Washington County Senate Democratic Candidates Answer Your Questions • Page 4

A ugust 2–A ugust 18, 2018

BACK TO
SCHOOL!

IN THIS ISSUE: Meet Ryan Heraty, Union Elementary School’s

Pg. 9 The Barber Todd New Principal by Nat Frothingham

Pg. 11 Bernie Lambek,

Local Attorney and Author
A
s the new principal of Montpelier’s Union Elementary
School, Ryan Heraty has only been on the job for about
three weeks–a short time by any measure. But in a recent
Pg. 15 Getting Styled at interview with The Bridge he came across as very much in charge,
Bailey Road and very much at ease.
Heraty, who succeeded former Union School principal Chris
Hennessy in July, grew up in the Chicago area. His great-aunt
was a school principal in Chicago. “Many of my cousins are
U.S. Postage PAID
Did Union School enjoy strong community engagement? “Yes,”
said Heraty.
Had Union forged strong school and community partnerships?
Again, “Yes,” said Heraty, noting Union’s partnership with the
North Branch Nature Center.
And during a visit to Montpelier, Heraty saw a group of
Montpelier Main Street Middle School students walking down
the street–but they were carrying bins.

Permit NO. 123

teachers,” he added, and noted his own youthful interest in

Montpelier, VT
PRSRT STD
ECRWSS

education: “I had always wanted to be a teacher.”
But what absolutely clinched his decision to make teaching his
choice of a career was his high school coach. “He was a driving
force in my life,” Heraty said. “He was doing it right.” And
Heraty said to himself at the time, “I could imagine myself doing
that.”
For the past four years, Heraty has been a principal of an
elementary school in Winthrop, Massachusetts, a coastal town
of about 17,000 people a few miles north of Boston. Explaining
how he and his family came to Vermont, he said, “My wife and
I married in Vermont.”
As he imagined a move to Vermont, Heraty thought the timing
might be right. Still he was wary. “I was reluctant to make the
move unless it was a school and a community I was excited
Montpelier, VT 05601
“Why were they carrying bins?” he asked the students. Well, the
Middle School students were on their way to Union Elementary
School. Inside the bins were materials they would use for
teaching science lessons to students at Union. Students teaching
students–what a powerful learning and teaching idea.
As part of our conversation, Heraty expressed admiration for the
work of educational thinker and writer John Hattie, a professor
of education and director of the Melbourne Education Research
Institute at the University of Melbourne in Australia.
For the past several years Hattie has conducted research with
responses from thousands of schools across the world. Over and
over again Hattie has asked this question–really a question about
teachers and their impact on students: what, Hattie has tried to
figure out, are the most powerful interventions that could be
made in our schools to strengthen student learning?

about. I wanted to make sure it was a great fit.”

Some educational critics have called for smaller classes. Others
During the interview process and all that happened around have called for ability grouping. Still others believe that spending
P.O. Box 1143

that process, Heraty registered a number of strong, positive formidable sums of new money on education can have a powerful
The Bridge

impressions about Montpelier. impact on learners.

Continued on Page 13

We’re online! montpelierbridge.com or vtbridge.com

PAG E 2 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Nature Watch by Nona Estrin

Watercolor by Nona Estrin

The Great Ash Sphinx Moth

B
y day, butterflies, by night, Great Ash Sphinx Moths hover like nocturnal
humming birds amongst the fragrant tobacco. For these magical night-fliers and
44 other insects, ash is the primary host. What will become of them, the birds,
and other life that feed on them? And what will we do to counter this loss?
Note: The magnificent Polyphemus moth above, uses ash as only one of it's host foods.
T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 3

HEARD ON THE STREET

Salaam Moves, Rebel Heart to Open, Vacant Storefront Filled
The fashion boutique, Salaam, vacated one store front on State Street and moved a
few doors down into the space which housed Vermont Trading Company for 25 years.
Salaam is fully open for business at the new location and will hold a grand opening on
August 4. The old location at 40 State Street will become Rebel Heart, a men’s and
women’s clothing store with houseware and more. Owner Jenn Sebold has worked
for Vermont Trading Company, Shoe Horn, and The Bridge. She plans to open in
September after renovations. This shuffling of the deck means another vacant storefront
in the downtown will be filled and vibrant again.
Aromed Opens new branch at the Berlin Mall
AroMed Aromatherapy and CBD Shop is opening in a new location at the Berlin
Mall, next to Planet Fitness, scheduled to open mid/late August, after owner Lauren
Andrews signed a six-month lease. The space is a bit bigger than the Montpelier
store, and Andrews is in the process of hiring staff. She plans to host workshops,
in addition offering her organic CBD and essential oil remedies. A grand opening
party will be happening, but no date has been set yet.
Montpelier Shared-Use Path Renaming Contest
The Montpelier Complete Streets Group invites you to rename the popular
recreation path that travels along the Winooski River from Granite Street to
Junction/Dog River Road. In 2019, the path will be expanded from Granite Street
to Gallison Hill Road. The winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Onion
River Outdoors. The contest runs from July 1 to September 3, 2018, and the
winner will be announced in October 2018. Fill out the form online or print and
drop off at the City Clerk’s office in City Hall. You may submit more than one
name suggestion, but only one per entry. If the winning name selected has more
than one person who suggested it, the person who submitted the name first wins.

Montpelier Selected to Host Bridge Community Media, Inc.

P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601 / Ph: 802-223-5112

Major Regional Creative Editor in Chief: Mike Dunphy

Copy Editor: Larry Floersch
Editorial: 223-5112, ext. 14
mdunphy@montpelierbridge.com

Economy Conference Layout, Calendar Editor: Marichel Vaught
Proofreader, Calendar Editor: Sarah Davin
Sales Representative: Rick McMahan, Dot Helling
Distribution: Sarah Davin, Amy Lester,
Location: The Bridge office is located at the
Vermont College of Fine Arts, Stone Science Hall.
Subscriptions: You can receive The Bridge by mail
for $50 a year. Make out your check to The Bridge,
and mail to The Bridge, PO Box 1143, Montpelier

M
Daniel Renfro VT 05601.
ontpelier Alive announced today that Montpelier will host the New Board Members: Chairman Donny Osman, Jake montpelierbridge.com
Brown, Phil Dodd, Josh Fitzhugh, Larry Floersch, facebook.com/thebridgenewspapervt
England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) Creative Communities Irene Racz, Ivan Shadis, Tim Simard, Ashley Twitter: @montpbridge
Exchange (CCX) on June 6 and 7, 2019. Montpelier was selected in a Witzenberger Instagram@montpelierbridge
competitive application process to host the event, which will bring nearly 300 leaders Copyright 2018 by The Bridge
to Montpelier to discuss the interplay between the creative economy and community
and economic development.
“We are thrilled to be selected to host the CCX in 2019 in Montpelier,” said Dan
Groberg, executive director of Montpelier Alive. “Montpelier is truly emerging as the
creative capital. Hosting CCX is a reflection of the tremendous creative energy in our
city that lends innovation and vitality to Montpelier.”
The CCX is a fast-paced biennial event that gathers New England leaders engaged
in arts-based community development and creative placemaking for networking and
peer learning. CCX rotates to different New England communities and highlights
a wide range of successful initiatives from around the region that leverage the local
creative sector for revitalization and growth of the broader community.
The CCX helps build a bridge between the creative sector and community development
by providing a peer-to-peer forum to explore the abundant creative assets of New
England and share how—through collaboration, ingenuity, vision, leadership, and
patience—the creative sector continues to breathe life and opportunity into the
region. This sixth iteration of the conference follows previous events in Providence,
RI; the Berkshires, MA; Portland, ME; Keene, NH; and New London, CT.
“We are very excited to bring the CCX to Montpelier, a unique community where
government is accessible, advocacy is immediate, and creativity is being integrated
into policy and daily life,” said Dee Schneidman, Program Director, Research and
Creative Economy, NEFA. “This capital city will inspire CCX participants to engage
in spirited civic dialogue about the past, present, and future of the creative sector and
its inclusion in community development and identity.”
“The creative economy plays an important role in Montpelier and we are very excited
for the opportunity to showcase our city,” said Montpelier Mayor Anne Watson.
Montpelier Alive’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for people who live,
work, and visit Montpelier by helping the downtown and adjacent areas develop into
the 21st century as a vital and diverse community center for retailing, cultural and
entertainment activities, education, recreation, business and professional services,
dining, government, and residential use. Learn more at montpelieralive.org.
The New England Foundation for the Arts invests in the arts to enrich communities
in New England and beyond. NEFA accomplishes this by granting funds to artists
and cultural organizations; connecting them to each other and their audiences; and
analyzing their economic contributions. NEFA serves as a regional partner for the
National Endowment for the Arts, New England’s state arts agencies, and private
foundations. Learn more at nefa.org.
PAG E 4 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Washington County Senate Democratic Candidates Answer
your Questions
ANDREW BREWER
F
or the past two weeks, The Bridge
has been fielding questions from
the community to put to the six
Democratic candidates running in the
August 14 primary for three spots on the
November ticket. We have selected 10
questions, and the responses from each
candidate are below. Owing to space
constraints, responses have been edited
for length. See the full responses at
montpelierbridge.com
The Bridge wishes to thank everyone who
sent a question, regardless of whether it’s
included here or not.
Why do you want (or want to keep) the
job?—Linda Young
Andrew Brewer: I strongly believe the
connection between small businesses and
the building of our communities are an
important part of what tie us together.
I’ve been looking through that lens for
many years, and I understand it. I’ve made
many good decisions, many very tough
ones, and ones that didn’t work out. I’ve
learned from them all. I want to represent
Washington County with that view in the
legislature.
Ann Cummings: I want to keep my job
for the same reason I ran in the first place:
I believe in representative democracy. I
believe that government can be a force
for good. It is the way people decide
how to address their common problems
and needs. But to work, representative
democracy needs elected representatives
who are committed to making it work. I
hope I have been one.
Ashley Hill: I am running for elected
office to start building the world I thought
I was entering—a world where merit and
might are worth far more than money
and connections, a world where regardless
of social constructs, our opportunities
and successes are not limited and pre-
determined. I am running to create a
community that values all of us, regardless
of race, gender, age, sexual orientation,
financial ability, educational attainment,
or physical ability. I am running because
Compiled by Mike Dunphy
ANN CUMMINGS
I believe that when government represents
the majority, and not just the minority, we
will begin to break down the walls that
have shut so many of us out for so long.
Theo Kennedy: I want to be your senator
because I care deeply about people and
community. I believe that government
can have a positive impact, and I find
public service to be a deeply fulfilling
endeavor. If folks look at my background,
they will find someone who is qualified,
experienced, and ready for the job. As a
good and respectful listener with a track
record of getting things done, my goal is
to bring people together to solve problems
and create sustainable solutions.
Andrew Perchlik: I am dedicated to
community development and working
with others to create vibrant, prosperous,
healthy communities. I want the job as
your senator so I can work to bring all 18
towns and two cities together to have a
collective positive impact on the lives of all
Washington County citizens.
Anthony Pollina: Having spent many
years as a community organizer and
educator, I know that it takes time to
create change. I want to continue to work
on important policy issues, including
moving away from property values toward
income to fund our schools, making our
colleges affordable, and protecting our
environment and local economy.
If elected, how would you communicate
with the largest number of constituents
in a regular fashion?—Paul Carnahan
Brewer: I’m a fan of the legislative updates
that many legislators distribute. The well-
written ones give constituents a good
overview of issues, often ones they weren’t
aware of, that concern them. Still, nothing
beats face-to-face interaction. I’m out in
the community constantly, but I’d like to
hold at least monthly forums alternating
among Washington county towns.
Cummings: I strive to keep up with the
emails, frequently over 100, I receive in
a day. I am also learning to use Facebook
and developing the ability to do mass
emailing of a newsletter. I attend as many
community events as I can, my phone
number is in the book, and I am regularly
seen walking in Montpelier. No matter
what method is used, the most important
thing is an attitude of openness and
acceptance. I actually like being stopped
and talked to.
Hill: I use social media regularly to
connect with supporters, and I’m going
to start what I’m hoping will be a weekly
podcast. I’m hoping to be able to do that
during the session. I’m also interested in
doing bi-weekly or monthly chats at local
spots that are open to everyone, and I
want to hear from my constituents about
the best ways that work to connect with
them too!
Kennedy: One ongoing aspect of the
job is constituent service. To that end, I
would make myself available every day
throughout the year, as reasonably as
possible in-person, via e-mail, phone, and
social media platforms, to hear people’s
input and help in any way that I am able.
Perchlik: I would use social media
(Facebook) and emails to provide regular
updates to constituents and solicit feedback
during the legislative session. When not
in session (and during the session as
time allows) I will hold gatherings (or
“town hall” meetings) in different towns
across the county to talk face-to-face with
constituents about policy issues.
Pollina: I am not sure there is any one
best way. We can use Front Porch Forum,
email lists, and other outlets. We should
also organize public meetings. Nothing
beats face-to-face conversation.
What do you think of the proposal
for a carbon tax in Vermont?”—Arthur
Savard
Brewer: A carbon tax is an idea that, so far,
hasn’t been ready for prime time. I think
that’s largely due to messaging. Opponents
of the idea have done a better job labeling
the idea as catastrophic to Vermonters,
ASHLEY HILL
whereas proponents haven’t been able to
get the “revenue neutral” aspect of the
plan into the public consciousness. When
it comes to changing consumer patterns,
this is, in theory, an area where good
government could lead, but it must work
in reality.
Cummings: I think it has merit and I
have said I would support it-IF it doesn’t
negatively impact the thousands of
working Vermonters who are already
facing financial stress and frequently
needing to drive long distances to work.
It’s a challenge, but we are working on it.
We are in the process of doing a carbon
study, which should provide some answers.
Hill: I support a carbon tax generally,
but I want to be sure we create it as
a progressive tax that doesn’t leave our
most economically vulnerable community
members worse off financially. We need to
hold the entities with the largest carbon
footprint accountable, while also working
to reduce everyone’s reliance on fossil
fuels and non-renewable energy. I don’t
think enacting a carbon tax as a stand-
alone policy will adequately reduce carbon
emissions. We need to use a multifaceted
approach to assist everyone in transitioning
away from fossil fuels and moving toward
greener, more energy-independent living.
Kennedy: First of all, global warming is
real, and Vermont has to do all it can
to help fight climate change. As to a
carbon tax, I want to be sure that we
are not implementing fiscal policy that is
regressive, insomuch as lower income folks
and smaller businesses end up contributing
proportionally more than their wealthier and
larger counterparts, unless we implemented
some sort of rebate mechanism for the less
advantaged among us. I also don’t want to
position Vermont, even if it is trying to lead
on this most important topic of our times,
in any way that would hurt us relative to
other states economically. If we do proceed
with a carbon tax to help reduce fossil fuel
consumption, I think it should probably be
a federal one.
T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 5
THEO KENNEDY
Perchlik: As a society, we should tax
“bads” and not “goods,” and our tax and
economic development policies should be
aligned with our values and goals. Vermont
has specific goals to reduce our fossil fuel
use and greenhouse gas emissions, and
we value a stable climate, yet our tax and
economic development programs are not
aligned with these goals and value. We
need to protect our neighbors who pay
a higher percentage of their income on
gasoline for transportation and heating
oil and a smart tax shifting policy tied
with increased participation in regional
energy and carbon markets with funds
directed toward the low-income makes
that possible.
Pollina: The carbon tax, more correctly
referred to as the pollution tax, should
be fully studied so we can understand its
purpose and impacts, especially on low-
and moderate-income Vermonters and our
environment. We should also take a close
look at places where a pollution tax is
already in place.
Do you favor a state healthcare
system?— Brenda Bean
Brewer: [Chose not answer the question]
Cummings: As the chair of the finance
committee, I was very active in developing
the structure for Vermont’s original, single-
payer healthcare program. This year, I
worked on the fallback option of universal
primary care. We haven’t succeeded yet,
but I am committed to keep trying. It
would be so much easier if we could do it
on a national basis
Hill: Yes. Every person in Vermont deserves
high-quality, affordable health care. We
cannot continue to allow insurance and
hospital executives to command salaries,
sometimes in the multiple millions, and
then tell our nurses and other hospital
staff they cannot count on a living wage
commensurate with their training and
experience. In an ideal world, I would
expand Medicare access, but current
federal law makes this nearly impossible.
Vermont needs to implement single-
payer health care, while at the same time
recruiting medical professionals to work in
more rural areas across the state to ensure
we eliminate disparities in healthcare
access and utilization between our most
rural and our most urban areas.
ANDREW PERCHLIK ANTHONY POLLINA
Kennedy: Vermont already leads and Cummings: Vermont has a history of of affordable housing units here in
demonstrates best-practice models in many being very innovative in funding affordable Washington County to ensure every one
ways with our patient-centered, patient- housing development. One of these of us is able to access and secure safe,
driven system of care, but we can’t do mechanisms is the Affordable Housing Tax stable housing. I also believe if we expand
it alone. In our public sector, we rely on Credit, which I have always supported. affordable housing options, it will open up
somewhere between 60 and 90 cents of During the past biennium we authorized possibilities for market-rate development as
every dollar from the federal government, a $30 million bond to fund affordable well. As a member of the Montpelier City
and for our private sector exchange policies housing. That’s a lot of money for Vermont, Council, my commitment to affordable
many Vermont beneficiaries rely on income- but it’s only a drop in the bucket of need. housing development guides much of my
sensitized federal tax dollars to help afford Another need that we have been trying work.
coverage. We also still have work to do to address is down-payment assistance. Kennedy: Affordable housing is a top
to control insurance costs, ensure universal Frequently, first-time home buyers can priority. In many ways, we can look at
access to primary care and to reduce the afford the mortgage payments, but coming housing as part of our public health
cost of prescription drugs. In short, while up with even five percent down and up system of care. If lower-wage workers
I support improving our state healthcare to $8,000 in closing costs is beyond their cannot afford a place to live, they often
system for all Vermonters, I believe, if we reach. For this reason, I support the down- can’t afford to stay in Vermont, and we
are pursuing a single-payer model, that we payment assistance programs. need them here to grow our community
should look towards a “Medicare for all” Hill: First, we need to raise our minimum and our economy. If homeless individuals
approach. wage to at least $15 per hour. We need and families can’t move from shelters to
Perchlik: I think the state of Vermont, to drastically increase the number
as part of a nation of 50 states, is too Continued on next page
small to create and successfully operate a
wholly state funded healthcare system. We
are making progress as a state in moving
in the direction of controlling costs and
providing quality healthcare services that
are focused on prevention and accessibility. I
think the services and costs are not adequate
or acceptable, but we have ways to make
improvements that we should focus on and
not get too distracted on a Vermont-run,
universal healthcare system. We need to
support Bernie Sander’s efforts at “Medicare
for all” on the national level while working
on the details of improving our current
system.
Pollina: I support a publicly funded,
universal healthcare system that lowers costs
and provides access to all.
Do you have any position on keeping
and increasing housing affordable so that
those on a low wage can still afford to
rent?—Yvonne Baab
Brewer: Yes. I look at affordable housing as
an important part of economic development.
You simply cannot have the kind of
sustainable and vibrant community we want
without quality and affordable places to live.
I would add that we need more housing
choices for all income levels. I know of several
people/couples who are ready to move out of
their big, old, rambling house (which in turn
makes that house available to the next young
family) and into a nice condo or apartment
within walking distance of downtown, but
those are few and far between.
PAG E 6 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
temporary housing to permanent housing, they will have a harder time making it
on their own. If individuals struggling with mental illness can not secure “Housing
First,” many of the other public support programs become increasingly taxed at greater
collective expense.
Perchlik: My position is that we don’t have near enough affordable housing and that
we need to increase the amount of affordable housing and housing in general. We
should build programs to help seniors who are living in houses that are bigger than
they want to down-size into high-quality smaller housing. This will require both in-
filling housing into our downtowns and promoting construction of housing preferred
by seniors, such as condos.
Pollina: Lack of affordable housing is a very serious problem in Vermont. We should
increase our public investment in affordable housing across the state. Wages and
incomes must also be increased so Vermonters can afford to buy or rent a Vermont
home.
Do you support ranked-choice voting?—Ari Erlbaum
Brewer: I’ve had some lively conversations over this topic. It’s fun to try to guess how
a race might play out under instant runoff rules. But doing that mental game exposes
a problem—it can be confusing. I’d be very concerned that it could lead to people not
understanding how to vote, or worse, not voting at all!
Cummings: I have mixed feelings about ranked-choice voting. I know that Burlington
tried it and quickly abandoned the effort. I have an open mind and am willing to be
convinced.
Hill: Yes! I think ranked-choice voting is the best way to make sure we get the
candidates who the public truly wants and to ensure every vote counts!
Kennedy: While I generally understand what ranked choice voting is, I really don’t
yet know enough detail about the pros and cons on this issue to make an educated
and informed decision. Generally, I support our one-person, one-vote system as it is
presently designed.
Perchlik: This is my favorite question! Yes I do, and have for the past 20 years. I’m eager
to follow the lead of Maine, which now has ranked-choice voting for all its elections. I
think Burlington too quickly abandoned it. There are ways Vermont can use ranked
choice voting that are aligned with the Vermont constitution, and it is something that
I will work on as your new senator.
Pollina: Yes, I have long supported ranked-choice voting.
What steps [if any] do you support to raise the minimum wage to $15 or preferably
higher to a living wage?—Elizabeth Parker
Brewer: First, I’ll work very hard to make sure we have the strongest, most vibrant
small-business economy possible. But there’s no denying there’s an affordability gap in
Vermont. I would give careful consideration to increased minimum wage legislation
that was reasonable and stepped over time, and I would do that with the real-world
experience of a business owner for many years. We all want better for the workers of
Vermont. I believe there can be agreement on legislation that accomplishes that without
harming the very businesses we all work for.
Cummings: Last summer, I served on the minimum wage study committee and voted
for raising the minimum wage to $15. I also voted for it when the bill came to the
floor. I think we need to continue our efforts. Fortunately, after years of stagnation,
the economy seems to be putting upward pressure on wages. While we are doing this,
we need to remember that Vermont is a state of small businesses. Ninety percent of
our businesses have 20 or fewer employees. We also have many very small businesses,
especially in our downtowns. If we want our downtowns to flourish, we have to make
sure we don’t put them out of business.
Hill: We need to, as Nike tells us, “Just Do It.” I worked a second job at minimum
wage up until four years ago when I became a prosecutor. I cannot imagine how my
friends and coworkers were and are able to meet even the bare-bones basics of housing,
food, childcare, and transportation on the current minimum wage. Fifteen dollars
is a starting point, but we need to tackle single-payer healthcare and expand access,
education, and affordability to retire to ensure we are all financially secure as we age.
Kennedy: I supported the bill that the legislature passed overwhelmingly this last
biennium. Unfortunately, there were not enough votes in the House to override the
governor’s veto. As the co-owner with my wife, Nora, of a small family-owned business,
I was glad that the recommended approach allowed for a phase-in over six years. We
must balance the needs of small businesses whenever we consider legislation of this sort,
and, of course, it’s not just wages, but payroll taxes that go up as well. Nonetheless, this
is a fundamental quality of life issue that needs to be addressed
Perchlik: I support the bill that passed both legislative bodies last session, but was
vetoed and did not become law. If elected I will co-sponsor a similar or stronger bill
next session and work to see that it becomes law.
Pollina: I supported a bill the legislature passed increasing the minimum wage to $15
an hour over six years, a relatively conservative approach, to allow employers time to
adapt. Unfortunately, the governor vetoed the wage increase.
Is the practice of vetoing, vetoing, and vetoing House/Senate legislation and
then calling both chambers back into special session an acceptable long-term
legislative/gubernatorial practice?—Nat Frothingham
Brewer: No!
Cummings: This one is easy—no. The foundation of democracy is coming together
to find common ground.
Hill: No. Governor Scott's antics cost us between $50,000 and $60,000 per day for
the special session this year—a completely avoidable expense. We need leaders who put
people over politics.
Kennedy: It is not. I was proud of our governor when he risked political capital and
leaned bravely forward on reasonable gun safety measures, but this end-of-session
gauntlet two years in a row is disappointing at best. We have a part-time citizen
legislature; it’s incumbent on us to do the work during the session, not to hold-over the
work with the risk of a decreased bond rating and government shutdown; indeed, even
to openly discuss government shutdown is not acceptable.
Perchlik: It is obviously not ideal, and believe we are all better off when the executive
and legislative branch work together on legislation during the entire session and not just
the last few weeks, causing the session to go longer than necessary and highlighting the
“blame game” instead of good governance. That said, I think it is acceptable for the
governor to use the veto as he or she feels fit.
Pollina: Vetoes and special sessions are not an acceptable, long-term way to make policy.
The governor needs to engage with the legislature early and constantly, throughout the
session, so priorities are made clear and differences negotiated openly in a timely way.
How will you address the State’s education-funding problem?—Rosie Laquerre
Brewer: First, I strongly support our public schools and our local school boards who
have taken on this task. I’ve always supported and voted for the difficult work they do.
Second, does anyone understand how their property taxes are calculated? I believe the
changes to the education funding mechanisms over the past two decades have been
well intentioned, but the mechanism has gotten so convoluted that taxpayers are fed up.
Should we move towards an income-based approach to funding education? Two thirds
of Vermonters qualify for some level of income sensitivity, so actually they are paying
based on income. Yet they still pay a higher percentage of their income to education
than wealthier households who do not qualify for income sensitivity. That’s not fair. I’ll
look for a balanced approach.
Cummings: We’ve taken several steps that should reduce the costs of education. As
schools merge into viable-sized districts, they will have the flexibility to reduce costs.
We are also restructuring the way we fund special education that will allow schools
the ability to use their funds most effectively. And we have established a commission
to work with schools to help reduce the number of staff. There is no magic bullet, but
we are working to redesign our educational system to address the declining number of
students.
Hill: Tax and regulate marijuana/THC/cannabis-derivative products, and work to
transition our education funding to an income-based system. Expanding state-supported
access to community and technical colleges for every Vermonter is a necessary and
critical tool to meet current and future workforce demands. Community and technical
Do What You Do Best.
Bookkeeping · Payroll · Consulting
802.262.6013 evenkeelvt.com
T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 7
colleges provide access to higher education for a diverse mix
of our residents and create pathways to employment for many
who would otherwise be shut out. We need to support and fund
the Vermont State College system to give every Vermonter the
opportunity to succeed in the classroom and in the workforce
with revenues generated by the taxation and regulation of
marijuana products. Additionally, while well intentioned, Act 46
is failing our rural areas here in central Vermont and is forcing
our small, rural schools—often driving forces in our rural, close-
knit communities, to a model that focuses more on economic
savings than delivering education consistent with our values.
Kennedy: I support moving from a real-property tax-based
system to a simpler progressive income-based funding mechanism.
Given the potential flux inherent in income, I would keep the
real property as a backstop; in other words, on the lower end,
one would use property value or income, whichever is lower,
and on the higher end, one would use property value or income,
whichever is higher. Depending on where you draw the lines,
this approach could bring over 20 million new dollars of revenue
into the system each year, while being fairer throughout.
Perchlik: In my view, I see the over reliance on the property
tax as a key problem to the state’s education funding problem. I
would address that by moving more of our education funding to
a progressive income tax funding system. I also think we should
be providing more support for pre-kindergarden, child care, and
post-secondary education.
Pollina: I have introduced legislation to make education funding
more fair and simple by moving away from property toward an
Got a news tip? We want to know!
Send it to us at: editorial@montpelierbridge.com
income-based system. It would also raise significant new revenue
that could be used to make colleges affordable or invest in early
child education.
Are you in favor of keeping prisoners in Vermont and not
using out-of-state for-profit prisons?—Barbara Buckley
Brewer: Yes, I am. We should not be looking at Vermonters
serving their debt to society as some sort of commodity where the
lowest price wins. We should be taking care of our own.
Cummings: I spent many years on the judiciary committee.
One of our prime goals was to reduce the number of incarcerated
Vermonters. Our goal should be to have only dangerous felons in
jail. We’ve had some success. As we reduce the number of people
in jail, we can bring more inmates back to Vermont.
Hill: Our inmates belong in Vermont. We need to bring our
Vermont inmates home and house them in safe, healthy facilities
that focus on rehabilitation to successfully prepare them for
release. Vermonters deserve far more than private prisons or
out-of-state facilities afford our friends, family members, and
community members.
Kennedy: I am in favor of keeping prisoners in Vermont and I
am not in favor of using out-of-state for profit prisons.
Perchlik: Yes. We should never use for-profit prisons (in or out
of state) and prisoners should be kept as close to their support
structures (e.g. family) as possible.
Pollina: I oppose the use of out-of-state prisons and oppose
private, for-profit prisons in Vermont or elsewhere.
PAG E 8 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Raising Voter Turnout

by John Odum

T
here are a lot of ways you can judge the health
of a democracy. One of them–the simplest and
most straightforward one–is to look at citizen
participation. Turnout can be considered a measure of
voter engagement, voter interest, and–I would argue–
voter’s sense of futility. A certain percentage of those who
don’t vote are not necessarily staying home due to apathy,
but from a sense that their vote doesn’t matter.
Apathy is a real thing, but it’s just too easy to write
off non-voters to inertia, and a lazy unwillingness to
engage. While apathy is something we obviously need to
address, it’s all too common for individuals to approach
the problem from a sense of superiority (I vote, what’s
your problem?). Condescension makes a blunt tool for a
precision job.
Looking at the numbers in Montpelier compared to the
state and national numbers is interesting. In the 2016
General Election, Montpelier’s turnout (percentage of
registered voters) was 67.76 percent. Comparing that
to the statewide average (67.95 percent) makes us look
quite, well, average. We can take heart in the fact that
our checklist was a bit bloated at the time (we have since
removed about 1,200 voters that likely do not live here
any more from “active” to “challenged” status–the first
step to purging them completely). What this means is that
our true turnout was likely higher. Nevertheless, we aren’t
blowing away our fellow Vermonters with our turnout
rate, that’s for sure.
Looking at the rest of the country, we can feel quite good
about ourselves. Nationally, turnout was 60.2 percent.
So yay us. While that puts us well ahead of Texas;
however (at 51.6 percent), Minnesota leaves us in the dust
(74.8 percent)
These comparative numbers have a lot of value. You
can compare similar communities and consider what
procedural or cultural forces are creating any voting
percentage gap and the lower turnout community may be
able to learn from the higher one. Maybe Texas can learn
a thing or two from us, but we could learn a thing or two
from Minnesota.
But looking at those numbers in an absolute sense,
that’s 22 percent of eligible Montpelierites just not
participating–and the numbers for primary and annual
city meeting elections are even lower, sometimes far lower.
So how do we fix it?
There’s no magic answer, and all the different moving
parts have a role to play, including constituent groups,
political campaigns, and even the news media. But we as
individuals have a role too, and that brings me back to
my first point.
We can berate and shame the non-voter. That might you’re talking about local elections) we’ll be showing
increase turnout by a small amount, sure. But if we them that theirs does too. This is harder work that
recognize that many of our neighbors who don’t vote berating, and for some probably less satisfying. But
are staying home because they have become jaded and we must keep our eyes on the prize in the struggle for
cynical, that’s a perspective even the most committed and maximum democracy
responsible voter can probably empathize with, so why
not empathize? Why not embrace that common ground? And I’m willing to bet that the adage about catching more
flies with honey than with vinegar applies.
If we can demonstrate to non-voters that our vote does
matter (and that’s not a difficult thing to do at all when John Odom is the city clerk of Montpelier

Where is the Cleanest Water for

Swimming in the Capital Area?
F
riends of the Winooski River is a group dedicated to the • Collect yard waste for compost and keep from clogging storm
health and restoration of the river, its tributaries, and drains;
watersheds. In pursuit of this, volunteers collect hundreds • Sweep up sand, salt, soil, and grass from driveway instead of
of water samples from 39 sites in the capital area and the washing into storm drains;
headwaters (Cabot, Marshfield, Plainfield) on six dates each
summer. • Join Friends of the Winooski’s Volunteer Water Quality
Monitoring team! Volunteers collect stream samples on
Of all the capital area sampling sites, the cleanest water for a biweekly basis throughout the summer in the Cabot/
swimming was found at the “Pebble Beach” swimming area at Marshfield/Plainfield and Barre/Montpelier areas. Sampling
North Branch Nature Center, where the E. coli bacteria level is takes about 15 minutes per site, and volunteers can sample
usually below the state standard for swimming. However, it is from one or more sites. No experience necessary and training
important to note that when it rains, the bacteria level goes way is provided. The 2018 sampling dates are June 26, July 10,
up, even at the Nature Center. The E. coli level after a moderate July 24, Aug 7, Aug 21, and Sept 4. Volunteers can choose to
amount of rain can be 20 times higher than usual, so they do sample on one or all of those dates. Sign up at winooskiriver.org
not recommend swimming for 24–48 hours afterwards, as rain
washes pet waste, soil, and other pollutants off the land and into
the rivers.
To increase the number of clean-water swimming holes in the
area, Friends of the Winooski recommends taking the following
steps:
• Direct downspouts from your roof so that water does not fall
onto paved surfaces;
• Build rain gardens or swales;
• Improve drainage to prevent erosion around driveways and
walkways;

Recycle
• Plant bare areas on property to reduce erosion;
• Reduce area of mowing to allow native plants to flourish;
• Scoop up pet poop and put in trash;

This Paper! • Use minimal fertilizer on lawn;

• Maintain lawn height of 3-4 inches; Photo courtesy of Friends of the Winooski
T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 9
Democratic House Canididate John Stevens
responds to The Bridge
I
n the July 19 issue, The Bridge reached out to the four Northfield candidates—Gordon
Bock, Denise MacMartin, John Stevens, and Jeremy Hansen—vying for the two
positions on the November ballot. John Stevens was unable to respond to our questions
in the previous issue but has sent them along now.
What is one of your top priorities if elected? Why so?
Top Priority: 40 percent of VT roads are rated poor or very poor. 800+ bridges need
work or replacement. Tourists complain about the condition of our roads. VT needs to
improve our basic transportation system. Burlington has had five massive spills of untreated
sewerage into Lake Champlain this year. Many of VT’s wastewater treatment plants are
over 40 years old and need repair and upgrading to meet new standards.
What have you done in the past to help improve Vermont and/or your community?
Can you point to any specific accomplishments?
I have been with the Green Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America for 37 years. During
that time I have served as scoutmaster of the local troop and VP of properties. During my
tenure and as a professional engineer, I have contributed both money and talent to the
repair of a dam, design and construction of two bridges and a boat shed. I have spent many
days repairing and replacing facilities.
Do you support the governor’s efforts to change the staff-student ratio at Vermont
schools. If so, why? If not, what is a policy you would support or lead to improve
Vermont schools?
I think that local control of the school budget is an adequate control on staff-student ratio.
I would like to see more vocational education offered.
Are you satisfied with the state’s efforts to encourage youth to remain in state and
immigrants to move to the state? How could it be improved?
Vocational education needs to be upgraded. Apprenticeship programs need expanding.
Contractors have a difficult time finding skilled labor. Skilled labor is paid well.
Do you support stronger gun regulations than already exist in Vermont? If so, what’s
an example?
The recently passed laws should have a chance before more laws are enacted.
As a politician, how do you plan to build consensus with the other parties in the
government and not bring Vermont politics into something like the tribal warfare of
Washington DC?
As an engineer, I work with various groups building consensus. I plan to use the same
methods to work with my colleagues in the VT Legislature.
Nearly one in five Vermonters are 65 years old or more. How can Vermont better
support their needs, particularly with housing and transportation?
There should be daily checks on older Vermonters and their needs assessed.
Do you support a fully taxed and regulated market for marijuana, the status quo, or
a reversal or tightening of the law?
I support a fully taxed and regulated market for marijuana.
Can you give an example of a policy or perspective you’ve evolved on as a result of
your conversations and interactions with your constituency?
I didn’t realize how many Vermonters are aging in place.
How do you assess the state of Vermont’s environment? Is the state doing enough to
fight the causes and effects of climate change or could it do more?
Overall VT’s environment is improving but more needs to be done reduce water pollution.
To fight climate change, public transit should be more available and heating districts
established in urban area.
PAG E 10 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

The Barber Todd Brings Vision and

Symmetry to Haircutting in Montpelier by Dot Helling

I
t’s time to go back to school. Preparation Applying the right tools also matters. Most
includes last minute vacations, buying important are his Oster brand clippers,
clothes and school supplies, and coiffing which allow him to work fast but with great
for the big first day. Thankfully, we have many precision. The blades adjust from one quarter
talented barbers and stylists in downtown inch down to two millimeters. Beyond that
Montpelier. In June, Todd Wheeler, who he judges with his fingers. For longer hair,
worked for the past three years at Myles Court his special tool is a pair of Japanese steel
Barbershop, opened his own salon, The Barber scissors gifted to him by a friend 16 years
Todd, on Court Street, bringing a tremendous ago. These scissors not only feel good in
amount of experience far beyond his tenure at his hand (he can flip them into place), but
Myles Court. Wheeler started his career being they are also a good luck token worth many
schooled by his father, David Wheeler, at the hundreds of dollars and can only be handled
Hollywood Barber College in Los Angeles, by master barbers and shear sharpeners.
working on films such as Heat, Independence A father himself, Wheeler especially loves
Day, and Batman Returns. working with kids. Indeed, half of his
Wheeler’s unique and customized cuts are clientele are kids ages 8 to 18, some younger.
visionary and based on a philosophy of balance The common thread between youngsters
and symmetry. His dad once said to him, “I and adults is the need to establish trust early
can teach you a thousand cuts, but how will on. With kids who have trouble sitting still,
you know which is the right one for the person Todd has them turn the clippers on and off
in the chair?” That question haunted him and watch their parents do the same. Then
until he correlated it with the Bonsai tree scene he’ll place it in the kid’s hand and have them
in the movie Karate Kid, when Daniel chopped away at the unshaped Bonsai to make hold and touch the tool to get rid of any fear of it. He’ll call the edger a “honeybee”
it look like what he saw in his head. As Mr. Miyagi tells Daniel, “If come from inside because it hums, and warns his young customers that it tickles. Older kids are harder
you, always right one.” to figure out, especially those in high school who are under social pressure to figure out
Todd’s dad also taught him that beauty is “not only skin deep but goes all the way to the their image, which makes their hair very important.
bones.” The same goes for every head. Todd’s canvas is the bones in the head from the Wheeler strives to be consistent and keep his customers happy. He understands that it’s
shoulders up, and he’s developed a system for determining the best look for the shape of scary to change your appearance and loves nothing better than to make someone happy
each head. He looks at three zones from the forehead to the chin and determines your with their cut and the way they look. As he says, “Sometimes balance goes beyond the
symmetry. If symmetry is lacking, he balances it with the haircut. bones to lifestyle.”
For example, an “H” head is symmetrical. He calls himself a “V.” Kurt Russell and Val
Kilmer, actors whose hair he has cut, are both “A”s. Todd’s formula takes into account
both the vertical and horizontal frames of your head. So if you have a narrow chin, you
may not want a lot of hair at the top sides of your head. If A-shaped, you might want We want to know what you think!
longer lengths on top.
Email us at editorial@montpelierbridge.com

Sponsored by The Bridge

T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 11

Local Attorney Brings Legal Issues to Life in Debut Thriller

by Irene Racz

F
or 25 years, Bernie Lambek has “A lot of what I do is counseling clients, Will’s, and some of Sam’s story parallels
been a respected attorney in private many of whom are public entities, to help my practice.”
practice in Montpelier. Now, he can resolve issues and avoid litigation,” he said. Lambek said some of his Yale Law School
add best-selling “legal mystery” author to “If you do things right, you don’t get classmates have read the book, and it will
his resume. sued. I represent quite a number of school be mentioned in the law school’s alumni
Not that his novel, Uncivil Liberties, is a districts, and in a typical school case, I’d be publication. He has also received positive
national bestseller—at least not yet. But advising a school board or superintendent. reviews in the Vermont Bar Journal and
at Montpelier’s Bear Pond Books, where Some of those are related to a student’s First Seven Days and online on Goodreads and
he did a reading and signed books on June Amendment right to speak out on issues. I Amazon. He is in the midst of readings
5, it’s currently the top-seller of the year, did represent a resident complaining about at a number of bookstores and libraries in
despite being on the market for only two the fact that a Christian prayer had opened Vermont and New Hampshire as well as
months. town meeting year after year.” a library in Maine. He has also met with
Its success is due partly to its homegrown A fan of mysteries, Lambek said he wanted several book groups.
appeal. The story is set in Montpelier, with his book to offer the suspense typical of that He used Rootstock Publishing, a local
barely fictionalized landmarks—the park, genre while also exploring important issues. company, to publish the book, and other
the hardware store, a coffee shop—familiar “Even though my characters are on the area professionals for editing, artwork, and
to anyone who lives here. And Lambek plaintiff side in these cases, the interesting design. Rather than printing a set number
incorporates tongue-in-cheek elements— things are the issues and the underlying of books, printing is done on demand
stores catering to Wiccans and to pets on values, political theory, and constitutional through IngramSpark, which also provides
raw food diets—that perfectly capture the interpretation,” he said. “I’m trying to distribution.
capital city’s quirkiness. portray those issues in their complexity,
giving the perspectives of both sides.” Lambek retains the copyright to the book,
But the book is also being enjoyed further which means he is free to work with a Photo by John Lazenby
afield, a testament to the quality of the A few people at the Bear Pond reading major publishing house should the book
assumed that the character of Sam is Lambek’s website: bernielambek.com
writing and the blending of a whodunit gain traction beyond our region. Uncivil
with an examination of some of the autobiographical, but Lambek disputes Liberties is available on Amazon in print Uncivil Liberties on Facebook: facebook.
thorniest legal issues facing our country that. “I used real life events from family and for Kindle, but he encourages interested com/UncivilLibertiesBook
today. and inserted them into characters, but it readers to purchase it from independent
didn’t mean the characters had the same Rootstock Publishing website:
Lambek began writing the book in 2011 booksellers. His website has links to rootstockpublishing.com
personalities,” he said. “There are parallels independents, like Bear Pond Books, that
and continued on and off for the next between [Sam’s daughter] Sarah and my Rootstock on Facebook: facebook.com/
six years, when he felt inspired and could can fulfill mail orders.
son Will. Her back story is similar to rootstockpublishing
fit it in among his legal work and family
obligations. He and his wife, Linda Sproul,
welcomed four grandchildren during that
time, and Lambek lost his father.
Several family members, legal associates,
and friends—most notably acclaimed
novelist and part-time Vermonter Howard
Norman—gave him the encouragement he
needed to keep writing as well as helpful
feedback on various drafts.
“I hadn’t thought about writing a novel
before, and I just decided I’d like to try this,
even before I had a plot in mind,” he said.
“I had these legal issues I’d been dealing
with for years—the First Amendment and
how it plays out in schools, and prayer at
town meetings—and I wanted to make
them publicly accessible in the context of
fiction.”
Like Lambek, protagonist Sam Jacobson is
a dedicated attorney who wants to do the
right thing, even when it conflicts with his
own beliefs or public opinion. As a puzzling
death casts a pall over the community, Sam
represents plaintiffs in cases involving a
student’s free speech rights, discrimination
based on sexual orientation, and the
intersection of government and religion.
In real life, Lambek represents some of
the institutions that his characters are up
against, but with an eye toward helping his
clients do the right thing.

Tell them you saw

it in The Bridge!
PAG E 12 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
To Merge or not to Merge—Barre City and Barre Town
Prepare for a New Vote on School Districts
I
n the next few months, residents of Barre City and Barre Town will once again vote
on a merger of school districts thanks to the passage of Act 46 in 2015. The merger
has been put to a vote in Barre City once before and Barre Town two times; the first
was at the recommendation of the original Merger Study Committee, which worked
to develop a proposal from 2015 to 2016, and the second was as a result of a successful
petition to re-vote in Barre Town. The initial proposal passed in Barre City but the
proposal was rejected both times in Barre Town.
It’s a complicated topic, to be sure, and we want to clarify the situation, dispel
misconceptions, and address the many issues raised about the merger by answering these
frequently asked questions:
Who exactly is involved with the merger?
Barre City and Barre Town each have an elementary school serving grades pre-K–8th
grade, with Spaulding High School serving both communities. At the moment, all three
schools operate as separate districts under the Barre Supervisory Union (BSU). While
the Supervisory Union provides some opportunity for collaboration and standardization,
the schools still have to maintain separate budgets and boards, which limits their ability
to further streamline operations. If the communities vote to merge, the three existing
districts will be merged into the Barre Unified Union School District, and this new
district would become operational on July 1, 2019.
What is Act 46 and how does it apply here? Why was it passed?
Act 46 is a far-reaching piece of legislation passed in 2015 designed to encourage local
school districts to merge their existing governance structures into one consolidated pre-
K–12 school district, with one school board responsible for every student in the district.
The main goal is to improve the educational quality of those schools at an affordable and
sustainable cost that taxpayers will value.
What is the argument for the merger?
Teachers would receive increased job security, and part-time employees would gain the
ability to move between schools if enrollment levels change staffing requirements. There
would be no plan to move teachers simply for the sake of moving them.
Students could benefit from further alignment of elementary and middle school
curricula to ensure all students have the same opportunities. Sharing teachers/staff
would also allow for expanded offerings to all students.
Furthermore, every dollar saved on efficiencies is an additional dollar that can be spent
on improving the quality of students’ education without additionally burdening the
taxpayers. The streamlined operations foresees an estimated savings of at least $100,000/
year. Furthermore, tax reduction incentives are still available if communities move
forward with a voluntary merger.
by Gina Akley and Tyler Smith
What are some misconceptions about the proposed merger?
Many community members have expressed a belief that an Act 46 merger will result in a
merger of the schools, particularly the elementary and middle schools in Barre Town and
Barre City. This is not the case. The Act 46 merger is an administrative and operational
merger that affects school budgets and school boards, but each school will continue to
run as a separate entity with the same administrative structure as it currently has.
We have also heard concern about students being forced to switch schools as a result of
the merger. As a result, the Study Committee has heavily modified the previous Articles
of Agreement to require a public vote to approve school restructuring, closings, and
redistricting. In addition, the Articles state that students will not be required to attend
school outside of their town of residence. The ballot warning also ensures the board
cannot make changes to these and other key articles without taking it to a public vote.
What aspects of the merger still need to be hammered out?
From an operational stand-point, there is some work that will need be completed
following either a voluntary or involuntary merger to ensure that the new district will be
operational by the July 1, 2019 deadline. The new school board will be voted in at the
same time as the merger vote. Upon a successful merger vote, the Barre Unified Union
School District and its board would come into existence, and they would work over the
next several months to prepare for the transition. Among the items they would address
are:
a. Preparing and presenting a budget to the voters for Fiscal Year 2020;
b. Preparing for the Barre Unified Union School District annual meeting, March 5,
2019;
c. Transacting any other lawful business that comes before the Board.
The existing school boards would continue to operate to conduct the business of their
districts through June 30, 2019, at which point the Barre Unified Union School District
would become operational and the new board would take over all authority for the
district.
Why has Barre Town voted down the merger twice?
It is impossible to know all of the reasons that the merger was voted down in Barre
Town, but the information from polls taken during the first vote as well as public
input during the most recent round of Committee work notes that many people were
concerned about the loss of local control and the impact a merger may have on school
closings, mergers, restructuring, and district boundaries.
The original Articles of Agreement to govern the new district left decisions around
these matters in the hands of the school board, and residents were concerned that major
decisions affecting the education of their children would be made without their input.
In addition, community members expressed concern about the impact a merger would
have on the security of their teachers and other service providers within each individual
school.
There were also concerns about a disparity in financial and property resources between
the two schools, many of which have been resolved over the past few years via building
improvements and the sale of property from Barre Town school to the Town of Barre.
When is the next vote?
The Study Committee has recommended a vote date of November 6, 2018, which is the
date of the general election. The Committee believes that this vote will draw the highest
number of voters and best reflect the wishes of each community. This date also provides
the Committee with more time to make sure that community members have the best
information about what a merger means for schools and students.
The Vermont State Board of Education needs to release its final plan for all districts by
November 30, 2018, so a November 6 vote date is cutting it pretty close. If the State
Board rejects the proposed vote date, it will be moved forward to September 28. There
are a few disadvantages to this date: it would be a standalone vote, meaning lower
turnout, and it gives the Committee less time to make sure that voters have the best
information in hand before making their decisions.
Does Barre Town have any hope of escaping a merger if its citizens reject it again?
The Secretary of Education released a draft statewide plan on June 1, 2018, which
outlined how the State plans to deal with districts that have not yet merged voluntarily.
The Barre districts were left out of the report because the Board of Education
acknowledged that the Study Committee was currently in process. However, the Board’s
recommendations regarding both the U-32 School District and the Twinfield Union
School District are indicative of its approach to districts that it does not believe make
a valid argument for an alternative structure under the Act 46 rules. It is impossible to
know with certainty what the Board of Education’s final plan will require if the Barre
districts do not vote to merge voluntarily, but it is reasonable to assume that a merger
will be required.
Gina Akley and Tyler Smith are co-chairs of the Barre Act 46 Merger Study Committee
T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 13

Meet Ryan Heraty, Union Elementary School’s New Principal Continued from Page 1

Hattie is not dismissing these conventional interventions; they could help. But Hattie sees Ryan Heraty, the new
teachers as all-important. What’s more he sees real educational clout in teachers working principal of Montpelier's Union
together–collaborating–sharing their best information about the most powerful teaching Elementary School in his Union
strategies they have discovered in working with students. School office. Heraty is holding
a traditional bell that a students
“See learning through the eyes of the learner,” Hattie advises. That’s the transformative used to ring to summon students
variable, or to quote Hattie directly from a 2012 essay, “Know Thy Impact.” When teachers from recess or to let student
work together–“fed by the evidence of their impact on students”–that’s when measurable know that classes were about to
gains take place in the learning lives of their students. begin. On the wall behind Heraty
is a student poster that was
As our conversation continued, Heraty discussed an educational shift that is taking place in presented to him at the close of
schools today. Instead of simple knowledge-based learning where the schoolchildren learn a the school year when he left his
body of knowledge and then are tested on that knowledge, schools like Union are building job at an elementary school in
what Heraty describes as “empowering activities.” Winthrop, Massachusetts. The
We talked about student writing. What if the only person reading a student’s writing is the poster reads as follows: "You
student himself? Or perhaps a student’s writing is read by himself and a teacher or by himself can have great teachers but if
you don't have a good principal,
and a teacher and a parent? Now, take that further. What about opportunities for students to you won't have a good school."
publish their writing so that it’s seen by a larger audience? Imagine the learning potential when Photo by Pam Foster.
a writer finds an audience of readers? Or as Heraty reported, “One of our teachers created a
book, with students, on “The Native Species of Vermont.”
One of the most basic things a school can offer is a place that’s “safe and healthy,” to use
nothing right now,” he said. “I will develop a morning program.” He sees such a program as
Heraty’s own words. Heraty noted that 25 percent of Union Elementary School students
particularly valuable in supporting working families.
qualify for what is called “free and reduced lunch.” That means that one out of four Union
Elementary School students come from families whose income levels qualify them for Heraty’s commitment to children in a morning program, throughout the school day, and in
financial help in paying for a school lunch. after-school programs includes an emphasis on what he calls “social and emotional learning.”
“We have 25 percent of students on free and reduced lunch,” Heraty reiterated. “That’s an Yes, if kids are hungry, they can’t learn. That’s basic. But it’s also important for children to learn
indicator of need. If kids are hungry, they aren’t going to learn.” Heraty is committed to starting how to get along with each other, have their needs met, and function happily as part of a group.
a morning program for schoolchildren who are dropped off early at school.“There’s What Heraty is aiming for is a school where all students feel safe and supported while being
engaged at a high level.

Union Playground Project Work to Start Soon; Portion of

Park Ave. to Close for School Year by Gail Callahan

T
he Union Elementary School
Playground Project got a boost last
week after the Montpelier City
Council approved a street closure permit for
Park Avenue next to the school, paving the
way for students to have a safe spot to play
when construction on the new playground
occurs.
The western portion of Park Avenue will be
permanently closed with chain link fences
for the school year, which runs from August
29, 2018 until June 21, 2019. Buses will
drop off and pick up on Hubbard Street,
eliminating parking spaces there. Parking
spots will also be lost on Park Avenue and
Loomis Street while the project is underway.
Last March, Montpelier voters approved a
$4.9 million bond for school repairs that
included $1.18 million for a new playground
at Union Elementary School. The cost of
the playground project was relatively high
because of the need to remove contaminated
soil from the site and improve drainage.
Some residents had the impression work on
the playground would begin the day after
school got out in June, but the start of the
project was delayed.
New school superintendent Libby Bonesteel
explains why: “Basically all the bids came
in much too high. We’ve had to work with
the lowest bidder to get the costs down,
and that has taken time.” The district
received three bids in the spring for the
project. Engineers Construction’s was the
lowest of the three. DuBois Construction
was the high bidder at $2,343,996 with
Capitol Earthmoving’s $2,061,422 package
sandwiched in the middle. A construction
timeline will be announced within the next
few days, according to project manager Jay
Ericson.
The City Council’s approval of the plan to
partially close Park Avenue will give students
a safe spot to play while construction on the
new playground takes place. Along with
the street space, grassy areas by the school
will also be part of the temporary play area,
Ericson said.
“When the administration decides to
utilize the space will be determined by
the construction schedule,” he said. “A
committee of teachers and staff has been
working since the spring on a plan to ensure
the space is safe and engaging for the kids.
There won’t be any large equipment on the
street, but there will be organized games and
activities during recess.”
In addition to a playground equipment
upgrade that meets current health, safety, and
accessibility standards, the plan also includes
soil contamination mitigation, access for
students and adults with disabilities, and
an outdoor classroom/playhouse designed by
designed by Norwich’s Architecture Design
Build program. The soil contamination, from
an older building that burned on the site and
from runoff and vehicle emissions over the
years, was not a risk to current students
but has to be dealt with while the site is
rebuilt, according to Ericson. Technically,
the playground is a brownfield site, he said.
A Norwich University faculty member
worked closely with school personnel,
students and community members to work
on the structure. “The accessibility will be
one of the biggest improvements. There was
no real accessibility for the upper playground
for the kids who need it. Our top priority
has been focused on the children’s safety,”
said Montpelier-Roxbury District Director
of Facilities Andrew LaRosa. “We’ve been
very appreciative of all the community
engagement there’s been.”
The playground project has met with broad
support by faculty, administration, parents
and community members, according to
Ericson. “We’ve had a number of public
meetings on what [this plan] will mean,”
said Ericson. “We’ve had a parent committee The construction project and the street
and we’ve gotten a lot of good questions and closure have different time frames. The
feedback.” construction phase is scheduled to be
Jeff Prescott owns a home on Park Avenue with completed within a few months. The street
Andy Shuford and a four-unit rental property closure will extend through the end of the
at 8 Park Ave. Prescott isn’t opposed to the 2018-2019 school year. “The street closure
plan, but notes it is expected to put a strain has been configured in a way to maintain
uninterrupted access from the upper end of
on residents’ lives. “Although we fully expect
the playground re-construction process and the Park Ave to both of our properties,” Prescott
explained.
associated closure of Park Ave for the 2018–
2019 school year to be disruptive,” he explained, The target date for the new playground’s
“we are not opposed to the street closure plan opening is fall 2019.
that was approved by the city council.”
PAG E 14 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
VCFA Partners with For Freedoms for
Video Art Instillation and more
T
he Vermont College of Fine Arts is proud to announce
its collaboration with the For Freedoms art organization
which has been gathering significant media attention
in both The New York Times and Art Forum. As a part of the
collaboration, VCFA will be producing a video art installation;
a sign-making event and a panel discussion that correlate to
the ideas in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms Speech.
Selected work(s) will be shown in a public, out-door screening
and projected on to a building in Montpelier, VT. Screening
in early/mid-October–exact date TBA.
Submission Open Call, Guidelines & Eligibility
To apply, students must submit work correlating to the ideas
in Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms, affirming the
inalienable human rights of:
• Freedom of speech;
• Freedom of worship;
• Freedom from want;
• Freedom from fear;
Submission Guidelines & Eligibility
• Deadline for submission: August 10, 2018
• Fee: FREE
• Artists must reside in VT full-time or be a current student/
alumni of VCFA
• Entries must be no longer than three minutes in length
• Total running time for accepted work must be no longer
than 10 minutes.
• Applicants may submit up to two entries
• Entries are submitted as direct links (YouTube, Vimeo,
artist’s website etc.)
• Applicants notified: early September 2018
See the application at
https://form.jotform.com/81766507576166
VCFA Sign-Making Event
When: September 8, 2018, 3–4:30 pm
Where: VCFA Campus, Noble Hall
The Vermont College of Fine Arts invites the community to a
sign-making event on campus. Attendees are welcome to create
signs that interpret Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms:
affirming the inalienable human rights of freedom of speech,
freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from
fear. The signs generated in the event will be publicly displayed
on the VCFA college green. Materials will be provided.
VCFA Panel Discussion
When: September 8, 2018, 4:30–6 pm
Where: VCFA Campus, Noble Hall
Following the VCFA sign-making event, a panel discussion
with artists, social activists, and educators on the topic of the
role of art and contemporary democracy.
T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 15

Working It: Styling Professionals at Bailey Road by Sarah Davin

W
hen the cold weather dissipates, Sarah DeFelice, owner of Bailey Road. Photo by Sarah Davin shopping for clothing a self-effacing experience. With that
Vermonters have a rare opportunity to in mind, DeFelice does not allow negative body talk during
express themselves in fashion. While her personal styling sessions. “It is important to dress for the
Montpelier’s proximity to fashion may be likened to shape you have, not five pounds from now.”
Pluto’s orbit around the sun, there are a few fun and What are the women of Montpelier looking for when
eye-catching fashions that emerge on the street once shopping at Bailey Road? She says that Renuar pants are one
the ice melts: hippies with their earth tones and baggy of her most popular items. “They are easy to wash and wear,
pants, vintage-loving hipsters with their aviator glasses great for traveling (no ironing required), they pull right on
and grandpa shirts, the masses of caps-n-flannels, the with no button or zipper so they leave a smooth front for
pastels and patterns of Millennial sweethearts, and a blouses, and they have a slim silhouette.” In addition to a
few strikingly edgier styles. One group that perhaps good pair of pants, Bailey Road’s dresses are also popular.
stands out the most is the State House worker, clad “Dresses are the perfect one-and-done wardrobe piece.”
in sleek suits, tailored silhouettes, and even shiny
manicures. Generally, women leave the shop with their heads held up a
bit higher. “The confidence that women gain from a Bailey
Bailey Road specializes in helping the professional Road dressing room party or style session isn’t created at
women of the State House and other high level jobs Bailey Road, but found, or just rekindled here. Sometimes,
find that delicate balance between authority and the power of wearing an outfit that screams ‘you’ can get
expression, to help them be heard. While addressing lost in the clutter of life—aka your closet.”
society’s biases, even in the #MeToo era, is a long arduous process, attention to fashion can
help a woman achieve two things: shape how others see her and change how she experiences What role does this type of clothing play in shaping how people see Montpelier’s professional
herself. women? DeFelice says she hopes that it’s the women themselves that make the difference. “I
would hope that it isn’t our clothing that enhances how women are seen in the workplace,
Sarah DeFelice, owner of the upscale Bailey Road boutique on Main Street in Montpelier, but the confidence that she exudes when she feels good in what she wears.” After all, it’s the
sees all ages of professional women enter her store—from their early 20s to their 80s. “The effort women put into their work, and not merely their looks, that makes them an essential
majority of Bailey Road customers are the working professionals: teachers, lawyers, lobbyists” part of the professional world.
DeFelice notes. “National life, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and VCFA are all large companies that
have professionals that support shopping local and Bailey Road.”
As a stylist, DeFelice faces a challenge, not solely in regards to making her
clients look great, but also approaching styling in a way that also encourages
her clients to feel assertive. Though there have been recent efforts by different
designers to be more size-inclusive, some put-downs are still built into the way
we talk about women’s bodies. For example, it is not uncommon for fashion and
fitness magazines to compare them to fruit. If a woman isn’t the ideal, non-fruit
“hourglass” shape, then she has to endure the indignity of being called a “pear”
or “rhubarb.”
DeFelice agrees that such practice is unflattering and absurd, and that generating
confidence comes down to honesty. “If I am worried that someone is about to
leave with a piece that doesn’t work for them, I will let them know.”
Honesty is also about pointing out the positive. When we shop on our own, it
is so easy to focus on the parts of ourselves we don’t like and ignore the other
aspects of our shapes that we could be embracing. The extreme and exclusive
images of beauty, especially in regards to women, are overwhelming, and the
anxiety that comes from not meeting these impossible standards may make

Editorial
Cody Chevrolet Congratulates
The Bridge On 25 Years of Business!
PAG E 16 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Abridged Vermont: Woodstock by Mike Dunphy

B
efore becoming editor in a few dollars more: mimosas,
chief of The Bridge, I spent wine, and cheese. However your
more than 10 years in the piece of stoneware comes out,
travel and tourism industry. I Farmhouse will ship it directly
continue to do so on the side, and, to your home.
indeed, I am currently in the 1837 West Woodstock Rd.,
middle of updating the Fodor’s 802.457.7486 farmhousepottery.
Travel Guide for Vermont. This com
means poking around the entire
state for the best restaurants, pubs, -Eat-
hotels, attractions, and activities.
Worthy Kitchen/Soulfully
Readers of The Bridge benefit, Good
too. Once a month, Abridged
Thanks to the plethora of
Vermont will highlight what’s the
wealthy visitors from New York
buzz in one Vermont town or
and Boston, Woodstock is never
city in hopes of inspiring some
short of fine dining options,
weekend getaways. In some cases,
but for buzz and chatter, look
the experiences are sponsored by
to Worthy Kitchen, a mile east
the venues, but I have selected
of town. Channeling the farm-
according to quality and appeal
only. Courtesy of The Woodstock Inn & Resort to-table mentality, Worthy
adds playful twists to classic
-See- American comfort dishes, like
brisket topped with root beer BBQ sauce. The beer list is prob the best in town, with
Kelly Way Gardens Hill Farmstead, Upper Pass, and Foley Brothers, among many more. Enjoy them in
The Woodstock Inn remains one of the most exclusive hotels in Vermont, but you don’t the industrial-bistro interior or outside on the patio.
need to be a guest to enjoy it. And in the case of the Kelly Way Gardens, a mile south For the classic, sun-drenched breakfast, brunch, and lunch experience—and an ideal
of the inn on Route 106, it won’t even cost you a penny. Tended by master Gardener perch to share a tête-à-tête with a close friend (or someone you’d like to be a close
Benjamin Pauly, the three-acre, hilltop garden sprouts more than 200 varieties of friend), pop into the very aptly named Soulfully Good Cafe on Main Street. The
vegetables, 50 varieties of herbs and edible flowers, 75 varieties of berries and orchard waffles, frittatas, salads, pastries, paninis are topnotch, but the buttermilk fried chicken
plantings, a mushroom glen and 200 varieties of cut flowers—much of which find their salad sandwich is one of the best things I’ve eaten on this entire summer journey
way into the meals and rooms at the inn. through Vermont.
A great way to see the garden is to join one of the inn’s weekly 45-minute Kelly Way Worthy Kitchen: 442 Woodstock Rd., (802) 457-7281, worthyvermont.com
Gardens Five Senses Tour, which engages in the “unique tastes, smells, textures, sights
and sounds of the season.” Best of all, it’s totally complimentary to non-guests. Go a Soulfully Good Cafe: 67 Central St., (802) 457-7395, soulfullygood.com
little deeper by signing up for a number of events, including Slow Tea in the Garden
-Dream-
($5), A Garden Tour and Tasting ($45), Red Barn Dinner Series ($55), and more.
506 on the River
4 The Green, (802) 457-6609, woodstockinn.com
Don’t let the bland, pre-fab frontage of this sprawling hotel two miles west of
-Play- downtown Woodstock fool you, the interior is a whole different world, influenced
Farmhouse Pottery Workshop largely by its ever-traveling, Africa-based owners. The rooms, common areas, corridors,
and restaurant are stuffed to the gills with trinkets and knickknacks, turning sections
It would be hard to find a Vermont potter not admiring the success of Farmhouse into a virtual 19th century-esque curiosity cabinet. Add in a pool and sauna, gift shop,
Pottery, 2.5 miles west of downtown Woodstock. In 2017, the shop even won the seal toddler playroom, video game arcade, and there’s little need to leave the property.
of approval from the Oprah, who included a “gorgeous rustic stoneware crock” on her
annual list of Oprah’s Favorite Things. A rustic, Vermonty pottery barn this is not, That also goes for the six-acre property’s expansive back lawn—about a football field’s
but instead, a pristine, elegant showroom with jugs, salt cellars, pitchers, cheese stones, worth of green—that stretches all the way back from the hotel to the Ottauquechee
match strikers, and more placed as if pieces in a high-end art gallery. River, where Adirondack chairs and a fire pit look out to a picturesque bend in the
water. Most guests get the same view from their balcony. All and all, it’s a tremendous
Always looking for new, talented potters, co-founders and artisans Zoe and James Zilian value for money.
invite visitors to take a turn behind the wheel in any of the regular workshops. Included
are a workshop tour, wheel throwing demonstration, personal pottery lesson, and for 1653 RT4 West Woodstock Rd., (802) 457-5000, ontheriverwoodstock.com
T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 17
Community Events
Events happening
August 2–18
THURSDAY, AUGUST 2
Open Ears at Bagitos. Join Montpelier city
councilor Glen Coburn Hutcheson to talk about
the city or anything else. 8:30–9:30 am.
Bagitos, 28 Main St., Montpelier.
ghutcheson@montpelier-vt.org, 839-5349.
Adamant: KHL Story Time & book give-
away. Bring your kids, all ages for the
Kellogg-Hubbard Library Outreach Story
Time. We will read about Moody Cow, do
some yoga, and make beautiful glitter jars.
10–11 am. Adamant Methodist Church,
1216 Haggett Rd., Adamant. 272-4492
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3
Bethel First Friday Flicks - Free Family
Movie. Bring a blanket or beanbag if you
want to get comfy (regular chairs available
too). Visit website or Facebook event for each
month’s movie. 6:30–8:30 pm. Bethel Town
Hall, 134 S. Main St., Bethel. Donations
accepted. bri-vt.org/events
Dinosaurs with Dinoman. With magic,
merry mayhem and magnificent props, the
audience is taken on a trip throughout the
Mesozoic era. All ages. 6:30 pm. Jaquith
Public Library, School St., Marshfield
Summer Studio Intensives. PechaKucha
Presentations. Part of events on campus
from both the Art & Design Education
program and the Summer Studio Intensive
camps for rising 8th-12th grade students.
7:30 pm. VCFA, Alumni Hall, 45 College St.,
Montpelier. vcfa.edu/art-design-education
Calendar of Events
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4
Yard Sale and Bake Sale - Scholarship
Fundraiser. 9 am–3 pm. 6 Granview Dr.,
Barre.
Capital City Farmers' Market.
Market vendors, music, and events.
9 am–1 pm. State St., Montpelier.
montpelierfarmersmarket.com
GED Testing at Barre Learning Center.
11 am–4 pm. 46 Washington St., Barre.
476-4588
Dog Mountain Summer Dog Party 2018.
Bounce house for the kids, lawn games,
dog contests, bubble machines, plenty of
dog-friendly vendors, farm fresh local food
by Chez Mami, foot-tapping live music by
Chris White from White Steer, and more.
Noon–4 pm. 143 Parks Rd., St. Johnsbury.
Rain or shine. Free. dogmt.com/Events
MAT/MA in Art & Design Education. Part
of events on campus from both our Art &
Design Education program and the Summer
Studio Intensive camps for rising 8th–12th
grade students. Graduation at 3:30 pm;
exhibit reception, 5–6 pm. VCFA, Alumni
Hall, 45 College St., Montpelier. vcfa.edu/
art-design-education
Reclamation TEDX-Style Talk. Gain
perspective from award-winning artists
August Burns and Dominque Medici; social
justice advocate and legislator Kiah Morris;
body image and eating disorder prevention
expert Dana Suchow; 3rd phase entrepreneur
Lisa Hagerty; educator and writer Richard
Hawley, and more. 7 pm. Spruce Peak
Performing Arts Center, 122 Hourglass Dr.,
Stowe.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5
Hayao Miyazaki Films at the Savoy.
My Neighbor Totoro. 10 am. 26 Main St.,
Montpelier. Free; donations accepted. film@
savoytheater.com
Performing Arts
THEATER, DANCE,
STORYTELLING, COMEDY
Aug 4: FEMCOM. All-female standup comedy.
8:30 pm. Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St.,
Barre. Free/by donation. 479-0896. events@
espressobueno.com. espressobueno.com.
Aug. 15–17: Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour:
Vaudeville. A celebration of the grand
American tradition of variety entertainment!
Join us for a spectacular lineup of unforgettable
acts, with amazing acrobats, mystifying
magicians, jaunty jugglers, and wondrous
wirewalkers. 1 pm and 6 pm. Montpelier
High School, 5 High School Dr., Montpelier.
$15–22. smirkus.org
Ways to Prevent Suicide (and access
Mental Health resources). Laurie Emerson
of NAMI Vermont will offer information
and suggestions for people concerned about
their own or their loved ones’ mental
health, with a special emphasis on Suicide
Prevention. 3 pm. Cutler Memorial
Library, Rt. 2, Plainfield. 454-8504. info@
cutlerlibrary.org
Community Song Circles. A community
sing-along open to all ages and musical
abilities – all you need is a love of singing.
6–8 pm. Center for Arts and Learning,
46 Barre St., Montpelier. cal-vt.org.
vtcommunitysing@gmail.com
Film & Media Music Festival. Part of
the VCFA MFA in Music Composition
Public Concerts and Showcases. This event
will feature a variety of approaches to the
Aug 18: A Musical Theatre Cabaret.
Spaulding High School Drama Club alumni
perform selections from past productions
dating back to 1981. All proceeds benefit future
productions of SHSDC. 7 pm. Espresso Bueno,
248 N. Main St., Barre. $5. 479-0896. events@
espressobueno.com. espressobueno.com.
Aug, 18: Kizuna Dance. A cross-cultural
production that blends Japanese culture,
streetdance, and contemporary dance. 7:30 pm.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. $15–35. highlandartsvt.org
Aug, 18: Extempo’s Greatest Hits. Local-
favorite raconteurs retell some of their best
stories, and audience members vote, to help
raise money for the Vermont Center for
Independent Living.8–10 pm. Bridgeside
Books, 29 Stowe St., Waterbury. Free.
extempovt.com. 244-1441
marriage of music to picture, as offered by
VCFA students, faculty and alumni.
8 pm. Noble Lounge, VCFA, College St.,
Montpelier. vcfa.edu/music-comp/news.
MONDAY, AUGUST 6
Paddle Little River and the Waterbury
Reservoir with Green Mountain Club.
Easy. 3 hours. From the boat launch access
on Cotton Brook Road (off of Moscow
Road) in the late afternoon/early evening.
Optional swim. Must have PFD and your
own canoe/kayak. Bring water and dinner
or snack. Contact Phyllis Rubenstein, 793-
6313 or Phyllis@PhyllisRubensteinLaw.
comcastbiz.net for meeting time and place.
Free Drop-in Group: “Lives Well Lived:
Questions & Discussions.” When she saw
the documentary at the Green Mountain
Film Festival (shown at MSAC) this year, Liz
PAG E 18 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through Aug. 4: Show 26 at The Front. The work
of six new members, along with that of the rest of
the gallery’s membership. 6 Barre Street, Montpelier.
thefrontvt.com.
Through Aug. 10: Stewards of the Land:
Photography by Orah Moore. Handprinted
silverprint photographs. Moore is a classically trained
fine art photographer and founding member of
Women in Photography, a national organization.
Presented by Studio Place Arts. On display at Morse
Block Deli, 260 N. Main St., Barre.
Through Aug. 22: Phyllis Chase. Oils on panels.
Adamant Music School, Waterside Hall, Adamant.
Through Aug. 25: Colorful Musings by Rob Hitzig.
The art rides a mysterious line between the painting
and sculpture. Reception: July 13, 6–8 pm. Axel’s
Gallery and Frame Shop, 5 Stowe St., Waterbury.
Through Aug. 29: Nerula: Illustrations of Clare
Emerson Lane. Exhibit of envelopes. Lane was
employed by the US Postal service to sort mail on
the train in New York in the 1940s. During his
time away from home, he frequently wrote to his
sweetheart, taking special care to present her with a
different work of art each time. Montpelier Senior
Benjamin found it very gripping and moving.
The filmmakers asked 22 different questions
of older adults. Benjamin will facilitate
an open, drop-in discussion. 3–4:30 pm.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St., Montpelier. Free.
lives-well-lived.com. 223-2518
Hiroshima Day Peace Walk. We’ll meet
on the Kellogg Hubbard library lawn in
Montpelier, continue down State St. to the
high School, circle on the lawn and offer
songs for a world at peace. We’ll end by
sending candle boats down the river with our
prayers. 6:45 pm. Neville Berle: nmbe1022@
gmail.com
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7
Who's Your Person? What's Your Plan?
Visit our table for information about
planning for your future health care needs.
7 am–3 pm. Main Lobby, Central Vermont
Medical Center, 130 Fisher Rd., Berlin.
TakingStepsVT.org
Rad Girls Can with Kate Schatz & Muslim
Girls Making Change. Rad Girls Can: Stories
of Bold, Brave, and Brilliant Young Women,
Calendar of Events
Activity Center, Community Room, 58 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 223-2518.
Though Aug. 30: Edgewater In Stowe: Exploring
Air. Edgewater Gallery. 151 Main Street, Stowe.
Through Aug. 31: T. W. Wood Gallery: Summer
Juried Exhibit, Essex Art League, and Milton
Artists Guild. The contemporary room will
highlight the works of 26 artists in the annual
Summer Juried Show. Mediums include watercolor,
acrylic, oil, photographs, clay, glass, and mixed
media. T. W. Wood Gallery, 46 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 262-6035 gcallan@twwoodgallery.org
twwoodgallery.org
Through Aug. 31: New American Artists:
Celebrating Tradition and Culture. A tribute to
the work of Gregory Sharrow, who established the
Vermont Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program
during his 30-year tenure at the Vermont Folklife
Center. The Vermont Arts Council Spotlight Gallery,
136 State St., Montpelier. vermontartscouncil.org.
Aug. 3–31: Thin Places, Sacred Spaces. Presented
by the Waitsfield United Church of Christ Village
Meeting House. Eight local photographers will
exhibit their interpretation of these holy spaces.
Fri.–Sun., noon–5 pm. 4355 Main St., Rt. 100,
Waitsfield.
Aug. 4–31: Transition. A Member Exhibit of the
Art Resource Association. Acrylic, digital art, oils,
pastels, photography and watercolor. Opening
reading by author Kate Schatz of New York,
a performance by Burlington’s Muslim
Girls Making Change, who are featured in
the book, and a talk with Montpelier High
School’s Hope Petraro, who will demonstrate
what local “rad girls” are doing to change
the world. Plus activist postcard writing and
new voter registration. Teens and tweens
encouraged to attend. All ages welcome.
7–8:30 pm. Bear Pond Books, 77 Main St.,
Montpelier. bearpondbooks.com
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8
Bike East Montpelier with Green Mountain
Club. Easy. 30 mile round trip. Cross VT
Trail. Meet at the East Montpelier park and
ride opposite the Washington Electric Coop
at 9:30 am. Bring lunch. Helmet required.
Contact George Plumb, 883-2313 or plumb.
george@gmail.com.
Experience the Didgeridoo. Join central
Vermonter, Didgeridoo performer, teacher,
bandleader and instrument builder, Pitz
Quattrone, as he demonstrates and explains
the history and playing techniques of the
world’s oldest instrument, the Didgeridoo
reception: Aug. 9, 5–7 pm. T.W. Wood Art Gallery,
46 Barre St., Montpelier. 262-6035. twwoodgallery.
org
Through Sept. 2: A Second Look: Bob Eddy’s
Herald Photography. Because the darkroom
played such a vital role in photography of the era, a
recreation of the Herald darkroom is being specially
constructed and will take center stage in the exhibit,
allowing visitors to insert themselves in the process
of creating a photograph before the age of computer
imaging. Chandler Center for the Arts, 71–73 Main
St., Randolph.
Through Sept. 8: Reclamation. Contemporary
figurative women artists painting women from their
perspective, reclaiming and transforming the way
women are portrayed. Helen Day Art Center, 90
Pond St., Stowe. helenday.com
Through Sept. 9: Eric AHO: A Thousand Acres.
Paintings that evoke a sense of place rather than
a specific place. Highland Center for the Arts,
Greensboro.
Through Sept. 26: Oil Paint & Black Walnut:
Abstracts, Works on Paper. Dian Parker’s exhibit
features abstract oil paintings on canvas, as well as
mixed media works on black walnut stained paper.
Zollikofer Gallery at Hotel Coolidge, 39 S. Main St.,
White River Junction
Through Sept. 27: Nick DeFriez, Hillsides and
Hexagons. Paintings. Governor’s Gallery, 109 State
from native Australia. 6:30 pm. Jaquith
Public Library, School St., Marshfield.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 9
Open Ears at Bagitos. See event description
under Aug. 2
Book Discussion at Barre Senior Center,
1pm. 135 S. Main St., Barre.
Free Concussion Assessment Clinic.
Pre-season baseline concussion assessments
inform parents and student athletes on
normal functioning. 5–7 pm. CVMC
Rehabilitation Therapy, 1311 Barre-
Montpelier Rd., Berlin. Free. Space is
limited. Reserve spot: cvmc.org/concussion-
clinic. Free to middle and high school
athletes.
Board Meeting at Barre Area Senior
Center. 6:15 pm. 135 S. Main St., Barre.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10
Death Café. A volunteer-led, drop-in
discussion to “increase awareness of death
with a view to helping people make the
most of their (finite) lives. 12:15–1:45 pm.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St., Montpelier. Photo ID required for entry.
Through Sept. 27: Harry A. Rich, The Vermont
Years, So Far… Large-scale acrylic-on-canvas
paintings. Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, 111 State
St., Montpelier.
Through Sept. 27: Possibilitarian Uprising:
Post-Apocalypse for ¾ Empire. Peter Schumann’s
woodcuts. Exhibition of woodcuts on cloth banners,
inspired by Albrecht Durer’s (1471-1528) engravings
depicting the Apocalypse as envisioned in the Book
of Revelation. Goddard College Art Gallery, Pratt
Center, 123 Pitkin Rd., Plainfield. artcommittee@
goddard.edu. 322-1604
Through Sept. 30: James Peterson, Dreamcatcher.
Large-scale interactive installation that was inspired
by the magical ice caves of Kamchatka in Siberia. The
grounds of Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, 122
Hourglass Dr., Stowe. helenday.com
Aug. 10–Sept. 30: Show 27 at The Front. The
collective gallery’s latest show. Opening reception:
Aug, 19, 4–7 pm. Now open weekends: Fri., 4–7
pm; Sat.–Sun., 11 am–5 pm. 6 Barre St., Montpelier.
thefrontvt.com
Through Sept. 30: Anita Zotkina. Reception:
Sept. 7, 4–8 pm. The Cheshire Cat, 28 Elm St.,
Montpelier. 223-1981. cheshirecatclothing.com.
Through Oct. 20: Exposed. Outdoor sculpture
exhibition. Helen Day Art Center, Pond St., Stowe.
helenday.com.
St., Montpelier. montpelierdeathcafe@gmail.
com
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11
Capital City Farmers' Market. See event
description under Aug. 4
Goddard Graduate Institute Visiting Day.
An opportunity to get a taste of our low-residency,
Master of Arts programs. 10 am–4 pm. Goddard
College Community Center, 123 Pitkin Rd.,
Plainfield. 322-1646
Central Vermont Humane Society Mini
Golf. Play a game of mini golf and Lots-
O-Balls will donate all proceeds to Central
Vermont Humane Society. 11 am–3 pm.
Lots-O-Balls, 2702 Rt. 100, Duxbury. Rain
date: Aug. 12.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 12
Hayao Miyazaki Films at the Savoy.
Howl’s Moving Castle. 10 am. 26 Main St.,
Montpelier. Free; donations accepted. film@
savoytheater.com
Silent Film Series: The Kid with Live
Piano Accompaniment. Charlie Chaplin’s
The Kid tells the story of a tramp who
T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 19
Live Music
VENUES
Charlie O’s World Famous. 70 Main St.
Montpelier. Free. 223-6820.
Every Tues.: Karaoke with DJ Vociferious
9:30pm
Aug. 3: Barishi/Warsenal (metal) 9 pm
Aug. 4: Dino Bravo/Meatmilk (alt rock) 9 pm
Aug. 10: Helen Hummel (folk) 6 pm; Canadian
Waves (punk) 9 pm
Aug. 11: Red Neckromancer (swampgrass) 9 pm
Aug. 13: Sex Trivia, 7:30 pm
Aug. 17: Jeff Przech (Americana) 6 pm; Will
Rap For Art Tour w/ Mister Burns, Jarv, Dillon,
Eyenine & Sed One (hip-hop) 9 pm
Aug. 18: The U.S. Americans/Cosmonaut Radio
(rock) 9 pm
Espresso Bueno. 248 N. Main St., Barre. 479-
0896. espressobueno.com.
Aug 4: Ourselves Alone (acoustic/electric duo),
7:30 pm
Aug 11: Jazzyaoke (live jazz karaoke), 7:30 pm, $5.
Aug 24: Thomas Gunn (singer-songwriter),
7:30 pm
Gusto's. 28 Prospect St., Barre. 476-7919. Ages
21+. No cover unless indicated.
Aug. 2: Open Mic
Aug. 3: Joe Sabourin, 5 pm; Route 100 (reggae) 9
pm. $5.
Aug, 4: Bar None the Best (DJ) 9:30 pm
Aug. 10: Elizabeth Renaud, 5 pm; NOS482
(heavy metal) 9 pm. $5.
Aug. 11: Robin Sunquiet (DJ) 9:30 pm
Aug. 17: Ted Mortimer & Steve Pixley, 5 pm; Dr.
Strangeways (KISS Tribute) 9 pm. $5.
Aug. 18: Lafountaine (DJ) 9:30 pm
Whammy Bar. 31 County Rd., Calais. Free.
whammybar1.com.
Aug. 2: Open Mic, 7 pm
Aug. 3: Papa's Porch, 7:30 pm
Aug. 4: Liz Beatty and the Alternates, 7:30 pm
SPECIAL EVENTS
Every Wed: Capital City Band on the State
House Lawn. Every Wed. through summer. Enjoy
a picnic with neighbors or meet some new friends
while enjoying this delightful Vermont musical
discovers an orphan and raises him and is
heartbroken when the orphanage reclaims
him. 3 pm. Highland Center for the Arts,
2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. $10.
highlandartsvt.org
Devilish Design. Join Yestermorrow and
Steve Badanes of Jersey Devil Design/
Build for an evening of captivating stories
and images from the world of design and
construction. 7 pm. Yestermorrow, 7865
Main St., Waitsfield.
Visiting Scholar Lewis Mehl-Madrona.
Tribalism: a model for 21st-century
community: North America’s indigenous
cultures have much to offer contemporary
society for how to form and maintain
communities. Explore indigenous concepts
for forming and maintaining communities
and how these concepts can be incorporated
into mainstream society. 7:30 pm. Haybarn
Theatre at Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Rd..
Plainfield. Free. goddard.edu
MONDAY, AUGUST 13
Navigating the Roadways of Senior Care.
Join Certified Aging Life Care Professionals
from Armistead Senior Care to learn the ins-
To see Weekly Events visit
montpelierbridge.com
Calendar of Events
tradition. Or bring an instrument and play along
with the band. 7–8 pm. State House Lawn. 456-
7054.
Aug. 2: Patti Casey and Colin McCaffrey at
Brown Bag Series. Noon. Christ Church, 64
State St, Montpelier.
Aug. 2: Starline Rhythm Boys at Brown
Bag Series. 6 pm. Christ Church, 64 State St,
Montpelier.
Aug. 2: David Brahinsky - First Thursdays
Music. Singer/songwriter and guitarist who has
been playing music from the folk tradition. 6:30 pm.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick St.,
Greensboro. No cover. highlandartsvt.com
Aug. 2: Lewis Franco and the Missing
Cats. Part of the Summer Concert Series at Old
Schoolhouse Common. 6:30–8:30 pm. 122 School
St., Marshfield.
Aug. 3: Blue Wave Concert (#3) Fundraiser to
Win Back Congress with musicians Lewis Franco
and the Brown Eyed Girls and Joseph Franco
playing mellow acoustic swing and hot jazz.
7 pm. Barbara Butler’s House, 40 N. Calais Rd.,
N. Calais. IndivisibleCalais.org. 456 8804
Aug. 3: Friday Night Fires: Jacob Green. Part
of the Summer Music Series at Fresh Tracks Farm
Vineyard & Winery. 7–9 pm. 4373, Rt. 12, Berlin.
freshtracksfarm.com
Aug. 5: Flor de Toloache. Latin Grammy®-
winning mariachi ensemble. A quartet of
four women from diverse ethnic and musical
backgrounds. 4 pm. 143 Parks Rd., St. Johnsbury
Aug. 5: Paul Asbell. Asbell performs his “Steel
String Americana” solo concert. 7:30 pm. Adamant
Community Club, 1161 Martin Rd., Adamant.
$15; under 12 free. 454-7103
Aug. 6: Electronic Music Showcase. Part
of the VCFA MFA in Music Composition
Public Concerts and Showcases. An evening
of electronic sound and multimedia; VCFA
students and faculty perform new work for
instruments with live electronic sound and
video. 8 pm. Alumni Hall, 45 College St.,
Montpelier. vcfa.edu/music-comp/news.
Aug. 7: Talujon Percussion Trio. Part of the
VCFA MFA in Music Composition Public
and-outs of planning for Long Term Care.
Bring your questions. Montpelier Senior
Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.
223-2518
TUESDAY, AUGUST 14
Bad Stories with Steve Almond & Jane
Lindholm. Join author Steve Almond and
VPR commentator Jane Lindholm to discuss
Almond’s newest book, Bad Stories: What the
Hell Just Happened to Our Country. 7–8 pm.
Bear Pond Books, 77 Main St., Montpelier.
bearpondbooks.com
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15
GED Testing. 4–9 pm. Barre Learning
Center, 46 Washington St., Barre. 476-4588
Just for Fun Movies. Come see a movie on
the big screen! All ages. 6:30 pm. Jaquith
Public Library, School St., Marshfield.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 16
Open Ears at Bagitos. See event description
under Aug. 2
Barre Area Senior Center Annual Picnic.
Noon–4 pm. Barre Picnic Shelter.
Concerts and Showcases. 8 pm. College Hall
Chapel, College St., Montpelier. vcfa.edu/
music-comp/news.
Aug. 8: Middlesex Bandstand Summer
Concert Series. Bow Thayer: Roots-inspired folk
rock and beyond. 6:30–8:30 pm. 465 Shady Rill
Rd., Middlesex.
Aug. 8: Dylan Foley, Dan Gurney, and
Christina Dolphin. These engaging musicians are
some of the best Irish players in the country.
7:30 pm. Four Corners Schoolhouse, 945 Vincent
Flats Rd., E. Montpelier.
Aug. 9: Chaque Fois Plays at Worcester
Community Market. Local produce, live bands,
and kids’ activities. Chaque Fois brings a festive
atmosphere of dancing and community. 4:30–6:30
pm. 52 Elmore Rd., Worcester.
Aug. 9: Brown Bag Series: Alex Smith
Mountain Folk. Noon. Christ Church,
64 State St, Montpelier.
Aug. 9: Bella and the Notables. Jazz/blues. Part
of the Summer Concert Series at Old Schoolhouse
Common. 6:30–8:30 pm. 122 School St.,
Marshfield.
Aug. 9: Loadbang and Housewarming
Project. Part of the VCFA MFA in
Music Composition Public Concerts and
Showcases. 8 pm. College Hall Chapel,
College St., Montpelier. vcfa.edu/music-
comp/news.
Aug. 10: Housewarming Project and
Sirius Quartet. Part of the VCFA MFA in
Music Composition Public Concerts and
Showcases. 2 pm. College Hall Chapel,
College St., Montpelier. vcfa.edu/music-
comp/news.
Aug. 10: Songwriting Showcase. Part of the
VCFA MFA in Music Composition Public
Concerts and Showcases. Highlighting the
diverse songwriting and performing talents
of the students, alumni, and faculty of
VCFA’s MFA in Music Composition. This
event will be live streamed.
8 pm. College Hall Gallery, College St.,
Montpelier. vcfa.edu/music-comp/news.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17
Cycles of Life. Join with us in this place of
comfort where we can all come together to
listen, talk, and share about the things in life’s
cycle we are all experiencing in our own way
now for ourselves and the earth we live on.
11:45 am–1 pm. Twin Valley Senior Center,
Rt. 2, Plainfield. 223-3322
SATURDAY, AUGUST 18
Capital City Farmers' Market. See event
description under Aug. 4
Prevent Child Abuse Vermont Walk and
Run for Children. With Spiderman, Chip
from the Mountaineers and local artist Julia
Kate Davis. Registration 8 am. Vermont State
House, Montpelier.
Aug. 11: Spruce Peak Folk Festival. Bring your
picnic blanket and low rise beach chair and settle in
to hear Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band, Anaïs
Mitchell, Daniel Rodriguez of Elephant Revival,
and more TBA. 1 pm. Spruce Peak Performing Arts
Center, 122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe. $35; $15 12 and
under. sprucepeakarts.org
Aug. 11: Sirius Quartet. Part of the VCFA
MFA in Music Composition Public Concerts
and Showcases.
2 pm. College Hall Chapel, College St.,
Montpelier. vcfa.edu/music-comp/news.
Aug. 11: Katie Trautz & Nate Gusakov.
Local fiddler Trautz will be joined by phenomenal
banjo-player and song-writer Gusakov. A
mixture of Appalachian Old-Time tunes and
their original compositions. 5–6 pm. The Den at
Harry’s Hardware, 3087 Main St., Cabot. Free.
harryshardwarevt.com
Aug. 11: Rani Arbo and Daisy Mayhem. A
benefit concert for Knoll Farm and Better Selves
Fellowship. Live music, food vendors, cash bar.
5:30–11 pm. Knoll Farm, Fayston. $18 online, $21
at door; $7 kids 12 and under. knollfarm.org.
Aug. 12: Summer Pops Concert. Lou Kosma
is the conductor and the soloist is Broadway singer/
actor Marc Dalio. 4 pm. Moose Meadow Lodge,
607 Crossett Hill Rd., Duxbury. Adults $20;
seniors $15; students $5. vermontphilharmonic.com
Aug. 13–26: Central Vermont Chamber
Music Festival. Chamber music, concert for kids,
Breakfast with Bach, piano masterclass, and more.
Randolph and Woodstock. For more info:
cvcmf.org or 728-6464
Aug. 15: Middlesex Bandstand Summer
Concert Series. Willa Mamet and Paul Miller.
6:30–8:30 pm. 465 Shady Rill Rd., Middlesex.
Aug. 16: Brown Bag Series: Big Hat No
Cattle. Noon. Christ Church, 64 State St,
Montpelier.
Aug. 16: Dave Keller Band. Soul/blues. Part of
the Summer Concert Series at Old Schoolhouse
Common. 6:30–8:30 pm. 122 School St.,
Marshfield.
Free Mime Class with Rob Mermin. Move,
have fun, and learn how Rob Mermin (founder
of Circus Smirkus and former student of
Marcel Marceau) uses mime to help people
with Parkinson’s. The class will be recorded by
a Swiss TV producer for a documentary on the
Art of Silence. 10 am–noon. Montpelier Senior
Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.
robmermin@gmail.com
Send your event
listing to calendar@
montpelierbridge.com.
Deadline for print in the
next issue is Aug. 10.
PAG E 2 0 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Vermont Youths Ponder their Future
W
hen I came back to Vermont after graduating from Bard College in Annandale-on-
Hudson, New York and an unsuccessful summer trying to find a job in Boston,
I felt ashamed, as if I had failed. Then, in that odd Vermont way, I got lucky.
I responded to a “volunteers needed” advertisement in The Bridge, and showed up like a
foundling on their doorstep. Since then, I have tried my best to absorb everything I can from
the staff’s experience of journalism and their dedication to serving the community. Despite
all the challenges of being here, it has also inspired me to add a new, tentative word to my
vocabulary: “stay.”
But for many young people in Vermont, “stay,” is not in their vocabulary. When I hear
speculations about how to counter youth flight, there is one group of voices missing: ours.
Lately, there have been a few schemes to bring young people in from out of state. Governor
Phil Scott signed S.94, a bill to promote remote work in Vermont, but most young people
don’t have the prestige with their employers to be eligible for becoming a remote worker. The
“Stay to Stay” program is another attempt to bring more new young people in to the state.
While showing off Vermont’s assets is always helpful, it doesn’t address the problem of current
young Vermonters not being able to stay.
The most frustrating piece of this discourse is the denial that there is a problem at all. In
2015, then Governor Peter Shumlin told Vermont Public Radio, “We’ve got the lowest
unemployment rate this side of the Mississippi. Employer after employer will tell you, ‘Find
us more workers.’” This may be the case, but a low unemployment rate doesn’t necessarily
indicate a high success rate of finding jobs. It can also indicate a lack of opportunities of the
type that young people want to pursue.
Adam Blachly, 19, a student at Middlebury College, was born in Barre and has lived in
Vermont his entire life. When asked about the challenges of being an independent, young
person in Vermont, Adam indicated that there were both pros and cons, saying, “I think it
is easier, as a young adult, to be independent in more urban settings because there are more
people your age and many more opportunities—not just jobs, but sports, clubs, groups, and
so on. On the other hand, if you really strive for independence and social isolation, Vermont
by Sarah Davin
is perfect because it gives you the chance to live on your own and grow your own food
and experience the outdoors.” Asked if he planned to stay in Vermont after graduation, he
answered, “For college, yes. The opportunities are available for me at Middlebury. Beyond
that, there are very few. I plan to move out of state when I graduate.”
Amanda Swift, 24, was also born and raised in Central Vermont. She recently graduated from
a six-year pharmaceutical college in Albany, New York. Since then, she has returned to Central
Vermont. Amanda highlighted financial challenges as the biggest threat to a young person’s
independence here.
“There are a lot of challenging aspects of being a young person in Vermont, as well as anywhere
in the United States right now. Finances are likely the most challenging, especially for college-
educated individuals. We are graduating with an inordinate amount of loans, ranging anywhere
from several thousand dollars to hundreds of thousands. It’s a bit difficult to get your footing
when paying almost twice the amount of interest as someone would on a home mortgage,” She
continued, “In addition, Vermont lacks variety in its job market compared to other areas of the
country. Depending on your major or degree in college, it simple may not be feasible to come back
to the area and live independently.”
One of the most difficult parts emotionally about living in Vermont as a young person is the social
isolation. As an increasing number of young people leave the state, our social presence naturally
dwindles. When asked if young people had a culture left in Vermont she responded, “Yes and no.
I think that there will be a larger need for younger people to stay in the coming years, as there
continues to be a mass exodus out of the area. As a young person in the area now, I don’t really
feel like I have a place however. Culturally, Central Vermont has a much older population than
Burlington, for example. So it’s definitely harder to fit in based on that aspect alone.”
Larissa Kehne, 25, currently lives in Washington DC. Born in New Hampshire, her family was
attracted to Washington County by the good school districts. Currently, Larissa has no plans to
return to Vermont. Larissa cited a lack of transit, internet and phone connectivity, and insane real
estate prices as a few of the hurdles young Vermonters face. She also mentioned the important
role diversity plays in attracting youth, as some leave simply to experience new kinds of people.
This being said, Larissa did not characterize Vermont as being void of opportunity. “Opportunity
to influence and produce tangible change is a huge deciding factor for my age cohort. Vermont
communities, though often isolated, are incredibly nuclear. This fosters local political engagement
and intimacy that other states lack in general. The back-to-the-land movement and all of its
revivals have bred a disappearing attitude of self-sufficiency. If you can support yourself on a
Vermont salary, you can subsist. As an independent thinker, I think that’s pretty fantastic.”
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T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 21
Is Montpelier Missing in Diversity?
by Dot Helling
I
s Montpelier missing in diversity? We all know that Vermont continues to be a
predominantly white state and that people of color remain in the minority. In years past
it was as occasional to have people of color in your community as to have non-native
Vermonters here centuries ago. Thankfully we change. But how diverse are we really?
Per state demographics, Montpelier residents currently total approximately 7,800. Of those,
93 percent are white, 7 percent are people of color, and 54 percent are women. These
numbers are fluid. What is not so fluid is the number of registered voters. At this year’s town
meeting day, District 1 had 1,887 active registered voters, District 2 had 2,011, and District
3 had 1,901. Votes cast at the March election in each district totaled 769, 878, and 669,
respectively. That’s 2,316, or just 29 percent of our active registered voters who participated
in our latest election.
This writer cannot discern what percentage of voters is in the lower versus higher economic
strata. I can say that we lack diversity on our boards and city council given the dearth of
diverse nationalities in our population and the inability of lower-income residents to commit
to the expense and time of serving in leadership roles. Lalitha Mailwaganam, a recent
candidate to fill the vacant city council seat left by Mayor Watson, is a prime example.
Mailwaganam would have brought to the council the perspective of a single working mother
who has experienced the struggle in Montpelier for good housing and income adequate to
pay the cost of city services. But she did not have the means to competitively run for the
office.
In many ways Montpelier is succeeding in diversifying. Look at our Tree Board for instance,
planting and replanting dozens of diverse trees in the downtown each year. We have a
The Bridge Photo Contest
WINNER!
Photo by Scarlett Davis
fairly diverse array of businesses in the downtown, although restaurant fares do overlap. We
certainly have an array of churches and choices for spiritual reflection. Our topography is
diverse, from the rivers and their banks to the surrounding hillsides and the parks and high
points. Our buildings are diverse in architecture while successfully retaining the feel of the
historic downtown.
Although maybe not in skin color, our people are diverse: hippies, “crunchies,” yuppies,
legislators, business executives, all-American families, Vermont farm families, and
professionals are parts of our makeup. Our current kid population, at approximately
11 percent, is growing. We are married, single, divorced, living together, heterosexual,
homosexual, bisexual, and transgender, and all a part of an embracing and supportive
community.
As a close friend of mine notes, Montpelier caters to special interest groups. This is evident in
the city voting and budgets. Every ballot is loaded with special requests. Some say we spend
too much on frivolity, not enough on infrastructure, always trying to balance our expenditures
against increases in utility costs and taxes. I like Councilman Jack McCullough's approach.
He says change the focus. Ask not what we can cut but what we can add. But with that
thinking, spend on what’s necessary first and keep government transparent. High living
expenses and taxes are much more palatable if we, as a diverse group, all reap the community
benefits. To address our diverse needs, each of us needs to participate in the process and add
our diverse voices to the dialogue.
Now educate yourselves on the candidates and get out to vote in the August 14 primary!
The winner of The Bridge photo contest is Scarlett Davis,
who sent in a photo of her dog, Blanche, reading The Bridge
and was randomly chosen to win a $50 gift certificate for
Meadow Mart maple creemees. The runner-up was Bess
Chamberlain, who sent in a photo of Louie, Bubba, and
Teddy Chamberlain reading the paper and will receive a
certificate for three maple creemees. Thanks to those who
participated and a special thanks to Meadow Mart for
providing our prizes.
Runner-Up
Photo by Bess Chamberlain
PAG E 2 2 • AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Classifieds
To place a classified listing
call 249-8666

CLASSES HOUSEKEEPER WANTED

TAI CHI CHUAN:
Beginners Class Cheng Man-ching’s
Simplified Yang-style. Taught by Patrick
Cavanaugh of Long River Tai Chi. Begins
Tuesday, September 4, 2018 from 7-8 p.m.
at Bethany Church, 115 Main Street in
THE BRIDGE SEEKS A SALES REPRESENTATIVE Montpelier. For more information, contact
Patrick, 802-490-6405 or email Patrick@
The Bridge is seeking the assistance of a sales representative to help cover longrivertaichi.org Cost: $65 per month.
the Central Vermont region, including Montpelier, Barre, Plainfield,
Calais, Middlesex, Berlin, and Waterbury.
Candidates with sales experience and contacts in the region are
preferred, but we are also open to training someone with enthusiasm, FOR SALE BY OWNER
charm, creativity, and old-fashioned moxie. TOTAL RENEWED BUILDING IN CENTER
We offer generous commissions on each sale and opportunity for OF PICTURESQUE GREENSBORO,
advancement. Furthermore, the job is part-time and flexible regarding Steps from Caspian Lake, retail space,
hours. currently art gallery, Beautiful modern
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For more information, contact Mike Dunphy at (workspace), double garage. Property in
mdunphy@montpelierbridge.com compliance with building code and handicap
accessible.
LIVE AND WORK IN ONE LOCATION.
$ 395,000
802-533-2635 or 941-227-2494
EXPERIENCED HOUSE KEEPER/
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IMMEDIATELY.
From Monday through Friday 4-5 hours
daily. $18 per hour. All applicants should
email directly at plisbethy89@gmail.com
OFFICE SPACE
FOR RENT
FIRST CLASS OFFICE SPACE NEAR
CAPITOL AT 149 STATE STREET,
MONTPELIER, VT.
Perfect location within a 3-minute walk to
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renovated throughout. First floor, handicap
accessible, two restrooms, storage. Includes
off-street parking, office cleaning weekly,
heat, hot water, snow removal, landscaping
and full maintenance. Can subdivide the two
units. $16 sf, yr. Call 508-259-7941

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T H E B R I D G E AU G U S T 2 – AU G U S T 18 , 2 018 • PAG E 2 3
Letters
Become Informed and Vote
Editor,
As a life-long Vermonter, I am very concerned with the
way things are going in this state. For too long we have
had too much complacency in politics. It seems there are
many Vermonters who think we are a free state with very
little gun violence, and we have thought that no laws would
be put into place to take away our Second Amendment
and Article 16 rights that have been guaranteed to us
by our Constitution. What other rights will be put on
the chopping block this coming legislative session? I urge
everyone to go out and vote this year. No longer can
we sit by and allow these liberty—and freedom-grabbing
politicians—take from us our rights and tax us to death.
Question your local and statewide candidates, find out their
views and what they stand for, do your part to be informed,
and know what is going on for the sake of you, me, and
future generations of Vermonters.
Marc Covey
Public Parking Spaces are Not Personal Spaces
Editor,
The lack of civility in parking by Montpelier residents is
escalating to a new high. Residents now view the public
street parking as their personal, permanent, parking spaces.
Advertise in the NEXT ISSUE:
ENERGY
In Circulation August 16–September 5*
*An extra week of circulation!
ALL AD MATERIALS AND AD SPACE RESERVATIONS DUE FRIDAY,
AUGUST 10.
For more information about advertising deadlines, rates,
and the design of your ad, contact
Rick McMahan
802-249-8666
rick@montpelierbridge.com
For example, on Wilder Street, a psychologist’s home
business with clients, rents out living space, one driver, yet
owns a car and truck with a driveway that accommodates Letters to the paper are not fact-checked
two vehicles. The truck is parked for days on end on the and do not necessarily represent
public street, making it a personal, residential space. On
the occasional times the truck moves, the owner replaces
the views of The Bridge.
the truck with the car in that same space to save it. An act
of selfishness.
This occurs especially in high-density areas close to
downtown. Monsignor Crosby Avenue and Wilder Street
are a nightmare. The multi-apartment buildings, of which
there are many on those streets, do not have on-site parking
We welcome your letters and opinion
for each apartment. The River Rock School, Wood Art pieces. Letters must be fewer than
Gallery, and music school do not have enough spaces. 300 words. Opinion pieces should not
Therefore, the overflow vehicles frequently park up on the
sidewalk or partially into the street. Offending vehicles block
exceed 600 words. The Bridge reserves
traffic flow down the street and break down the sidewalk at the right to edit and cut pieces. Send
the expense to the taxpayers. Downtown business workers your piece to:
use the parking to avoid feeding parking meters.
Residents on those streets are being totally cut off from
editorial@montpelierbridge.com.
family and visitors coming to their homes. This lack of Deadline for the next issue is
compassion and empathy reflects badly on our community.
Increasingly, households are owning more vehicles than August 10
they have on-site spaces for. The ordinance allowing year-
round street parking has escalated this abuse. The zoning
and ordinance need to be changed. Just because a vehicle
is registered does not mean it is entitled to make a street
space personal property. Ironically, for a city trying to have
a green image, why are we allowing more vehicles? City
Council, take notice! Thank you.
Rocque Long
Painting
Thomas Parker, Montpelier
• Insured
• 30+ years professional
experience
• local references.
802-223-0389
Dot Helling
802-881-8832
dot@montpelierbridge.com
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Thank You for Reading The Bridge!