.m. Storefront Studio/
Gallery, 6 Barre St., Montpelier. $15 suggested
donation. 839-5349. glen@
gchneart.com.
BICYCLING
Open Shop Nights. Volunteer-run
community bike shop: bike donations and
repairs. Tues., 68 p.m.; other nights. Freeride
Montpelier, 89 Barre St., Montpelier. By
donation. 552-3521. freeridemontpelier.org.
BOOKS & WORDS
English Conversation Practice Group.
For students learning English for the rst time.
Tues., 45 p.m. Central Vermont Adult Basic
Education, Montpelier Learning Center, 100
State St. 223-3403.
Lunch in a Foreign Language. Bring lunch
and practice your language skills with neigh-
bors. Noon1 p.m. Mon. Hebrew, Tues. Italian,
Wed. Spanish, Turs. French. Kellogg-Hubbard
Ongoing Reading Group. Improve your
reading and share some good books. Books
chosen by group. Turs., 910 a.m. Central
Vermont Adult Basic Education, Montpelier
Learning Center, 100 State St. 223-3403.
BUSINESS & FINANCE,
COMPUTERS
Personal Financial Management
Workshops. Learn about credit/debit cards,
credit building and repair, budgeting and
identity theft, insurance, investing, retirement.
Tues., 68 p.m. Central Vermont Medical
Center, Conference Room 3. Registration:
371-4191.
Computer and Online Help. One-on-one
computer help. Tues. and Fri., 10 a.m.1 p.m.
Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Wa-
terbury. Free. Registration required: 244-7036.
DANCE
Ecstatic Dance. Dance your heart awake.
No experience necessary. Every Fri., 79 p.m.,
Christ Church, State St., Montpelier. First and
third Wed., 79 p.m., Worcester Town Hall,
corner of Elmore and Calais roads. Second and
fourth Wed., 79 p.m., Plaineld Community
Center (above the co-op). $10. 505-8011.
fearnessence@gmail.com.
Dance or Play with the Swinging over
60 Band. Danceable tunes from the 1930s
to the 1960s. Recruiting musicians. Tues.,
5:307:30 p.m., Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
FOOD
Barre Farmers Market. Local produce,
meats, poultry , eggs, honey, crafts, baked goods
and more. Wed., 36:30 p.m. City Hall Park,
Barre.
Community Meals in Montpelier. All
welcome. Free.
Mon.: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., 11
a.m.1 p.m.
Tues.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St., 11:30
a.m.1 p.m.
Wed.: Christ Church, 64 State St.,
11 a.m.12:30 p.m.
Turs.: Trinity Church, 137 Main St.,
11:30 a.m.1 p.m.
Fri.: St. Augustine Church, 18 Barre St.,
11 a.m.12:30 p.m.
Sun.: Last Sunday only, Bethany Church,
115 Main St. (hosted by Beth Jacob
Synagogue), 4:305:30 p.m.
Noon Cafe. Soup, fresh bread, good company
and lively conversation. Wed., noon. Te Old
Meeting House, 1620 Center Rd., E. Montpe-
lier. By donation. oldmeetinghouse.org.
Senior Meals. For people 60 and over. Meals
prepared by Chef Justin and volunteers. Tues.
and Fri., noon1 p.m. Montpelier Senior
Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Free.
Under 60: $6. Reservations and information:
262-2688.
Takeout and Caf Meals. Proceeds benet
the senior meals program. Turs., 11 a.m.1
p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58
Barre St., Montpelier. $4$8. Reservations ap-
preciated: 262-6288.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Sex Addicts Anonymous. Mon., 6:30 p.m.
Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier.
Call 552-3483 for more information or to leave
a condential message.
Herbal Clinics. Student clinic: Mon., 15
p.m. and Tues., 48 p.m. $0$10. Professional
clinic: Tues.Fri. $0$100. Vermont Center for
Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St., Montpe-
lier. Consultations by appointment only:
224-7100 or info@vtherbcenter.org.
vtherbcenter.org.
Affordable Acupuncture. Acupuncture
sessions with Chris Hollis and Trish Mitchell.
Mon. and Wed., 27 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m.2 p.m.
79 Main St., suite 8 (above Coee Corner),
Montpelier. $15$40 sliding scale. Walk in or
schedule an appointment at montpeliercommu-
nityacupuncture.com.
Overeaters Anonymous. Tues., 5:306:30
p.m. Church of the Good Shepherd, Barre.
249-0414.
HIV Testing. Vermont CARES oers fast oral
testing. Turs., 25 p.m. 58 East State St., suite
3 (entrance at back), Montpelier. Free. 371-
6222. vtcares.org.
Overeaters Anonymous. Twelve-step
program for physically, emotionally and spiritu-
ally overcoming overeating. Fri., noon1 p.m.
Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier.
223-3079.
KIDS & TEENS
Mad River Valley Youth Group. Sun.,
79 p.m. Meets at various area churches. Call
497-4516 for location and information.
Imagination Station. Make original
creations with Legos and arts, crafts and other
building materials. Snack provided. Elementary-
age children. Trough Dec. Mon., 34:30 p.m.
Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St., Marsh-
eld. 426-3581.
The Basement Teen Center. Cable TV,
PlayStation 3, pool table, free eats and fun
events for teenagers. Mon.Turs., 36 p.m.;
Fri., 311 p.m. Basement Teen Center, 39 Main
St., Montpelier. 229-9151.
Story Time at the Kellogg-Hubbard
Library. Stories, songs and special guests.
Birth to age 5. Tues. and Fri., 10:30 a.m.
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St.,
Montpelier. 223-4665. kellogghubbard.org.
Story Times at the Waterbury Public Li-
brary. Baby/toddler story time: Mon., 10 a.m.
Preschool story time: Fri., 10 a.m. Waterbury
Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. 244-
7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com.
Story Time at the Jaquith Public
Library. With Sylvia Smith, followed by play
group with Melissa Seifert. Birth to age 6.
Wed. 1011:30 a.m. Jaquith Public Library,
122 School St., Marsheld. 426-3581.
Read to Coco. Share a story with Coco, the
resident licensed reading therapy dog, who loves
to hear kids practice reading aloud.
Wed., 3:304:30 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Sign up
ahead: 223-4665 at the childrens desk.
kellogghubbard.org.
Vermont History for Homeschoolers.
Te Vermont Historical Society oers educa-
tional sessions for homeschoolers, age 812,
in Montpelier and Barre. Wed. and Turs.,
13 p.m. Vermont History Museum, 109 State
St., Montpelier, and Vermont History Center,
60 Washington St., Barre. $5 per child; $4 per
child for three or more participating children
or VHS members. Preregistration required:
828-1413. For schedule go to vermonthistory.
org/homeschoolers.
Teen Fridays. Find out about the latest teen
books, use the gym, make art, play games and
if you need to, do your homework. 35 p.m.
Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St., Marsh-
eld. 426-3581.
Drop-in Kinder Arts Program. Innovative
exploratory arts program with artist/instructor
Kelly Holt. Age 35. Fri., 10:30 a.m.noon.
River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville.
888-1261. RiverArtsVT.org.
Write On! Are you full of ideas? Looking to
spin a story? Willing to play with words? Drop
in once or join us for the series. Age 610. Fri.,
3:304 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135
Main St., Montpelier. 223-4665. kellogghub-
bard.org.
MUSIC
Barre-Tones Womens Chorus. Open
rehearsal. Find your voice with 50 other women.
Mon., 7 p.m. Alumni Hall, Barre. 223-2039.
BarretonesVT.com.
Community Drum Circle. Open drumming.
All welcome. Fri., 79 p.m. Parish House,
Unitarian Universalist Church, Main and
Church streets, Barre. 503-724-7301.
Monteverdi Young Singers Chorus
Rehearsal. New chorus members welcome.
Wed., 45 p.m. Montpelier. Call 229-9000 for
location and more information.
Ukelele Group. All levels welcome. Turs.,
68 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St. 223-2518.
RECYCLING
Free Food Scrap Collection. Compost your
food waste along with your regular trash and
recycling. Wed., 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sat. 6 a.m.1
p.m. DJs Convenience Store, 56 River St.,
Montpelier. cvswmd.org.
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
Womens Group. Women age 40 and older
explore important issues and challenges in their
lives in a warm and supportive environment.
Faciliatated by Amy Emler-Shaer and Julia W.
Gresser. Wed. evenings. 41 Elm St., Montpelier.
Call Julia, 262-6110, for more information.
Mens Group. Men discuss challenges of and
insights about being male. Wed., 6:158:15 p.m.
174 Elm St., Montpelier. Interview required:
contact Neil 223-3753.
SPIRITUALITY
Christian Science. Gods love meeting
human needs. Reading room: Tues.Sat., 11
a.m.1 p.m.; Tues., 58 p.m.; Wed., 57:15
p.m. Testimony meeting: Wed., 7:308:30 p.m.,
nursery available. Worship service: Sun., 10:30
11:30 a.m., Sunday school and nursery available.
145 State St., Montpelier. 223-2477.
Shambhala Buddhist Meditation. Group
meditation practice. Sun., 10 a.m.noon; Tues.,
78 p.m.; Wed., 67 p.m. Shambhala Medita-
tion Center, 64 Main St., 3F, Montpelier. Free.
223-5137. montpeliershambala.org.
Deepening Our Jewish Roots. Fun,
engaging text study and discussion on Jewish
spirituality. Sun., 4:456:15 p.m. Yearning for
Learning Center, Montpelier. 223-0583. info@
yearning4learning.org.
Christian Meditation Group. People of
all faiths welcome. Mon., noon1 p.m. Christ
Church, Montpelier. 223-6043.
Zen Meditation. With Zen Afliate of
Vermont. Mon., 6:307:30 p.m. 174 River St.,
Montpelier. Free. Call for orientation: 229-
0164.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. For
those interested in learning about the Catholic
faith, or current Catholics who want to learn
more. Wed., 7 p.m. St. Monica Church, 79
Summer St., Barre. Register: 479-3253.
SPORTS & GAMES
Apollo Duplicate Bridge Club. All
welcome. Partners sometimes available. Fri.,
6:45 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main St.,
Montpelier. $3. 485-8990 or 223-3922.
Roller Derby Open Recruitment and
Recreational Practice. Central Vermonts
Wrecking Doll Society invites quad skaters age
18 and up. No experience necessary. Equipment
provided: rst come, rst served. Sat., 56:30
p.m. Montpelier Recreation Center, Barre St..
First skate free. centralvermontrollerderby.com.
Coed Adult Floor Hockey League. Women
and men welcome. Equipment provided. Jan.
12April 27. Sun., 36 p.m. Montpelier Recre-
ation Center, Barre St. $65 for 15-week season.
Preregistration required: bmoorhockey@gmail.
com or vermontoorhockey.com.
Galaxy of Orchids, Hilo Hawaii (1991) by Virginia Beahan and Laura McPhee. Chro-
mogenic color photographic print, 30 by 40 inches, showing at BigTown Gallery.
Class listings and classifieds are 50 words for $25; discounts available. To place an ad, call Carolyn, 223-5112, ext. 11.
Classifieds
SERVICES
ARTIST, MUSICIAN STUDIOS Solo or to
share starting at $150 monthly. Larger spaces of
various sizes available full-time or time-shared.
Join us as we transform a historic convent and
school at 46 Barre Street, Montpelier, into a
unique center for the arts, music and learning.
Call Paul for a tour at 802-223-2120 or 802-
461-6222.
EMPOYMENT
JOB TITLE: BOOKSTORE CLERK (PART-
TIME) Reports to: Facilities Management.
Job description: Vermont College of Fine
Arts is a national center for education in the
arts, located in historical Montpelier, VT. Te
bookstore serves students, sta, faculty, and
community members by oering literary titles
written by authors aliated with the college,
logo merchandise, and other commodities. Dur-
ing the twelve residencies a year when students
are on campus, we are looking for a few outgo-
ing, organized, tech savvy, dependable store
clerks to cover a variety of hours including days,
evenings, and weekends.
Qualications: Candidates would ideally have
previous experience working retail or in a college
environment and be comfortable with a exible
work schedule.
Candidates are encouraged to consult the
College website to acquaint themselves with
VCFAs distinctive academic schedule, learning
processes, and educational philosophy. Send
resumes to Rene Lacau at rene.lacau@dtz.com.
YOUTH SERVICES LIBRARIAN - Te Brown
Public Library, Northeld, VT seeks an ener-
getic, collaborative Youth Services Librarian for
a 20-hour a week position. Te Youth Services
Librarian will provide services and program-
ming for children, teens and young adults and
other duties. See www.brownpubliclibrary.org
for more information. To apply, send cover letter
and resume to director@trans-video.net. Ap-
plication deadline is December 30, 2013.

CLASSES AND
WORKSHOPS
TAI CHI FOR BEGINNERS Tuesday evenings
7:30 to 9 PM starting January 14th. Enjoy
learning these slow, graceful movements of this
ancient Chinese practice that are rejuvenating
and calming. Taught by Sara Norton. First class
is free. In Montpelier at 1 Granite street. Pre-
registration is not necessary. For more informa-
tion call Sara at 454-8550.
TAI CHI - Hwa Yu Tai Chi winter-spring
semester starts January 6, running 16 weeks for
$160. Payment plans available. New students
welcome - Mondays 5:00 pm, 64 Main St, 3rd
Floor, Montpelier. Instructor Ellie Hayes has
been teaching Hwa Yu Tai Chi since 1974. Pre-
register by January 5: 456-1983.
WRITING COACH. Struggling with beginning,
continuing, nishing? Need tools to start you up
and keep you working from concept to comple-
tion? Art is long, and life short. WRITE NOW
is what we have. Tirty years working in lm,
TV, theater and prose, coaching writers in all
genres. Free initial consultation. Tamarcole21@
gmail.com 802-225-6415.
FOR RENT
FLORIDA RENTAL: Unique property - 35
camper in central Florida in small quiet, marina
on undeveloped Lake Harris w/boat rentals,
swimming pool. Lake front lot w/own dock, ex-
cellent shing. Conveniently located to Disney,
airports, Ocala forest. Must appreciate closeness
to nature. Adults only (1-2), no smoking. Part-
nership in property available. (802) 229-9630.
Pamela Brady, MA., L.Ac.
Acupuncture
Sound Healing
Qigong
802-229-1800
soundspirit@tds.net www.pamelabrady.org
250 Main Street, Suite 206, Montpelier, VT 05602
Life. Live it Well.
Live life in balance with nature.
Cheryl Peterson
Holistic Health Coach
lifeliveitwellvt@gmail.com
802-522-3908
Congratulations to Nat Frothingham
and Te Montpelier Bridge
on twenty years.
A great local newspaper like
Te Bridge is indispensable
to a community like Montpelier.
We applaud your unbiased reporting
and your continued courage
to present all sides of a story.
Our very best wishes,
Paul and Melissa Perley
Paul Perley Cellos
PAUL PERLEY CELLOS
PP
Sales, repair, restoration, appraisals, and
rentals of all violin family instruments
802.229.1501 /www.paulperleycellos.com
Free Hot Spiced Cider while you shop! you sh shop op op op!!!!
NEWHOURS:
MON-FRI 86 PM
SAT &SUN96 PM
223-2740 www.morsefarm.com
1168 County Road, Montpelier, Vermont
Just 2.7 miles up Main St. from round about
MAIL
ORDERGift Packages
All grades/sizes maple syrup, cheese,
candy, jams, jellies, spreads, dips...
Come up and build your
own gift package!
Perfect time to mail a
Balsam wreath mail order!
BALSAM, FRASER,
FRALSAMAND
BALSAMWREATHS!
recycle this
paper
The First 20 Years at The Bridge

C
ritical to remember about The Bridge in its earliest four or five years is this:
We shared the paper. We put the paper out together. We had rotating editors.
Some of these editors were Phil Dodd, Bernie Folta, Kate Mueller, Jake Brown
and Glenn Gershaneck. Thats how the paper got started.
From my own perspective I feel its important to acknowledge Jake Brown, who
was the papers managing editor for a number of years. For a number of years, Jake
and I were business partners. When Jake decided it was time to move on, he did ev-
erything that a friend would do to help another friend who was left to run the paper
on his own. He organized people to help me. He continued to write for the paper.
He continued to serve on one committee after another, as the paper continued and
moved forward. And a number of other people performed in the same way. I was
never abandoned, never left alone. And as we mark our 20th anniversary, I want my
appreciation and thanks to Jake and others to be recorded, honored and remembered.
Education Spending Is
Beyond Our Means
To the Editor:
In the Vermont School Boards Associa-
tions October 2013 newsletter, Paul Cillo
claimed that Vermont is getting its moneys
worth in education, based on the 2012
Picus report. While our system does work
well at many levels, I strongly disagree that
the money we are spending is worth itor
necessary. Weve crossed a line of diminish-
ing returns, and its taking a toll on our
economy and quality of life. Our notorious
high cost of living keeps going up, spurred
by ever-climbing property taxes. What good
is a great school system if families cant af-
ford to live here?
The Picus reports statistics do confirm
that our schools are doing a good job. For
example, Vermonts NAEP (National As-
sessment of Educational Progress) scores
continually rank among the top 10 in the
nation, with a steady increase in high school
graduation rates. From 2003 to 2011, Ver-
monts test scores for both math and reading
in the fourth and eighth grades improved,
with math and reading scores above the na-
tional average. All good news, and kudos to
our teachers (who rank only 28th in salaries
in the nation, by the way).
However, is our per-pupil cost of $16,788
money well spent? Other Picus findings show
that the slight increases in NAEP math and
reading scores for fourth- and eighth-grade
students are less than the average increases
nationally and among other New England
states over this time period. Student per-
formance on most aspects of the New Eng-
land Common Assessment Program has only
modestly increased. And while Vermonts
high school graduation rate of 88 percent
is higher than the national average, only 60
percent of graduates enroll in college within
16 months of graduationa figure that is
below the national average and any other
New England state. Campaign for Vermonts
position paper, Putting Children First, cal-
culates that if Vermonts per-pupil spending
equaled that of Massachusetts, which has
better student outcomes than Vermont and
likely the best in the nation, Vermont educa-
tion costs would be $168 million less.
Maybe public schools are a bargain else-
where, but here in Vermont, were shopping
at Saks Fifth Avenue. Our state has the third
highest cost per student in the nation and
the highest in New England, even though
we rank only 19th in median household
income. We have the smallest average school
district size (299 students versus 929 in
New England and 3,212 in the U.S.) and
the smallest pupil-to-teacher ratio with 9.8
to 1. At the same time, our student popula-
tion declines every year, while our education
costs keep going up (increasing 8.3 percent
from 2012 to 2014).
This spending spree is unsustainable. Its
time to start focusing on productivity: how
to do more with lesswith technology, lead-
ership and good old Vermont ingenuity. And,
by the way, its time to stand up to the teach-
ers union. Only when these things starts to
happen will I join Mr. Cillo in declaring that
Vermonts truly getting its moneys worth.
Beverly Biello, Panton
Local Governance Needs
Objective Mediation
To the Editor:
One reason I moved into Montpelier,
after more than 20 years living in rural Ver-
mont, is because of people like Nat Froth-
ingham and Bob Nuner of The Bridge,
George Spaulding and Rachel Senechal
of Kellogg-Hubbard Library, and Mary
Hooper and Gwen Hallsmith in city gov-
ernmentwho all exemplify what unique
and generous individuals can contribute to
communal life.
So imagine my shock to hear, after set-
tling into my new home, that Hallsmith
has been fired for conflict of interest
because of her advocacy for a state bank.
When it comes to conflicts of interest,
its a toss-up who gets to throw the first
stone: the current mayor, a lobbyist for
multinational, profit-taking banks? The
city manager, beholden to the mayor and
City Council for his job? The landowners
on the planning commission attempting to
change zoning laws established in the city
plan, which Hallsmith helped develop? Its
also puzzling how Hallsmith personally
could profit from a state bank, given the
nature of public banks.
But what really disturbs me is there
seems to be no mediation system within
this system of governance for an impartial
review process. The city manager is tak-
ing the side of the mayor and the Plan-
ning Commission. City Council in turn
seems to simply rubber-stamp what the
city manager decides rather than providing
an independent mediation process. If this
is democracy, then our lovely state capital
is no better off than our national capital
when it comes to transparency, fairness and
advocacy for the public good. Ive known
Hallsmith through the Council of All Be-
ings, Transition Town and the New Econ-
omy Movement, where she demonstrates
leadership both visionary and practical,
offering positive routes for this city and
state to become sustainable and affordable,
as well as prosperous and compassionate.
As a public servant as well as a private citi-
zen, Hallsmith has already contributed a
great deal to our common good. Bill Fraser
also seems to be a dedicated public ser-
vant. One apparent observation about this
conflict might be that they, or their roles,
are incompatible. Such a situation cannot,
and should not, be resolved by a top-down
decision on his part about her perceived
insubordination.
Unfortunately. the outcome of this bu-
reaucratic maneuvering is likely to be an
expensive (for us taxpayers) and ugly legal
action resulting in the probable loss of
someone who still has much to give to our
city. How this either/or is a better alternative
than an impartial both/and conflict-resolu-
tion process mystifies me. This quarrel, if it
can be separated from the bank issue, feels
like a kind of municipal divorce, where
one partner gets to fire the other one. In a
better world, the larger community would
benefit more if both parties interests were
heard in the separation process, and a settle-
ment reached that enabled both of them, as
well as our larger family, to thrive. While
actual mediation would have to be carried
out by impartial negotiators, its possible a
creative City Council, or citizens advisory
group, could restructure city bureaucracy
so that both Gwen and Bill could continue
to serve us.
Margaret M. Blanchard, Montpelier
Keep the Heart of
Downtown Healthy
To the Editor:
The November 12 issue of The Bridge
Letters
Editorial
Joining Together
to Strengthen Downtown

A
downtown as deeply valued as Montpeliers downtown is not a community asset
we can take for granted, and perhapsand lets hopewere not taking this asset
for granted. In earlier years and simpler times, it was possible to imagine a down-
town, like our own, as a center of our social, civic and commercial life that would always
be there, like the sun coming up in the morning.
Well, thats not the case anymore, because surviving downtowns like our own are increas-
ingly threatened, and the threats are well known: big-box stores, malls with plenty of free
parking, catalog mail-order houses and, increasingly, the big kahunaonline shopping.
The downtown logic is unassailable. If we shop at a locally owned business, the local
dollars stay here and circulate here, and the local business provides local employment. I cant
remember a recent time when one of the big online purveyorsbe it books, prescription
drugs, clothing or whateverwrote a check so that a bunch of high school kids could take
a trip, or supported the local library or the local hospital, or tossed in a coin for any of a
hundred worthy, local causes.
Its fair to say that 2013 has been a pretty cruel year for downtown Montpelier business-
people in retail, restaurants and the like. Were aware of the commercial damage from dig-
ging up downtown. Now, whats needed in the holiday season is to shop downtown and give
downtown a big December boost.
In the near and long term, we need to look intensively at what we are doing to strengthen
all parts of downtownits historic look and feel, the events, the sales, the planning, the
business development and retention, the fire and flood prevention, the needed upstair
(second- and third-floor) development, the river walk, the transit center, the bike initia-
tivesand this list is just a start. All these efforts need to be rationalized, intensified and
driven forward.
Nelson Mandela:
A Portrait of Forgiveness

A
fter graduating from college in 1961, I became a participant in the Teachers for
East Africa project, and in 1962 I began teaching English at an African boys sec-
ondary school near Nairobi, Kenya.
In 1962, Im not even certain I was aware of Nelson Mandela. I was aware of changes
sweeping through Africa, as European states, like Britain and France, granted independence
to their former colonies. That was the context in 1962 when Nelson Mandela was arrested
and subsequently sentenced in 1964 to life imprisonment for conspiracy to overthrow the
South African state.
If I was only faintly aware of Mandela during my time in East Africa from 1961 to 1965,
what I do remember strongly from that period was the terrible apprehensionthen almost
universally shared among my white friendsabout what seemed almost an inevitability:
that the sharp divisions in South Africa between the white minority apartheid regime and
the majority blacks would one day explode into a savage race war.
That war never happened because of a miracle of negotiation that brought on a transition
from white to black rule. That Nelson Mandela is remembered and honored at the present
moment acknowledges his part in making that transition happen, an outcome of political
skill, leadership and a capacity not to forget but, perhaps in large measure, to forgive.
These quotes are from President Obamas speech at a state memorial service for Nelson
Mandela at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, on December 10.

Given the sweep of his life, and the adoration that he so rightly earned, it is tempting then to
remember Nelson Mandela as an icon, smiling and serene, detached from the tawdry affairs of
lesser men. But Madiba himself strongly resisted such a lifeless portrait. Instead, he insisted on
sharing with us his doubts and fears; his miscalculations along with his victories. Im not a saint,
he said, unless you think of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.
For the people of South Africa, for those he inspired around the globeMadibas passing is
rightly a time of mourning, and a time to celebrate his heroic life. But I believe it should also
prompt in each of us a time for self-reflection. With honesty, regardless of our station or circum-
stance, we must ask: how well have I applied his lessons in my own life?
featured the article Downtown Montpelier
Construction Woes? Depends Who You
Talk To. I was quoted as saying, my busi-
ness would be down even if this [the con-
struction] wasnt happening.
Allow me this opportunity to elaborate.
Downtown mom-and-pop, bricks-and-mor-
tar businesses operate in the greater mar-
ketplace of the world wide web and in the
shadow of the big-box behemoths. We face
enough challenges without the additional
burden of poorly planned and executed
projects by the city obstructing our ability
to conduct business. (I hope the long-term
benefits of the district heat project pay off,
but I dont think its going to happen in my
lifetime.)
The competition from the Internet is
undeniable. The cynic in me says that in
the future, the world of retail will be the In-
ternet and Walmart (the biggest of the behe-
moths). Anyone who thinks that Walmart
does not hurt the downtown marketplace of
a community has drunk their intoxicants.
The lure of acres of free parking asphalt
alone draws the crowds. The incessant al-
ways low prices advertising (which if you
really pay attention is more often than not
deceptive) has many of us brainwashed and
addicted.
The Internet offers a convenience factor
that is hard to resist, and when offered the
path of least resistance, which path do you
think most people take? It requires a com-
mitment and involvement in a community
to keep it vibrant and alive. Much easier to
just go to the megalithic corporate entity,
whether online or in a big box, take from it
what you want out of it and then walk away.
We extend our appreciation and gratitude
to everyone who makes that special effort to
support locally owned and operated busi-
nesses. Without a healthy downtown, the
heart of a community is at risk. Once the
dust settles and the obstructions of con-
struction are gone, we hope you will walk
the streets of Montpelier and enjoy that
which is and, with your presence and sup-
port, can and will be.
Fred Wilbur, owner of
Buch Spieler, Montpelier
Thanks to Those Who Helped
Injured Bicyclists
To the Editor:
You may recall that two bicyclists, Sophie
Gerry and Martin Veit, were hospitalized
when an impaired driver crossed the center
line of the road during the September 15
Tour de Farms and hit them head on. Im
delighted to report that both are recover-
ing very well from their injuries and expect
to resume their active lives, including all
the outdoor activities that they previously
enjoyed.
In the aftermath of the crash, a fund was
established with the goal of raising enough
money to replace the two bikes ridden by
Sophie and Martin. As a result of generous
contributions from many of you in the bike/
ped community and the generosity of Earls
Cyclery, Martin and Sophie will receive new
bicycles.
Sophies parents and Martins wife, Jill,
have expressed repeatedly how touched they
are by the many gestures of warmth and
kindness they have experienced in the past
two months. The following is part of a mes-
sage I recently received from Sophies father,
John Gerry:
The fundraising and the gift of the bi-
cycle testify to a genuine spirit of solidarity
and generosity. We really, really appreciate
this effort . . . thanks to Earls Cyclery and
to all who donated. I hope there might be
some way for you to communicate our grati-
tude to everybody who chipped in, as well as
to many others who helped in other ways.
Thanks again to all who have helped
these families to heal.
Nancy Schulz, executive director,
VT Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition
Dan Jones Announces Candidacy
for City Council
To the Editor:
Last month City Councilor Alan Weiss
announced his retirement. In so doing, he
leaves an opening in the council for a new
representative of District 3. This occasion
seemed to me to be a good time to put my
name forward to run for that seat in the
next town meeting day election.
Who am I? Im Dan Jones, a Northfield
Street resident of some four years, who
moved here because my wife and I fell
in love with Montpelier. My professional
background has included work with low-
income, community development and dis-
ability rights organizations, especially in
the areas of public communications and
media. My resume includes a number of
years as a consultant to major cities and
cable companies on plans for public access
and institutional uses of cable systems. I
also had my own business specializing in
producing and distributing travel videos
on New England. Vermont Life carried
our Vermont video in their catalog for 10
years.
As a committed citizen, I believe it is part
of my civic duty to offer time and attention
to the complex job of helping to govern our
wonderful little city. I hope that the citizens
of District 3 will allow me to bring such
talents to the council.
We know that Montpelier is one of the
best places to live in America, which is why
my wife and I chose to move here from
the Boston area. Its a friendly, small city
with enough urban ambience to keep life
interesting. When we first arrived, we were
struck with how everyone looks you in the
eyes and greets you.
After several years, I have come to un-
derstand that this is just a part of the open
and honest character of the people of cen-
tral Vermont, especially those in our state
capital. We need a commitment to stay that
way in the face of the economic and envi-
ronmental changes that are engulfing all of
us right now.
To meet our growing challenges, we will
have to do a lot of work to maintain the
best of our local values. We have a long and
proud tradition of a can-do, entrepreneurial
spirit. Montpelier has always been able to
think into the future and create opportuni-
ties; its citizenry has a history of public risk
taking that has paid off handsomely in the
support of our local economy.
I am proud to say that I was part of the
Montpelier Energy Advisory committee,
which helped launch and nurture our
most recent investment, the new district
heat system. As current chair of the com-
mittee, I believe it should be seen as a
major first step in making Montpelier a
model for the energy-efficient city of the
future. (As an aside, I want to thank ev-
eryone who lives and works here for put-
ting up with the downtown construction
of this system. And thanks, as well, to
the city administration for managing this
difficult project.)
In the next few years, there will be grow-
ing, predictable challenges for Montpelier.
Building a new transportation/commercial
center at the Carr lot will certainly be
a major effort. Other challenges include
providing for our rapidly aging population,
developing affordable workforce housing,
making the city more affordable for younger
people who want to work and live here and
creating a city-wide energy policy.
I can provide a positive force for address-
ing these and other issues, so I am asking
the voters of District 3 to give me their
votes on town meeting day. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact me at
225-6377 or danogenes@gmail.com.
Dan Jones, Montpelier
by Richard Sheir
U
pset downtown merchants recently
appeared before Montpelier City
Council. My wife, who owns The
Quirky Pet, was there with the others. The
downtown merchants spoke as victims of
a poorly managed construction project. In
the last issue of The Bridge, the city man-
ager further fueled the flames when, in my
opinion, he framed the downtown business
owners as whiners.

And Ive been thinking about this all week-
endhow to say this without sounding callous,
because I dont mean tobut when you do a
public project, you put a road through someones
neighborhood, the people along that street, they
get the dust; they get this so that everyone else can
drive over the road. And are they ever going to
get the equal benefit to whatever might happen?
. . . You know, theres always winners and losers
in that regard.

The mayor, in his letter to the editor, stated
that the project came in roughly on schedule.
Thats not true. Public Works director Todd
Laws letter of extension to the construction
company stated clearly that the project was
scheduled to run 150 days and end well be-
fore leaf seasonnot over 225 days, ending
around Thanksgiving. That is not roughly on
time by any definition. The mayor signed off
on Todd Laws construction extension.
Losing a leaf season is far from a little
dust, as the city manager frames it. That
kind of glib assertion was hurtful and deeply
offensive to those small downtown business
owners who appeared before council. Losing
a leaf season to a project that goes far over
what merchants were promised resulted in
losses in the low six digits.
In his Bridge interview, the city manager
further asserts we went out to businesses.
Thats not true. He never stopped in a single
business on Elm, State or Main to convey
project information to merchants. Thats why
the merchants ended up before the council.
Montpeliers city manager met with merchants
only once prior to the project. At the prepro-
ject meeting, they were handed a construction
map highlighted with deadlines that ended be-
fore leaf season. That would be their last map.
Though Kingsbury produced many updated
maps with new proposed end dates, only that
initial map was provided to businesses.
This wasnt how the pipeline project
started out. In early March, there is a memo
from the city manager indicating that Mont-
pelier Alive would handle merchant outreach.
Montpelier Alive proposed to do exactly what
the Barre Partnership did during the Big Dig:
put signs around town explaining construc-
tion to visitors, provide updated construction
maps for merchants windows and keep the
merchants in the loop on when to expect con-
struction directly in front of their businesses.
Montpeliers city manager chose not to fund
Montpelier Alives proposed Barre-style out-
reach. None of this happened in Montpelier.
In the Bridge interview, Assistant City
Manager Jessie Baker unfairly blames Mont-
pelier Alive.

I think we absolutely could have done more
from the beginning with the business commu-
nity. We were really relying on partners . . . to
come get information rather than doing that
push of information, and part of that was also
that we were daily managing the works.

In my opinion, Baker is scapegoating.
Montpelier Alive is in no way to blame. Dur-
ing the spring, summer and early fall, the
city managers office never even attended the
Montpelier Alive business committee meet-
ings or sent messages for the nonprofit to
convey to merchants.
Here is a typical short weekly description
issued in the weekly city managers report.
This week the contractor will work to finish
paving along Langdon, East State Street and
Main Street. During this time, parking may be
limited and traffic rerouted. Also early this week
the contractors will be completing the connection
from the heat main on Main Street to NECI.
During this period parking will be limited but
two-way traffic will be maintained.

These vague overviews were of no value
to merchants as they didnt mention ex-
actly where construction was taking place.
The Three Penny Tavern or McGillicuddys
couldnt even hazard an intelligent guess as to
how much perishable food to order during the
week. No business knew if parking directly in
front of their business would or wouldnt be
there. Nonexistent construction communica-
tions made it difficult for merchants on State
Street. It was far worse on Main Street. It
was absolutely devastating for businesses on
Langdon Street.
The complex planning to lay pipes under
a bridge was essentially completed for at least
a month or two prior to actual construction.
Yet it was mid-September, just three days
before their street closed, that Langdon Street
merchants learned their street was closing for a
critical month with a crude hand-scrawled sign
to indicate that stores were indeed open for
business. In fact there were no signs downtown
at all to explain to leaf-season visitors why our
downtown streets looked like Beirut during
their civil war. That oversight was inexcusable.
Watch the last City Council meeting on
ORCA Medias website. Listen to the down-
town merchants yourself, and decide whether
they are whiners, as I hold the city manager
contends. Hear Montpelier Alive clearly state
that it is not to blame as the city managers
office contends. My wife and the others are
a big part of what makes Montpelier a great
place to live and visit. We lost enough during
the leaf season that wasnt. We should not be
blamed and allowed to be victimized again.

Richard Sheir is a former writer for The
Bridge and the opinions he expresses here are his
own and not necessarily those of this newspaper.
Montpelier Merchants
Victimized by
Mismanaged Project
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
read something you want to respond to? We welcome your
letters and opinion pieces. Letters must be 300 words or fewer;
opinions, 600 words or fewer. Send your piece to editorial@
montpelierbridge.com.
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