Connecting Montpelier and nearby communities since 1993 | JUNE 6JUNE 19, 2013

IN THIS ISSUE
BARRES MAYOR SPEAKS The Bridge interviews Mayor Lauzon

BARRE Coming On Strong

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THE SHERIFF ON GUNS An interview with Washington County Sheriff Samuel Hill

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LEGISLATORS AND GENETIC MODIFICATION Ken Russell looks at the lastand the nextsession

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WHATS DOING? The Bridge Calendar

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Photo by Andrew Kline.

by Joyce Kahn

B
PRSRT STD CAR-RT SORT U.S. Postage PAID Montpelier, VT Permit NO. 123

arre is a city brimming with excitement and possibility. There is a lot of construction, with new buildings going up and old buildings being refurbished. Barres revitalization efforts are part of a statewide Downtown Program, established in 1994, with the goal of encouraging commercial growth in downtown centers in order to preserve the traditional settlement patterns, quality farmland, and natural and cultural landscapes that make Vermont unique. According to Joel Schwartz of the Barre Area Development Corporation (BADC), Sam Andersen, executive vice president of Central Vermont Development Corporation and Dan Jones, executive director of the Barre Partnership, progress is being made on various construction projects throughout Barre. The big digthe reconstruction of Barres Main Streetis nearing completion. And within the coming week, the steel construction on Barre City Place will be finished. This four-story, 80,000-square-foot building, set to be completed in March 2014, will accommodate 300 employees, with tenancy by the Vermont Department of Education, the Agency of Human Services, Central Vermont Medical Centers administrative offices and the RehabGYM, a physical rehabilitation fa-

cility. Some space is still available on the first floor. The Blanchard Block is moving ahead with renovations, with the infrastructure expected to be finished by mid-fall. The windows and entrances are in, and the brick faade has been power washed. They hope to have the first tenant in in mid-September to October and are negotiating with prospective tenants to see what they would like for interior space. Paving is complete downtown and trees have been planted. Due to be finished within the week are striping of the asphalt and meter post work, as well as the sidewalk in front of the Blanchard block. June 27 is moving day, and July 2 is opening day for Central Vermont Community Action Council (CVCAC). The new home for over 100 employees, at 20 Gable Place off Granite Street, is visible from Main Street and is the former P&S Furniture property. Kevin Wiberg, director of Program Development at Community Action, spoke with great enthusiasm about the new facility and the new programs and opportunities that will be offered. The agency, in partnership with the Vermont Food Bank, is establishing the Community Kitchen Academy. This new program, with a new commercial kitchen that will serve as a classroom, will train unemployed and underemployed Vermonters for

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

careers in the food service industry. Graduates will most likely find work in hospitals, schools, colleges and universities, or they might start their own businesses. Students, taught by a chef instructor, will earn up to nine college-level credits. Many of the students never envisioned the possibility of earning college credits, But even more exciting, according to Wiberg, is that the food that they prepare will be put back into the emergency food system. They will not only be learning valuable skills, but they will also be feeding those who are hungry. As soon as it is open, CVCAC will start recruiting students for the program, which will be free for income-eligible people. Some will come from the Reach Up Program, but the program will not be exclusive. While many CVCAC programs, such as weatherization, have not been affected by sequestration, there have been cuts in other programs with implications for emergency services and the Head Start Program; however, Wiberg assured me that staff are working hard to allocate resources so that a high level of service delivery is maintained. One of the reasons behind the move to downtown Barre was to provide a place with sidewalks, so that people can walk there. The new building is ADA compliant, making it
continued on page 6

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THE BRIDGE

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STREET
E I
Cash for Your Old Fridge
fficiency Vermont is offering cash bonuses for inefficient refrigerators and freezers, thereby saving electricity demand. They point out that if youve got an unused fridge thats plugged in but rarely used, you could not only get cash from the turn-in program, but also save as much as $150 in annual electrical bills by retiring inefficient appliances. 1-877-545-4113 or efficiency vermont.com/refrigeratorrecycling.

HEARD ON THE

Bus Stops Go Solar

he days of recharging rain have come. Weve had a heat wave, a cold spell or two and a big blowing storm. The phoebe, nesting above the entry, survived the long dry spell, the near freezing rains and the cold. All hardships for finding insects and brooding. The result is that only two nestlings are popping up for feedings. Still not bad. I havent seen much of the broad-winged hawks, also nesting not far from here. They may have given up for some reason, perhaps just not enough small birds and other critters around. And there do not seem to be as many, here at least, this year. But the test will come when the shadbush berries around the house ripen. I have never seen a heavier set of fruit, and almost every type of bird loves them. So while you are at the nursery getting those last tomatoes, consider picking up a shadbush or two to plant near your house. You wont regret having this small tree in June and July when the fruit ripens. Nona Estrin

Nature Watch
wedges and straps

n another energy related item, The Bridge asked Aaron Little, operations manager of Green Mountain Transit Authority (GMTA), about the newly installed photovoltaic (PV) panel on the bus stop roof in front of Shaws in Montpelier. Little said the PV panel powers a storage battery that provides power to an efficient light-emitting diode (LED) fixture that, in turn, lights the shelter at night. Its the first in our area, but GMTA has installed other solar/LED fixtures in the Chittenden County area.

WHAT S IN

Food Safety Course for Produce Growers

VM Extension is advertising a food safety course for produce growers on June 13, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Reminding growers of upcoming implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which was passed in January 2011, the Vermont Food Venture Center in Hardwick is offering an introductory overview to basic information on the FSMA and Vermont food safety regulations for produce growers who do on-farm value-added processing. 472-5362 or register at eventbrite.com/event/6770786605.

he Organ Historical Society is holding its national convention in Vermont June 2429 and will visit churches in Stowe, Hardwick, Greensboro, Cabot, Plainfield, Randolph, Williamstown, Montpelier and Northfield, among others, offering a short recital at each. For information, contact Marilyn Polson, Vermont chairperson, at polsonm@innevi.com or organsociety.org.

T T

Traveling Organ Recitals

Splashy News if Youre a Paddler

Photos courtesy of Amy Brooks Thornton.

he Friends of the Winooski River teamed up with the Vermont River Conservancy and the Plainfield Co-op and constructed a public canoe and kayak access on the Winooski River on co-op property in downtown Plainfield, upstream of the falls in Plainfield village. The friends credit Cabot School students and local volunteers for construction labor and the Lake Champlain Basin Program and Cabot Creamery for funding.

Subscribe to The Bridge!

For a one-year subscription, send this form and a check to The Bridge, P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601. Name___________________________________________________________ Address_________________________________________________________ City____________________________________ State_____ Zip____________ I have enclosed a check, payable to The Bridge, for: $50 for a one-year subscription An extra $____ to support The Bridge. (Contributions are not tax-deductible.)

ORCA Media Open House

RCA Media, located in City Center, Montpelier, will host an open house on Tuesday, June 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., to present their annual report, offer a tour of the facilities and introduce some of their staff. ORCA is a nonprofit community media center providing free and reduced rate video production and distribution services to local community organizations, municipalities, schools and individuals. They provide content on cable channels 15, 16 and 17. orcamedia.net.

any folks working in health care agree that navigators will be needed in the upcoming health care insurance transition. Navigators would help Vermonters understand their options in the new health care funding and insurance environment. Vermont Health Connect has selected several area organizations and granted them funding to institute navigator services. Among those in our area that have been funded are: Vermont Chamber of Commerce Services, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (in partnership with Vermont Medical Society, Vermont Grocers Association and the Vermont Retail Association), Central Vermont Community Action council, Peoples Health & Wellness Clinic and Vermont Campaign for Health Care Security.

Area Organizations Selected as Health Care Navigators

Motorcycle Ride for Cops

Ride4Cops, a recognition event at the State House lawn on Friday, June 14, noon to 2 p.m., will honor police officers killed in the line of duty. The motorcyle run will feature speaker Harry Herington, former police officer and CEO of the firm NIC, which generates websites for governments, including Vermonts. The event includes presentation of a donation to the New England chapter of COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors). Other speakers are to include individuals from Vermont law enforcement and family members of fallen officers. compiled by Nat Frothingham and by Bob Nuner

P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601 Phone: 802-223-5112 | Fax: 802-223-7852 montpelierbridge.com; facebook.com/montpelierbridge Published every first and third Thursday
Editor & Publisher: Nat Frothingham General Manager: Bob Nuner Strategic Planner: Amy Brooks Thornton Production & Calendar Editor: Kate Mueller Sales Representatives: Carolyn Grodinsky, Rick McMahan, Ivan Shadis Graphic Design & Layout: Cynthia Ryan Bookkeeper: Kathryn Leith Distribution: Kevin Fair, Diana Koliander-Hart, Daniel Renfro Website Manager: Cynthia Ryan Advertising: For information about advertising deadlines and rates, contact: 223-5112, ext. 11, carolyn@ montpelierbridge.com or gabriela@ montpelierbridge.com Editorial: Contact Bob, 223-5112, ext. 14, or editorial@ montpelierbridge.com. Location: The Bridge office is located at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, on the lower level of Schulmaier Hall. Subscriptions: You can receive The Bridge by mail for $50 a year. Make out your check to The Bridge, and mail to The Bridge, PO Box 1143, Montpelier VT 05601.
Copyright 2013 by The Montpelier Bridge

ADVERTISE

In our next Issue of The Bridge (6/20), well celebrate Summer Events.

Advertising deadline: Friday, June 14 Call Ivan or Carolyn at 223-5112, ext. 11.

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Downtown Barre Coming On Strong: An Interview with Mayor Thom Lauzon

accounts for the delays. Im 52 years old, said the mayor. The first time that project was discussed I was a senior at Spaulding High School. The city had not hosted a single private development project in the same amount of timeover 25 years. Barre has had a reputation that Lauzon describes as frozen in time, and here Lauzon began to talk passionately. I hear people say theres a huge drug trade in Barre. Not true, he said. Lauzon claimed that Burlington, South Burlington and Montpelier have a higher incidence of drug-related arrests and said that crime rates were about the same. If you look at where Barre is, were really no better and no worse than other communities. We certainly have a different demographic. Our per capita income is markedly less than in Montpelier and Waterbury. And seriously, Nat, the mayor said, what really gets my blood boiling is snobs. People who equate people being good or bad with their income level. Speaking for myself, . . . Karen and I have achieved a certain level of economic success. Im grateful for that. But Ive never been one to judge anyone by the size of their wallet. You judge people by their character. In Mayor Lauzons long-range plans for Barre, theres no quitting or self-congratulation. Were not even close to done, Lauzon said. On the night of our interview at The Bridge, Mayor Lauzon had just come from a steering committee meeting to discuss the Summer Street Centera proposed $6 million project, well within the downtown footprint, that would provide downtown office space for the Central Vermont Community Land Trust and Washington County Mental Health and also space for a new Barre Senior Center. In addition, 30 upgraded low-income residential units and a YMCAtype facility to benefit Barres youth and others would be part of the same project. Lauzon also mentioned another project to redo Merchants Row, the big parking space in back of Barres Main Street. Its ugly. Its monolithic. Its gross, said Lauzon. Its not well-lit. Theres no pocket parks. Mayor Lauzon talked about positioning Barre for growth. When a business enterprise considers where they might locate, first they look at your workforce, the mayor explained. And when your employees want a starter home, they can find a starter home in Barre for $175,000. Try finding that in Montpelier or Waterbury. Talking about housing opportunities in Barre, the mayor said, Ive never had a conversation with anyone who said I moved to Barre and I regretted it. What they consistently tell me is the day I moved in my neighbors brought me a casserole. Now, Im volunteering at the library, or coaching little league, and by the way, we got a killer deal on a house. Mayor Lauzon elaborated on his story of people who find a house and settle in Barre. Whats really cool is that people generally tell me the same story. The husband, its usually the husband, who says that housing prices are lower in Barre City. Theres usually an argument. The wife acquiesces and they live in Barre, and live happily ever after. Thats the way it typically works. Mayor Lauzon is proud that Barre is a community that doesnt say no. Theres a homeless shelter in Barre. They are not very many in the state. There are churches that will put on free meals for the less fortunate, he said. I read about a woman who had her wheelchair stolen off her porch. She had a lift. She lived on the second floor. But when the wheelchair on her porch was stolen, she said she was a prisoner in her own home. I grabbed $100 and I stopped at the Granite Bank and said to the manager, Look Bill, this woman needs a wheelchair. Could you help me? I started down Main Street and by the time I got to Harvard Clothes I had 15 hundred bucks. The Keene Medical Supply guy sold it to me at cost. . . . There were probably 30 people who helped. I said for every bastard that would steal a wheelchair there were probably 30 angels that would bring it back. Some time later, the woman in need of a wheelchair died. But her daughter came up to Lauzon and said the gift of a replacement wheelchair had changed her mothers life. Said Lauzon, [Her mother] couldnt understand why people would help her. She said, Im a nobody. But Lauzon saw it differently. Everybody is somebodys son, or mother, or brother. She couldnt believe that so many people had helped her. That was quintessential Barre, Lauzon concluded. Cleary, Thom Lauzon is high on Barre. Talking about the citys granite industry, he said. If you look at the granite sales. They are the same. They have gone up and up and up. Its become very mechanized. You used to have two guys running a polisher. Then along came computers. And all of a sudden the granite manufacturers could buy a polisher run by a laser and it ran by a computer. That replaced six guys. The saws became computer operated. But what no one can duplicate is the stone carverspeople who can sandblast a rose into a monument. Today, theres a new, optimistic spirit in Barre that is driving the city forward. Whats happening, said Lauzon, is the communitys realization that they can. We can have a new mayor. We can have a great restaurant. We can have a new Main Street. We can have a multimillion-dollar development project. And we can have more.

by Nat Frothingham

day or two before this paper went to press, Barre mayor Thom Lauzon paid a visit to The Bridge office and talked about the impressive and far-reaching changes that appear to be transforming the Granite City. Now in his seventh year as mayor, Lauzon is unabashedly Republican. Oh, Im a Republicanabsolutely, Lauzon declared. Im a proud member of the Republican Party. I guess in Vermont I would call myself a Phil Scott Republican. When asked what he meant by the term Phil Scott Republican, Lauzon explained, Like Phil, I understand business. Theres lots of things we all want to do. We have to figure out a way to do them. We have to figure out if they are going to be revenue generating. If the number of private construction and renovation projects currently underway together with signed leases for the available office and retail space is any measure, then Lauzons business savvy appears to be paying off in Barre. Quickly enough, the mayor ticked off a list of current downtown projects. You look at City Place, the mayor said. (City Place is the big, four-story building thats currently under construction on a lot between the Paramount movie house on one side and Studio Place Arts on the other.) Thats 80,000 square feet of space. Theyve leased everything but 9,000 square feet thats 90 percent.

Then Lauzon talked about changes now taking place under the direction of owners John Benoit and Mark Nicholson at the Blanchard Block, the former Lash Furniture building facing City Hall Park. Theyre just starting the renovations, said Lauzon. And theyre 25 percent leased. Next, the mayor talked about the downtown Aldrich Block that he and his wife, Karen, own. The Aldrich Block, thats our property, said Lauzon about the 100-yearold, yellow-brick corner building at North Main and Elm streets that was ravaged by fire on May 31, 2010. About the Aldrich Block renovations, the mayor said, Were just finishing that up now. This has literally been a three-year renovation. Thats 34,000 square feet, and were 100 percent leased. Looking into the very near future is the Times Argus building on North Main Street. We havent even bought [the building] yet, said the mayor about his plans to purchase the building. Were closing in July . . . and we have preleases on it. Lauzon agreed that this is a tough economic moment for many peoplea downturn that just wont quit and thats been called the most serious economic slump since the 1929 Great Depression. Nor have school and municipal budgets always mustered local support in Barre. If you looked at where Barre was seven years ago, we had a badly needed Main Street construction project that had been stalled, said Lauzon. And stalled hardly

Photo by Annie Tiberio Cameron

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A New Cooperative Soon to Open in Barre

by Bob Nuner
y father loved canned peaches. Our family favored the Twin Pines brand, sold at the World War IIera co-op in our suburb. When supermarkets arrived after the war, that co-op folded, but my mother and a friend would car-pool to another co-op in Woodbury, New Jersey, where she could still buy cases of canned clingstone peaches. Fast-forward to the 1970s, and a gaggle of postcollege Montpelierites fill an apartment, discussing the lack of good fresh produce, the opportunity to enlarge the buying club in Plainfield and the chance to open a store in Montpelier. Four decades later, Hunger Mountain Coop employs nearly 200 employees, has 6,800 member-owners and does $20 million a year in sales, still meeting an apparent need, judging by the new member applications that come in each week, according to Hunger Mountains Community Relations manager, Krissy Leigh Ruddy. But the co-op story doesnt end with that generation: In Barre, Emily Kaminsky is chair of a board of five thats moving forward a vision of a cooperative Granite City Grocery. With the board and an active 15member committee of organizers, Barre is working to rectify a perceived unmet community needa source of affordable food for the citys residents that doesnt require access by motor vehicle. Winner (one of 10 from 30 applicants) of a $10,000 grant from the national Food Co-op Initiative, the Barre co-op went on to obtain matching contributions, most in the $25 to $50 range, from more than 100 locals, using a crowd-funding model. Kaminsky says she started with the merchants, then built a website for contributions. The website (granitecitygrocery.coop/membership.html) collected pledges for the next step. Granite City Grocery needed to meet a threshold of 600 members to begin to convert pledges into subscriptions. It met that goal a few days shy of April 30, says Kaminsky, and now, the co-op is in the process of setting up the necessary mechanisms to convert its 630 pledges, into payments for equity or member shares. By the end of 2013, the co-op hopes

Granite City Grocery

to convince 1,200 members to join. Now operating under interim rules, it will have a membership meeting and adopt bylaws, probably in the early fall, now that the subscription collection process is underway. After organizing comes detailed planning, development of a business plan and finally implementation. For now, its time to celebrate the co-ops achievements to date, so Kaminsky writes in an e-mail, We are holding our celebrate 600! Party outside at Currier Park on Wednesday, June 12, at 7 p.m., which is also the first Barre Concert Series event hosted by the Barre Partnership. All are welcome to come hear the Starline Rhythm Boys. Well have treats and activities for the family. Efforts like development of a store can require loads of community cooperation. Kaminsky says Barres enterprise has had plenty of help from other cooperators, from the technical advice by Kari Bradley, Hunger Mountain Coops general manager, to visits by the Littleton and Hanover co-op general managers and Granite City Grocerys visits to Burlingtons City Market, all offering expertise and experience. Hunger Mountains Ruddy echoes Kaminsky, noting the assistance co-op marketing managers across the country routinely provide her. Kaminsky also notes with gratitude the local pool of talent and expertise that is advancing the Granite City Grocery, as well as the pledges of support from beyond Barre. (Before their goal had been fully met, 10 percent of the co-ops pledges came from towns like Braintree and Plainfield.) Finally, Kaminsky points out that a co-op doesnt just serve economic requirements: You cant have a healthy community without a healthy source of food. She notes that businesses whose vision or purpose goes beyond the bottom line are more likely to engage communities in social justice efforts. The co-ops underlying mission, for instance, is that everyone should have access to fresh food no matter where they live, similar to Washington County farmers deciding back in the 1930s that everyone should have access to electric power. For more information about Granite City Grocery, visit their website (above) or phone 279-7518.

quality, one house at a time

Free estimates References

FD Professional Painting
Interior & Exterior

desalvo12tree@yahoo.com

802-752-9470

Frank DeSalvo

T&T Repeats
Thrift Store
116 Main Street, Montpelier 224.1360

WEVE GOT THE TRUCK.

Doing cleanouts, moving, spring cleaning, dump runs?

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COMING ON STRONG, from cover accessible to people with disabilities. Wiberg also spoke of future plans to include an edible landscape, complete with fruit trees and berry bushes, on the CVCAC grounds. Wiberg concluded, CVCAC is excited to be part of Barres revitalization. Schwartz noted that there is a lot of enthusiasm in Barre, with the Downtown & Historic Preservation Conference taking place on Friday, June 15 (see page 7), and the Heritage festival scheduled for July 24 to July 28. He also mentioned the Millstone Quarry Rock Fire event on June 22, with bonfire entertainment. Under the leadership of Pierre Couture, the Millstone Trail Association provides central Vermont residents and tourists alike with access to over 1,500 acres of beautiful ponds and new forest, natures reclamation of the once prosperous 19th-century granite quarries. This all-season recreational area boasts miles of scenic trails for mountain bikers, casual bikers, skiers, snowshoers, walkers and picnickers, while drawing people and revenue into neighboring Barre. Barre, a city with a rich artistic, cultural and political past, is in the process of reclaiming itself as an important Vermont city. With a revitalized downtown, a continuing tradition of producing fine granite sculpture, a dedication to serving its people and a stunning recreational acreage in its backyard, its future is promising.

THE BRIDGE

Stone Sculpture Legacy Program

art of the generous bequeathal by Barre businessman Charles Semprebon, who died in 2009, to Barre City and Barre Town is being used to fund the Stone Sculpture Legacy Program. Semprebons father owned a stone-carving shed but died of silicosis, a disease caused by inhaling granite dust. Four granite sculptures have been commissioned, with several more to follow in the next few years. Sculpting in granite is alive and well in Barre, in keeping with Barres tradition

of attracting European stone carvers to the granite capital of the world. Works of these master craftsmen and artists are visible in the monuments in Hope Cemetery and the statues downtown. Heather Milne Ritchie of Plainfield, who apprenticed under Barre stone carver George Kurjanowicz and worked in the sheds between 1999 and 2004, re-creates in her sculpture Break Time the coffee break taken by Barres blue-collar workers over a hundred

years ago. This sculpture will be installed in the plaza of City Place. Giuliano Cecchinelli Sr. will sculpt a statue of British statesman Isaac Barre, the citys namesake. Semprebons love of biking is the raison detre for the two artistic bike racks to be sculpted by by Chris Miller of Calais and Giuliano Cecchinelli Jr. of Barre. Joyce Kahn

Tell them you saw it in The Bridge !

Photo by Rick McMahan.

State Auction of Surplus Vehicles

ccording to a state of Vermont press release, A major collection of state vehicles and equipment including dump trucks, plow trucks, pickup trucks, police cruisers, cargo vans, box trucks, boats, four-wheelers, snowmobiles, kayaks, tools, tires, generators, miscellaneous parts and more will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at a public auction. The auction begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, at the Agency of Transportation Central Garage, 1756 U.S. Route 302, in Berlin (across from the Wayside Restaurant).

LEGISLATIVE POLICY IMPACTS VERMONTS DOWNTOWNS

The state of Vermont is committed to revitalizing its downtowns while preserving natural resources. According to Sam Anderson, executive vice president, Central Vermont Development Corporation, The future of our downtowns is critical to the regions overall economic vitality. In keeping with this philosophy, on June 3, at Vermonts First Annual Economic Development Summit in Rutland, Governor Peter Shumlin signed into law H.377. Anderson remarked that this bill impacts downtown development policy and is transformational not only for Barre, but the entire region. A summary of the history and content of the law provided by Noelle Mackay, commissioner of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, states that both Vermonters and visitors appreciate our landscape of towns and villages surrounded by countryside. Legislators, realizing how integral the landscape is to the economy, have written state policy to promote efficient use of land, infrastructure and resources. H.377 updates, improves and strengthens existing Downtown, Village Center, and Neighborhood designation programs. Because housing is important for jobs, the bill is also designed to expand housing development by reducing housing development costs in expanded areas in and around villages and downtowns. Communities that demonstrate readiness for development would receive benefits such as Act 250 exceptions for mixed-income housing projects, tax benefits for rehabilitating and reinvesting in blighted properties, technical assistance and priority consideration for state grants. Joyce Kahn

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Photo by Rick McMahan.

BARRE HOSTS DOWNTOWN & HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONFERENCE

n June 15, at the Barre Opera House, Barre will host the 2013 Downtown & Historic Preservation Conference, sponsored by the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development and the Preservation Trust of Vermont. Leanne Tingay, of the Vermont Downtown Program, provided a summary of the upcoming conference. he keynote speaker will be Dan Feehan, former CEO and president of the International Downtown Association. The conference celebrates 15 years of downtown successes throughout the state, beginning with the 1998 Downtown Act, which created the Downtown Program. Barre and Montpelier are two of the 24 designated downtown areas. The conference is an opportunity for people from Vermont, as well as from other New England states, to attend a wide variety of educational sessions and learn about economic revitalization of downtowns, historic restoration and planning. These sessions will be held in various locations in Barre, with the intention of getting people to walk around the city, and attendees will have lunch on their own, with the hope that they will patronize Barres restaurants. A conference highlight will be the presentation of downtown and village center awards, with winners announced at the conference. The Barre partnership has been hugely instrumental in getting the conference together, and thanks go to Dan Jones, executive director, and to Bob Nelson. The Vermont History Museum will host a closing reception. Joyce Kahn

Central Vermont Extension Master Gardeners Annual

SATURDAY, JUNE 8th 9 am to 12 noon

Vermont College of Fine Arts Gymnasium 45 College Street, Montpelier
From the gardens of Master Gardeners Perennials, Annuals, Veggie and herb seedlings and gently used gardening books Ask the Master Gardener and Ask the Master Composter tables

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THE BRIDGE

Growing Your Business

Three Key Business Communication Strategies
by Lindel James
ommunication is a crucial process for all businesses. Having a business communication strategy is imperative. Your communication strategy is as important as your manufacturing, research and development, and marketing. We all have different preferred receptors of information, therefore multiple strategies are important to ensure that your messages are truly heard and understood. Before delivering your message, think about your audience. What do they need to know? What will they understand and what will they do with the information you have provided them? Here are three key strategies for successful business communication. 1. Walkabouts. Most organizations are working to assure high productivity and profitability. Achieving results is often tied to good employee morale. One tactic to use to ensure positive employee morale is to use the strategy of walking the halls and cruising through departments. During these walkabouts, you can communicate appreciation, acknowledge staff and gain knowledge yourself. This tactic is not intended to create a perception of micromanagement; its intended to create visibility and develop a perception that you are engaged and approachable. Its amazing how much goodwill comes to the leader of an organization who gets into the trenches simply by walking the halls. 2. Town hall meetings or brown bag lunches. Gatherings like these are effective vehicles for informing and updating staff. They are also a great place for communicating goals and business strategies. These meetings give you an opportunity to get and give feedback and to celebrate success! 3. Business newsletters and broadcast e-mails. These tools are perfect for those folks who do better with the written word

or who are located in satellite or branch offices. They can be used to more formally document information that may have been disseminated at a meeting as addressed above, or, in the case of broadcast e-mail, to get new information out to everyone quickly and simultaneously. There are many vehicles that can be used to communicate in business. These are only a few of the most frequently used. Your organization may hold executive meetings, staff meetings or off-site retreats. You probably have an Internet site or an intranet site for external or internal communications. Other vehicles you may use include, but are not limited to, paycheck inserts and formal reports. So, think about what individual or groups in your organization you should be communicating with and what issues or goals will drive your message. Assess what you are currently doing and think about how can you improve your communication skills How can you assess what is working and what is not? Create a simple survey that employees can complete confidently. Ask questions such as: How clear are the goals management has set for the company? How often do you receive feedback about your work? How accessible is management to the employees of this organization? These are just a few of the numerous questions you can, and should, be asking your employees. It takes courage to solicit feedback, but learning how you and your organization can improve is well worth that little personal discomfort and will help you achieve long-term rewards. The more you do to improve communications up, down, and across your organization, the better results you can expect. Lindel James is a business, executive, leadership and sales coach, consultant, and speaker and trainer. James lives in Montpelier. She can be reached at centerforleadershipskills.com or lindel@lindeljames.com.

Why Now Is the Time to Weatherize Your Home

by Dan Jones
o its warming up, and you want to forget about winter. The fleece has been put away, and plants are popping up. Why talk about weatherization now when the benefits of that work occur during winter with its cold and heating bills? But as climate change brings us May blizzards and April heat waves, you just might discover that an investment in energy efficiency pays off year-round. This summer, extra financial supports through the Montpelier Energy Challenge could provide the best and most affordable opportunity for getting your home buttoned up and your finances improved. When my wife and I weatherized our house two years ago, we were expecting to be more comfortable and to save money during the heating season. We were not expecting to find our house much cooler and more comfortable in the summer. The extra insulation and sealing keeps the cool air in on the hottest days. And, for those of us worried about the amount of greenhouse gases we produce, such energy efficiency work is the biggest contribution you can make to the environment right now. So why is this summer so special to take the efficiency plunge? To start, the Vermont Home Energy Challenge effort is underway to help people save energy, save money and reduce their impact on climate change. The Montpelier Energy Advisory Committee has signed on with Efficiency Vermont, in partnership with Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN), in a yearlong effort with the goal of increasing the number of homes with comprehensive efficiency improvements in 2013. Success for a participating town, now numbering over 60 (including Montpelier), means getting 3 percent of year-round residences in the town retrofitted in 2013. This is the per-capita target number of homes communities needed to get weatherized to meet the states goal of retrofitting 80,000 homes by 2020. The purpose of the challenge is to help the state meet its goal and homeowners to save. Its a campaign with potentially powerful results according to Efficiency Vermont, the organization leading the challenge. Retrofitting 80,000 homes will save $2 million

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dollars annually in energy bills, create 35 jobs in 2013 and position Vermont as an energy efficiency and climate action leader by reducing greenhouse gas emissions significantlythe equivalent of taking 900 cars off the road for one year. Furthermore, the town in each participating region (there are six) that gets the most homes weatherized in 2013 wins a prize of $10,000 toward municipal efficiency improvements. Montpelier needs your commitment to this effort to help win the award. To get this effort going, homeowners are being offered generous incentives by Efficiency Vermont to tighten up and insulate. A full-on job with an older home can qualify for up to $2,000 in incentives for substantial reduction in air flow. But if you act right now, Efficiency Vermont is offering a this summer only promotion of an additional $500 completed-job incentive to its customers participating in its Home and Building Performance programs. The offer will be extended to qualifying homeowners and businesses completing jobs by August 31 and sending in their completed, signed incentive form by September 30. To further help, Efficiency Vermont is offering contractors an additional incentive of $100 per completed job to make up for potential extra hours required on the contractors part to complete paperwork and test-outs. Finally, with todays oil prices and interest rates, investing in home efficiency will give you about a 7 percent return on your money every year. Have you checked what the banks are paying you to save right now? This is not a difficult choice. Vermonters, this is the moment when you can make a real difference in so many areas. Heating efficiency makes sense. Reducing the energy needed to heat Vermonts homes and businesses keeps the warmth in, reduces pollution and saves money. Heating efficiency provides the lowest cost and most effective strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissionsall while creating jobs for Vermonters. The Montpelier Energy Committee is here to help you. Well be doing a door-to-door campaign later this month to help you get started. Or, if you want to start now, find us at montpelierenergy.org.

THE BRIDGE

J U N E 6 J U N E 19 2 013 , PAG E 9

Increasing Enrollment and Governance Policies Discussed at School Board Meeting

by Zachary Beechler
ith the school year coming to a close and budget talks off the table until the fall, the conversation at the sparsely attended school board meeting on May 15 shifted to a more philosophical consideration of how the board does what it does and what steps it could take to do a better job. The school board essentially has two major roles: to set policies and to review the superintendents performance in meeting those policies. The first item on the agenda was a review of the boards process for its annual evaluation of the superintendents job performance to date. The school board conducts its own internal evaluation; however, the question was raised by Ken Jones of including more teacher input and possibly reaching out to parents, both city and school administrations, and even the rest of Montpelier. Newly elected member Michele Braun mused that if she were superintendent, shes not sure shed want the entire town grading her job performance. If I were on your select board, I might ask

for it anyway, joked Jones in response, adding, and some of the people arent going to like your performance thereby providing indispensable feedback for improvement. After a thorough discussion, the board decided, in the short term, to continue carrying out its own assessment while adding an abbreviated version of its questionnaire for teachers via an online survey to ensure anonymity and, in the long term, to further explore options for expanding greater community participation. Charlie Phillips wondered if the board might have a bit of a public image problem. Weve had some complaints lately that we havent been transparent enough, he said. I dont know if thats fair or not, but it is a perception, the general feeling that for a lack of better communication, the board was simply trying to guess what the city wants, especially during budget deliberations, and too beholden to parent complaints. One way to combat the inevitable outcry over difficult but necessary cuts would be to involve the public sooner in the budget process, and the board hopes that, by introducing a more comprehensive and creative vision for the schools early on, this might serve not only to diffuse these budget battles but also boost public confidence in the boards decisions.

Another question raised was how to enhance the districts overall image in order to attract more tuition studentsfamilies from surrounding towns whose children pay to attend Montpelierand to examine not only why parents are choosing this district over others, but why some parents are pursuing alternative education options within Montpelier, by sending their kids to private schools. We need more outreach to sell the schools to have tuition students coming in, said Philips, as a measure toward extending enrollment, in turn leading to increased state funding. Although enrollment has decreased in the high school, with more students currently at the elementary school, future enrollment projections have actually gone up, reported Montpelier school superintendent Brian Ricca. One aspect the district would like to publicize is its ongoing commitment to integrating existing and emerging technologies into the school curriculum, led by the director of Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment, and Technology. In April, The Bridge reported that Michael Martin was one of two final candidates for the new position; over the interim period, Martin was indeed hired.

As a way of enhancing community outreach, Braun suggested incorporating social media, say through daily Twitter or Facebook updates highlighting the districts good marks and school initiatives. The agenda turned to a discussion of the superintendent limitations policies, one of which is that the superintendent is to advise the board if, in his or her opinion, the board is not in full compliance with its own policies on governance. Board members themselves readily admitted that the board doesnt always fully comply, such that, in practice, policy governance has become more of a guideline than a formal procedure. Board chair Sue Aldrich asked Ricca, Are you comfortable doing that [advising the board on governance policies]? Well, its definitely a can of worms, said Ricca, And I recognize that I am opening it. He then asked the board, Is this the kind of governance you really want? The board then reaffirmed their commitment to policy governance and to establishing budget priorities based on broad policy ends. The board also discussed the addition of a fifth kindergarten teacher and approved next years school calendar.

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PAG E 10 J U N E 6 J U N E 19, 2 013

THE BRIDGE

Congratulations, Class of 2013! Congratulations, Class of 2013!

Sail on Solons
This month the class of 2013 graduates from Montpelier High School. Here they are, with a brief indication of what they will be doing in the coming year. We wish them the best and hope theyll come back soon!
Photo compliments of Clark Photography.

NAME Anna Abrams Grace Baker- Whitcomb Anthony Barrows Teagan Bate Hartley Bingham George Blair David Blythe Alexis Boucher Brandon Bova Luke Burton Devin Canavan Kiera Casey Matthew Cecere Alexander Clark Rhea Costantino Nathaniel Crane Julie Curran Tyler DeMag* Alexander Dickinson Katherine Drew Rachel Ebersole Aiden Ells-Payne Ben Estes Siena Facciolo Rose Faucett* Patrick Fraser Julia Gilbert Matthew Gomes* Eli Gould* Naomi Grayck Lehana Guyette Katlyn Hall Bryant Hallock Kyle Hammond Sara Hartson Brandon Healy Milo Hecht Lydia Herrick Emma Horowitz-McCadden Daniel Hoyne-Grosvenor Annie Jones Caroline Kessler Alyssa Kezer*

PLANS Vassar College/Gap Year Simmons College University of Hartford/Hartt School University of New Hampshire Boston College SUNY Binghamton Curry College Northeastern University Champlain College Gap Year Champlain College University of Vermont University of Vermont Keene State College Davidson College Hope College St. Bonaventure University Castleton State College University of Vermont Bates College Castleton State College Lyndon State College Wesleyan University/Gap Year Beloit College Yale/Gap Year

MAJOR Liberal Arts Business Music Physics Communications Political Science Business Nutrition Business Management Computer Science History and Classics Business Management & Administration Undecided Mechanical Engineering Psychology Undecided Psychology Anthropology Exercise Science/Coaching Mountain Recreation Management Music Undecided Undecided

NAME Rebecca Kilian Steven Koenemann Zacharias Konfor Zachary LaPorte Allison Lau Ari Markowitz Carly Martin Taylor Martin Bryn Matthews Laura Mears Nina Merriam Soa Miller Cristian Munger* Matthew Murray Madeline Murray-Clasen Noah Nielsen Lacey Norton Colin OMeara* Andy Parento Jayme Parker Dylan Philibert Manatchaya Gigi Piankhuntod Aaron Pitzner Colleen Quinn Kayla Richardson Samantha Rivera Tucker Robinson Cullen Rose Celina Rossier Lilly Schwarz Sophia Scoppettone Chase Smith Jacob Smith Kimberley Surwilo Ethan Tatro Devon Tomasi Nicole Waggoner Carly Watson James Weiler Talon Wendel Meghan Wingate

PLANS University of Vermont Castleton State College Johnson & Wales University Eckerd College Stonehill College Wesleyan University University of Vermont Colby-Sawyer College University of Vermont Johns Hopkins University Smith College Fashion Institute of Technology Stonehill College University of Vermont/Gap Year National Circus School of Montreal Work University of Vermont Bentley University Gap Year/Work Castleton State College ? CCV/St. Josephs College University of Tampa Edinboro University of Pennsylvania University of Vermont Gap Year Northeastern University Gap Year St. Lawrence University SUNY Binghamton/Gap Year United States Marine Corps Vermont Technical College Western New England University Work in eld of graphic design Middlebury College Gap Year/CCV/University of Hartford Middlebury College CCV/Work Undecided Haverford College

MAJOR Psychology Undecided Engineering Marine Biology Marketing Dance/Math/Science Nursing Nursing Global Studies International Relations Engineering Cosmetics & Fragrance Marketing Business Environmental Studies Circus Arts (Specialty Technique: Diabolo)

Business Accounting/Marketing Business or Education Primary Education/Science Forensic Science Psychology Community & International Development Business/Finance/Pre-Med Math

CCV/Work Work CCV/Gap Year Work Work University of Vermont Norwich/Nonmatriculated Johnson State College Bard College University of Vermont Yale University Ithaca College University of Vermont

Undecided International Relations/Business Neuroscience Managerial & Entrepreneurial Science Health/Vet Science Law Enforcement/Technology Undecided

Communication Sciences Biology Design Music Organic Chemistry Undecided Sports Management Biology

*Information unavailable at press time.

THE BRIDGE

J U N E 6 J U N E 19 2 013 , PAG E 11

City Council Meeting

MAY 22, 2013

A Microchip Reader for Pets and Progress on the Multimodal Transit Center
by Bob Nuner
he Montpelier City Council meeting began with a demonstration of the citys new microchip reader for pets, donated through the efforts of The Quirky Pet and the generous help of the Green Mountain Animal Hospital. The purchase was an initiative of the pet store, which, working with the city clerks office, collected donations via the dog license renewal forms. The reader identifies pets that have microchips implanted in them, saving a trip to the Humane Society for identification. Leftover monies from the fund drive assure that when individuals not from Montpelier with pets meet trouble in town (e.g., arrests or accidents), authorities can house the pets while owners are unavailable, since these animals fall into the gray area: Not technically lost, yet still needing boarding (not in the Humane Societys contract with the city). With the mayor and Councilor Edgerly Walsh absent, Councilor Weiss asked if there was a quorum, was reassured that the definition enabled Councilor Golonka to be counted even though he was running the meeting. Discussion followed concerning a second reading of the Downtown Improvement District. Weiss questioned the need for the ordinance. City Manager Fraser said that defining the tax creates an administrative mechanism, even though its within the context of the budget. It calls out funds and provides separate reporting. Assessment of the tax happens in July. Discussion involved how PILOT (Payment In Lieu of Taxes) from the state would affect the tax. The council reappointed Tina Ruth to the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission, with Kimberly Cheney as an alternate. Addressing the council, Ruth said she wanted financial reports of both the Planning Commission and the Economic Development Corporation available to board members, if merging of the two bodies were to take place. She noted that Waitsfield opposes the merger. The council approved previously agreedupon goals and priorities, but Weiss noted that paving of tennis courts should not be the citys responsibilities and asked for a semiannual accounting by someone responsible

for any goals. Councilor Guerlain moved for a status report at the second meeting in September. The motion passed, striking reference to the tennis courts, a recreation department responsibility. The balance of the public meeting concerned a proposed private sector participation in the multimodal transit center. Golonka warned that the city did not yet own the property and was subject to pending litigation. Discussion ensued about a proposal to solicit RFPs (request for proposals) for the site, following a presentation by Jessie Baker, assistant city manager, and Kevin Casey, of the economic development office. They proposed that the city would invite participation by private developers to partner with the city in construction of a multistory building. With the city responsible for the ground floor, upper floors could be the responsibility of a private developer. Questions ensued about the building, zoning requirements, parking and how the project would pay for itself. Golonka repeated that it was premature to get into the weeds about the building because the city did not own the property. Questions about parking continued from Guerlain, given the speedy timetable for the RFP process if the city obtains control of the site. Weiss asked who would have responsibility for maintaining the building 20 years down the road if the structure became a public/private partnership. The advantage of engaging a private partner, according to the proposal, was that it might enable the city to share infrastructure costs such as water or sewer, and enhance revenue. Fraser pointed out that two pots of federal money are being leveraged: one for the transit center, the other for the bike path and environmental issues of the site (see The Bridge, June 7, 2012). The proposed process for soliciting RFPs from potential partners involved solicitations within days of gaining control of the land, collecting letters of interest, holding hearings on uses for the site, issuing a competitive RFP to developers (response to which being due in the fall), choosing a partner in November and developing detailed plans over the winter of 201314, again, all contingent on the city getting control of the site. The council then went into executive session to discuss the Carr lot real estate transaction.

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Vermont Legislature Advances Significant Issues

by Ken Russell

n 2013, the state of Vermont moved forward on a number of significant issues, including legalizing physician-assisted suicide, allowing migrant farm workers to obtain drivers licenses, expanding the free lunch program to all low-income children, decriminalizing the use of small amounts of marijuana and legalizing the growing of industrial hemp. It also saw the defeat of Governor Shumlins attempt to divert $16.7 million from the earned income tax credit for low-income Vermonters. State Senator Anthony Pollina plans to move two initiatives forward over the summer

and fall, including a study bill to consolidate state lending to capture more of our tax dollars from out-of-state banksan attempt to declare independence from the banks. He also plans to study the feasibility of having state pension funds divest from fossil fuels. He points out that how we invest our money is important and plans to enlist research help from student volunteers.

PAG E 12 J U N E 6 J U N E 19, 2 013

THE BRIDGE

Sheriff Samuel Hill on Vermont Firearm Laws and Rights

ecently, the U.S. Senate refused to end the filibuster on gun background checks and rejected an attempt to reinstate an assault weapons ban. The Bridge caught up with Washington County sheriff Samuel Hill for a short discussion of gun law in Vermont and his opinion on contemporary issues surrounding firearms. Is there a need for a concealed carry law in Vermont? There hasnt been an issue that has come up that has brought to light the need of a concealed carry law in Vermont. The issue came up in the legislature, 10 or 15 years ago or maybe longer. A very strict interpretation was being proposed, a firearm being concealed in any way. A female legislator said when [her] husband, sons, relatives go deer hunting on a rainy day on the stand, they are apt to tuck their rifle and scope under their jacket, which would be considered concealed carry under the law. That version of concealed carry was never passed in Vermont.

federal database is another matter. It is a federal violation if they go to a gun shop and check off the box incorrectly. If my wife and I are separated and there is a restraining order on me, can I possess a firearm? No. By federal law, if there is an abuse prevention order in effect, after there has been the opportunity for a hearing, not during the temporary phase unless it is ordered by the judge. After the hearing, if the judge orders, you can own firearms but not possess. The Barrett 50 semi-automatic snipers rifle has been banned in Connecticut and New Jersey. Is it legal in Vermont? It is. Many guns began with military purpose and many have derived into the sporting need. What is the sporting nature of a sniper rifle with a 30 clip where one can rapidly empty the clip? There are shooting competitions for rifles like the Barrett. People own them because they enjoy the accuracy, they like the look. For many others, it is a hobby no different than the person who collects Hummel. Why not private ownership of bazookas then? There are people who had experience with them in the military who would like to collect them and shoot them. That was a decision before me, and I dont know exactly why they chose to ban that kind of weapon. Some were made specifically for the military and dont have a secondary sporting purpose. What is the sporting purpose of a 30clip semi-automatic? You never see people hunting deer with them. In Vermont, hunting is limited to a fiveround magazine, and many use a semi-automatic sporting weapon to hunt deer, coyotes, wild boar. If a semi-automatic with a large clip is used for self-protection, why are armorpiercing bullets banned when people can assault your house wearing body armor? Is it to protect police who would be most likely to have those bullets used against them? I dont know. There have been rounds that have been banned because they have been used against police. There have been bans over time that have held. There have been bans that have been lifted. Things have been in flux. What is the background check in Vermont like? Is there a cooling-off period for buying firearms in Vermont to stem domestic Washington County Sheriff Samuel Hill. Photo courtesy of Samuel Hill. situations? Do people have to go through a background check at a gun show in Vermont? Background checks are the same across the country. If you buy a firearm from a licensed dealer, they take your information and call in to the national registry. They do a national criminal check based on the information reported to them. There is not a cooling-off period. Why should people wait two weeks to buy a firearm? The majority of the people buying firearms are not causing problems, why should the majority suffer? What is considered the gun-show loophole isnt covering the licensed dealers that predominate at gun shows. Wherever they sell firearms, they have to comply. It is the private dealers with their private collections. In Barre, they told the private dealers that if you are going to sell guns at the show, you are going to have background checks done. R&L Archery stepped forward to do background checks for private dealers. What about Internet arms and ammunition sales. Do those require background checks? Ammunition sales do not. You can deal in ammunition without a Federal Firearms License. Firearms are different. You can buy online from a dealer, but you have to pick it up at a licensed firearm dealer that will subject you to the mandated background check. That is federal law. Can you turn in guns you dont want? Can you take them to the sheriff or police? We dont encourage that. We have difficulty disposing of them. We encourage you to sell it to a licensed firearm dealer who will resell it after a background check.

Can I conceal a gun in my pocket and carry it into a church, a school or a municipal building? You absolutely can [carry a gun in your pocket] in Vermont. You can carry a gun into a church unless the church has a rule against it. You cant carry a gun into a public school, into a court, into the legislature. You cant carry [a gun] into state buildings. You can carry a gun into a municipal building unless there are specific ordinances, and Im not aware of any at this point. Can I carry a rifle in my vehicle? You can carry a shotgun or rifle in your car or truck as long as it is not loaded, and you can leave it there 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can carry a handgun in your vehicle loaded or unloaded. Are any guns restricted in Vermont? Only by federal law, state law covers homemade zip guns and the like. As far as felons owning and carrying firearms, those are not state violations; those are federal violations. There is state law on using firearms or brandishing firearms in certain situations, which makes you subject to separate charges. Law enforcement assumes there is a firearm in a house when we go out, as the majority of Vermont houses have firearms present. For those with severe psychological issues, is state gun law looser than other states? Vermont again defaults back to the federal guidelines. People who have been adjudicated with severe psychological conditions cant purchase or possess a firearm. Whether states have sent that information into the

I have a teenager and there is a gun in the house without a gun lock. If my teenager uses it in a crime, are my wife and I responsible? Civilly you always are. There was legislation proposed that the adult could be held criminally liable. It did not pass. There are licenses for driving that assure that the person behind the wheel has demonstrated and understands established minimal competency with the vehicle. Why not for guns? Does a drivers license infringe on individual rights? I think that that begins to infringe on individual rights. There is a difference between a right and a privilege. The privilege to operate a motor vehicle is given to you by statute. The right to have firearms is a constitutional right. With that right brings responsibility. We have the right to free speech, but that right is limited when it comes to yelling fire in a movie theater. Isnt it the states responsibility to assure an individual can responsibly handle a firearm before purchasing it? Any firearm training or safety is, of course, desirable. There are courses offered throughout the state. Suggesting versus mandating is a place to start. Since the early seventies, people who want to hunt have had to take hunter safety to get their hunting licenses. To mandate it at this pointespecially here in Vermont where our issues are so minimalthat is a big step for our state to take.

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THE BRIDGE

J U N E 6 J U N E 19 2 013 , PAG E 13

Climate Change Cabaret: A Call to Action

by Susan Z. Ritz

50 Vermont, Vermonts branch of Bill McKibbens global grassroots movement to raise awareness around climate change, will present the Unraveling and Turning: A Climate Change Cabaret at the State House on June 15, the inspiration of local impresarios Celina Moore and Peter Nielsen with support from Linda Patterson, organizer of a 350 Vermont cabaret in Burlington last year. Nielsen and Moore wish to shift the dialogue away from the facts and figures presented by scientists, politicians and corporations by engaging the creative community, pulling together a months worth of events involving almost 50 artists. An exhibit by 16 area artists at the Goddard Gallery on Main Street runs through June 30, and there is a showing of the British documentary Just Do It: A Tale of Modern-Day Outlaws at the Savoy Theater, June 11, at 8 p.m. All events are free, thanks to sponsors Goddard College, HigherMind Mediaworks, Artifakt, the Savoy Theater, National Life Group and several individual donors. According to Moore, We are doing this because we dont have a chance to say were grieving. It is important to have people speak from their hearts, and thats what artists do. Moore and the artists took their cue from deep ecologist Joanna Macy for the theme of the cabaret, Unraveling and Turning. Macy argues that we must now make a choice between the great unraveling, leading to destruction of the earth as we know it, and the great turning, which Macy describes as the essential adventure of our time: the shift from an industrial growth society to a lifesustaining civilization. Nielsen, founder of Montpeliers First Night and other local arts programs, says it is time to offer an emotional, human response that allows people to express their fears, challenges and hopes around climate change through artistic endeavors. He knew the organizers had hit a communal nerve when their call for submissions brought in 50

proposals from artists across Vermont. People have a pent-up need to feel something and share it with others. We all sense it, we all talk about turns of weather and things, but its very difficult to know how to share feelings of powerlessness, frustration, fear and responsibility, said Nielsen. Any steps that we take individually are so small in comparison to the giant force were up against, so its hard for people to know how to take action or even engage in the dialogue. When we gave the artists a specific way to participate, it all came to the surface. The cabaret will be emceed by performance artist Ben Matchstick and Reverend Elissa Johnk from the Old Meeting House Church in East Montpelier. It kicks off on the lawn with trapeze and acrobatic acts from Brattleboros New England Center for Circus Arts. Bread and Puppet will be on hand with its own circus, as well as the All Together Now Puppeteers presenting a circle story of radical joy in hard times. Children from Christine Harriss Moving Light Dance Company will present The Dance of the Species. Young dancers will lead the gathering into the State House as a symbolic call to action. Entertainment will continue inside with songs by John Gailmore and Eliza Moore, a Montreal-based singer, songwriter and arranger, promoting her new album Everything to Me. Eliza grew up in Montpelier, has lived and studied music in London and is a classically trained musician, influenced by early music. Expect stories from Tim Jennings and Leanne Ponder; a conversation with Mother Earth with Ellen Keene and Clarke Jordan; and a radio play written and performed by composer and Cabot School music teacher Brian Boyes and Cabot Schools troupe Shadows in the Passage. Maeve McBride, director of 350 Vermont, said central Vermonts Climate Change Cabaret is just a beginning. We hope to bring [this] to many corners of Vermont, giving artists the opportunity to express . . . the impact of climate change on their communities . . . to acknowledge losses, celebrate resiliency and mutual support and honor current and future solutions.

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PAG E 14 J U N E 6 J U N E 19, 2 013

THE BRIDGE

GMO Proponents versus Opponents

A Pitched Battle in the Legislature
by Ken Russell

n early May, the Vermont House approved a bill requiring labeling of foods containing genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. Vermont is working to join Connecticut, which voted Monday June 4 to require such labeling, a practice currently followed by the European Union and over 50 countries worldwide. State House observers expect aggressive lobbying by labeling opponents, including agrichemical giant Monsanto, as the bill reaches the Senate in early 2014. Governor Shumlin has signaled support for the bill, reportedly after legal experts assured him that the bill would stand up well to expected legal challenges by deep-pocketed corporate interests. GMO opponents raise the specter of a Frankenstein monster, a release of untested technology with potentially severe impacts on the environment and human health. They see an unholy alliance of government and corporate power stifling scientific inquiry into the actual risks to the food we put into our bodies. They criticize industrial agriculture and suggest that any short-term benefits in delivering food to hungry people may well result in widespread ecological devastation and, some contend, reduce people to serflike status. In the pouring rain, on Memorial Day weekend, 300 to 350 peopleaccording to march organizersprotested Monsanto and GMO foods at the State House. Proponents of genetic engineering tout economic and environmental benefits of the technology and point to a history of industrial agriculture that has freed humans from toiling on the land. They suggest that

GMO opponents use emotions and fear tactics and dont do justice to the promises of a technology essential to feeding a hungry world, combating climate change and preserving biodiversity. Some even assert that the concern over GMOs is a boutique concern of out-of-touch first-world citizens who are oblivious to the life-saving value of the technology for those living in the third world. Margaret Laggis, former lobbyist for Monsanto in Vermont and current representative for United Dairy Farmers of Vermont, claims that consumers have choice: If consumers are concerned about genetically modified foods, they should purchase organic food, or go online to research the foods they eat. She contends that consumers already know that if they are eating corn or soy they are eating genetically engineered food. Its easy to get people worried about anything in their food supply. You ask, Do you know that pesticides are used? Do you have a right to know this? and people will say yes. In fact less than 2 percent of the population look at that in their food, says Laggis. Personally, I dont think pesticides are a problem. . . . There is no labeling of pesticide use. Thats the way we have always marketed things. We dont require a label when we use conventional technology. Laggis continues, Opponents could not come up with a single replicable study that showed damage to the environment, or to human health. Bill Church, president of Green Mountain Antibodies, a Vermont bioscience company, asserts that GMO opponents have made a moral determination about the big companies. I dont see someone creating a better

system. I look for a way to work with these organizations. Im not prepared to dig up my backyard to grow my own food. There are large problems with starvation in this world, and we need these tools. Its one thing if you can go down to Hannafords and buy 12 kinds of spaghetti sauce. Its another if youre faced with the reality of third-world hunger. You dont think a dairy cow is a genetically modified organism? Put it out in the wild [and] see how it lives. Andrea Stander, director of Rural Vermont, describes the labeling legislation as first and foremost a straightforward, common-sense, consumer protection bill. There are very real health and safety concerns. People need to know, so that they can choose. Right now we cant do that. Let us be the masters of our own food, instead of puzzling over it. Given that we know so little, it sends up a lot of red flags, Stander continues. Look at cigarettes: for years everyone thought they were fine. Little by little, evidence came out, but look how long it took. Here you have a much larger population of people unwittingly exposed [to potential danger]. We dont want to be on the wrong side of history on this one. Its an unregulated feeding experiment. Were like animals in the lab. Speaking of Monsantos dominance of seed ownership and their notoriously aggressive approach, including pursuit of patent infringement cases against farmers whose fields have been contaminated by GMO products, Stander continues, Patenting life itself, particularly seeds, the absolutely rock bottom of our food supply, and rapidly gaining control of the global food supply, is a scary prospect. The reality is that they are

systematically buying up independent seed companies and replacing them in the marketplace with their own products, which they control absolutely. Farmers cant control their seeds one year to the next. Its kind of feudal as in the dark ages, with overlords and serfs, with us being serfs. Dave Rogers, a policy advisor with Northeast Organic Farming Association of Vermont, explains, We are inserting genes willy-nilly into the genome. A genome is like a complex community. Its like a forest or the ocean. We literally shoot the genes in, like a gun. Theres a very real danger of collateral damage in the ecology of the cells. We could upset the functioning of many other genes, creating allergens, toxins. We dont understand that . . . we need research on a technology that could result in some harmful outcomes. Were eating [food] three times a day; its not like occasional exposure. With that lack of knowledge and this level of exposure, labeling is moderate and not extreme. Roger Albee, Vermont Secretary of Agriculture under Jim Douglas, urges care: We need to start with the premise that the consumer has a right to know. The question is how do we do it in a way that does not create emotionalism on each side, but is based on science. Meanwhile, last week, it was reported that errant Monsanto GMO wheat, last tested in 2005, but never submitted to FDA approval, was found in Oregon, introducing an apparent crisis of confidence in Americas wheat export market. Japan and South Korea have cancelled wheat contracts, and the European Union has taken precautions. Americas wheat exports in 2012 were $8.1 billion.

ontpelier High School and Main Street Middle School thank the following businesses, organizations, and individuals for mentoring and supporting students in the Community Based Learning program. Your dedication and effort have given more than 100 young people the chance to explore personal interests, learn about career paths, and apply classroom learning. You have shown our youth that they are valued and respected and you have helped to instill in them a sense of community pride and civic responsibility.
Association of Africans Living in Vermont Bagitos Bagel and Burrito Caf Bear Code Bear Swamp Veterinary Service Berlin Elementary School Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center Bob Ryan Brian Zeigler Burrell Roong Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center Cara Barbero Center for Sustainable Systems Central Vermont Catholic School Central Vermont Medical Center Chris Jeffrey Stained Glass Cody Chevrolet Country Groomer Creative Flair Interiors Crowley Photos Dave Keller David Ayer David Lathrop DeWolfe Engineering Associates EarthWalk Vermont ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center Essential Physical Therapy and Pilates Family Center of Washington County First in Fitness Frank Woods Freelance Automotive Gary Miller Gossens Bachman Architects Governor Shumlins Ofce Green Mountain Orthopaedic Surgery Grow! Internet Marketing Guitar Sam Harrys Pharmacy Heaton Woods Herbert Dental Hunger Mountain Journal Ira Friedman Jay Ekis Khaos Designs KSE Partners, LLC Kurt Budliger Photography Main Street Family Dentistry Midstate Dodge Mitzi Bowman Montpelier Automotive Montpelier Fashion Show Montpelier Fire Department Montpelier High School Montpelier Parks Department Montpelier Pharmacy Montpelier Police Department Montpelier Public Schools Superintendents Ofce Montpelier Recreation Department National Wildlife Federation New England Culinary Institute Northeld Police Department Norwich University Onion River Animal Hospital Onion River Sports Orchard Valley Waldorf School Pot O Gold Kennel Project Harmony International Roots School Seldom Scene Interiors Seth Collins Ski Vermont SlopeStyle Ski and Ride Sports Central Sugarbush Resort Tara Lynn Bridal TD BankNorth The Mud Studio Therapy Dogs of Vermont Tom Stuwe, DVM Union Elementary School USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Uttons Automotive UVM Extension Service Migrant Education Program Vermont Agency of Administration Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development Vermont Agency of Transportation Vermont Archaeology Heritage Center Vermont Attorney General Consumer Assistance Program Vermont College of Fine Arts Vermont Dept. of Buildings and General Services Vermont Dept. of Labor Vermont Dept. of Tourism and Marketing Vermont EMS District #6 Vermont Natural Resources Council Vermont Sports Magazine Vermont Workers Center Washington County Sheriffs Department Weathering Heights WGDR Witness

Thanks Community Partners! M

Additionally, the Montpelier School District thanks the following businesses, organizations, and individuals for assisting students and teachers in the Service Learning program. Your partnerships and support have enabled more than 600 K12 students to broaden their classroom learning and experience citizenship rsthand by addressing community needs and providing service.
Allan Buzz Ferver Bear Pond Books Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center Center for Sustainable Systems Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District Fairmont Farm Gossens Bachman Architects Guion Builders Kellogg-Hubbard Library King Arthur Flour Migrant Justice Montpelier Conservation Commission Montpelier Food Pantry Montpelier Senior Activity Center One Million Bones Vermont ORCA Media Rivendell Books Rural Vermont The Bridge The Times Argus University of Vermont UVM Extension Service, Migrant Education Vermont Compost Company Vermont Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Vermont Energy Education Program Vermont Historical Society Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program World Wildlife Fund

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Tell them you saw it in The Bridge !

Since 1972 Repairs New floors and walls Crane work Decorative concrete Consulting ICF foundations
114 Three Mile Bridge Rd., Middlesex, VT (802) 229-0480 gendronbuilding@aol.com gendronconcrete.com

Design & Build Custom Energy-Ecient Homes Additions Timber Frames Weatherization Remodeling Kitchens Bathrooms Flooring Tiling Cabinetry Fine Woodwork

NEW CONSTRUCTION RENOVATIONS WOODWORKING GENERAL CONTRACTING

Healthy Community Classes

Camp, Sports and College Physicals
Now is the time to start scheduling camp, sports and college bound physicals for your children.Contact your pediatrician or primary care provider to schedule an appointment.

Free Monthly Womens Clinics for Uninsured Women

Community Reiki Clinics

Reiki is a hands-on healing art performed by a trained Reiki places their hands on or above the body as the recipient relaxes on a massage table. The recipient remains fully clothed and awake during the session. Reiki is used to promote relaxation, reduce stress and balance energy, allowing the body to better use its own self-healing ability. Clinic sessions are 20-30 minutes in length. Call in advance to reserve a time. Walk-ins basis. For more information contact Sylvia Gaboriault at 2491218 or email at gaboriaults@myfairpoint.net When Saturday, June 8 10:00am - Noon Where 141 Main Street (Suite One), Montpelier Cost $10

Funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure and co-sponsored by Peoples Health and Wellness Clinic and CVMC. Physical exam, Pap test, breast exam, health education, referrals for mammograms and specialty care, assistance to become insured. By appointment only, call 479-1229. When Wednesday, June 12 Where Peoples Health and Wellness Clinic 553 N. Main St., Barre

clarconstruction.com

223-3447

Medicinal Mushrooms for Health and Vitality

Many varieties of mushrooms possess immune boosting and disease prevention properties. Their potential to support us in living healthy and vital lives are only now becoming recognized and appreciated. In this workshop, Sylvia will review the medicinal value of several mushrooms, as well as, ways to use them as food and medicine. Samples and recipes will be shared. When Wednesday, June 12, 6:00 - 7:00pm Where Montpelier Integrative Family Health Cost $15

Tobacco Cessation Classes

Do you want to quit tobacco use (cigarettes, chew, cigars, pipe, etc.) but need help? For many tobacco users, support from others makes the difference in staying tobacco-free. Special attention is given to developing a quitting strategy, including dealing with weight control and managing stress. These workshops will offer ways to change your behavior and help you start a tobacco-free lifestyle. For more information and to register, please call 371-5945. Class 1 When Thursdays, June 6 - 27, 3:30 - 4:30pm Where Class 2 When Tuesdays, June 11 - July 2, 3:30 - 4:30pm Where

Affordable Acupuncture Treatments Offered in Group Setting

In an effort to provide affordable options to receive acupuncture, Integrative Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, the practice of Kerry Jenni LAc. and Joshua Singer L.Ac., is offering $10 acupuncture treatments at Montpelier Integrative Family Health. including addiction management, sleep disorders and stress. Treatments take place in the waiting area of the health center. Patients receive treatment sitting in chairs. No appointment is necessary. Arrive anytime between 6 pm and 7:30 pm and plan to stay for about 45 minutes. For more information visit www.integrativeaom.com or call 223-0954. When Thursdays, 6:00 - 8:00 pm Where Montpelier Integrative Family Health 156 Main Street, Montpelier

Capital Dry Cleaners

Vermonts Greener Dry Cleaner
Free pick-up and delivery. Same-day service available.

Best Hospital

Kinney Pharmacies - , Montpelier Pharmacy; The Medicine Shoppe - Barre, Wal-Mart Pharmacy - Berlin, Rite-Aid Pharmacies - Montpelier, Barre, Hardwick, Community Health Pharmacy - Colchester

Central Vermont Medical Center Partner Pharmacies:

9 Main Street, Montpelier 229-0747 Hours: MonFri 7am6pm; Sat 9am1pm

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Andy Plante (802) 223-5409 100% Organic

Design Installation Maintenance Stone Walls Walks Patios Veneer Sheds/Barns Fencing Lattice

1991 Ward Brook Rd Montpelier, VT 05602 andy@vtsmallaxe.com

Transplanting Pruning Hedges Trees Shrubs Perennials Vegetable Gardens Lawns

IRONWOOD LANDSCAPE WOULD A SILVER BULLET KILL THE GOLDEN GOOSE?

The worlds energy problems could be solvedbut is the solution too good for our own good? Can the economy withstand an unlimited supply of clean energy? What would you do after

THE LEVELING
Available now on Amazon or through uncertaintypress.com.

A novel by Gordon S. Thomas

The Green Mountain Monteverdi Ensemble of Vermont presents

Double-Takes:

German Baroque Choral and Vocal Music SATURDAY JUNE 8

Featuring double-chorus and small ensemble works by JS Bach, Heinrich Schtz, JC Bach and others

AT 7:30 P.M.

Unitarian Church of Montpelier 130 State Street www.gmmev.org for more information

Community Herbalism Workshops

at Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism
All classes are at 252 Main Street; $10 for members/$12 non-members. pre-registration is required; Contact 224.7100 or info@vtherbcenter.org. Class descriptions at vtherbcenter.org. GARDEN PLANTS WITH MEDICINAL INTEREST with Heather Irvine, VCIH Graduate Wednesday July 10, 6-8pm
For wo descrip rkshop tions www.v therbc visit enter.o rg

HERB WALK IN SABINS PASTURE with Rebecca Dalgin, VCIH Graduate Monday July 15, 6-8pm UNDERSTANDING CANCER: CHINESE MEDICINE AND WESTERN HERBS with Brendan Kelly, Jade Mountain Wellness Wednesday August 7, 6-9pm THE ENERGETICS OF WOMENS BODIES: HERBS AND THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE with Sarah Van Hoy, LAc Wednesday August 28, 6-8pm

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Upcoming Events
THURSDAY, JUNE 6
Rummage Sale. All proceeds go to support charitable works in the community. 47 p.m. St. Augustines Parish Hall, 16 Barre St., Montpelier. 229-4201 or 249-2845. Whole Grains and Humanity: Companions from Atlantis to the Present. With Louise Frazier, nutritional culinary specialist and author. Join Louise as she talks about humanitys earliest nomadic days, nibbling berries, pounding wild grains into mash and developing community around a partnership with grains. 67:30 p.m. Wheelchair-accessible community room, Hunger Mountain Coop, 623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. Free. To preregister, sign up on the co-op workshop bulletin board, call 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop. Language, Music and Spirit in Ireland and India. Themes that inspired a suspense novel. Local author Kathryn Guare shares a multimedia presentation of the elements that inspired the writing of Deceptive Cadence: The Virtuosic Spy, a suspense/mystery released this spring. 7 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338 or kellogghubbard.org.

The Mystery of Irma Vep. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall. Opening June 7.

FRIDAY, JUNE 7

Rummage Sale. 9 a.m.2 p.m. St. Augustines Parish Hall, 16 Barre St., Montpelier. 229-4201 or 249-2845. Free Yoga Class at Yoga Mountain Center. Celebrating its 10th year. 9 a.m.6 p.m. Yoga Mountain Center, 7 Main St, 2F, Montpelier. 223-5302 or info@yogamountaincenter.com or yogamountaincenter.com. Reiki Clinic. With Lynne Ihlstrom. Noon4 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. Call 522-0045 for appointment. Kava Kava Tonic Night. Enjoy unique botanical cocktails made with the euphoric and relaxing kava root. 48 p.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St., Montpelier. Montpelier Fashion Show 2013: A Night in Ancient Rome. Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, who sits atop Vermonts State House, is the inspiration for this years fashion show. Childrens fashion show at 6:30 p.m. Adult show at 7 p.m. State House lawn. 279-5762 or info@montpelierfashionshow.org.

Live Music
BY ARTIST/EVENT
Dan Boomhower. Pianist and singer performs jazz and popular standards. 244-8973. (See also listing under Cider House BBQ and Pub.) Fri., June 28: Arvads Restaurant, 3 S. Main St., Waterbury, 69 p.m. The Green Mountain Monteverdi Ensemble of Vermont. DoubleTakes: German baroque choral and vocal music, featuring double-chorus and small ensemble works by J. S. Bach, Heinrich Schtz and others. gmmev.org. Sat., June 8: Unitarian Church, 130 State St., Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Dave Keller. Blues and soul. 229-2737, info@davekeller.com or davekeller.com. Fri., June 7: North Branch Nature Center. Benet for Union Elementary Schools ECO program. 5 p.m. Thurs., June 13: Rusty Parker Park, Waterbury (rain site Thatcher Brook School), 6 p.m. Sat., June 15: Positive Pie, Hardwick, 9:30 p.m. Monteverdi Music School Student Recital. Featuring Monteverdi Jazz Band. 229-9000. Fri., June 7: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier, 6 p.m. Free. Montpelier Gospel Choir. Open to the public. Coee available.

Sun., June 9: Bethany United Church of Christ, 115 Main St., Montpelier, 9:30 a.m. Free Eliza Moore. Montreal-based folkpop violinist performs songs from her new CD, Everything to Me, to be released September 2013. jillian@eipr.com or 212-777-6727, x 204. mike@ei-pr.com or 908-229-5376. June 15: Vermont State House, Montpelier Vermont Virtuosi, Triple Play concert. Flutist Laurel Ann Maurer, violist Tataina Trono and pianist Claire Black play compositions by Maurice Durue, Arthur Foote, Claude Debussy, Georges Enesco, Paul Hindemith and a world premiere by Vermont composer David Gunn. Fri., June 14: Bethany Church, Montpelier, 7:30 p.m. Sat., June 15: First Baptist Church, Burlington, 7:30 p.m. Village Harmony Alumni Ensemble. Twenty college-age Village Harmony veterans perform Nordic kulning, traditional music from South Africa, Bulgaria and Georgia and other works. Led by Larry Gordon and guest leader Helle Thun from Denmark. 426-3210. Sat., June 8: Congregational Church, Hyde Park, 7:30 p.m. Sun., June 9: Fritzs Barn, 693 McCrilis Rd., Marsheld, 7:30 p.m. Thurs., June 13: St. Barnabas Church, Norwich, 7:30 p.m. Mon., June 17: Presbyterian Church East Craftsbury, 7:30 p.m. Tues., June 18: Unitarian Church, 139 Main St., Montpelier, 7:30 p.m.

Wed., June 19: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 18 Lincoln Ave., Rutland, 7:30 p.m. Waterbury Community Band. Varied program including marches and other concert band selections. Bill Beard 223-2137 or info@Waterbury CommunityBand.org. Fri., June 11: Rusty Parker Memorial Park, Waterbury, 7 p.m. Free. Starline Rhythm Boys. Honky-tonk and rockabilly. Fri., June 7: Charlie Os, Montpelier, 9:30 p.m. No cover. Wed., June 12: Currier Park, Barre, 78 p.m. Free. Wed., June 19: Oxbow Park, Portland St., Morrisville, 5:307:30 p.m. Free. Fri., June 21: Farmers Market, Chelsea Village Common, 3:305:30 p.m. Free.

Sun., June 16: Sunday Brunch with Johnny Blue 11 a.m.1 p.m. Tues., June 18: Old Time Music Session Brown Bag Concert Series. Christ Church courtyard, 64 State St. Noon1 p.m. Thurs., June 27: Rick & the Ramblers (western swing) Thurs., July 11: Green Mountain Swing Charlie Os. 70 Main Street, Montpelier. 10 p.m. 223-6820. Thurs., June 6: Open blues jam hosted by Blue Fox (open mic) Fri., June 7: Starline Rhythm Boys (rockabilly) Sat., June 8: Township (rock) Fri., June 14: To be announced Sat., June 15: Tallahassee and Pariah Beat (americana) Thurs., June 20: Metal Night w/Chalice and DJ Crucible Fri., June 21: Winovino (gypsy/swing) Sat., June 22: Duke Aeroplane and the Wrong Numbers (gypsy/swing) Fri., June 28: Swillbillies and Crazy Hearse (punk/rockabilly) Sat. June 29: Lost World and Cellular Chaos (punk) Cider House BBQ and Pub. 1675 Rte. 2, Waterbury. 244-8400. 6 p.m.close. Dan Boomhower, pianist and singer, performs jazz and popular standards in the piano bar. Saturdays, through June.

Nutty Stephs Chocolaterie. Rte. 2, Middlesex. 229-2090. nuttysteph.com 6 p.m.midnight Thurs., June 6: Dave Langevin Thurs., June 13: Marygoround ThuUPCOMING rs., June 20: Dave Langevinpage 20 see EVENTS, Thurs., June 27: Marygoround Positive Pie 2. 22 State Street, Montpelier. 229-0453. positivepie. com. 10:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Fri., June 7: Montpelier Fashion After Party, under 21 $8, 21+ $3, all ages 10:30 p.m.midnight, 21+ 10 p.m. 2 a.m. Featuring DJ Bay 6 (all genres), MA1ACH1 (trap), DJ GaGu (tech house/electro) Sat., June 8: Cats Under the Stars, 21+ $5 Fri., June 14: Soule Monde (deep funk/improv), 21+ $5 Sat., June 15: Andric Severance Xtet (salsa-centric jazz), 21+ Sat., June 21: The Dupont Brothers, 21+ $10 (includes CD) The Skinny Pancake. 89 Main Street, Montpelier. 6 p.m. 262-2253 or skinnypancake.com. Sun., June 9: Ameranouche (gypsy jazz) Sun., June 16: Patrick Fitzsimmons (folk)

BY VENUE
Bagitos. 28 Main Street, Montpelier. All shows 68 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 229-9212. bagitos.com. Thurs., June 6: Colin McCarey & Friends Fri., June 7: Peter Mayhew Sat., June 8: Irish Session 25 p.m. and Sean Casey Sun., June 9: Sunday brunch with Eric Friedman 11 a.m.1 p.m. Tues., June 11: Open mic Wed., June 12: Zachary King (alt. folk) Thurs., June 13: The Trailer Blazers Fri., June 14: Jim Gilmour Band Sat., June 15: Irish session 25 p.m. and Black Sheep Son (southern rock/blues)

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UPCOMING EVENTS, from page 19

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

Barre newsboys stand in front of a bank in 1916.

Coffeehouse. Enjoy live music and share your own. Fellowship, potluck snacks and beverages. 79 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church, 137 Main St., Montpelier (park and enter at rear). Free. Dick 244-5191, 472-8297 or rawilburjr@comcast.net. Event happens every rst Fri. Waterbury Celebrates 250. Picnic in the park, reenactment of Governor Wentworth signing charter, storytelling with Tim Jennings and Leanne Ponder, cake and ice cream and more. 5:309 p.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

Rummage Sale. 9 a.m.noon. St. Augustines Parish Hall, 16 Barre St., Montpelier. 229-4201 or 249-2845. Vermont Days at the Vermont History Museum. Vermont Days are an annual invitation to visitors and Vermonters to explore special Vermont places and activities for free. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Vermont History Museum, 109 State St., Montpelier. Free. VermontDays.com.

Red Tail Ring Workshop and Showcase. Michigan-based folk duo gives an afternoon workshop. 14 p.m. Summit School, 46 Barre St., Montpelier. Followed by a concert 79 p.m. On The Rise Bakery, Richmond, 39 Esplanade St. Advance tickets $15 show, $20 workshop or $30 both events. Tickets summit-school.org. Of Gods & Men. Monthly lm series. 6 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. Master Gardeners Annual Plant Sale. 9 a.m.noon. Vermont College of Fine Arts Gym, 36 College Street, Montpelier. Waterbury Celebrates 250. Guided walking tour with Waterbury Historical Society (10 a.m.noon and 12 p.m.), open houses at Old Waterbury High School and the public libaray (14 p.m.). 585-4913.

Kick-Off to Summer Pancake Breakfast. To benet the Old Meeting House. No reservation needed. 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. seatings. 1620 Center Rd., E. Montpelier Center. $10 adult, $5 children 7 and under. 229-9593 oroldmeetinghouse.org. Vermont State Time Trial Championships. Presented by Onion River Sports. Amateur, pro, masters and junior categories. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. First rider o at 10:30 a.m. Windridge Tennis Camp, Roxbury. Preregistration $20, day of race $25. 229-9409. events@onionriver.com. onionriver.com. June Plant Walk. With clinical herbalist Rebecca Dalgin. Responsible and respectful wild-crafting practices will be discussed. Afterward, enjoy a cup of iced herbal tea. 12:30 p.m. Meet outside the Wild Heart Wellness oce (Flanders/EarthWalk building). Goddard College Campus, 123 Pitkin Rd., Plaineld. Sliding scale $410. 552-0727 or wildheartwellness.net. The Professor Is In at Elmore Roots. Fruit-growing Q&A with Zach Leonard of High Hopes Orchards. Bring fruit-, nut- and berry-growing questions. 13 p.m. Elmore Roots Nursery, 631 Symonds Mill Rd., Wolcott. 888-3305. Tracking Workshop with Mike Kessler. Search for and learn to read the signs of life in our woods. How much can prints, scratches and claw marks tell us? Find out! Outdoors. 14 p.m. Birds of Vermont Museum, 900 Sherman Hollow Rd., Huntington. $15 nonmembers, $10 members. 434-2167, museum@birdsofvermont.org or birdsofvermont.org. Showing of lm Newsies. 1992 Disney lm about the newsboy strike of 1899. Sponsored by the Barre Historical Society. Light refreshments served. 4 p.m. Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite St. Free, but donations to benet the hall are encouraged. Ruth Ruttenberg rruttenberg@tds.net or oldlaborhall.com. Shape Note/Sacred Harp Sing. No experience needed. All welcome. 57 p.m. Plaineld Community Center (above the co-op). By donation. Scottie 595 9951 or nscottieharrison@gmail.com. Event happens every second Sun.

MONDAY, JUNE 10

Going Solar Without Going Broke. With Jessica Edgerly Walsh from Suncommon. Learn about the nancing options available, purchasing and leasing, and the state and federal incentives that make now a great time to go solar and save money. 67 p.m. Wheelchair-accessible community room, Hunger Mountain Coop, 623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. Free. To preregister, sign up on the co-op workshop bulletin board, call 223-8000 x 202 or info@hungermountain.coop.

Visual Art
EXHIBITS
Art Resource Association. Group exhibition of central Vermont artists. Reception June 7, 48 p.m. Through June. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338. Bread and Puppet Museum. One of the largest collections of some of the biggest puppets in the world. Open house June 16, 25 p.m. Through October 31. Bread & Puppet Farm, Rte. 122, Glover. Hours: Daily, 10 a.m.6 p.m. 525-3031 or breadandpuppet.org. Matthew Chaney. Fourteen 11-by-14 oil pastel drawings on paper on display. Through July 28. Bees Knees, 82 Lower Main St., Morrisville. Jan Ghiringhelli. An exhibit of mostly plein air paintings of landscapes in oil and pastel by this award-winning central Vermont artist. Reception June 7, 47 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, Barre St. Cindy Grifth, Seasons in Transition. This Middlesex artist explores the changing seasons of the year. Through June 30. Red Hen Caf, Rte. 2, Middlesex. 229-4326, cindy.grith.vt@gmail. com or redhenbaking.com. Lewis Hine. An exhibit of child labor photographs by the renowned documentary photographer Lewis Hine, presented by the Barre Historical Society. Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite St., Barre. Lori Hinrichsen, The Conversation Got Lively. Drawings and collage of colorful abstract imagery celebrating long summer days, reies, swimming holes, picnics and the Vermont landscape. Reception June 7, 48 p.m. Through June 30. Green Bean Visual Art Gallery, Capitol Grounds, Montpelier. curator@capitolgrounds.com. Robert Hitzig, Hard Line, Soft Color. Sculpture emphasizing grain patterns in wood and other inherent qualities of the material. Through June 28. Governors Gallery, 109 State St., 5F, Montpelier. Photo ID required for admission. 828-0749. Glen Coburn Hutcheson, Talking Portraits and Two-Part Inventions. An evolving show of experimental drawings, paintings and the occasional sculpture. Storefront Studio Gallery, 6 Barre St., Montpelier. Hours: Tues.Fri. 810 a.m., Sat. 10 a.m.3 p.m., or by appointment. 839-5349 or gchneart.com. Camille Johnson, The Rawing. A poetic and photographic exhibit by recent U32 graduate. Images combined with the poem The Rawing, which won a Gold Key in the Scholastic Writing Competition. Through August 25. Contemporary Dance & Fitness Studio, 18 Langdon St., Montpelier. 229-4676 or cdandfs.com. Lisa Mas, Soul Collage. Images from the past cut and pasted into the present. Come participate in a community collage during Art Walk! Reception June 7, 48 p.m. Through July. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St., Montpelier. Plowing Old Ground: Vermonts Organic Farming Pioneers. Photographs and interviews. Vermont History Museum, 109 State Street, Montpelier. Through August. Hours: Tuesday Saturday, 10 a.m.4 p.m. 828-2291 or vermonthistory.org. Spring Gardens and Woods. Group spring show features work by area artists: birdbaths, birdhouses, garden sculptures, pottery, garden- and woodland-themed paintings and more. Through June 30. Blinking Light Gallery, 16 Main St., Plaineld. Hours: Thurs. 26 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.7 p.m., Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m.6 p.m. 4540141. blinkinglightgallery.com. Tell Us a Tale. Two-oor exhibit inspired by childrens literature. Reception June 6, 5:307:30 p.m. Through July 6. First and second oor galleries, Studio Place Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. 479-7069. Theres No Place Like Home. Artist books and ne bindings presented by the Book Arts Guild of Vermont. Reception June 6, 5:307:30 p.m. Through July 6. Third oor gallery, Studio Place Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. 479-7069. These Honored Dead: Private and National Commemoration. Stories of Norwich alumni from both sides of the Civil War conict in 1863. Through December 20. Sullivan Museum & History Center, Norwich University, Northeld. 485-2183 or norwich.edu/museum. Hugh Townley, Masterworks. Group show exploring the personal collections of the late sculptor and printmaker. Through July 28. Big Town Gallery, 99 North Main St., Rochester. Hours: Wed.Fri. 10 a.m.5 p.m., Sat. noon5 p.m. 767-9670. info@bigtowngallery.com. bigtowngallery.com. Unraveling & Turning. Group show on climate change. Through June 15. Goddard College Art Gallery, 54 Main St., Montpelier. Hours: Wed.Thur. noon5 p.m., Fri.Sat. noon7 p.m. 322-1685 or goddard.edu. Harriet Wood, Inner Doors. Paintings and painted scrolls. (Through June 27.) Vermont Supreme Court, 111 State St. rst-oor lobby, Montpelier. Hours: MondayFriday, 8 a.m.4:30 p.m. 828-0749. Sylvia Walker. Oil, pastel, watercolors and pen and ink. Vermont landscapes and other works. June 14. Reception. Through July. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.
Works by Lori Hinrichsen, on display at Green Bean Visual Arts Gallery, Capitol Grounds, Montpelier.

Janet Wormser. Oil paintings. Through July 5. River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. Hours: Mon.Fri. 10 a.m.2 p.m. 888-1261. riverartsvt.org.

SPECIAL EVENTS AND CLASSES

Helen Day Art Center. 90 Pond St., Stowe. For information and to register 253-8358 or helenday.com. June 8, 9 a.m.noon: Plein air painting. June 22, 9 a.m.4 p.m.: Botanical Illustration: The Admirable Iris. July 9 and 11, 10:30noon: Portraits and Interiors: Alice Neel and Mickalene Thomas Studio Place Arts. 201 N. Main St., Montpelier. 479-7069. June 6, 67 p.m.: Artist Talk: Book Arts Guild of Vermont. Artists will discuss their work on display in the exhibit Theres No Place Like Home (see above) in an informal setting. June 6, 78 p.m.: Vermont Author Book Reading. This event includes authors and illustrators in the SPA show, Tell Us a Tale, and coincides with a reception for the exhibit.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 11

Free. outrightvt.org. Event happens every second and fourth Fri.

Poetry Reading. Poet Sherry Olson reads from her new book Four-way Stop. 1 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. Free. Guided Partner Thai Bodywork. With Lori Flower of sattva yoga. Learn a few basic techniques. Mats and cushioning will be provided. 5:306:30 p.m. Wheelchair-accessible community room, Hunger Mountain Coop, 623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. $8 memberowners, $10 nonmembers. To preregister, sign up on the co-op workshop bulletin board, call 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain .coop. Orca Media Open House and Annual Meeting. Please join us to learn more about what ORCA Media does for the communities it serves in the Montpelier and Randolph area. Tours of the facilities, a presentation of the annual report and refreshments. 5:307:30 p.m. City Center, 89 Main St., Montpelier. Rob Chapman 224-9901, info@orcamedia.net or orcamedia.net. Radical Joy for Hard Times. Presentation and discussion about this global initiative that nds and creates beauty in wounded places. Radical Joy board member Fran Weinbaum will explain how to participate in the annual Global Earth Exchange in June and become a member of the Radical Joy network. 6:307:45 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Hayes Room, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free. fran_weinbaum@yahoo.com.t p

SATURDAY, JUNE 15

Shape-Note Sing. Ian Smiley leads tunes from The Sacred Harp. All welcome; no experience necessary. Event happens by RSVP only: please call or e-mail to conrm. 6:308 p.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St., Montpelier. By donation. Ian 882-8274 or smileyira@gmail.com. Event happens every rst and third Sat. Contra Dance. All dances taught; no partner necessary. All ages welcome. Bring shoes not worn outdoors. 811 p.m. Capital City Grange, 6612 Rte. 12 (Northeld St.), Berlin. $8. 744-6163 or capitalcitygrange.org. Event happens every rst, third and fth Sat.

SUNDAY, JUNE 16

Cliffhanger Race #2. A multiheat uphill sprint race. Cycling and running categories. Registration 4 p.m. (top of Cli St.). Race 5 p.m. Cli St., Montpelier. $10. Matt, Onion River Sports, events@onionriver.com or 229-9409.

MONDAY, JUNE 17

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12

Kids Event: Fish for Fathers Day. Make unique arts and crafts of the aquatic variety to give to dad this Fathers Day. With child educator Ellen Bloom. 10:3011:30 a.m. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St., Montpelier. Free. Start the Conversation. Public workshop on end-of-life issues. Following the one-hour lm Consider the Conversation, CVHHH health care professionals will be available for questions about the lm, advance directives and hospice services. 12:152 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. Free. Interested in Community Literacy? Come meet Barre and Montpelier area volunteers at the Montpelier Learning Center of Central Vermont Adult Basic Education. Refreshments served. 56 p.m. 100 State St., Suite 3, Montpelier. Call or e-mail Gale at 476-4588 or grome@cvabe.org. Quilting Group. Working meeting of the Dog River Quilters. 5:30 p.m. Community room, Brown Public Library, Northeld. Jean 585-5078 or jeanjolley@myfairpoint.net. Event happens every second Wed. Enjoy the Wonders of Fungi. With Eric Swanson of Vermush. Learn how to culture and grow your mycelium into fungi. Everyone will bring home his or her own oyster mushroom spawn. 57 p.m. Wheelchair-accessible community room, Hunger Mountain Coop, 623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. $10 member-owners, $12 nonmembers. To preregister, sign up on the co-op workshop bulletin board, call 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop. Writing on the Bones. Poetry gathering: recite your favorite poems. 68 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier. Free. 223-1607. Granite City Grocery Celebrate 600! The new Barre co-op celebrates reaching 600 pledges. Treats and activities for the family. Music by Starline Rhythm boys. 7 p.m. Currier Park, Barre.

American Red Cross Blood Drive. Walk-ins welcome, but appointments recommended. Age 16 and older may donate; 16-yearolds need signed parental consent form. Sponsored by Vermonts Enhanced 911 Board. 11:30 a.m.5:30 p.m. Alumni Hall, Vermont College of Fine Arts, Montpelier. To schedule, call 1-800-RED CROSS or redcrossblood.org. Plaineld Book Club. 6:30 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, Rte. 2, Plaineld. Free. 454-8504 or cutlerlibrary.org. Event happens every third Mon.

TUESDAY, JUNE 18

The Grand Canyon with Helen Hossley. Hossley, a former national park ranger at Glen Canyon Recreation Area, gives a scenic photographic tour and provides information about planning a trip to the Grand Canyon. 7 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338 or kellogghubbard.org.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

Performing Arts
COMEDY AND STORYTELLING
Laugh Local VT Comedy Open Mic Night. Live stand-up comics do 5 to 7 minutes of new material. Plenty of seating and on-street parking. This event is always a hit! Bob 7933884. June 14. Sign up 7:30 p.m., show 8 p.m. American Legion Post #3, 21 Main St., Montpelier. Free, but donations welcome. Extempo. Tell a 5- to 7.5-minute, rst-person, true story from your own life. Sign up in advance and come with your story already practiced to deliver smoothly without notes. No theme. 479-0896 or extempoVT.com. June 14. 8 p.m. Espresso Bueno, 136 N. Main St., Barre. $5, free to participants.

Getting Ready for Summer. Berlin Health and Rehabilitation Center sta present ways to maintain a healthy back/body during summer activities, such as gardening or landscaping. Information on proper hydration and sun protection. Blood pressure checks, giveaways and refreshments. 12 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. Nutrition Basics. With Alicia Feltus, nutritionist at Cedarwood Natural Health Center. Join Alicia for a discussion on the latest nutrition research. Learn the importance of a whole foods diet along with helpful tips to make sustainable changes and improve overall health. 5:306:30 p.m. Wheelchair-accessible community room, Hunger Mountain Coop, 623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. Free. To preregister, sign up on the co-op workshop bulletin board, call 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop. Free. Home Sharing Info Meeting. Find out what home sharing is all about. Refreshments served. 5:306 p.m. Home Share Now, 115 Main St., Barre. RSVP 479-8544. Event happens every third Wed.

THEATER
The Birdcatcher in Hell. Originally created in spring 1971, when Bread & Puppet was Theater-in-Residence at Goddard College, the story comes from an ancient Kyogen, a comic interlude in the Japanese Noh cycle. This show celebrates Bread & Puppets 50th Anniversary, featuring several original cast members, including Avram Patt, Susan Bettmann, Barbara Leber, Marc Estrin and Peter Schumann. June 9. 7 p.m. Haybarn Theatre, Goddard College, 123 Pitkin Rd., Plaineld. $15. The Mystery of Irma Vep. Hilarious murder mystery spoof by Charles Ludlam. Come creatively dressed for half-price ticket. Thurs.Sun., June 723. Preview June 6. Tickets and information at 229-0492, kathleen@lostnationtheater.org or lostnationtheater.org. Opens June 7 and 8. Preshow party 7 p.m., curtain 8 p.m. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall, 39 Main St. $30, $15 for dressed-up attendees. Shakespeares Timeline of Life. Play written, choreographed, produced and performed by students of the Montessori School of Central Vermont Elementary School. A Montessori-inuenced interpretation of how we came to be. 2233320 or kristen@mscvt.org. June 7. 6:30 p.m. Barre Labor Hall, 46 Granite St. $10 suggested donation.

THURSDAY, JUNE 13

Small Steps Toward Healthy Weight Loss. With Akshata Nayak. Akshata will discuss fad diets, caloric quality, body metabolism and exercise. Learn how to make choices that can help kick-start your healthy lifestyle. 5:307 p.m. Wheelchair-accessible community room, Hunger Mountain Coop, 623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier. Free. To preregister, sign up on the co-op workshop bulletin board, call 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop. Value-added Food Safety 101 for Produce Growers. UVM Extension, the Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Center for an Agricultural Economy present a workshop for growers who also create value-added products, with information about proposed new federal safety standards. 68:30 p.m. Vermont Food Venture Center, 140 Junction Rd., Hardwick. $5. Free to members. Call 472-5362 to register or for information. Ecumenical Group. Songs of praise, Bible teaching, fellowship. 79 p.m. Jabbok Center for Christian Living, 8 Daniel Dr., Barre. Free. 479-0302. Event happens every second and fourth Thurs.

First Annual Golf-A-Thon 100. Benet for Green Mountain United Way (GMUW). Kevin Lunn, member of the GMUW board of directors, will attempt to play 100 holes of golf with 100 percent of sponsorship money to go to GMUW. Dawn to dusk. Montpelier Elks Country Club, 203 Country Club Rd. For more information and to sponsor Kevin, call 485-5254. Songwriters Meeting. Meeting of the Northern VT/NH chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Bring copies of your work. 6:45 p.m. Catamount Arts, St. Johnsbury. John 633-2204. Event happens every third Thurs. Second Annual Cheese Tasting. With Leslie Polubinski. Leslie brings experience and guidance to the tasting of local and global cheeses paired with farm-fresh and home-grown products from the community. Limited seats. 78:30 p.m. Old Town Hall, Brookeld. Free, but donations benet the Old Town Hall restoration. Reservations 276-3535 or girard745@yahoo.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 20

Ride4Cops. Join the Vermont leg of a 50-state motorcycle run for families and survivors of ocers killed in the line of duty. Featured speaker CEO of NIC and former police ocer Harry Herington. Noon2 p.m. State House lawn, Montpelier. rideforcopsVT.com or sites.google.com/site/fundsforfallenocers. Plant Walk at Two Rivers Center. With Jill Frink, clinical herbalist. Each walk will be led by a dierent practicing herbalist. 5:306:30 p.m. Meet 5:15 p.m. at Hunger Mountain Coop entrance (623 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier) for car pooling. Two Rivers Center, 5 Home Farm Way, Montpelier. Free. To preregister, sign up on the co-op workshop bulletin board, call 223-8000 x202 or info@hungermountain.coop. LGBTQQ Youth Group. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning youth age 1322 enjoy free pizza, soft drinks and conversation. Facilitated by adult volunteers trained by Outright VT. 6:308 p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier.

FRIDAY, JUNE 14

FRIDAY, JUNE 21

Health Insurance for Seniors. Do you have questions about health insurance or other senior services? Sarah Willhoit, information and assistant specialist with Central Vermont Council on Aging, will answer questions. 9 a.m.noon or by appointment. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. Sarah 479-4400.

SATURDAY, JUNE 22

Books and Brew. Kellogg-Hubbard Library kick-o for its summer book sale with a beer garden, featuring beer and wine from The Skinny Pancake and seasonal organic picnic fare from the Hunger Mountain Coop and Caf. Live music from The Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture. 69 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. $10 at the door includes a picnic supper. Drinks $6 each with $1 beneting the library. 223-3338.

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Members of the Green Mountain Monteverdi Ensemble of Vermont.

Weekly Events
BICYCLING
Open Shop Nights. Have a bike to donate or need help with a bike repair? Visit the volunteer-run community bike shop. Tues., 68 p.m.; Wed., 57 p.m. Freeride Montpelier, 89 Barre St., Montpelier. By donation. 552-3521 or freeridemontpelier.org. Cyclocross Ride. A mellow, 12 hour dirt-road cruise. All abilities welcome; cyclocross bike highly recommended. Mon., through May 27. Meet at 6 p.m. at Onion River Sports, Montpelier. 229-9409 or onionriver.com. Cycling 101. Train for a summer of riding with Linda Freeman and Onion River Sports. Build condence, strength, endurance, road-riding skills and a sense of community with relaxed rides on local paved roads. For all abilities. Tues. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at Montpelier High School. Drop-ins welcome until July 2. 229-9409 or onionriver.com.

FOOD
Free Community Meals in Montpelier. All welcome. Mondays: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., 11 a.m.1 p.m. Tuesdays: Bethany Church, 115 Main St., 11:30 a.m.1 p.m. Wednesdays: Christ Church, 64 State St., 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Thursdays: Trinity Church, 137 Main St., 11:30 a.m.1 p.m. Fridays: St. Augustine Church, 18 Barre St., 11 a.m.12:30 p.m. Sunday: Last Sunday only, Bethany Church, 115 Main St. (hosted by Beth Jacob Synagogue), 4:305:30 p.m. Barre Farmers Market. Local produce, meats, poultry , eggs, honey, crafts, baked goods and more. Wed., 36:30 p.m. City Hall Park, Barre. Capital City Farmers Market. 50-plus farmers, food producers and craftspeople, plus live music and cooking demos. Sat., 9 a.m.1 p.m., through October. 60 State St., Montpelier. Carolyn, 2232958 or manager@montpelierfarmersmarket.com. Noon Cafe. Soup, fresh bread, good company and lively conversation. Wed., noon. Old Meeting House, East Montpelier. By donation. oldmeetinghouse.org.

BOOKS
Ongoing Reading Group. Improve your reading and share some good books. Books chosen by group. Thurs., 910 a.m. Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, Montpelier Learning Center, 100 State St. 223-3403. Book Discussion Group. Group focuses on The Thoughtful Dresser: The Art of Adornment, the Pleasures of Shopping, and Why Clothes Matter, by Linda Grant. Facilitated by Peggy Ramel, AmeriCorps member at Central Vermont Council on Aging. Fri., 101:15 a.m., through June 14. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St. Free; books available for $13. Sign up at 223-2518.

Story Time and Playgroup. For children age 06. Story with Sylvia Smith, followed by playtime with Melissa Seifert. Wed., 1011:30 a.m. Program follows the Twineld calendar and is not held on weeks when the school is closed. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St., Marsheld. 4263581 or jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. Baby Play Playgroup. For children birth to age 3 and their adults. Thursdays, 9:3011 a.m., through June 13. St. Augustines Church, Barre Street, Montpelier. Christopher, 262-3292, x 115. fcwcvt.org. Baby Play Playgroup. For children birth to age 3 and their adults. Thurs., 9:3011 a.m., through June 13. St. Augustines Church, Barre Street, Montpelier. Christopher 262-3292, x 115 or fcwcvt.org. Dads and Kids Playgroup. For children birth to age 5 and their male grown-ups. Free dinner provided before playtime. Thurs., 67:30 p.m., through June 13. Family Center of Washington County, 383 Sherwood Dr., Montpelier. Christopher, 262-3292, x 115 or fcwcvt.org. Cub Capers Story Time. Story and song for children age 35 and their families. Led by Carrie Fitz. Sat., 10 a.m. Childrens room, Bear Pond Books, 77 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 229-0774 or jane@bearpondbooks.com.

SPIRITUALITY
Christian Meditation Group. People of all faiths welcome. Mon., noon1 p.m. Christ Church, Montpelier. Regis 223-6043. Christian Science. Gods love meeting human needs. Reading room: Tues.Sat., 11 a.m.1 p.m.; Tues., 58 p.m.; and Wed., 57:15 p.m. Testimony meeting: Wed., 7:308:30 p.m., nursery available. Worship service: Sun., 10:3011:30 a.m., Sunday school and nursery available. 145 State St., Montpelier. 223-2477. Deepening Our Jewish Roots. Fun, engaging text study and discussion on Jewish spirituality. Sundays, 4:456:15 p.m. Yearning for Learning Center, Montpelier. Rabbi Tobie Weisman, 2230583 or info@yearning4learning.org. Noon Hike and Walking Meditation. Join Alicia Feltus, integral yoga instructor, for a walk from Tulsi Tea Room to Hubbard Park for guided walking meditation. Meet at Tulsi Tea Room. Wed.,1212:40. 917-4012 or aliciafeltus@gmail. com. Shambhala Buddhist Meditation. Group meditation practice. Sun., 10 a.m.noon; Tues., 78 p.m.; Wed., 67 p.m. Shambhala Meditation Center, 64 Main St., 3F, Montpelier. Free. 223-5137. montpeliershambala.org. Zen Meditation. Wed., 6:307:30 p.m. 174 River St., Montpelier. Free. Call Tom for orientation, 229-0164. With Zen Aliate of Vermont.

LANGUAGE
English Conversation Practice Group. For students learning English for the rst time. Tues., 45 p.m. Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, Montpelier Learning Center, 100 State St.. Sarah, 223-3403. Lunch in a Foreign Language. Bring lunch and practice your language skills with neighbors. Noon1 p.m. Mon. Hebrew, Tues. Italian, Wed. Spanish, Thurs. French. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338.

GAMES
Apollo Duplicate Bridge Club. All welcome. Partners sometimes available. Fri., 6:45 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. $3. 485-8990 or 223-3922.

SPORTS
Roller Derby Open Recruitment and Recreational Practice. Central Vermonts Wrecking Doll Society invites quad skaters age 18 and up to try out the action. No experience necessary. Equipment provided: rst come, rst served. Sat., 56:30 p.m. Montpelier Recreation Center, Barre Street. First skate free. centralvermontrollerderby.com.

HEALTH
Free HIV Testing. Vermont CARES oers fast oral testing. Thurs., 25 p.m. 58 East State St., suite 3 (entrance at the back), Montpelier. 371-6222 or vtcares.org. Affordable Acupuncture. Full acupuncture sessions with Chris Hollis and Trish Mitchell. Mon. and Wed., 27 p.m.; Fri., 9 a.m.2 p.m. 79 Main St., suite 8 (above Coee Corner), Montpelier. $1540 sliding scale. Walk in or schedule an appointment at montpeliercommunityacu puncture.com. Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism. Sliding-scale herbal clinics. Student clinic: Mon., 15 p.m. and Tues., 48 p.m. $0$10. Professional clinic: Tues.Fri. $0$100. 252 Main St., Montpelier. Consultations by appointment only. Call 224-7100, info@vtherbcenter.org, or vtherbcenter.org.

COMPUTERS
Tech Help at the Library. Get help with any computer or Internet questions, or learn about the librarys new circulation software and how to use ListenUp to download audiobooks and more. Bring your iPod, tablet, phone, laptop or other device. Wed., 10:30 a.m.1:30 p.m., through midApril. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 223-3338 or kellogghubbard.org. Additional help on second and fourth Tuesdays: see Upcoming Events.

MUSIC
Sing with the Barre Tones. Womens a cappella chorus. Mon., 6:30 p.m. Alumni Hall (second oor), near Barre Auditorium. 223-2039 or rjmorgan1956@comcast.net. Monteverdi Young Singers Chorus Rehearsal. New chorus members welcome. Wed., 45 p.m. Montpelier. Call 229-9000 for location and more information. Friday Night Community Drum Circle. Open drumming hosted by the Unitarian Universalists of Barre. Everyone welcome. Fri., 79 p.m. Parish house, Barre Universalist Church, Main and Church streets, Barre. Follow your ears or follow the signs. Accessible venue possible with advance notice: 503-724-7301.

TEENS
The Basement Teen Center. Cable TV, PlayStation 3, pool table, free eats and fun events for teenagers. Mon.Thurs., 36 p.m.; Fri., 311 p.m. Basement Teen Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier. 229-9151. Mad River Valley Youth Group. Sun., 79 p.m. Meets at various area churches. Call Ben, 4974516, for location and information.

CRAFTS
Beaders Group. All levels of beading experience welcome. Free instruction available. Come with a project for creativity and community. Sat., 11 a.m.2 p.m. The Bead Hive, Plaineld. 454-1615.

YOGA
Yoga with Lydia. Build strength and exibility as you learn safe alignment in a nourishing, supportive and inspiring environment. Drop-ins welcome. Mon., 5:30 p.m., River House Yoga, Plaineld (sliding scale). Wed., 4:30 p.m., Green Mountain Girls Farm, Northeld (sliding scale). Tues. and Fri., noon, Yoga Mountain Center, Montpelier. Rates and directions at 229-6300 or saprema-yoga.com. Yoga and Wine Thursday. With Lori Flower. All levels welcome; bring your own mat. Wine bar open after class. Thurs., 5:156:30 p.m. Fresh Tracks Farm, 4373 Rte. 12, Montpelier. $8. 2231161 or freshtracksfarm.com. Community Yoga. All levels welcome to this community-focused practice. Fri., 5:306:30 p.m. Yoga Mountain Center, 7 Main St., 2F, Montpelier. By donation. 223-5302 or yogamountaincenter.com.

DANCE
Ecstatic Dance. Dance your heart awake. No experience necessary. Sun., 5:307:30 p.m., Christ Church, State St., Montpelier. Wed., 79 p.m.; rst and third Wed.: Worcester Town Hall, corner of Elmore and Calais roads; second and fourth Wed.: Plaineld Community Center (above the co-op). $10. Fearn, 505-8011 or fearnessence@gmail.com. Ballroom and Latin Dance Class. With instructor Samir Elabd. For beginning to intermediate dancers. No partner necessary. Tues., May 14June 4. Waltzing 67 p.m.; wedding and party dances 78 p.m. $14 per class; walk-ins welcome. Register at 225-8699; information at 223-2921.

KIDS
Story Time at the Waterbury Public Library. Mondays, babies and toddlers. Fridays, preschoolers. 10 a.m. Waterbury Public Library. Free. 244-7036. Story Time at the Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main Street, Montpelier. Free. 223-4665. Story Hour at the Aldrich. For babies, toddlers and kindergarteners. Mondays and Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m., through mid-May. Aldrich Public Library, Washington Street, Barre. Adrianne, 476-7550.

RECYCLING
Free Food Scrap Collection. Compost your food waste along with your regular trash and recycling. Wed., 9 a.m.5 p.m.; Sat. 6 a.m.1 p.m. DJs Convenience Store, 56 River St., Montpelier. cvswmd.org. Dollar Days. Bring in odd and sundry items for reuse, upcycling and recycling, including toothbrushes, bottle caps, cassette tapes, books, textiles, batteries and more. Mon. and Fri., 12:30 p.m.5:30 p.m. Additional Recyclables Collection Center, 3 Williams Ln., Barre. $1 per car load. Complete list of accepted items at 229-9383, x 106, collino@cvswmd.org or cvswmd.org.

new or revised listing

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Class listings and classifieds are 50 words for $25; discounts available. To place an ad, call Carolyn, 223-5112, ext. 11.

Classifieds
SERVICES
ARTIST, MUSICIAN STUDIOS Solo or to share starting at $150 monthly. Larger spaces of various sizes available full-time or time-shared. Join us as we transform a historic convent and school at 46 Barre Street, Montpelier, into a unique center for the arts, music and learning. Call Paul for a tour at 802-223-2120 or 802-461-6222. HOUSE PAINTER Since 1986. Small interior jobs ideal. Neat, prompt, friendly. Local references. Pitz Quattrone, 229-4952.

with The Bridge! 223-5112

T&T REPEATS Bikes, name-brand clothes, small household furniture and more. At least two free parking spaces for T&T customers. 116 Main Street, Montpelier, or call 224-1360.

Advertise

THRIFT STORES CLASSES

JOBS

VERMONT COMPUTING, INC. is looking for a tech to work in the Montpelier area. This is an intermediate position, requiring experience with Windows Server OS and networking. Pay is based on the productivity of the person, excellent compensation for those who work hard. Plaintext resume to jobs@vermontcomputing.com.

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PAG E 2 2 J U N E 6 J U N E 19, 2 013

THE BRIDGE

Editorial
The Granite City in History

Letters
GMUW Helps Stamp Out Hunger To the Editor: The people of the Green Mountain United Way (GMUW) service area of Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Orleans and Washington counties are very aware of the food insecurity of many families in their region as evidenced by their response to the May 11 National Association of Letter Carriers food drive for local food shelves. This 21st annual event brought in about 23,000 pounds of food to about 19 food shelves across the five counties compared to 19,350 pounds last year. Six days a week, as we deliver mail to every address in America, letter carriers see first-hand the needs in the communities we work in, and were privileged to lead an effort that brings out the best in so many Americans, said NALC president Fredric Rolando. Nearly 50 million Americans live in families that lack sufficient food. One in seven adults and nearly one-quarter of all children are hungry and are not receiving the basic nutrition they need. United Way was asked nearly 20 years ago to become a full partner in this event, along with several other large national companies and nonprofit organizations. GMUW is happy to lead the effort in its five counties by marketing the event and coordinating volunteers to make it all happen. A big thank you goes out to all community members and letter carriers who helped stamp out hunger by donating and delivering food helping to make this one-day drive a huge success once again. For more information, call GMUW at 229-9532 or visit gmunitedway.org. Madeleine C. Roy, Community Development and Marketing Director, Green Mountain United Way, Derby Line GMTA Drivers Are Everyday Heroes To the Editor: Each day, volunteer drivers for Green Mountain Transit Agency (GMTA) provide hundreds of miles of service to those needing access to medical appointments, shopping, community centers and other essential needs. So many that we serve are without any other source of transportation, living alone and with limited friends and family. Our drivers become more than a reliable connection to their daily needs, they become an everyday hero. Recently, a longtime GMTA volunteer driver went to pick up a client in a rural town for his dialysis appointment. As the volunteer had done numerous times before, he knocked on the door to let the client know his ride was there. After waiting with no response, he peered in the window and saw that the client was slumped in a chair and unresponsive. He immediately entered the house and woke the client with some success but noticed a slur in speech and inability to answer simple questions. He feared that the client had begun to go into a diabetic coma or worse. He called 911, waited for the ambulance to arrive and comforted the client while keeping him awake and calm. Because of his actions and, more important, because he was there, we were told he most likely saved this mans life. Now what is a hero? A handsome person in a cape with extraordinary strength? A threepoint shot to tie the game? Or is it the quiet and humble person who each day volunteers his or her time to care for those who sometimes have no one else. It wasnt a superman who saved a life today, and the papers will not offer a headline in his honor, but to me this man is a hero and someone I am very proud to have as part of the GMTA family. Tawnya Kristen, Community Relations Manager, Green Mountain Transit Agency, Berlin Act Now to Protect Berlin Pond To the Editor: I would like to address some issues of concern to Berlin and Montpelier residents. It is my understanding that the Berlin selectboard is currently working with Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department (VFWD) to create a binding agreement that would allow VFWD to install a fishing access on the north end of Berlin Pond. (This access would not occur on the 85 feet of town land referenced in the vote of November 2012 regarding recreational access along the pond.) If this occurs, the state will likely determine ongoing access rights and restrictions, and Berlin and Montpelier residents will relinquish control of what happens in and around Berlin Pond, potentially forever. This agreement could result in increased traffic, a party zone for late-night entertainment and potential harm to the wildlife that resides in and around Berlin Pond. This agreement will also affect many Berlin residents and organizations and all Montpelier residents by potentially contaminating the drinking water Berlin Pond supplies. Montpeliers water treatment plant has the ability to filter some contaminants through a chlorination filtering system, but if Montpelier had to modify its treatment plant to filter chemicals such as fuels and other contaminants, high costs would likely be incurred, and these costs could be distributed to residents of Montpelier and Berlin. Berlin residents: If relinquishing more control to the state is something you are not in favor of, I ask that you contact Berlin selectboard members and attempt to influence this decision before this agreement becomes fact. Montpelier residents: If you are concerned about maintaining costs and the purity of drinking water for Montpelier residents and many Berlin residents and organizations, I recommend you take the same action. Contact information for all Berlin selectboard members (both phone and email) can be found on the town of Berlin website. Time is of the essence. Maggie J. Kerrin, Citizens to Protect Berlin Pond, Berlin

s we fasten our attention on the city of Barre in this issue, we are mostly discussing things that are currentthe near past, the immediate present and the near future. But as we focus on things present, lets not fail to remember and value the Granite City in history. A large part of the city of Barres history is on display at an exhibit titled The Emergence of the Granite City: Barre 1880 to 1940 at the Vermont Heritage Galleries of the Vermont History Center at 60 Washington Street (site of the former Spaulding Graded School) in Barre. The Vermont Historical Society had the following to say about that dynamic period in Barres history, beginning in 1880 through 1940: During the period covered by the exhibit, Barres population increased from 2,206 to 11,855 in less than 15 years, and it became known as the granite center of the world. The granite industry was the magnet that

attracted thousands of people to Barre. As noted by the Vermont Historical Society these immigrants represented a culturally diverse population with some 15 distinct ethnic groups, including Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Irish, Italian, Lebanese, Norwegian, Polish, Scottish, Spanish, Swedish, as well as Yankee peoples. It is this extraordinary mix of nationalities, cultures, work skills and political and labor identities, passions and traditions that the Granite City exhibit celebrates. The Granite City exhibit is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Vermont Heritage Galleries of the Vermont History Center in Barre. The history center is closed on state and federal holidays. For further information about the Vermont Historical Society, including the Museum in Montpelier and the Vermont History Center in Barre, please phone 479-8509 or go online to vermonthistory.org/visit/contact.

The Fathers
So many have vanished maddened by mustard gas shot on Saipan Others died under a big timber on a mountain, behind a desk drowned in rivers, bottles Some preferred islands and boats or the curve of a big-haired woman to the scold of the dinner table leaving their tiny children with some other mans name Some stayed but never came to the table hid in a backroom and sulked dreaming, maybe, of riding the range of killing their in-laws in a rage and raging remained tight-lipped Some came to the table and did rage pounding, all the words theirs but they were invisible too hiding behind the law and the switch bastions of knowledge and busy-ness Oh fathers! Didnt you didnt you didnt you know we needed you? Not just mothers tender breasts we wanted your deep resonant chest that laugh like no other waltzing through the rooms your wild eye, your whistle the warm hard curve of your arm to guard and guide The mothers wanted you The daughters wanted you More than ever the sons wanted you We didnt want the fearful eye your vanquished soul so many slammed doors bedroom, kitchen finally car, worse coffin Stranded on acres of regrets we wheel aching in imaginations of the father we never had Kate Mueller

Music, Beer, Food and Books

he Kellogg-Hubbard Library will host a Books & Brew book sale and picnic event later this month on Saturday, June 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. There should be plenty of light for the event, coming just one day after the summer solstice. The beer garden book sale will happen on the librarys lawn and feature food from Hunger Mountain Coops deli and caf, beer and wine from The Skinny Pancake, music from the Summit School of Traditional Music and Culture and books on sale by the library. Organized by genre, the book sale will feature hardcovers for $2 each and softcovers for 50 cents apiece. The library also plans to offer a special selection of $5 and $10 books. While choosing books, browsers can munch seasonal foods and imbibe drinks for $6, of which $1 will go to the library.

THE BRIDGE

J U N E 6 J U N E 19 2 013 , PAG E 2 3

The Alternative Media Conference

by Dan Jones
nce upon a time, Goddard College was able to grab and hold a bit of the lightning bolt that was the 1960s counterculture. The schools progressive education methods attracted young idea searchers who have since grown into many of Vermonts thinkers and doers. One of the seminal events in that period of Goddards golden age was its Alternative Media Conference, which took place in 1970. That invitation-only mini-Woodstock was a celebration of the ethos of the times. In an attempt to recapture a bit of that lightning, Goddard hosted another Alternative Media Conference on May 18. This time it was evident that the zeitgeist had moved on, and alternative media had been reduced to pleading for access to the mainstream media. The 60s had created a truly alternative media. Underground FM stations were corrupting the youth with album-oriented rock music and the first glimmers of non-network news. Weekly newspapers like Rolling Stone, the East Village Other and the Boston Phoenix were standing journalism on its head with advocacy pieces about radical politics and the emergent drug culture. The first portable (and I use that term loosely) video gear made it possible to run experiments in alternative television. All in all, it was an exciting, heady time. The recent Goddard conference opened with a celebration of the original event. Organizer Larry Yurdin regaled the audience with stories of its creation and the presence at the 1970 conference of such luminaries as Ram Dass and Jerry Rubin. We saw pictures of people swimming naked in the Goddard puddle, copulation occurring behind the stage of a music presentation and an early, inflatable video projector screen called the Giant Calzone. We learned that record companies were happy to sponsor the event to showcase new artists like J. Geils and Dr. John. It was not an academic event, but a celebration of a new vision of the media, which grew out of the times. I guess it was the hope of the organizers of the current conference to reverse-engineer the process and regenerate the rebellious spirit of the 60s by tapping into the assumed power of alternate media. Former Montpelierite Thom Hartmann was the lead-off champion in this quest. Hartmann, who has a fabled career as a radio and TV voice on alternate channels, had moved to Washington to advance his mission. His local roots seemed lost because his anecdotes were all based within the beltway and the frustrations of getting a progressive agenda before Congress. His message: support a Constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and create public campaign funding. Without those D.C.-centric reforms, he told us, it seems the future of alternative media is bleak. Maxie Jackson, recently of the National Federation of Independent Broadcasters, seemed to be cognizant of the actual challenges of a future alternative media. He was willing to admit that public access to the airwaves was pass. Instead, he told us, we need to understand the future of user-driven media and how that can help us value our local civic life. Jackson urged the attendees to understand the media version of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in order to create a more interactive sense of worth for whatever radio programs one is putting forward. (In general, there was more hope for the future of alternative radio, such as our beloved WGDR, than there was in the usefulness of television and even print.) Andi Zeisler of Bitch magazine noted that

Make Montpelier Pedestrian and Bicycle Friendly

by Deborah Hillman

there is still some question on the general utility of print. The superficial multitasking world of the web has diluted the power of print and constrained the audience power of that medium. Once again, the audience was urged to support more attention-immersive media products like online magazines. It felt like Zeisler was fighting an inexorable tide rather than tapping into the emerging powers of the next media revolution. I kept waiting for some semblance of a real alternative media to raise its shaggy head during the afternoons breakout sessions. These were designed for more hands-on instruction on how to use the alternate media. I tried sampling a number of these, but was constantly struck with a certain powerlessness and yearning for a more optimistic past. There was little I hadnt heard from many media access conferences over the years. The questions were the same: How do you shape a story for the media, or even create one? (But that isnt alternative media. Its begging at the door of the old media.) Or how do you play for creating the new media when you dont want to do advertising? (Here, valiant heroes like Vermont Diggers Anne Galloway strive to create user-financed media in a world in which advertising-addled users dont really want to pay.) One fun session was run by a group of producers from the Onion who create truly funny parodies of TV news stories. I had seen their work before and was impressed with their control of the form and content. What I found truly fascinating was that none of them owned TVs or subscribed to cable. Their news came from NPR and the New York Times. (In fact, anecdotal reports from many presenters showed that few admitted watching TV at all. This left me wondering why any of us should be worried about access to the broadcast media if the opinion leaders werent even paying attention.) For me, the most amusing session was a long retrospective by video.freex on the early 70s movement toward independent video. In the video, edited by Skip Blumberg, we saw footage of the 1970 Goddard conference where, for the first time, people were videoed brazenly smoking pot en masse while grooving to the rock concerts. There were early examples of video art (more fun to make than to watch) and coverage inside Washington, D.C., jails after the May Day 71 protests against the Vietnam War. Looking back through todays lens of iPhone videos and Facebook blogs, its hard to imagine how powerful and wonderful all of this early effort must have seemed at the time. Buried under an avalanche of these once-powerful alternatives, such media magic is now reduced to so much informational Kleenex. Coming away from this conference, I was saddened by its failure to recapture the excitement and optimism of 43 long years ago. Lightning rarely strikes twice, and if this Goddard effort is to get off the ground, its organizers need to think more about to how make a real difference under todays tidal wave of information technologies. Occupy Wall Street (remember that?) had tried to capture the anger of our current moment. It was represented at this conference by the Illuminators, who project slogans on the sides of buildings above demonstrations. Sitting in their lonely van on a hillside above the conference, the Illuminators were the only real guerrilla media in evidence. The Combustible Cabaret was recycling 40-yearold forms. Otherwise, this conference was a nostalgic celebration of possibilities gone by. I guess we will have to wait for a real new burst of energy toward actual social change before an alternative media that expresses that energy can truly arise.

was pleased to see in The Bridge (May 16June 5) the recently established goals of City Council. I feel encouraged by the citys commitment to reducing car dependency and creating better conditions for walkers and cyclists. I have lived without a car, by choice, my whole adult life. Although I lived in New York City for more than 30 years, Ive managed to do it successfully here in Montpelier for over a decade. But to make it work, however, Ive had to face some challenges: bumpy sidewalks in need of repair, long treks to the co-op in winter, limited public transportation that circumscribes where I can go (and when) and little support for living without a car. We also lack a Greyhound station where one can wait inside, as well as purchase tickets and pick up schedules. Because the bus is frequently late (and one cant predict its arrival), going indoors to get out of the rain or snow, or to use the bathroom, means that one could miss it altogether. Recently, car-free life in Montpelier became considerably harder, and so did the use of Amtrak, yet trains are a vital part of the effort to reduce dependency on cars. We lost the only reliable taxi service that we had, and the only one that existed in

our capital city. For those who live without a car, a taxi is often useful, just as it is, at times, for those who drive. At every other station I know, taxis are readily available, and if you have been to the Barre-Montpelier station after dark, you know that its not a place where one wants to be stranded. Because of the lack of bus or taxi service to connect with Amtrak, and no real Greyhound station, its tempting to think of returning to urban life. I strongly encourage Montpelier to build the transportation center. It will improve the city for residents and visitors. Yes, we need to make Montpelier pedestrian and bicycle friendly; however, in order to make it truly hospitable to car-free living, we need to continue developing the use of public transportation and also to see that we have an efficient, reliable taxi service. I thank the mayor and City Council for taking significant steps toward reducing dependency on cars and making Montpelier even more lively and livable. With sidewalks to accommodate wheelchair users, as well as people on foot; safer conditions for cyclists; a Greyhound station; more local bus routes; and reliable taxi service, more and more people will soon discover the benefits of car-free living, and other towns could follow Montpeliers example.

t The Bridge, our deadline for calendar entries is the Friday before our production week. But the volume of late news coming in this Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday is quite a deluge. Tornado Relief: In the category of nearmissed news is an e-mail received on Wednesday from T.J. Michaels of Great Eastern Radio Vermont and radio stations WRFK (107.1 FM), WWFY (100.9 FM) and WSNO (1450 AM). The stations teamed with fire and EMS personnel in central Vermont to execute a series of coin drops to benefit tornado-ravaged Moore, Oklahoma. When the change and checks were counted by Salvation Army Captains Kim and Travis Delong, the coin drop brought in $4,504.78 of disaster relief to benefit Moores tornado survivors. As T.J. Michaels explained, after all the help that poured into Vermont after Irene, It was our turn to step up and show how Vermont Strong we are and return the favor.

Lots of Summer Events

Central Vermont Home Health & Hospice: CVHHH is inviting participation in its annual Hospice Memorial Golf Tournament set for Wednesday, June 19, at noon at the Country Club of Barre in Plainfield. The tournament remembers local resident, golf enthusiast and hospice volunteer Ronnie Bancroft of Barre. For more information about the tournament fundraising event to benefit CVHHH, please call Lindsay Kurrle at 224-2215 or register online at cvhhh .org. Jaquith Library Benefit: Twenty, college-age Village Harmony veterans will give a concert of Nordic kulning, traditional music from South Africa, Bulgaria and Georgia, shape-note singing, and Renaissance works by Ockeghem to benefit the Jacquith Library in Marshfield. Dancing will follow the concert to take place own Sunday, June 9, at Fritzs Barn, 693 McCrillis Road, Marshfield. For further information, call 426-3210.

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PAG E 24 J U N E 6 J U N E 19, 2 013

THE BRIDGE

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