The Bridge, January 23, 2014

Connecting Montpelier and nearby communities since 1993 | JANUARY 23FEBRUARY 5, 2014
H&W
IN THiS iSSUE
Health & Wellness Issue

By Nat Frothingham and Jerry Carter
Nat Frothingham and Jerry Carter of The Bridge recently interviewed Mark Larson, the top public official at the Department of Vermont Health Access, the state agency thats responsible for the rollout of the state-based health insurance marketplace under the federal Affordable Care Act or Obamacare.
courtesy Anjali Budreski
SPINNING THEIR WHEELS: Vermont Businesses Seek New Ways to Improve Employee Health
An Interview with Vermont Health Access Chief Mark Larson
Getting a Grip on Health Care Costs

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who moved from programs where they were paying a premium on their health care coverage to one where they would be getting free or low-cost coverage because of Medicaid expansion. And their costs would have gone down and their coverage would have increased. As part of the Affordable Care Act . . . eligibility for Medicaid was expanded. And in Vermont that impacted at least 34,000 Vermonters who saw their costs go down and their coverage go up.
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VerMOnt Single PAYer Gets A ChecK- Up
that 12-month waiting period is gone, and more Vermonters are able to access financial help than in the past. People who bought their health insurance alone, who didnt get their coverage at work, used to find that it was pretty complicated to know where to get coverage and how to compare coverage. One of the benefits right now is there are convenient options to be able to compare [health insurance] plans, to look at them side by side, to know the price and the design of those plans and then to select the plan you think is best for you and your budget. Bridge: What has the Vermont Health Connect rollout cost? Larson: I believe we have spent $38 million on the rollout of Vermont Health Connect so far. We have been authorized to spend up to $171 million. But we have not spent that amount yet. I think the $80 million that people refer to is the amount of the total contract CGI, our primary vendor for the development of this technology. But thats the maximum amount over the course of the contract. That is not what we have paid them so far. So far we have paid them about $18 to $19 million for the work they have accomplished. Bridge: I dont see the value in the $80-million contract cost to CGI. Do you think Vermont is getting a good deal with the money we are spending? Larson: I agree with you that this is a very expensive project, and I think we would agree that there is a much simpler way of providing health coverage to all Vermonters, and that is what we have proposed to move to in 2017 [with a single-payer system]. However, the federal government has
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When PArents Split, cOunselOrs AnD LAwYers Unite
In a wide-ranging question-and-answer discussion, Commissioner Larson commented on todays health care system, which is taking almost 20 cents out of every dollar that is spent in Vermont and that he believes has become unsustainable. Larson also talked about the ongoing Vermont Health Connect rollout dating from early October 2013, which has been variously described by advocates as complicated and difficult and by detractors as inefficient, costly and confusing. In a later part of the discussion, Commissioner Larson turned his attention to Vermonts projected single-payer health care system that could begin to be implemented as early as 2017. For more on this topic, turn to page 6. The Bridge:The Vermont Health Connect rollout began last October. Since then theres been a lot of negative press attention about the problems with the rollout. But looking at the larger picture, what do you see as the positive impacts of the Affordable Care Act and the Vermont Health Connect state-based health insurance marketplace? Commissioner Larson: Lets assume we had no technical challenges with the rollout and everything went swimmingly. The advantages that Vermonters would be seeing would include 34,000 Vermonters
PRSRT STD CAR-RT SORT U.S. Postage PAID Montpelier, VT Permit NO. 123
_____ We have a health care system that has gone from about $4 billion for all Vermonters to $5 billion in the past four to five years. _____
Bridge: The media has focused on the fumbled rollout, but there must be good things happening here. Larson: The Affordable Care Act includes financial help for Americans to access coverage if they dont get coverage at work. The Affordable Care Act will help many Vermonters financially by lowering their monthly [health insurance] premiums and limiting their out-of-pocket expenses. Another component is that Vermonters that were on VHAP and Catamount had, in essence, premium assistance for their coverage. Both of those programs have a requirement that you had to have 12 months in which you were uninsured before you could sign up. That has been eliminated now. In the past you had to wait and pay [for health insurance] yourself or go uncovered. Now
The Bridge P.O. Box 1143 Montpelier, VT 05601
continued on page 6
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J a n ua ry 2 3 F e b rua ry 5 , 2 014 pag e 3
STREET
Local Nonprofit Seeks Applications from Potential Grant Recipients
HEARD ON ThE
Nature Watch
T T
he J. Warren & Lois McClure Foundation is currently requesting letters of interest from potential grant recipients for the 20142015 school year. The foundation is committed to providing people with access to workforce and postsecondary education. Organizations that cater to low-income students, first-generation college students, adult learners and/or veterans will receive priority. Nonprofits are encouraged to apply, and letters of interest should be submitted by February 27, 2014. More information can be found at mcclurevt.org.
ast week, when it was above zero degrees all day every day, everything seemed possible. The sun was higher and warmer, and on the big snow-covered hayfield were billions of snow fleas of a sort we had never seennot as small, longer and slower than those that have peppered the woodlands for some years. And not the bigger snowmelt variety we see when puddles of melt water are everywhere. How could we have missed them all these years? No matter, its now a dim memory as we are locked into a dry Arctic high. We are all, man and beast, challenged by the vast, deep cold, and the house timbers noisily crack and boom as fibers freeze and twist. Nona Estrin
Migrant Workers Celebrate New Driving Privileges

o commemorate the enactment of the new Vermont law that makes it possible for undocumented workers to receive Vermont drivers licenses, dozens of migrant workers and allies showed up at DMVs across the state to exercise their new right on Friday, January 17, in commemoration of Martin Luther King Day. The new law, which went into effect on January 2, 2014, allows undocumented migrant farm workers the opportunity to acquire drivers privilege cards, making it legal for them to operate a motor vehicle in this state. This newly won right is hoped to lessen the isolation that many migrant workers have been subject to for years while spread out on remote farms and unable to communicate with others or receive vital services.
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he UVM Extensions Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the Cornell Extension and a team of farm advisors have concluded a three-year study on growing shiitake mushrooms in New England. The study is available through the UVM Extension, and the study group hopes that local farmers and foresters can use it to diverse their products. Shiitake mushrooms are currently selling for $10 to $18 per pound throughout New England.
Vermont Farm and Food Sector Ads 2,200 Food System Jobs
ermont has seen an increase in 7,654 jobs since 2009. Of these, 2,200 have been in the farm and food sector. The growth in this sector has received support from initiatives such as the Farm to Plate Investment Program that began in 2009 under the Douglas administration and the Working Lands Enterprise Initiative that began in 2012 under the Shumlin administration. These numbers mark the completion of a growth that the Farm to Plate Strategic Plan, written in 2011, had originally hoped to achieve by 2021. With support from consumers, farmers, businesses, and the state, Vermont has been able to meet this goal in just the first four and a half years.
FRIDAY, January 31.

Advertising: For information about advertising deadlines and rates, contact: 223-5112, ext. 11, carolyn@montpelierbridge.com, rick@montpelierbridge.com, or erin@montpelierbridge.com
12-Year-Old Justin Murray Sings with the VSO

ustin Murray of Calais, who attends seventh grade at U-32 Middle and High School in Montpelier, will perform in Leonard Bernsteins Chichester Psalms as the boy soprano soloist. Robert De Cormier is overseeing the production and has cast Murray as the boy soprano soloist. Performances will be held Saturday, January 25, at 8 p.m., at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts in Burlington and on Sunday, January 26, at 3 p.m., at the Paramount Theatre in Rutland.
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David Huddle Teaches at Johnson State College this Semester
avid Huddle, an award-winning Vermont author who has published 17 books of fiction, poetry and essays, will be teaching and mentoring students in Johnson State Colleges BFA degree program in creative writing this semester. Huddle brings with him 38 years of teaching experience at the University of Vermont and many years of service on the faculty of Middleburys Bread Loaf School of English. He will teach the class Form and Theory of Writing and serve as a senior thesis advisor to student fiction writers. He will also present a public reading at the college.
Barre Teacher Receives Award of Excellence
n January 10, Spaulding High School teacher, Katie Sedore, was surprised when Governor Shumlin and Dr. Jane Foley, senior vice president of Milken Educator Awards, pronounced her the winner of the $25,000 Milken Educator Award. The award was presented at a special assembly at Spaulding High School auditorium, Barre, attended by Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe and Mayor Thom Lauzon, among others. The award acknowledges Sedores achievements and contribution to her community and is designed to serve as an aid in furthering her dedication and commitment to the community that she serves. A ninth-grade language arts teacher, Sedore extends her commitment to education beyond the classroom. Whether it is running the after-school homework club or teaching at the Granite Academy, an alternative program started by Spaulding Highs special education department, Sedore gives herself completely to her work. The Milken Family Foundation hopes that this award will help enable Sedore to continue her great work.
P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601 Phone: 802-223-5112 | Fax: 802-223-7852 montpelierbridge.com; facebook.com/montpelierbridge Published every first and third Thursday
Editor & Publisher: Nat Frothingham Managing Editor: Jerry Carter Production & Calendar Editor: Kate Mueller Advertising Sales Manager: Erin McIntyre Sales Representatives: Carolyn Grodinsky, Rick McMahan Graphic Design & Layout: Jen Sciarrotta Cover Design: Mason Singer of Laughing Bear Associates Bookkeeper: Kathryn Leith Distribution: Kevin Fair, Diana Koliander-Hart, Daniel Renfro, Anna Sarquiz Website Manager: Jen Sciarrotta and Jerry Carter Editorial: Contact Jerry Carter, 223-5112, ext. 14, or editorial@montpelierbridge.com. Location: The Bridge office is located at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, on the lower level of Schulmaier Hall. Subscriptions: You can receive The Bridge by mail for $50 a year. Make out your check to The Bridge, and mail to The Bridge, PO Box 1143, Montpelier VT 05601.
Copyright 2014 by The Montpelier Bridge
350Vermont Urges State Legislature to Divest Pensions from Fossil Fuel Industry
embers of Vermonts chapter of 350.org are lobbying for Vermont Legislators to support a bill that would prohibit the state from investing state employee pension fund money with the fossil fuel industry. The group, 350Vermont believes that by divesting from fossil fuel companies they will be able to limit the lobbying power that these companies currently have both in Washington DC and in Vermont. Currently there are two bills that support this proposal H.271 in the House of Representatives and S.131 in the Senate. 350Vermont will be sponsoring a youth day of action at the State House on Friday, February 7. Students and classes from around the state are encouraged to attend. Send inquiries to aly@350vt.org or call (802) 444-0350 for more information.
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Staying Healthy Throughout Life Wellness Programs for Students and Seniors
by Julia Barstow ddressing health and wellness is important throughout life. Through classes and programs, the Central Vermont High School Initiative, Sterling College and the Montpelier Senior Activity Center are focusing on the health and wellness of the people they serve.
techniques during music class to warm up and take care of their vocal chords. Students are also learning swing dance and run twice a week. In the future, the president of CVHSI, Marianne Donahue Perchlik, says in addition to integrated health and wellness curriculum, topics such as drugs and alcohol will be specifically addressed in a health class. Each Thursday, CVHSI hosts a community lunch, often using ingredients donated by local food producers. Crystal Madeira, the chef-owner of Kismet in Montpelier, teaches students how to prepare a meal that takes into account food sensitivities and allergies. Each meal offers gluten-, dairyand nut-free options, as well as vegetarian dishes. A team of students cooks the meal and another cleans up. While the students learn the basic elements of nutrition, they also learn social health skills. Each week, a guest is invited to the community lunch. Students make conversation and share the meal with their guests around tables they built themselves. Donahue Perchlik says that curriculum surrounding health and wellness will grow as our school grows. Sterling College Sterling College is a small liberal arts college located in Craftsbury. It is one of seven work colleges in the nation where all residential students work at least 80 hours each semester. Students have opportunities for exercise through such activities as working on the school farm, running trails and cross-country skiing. Sterling has a Wellness Team on campus, which ensures a safe, welcoming, and vibrant community by providing direct assistance to students, as well as developing programs that improve the quality of life and learning. Like CVHSI, Sterling College sees mealtimes as important to students well-being. Faculty, staff and students eat together at the same tables and talk with each other. In addition to sourcing food locally, the college raises about 20 percent of its own food. This includes vegetables, herbs, rabbits, turkeys and chickens. Director of Communications Christian
Feuerstein said of the farm program, We find that fresh, local food not only contributes to our communitys overall health, but also being part of a living system that supports our entire community enriches our students lives immeasurably. All students work on the farm during their time at Sterling, and the college is working toward becoming a self-sufficient institution largely feeding itself. Montpelier Senior Activity Center The mission of the Montpelier Senior Activity Center (MSAC) is to enhance the quality of life for older adults in Montpelier through opportunities that develop physical, mental, cultural, social, and economic well-being in a welcoming, flexible environment. They accomplish this for their 800 members through the classes, presentations,
bowling. MSAC hosts presentations and workshops on a variety of wellness topics, such as fall prevention, diabetes prevention, meditation and nurturing positive relationships. The director of the center, Janna Clar, emphasizes that all MSAC classes and activities promote wellness because they keep people engaged in lifelong learning, stimulation and socialization. Through a partnership with Good Taste Catering and Just Basics, Inc., MSAC offers three meal programs. Feast at Home delivers to eligible seniors and disabled people in Montpelier and Berlin Monday through Friday. Feast Together is served on site every Tuesday and Friday at noon. Feast to Go offers takeout meals for the general public every Thursday. Chef Justin Turcotte prepares the meals, with the help of volunteers. MSAC hopes to expand these health and
Students at the Central Vermont High School Initiative prepare a healthy meal. Photo courtesy Central Vermont High School Initiative.
The Central Vermont High School Initiative The Central Vermont High School Initiative (CVHSI) is a Waldorf school in its first year and currently serves 10 ninth-grade students and seven 10th-grade students on the campus of Goddard College. Currently the school is working to integrate wellness into other subjects. At CVHSI, students have been doing yoga as part of their anatomy studies and have learned self-massage
Sterling College students and faculty bring it together before a kickball game on the scenic Craftsbury Green. Photo courtesy Sterling College.
clinics and meals that are offered at the center. This session, enrollment for movement classes accounts for a little over half of the 653 total class registrations. MSAC also has partnerships with local fitness facilities, which allow members to take part in swimming, water aerobics, tennis, gym and
wellness programs as membership grows. These organizations are taking an integrative approach to wellness through the programs they offer on nutrition, exercise and education. These efforts demonstrate the growing awareness of the importance of pursuing healthy lifestyles.
Yoga at the Montpelier Senior Activity Center. Photo courtesy Montpelier Senior Activity Center.
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T H E B R I D G E
The Bottom Line of Wellness at Work

by Amy Brooks Thornton healthy employee makes a healthy business. Businesses save about two dollars for every one dollar invested in wellness programs, says the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) in its paper Demystifyng ROI: What You Can Expect from Workplace Wellness Programs. And thats very conservative. The Society for Human Resource Management cites studies that, depending on the type of wellness program, show the return is as high as six dollars for one invested. The United States Department of Labor goes further stating that employers save anywhere from $5 to $16 for every dollar spent on an Employee Assistance Program . . . an essential component of a healthy workforce.
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classes, a 1.2-mile outdoor par course with 18 fitness stations and a cafeteria that incorporates fresh, healthy, locally grown and made foods into the menu. At lunch and learn sessions, health specialists, such as herbalists and nutritionists, give miniworkshops. National Life employees dont have to leave the campus to eat well or to take advantage of the reiki practitioners, chiropractors and masseuses who come to National Life weekly or biweekly. But if an employee wants to zip downtown at lunch or take a midday romp in the snow, National Life provides four bicycles, spare helmets and snowshoes. About 150 National Life employees run or walk in the yearly Corporate Cup race, which winds through downtown Montpelier. And about 90 employees are now participating in the Biggest Loser Contesta weight-loss competition based on the television series. National Life also hosts a health fair in the fall where local vendors and
What is the return? Companies investing in their employees health make a substantial return in lower health care costs, greater productivity, less absenteeism, [and] stronger employee moral and retention, cites the Vermont Department of Health, Agency of Human Services. On its Vermont Worksite Wellness Resource website, in Creating a Healthier Worksite, the department states: In any given year, 20% of a typical workforce will experience personal and workplace problems that distract employees, reduce their productivity, and increase their risk of accidents. When these problems go unaddressed they not only affect the morale of individuals, but also often have ripple effects throughout a workplace. Supervisors and managers end up spending time addressing these problems instead of focusing on other important work concerns. In Vermont where about 60% of adults are overweight or obeseputting them at risk for chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, stroke, gallbladder disease, and certain types of cancerand fewer than 60% meet the physical activity guidelines, it can only help the bottom line if businesses actively support and encourage their employees to be well. And stress free. Stress is the single common denominator for the majority of todays most serious chronic health conditions. Staying Healthy at National Life National Life Insurance Company, headquartered in Montpelier, Vermont, works to make their stress-less vision (To Bring Peace of Mind to Everyone We Touch) a reality in the workplace through their LIFE wellness program. They offer an onsite fitness center, group exercise studio and
Employees working out on site at Dealer.com. Photo courtesy of Dealer.com portive companies attract more prospective employees. Look at Dealer.com, a Burlington-based company that is a pioneer in creating online marketing for automotive dealerships and whose goal is to make the car-buying process better, faster, and simpler. Founder Mark Bonfigili states on the companys website that from the beginning we set out to create a unique, fun, and enterprising culture in order to develop and attract the best and the brightest talent in the industry. Through its wellness program, also called Life, Dealer.com provides a wide range of onsite amenities for its employees including: organic cafs, indoor tennis and basketball courts, an average of 40 fitness classes a week, subsidized Community Supported Agriculture memberships with food delivered directly to the company, physical therapy and chiropractor services, and a Life Coach who works with employees for six months at a time to help them become physically and psychologically healthier. Although Dealer.com does not provide numbers for the return on their investment in their workplace culture - to create a work environment that boosts our energy and creative output helps recruit and retain the industrys top talent and fuels a work hard, play hard spirit - their growth strongly suggests correlation. In 2011, Outside Magazine named Dealer.com one of Americas Best Places to Work; in 2013 Dealer.com received the Gold Standard Award from the Vermont Governors Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Worksite Wellness Committee for the fourth year in a row. And in 2013, Inc. Magazine put Dealer.com on its list of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States again seven years in a row. Could that change now that Dealertrack Technologies, based in Lake Success, New York, offering web-based software solutions and services for the automotive retail industry, is in the process of purchasing Dealer. com? Dealer.coms Director of Corporate Communications, Alison von Puschendorf comments on the effects of the acquisition on Dealer.coms culture and Life program: We look forward to sharing our innovative approach to health and wellness with [Dealertrack Technologies]. [Its] something we bring to the table and they appreciate as an important part of our culture. Start-ups and Wellness Programs In 2012, Fast Company magazine ranked Vermont second highest in the country for start-ups per million residents. In the same year, the National Small Business Association published its finding that small startup businesses are the most likely of all small businesses nationally (those having two to 100 employees) to offer wellness programs. Thirty-four percent of firms in operation for less than five years provide their employees support for healthy living. Young companies, it seems, see the bottom-line value in investing in their employees health, and with Vermont as a start-up magnet, the state seems poised to become not only a healthy place to work but a financially viable one as well. Unfortunately, Fast Company ranks Vermont as only 22nd in the country for the most thriving startup communities. Vermont takes pride in being a healthy state, the healthiest for four years in a row from 2009 to 2012, and in 2013 the second healthiest after Hawaii. Perhaps if more Vermont businesses adopt the wellness-isgood-for-the-bottom-line doctrine, it could be one of the best states for business too.
_____ Businesses save about two dollars for every one dollar invested in wellness programs _____
health professionals present information to help National Life employees breathe a little more easily, which, in turn, improves National Lifes bottom line. Like many companies, National Life employees have to sit at their desks much of the day, which may be harmful to movementoriented Homo sapiens. On the Mayo Clinic website, James A. Levine, M.D., Ph.D., writes in Sitting risks: how harmful is too much sitting?: Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndromea cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. At National Life, employees have the option to sit or to stand. If you have a problem with your back or knee, says Janice Blais, National Life employee and LIFE program committee member, you have the option of a mobile workstation where you can sit or stand. Some do both. Life Wellness Program at Dealer.com Wellness programs also help create larger hiring pools, says WELCOA, since sup-
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The Vermont Option

Funding Single-Payer Health Care
by Jerry Carter
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Vermonters are currently spending nearly $5 billion a year on health care. That is estimated to rise to $10 billion by 2019 if the state fails to make any reforms to the current system, according to the November 2011 special legislative report Cost of Vermonts Health Care System: Comparison of Baseline and Reformed System.
Through this process, Gobeille hopes that Vermonters will see that a lot of the initiatives that single payer would include are already receiving funding, and others would have existing funds redirected to them. He said, The dollars are there now is the point. Gobeille and others hope that through new and improved cost-saving techniques, they will be able to bring the cost of health care down, making it more affordable and sustainable in the long run. Last year, the administration decided that one such measure, tort reform, which would set new limits on the scope of medical malpractice suits, was not in the best interest of Vermonters. Gobeille echoed the administrations concern stating, Thats a very deep and serious issue. Its not as simple as we should do X or Y. There are key reasons why caution is needed. With the administration and legislators shying away from cost-saving measures, such as tort reform and the revenue-raising payroll tax, there are serious questions about how the state will reel in costs on health care and find a way to finance its proposed single-payer system. Gobeille remains optimistic: Act 48 [the 2011 legislation that established GMCB and set Vermont on the path toward Single-Payer] said that were to move toward it [single payer] in 2017 and work on cost containment until then. It didnt say that we were going to finance it quickly and in an off year . . . Were working on trying to build a system of health care that grows at a reasonable rate. If you cant do that, then you cant finance it. To simply finance it right now [would mean that] you didnt do the first step, and thats not the right way to do it. Mark Larson, the commissioner of Vermont Health Access, hopes that over the next three years the state will be able to implement some of the cost-saving techniques that it has proposed and move toward making health care in Vermont, more efficient, fair, and equitable. In order to make this a reality, Vermonters will have to maintain the political will, which enabled the discussion of single payer in the first place. It is not just the political will of Vermonters that single payer is contingent on. The ultimate decision to implement a singlepayer system comes down to a waiver from the federal government. This waiver is needed from the president, because a single-payer system would redirect federal moneys allotted to the state under the Affordable Care Act. With a presidential election in 2016, it is unclear whether or not Vermont will be able to realize its ambitions for single-payer health care.
This report, compiled by the Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office (LJFO) and the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration (DBISHCA), explored the different costs and savings that proposed single-payer health care reform could create. Estimates were based on the Vermont Option, a proposal by William C. Hsiao, Steven Kappel and Jonathan Gruber. The LJFO and DBISHCA report noted, If action is taken in each area of potential savings discussed in this report, savings will begin in 2014 and rise rapidly for the next several years. In 2020, savings are estimated to range from $553 million (5.5%) to $1.8 billion (18.3% of total spending). The report clearly stated that these savings would not come without a cost. Just how much that cost will be remains unclear. Two studies since thenone conducted by the University of Massachusetts (UMass), at the request of the Shumlin administration, and the other done by Avalere, at the request of a group of businesses, hospitals and insurance companiesestimated that health care reform could cost the state anywhere from $1.6 billion (UMass) to $2.2 billion (Avalere). Neither the high nor the low estimates are costs that Vermont can afford to absorb into its budget. State legislators are currently facing a deficit of over $67 million. Al Gobeille, the chair of the Green Mountain Care Board (GMCB), said that it might not be this bleak, stating that it is more of a shift in spending rather than an increase. When asked how the state plans on selling Vermont single payer to Vermonters, many of whom are already feeling the strain of increasing property taxes, Gobeille said, The question is, what makes something attractive in terms of the specific situation? Gobeille describes our current health care as an octopus, where there are tentacles of Health care spending all throughout the geography. Its hard to account for all of that spending and to know what is working and what is not. He says that it is time to bring those tentacles back and give consumers the opportunity to see where the state is already providing and paying for services efficiently and where it is not.
Interview with Mark Larson

Continued from page 6
passed a law that we have to comply with, and it includes the development of either a state-based insurance marketplace, like Vermont Health Connect, or making Vermonters use the federal health benefit exchange . . . It [building a state exchange] is the right choice for Vermont. And I appreciate that the expense of building that system so that Vermonters can access its benefits is very high. Our expense is consistent with the expense of other states that are doing state-based exchanges. So I dont think we are [over]spendingI think our expenses are consistent [with other states], but I also appreciate that it is a substantial investment. Bridge: When do you think Vermont Health Connect will be fully operational? Larson: There are three very important components for us to accomplish to be more fully functional to the consumer. That includes the ability to invoice, collect premiums and enroll small groups. It includes the ability to allow for the paychecks of premiums through debit cards, credit cards and electronic checks. And it includes the ability to make changes to your coverage in an automated fashion on the website. We have become very careful about not setting specific dates for the implementation, but those are the top priorities that we continue to identify to CGI as work that we need to have done for Vermonters to feel like everything that they thought they would be able to do today, they will be able to do. Bridge: Do you think Vermont will get the [federal] waiver to go forward with single payer?
Larson: Im very optimistic about our ability to work with the federal government to get the waiver we need to move forward with in 2017. Bridge: Is that a legislative or executive decision? Larson: No, its executive. It requires no action by Congress. Bridge: How do you answer someone who says, if the state of Vermont cant handle the rollout of Vermont Health Connect, how can they be expected to run a single-payer health care system? Larson: I do appreciate that, and I think that Vermonters have a reason to be frustrated with the last three or four months . . . The largest risk that we always knew was a reality for the implementation of Vermont Health Connect was the schedule provided for us by the statutory deadline of the October 4 implementation date. All the way through the early months of 2013, we were still waiting on important information about the requirement for what we were building because the federal regulations were not in place. We were still waiting for some decisions at the state level. So we built a very complicated system in a very short period of time because we had no flexibility as to when we started. That was always a risk, and it was a risk that ended up playing out.
rollout], but I think that its important to look at the work that was done to ensure that despite the technology issues, Vermonters have not experienced gaps in their coverage. Weve done that by providing different options announced by the governor, by working with our partners, including Blue Cross and MVP, and by working with navigators and brokers that have been working directly with Vermonters in this transition. So fully recognizing that there have been any number of technical challenges, Vermonters havent experienced gaps in coverage, and people are getting coverage, and some of them are Vermonters who havent had coverage in the past. Bridge: Year by year, how can we afford the dramatic increases in the cost of health care? Larson: We would say we cant. We have a health care system that has gone from about $4 billion for all Vermonters to $5 billion in the past four to five years. Now, were quickly moving toward $6 billion. And that is simply an unsustainable growth in the cost of services to Vermonters. And thats simply to maintain the services that people are able to get today without adding new services. At the same time, we still have 40,000 Vermonters that are left out even though if they have an emergency they can still access care and it still gets paid for. And we dont get, in many ways, the results that other countries are getting [in health outcomes], even though in other countries they are paying less. I think the change in our system is inevitable. The question is how we best manage to make sure that all Vermonters are covered, and we actually control the growth in that cost, and then get better outcomes for the dollars we do spend.
Heres something else. We now have almost 20,000 Vermonters who have signed up for coverage and are either enrolling in Medicaid or in Blue Cross or in MVP plans. And we have accomplished that without gaps in coverage. And so you can look at the technology component [the A Gathering of Physicians, Artists and Scribes. Hands in trust. Custodians of Light.
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T H E B R I D G E
What Vermonters are Doing to Stay Active and Healthy this Winter
Sub zero temperatures, freezing rain, harsh wind chills and let us not forget snow can make living in Vermont difficult this time of year. Still, many Vermonters find fun and exciting ways to stay active even in the winter months. Here are some of the ways that people in Central Vermont are staying active and healthy this season.
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A man stretches his legs on the track around Morse Farm. Photo by Photo by John Lazenby/lazenbyphoto.com
Katy Leadbetter of Fusion Studio in Montpelier stays loose all winter long through regular yoga classes. Photo courtesy Katie Leadbetter.
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Erin Roya from Williamstown being assisted on the Pilates Reformer with instructor Hope Sharp at Essential Physical Therapy & Pilates in Montpelier. I love the Reformer, it clears my head and makes me feel stronger-- mind, body, the whole thing, said Erin about the classes she has taken at Essential. Photo courtesy of Rosemary Leach.
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VCFA / MFA in Visual Art / Student Exhibitions /

/ in Alumni Hall and VCFA Gallery / Wednesday, January 29thSaturday, February 1st, 10am7pm. / / Graduation exhibition opening / in the VCFA Gallery / Tuesday, January 28th, 7:30pm /
MFA in Visual Art Winter 2014 Residency Symposium:

Join an interdisciplinary presentation and discussion on issues of multiculturalism and tolerance; how struggles for societal expression and political agency factor into the individual artistic practice.
/ Program Symposium / Sunday, January 26th / 9am-Noon, Chapel
Raul Ferrera-Balanquet
(Artist-in-Residence)
TALK
Silvia Federici
TALK
Jolene Rickard
TALK
Decolonizing the Unconscious: Re-Surging Ancestral Cultural Alliances
The Unnished Feminist Revolution and the Politics of the Commons
Tactical Refusal: Global Indigenous Art
vcfa.edu/visual-art-events
T H E B R I D G E
Collaborative Law Process: A New Paradigm for Divorcing Parents

By Joyce Kahn
Whats worked well for you as a couple, and what are the hot spots? How will you react in a meeting with your spouse? This is an opportunity to assist people in managing difficult emotions and in communicating effectively so that parents feel heard and respected even when they disagree. If they can strengthen or learn new skills in this process, it will benefit them long after in their ongoing coparenting relationship. Richard Witte: When people are in a heightened emotional state, it is more difficult to think clearly, and often anger and fear escalate. How do you manage these emotions so they dont dominate? The range of possibilities shuts down when one is angry. We teach people to go from affect to thought. It is our job to make sure that people do not cut off their feelings, but that the feelings do not dominate. Kahn: Why is the stability of the parents so important to the kids? Witte: Children with good parenting are curious. When they feel safe and secure, they are free to explore their world and themselves with their parents supporting this process. For example, a toddler who feels secure will go off perhaps into another room to explore, and then come back to check that the parent is still there. A parent secures the child so he can go about his life and doesnt have to think about his personal safety. This is true throughout parentingin adolescence as well. When divorcing, parents are often preoccupied and have a lot on their mind. They are hurting, everybody is hurting, their worlds are rocked. Continuity is no longer in place. The child may be frightened and no longer attending to exploration of his world and himself; he may be concerned with how mom and dad are doing and the changes that are taking place in his world. Meanwhile, the parents are going through the same thing. The agenda shifts: they are worried about the same security and stability needs that the child is. The kids are not held securely in the same way. In the collaborative process, parents decide on and agree to work towards certain goals regarding the children. The lawyers work to help the parents negotiate and come up with creative solutions that will be in their best interests as well as addressing the special needs of the children. The couple has the support of both the lawyers and the mental health professionals. When it works and the family regains a feeling of security, then the children are free to explore and focus, again, on their own developmental needs. Gresser: A six-year-old child I once had in therapy explained it this way: Your mom and dad are like your two legs. When Daddy leaves, there is only one leg to stand on, and Mommys crying all the time. What if I cant stand on this one leg? Both parents are a part of the child just like both legs. A divorce can be difficult and affect a childs sense of security. Since the child identifies with both parents, if the parents are angry and at odds with each other, it can affect the childs sense of self-esteem. Kahn: Whats new about this? Do you have any special training? Gresser: In this model, all the professionals have received special training in collaboration, working as a team with the parents to creatively resolve issues rather than to go to litigation. This is very different than each person meeting in an office with his or her lawyer, then the lawyers talking among themselves and sometimes going before a judge, who determines what happens. This is not therapy but coaching, where we use the therapeutic skills we have to help and support both parents in a neutral way toward their common goals. Sometimes it is helpful for parents to discuss their childrens developmental needs and differences in crafting a visitation agreement that works best. In the traditional process, the emotions people are coping with are often sidestepped as lawyers may lack training to deal with this area. What can happen is that, left unattended, the anger, fear and disappointment often get played out through substantive issues of visitation, custody and property settlement. In some cases this, may be heightened by our cultural context that emphasizes justice and retribution, which well-meaning friends might encourage. This ultimately does not help the couple achieve their mutual goal of providing support to the children. In this model, the emotional territory is recognized and supported as the mental health professional (as well as attorneys) try to help the couple navigate and handle their feelings and communicate constructively and respectfully. This process helps to protect children from the damaging effects of a highly contentious divorce, as it fosters and preserves mutual respect between parents. In fact, often during the CL process, parents learn new skills that will help them going forward in their communications and negotiations with one another. The process helps parents focus on the future and unite around doing the best they can as coparents. Kahn: What is the impact of the process on children? How is this prevention in terms of negative future repercussions on children? Gresser: We know that there is a direct relationship between how well children cope during and after a breakup and how effectively parents are able to coparent. Good coparenting requires parents to communicate with clarity, respect and courtesy. The most devastating impacts of divorce occur when: (1) conflict between parents remains at a high level during and after the divorce or break up. (2) A parent goes away or becomes unavailable emotionally or physically to a child, and the critical attachment between parent and child is damaged. (3) Children become emotional caretakers of one or both parents. The stability of the child depends on the parents. CL supports the parent to find emotional support other than the child, to stay engaged and calm, and to work toward a settlement without escalating conflict and hurt feelings. Witte: In the Virginia study [Hetherington, E. Mavis, and John Kelly. For Better or for Worse: Divorce Reconsidered. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2002], kids were found to look pretty good. When parents dont lose sight of the kids and [childrens] feelings are resecured by the parents, kids heal quickly. Kahn: How can CL be made more available to the less affluent, educated and psychologically savvy parents in our community, who are divorcing with children? Currently only 25 percent of those divorcing avail themselves of the process. Gresser: By providing educational outreach, we are getting the word out to the community about the CL alternative. We will be talking to ministers, hairdressers, doctors and other community members who parents may talk to when they are facing a breakup. We also plan to make presentations at libraries and host an open house. We know that with the CL approach, there is the additional up-front cost of the mental health professional and sometimes the child specialist and/or financial advisor, but the design of this method, which helps the couple maintain positive, constructive communication, often avoids litigation and produces a durable, long-lasting agreements, which is frequently much more cost effective in the long run. Witte: CL is not for everyone. A fair settlement has to be more important than winning. CL is less expensive than the traditional route of a litigated divorce. It is a more thoughtful approach. Julia Gresser, LICSW can be reached at 2626110 or sulia@fairpoint.net. Richard Witte, Ph.D. can be reached at 223-0180.
Mental Health Professionals Julia Gresser and Richard Witte. Photo by Joyce Kahn.
n this health and wellness issue of The Bridge, Joyce Kahn interviewed Julia Gresser and Richard Witte, mental health professionals practicing in Montpelier, about the effects of divorce on children and how the collaborative law process can enhance positive outcomes.
Joyce Kahn: What is the collaborative law process? Julia Gresser: It is an innovative and creative process that allows clients to stay in the drivers seat as their lawyers and mental health professionals assist them. In this dispute resolution process, clients focus on cooperative problem solving and finding creative solutions while working together as a team. Each client retains a lawyer trained in collaborative techniques to assist them, and they agree to work together without going to court. The clients, lawyers and a specially trained mental health professional as well as, when needed, a financial specialist and/or child specialist form a team to develop solutions that work for everyone. Kahn: What is your role in the process and in terms of safeguarding childrens interests? Gresser: We help clients maintain respectful communications, even when they disagree, and to communicate in an effective manner. We also help parents with issues related to their childrens welfare. When we ask parents about their goals, they often agree that the welfare of their children is of the utmost importance. In the collaborative model, we remind parents of this and other goals they have identified. Then, by reducing open conflict between parents and helping them negotiate respectfully, cooperative parenting during and after the settlement is enhanced to minimize the impact on the children. One of the common denominators in most divorces is heightened emotions of grief, disappointment, hurt and loss, which easily can turn to anger (such as the wish for revenge or to hurt the other spouse). Attorneys are not always well trained in dealing with fragile and volatile emotions. In the collaborative model, the emotional landscape is acknowledged and discussed. We ask,
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THE BRIDGE
A Message from City Hall

This page was paid for by the City of Montpelier.
Montpelier City Council Goals for 2013: How Did We Do?

by John Hollar, Mayor Municipal Taxes Working together, City Council, the city manager and his staff have restrained the rate of growth in Montpeliers municipal tax rate. While our median tax bills remain high, our tax rate increased by only 0.5 percent in 2013. This years proposed budget calls for an increase of 1.8 percent. The two-year average places us well below the rate of inflation. This is a significant accomplishment given the sizeable increase we have made in capital spending, as well as the progress we have made on the range of projects described above. Our city staff deserve a great deal of credit for proposing budgets that meet the councils goal of minimizing tax increases, while also making more efficient the delivery of city services. Other Priorities Address parking pressures This is an ongoing challenge that has been difficult to solve given the limited availability of land in Montpelier and the cost of building a parking garage. Nonetheless, a parking committee has spent a great deal of time, working closely with the state, to develop alternatives. This will be an ongoing focus of attention in 2014.
Two Charter Proposals:

The March City ballot will include two separate charter proposals.
City Charter Amendments:
he start of the new year is a good time to look back at how the city fared on its goals for 2013. The city council established an ambitious set of priorities last spring. I am pleased to report that we have made major progress on most of them. Here are some highlights: Municipal Projects The city made major strides in 2013 on three projects that were a priority for the city council:
Biomass project The city completed construction of the biomass distribution system in downtown Montpelier in 2013. The project was completed on budget and largely on schedule, although it created significant disruption in the downtown area for many months, and it had a major financial impact on a number of merchants. The city is now operating a smallscale distribution system through the use of City Hall boilers, and we plan to connect to the states biomass plant this fall. I am proud to say that our city offices, many of our largest downtown buildings and Union Elementary School will be heated with renewable energy beginning in October. Carr lot After a dozen years of discussion and activity, the city acquired the Carr lot on January 2, 2014 for $1.4 million. This was more than we had anticipated paying for the site, but it allowed us to avoid the expensive, time-consuming and uncertain process of eminent domain. The acquisition costs will be paid almost entirely from project funds, which include federal grants and revenue from private development on the site. This is an exciting project that will result in the construction of a new transit center on Taylor Street; the completion of the bike path from Main Street to Taylor Street; the construction of a new bike and pedestrian bridge over the North Branch; the creation of new river access; and the development of new public green space. Construction is expected to begin this fall and should be completed in 2015. Bike path We have made a great deal of progress this year toward completing the bike path from Granite Street to the Civic Center. The city is expected to finalize rights-of-way, easements and permitting for the project this spring. Construction work will then be bid, and the path is expected to be completed in the fall of 2015. Bikers and walkers will able to use the path to travel the entire length of Montpelier.
Infrastructure City Council set an ambitious goal of increasing our investment in city streets, bridges and sidewalks over five years to ensure that they are repaired and maintained in good condition. We estimate that this will require us to spend about $800,000 more each year than we have been spending. The 2015 budget calls for an increase of $166,000 in infrastructure investments, after a similar increase was made in this years budget. Residents should notice a significant improvement in the quality of city streets and sidewalks.
annie tiberio cameron
Improve the flow of information to and from the community The city is developing a new website, which is expected to launch in the fall of 2014. This modernized site, along with improved protocols for communicating about city efforts, will help us present better information to the public and obtain feedback about how we are doing. The city did not meet this goal with respect to the delivery of information about construction of the biomass plant, so this is an area that will require greater attention in the coming year. Become a nationally known bike- and pedestrianfriendly city The Montpelier Bike Advisory Committee, formed in 2011, meets regularly and is developing meaningful plans to make Montpelier a more bike-friendly community. Thanks to the work of Councilor Jessica Edgerly-Walsh, the council approved a plan to devote 5 percent of all parking revenues toward improved infrastructure for alternative transportation. With those fundsabout $45,000 per yearwe should begin to see more bike lanes and markings, bike racks and other improvements to make Montpelier a more bikefriendly place. Explore alternative energy initiatives With the guidance of the Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee, the city issued a request for proposals this fall to install photovoltaic arrays on city property for the purpose of generating energy for use by the city through group net metering. The Energy Committee is currently reviewing responses from seven vendors and will make a recommendation to the council later this winter. Support and promote a vibrant downtown I have met regularly with representatives of the farmers market during the past year to encourage them not to move from downtown Montpelier. The market is now committed to staying downtown, but it continues to seek a more permanent location. The council and the voters also approved the creation of the Downtown Improvement District, which has created a significant new source of funding to make our downtown more appealing. Finally, the city has worked closely with Montpelier Alive on a range of other projects, including the creation of new parklets for downtown merchants and the periodic closure of State Street for events. Montpelier Alive continues to be an essential partner with the city in promoting our downtown.
Montpelier is fortunate to have talented and dedicated city employees and volunteers. Their hard workalong with the work of my colleagues on City Councilis responsible for the citys progress in 2013.
The City Council appointed a committee to review our Charter in its entirety for inconsistencies, anachronisms and recommendations. Five citizens Nancy Sherman, Paige Guertain, Jonathan Williams, Michael Doyle and Earl Fechter combed through the entire document with assistance from Attorneys Paul Gillies and Paul Giuliani, Vermont League of Cities and Towns Director Steve Jeffrey and city staff. This group proposed changes to all sections of the charter except for those relating to the schools. These recommendations were reviewed and approved by the City Council for voter consideration. The amendments are largely grammatical, practical and nonsubstantive in nature with very little policy changes.
Regional Public Safety Charter Proposal:
The Cities of Montpelier and Barre and Towns of Barre and Berlin have been working together for four years on developing a workable form of regional public safety service provision. Montpeliers representatives in this effort have been City Council Members Tom Golonka and Alan Weiss. The services being considered are Police, Fire, Ambulance and Dispatch. The proposed charter would legally create such an authority but would not require any service changes or incurred costs. Any binding decisions in the future will need to be approved by each local governing body. The full text and a summary of both proposals will be distributed in advance of the election.
T H E B R I D G E
City Council Meeting

January 8 and 15 Meetings
by Ivan Shadis A spate of public hearings were heard in the first half of January as City Council and organizations before them rushed in preparation of the ballot which will be voted on at the Annual City Meeting to be held Tuesday, March 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the City Hall auditorium. Excerpts on the regular January 8 and special January 15 meetings are printed below. January 8 Regular Meeting Julie Hendrickson and Eliza Dodd Leeper of the Montpelier Community Fund (MCF) board of directors offered their recommendations for the FY15 allocation of these municipal funds to nonprofit organizations. By this recommendation, $111,600 would be meted out with $102,350 in general grants to 30 recipients and $9,250 in arts grants to 10 recipients. The council moved to approve the spending contingent on the city budget passing. Carolyn Silsby, manager of the Capital City Band, questioned why her organizations funding was cut to $1,000 from the historically granted $1,500. Hendrickson explained that the high participation of nonresidents in band events put an undue burden on Montpelier taxpayers, who pay for the grants, and suggested the band solicit donations at events or seek support from other cities. Silsby pointed out that the bands free and inclusive nature attracted consumers who bolstered Montpeliers economy. The council determined it was not in a position to second-guess the now-approved suggestions of the MCF board but advised that organizations could still seek funding by petitioning to be put on the ballot. The council recognized Ben Eastwood regarding the public banking initiative, with Mayor John Hollar recusing himself from the discussion over a potential conflict of interest. The initiative is a call from the municipality to the legislature to create a state bank. Similar language was recently approved to go on the ballot of East Montpelier by that municipalitys select board. Eastwood argued that the creation of a state bank would create savings and additional funding opportunities for municipal projects and was therefore in the interest of the council to support. He mentioned Anthony Pollinas bill S.204, before the legislature this season, which would authorize the Vermont Economic Development Authority to function as a bank and invest state funds locally in contrast to the investment policies of the large private banks, where the state treasury is currently held. During this meeting, councilors decided time was needed to review the information; later, during the January 15 special session, they voted to place language in support of the initiative on the ballot. Hollar praised City Manager Bill Fraser and his staff for producing a budget close to level funded and at or below the rate of inflation for the second year in a row, saying it was noteworthy in the current economic climate. During the closing remarks of the January 8 meeting, Councilors Andy Hooper and Thierry Guerlain, as well as Hollar, announced their intentions to run for reelection. January 15 Special Session During the special session of the council held on January 15, members of the KelloggHubbard Library board asked that the council place its $308,673 budget request on the ballot as it has in previous years. Councilor Tom Golonka expressed concern that residents of other communities may be benefitting unduly from library services paid for by Montpelier taxpayers. The council voted unanimously to put the library budget on the ballot with the abstention of Guerlain, who had that day been appointed as chair of the library board. A public hearing on nonsubstantive changes proposed for the town charter came and went quietly. If voted for, the revised charter will undergo legislative review. In a historic liaison, Mayor Thomas Lauzon of Barre called members of his council to order before the Montpelier City Council to discuss language for the chartering of a Public Safety Authority, which could be vested with powers to orchestrate emergency services from both Barre and Montpelier. Representatives from Barre Town and the Berlin select board sat in attendance; these towns are also envisioned as potential partners. Lauzon commented favorably on existing cooperation and trust between the municipalities and depicted the chartering of the authority as a natural extension of existing mutual support. He went on to identify the unions that represented the different emergency services as important partners in moving forward. Pending a second public hearing taking place January 23, language may be put on both towns ballots. If favored during the March vote, the charter would then face legislative review. An ordinance requiring pet owners to dispose of their pets waste on public or private property was contested by John Akielaszek of the tree board, who warned that the ordinance could have the unintended consequence of injury if pet owners, in pursuit of their pets off trail, trip over uneven terrain or are exposed to tick-borne illnesses. The council acknowledged that the greater responsibility levied on pet owners by this ordinance would require that they act with caution respective to the related risks and passed the ordinance unanimously.
How can we save the earth and ourselves?
A Conversation with Bill McKibben

Brought to you by The Vermont Town Hall Friday, January 31, 7 pm Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe
Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben is the author of a dozen books about the environment and the founder of the global grassroots, climate campaign 350.org. Time Magazine dubbed him the planets best green journalist and the Boston Globe said in 2010 that he was probably the countrys most important environmentalist.
David Goodman
Join us as best-selling author and journalist David Goodman (moderator) and McKibben discuss: What is the future of winter? Is global warming a foregone conclusion? Why is the environment worth getting arrested over?
What is The Vermont Town Hall? Founded by four friends, The Vermont Town Hall is a dialogue series whose goal is to bring lively, engaging, public conversation on big topics to our home state.
Admission is $5 in advance. www.sprucepeakarts.org/event/bill_mckibben/
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T H E B R I D G E
The Montpelier School Board is currently making a final decision on the elements of a proposed FY2015 School Budget that will likely to call for a proposed 13.04 % tax increase. This tax increase only applies to school spending. Voters at March City Meeting last year approved a school budget with a 9.9 % increase. If we assume that this years proposed 13.04 percent school tax increase is approved then Montpelier residents will have voted to increase their tax support over the past two years by 22.94 %. The pie chart below accounts for the principal elements in this years school budget increase of 13.04 %, which amounts to 18.7 cents on the tax rate.
2.6 cents accounts for the states Common Level of Appraisal (CLA). Property values in Montpelier have risen in comparison with property values across the state. To even out this disparity the state is assessing Montpelier for 2.6 cents. 2.6 cents
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8.8 cents mandated by the State of Vermont: as in 7.0 cents for a state tax increase. The balance of 1.8 cents is an increase in the state base payment to Montpelier (or per pupil cost.)
7.3 cents 8.8 cents
Proposed Montpelier School Budget

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Hands-On Gardener
Restraining Rosalina
by Miriam Hansen anuary is the month for ordering seeds, and this year is no exception. Ive been ordering from catalogs as long as Ive been gardeningabout 35 years. The catalogs have changed from Gurneys and Stokes to Fedco and Johnnys, but the basic process has remained the same. Go through my seed box and jettison onion seeds over two years old and most other seeds more than three or four years old. Pore over scrumptious photographs of tomatoes and sweet corn, petunias and zinnias and try to restrain my seedbuying alter ego, Rosalina, the impetuous, insatiable aspect of myself that is difficult to control when it comes to buying seeds. Apparently Rosalina is not alone. A friend with a very small garden who buys her seeds off the display shelf in garden centers recently admitted that even though she cant really eat radishesthey upset her stomachevery year she buys a couple of packets: I just get to thinking, they come up so fast and look how beautiful they are. Maybe this year Ill be able to tolerate them. Every year she grows them and every year she throws them away. Ive gotten somewhat better about restraining Rosalina when it comes to vegetables. There have been years Ive grown three or four varieties of Brussels sprouts, even though Im the only one in the family who enjoys them. Seven kinds of onions, four kinds of cabbagesthe list goes on. All right, I have to admit I ordered three kinds of broccoli this year. But some are extra early; some produce huge, domed, ultratight heads; some have so many side shoots Ill be amazed! You get the picture. This is called marketing, and it works. Im not sure why it has taken me so long to figure this out. Something about buying seeds makes gardeners feel so virtuous, so allied with nature and all that is right with the world. Surely the mere fact that we are planting and growing our own food, making gardens of flowers, entitles us to splurge a little, go hog wild? Maybe it is time to rethink this. Johnnys is selling Cheyenne Spirit, 25 seeds of gorgeous coneflowers (Echinacea) in colors that range from orange to purple, scarlet to cream. Rosalina thinks she has to have them, but even if only 10 germinate, where is she going to plant them? After years of moving perennials around, Ive begun to understand why landscapers begin with a design and only start shopping for plants when the design is complete and the beds are prepared. For 35 years Rosalina has had free rein. Maybe its time to exercise a little restraint. I wont buy that packet of Echinacea seeds. Instead, I might see if my neighbor, who surely has her own Rosalina to contend with, might be selling a pot or two of the Echinacea shes
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grown from seed. She has some in every hue and shade! Then, too, instead of cramming every inch of the garden with vegetables and flowers, this year I will leave a third fallow, plant a cover crop and let the soil rest and renew. I feel remarkably virtuous. That said, Ill confess to ordering two kinds of radishes (Cherriettes and French Breakfast), two kinds of pole beans (Fortex and Northeaster), three kinds of bush beans (Provider, Maxibel and Montpellier), four kinds of broccoli (Arcadia, Fiesta and Belstar) the list goes on. Rosalina and I are still debating whether to buy one seed packet of dwarf Twinny snapdragons or three: if you buy three you get a price break. As you can see, it is not easy to talk sense to a wild monkey when it comes to ordering seeds. I would suggest the following guidelines. Consider the amount of space you have to plant in. Think about the requirements for the plants you think youd like to grow. Fruiting plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant really do need sun to produce well. Do you have a sunny spot, a dappled yard or full shade? Do you love to garden or do you just want to grow your own spinach because youre tired of spending four or five dollars on a bag of greens? Really be honest with yourself about what you are trying to achieve. That same friend, who cant resist a picture of radishes, told me she grew something she couldnt identify when they matured. She finally figured out she had grown beets! Shed forgotten she planted them and by the time they were full grown realized there were too many for her to eat. Think about this when you plant. Each seed when it germinates really will become a plant that you will either transplant outside or, if started in the ground, will grow into a plant you will need to either eat or process in some way. I am still interested in producing enough food for my husband and me and the twentysomethings who continue to dip into our larder. I will continue to grow enough extra to sell and give away, but I think this might be the summer and fall to do some traveling. Maybe I dont really need to be a commercial grower. At least thats what Im telling Rosalina this year. Happy ordering! Miriam and her husband, David, live in East Montpelier, where they grow most of their own vegetables, berries and meat on less than one-quarter of an acre. Your questions and comments are welcome. You can reach Miriam at freshair460@gmail.com.
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READY, SET, GROW!
Yes, it's still January, but spring is coming (we promise).
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We also carry grow lights, starting trays, heat mats and a variety of germinating mixes and potting soils.
In the upcoming March 20 (2014) issue of The Bridge our gardening columnist Miriam Hansen from East Montpelier will be answering as many questions as she can from gardeners just starting out and gardeners with many years of experience. If you have any questions along these lines, please send your questions to Miriam at freshair460@gmail.com or write Miriam a letter mailed to this address: Miriam Hansen, 460 Sparrow Farm Road, Montpelier, VT 05602
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T H E B R I D G E
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Chandler Center for the Arts presents

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Friday, February 7, 7:30 PM Thanks for the Joy
Performing on their own and together, longtime friends and collaborators join forces to celebrate a night of joyful roots music in Randolphs intimate Chandler Music Hall
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SUNRISE TO SUNSET: EVERYDAY AROMATHERAPY Lauren Andrews RN, Certified Aromatherapist Wednesday, February 12th 6-8pm $20/$18 for members ($8 materials fee) THE ENERGETICS OF DEPRESSION Sarah Van Hoy, LAc Wednesday, February 26th 6-8pm $12/$10 for members RECIPES FOR HEALING: HERBAL SALVES Emma Merritt, Clinical Herbalist Monday, March 10th 6-8pm $17/$15 for members ($5 materials fee) NATURAL REMEDIES FOR STRESS Shona Richter MacDougall, Clinical Herbalist Wednesday, March 12th 6-8pm $12/$10 for members
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Tech Check
Newer Is Not Always Better
Of course, the technology companies try to convince us that newer is always better. Lately, Im hearing from more people who are finding the opposite to be true. Whether it was being one of the first to upgrade to Apples iOS7 or being disappointed with Windows 8, I often hear about the dissatisfaction that many have with supposed improvements to technology. The challenge is that companies have to make more stuff to stay in business. Then they have to convince you to buy that stuff. Telling you something is just as good as it has always been wont suffice, so they make changes, whether theyre needed or not. Anyone who has used QuickBooks for their accounting knows that its always been a good product. Yet, year after year, new releases of QuickBooks change things that dont need changing, such as the location of menu items. QuickBooks is certainly not the only example. You may be wondering why, in a column dedicated to helping you understand technology and how it impacts your life, Im railing against it. My goal is not to speak against technology, but rather to caution you on blindly upgrading. Newer is not always better, and thus simply purchasing the newer version of a product may not be the best course of action, even if the old one is failing. I know a number of my customers who spend considerable sums to support old, sometimes 20-year-old, software in their business. They do this because the new versions of the product dont work as well or have some issue that they cant remedy. I know of many organizations that regret costly upgrades that they were assured would solve all their problems. The way to avoid these pains is simple: research and plan. Ive often spoken on the need for planning the technology purchases you make. I rarely discuss the research, though. When considering an upgrade, talk to the people who actually use it. I find the reviews by technology writers to be a poor way to make a decision. If its an upgrade for your business, you may want to seek out organizations that are using the software. Never take anything the sales team tells you as true, as Ive seen them outright lie to make a sale. If you want to speak to someone at the company selling the product, the support team is usually the place youll get the most honest answers. Of course, if shiny new gadgets and gizmos interest you, as they do me, make sure you check out everything thats come out of CES 2014. There are sure to be a few things of interest. When it comes time to integrate those gadgets into your lives, though, make sure you do your homework. Jeremy Lesniak founded Vermont Computing (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.
by Jeremy Lesniak
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s I write this, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is getting ready to kick off in Las Vegas. As a tech fan, this is always an exciting time of year, and a busy one for those of us who write about technology. However, as a consultant to those who see tech as something they need, CES represents almost everything that is wrong with the industry. Every year, tech companies release a multitude of new products. Youll never hear about most of them, as theyre either insignificant, not stocked on shelves or both. CES was originally a trade show, where retailers would come together and see the latest products from the manufacturers. Then the Internet came along,and retailers could do all that legwork through e-mail and websites. With that shift, CES slowly became a marketing machine, with manufacturers targeting not the retailers that will carry their products, but the users of these products. While there are over 3,000 companies exhibiting at CES this year, there are far, far more people in attendance. A good percentage of those people are journalists, which is why for the few weeks before, during and after CES, theres little to say about technology other than to comment on something that happened at CES. The problem is really one of innovation. CES is not a place where companies demonstrate things theyre merely testing. Its closer to being a big store, though the shoppers cant buy anything. For the last few years, CES has been filled to the brim with products that already existed. True, they may have been larger or smaller or even a different color than a previous product. One of the most covered products last year was a vibrating fork. The lack of innovation comes from a good number of factors, but mostly because the tech industry has matured so much. People are holding onto their computers longer, because the changes from year to year are so small. Were starting to see the same thing with cell phones. Most of us keep our cars more than a couple of years, and not just because theyre expensive. Why go through the expense of a purchase when youre not getting anything for it?
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T H E B R I D G E
Painting by Ken Leslie, on exhibit at the Vermont Supreme Court.
JAN. 23
Navigating the New Vermont Health Care Exchange. Learn about Vermont Health Care Connect with Peter Sterling, executive director of the Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security. 25 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St, Montpelier. 223-3338. kellogghubbard.org. Alexander Technique Workshop. For bodyworkers and health and healing practitioners. 5:307 p.m. 79 Main St., Montpelier. Free. Registsration: 223-7300. balanceofbeing.com/ wp/workshops. Memories of Montpelier with William Doyle. Twelve senior Montpelier residents share their stories as kids during the days of trolley cars and ice delivery wagons. 6:307:30 p.m. Cosponsored by the Montpelier Historical Society. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338. kellogghubbard.org. Ecumenical Group. Songs of praise, Bible teaching, fellowship. Second and fourth Thurs., 79 p.m. Jabbok Center for Christian Living, 8 Daniel Dr., Barre. Free. 479-0302.
Green Mountain Dog Club Monthly Meeting. Learn about the club and events. All dog lovers welcome. Fourth Thurs., 7:30 p.m. Commodores Inn, Stowe. 479-9843 or greenmountaindogclub.org.
KaBlume@gmail.com. Suggested donation: $10 to benet Vermontivate, a community sustainability game. facebook.com/ events/1412552488979105/?ref_dashboard_ lter=upcoming. vermontivate.com.
LGBTQQ Youth Group. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning youth age 1322 enjoy free pizza, soft drinks and conversation. Facilitated by adult volunteers trained by Outright VT. Second and fourth Fri., 6:308 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. Free. outrightvt.org. Dark Times for Bats. Wildlife biologist Mollie Matteson, from the Center for Biological Diversity, talks about why bats are important and the multiple threats to bat survival, including disease, pesticides, climate change and largescale wind energy. 7 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St. Montpelier. $5 suggested donation. Great Green Mountain Bob Dylan Wannabe Contest. 79 p.m. Montpelier High School. To compete in the Bob Dylan contest, e-mail
JAN. 24
JAN. 2425
Superbowl of Birding XI. Winters premier birding competition is back. In the past ve years, NBNCs youth and young adult teams have tallied 92 species. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier. 229-6206. info@northbranchnaturecenter.org.
JAN. 2426
Frostival. Three days of winter events promoting physical movement in Montpelier. Most events free and family friendly. Information: Festivals@ montpelieralive.org or 223-9604. For full list of events and descriptions: montpelieralive.org/ Frostival-2014.
Snowshoe, Groton. With the Green Mountain Club. Moderate. About 5 miles. Snowshoe to Peacham Bog and return. Contact leader Steve Lightholder at 479-2304 for meeting time and place. Pancake Breakfast. Benet for the church. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available. 810:30 a.m. Unitarian Church of Montpelier, 130 Main St., Montpelier. Tickets available at the door. $8 adult; $5 child; $25 family up to ve members. 223-7861. Mammoth Book Sale. Thousands of books on every subject, priced $2 and under. All proceeds benet the library. 9 a.m.1 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, Old Schoolhouse Common, School St., Marsheld. 454-7767. Everybody Wins! Vermont Ninth Annual Read-a-Thon. Free, family-friendly event celebrating literacy and mentoring. Attendees read books aloud, in pairs and small groups, to break last years record of books read in an hour. Marko the Magician, snacks, prizes and free books for kids.13:30 p.m. National Life Building, 1 National Life Dr., Montpelier. Free. 229-2665. bonnie@ewvt.org. Creating an Herbal Medicine Chest for Cold and Flu. With Rebecca Dalgin. Learn how to use plants to support immune health along with herbal approaches to cold and u care. 1:303:30 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, Old Schoolhouse Common, 122 School St., Marsheld. 426 -3581. jaquithpublibrary@gmail.com. marsheld.lib.vt.us. Hot Stove Banquet. Meet award-winning movie actor Giancarlo Esposito at fundraiser for the Vermont Mountaineers. Dinner, a silent auction and video presentations. Meet and greet at 5:30 p.m. Capitol Plaza, Grand Ballroom, Main St., Montpelier. $45 adults; $25 children under 12. Table of eight $360. Tickets: 223-5224 or thevermontmountaineers.com. Snow Ball.Join us for Frostivals creative blacktie formal. Dance instructor: Samir Elabd. Music by Montpelier Chamber Orchestra String Quartet. Food and drinks. 7:30 p.m. City Center, Montpelier. $10 advance;$15 door; $20 couple at the door.Tickets: 223-9604 or montpelieralive.org.
JAN. 25
Performing Arts
DANCE
Feb. 5: Open Rehearsal/ Outside Installation and Performance of Animal. Hanna Satterlee presents her work in progress. 1:152:45 p.m. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Rd., Plaineld. hannasatt@gmail.com. hannasatt.wordpress.com.
barn Theatre, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Rd.,Plaineld. Free. 454-8311. goddard.edu. Jan. 31: Capitol Steps. Political satire troupe. 7:30 p.m. Barre Opera House, 6 N. Main St., Barre. $22$28. 476-8188. Feb. 2: Mass Appeal Comedy Showcase. Ellington Wells, Kathleen Kanz, Chris Parker, Joel Chaves and Carmen Lagala. First Sun., 7 p.m. Sweet Melissas, 4 Langdon St., Montpelier. $5. Feb. 5: Lamb Chop Loves America: Mallory Lewis and Lamb Chop. Proceeds support Rhythm of the Rein Therapeutic Riding Program, Marsheld. 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Fuller Hall, St. Johnsbury Academy, 1000 Main St., St. Johsnbury. $15 adult; $5 eighth grade and younger. Tickets and information: 748-2600. catamountarts.org.
Feb. 69: The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler. Thurs. Sat. 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall Arts Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier. $20 adults; $15 students and seniors. 229-0492. info@ lostnationtheater.org. lostnationtheater.org. Feb. 7: Laugh Local VT Open Mic Comedy Night. Montpeliers monthly comedy open mic, open to the general public. If you are a comic and want mic time, this is the place. Sign up 7:30 p.m.; show 8 p.m. American Legion Post 3, 21 Main St., Montpelier. Free, but dough nation$ welcome. 793-3884. Feb. 9: See No Evil and Lunches. Staged readings of two new plays: See No Evil by Maura Campbell and Lunches by Roger Strauss. 7 p.m. Chandlers Upper Gallery, 71-73 Main St., Randolph. $10 advance, $12 door; $5 students. 728-6464.
THEATER, STORYTELLING & COMEDY

Jan. 25: Vermont Vaudeville. 7 p.m. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Rd.,Plaineld. $8$12 advance; $10$15 door. 533-2589. VermontVaudeville@gmail.com. VermontVaudeville.com Jan. 31: Vermont Vaudeville. 7 p.m. Big Picture Theater, Waitseld, Vermont. $8$15. 533-2589. VermontVaudeville@gmail.com. VermontVaudeville.com. Jan. 31: Why I Lost the Popularity Contest. Performative poetry reading by Magdalena Gmez from her new book due out in spring 2014. Followed by a Q&A. 7:30 p.m. Hay-
Dancers performing in Hanna Satterlees Animal. Photo by Joseph Shelley.
THE BRIDGE
Ski for Heat Central Vermont. Cross-country ski and snowshoe fundraiser for heating fuel assistance. 9 a.m.4 p.m. Morse Farm Ski Touring Center, 1168 County Rd., Montpelier. 793-7674. MFA in Visual Art Winter 2014 Residency Symposium. Join an interdisciplinary presentation and discussion on issues of multiculturalism and tolerance; how struggles for societal expression and political agency factor into the individual artistic practice. 9 a.m.noon. VCFA Chapel, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 36 College St., Montpelier. Free. vcfa.edu/visual-art-events. History and Meaning of Orthodox Iconography. Slide show and talk by iconographer Dmitri Andreyev. Church tour will be available. 12:151:15 p.m. St. Jacobs Orthodox Church, Rte. 12 Northeld Fall. 485-9121. Ice on Fire. Outdoor winter festival. Parade, storytelling, winter games, theater and more. 25 p.m. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier. Suggested donation: $3 adult; $1 child; $5 family. 229-6206. info@northbranchnaturecenter.org. 10,000 Black Men Named George. Labor Movie Night at the Old Labor Hall. The story of Phillip Randolph and the struggle to organize the Sleeping Porter Car Union. 5 p.m. 46 Granite St., Barre. Free, donations accepted. 4854554. rruttenberg@tds.net. oldlaborhall.com. Monthly Book Group for Adults. Fourth Mon., 7 p.m. New members always welcome. Januarys book is The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. Februarys book is Brooklyn by Colm Toibin. For book copies, please stop by the library. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St., Marsheld. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. marsheld.lib.vt.us.
JAN. 26
Medicare and You. Free workshops for those new to Medicare. Second and fourth Tues., 34:30 p.m. Central Vermont Council on Aging, 59 N. Main St., Suite 200, Barre. Free. Registration: 479-0531. Business Wisdom Circle. Monthly networking and mentoring opportunity for women in business or aspiring to be in business. Nominal fee includes light refreshments. Last Tues., 4:306:30 p.m. CVCAC Campus, 20 Gable Pl., Barre. Information and registration: 479-9813, info@vwbc.org or vwbc.org. Food and Mood. With Leah Webb, MPH, holistic health coach. Learn the importance of eating well to feel more energized and balance your emotions. 67 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. Free. Preregister: 223-8000 x202 or info@ hungermountain.coop.
JAN. 28
JAN. 29
Introduction to Scratch. Kids learn how to program their own interactive stories and animations using a popular new program called Scratch. Fourthsixth graders. 34 p.m. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Registration: 244-7036. Chronic Inflammation Linked to Degenerative Disease. With Peter Farber, MS. Lower your risk for chronic inammation. 6:307:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. Free. Preregister: 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop. Lincoln and Vermont. Presented by Howard Con. Hosted by the Waterbury Historical Society. 7:30 p.m. American Legion Post 59, 16 Stowe St., Waterbury. Free.
Plaza, Montpelier. $110 includes lunch and workbook. 535-8383. linda@snellingcenter.org. snellingcenter.org/vln-professional-developmentopportunities. Solar Informational Session. Learn about powering your home with solar energy. Snacks provided by The Woods @ Wihakowi. 6:307:30 p.m. Brown Public Library 93 South Main St., Northeld. 274-4756. taylor@suncommon.com. Introduction to Fly-Tying Workshops. Learn how to tie some classic ys. Age 12 through adult. Tying materials and some equipment supplied. 6:30 p.m. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Free. Registration required: 244-7036. Bio-Individuality and Epigenetics Workshop. With Sarah Richardson, M.Ed, M.S., certied holistic health coach. Do you fear aging because of illnesses you see running in your family? Find out what current research may mean for your health. 67:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. $2 member-owners; $3 nonmembers. Register: 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop.
Nurturing Positive Relationships. Three-hour workshop. Providing practical tools to build happier relationships. 9 a.m.noon. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. $25. Reigstration and information: 223-2618. EarthWalk Winter Community Day. Nature games and activities, tracking, pizza baking, reside songs and more. Potluck. 11 a.m.3 p.m.Hawthorn Meadow, Goddard College Campus, Plaineld. Suggested donation $5$10. 454-8500. earthwalkvermont.org. Friends of the Aldrich Library Annual Winter Banquet/Auction. Beef tenderloin dinner (vegetarian option available), silent and live auctions supporting library programs, services. Cocktails 5 p.m.; dinner 6 p.m. Barre Elks Club. $25. Reservations and information: 476-7550. aldrichlibrary@charter.net. Latin Dinner and Dance. Mexican dinner served at 6:30 followed by salsa dance lessons and live music. U-32, 930 Gallison Hill Rd., Montpelier. $15 adults; $7 students $7; $35 family. Tickets: 229-0321 x5179 or swolf@u32.org.
JAN. 31
Enjoy the Wonders of Fungi. With Eric Swanson of Vermush. Learn how to culture and grow your Mycelium into fungi. 57 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. $10 member-owners; $12 nonmembers. Register: 223-8000 x202 or info@ hungermountain.coop.
FEB. 1
JAN. 27
NAMI Vermont Family Support Group. Support group for families and friends of individuals living with mental illness. Fourth Mon., 7 p.m. Central Vermont Medical Center, room 3, Berlin. 800639-6480 or namivt.org.
JAN. 30
Bridges Out of Poverty Workshop. Facilitated by Prudence Pease, this workshop will provide a conceptual overview and specic strategies for improving outcomes for people in poverty, with a panel of local leaders. 9 a.m.4:30 p.m. Capitol
National Federation of the Blind, Montpelier Chapter. First Sat. Lane Shops community room, 1 Mechanic St., Montpelier. 229-0093. Bottle Drive for Vermont Horse-Assisted Therapy. Raising money for lesson scholarship fund. Meet therapy horses and VHAT sta members and board of directors. 9 a.m.noon. Pease Farm Stable, 307 Culver Hill Rd., Middlesex. 223-4828.
Cross-country Ski Craftsbury. With Green Mountain Club, Montpelier. All abilities, various distances. Enjoy a day of skiing on the well-groomed trails of Craftsbury Nordic Center. Trail fee. Meet at Montpelier High School. Contact leaders, Reidun and Andrew Nuquist, at 223-3550 for meeting time. 1964: A Watershed Year in Vermonts Political (and Cultural) History. Deborah Luskin discusses the swing of the political pendulum in Vermont using research from her novel Into the Wilderness. Noon12:45 p.m. vegetarian/ dairy potluck lunch. 12:451:45 p.m. talk. Beth Jacob Synagogue, 10 Harrison Ave., Montpelier. Free. 279-7518. bjprogramming@gmail.com. bethjacobvt.org. Tales of the Underground Railroad in Vermont: Telling It Like It Was. Presentation by Jane Williamson from the Rokeby Museum, Ferrisburgh. Light refreshments. Sponsored by Waterbury Public Library. 2 p.m. Waterbury Senior Center, 14 Stowe St., Waterbury. Free.
FEB. 2
Music
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 2299212. bagitos.com. Jan. 23: Montpelier High School jazz band, 68 p.m. Jan. 24: Jim Thompson (piano and song) 68 p.m. Jan. 25: Irish session with Sarah Blair, Hilari Farrington Koehler, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne and others, 25 p.m.; Waves of Adrenaline with Alana Shaw and Bridget Ahrens (contemporary folk) 68 p.m. Jan. 26: Dan Kennedy (New Age piano) 11 a.m.1 p.m. Jan. 28: Micah and Rick Cole 6-8pm Groovin R&B and originals Jan. 29: Jason Mallery (soulful blues/rrots) 68 p.m. Jan. 30: TBA Jan. 31: Patrick Monaghan Jazz Quartet, 68 p.m. Feb. 1: Irish session with Sarah Blair, Hilari Farrington Koehler, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne and others, 25 p.m.; Art Herttua and Stephen Morabito Jazz Duo, 68 p.m. Feb. 2: Brunch with Eric Friedman (folk ballads) 11 a.m.1 p.m. Chandler Music Hall. 7173 Main St., Randolph. All shows 7:30 p.m. Tickets: 728-6464 or chandler-arts.org. Jan. 25: Tim Erikson and the Trio de Pumpkintown. Love songs of the sea, ddle tunes, ballads, shape-note and Afro/Celtic gospel. $16 advance; $19 day of show. Feb. 7: Eric Bibb and Ruthie Foster. Longtime collaborators Foster and Bibb perform roots music. $32 advance, $35 day of show; $20 students.
VENUES
Charlie-Os. 70 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 223-6820. Jan. 24: Township (rock). Jan. 25: Dance party. Jan. 31: Starline Rhythm Boys (rockabilly). Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery. 4373 Rte 12, Berlin. 223-1151. info@freshtracksfarm.com. freshtracksfarm.com. Jan. 24: Red Wine Release Party with Michael Arnowitt. 69 p.m. Jan. 31: Karen Krajacic (blues). Lisa Burr of The Woods serving dinner for purchase. 5:308 p.m. North Branch Caf. 41 State St., Montpelier. 78:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free. 552-8105. Jan. 23: Dave Loughran (classic soft rock covers). Jan. 25: Dan Stein (singer, acoustic guitar) 810 p.m. Jan. 30: Dave Loughran (classic soft rock covers). Feb. 6: Dave Loughran (classic soft rock covers). Feb. 7: Simon DeVoil (contemporary folk songs) 7:309 p.m. Positive Pie. 22 State St., Montpelier. 2290453. positivepie.com. Jan. 24: Gang of Thieves (funkadelic) 21 plus. $5. 10 p.m. Jan. 31: The Michelle Sara Band (funk/soul) 21 plus. $5. 10 p.m. Skinny Pancake. 89 Main St., Montpelier. Free unless otherwise noted. 262-2253. skinnypancake.com. Jan. 26: Big Hat No Cattle (western swing) 68 p.m. Feb. 2: Bramblewood (bluegrass/honky tonk) 68 p.m. Sweet Melissas. 4 Langdon St., Montpelier. Free unless otherwise noted. 225-6012. facebook.com/sweetmelissasvt. Jan. 23: Zach Nugent, 8 p.m. Jan. 24: Mark Struhsacker (bluegrass guitar) 9 p.m.; Honky Tonk Happy Hour with Mark
Bridget Ahrens and Alana Shaw of Waves of Adrenaline, performing at Bagitos, Montpelier.
LeGrand, 5 p.m. Jan. 25: Joe Moore Blues Band, 9:30 p.m.; Bob and the Troubadours (folk/gospel/blues) 79 p.m.; Blue Fox, 5 p.m. Jan. 28: Open mic, 7 p.m.; Michael T. Jermyn, 5 p.m. Jan. 29: Big John, 7 p.m. Jan. 30: John Daly Trio, 8 p.m. Jan. 31: Hillside Rounders, 9 p.m.; Honky Tonk Happy Hour with Mark LeGrand, 5 p.m) Whammy Bar. Maple Corner Store, 31 W. County Rd., Calais. Wed.Sat., 7:30 p.m. Free. 229-4329. whammybar1.com. Jan. 24: Jeremy Sicily. Jan. 25: Borealis Guitar Duo with Art Edelstein. Jan. 29: Open mic. Jan. 30: Miriam Bernardo and Seth Eames. Jan. 31: Jay Ekis Sing-a-Long. Feb. 1: Dave Keller. Feb. 5: Open mic. Feb. 7: Colin McCarey. Feb. 8: Barn Band. Feb. 12: Open mic. Feb. 13: Abby Jenne. Feb. 14: Lewis Franco Valentines Day Lounge. Feb. 15: Katie Trautz Mardi Gras Party. Feb. 19 : Open mic.
Feb. 20 : Jeanne n Jim. Feb. 22: Kava Express with Chris Stellar.
ARTISTS & SPECIAL EVENTS

Jan. 26: Music for Hearts Ease. Vermont pianist Diane Huling gives a concert to benet the Davis family of Jericho. 3:30 p.m. Richmond Public Library, 201 Bridge St., Richmond. 238-3015. hulingperformances@ gmail.com. Jan. 26: The Bright Wings Chorus and the Ollabelles. A cappella harmony; early gospel, shape-note hymns and Appalachian ballads. 7 p.m. The Old Meeting House, E. Montpelier. $12; $10 low income. 770-0857. sing@turtledoveharmony.org. tinyurl.com/po9xpwy. Feb. 8: Mark LeGrand, Sarah Munro, and Spencer Lewis. 7 p.m. Optional potluck at 5:30 p.m. Adamant Community Club, 1161 Martin Rd., Adamant. $10 advance at Adamant Co-op; $15 door. Feb. 9: Second Sunday Concert. The Ollabelles, a harmony singing choir led by Katie Trautz. Coee served. 9:30 a.m. Chapel, Bethany United Church of Christ, 115 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 223-2424. bethanychurchvt.org.
T H E B R I D G E
continued from page 25
Through Jan. 31: Art Resource Association Members Group Show. ARA members exhibit work. City Center, Montpelier. Through Jan. 31: Buddhist Thangkas. Handpainted Buddhist thangkas by artists from Nepal and India; fundraiser for Child Haven International, a nonprot organization that operates homes for children in India, Nepal, China and Bangladesh. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St., Montpelier. 223-0043. Through Jan. 31: Kim Ward and Terri Kneen, Shared Landscape. Multimedia works by Ward and photography by Kneen. Green Bean Visual Art Gallery, Capitol Grounds, Montpelier. curator@capitolgrounds.com. Through Feb. 1: MFA in Visual Art Student Exhibitions. Work of current and graduate students in the MFA in visual art program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. VCFA Gallery & Alumni Hall, Vermont College of Fine Arts, 36 College St., Montpelier. vcfa.edu/visual-art-events. Hours: 10 a.m.7 p.m. Through Feb. 7: Riki Moss and Janet Van Fleet, Parade. Reception Jan. 23, 5:30 p.m. Living/Learning Gallery, University of Vermont, 233 Commons Building,633 Main St.,Burlington. 656-4150. Joan.Watson@uvm.edu. uvm.edu/ llcenter/gallery. Through Feb. 19: Joan Hoffmann. Paintings by South Royalton artist. Reception Feb. 8, 46 p.m.; lecture by Homan at 5 p.m.: The History of American Landscape Painting. Chandler Downstairs Gallery, 71-73 Main St., Randolph. Through Feb. 22: Chaos: Pandemonium, Disorder and Turbulence in Art. Reception Feb. 8, 46 p.m. Main Gallery, Studio Place Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. 479-7069. studioplacearts.com. Through Feb. 22: Leah Sophrin, Spring Loaded, and Katy Sudol, Color of Expression. Reception Feb. 8, 46 p.m. Second Floor Gallery, Studio Place Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. 4797069. studioplacearts.com. Through Feb. 22: Robert W. Brunelle Jr., Walk-
Visual Arts
ing Home. Reception Feb. 8, 46 p.m. Third Floor Gallery, Studio Place Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. 479-7069. studioplacearts.com. Through Feb. 28: Ray Brown, Retrospective: From Nature. Paintings. Reception Feb. 7, 47 p.m. Green Bean Visual Art Gallery, Capitol Grounds, Montpelier. curator@capitolgrounds. com. Through Feb.: Nancy Gadue. Window paintings. Receptoin Feb. 7, 48 p.m. The Cheshire Cat, 28 Elm Street, Montpelier. 223-1981. cheshirecatclothing.com. Through Mar. 3: Joseph Shelley. Photographs of Hanna Satterlees newest dance work Animal. Reception Feb. 7, 48 p.m. Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio, 18 Langdon St., Montpelier. Hours: Mon.Fri., 48 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.1 p.m. Through Mar. 8: First Annual Group Art Show. Work displayed of 10 local artists who have had one-person shows at Jaquith Library. Reception Jan. 31, 6 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, Old Schoolhouse Common, 122 School St., Marsheld. 426 -3581. jaquithpublibrary@gmail.com. marsheld.lib.vt.us. Through Mar. 9: Kelly Holt, Where. Mixed-media paintings. Common Space Gallery, River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. 888-1261. riverartsvt.org. Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.2 p.m. Through Mar. 9: Evie Lovett and Greg Sharrow, Backstage at the Rainbow Cattle Co: The Drag Queens of Dummerston, Vermont. Photographs by Lovett and audio interviews by Sharrow. Two-year project documenting the Rainbow Cattle Co., a gay bar in Dummerston. Gallery at River Arts, 2F, River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. 888-1261. riverartsvt.org. Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.2 p.m. Through Mar. 9: Making an Impression. The work of 18 Vermont printmakers. Chandler Gallery, 7173 Main St., Randolph. outreach@ chandler-arts.org. Through Mar. 28: Regis Cummings, Faces & Places on a Journey. A photo ID is required for admission. The Governors Gallery, 109 State St., 5F, Montpelier. 828-0749. Hours: Mon.Fri., 8 a.m.4:30 p.m. Through Mar. 31: Lorraine Manley, Luminous Vermont. Landscape paintings. Reception Mar. 9, 35 p.m. Festival Gallery, #2 Village Square, Waitseld. 496-6682. vermontartfest.com. Through Mar. 28: Ken Leslie. Vermont Supreme Court, 111 State St., 1F, Montpelier. Hours: Mon.Fri., 8 a.m.4:30 p.m.
Ability Rights of Vermont, 141 Main St., Suite 7, Montpelier, 800-834-7890, x106. Womens Circle. Women and mothers discuss motherhood, family life and womens health. Hosted by midwives Chelsea Hastings and Hannah Allen. First Tues., 68 p.m. Emerge Midwifery and Family Health, 174 River St., Montpelier.
Through Mar.: Ken LesTwo Barns by Ray Brown. On display at Green Bean lie, Golden Dome Cycle Visual Art Gallery, Capitol Grounds, Montpelier. and Other Works: Arctic and Vermont. Diverse media and surfaces. Reception Feb. 20, 57 p.m. Vermont Supreme Court, 111 State St. kenleslie.net. Through Mar.: Cindy Griffith, From Vermont to Alaska. Large-scale and intimate paintings in pastel, oil and acrylic. Copley Gallery, Copley Hospital, Morrisville. 229-4326. cindy.grith.vt@gmail. com. hungermountainarts.com. Hours: daily, 8 a.m.5 p.m. Through May: Round. An exhibition of objects of circular shape, from the Sullivan Museum collection. Sullivan Museum and History Center, Norwich University, 158 Harmon Dr., Northeld. 485-2183. Norwich.edu/museum. Through Dec. 19: 1864: Some Suffer 253-8358 or education@helenday.com. helenday. So Much. Stories of Norwich alumni who served as military surgeons com. during the Civil War and traces the history of Jan. 29: Sculpture Celebration. Dedication and posttraumatic stress disorder. Sullivan Museum unveiling of Coee Break, a major new sculpture and History Center, Norwich University, 158 in downtown Barre created by Heather Ritchie. 4 Harmon Dr., Northeld. 485-2183. Norwich. p.m. Barre City Place (Main St. and Depot Sq.). edu/museum. 479-7069. info@studioplacearts.com. Feb. 7: Zipper Creations. Stacie Mincher, The Zipper Lady, creates ingenious heart pendants, ower pins and tactile landscape barrettes from Jan. 25: Oil Pastel Workshop with Carol zippers. Come meet her during art walk, 57 p.m. Boucher. One-session workshop. Participants Artisans Hand, City Center, 89 Main St. 802create their own surfaces to work on using photos 229-9492. artisanshand.com. from home or memory for inspiration. 10 a.m.2 Feb. 8: Arts First. Free art activities for youths, p.m. River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisage 710. 13 p.m. Spaces limited. Studio Place ville. Registration required: 888-1261. riverartsvt. Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. Free. Registration org. required: 479-7069. studioplacearts.com. Jan. 28: Teen Art Studio. With print maker Feb. 9: Relief Printmaking Workshop. Make Mickey Myers. Twice monthly sessions where cards using relief printmaking. Led by Janet teens make art, chat with professional artists. Age Cathey. Suitable for all levels. Materials included. 1118. 6:308:30 p.m. Helen Day Art Center, 13 p.m. Chandler Gallery, 71-73 Main St., Ran90 Pond St., Stowe. Free. Registration required: dolph. $15. Registration or more info: 730-6992.
SPECIAL EVENTS
FEB. 3
Parent Meet-Up. Come meet other parents, share information and chat over light snacks, coee and tea. First Mon., 1011:30 a.m. Hayes Room, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free. mamasayszine@gmail.com. Classic Book Club. First Mon., 68 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, 151 High St. (Rte. 2), Plaineld. Free. 454-8504.
Potluck. For location, call Carole Mac-Intyre 229-5931. Community Cinema: The Trials of Muhammad Ali. Covers Alis toughest bout: overturning his prison sentence for refusing military service. Cosponsored by Vermont Public Television and Independent Lens. 7 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338. www.kellogghubbard.org.
students on mitigating climate change. 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, Old Schoolhouse Common, 122 School St., Marsheld. 426 -3581. jaquithpublibrary@gmail.com. marsheld.lib. vt.us.
FEB. 8
FEB. 4
Cross-country Ski Berlin. With Green Mountain Club, Montpelier. All abilities. Various distances. Contact Fred Jordan at 223-3935 for meeting time. Library Book Delivery Service. First and third Tues. 1 p.m. See sign-up sheet near oce for more info. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518. Interested in Community Literacy? Come meet our lively group of volunteers at Central Vermont Adult Basic Educations Montpelier Learning Center. Refreshments served. 4:305:30 p.m. 100 State St., Montpelier. Call in advance: 476-4588. grome@cvabe.org. Natural Medicine for Children: Fevers, Nausea and Vomiting. With Shona MacDougall, clinical certied herbalist. Learn about which herbs, supplements and homeopathy to use for children for fevers, nausea or vomiting. 5:307:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. $5 memberowners; $7 nonmembers. Register: 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop. Brain Injury Support Group. Open to all survivors, caregivers and adult family members. Evening group facilitated by Marsha Bancroft; day group facilitated by Kathy Grange and Jane Hulstrunk. First Mon., 5:307:30 p.m. Dis-
Grandparents Raising Their Childrens Children. First Wed., 10 a.m.noon. Barre Presbyterian Church, Summer St. 476-1480. Bereavement/Grief Support Group. Meets every other Wed., 1011:30 a.m. Jan. 8Apr. 16. CVHHH, 600 Granger Rd., Berlin. 223-1878. Norwich University Lunch N Learn: The St. Albans Raid Sullivan. Presented by Jim Fouts, Civil War historian, educator and Norwich alumnus will present . Light lunch provided. Noon1 p.m. Sullivan Museum & History Center, Norwich University, 158 Harmon Dr, Northeld. Free. 485-2183. SMHC@norwich. edu. norwich.edu/museum. The Ghost of Gold Brook Bridge: The Vermont Story Songs of Banjo Dan. Performed by Dan Lindner. 1:30 p.m. Presented by Osher Lifelong Learning Center. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, Barre St., Montpelier. 454-1234. pdaggett@myfairpoint.net. Make Your Own Fashion Accessories. With Delna Boyce. Learn how to make ower fashion accessories to add to hair clips, jewelry, hats, scarves, bags, jackets, home furnishings and more. 5:307:30 p.m. Hunger Mountain Coop community room, Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. $10 member-owners; $12 nonmembers. Register: 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop. Cancer Support Group. First Wed., 6 p.m.
FEB. 5
MBAC Meeting. Meeting of the Montpelier Bicycle Advisory Committee. First Thurs., 8 a.m. Police Station Community Room, 534 Washington St., Montpelier. 262-6273. Book Signing: The Problem of Slavery. Did the 1777 Vermont Constitution really end slavery in Vermont? Find out from author Harvey Amani Whiteld. 4:306:30 p.m. Vermont History Museum, 109 State St., Montpelier. Free. 4798519. Julie.nelson@state.vt.us. vermonthistory. org/calendar.
FEB. 6
Lunchtime Theater: Intake. See excerpt from MSAC member Margot Lashers award-winning play. A brief conversation with the playwright, cast and crew follows performance. 12:451:30 p.m. Community Room, Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Brain Injury Support Group. Open to all survivors, caregivers and adult family members. Evening group facilitated by Marsha Bancroft; day group facilitated by Kathy Grange and Jane Hulstrunk. First and third Thurs., 1:302:30 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. 244-6850. Film Screening: Do the Math. Film highlights the worldwide eorts by Bill Mckibben and
FEB. 7
Montessori School of Central Vermont Open House. Learn more about Montessori education. Please call to reserve a space at the Open House. 911 a.m. Montessori School of Central Vermont, 89 Karl Circle, Berlin. Free. Reservations required: 223-3320. info@mscvt.org. mscvt.org. Meditating for Happiness. Three-hour workshop meditation and mindfulness activities. 9 a.m.noon. $25. Registration open until February 3. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. Registration: 223-2618. Eighth Annual Kaleidoscope of Talent Auditions. Presented by Green Mountain United Way. Looking for talent in voice, instrumental, dance and comedy. 9 a.m.4 p.m. Spaulding High School Auditorium, Barre. 229-9532. gmunitedway.org/talentshow.shtml. Movies for Everyone Series. Films that are fun for all ages. 11 a.m. Jaquith Public Library, Old Schoolhouse Common, 122 School St., Marsheld. 426 -3581. jaquithpublibrary@gmail.com. marsheld.lib.vt.us. Evergreen Medicine. With Rebecca Dalgin, clinical herbalist. Take a walk outside to meet a few evergreens followed by time in the classroom sampling various evergreen preparations, learning about their medicinal use and reviewing identication. 13 p.m. Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, 252 Main St., Montpelier. $12; $10 members. Preregistration required: 2247100 or info@vtherbcenter.org. vtherbcenter.org.
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THE BRIDGE
Weekly Events
Beaders Group. All levels of beading experience welcome. Free instruction available. Come with a project for creativity and community. Sat., 11 a.m.2 p.m. The Bead Hive, Plaineld. 454-1615. Noontime Knitters. All abilities welcome. Basics taught. Crocheting, needlepoint and tatting also welcome. Tues., noon1 p.m. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. 244-7036. Life Drawing Sessions. Usually brief, dynamic poses. Wed., 79 p.m. Storefront Studio/Gallery, 6 Barre St., Montpelier. $15 suggested donation. 839-5349. glen@gchneart.com.
ART & CRAFT
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
Lunch in a Foreign Language. Bring lunch and practice your language skills with neighbors. Noon1 p.m. Mon. Hebrew, Tues. Italian, Wed. Spanish, Thurs. French. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338. Conversations with the Word Weaver. Examine the roots and denitions of words we use in daily conversation. Tues., 1:30 p.m. Starting Jan. 14. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St. 223-3338. kellogghubbard.org. 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. Ongoing Reading Group. Improve your reading and share some good books. Books chosen by group. Thurs., 910 a.m. Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, Montpelier Learning Center, 100 State St. 223-3403. The Stories of My Life: A Writing Workshop. Explore memoir and creative nonction. Seven Thurs.: Jan. 30Mar. 27, 4:306:30 p.m. Maximum 15 students. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Main St., Montpelier. Free. Registration required: 505-4034 or bobcsher@gmail.com.
Social Anxiety Support Group. Meet other people with similar experiences and learn techniques to reduce anxiety. Supportive and condential. New group to meet weekly; time and place to be determined. Contact Danielle at freefromsa@yahoo.com for more information. Turning Point Center. Safe, supportive place for individuals and their families in or seeking recovery. Open daily, 10 a.m.5 p.m. 489 North Main St., Barre. 479-7373. Sun.: Alchoholics Anonymous. 8:30 a.m. Tues.: Making Recovery Easier workshops. 67:30 p.m. Wed.: Wits End Parent Support Group. 6 p.m. Thurs.: Narcotics Anonymous. 6:30 p.m. 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. Diabetes Prevention Series. Reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and gain tools for healthy living. Learn how the YMCAs Diabetes Prevention Program can help you reach healthy living goals. Tues., beginning Jan. 21. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. 225-5680. Lisa.willette@cvmc.org. Overeaters Anonymous. Tues., 5:306:30 p.m. Church of the Good Shepherd, Barre. 249-0414. HIV Testing. Vermont CARES oers fast oral testing. Thurs., 25 p.m. 58 East State St., suite 3 (entrance at back), Montpelier. Free. 3716222. vtcares.org. Overeaters Anonymous. Twelve-step program for physically, emotionally and spiritually overcoming overeating. Fri., noon1 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3079.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Covered Bridge by Joan Hoffman. On exhibit at Chandler Downstairs Gallery, Randolph.

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 or at the childrens desk. kellogghubbard.org. Read with Arlo. Meet reading therapy dog Arlo and his owner Brenda. Sign up for a 20-minute block. Thurs., 34 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-4665. kellogghubbard.org. Special Story Time. Story times with varied themes. Fri., 10:30 a.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-4665. kellogghubbard.org. 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. Teen Fridays. Find out about the latest teen books, use the gym, make art, play games and if you need to, do your homework. Fri., 35 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St., Marsheld. 426-3581. 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. kellogghubbard.org.
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
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., Waterbury. Free. Registration required: 244-7036.
BUSINESS & FINANCE, COMPUTER S
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. Thurs.: Trinity Church, 137 Main St., 11:30 a.m.1 p.m. Fri.: St. Augustine Church, 18 Barre St., 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Sun.: Last Sunday only, Bethany Church, 115 Main St. (hosted by Beth Jacob Synagogue), 4:305:30 p.m.
FOOD
Mad River Valley Youth Group. Sun., 79 p.m. Meets at various area churches. Call 497-4516 for location and information. Sit N Knit. For rst-timers or superstar knitters alike. Bring a project you are working on or start one with Joan Kahn. Age 6 and up; under 9 accompanied by adult. Mon., 3:304 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-4665. kellogghubbard.org. The Basement Teen Center. Cable TV, PlayStation 3, pool table, free eats and fun events for teenagers. Mon.Thurs., 36 p.m.; Fri., 311 p.m. Basement Teen Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier. 229-9151. Story Time at the Waterbury Public Library. Baby/toddler story time: Mon., 10 a.m. Preschool story time: Fri., 10 a.m. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. 2447036. waterburypubliclibrary.com. 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. FiddleFest Storytime with Katie Trautz. Enjoy Katies magical melodies woven into your favorite books. Tues., 10:30 a.m. Starting Jan. 21. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Childrens department: 223-4665. kellogghubbard.org. 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. Story Maps. Chart the wilds of your imagination. Age 36. Wed., 11 a.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Preregistration required: 223-4665. kellogghubbard.org. Games Unplugged. Learn a new board game from game master Ben T. Matchstick. Featured games include Ticket to Ride, Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Dominion, No Thanks, For Sale, Snake Oil, Smallworld. Bring your favorite game or select one from the collection. Age 818. Wed., 35 p.m. Jan. 22March 5; no group on Feb. 5. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-4665. kellogghubbard.org. Read to Coco. Share a story with Coco, the resident licensed reading therapy dog, who
KIDS & TEENS
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.
Barre-Tones Womens Chorus. Open rehearsal. Find your voice with 50 other women. Mon., 7 p.m. Alumni Hall, Barre. 223-2039. BarretonesVT.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. Monteverdi Young Singers Chorus Rehearsal. New chorus members welcome. Wed., 45 p.m. Montpelier. Call 229-9000 for location and more information. Gamelan Rehearsals. Wed., 79 p.m. Pratt Center, Goddard College. Free. 426-3498. steven.light@jsc.edu. light.kathy@gmail.com. Ukelele Group. All levels welcome. Thurs., 68 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. 223-2518.
MUSIC & DANCE
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., 10:3011:30 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 Meditation 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 Aliate of Vermont. Mon., 6:307:30 p.m. 174 River St., Montpelier. Free. Call for orientation: 2290164. 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.
SPIRITUALITY
SPORTS & GAMES
RECYCLING
Additional Recycling. The Additional Recyclables Collection Center accepts scores of hard-to-recycle items. Tues. and Thurs., 12:30 p.m.5:30 p.m. ARCC, 540 North Main St., Barre. $1 per carload. 229-9383 x106. For list of accepted items, go to cvswmd.org/arcc-additional-recyclables-collection-center.html.
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.
T H E B R I D G E
Classifieds
SERvICES
Class listings and classifieds are 50 words for $25; discounts available. To place an ad, call Carolyn, 223-5112, ext. 11.
EMPLOYMENT
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.
JOB OPPORTUNITY: FULL-TIME SEASONAL FARM HELP Zack Woods Herb Farm in Hyde Park, VT is looking for a motivated eld worker for the 2014 growing season and beyond. Job consists of plant propagation, eld work, and operating farm equipment. Send resume and two references, attention to Melanie,
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YOUTH PROGRAMS AT HELEN DAY ART CENTER. Wintery Mixed Media Saturday Workshop, ages 5-10 - February 8th. ALL NEW Winter Break Camp: Art Sled Design Lab, ages 5-12 runs February 24th - 28th. Full class descriptions and registration at www.helenday.com. Member discounts and scholarships available. 90 Pond Street, Stowe. 802-253-8358. YOGA AND MEDITATION wITH LYDIA Tantric Meditation, 8 Fridays, starts 2/7, 10:30am, Montpelier. Goddess Myths and Meditation, 9 Saturdays, starts 2/1, 10:30am, Montpelier. Upcoming Plant Spirit Yoga workshops: Birch 2/2, 11:30am, Plaineld; Rose 2/15, 2pm, Montpelier; Nettle 3/2, 2pm, Hardwick. Pre-register 229-6300 or lydia_dragony@hotmail.com. See weekly yoga schedule at www.saprema-yoga.com. WRITING COACH. Struggling with beginning, continuing, nishing? Need tools to start you up and keep you working from concept to completion? Art is long, and life short. WRITE NOW is what we have. Thirty years working in lm, TV, theater and prose, coaching writers in all genres. Free initial consultation. Tamarcole21@gmail.com 802-225-6415.
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pag e 2 2 J a n ua ry 23 F e b rua ry 5 , 2 014
THE BRIDGE
Our Schools: Whats Needed? Whats Affordable?
Editorial
Movie Review
Inside Llewyn Davis: No Homage to Folk Music
Cruelty Reflected The nastiness in this movie is not just the cynicism that one would expect in what is clearly supposed to be the opposite of folkera hagiography. Its an underlying contempt for the whole damned thingthe times, the characters, the music (which the marketing machine had made such hay of) and the happier memories of older audience members watching it. The cruelty is like a prism, reflected in multiple planes. Its expressed by many different characters who despise Llewyn, the lost folksinger: his pregnant ex-lover who spits fuck you almost every time she opens her mouth; a contemptuous, expiring jazz musician (played by John Goodman) who loudly and vociferously opines that three-chord guitar pickers are pretty much subhuman; Llewyns prissy sister who kicks him out of her house for saying fuck in front of her much smarter (and yes, cynical) son; and the character who beats him up (twice, as bookends in the movie) in an alley behind the Gaslight Club, for having drunkenly insulted his sweet, sincere, ugly, autoharp-playing wife (of whom Llewyn is obviously jealous for taking his place on the stage). And when you hear Llewyns angry ex-lover singing the part of Mary Travers in a PP&M-like trio and reduced to the description of (as I recall) the woman every man in this bar wants to fuck, its a great sexist slapespecially to the memory of Travers, who, by all reports, was a pretty nice lady. The Coens contempt is best displayed in the protagonist, a brooding, bearded fellow lacking in everything but self-pity. The only things Llewyn has going for him are his love for sad folk ballads and his vague sense of responsibility toward an escaped cat. Hes not very talented, as some in the audience may notice, which the character of Al Grossman, played by F. Murray Abraham, frankly tells him. Some middle-aged liberals want to help him, but he is such a loser that he cant even appreciate their efforts at appreciation. Dark Side of the Moon All this combined boredom, wintry gloom and ugliness is also a slap in the face for many of the people who loved and still love folk music, of course. The stuff still means something. Ask old Pete Seeger, who refuses to bow down and is still an inspiration at the age of 94. Ask Bruce Springsteen or Joan Baez or brilliant local talents like Patti Casey. Folk music was then, and still is, about the common people. Its about hope, changing the world for the better, emotion and sometimes, well, even higher stuff like common humanity and lovenone of which is evident in this dark bore of a movie. (The Coens might well respond that humanity and love is not much evident in the world these days, period, and thats why their movies resonate. Point taken. But I, for one, am not yet ready to inhabit the dark side of the moon.) I usually have to sleep on a film before I make such declarations, but as this one ended and the house lights went up, I told my husband, I really didnt like that. He didnt either, and hes much more forgiving than I am of the kinds of nihilistic films that pass for entertainment these days. I am sure that, for the Coen brothers, the critics adulation at their evocation of a lost era is satisfying. But in reading the critics comments afterward, I kept thinking of the words of Oscar Wilde: A critic is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Bronwyn Fryer is a writer in Montpelier. by Bronwyn Fryer udging from the concerts and soundtracks surrounding the movie Inside Llewyn Davis, one would guess that the movie is all about spotlighting the Greenwich Village folk life of 1961. Theres even a soundtrack including Saint Joan Baez herself. If she has so blessed the movie, how could it possibly disappoint any die-hard folkie? Truth to tell, the movie really isnt about that eras music, or the truly unusual time and place, as the marketing promised. Instead, it is a Candide-like story about a hapless guy named Llewyn who gets repeatedly kicked in the teeth. The film smashes the jaw of fabled 60sera joy. Instead of romance, we get cruelty. Instead of the excitement of being there or anywhere, we get a lonely man facing a litany of predictable disappointments. Instead of musical curiosity or camaraderie, we get a study in scrabbling pennilessness and endless boredom. And instead of great music, we get extended mediocrity. (One of the few good old walks down the musical memory lane comes courtesy of the utterly mediocre Justin Timberlakea casting statement in itself.) If you are a 60s romantic, this movie will thoroughly remove your rose-colored hippie glasses at least if you understand it from this side of the glass. Music in the Muscle You are going to love this movie, gushed my sister, who lives in Los Angeles. I mean, its practically about you. I often wish Id been born in the mid-1940s. If I had, I might have haunted Washington Square or Greenwich Village in 1961, when Peter, Paul and Mary were just being pieced together as a trio by their famous manager, Al Grossman. But alas, I was born too late. I was just six years old and living 3,000 miles away in LAs sunny climes, far from New York City, when I first heard PP&M on my older sisters record player. But I was as smitten as any child still is by their amazing sound. Soon enough, I picked up the guitar and absorbed every note, word and chord sounded by every 60s singer out there. By the time I was 19, I had firmly committed hundreds of songs by PP&M, Dylan, Baez, Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen and many others of the era to musical and muscle memory. In firm and full Baez-CollinsMitchelish imitation, I even managed to eke out an OK living as a folksinger in LA, until disco firmly quashed the whole thing by the mid-1970s. I had thought, given the advance marketing, that the Coen brothers latest film, loosely based on the character of the Mayor of MacDougal Street (a real-life folksinger named Dave Van Ronk) was all about people of similar psycho-spiritual-musical sensibility. When I entered the Savoy Theater with lots of other graying people my age or older last week, I was in very good company. I sensed we were all tribe members, having grown up with that music, and we were very curious to see what would occur on the screen. I have seen enough Coen brothers movies to have guessed that the film would have dark, cynical and funny edges. (I loved O Brother Where Art Thou and thought the music, overseen by T Bone Burnett, brilliant. Burnett directed the music for Inside Llewyn Davis as well.) Some of us, perhaps unschooled in the darker arts of the Coen brothers and excited by the marketing hype, might have even expected a Pete Seegerstyle sing-along.
ruel times these with a heartpounding 13 percent proposed budget increase from the Montpelier School Board. Lets note the following if approved by Montpelier voters at City Meeting on March 4 (2014) this 13 percent school budget hike would begin to take effect for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014. For Montpelier property owners and taxpayers and here were talking about only the school portion of their property tax bill that 13 percent budget hike when applied to what is broadly described as a median house valued at $223,000 would result in $417 added to the property tax bill. Please note that the proposed 13 percent school budget increase comes right after last years 9.9 percent school budget increase. Add these two figures together and over the past two years you are looking at a combined twoyear school tax increase of 23 percent. Who can say whats affordable because whats affordable for one person may not be affordable for someone else. If youre a retired person with a monthly Social Security check you just got a 1.5 percent cost of living increase from the federal government. Thats all-too-typical for many Montpelier residents whose incomes have stagnated even as costs have risen dramatically. Here were talking about working stiffs laborers, retail clerks, people just entering the workforce, couples who are recently married and would like to start a family but cant afford to live in Montpelier. Yes, there is another side to this story. In a recent phone conversation with East Montpelier resident Cort Richardson he told me about a cut that appears set to take effect a cut made by the U-32 School Board that would end the Community Connections program at U-32. As described by Richardson, the Com-
munity Connections is a smart educational investment. Why? Because as Richardson said It targets the kids that are most at risk and provides them with critical after-school programs, mentoring, community-based substance abuse prevention programs, service learning projects, and the like. Speaking with almost shocked amazement, Richardson questioned the wisdom of cutting Community Connections a program that turns kids away from drugs, alcohol, tobacco by offering positive learning opportunities that will prevent our youth from going to jail or having to undergo expensive drug abuse treatment programs. Pennywise, pound-foolish, was how Richardson characterized the U-32 School Board cut to Community Connections. Why in the world would we cut a program like this? he asked. You cant put a program like this at the top of the list for cuts, he declared. Theres got to be a middle course between out-of-control school spending increases on the one hand and cuts to essential programs that will take a toll on the lives and futures of our schoolchildren and youth. That middle course involves some pretty serious discussion about whats truly essential, truly important in our educational systems. Here in Montpelier, at a time when school enrollments are in sharp decline do we actually need to support three separate school buildings? Cant we team together with nearby schools to share staff and share administrative services? And what about the extraordinary talent base in places like Montpelier cant we identify outstanding people in mid-or-late-careers who would be happy to be plugged into our schools as computer experts, scientists, artists, mechanics, practicing writers and the like?
Thanking Bob Nuner

aboard at The Bridge and to help us straighten things out. Bob had worked in publishing and marketing. He has a great practical brain. He knew how to talk with people and relate to people. He is both discerning and diplomatic. And I also discovered that he could take on a story with technical complications like a tax story, or a difficult business or environmental story and the technical complications that buffaloed me didnt buffalo him. During his two-plus years at The Bridge everything here got better. Better and more skillfully organized and more predictable. Bob introduced systems. We began to move away from crisis management. We stopped working late (heroic) hours and put the paper on ice when it should have been put on ice between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the last day of production. Bob is not a time server. He never calculated his commitment to the project by watching a clock. He saw what needed to be done and did it. He offered an example to everyone here about what it means be to totally honest, totally considerate and what it means to have an outstanding work ethic. In all of my time at The Bridge I can think of hardly anyone I have trusted and respected more or had greater empathy with -- than my colleague and friend, Bob Nuner. Bob -- thanks from the heart.
ob Nuner is leaving The Bridge after more than two years of generous and very effective service to the paper. Bob and I first met in the late 1970s when he and I were both working at the Two Penny Theater a mime and clown acting company that performed shows and gave workshops in schools and performing spaces on Saturday mornings throughout New England. At Two Penny, Bob was a member of the acting company and my job was to promote the theater, write grants, and sell and book the companys shows and workshops. During my time at Two Penny, the Theater inaugurated KidsFest a wintertime series of shows and workshop for kids upstairs at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. There were a number of people involved in booking the shows, promoting the shows, selling the tickets and all the technical details of loading the performers in and out of the Library and seeing that the hall was set up and that the stage lights worked. And Bob and I worked together on that project. After Two Penny Bob and I continued to be friends. Now fast forward. About two or so years ago, The Bridge was searching hard for someone to take hold of the paper and manage all the details of production, writing, editing, distribution the lot. It was then that I turned to Bob both as a friend and as someone I respect enormously -- to come
T H E B R I D G E
J a n ua ry 2 3 F e b rua ry 5 , 2 014 pag e 2 3
Opinion
Bill McKibben in Stowe
Letters
Lets Save Community Connections To the Editor: I am writing to share my concern about the potential loss of Community Connections (CC). I have a 7-year-old son and a 9-year-old daughter at Union Elementary School. They access CC two days a week for after-school care and have attended CC vacation camps and summer programs. CC fills an enormous gap in our community. Have you ever taken the time to explore what after-school childcare programs are offered in our town? There arent any besides CC. We need to figure out how to make sure that CC stays to continue providing an enriching, fun and safe after -school environment for children with working parents. CC is affordable: It offers a sliding-scale fee allowing all families who work the option of enrolling their children in quality after-school care, vacation programs and summer camps. In addition, it offers excellent programs to middle and high schoolers, with opportunities to go kayaking or back packing. Have you ever passed by the library after the school bell rings at the elementary and middle school? If you do, you will come upon piles of unchaperoned children hanging out both outside and inside the library. Many parents send their kids to meet them at the library in that in-between time of when school gets out and parents are still at work. I guarantee that the crowd both outside and inside of the library will double when CC after-school programming no longer exists. And there will be more kids roaming the streets of Montpelier instead of learning to sing, making animated movies, playing tag in the gym or learning Spanish. I hope that as a community we can come together to continue this invaluable program for our children and families. Kellie Lynch, Montpelier Dont Cut Community Connections To the Editor: Community Connections, the after-school program in which my daughter participates at Union Elementary School, is in peril. I could not work full-time without this program. I could not have the peace of mind I have knowing that my child does not have to leave the school building at 2:50 in order to get to her after-school care and that she will receive educational and developmentally appropriate programming for her body and mind by a team of warm, trained individuals. I am deeply saddened and disturbed that any part of this program is on the school budget chopping block, but particularly so for the elementary portion, which serves so many of the children in the Montpelier community. Cassandra Hemenway, Montpelier Annual Campaign Let Child-Care Workers Unionize To the Editor: I am a home-care worker of eight years, and home-care workers in Vermont recently won the right to unionize this past fall. This was a huge success for us because we will now have fair representation for home-care programs and our clients who depend on us every day to be there to support and enable them to live as independently as possible. The basic principle here is this: if home-care workers are able to support themselves they will then be able to support their clients. The same principle applies to child-care workers. The only difference is the age of our clients. The children who are served by child-care workers are the states most vital and vulnerable population, and they need child-care providers to be there for them. It is essential that we invest in our children and youth now so that we will have a stronger society in the future. We might almost say that our children represent all of our best hopes for the future, and if we are to realize these best hopes, we should invest in our early childhood educators. I strongly encourage our legislators to pass the bill that allows early child educators to unionize so that they too will have a voice. Darcey Warner, Plainfield Support Legislation for Paid Sick Days To the Editor: Two things happened to me recently that made me write this letter in support of legislation that would allow Vermonters to take paid sick days off. First, I gave a lecture in a fourthgrade class in Ripton Elementary School on worker rights. Students were asked, What do workers deserve? Almost unanimously they agreed that people occasionally get sick and that one should not be doubly punished feeling lousy and being forced to go to work and risk the spread of illness. These children believed that workers deserve paid sick days. Many Vermonters agree with them and are currently pushing for legislation that would grant just that. All workers in the state could take up to 56 hours per year off from work, paid, to care for their own health and safety. The other thing that happened to me was that I was hospitalized at Porter Health care Center for a fluke illness, requiring me to miss important days at work. Luckily, I had coworkers who helped cover for me, and I have a job that affords me the ability to get sick without incurring economic hardship. Today, 40 percent of Vermonters do not have this ability. Lets make it a right, not a privilege. Jamie McCallum, Middlebury
towe and Mt. Mansfield, Stowe and winter sports these associations feel solid and enduring. But is it conceivable possible that with climate change all that Stowe and winter sports are and have been could disappear. This stunning question will be taken up by writer and environmental activist Bill McKibben along with investigative journalist David Goodman in the first of what is being called the Vermont Town Hall public dialogue series sponsored by The Stowe Reporter. The kick-off event in the Vermont Town Hall series is A Conversation with Bill
McKibben on Friday evening, January 31 at 7 p.m. at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center in Stowe and among subjects that will be discussed are these three: What is the future of winter? Is global warming a foregone conclusion? and Why is the environment worth getting arrested for? For further information, please go online to sprucepeakarts.org/event/bill_mckibben/ A series of face-to-face open-ended spirited discussions -- on the major issues what a great idea! -NF
Electricity: Cost, Carbon and Supply Challenges in 2014

by Guy Page
evelopments in Vermonts energy landscape during 2014 will pose numerous challenges for electricity consumers and policy makers. For example, consumers will likely face the continued rise in wholesale electricity prices. In 2013, the average market clearing price was 5.1 cents per kilowatt/hour, according to transmission grid operator ISO-New England. Prior to that, the last time the wholesale cost of electricity rose above five cents was in September 2011; 2012 prices averaged less than four cents. Vermonters also face a looming energy supply shortfall. The state of Vermont is predicting a regional capacity deficit in electricity within the next five years. This is a sobering reversal of recent predictions of plenty. Vermont relies heavily on fracked natural gas for both heat and electricity, the demand for which will exceed pipeline delivery capacity. A shortfall likely will mean higher prices and reliability challenges, if not outright disruptions. Recently, the state of Vermont announced electricity-related greenhouse gas emissions have increased despite strenuous, expensive efficiency and renewable power efforts. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources attributes the rise in emissions in part to a shift away from low-carbon power sources toward fossil-fuel-intensive market power. By far, the biggest low-carbon subtraction was the March 2012 expiration of the long-standing power contracts between the states utilities and the 650 megawatt (MW) Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. The impending closure of Vermont Yankee will pose new challenges to Vermonts energy portfolio and the states ability to meet its long-term low-carbon goals. The December 23, 2013, proposed settlement between the state of Vermont and Vermont Yankees owner resolves most (but not all) outstanding legal and permitting disagreements, allowing the plant to continue operating through the third quarter of 2014. The settlement provides $10 million in economic development for Windham County, a continuation of Vermont Yankees exemplary history of economic support in taxes, paychecks and philanthropy. Meanwhile, the burden of finding an equitable replacement for Vermont Yankees plentiful clean, affordable 24/7 baseload
power falls squarely on the shoulders of state policy makers. The states plan leans heavily on building more wind and solar generation. Yet proposed ridgeline wind projects are embattled. In southern Vermont, the 30 MW Deerfield II project has its permits, but faces a federal court challenge and still needs a buyer for its power. Owner Iberdrola said in October that without a power contract, it is unlikely the turbines will be built. In the Northeast Kingdom, the Seneca Wind project faces a nonbinding referendum from impacted communities; votes will be counted January 13. Two Northeast Kingdom state senators say their region carries a disproportionate load. The Vermont Public Service Board review of project opponents claim of turbine noise health problemsa phenomenon developers say is unsupported by peer-reviewed sciencebegan with a public hearing January 8. Net metering has blossomed, as recently enacted state laws encourage utility customers to sell power from on-site renewable energy generators (mostly rooftop and backyard solar) back to utilities at a premium. Some utilities have reached the 3 percent cap of total load permitted by state law. Opponents say net metering raises rates for other customers; supporters say it suppresses everyones peak-demand costs. A legislative fixpossibly raising the capis the main priority of the House committee tasked with energy legislation. The proposed 25 MW biomass-burning power plant in Springfield may have satisfied local officials with a new access road. Also, during hearings, the state conceded the plants power may be needed, thanks to the looming shortfall. A Canadian company announced plans to deliver, by 2019, 1,000 MW of Quebec hydropower to southern New England (but none to Vermont) via two buried cables running beneath Lake Champlain and central Vermont. As Vermont seeks to obtain 90 percent of its total energy from renewable sources by 2050, these challenges and issues will assume greater importance in 2014 and beyond. Guy Page is communications director with the Vermont Energy Partnership (vtep.org), a diverse group of more than 90 business, labor and community leaders committed to finding safe, clean, affordable and reliable electricity solutions.
n behalf of all of us at The Bridge please accept our thanks for your contributions to date to the papers current and ongoing fundraising campaign. According to our bookkeeper Kathryn Leith more than $10,000 has been received to date in contributions to our campaign. As many of you may be aware when we launched our campaign last fall we set a goal of $50,000. Reaching our fundraising goal will make it possible for The Bridge to move forward on three important fronts: in our work with young people, students and interns; with our plans to expand our editorial and advertising outreach and with our much needed effort to strengthen both our web site and our online presence. Please help us reach our critical fundraising goal. Here is the essential information. Please write a check made payable to The Bridge and send it to us at this address: The Bridge, P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601. Or drop off a check in person at The Bridge office. Our office is located in the lower level of Schulmaier Hall on the campus of the Vermont College of Fine Arts. For more detailed information on how to find our office, please phone us at 223-5112. We continue to be grateful for your timely and generous support.
THE BRIDGE
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Some highlights: Access to providers in all 50 states and more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Blue Rewards Health and Wellness ProgramSM dollars you earn by engaging in healthy behaviors like completing a health assessment and getting a physical. High-quality, member-centric customer service from local professionals. The lowest total costs on the market for most plans. Integrated financial services for Health Savings Accounts, Health Reimbursement Arrangements and Flexible Savings Accounts. Reach us: By phone at (800) 255-4550 Online at www.bcbsvt.com, Email at exchangeteam@bcbsvt.com, or In person at our headquarters in Berlin or at our new Information and Wellness Center at the Blue Mall in South Burlington
Well see you through.
Visit us at our headquarters at 445 Industrial Lane in Berlin.
Montpelier Alive invites everyone to downtown Montpelier for three fantastic days of winter events promoting physical movement while shaking off cabin fever. There are many indoor and outdoor activities something for everyone. Most events are free and family friendly.
Event descriptions at montpelieralive.org/Frostival-2014. Contact festivals@montpelieralive.org or 802-223-9604 to volunteer.
Generously underwritten by:
Frostival 2014
Pancake Breakfast Unitarian Church, 810:30 am Frostival 5K with Central VT Runners Hot Chocolate Stations
saturday 1.25
Unitarian Church; 8 am registration, 9 am race begins; 9:45 am awards ceremony Montpelier Fire Department & Vermont History Museum, 10 am3 pm
Friday 1.24
AfroJazz & Yoga Workout
Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio, 910:30 am
Jazz Funk & Hip-Hop Workout
Winter Blues Buster City Hall, 5:30-7 pm Candlelight Snowsh Romp Hubbard Park, 68 pm Great Green Mountain Bob Dylan Wannabe Contest
Montpelier High School Auditorium, 710 pm
Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio, 12:301:45 pm
Jennings & Ponder: World Tales
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Hayes Room, 1111:45 am AND 12:301:15 pm
Extempos Third Annual Tell Off
American Legion, 810 pm
sunday 1.26
StoryWalk: The Mitten North Branch Nature Center, 10 am3 pm Scottish Country Dancing Unitarian Church, noon 1 pm City Fun Center City Center, 11 am1 pm Fitness with Hula Hoops
demo at City Center, 12:451 pm; class at Unitarian Church, 1:302:20 pm
StoryWalk: The Mitten North Branch Nature Center, 10 am3 pm Strider Ski-bike Race State House Lawn, 10 am Valentines & Kindness Card-Making Get-Together
Center for Arts and Learning, 46 Barre Street, 11 am12:30 pm
Middle Eastern Belly Dancing
demo at City Center, 22:15 pm; class at Unitarian Church, 2:453:45 pm
Unicycle with Community Connections

Main Street Middle School, 12:302 pm
Kotchka Chamber Players Unitarian Church, 2:303:30 pm Ice on Fire North Branch Nature Center, 25 pm
inside outside active/participatory admission fee
performance
food/drink
The New Crew Unitarian Church, 44:45 pm Sledding Warming Station Hubbard Park, Old Shelter, 10 am1 pm Sugar on Snow with Burr Morse State House Lawn, 13 pm Pick-Up Ultimate State House Lawn, 12 pm Snowsh Obstacle Course State House Lawn, 23:30 pm All Day Ice Skating Vermont College of Fine Arts Free Swim First in Fitness (Berlin), 24 pm Hot Stove Banquet Capitol Plaza, 6 pm Snow Ball Dance City Center, 7:3010 pm

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Connecting Montpelier and nearby communities since 1993 | JANUARY 23FEBRUARY 5, 2014

Health & Wellness Issue

courtesy Anjali Budreski

An Interview with Vermont Health Access Chief Mark Larson

Getting a Grip on Health Care Costs

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

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She knows whats going on because she reads The Bridge

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Migrant Workers Celebrate New Driving Privileges

ADVERtISE Valentines Day issue

Shiitake Mushrooms in Vermont

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12-Year-Old Justin Murray Sings with the VSO

Subscribe to The Bridge!

David Huddle Teaches at Johnson State College this Semester

Barre Teacher Receives Award of Excellence

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Tell them you saw it in The Bridge!

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The Vermont Option

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Call today to schedule your appointment: 728-2777

pag e 8 J a n ua ry 23 F e b rua ry 5 , 2 014

Gremlins Getting Your Business Down?

Tell them you saw it in The Bridge!

Call in the night riders...

Call: 223-6445 or visit vermontcomputing.com

VCFA / MFA in Visual Art / Student Exhibitions /

MFA in Visual Art Winter 2014 Residency Symposium:

/ Program Symposium / Sunday, January 26th / 9am-Noon, Chapel

Decolonizing the Unconscious: Re-Surging Ancestral Cultural Alliances