Adamant Co-Op Celebrates 80 Years: Cooperative Store Stands The Test of Time

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January 22 February 4, 2015
Adamant Co-op
Celebrates 80 Years
IN THIS ISSUE:
4: Healing with Nature
9: Health Hazard Cleanup on Barre Block
12: Spotlight on Vermont
College of Fine Arts
The Bridge
P.O. Box 1143
Montpelier, VT 05601
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22: Treating Scars
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Cooperative Store Stands the Test of Time

by Larry Floersch
The A&P grocery store in Montpelier is long gone. The Finast
in Berlin is also gone. So, too, the Grand Union in Barre. The
Grand Union in Montpelier is now a Shaws, Howards Friendly
Market in South Barre was sold to Hannaford, and the P&C on
the Barre-Montpelier Road changed into Price Chopper.
Countless other grocery stores in the area, large and small, have
closed or changed hands over the decades (Capital Market,
Steves Market, and Maxhams Corner Store to name just a few).
But in the village of Adamant, 2015 is a milestone year. It marks
the 80th year that the Adamant Cooperative store has been
continuously serving the residents of the area. To survive that
long is a remarkable feat when you consider the vagaries of the
economy, changing demographics, and the low-profit margins
and cut-throat nature of the retail grocery business.
Perhaps it is sheer luck that has allowed the Adamant Co-op to
survive so long. But perhaps it is something else. It is a cooperative, which means, even more so than a mom-and-pop operation,
the store belongs to the community it serves. Adamant and the
Adamant Cooperative are very closely intertwined. And Adamant is without doubt a unique community.
Six miles north of the capital and straddling the borders of
Calais and East Montpelier, Adamant is not one of Vermonts
251 official towns. It is unincorporated and has no borders.
Adamant is an amorphous community of choice rather than a
community dictated by survey lines. People who live as far away
as Worcester consider Adamant their home. (One member of
the Adamant Co-op visits Curtis Pond in Maple Corner in the
summer months but lives near Thomasville, Georgia.) But not
being a real town has not stopped Adamant from having its own
ZIP code (05640). And in the 1930s and 1940s it did not stop a
remarkable group of energetic, engaged residents in and around
Adamant from affecting the lives of thousands in central Vermont, an impact out of proportion to the miniscule population
of the village and surrounding area.
The Adamant Cooperative is the oldest cooperative store in the
state, and by virtue of that, probably one of the oldest in the nation (it predates one of the oldest still in existence, the Hanover,
New Hampshire, co-op, by one year). It sits at the geographic
Photo by Don Shall
hub of all the roads that lead into Adamant, and it is the beating
heart of the Adamant community.
The story of the Adamant Cooperative goes back to the days
when Vermont, like the rest of the nation, was in the jaws of the
Great Depression. Out of economic desperation, the residents of
the Adamant area began looking for ways to make things better.
In the winter of 1934-1935, the Methodist pastor who served
Adamant, Raymond Ebbett, urged his congregation to start
study groups on the consumer cooperative movement that had
begun to flourish in the United States during those desperate
economic times. As a result of those studies, in April of 1935
11 families formed a buyers club by contributing $5 per family
(the equivalent of $87.50 in 2015) and placed orders for bulk
groceries to be delivered to Adamant. The buyers club was an
immediate success and prompted additional investigation into
founding a true cooperative under the laws of the state of Vermont. On August 1, 1935, official shares in the new cooperative
were purchased by 39 families for $5 per share, and the Adamant
Cooperative was born.
The capital raised through the sale of the shares was used to rent
an existing store in Adamant, which was owned by a woman
named Minnie Horr, and to purchase the existing inventory.
In earlier times the shake-sided building in which the store and
Adamant Post Office was located had served as a boarding house
for workers in the Adamant granite quarry. It is the same building in which the co-op is located today.
An accounting at the end of 1935 showed the Adamant Cooperative had a small surplus. No doubt buoyed by that success,
the residents of the area began to look at other ways to improve
their lot.
One of the core programs of President Franklin D. Roosevelts
New Deal was the Rural Electrification Act, the legislation for
which was passed in 1935. A study group turned their focus to
this new program, and in 1939 brought into being the Washington Electric Cooperative in East Montpelier. According to Calais
historian Weston Cate, the first three presidents of the electric
co-op had also been directors of the Adamant Co-op.
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T H E B R I D G E
HEARD ON THE STREET

Buch Spieler Celebrates Anniversary
Downstairs Video to Close
MONTPELIER On Saturday, Jan. 24, dont miss Buch Spielers 42nd anniversary
celebration, 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. The store at 27 Langdon St. will offer 42 percent off sales on
selected merchandise, refreshments, and from 5 - 9 p.m., Myra Flynn will perform and
introduce her new jewelry line. And, of course, owner Fred Wilber will be showcasing his
DJ talents.
MONTPELIER Downstairs Video announced it is closing for good on Valentines Day,

Feb. 14. Saturday, Jan. 24 is the last day to rent DVDs, and following that date, the store
will close for inventory. The store will reopen on Feb. 1 to sell off DVDs, store fixtures and
remaining inventory. Valentines Day will be the last day to purchase DVDs. If you have
interest in particular films, please make a list and send it to film@savoytheater.com with
DVSALE in the subject line.
Democracy Circle to Begin

MONTPELIER There will be a monthly two-hour democracy circle to begin Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Church. If you are concerned about the current
divisiveness and incivility in America, and if you are not ready to give up (though you may
sometimes wonder why not); if you believe that there must be a way to move beyond demonizing of the other side, then meet with others who care about healing what is broken in our
nations political discourse. Be willing to question, listen, be generous and trusting, and act
courageously. Please contact us about joining.
Democracy circles are associated with courage and renewal seasonal retreats based on
Parker Palmers work. Democracy circles were offered in Montpelier in 2012 and 2013.
There is no cost for participating. Ideally, participants will make a six-session commitment,
but people are invited to attend the first session before making a decision. Please contact one
of the co-facilitators: David Leo-Nyquist (dleonyquist@gmail.com) or Sowbel (sowbel@
hotmail.com).
Finding Common Ground Workshops Offered

MONTPELIER Writer and educator Margaret Blanchard is offering two, two-hour
workshops and a panel around the theme: Finding common ground. Understanding who
we are while exploring our shared contexts helps ground and clarify opportunities for social
interaction. Blanchard described her programs the following way:
1. The Identity Abacus: Frame, Circle and Loop: Saturday, Jan. 31: UU (Childrens Chapel), 3 - 5 p.m.: The Identity Abacus is a three-dimensional metaphor for unified selfawareness as well as an instrument for measuring in a holistic way a range of facets integral
to an individual's sense of identity.
2. Nested Spheres: Saturday, Feb. 21, UU, 3 - 5 p.m. Using the Celtic symbol of the double
spiral as a template for shared zones of development, participants will explore their own
stages, through dialogues between past, present and future selves within the nested spheres
of larger contexts of family, community and world.
3. Tree, Person, House: TBA. Use analogies to explore parallel systems to see what they
might learn from each other.
For more information about the workshops and panel, please contact Margaret Blanchard:
margaret@sover.net. Donations optional.
Owner Terry Youk wrote, There have been many wonderful and knowledgeable folks who
have worked at Downstairs Video over the years that we would be remiss in not thanking
them for their support and for sharing their love of film. The list is long but in particular
we would like to thank George Shumar for his long and dedicated service to DV. Also, to
all of you who have long been patrons, while we are sad to see DV fade away, we are grateful
for the many years to have been of service and to have gotten to know you. Thank you for
your support we had a good run! Call Terry or Eric at the Savoy at 229-0598 if you have
interest in buying the business.
Bear Pond Books and Rivendell to Merge

MONTPELIER Two established bookstores in downtown Montpelier are announcing
plans to merge this spring. Rivendell Books will be joining with Bear Pond Books in a process expected to be complete by March 31.
Rivendell and Bear Pond have been popular destinations for readers and authors for more
than a generation. As Claire Benedict, co-owner of Bear Pond Books, said, Vermont is a
great place to have a book store, were a state full of readers, writers, and people who support
locally owned businesses. . . but the business of bookselling is changing. We needed to make
decisions that ensure we can continue to have a strong independent bookstore presence in
downtown Montpelier. There will be some changes to the in-store layout, a redesign project
that she notes fits in well with the upgrades already planned for the second floor childrens
room using a grant from James Patterson.
"We believe the consolidation of Rivendell and Bear Pond Books into a single location will
be the best possible way for us to continue being the vibrant flagship independent bookstore
in Montpelier and central Vermont, said Rivendell co-owner Rob Kasow. Please check the
website www.bearpondbooks.com for details.
The Montpelier Pool is Now Open for Skating

MONTPELIER Skating is now available here in town at the Montpelier Pool, from 9
a.m. - 9 p.m. Weather and ice condition permitting. If we feel that the ice is not safe, we
will close the rink. Check our Facebook page for updates and closures. Please let us know if
you are interested in becoming a pool skating rink volunteer. Volunteer to remove snow off
the pool after storms to keep ice conditions great! If you have any questions about programs
or events, please contact the Rec Office at 225-8699.
THE BRIDGE
Healing with Nature: Lory Explores Roots of Medicine

by Carla Occaso
ORANGE When thinking of medicine, health and healing, you might first think
of hospitals. Or you might think of doctors, pills and pharmacies. But some people who
practice the art of healing swear by the power of mother nature.
Herbal cupping therapy at Mandala Botanicals.
Sandra Lory of Orange has embarked on studying and using a grassroots healing system
that involves herbalism and the ancient art of cupping to bring people back to a sense
of wellness. I am a traditional cupping therapist and a folk herbalist and a food justice
educator, Lory said during a recent telephone interview. Her website, www.mandalabotanicalsvt.com, explains further: My practice combines traditional cupping therapy and
topical use of aromatic plants for physical healing and spirit cleansing. The combination
of these two techniques unblocks stagnant energy and balances overstimulated pathways
in the body. The opportunity awaits for you to enter sanctuary and deepen your relationship with nature, as plants are an integral part of every service I offer.
Cupping therapy is an very old healing technique that dates back to the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and Indians. Lory describes it as one of the oldest and most globally
practiced healing arts that, while still popular in some spots, is making a comeback in
the United States. Sort of the inverse of massage therapy, that relies on pressure, cupping
applies suction creating a negative pressure on a muscle or muscle group.
Lory uses cups made of hand blown glass while traditionally healers used whatever material was available to them. If they were in a nomadic tribe, they might use the horns of an
animal. If they lived among bamboo, they might use that. (Cupping) was practised with
local resources, Lory said. Nowadays people even use plastic suction cups. It is a really
effective practical therapy that originates from the shamanic sucking tradition, she said.
Cupping can be used to alleviate a number of conditions, including sciatica, TMJ (tight
jaw), persistent cough, sports injuries, edema (swelling) and water retention, abdominal
issues, wounds that are slow to heal, neck pain, chronic pain, and even blocked creative
energy. Cups help to move stagnant pathways of the body and overstimulated pathways
of the body. It is most commonly used today through martial arts. It is an efficient way of
helping an injured muscle to heal, Lory said. She is a member of the International Cupping Therapy Association, but she adds a twist to her practice by using aromatic plants to
enhance the treatment. She transforms plants into salves, oils, ointments and linaments,
but she is happiest just using them freshly picked from the dirt.
Many factors go into how she chooses which plants to use, but she is most strongly guided
by the seasons. For example, in winter she uses soft evergreens such as white pine and
cedar. In summer, she tends to use basil, spearmint, lemon balm, verbena and bee balm.
These plants work well with cupping because they resonate quickly with the body and
increase the benefits of the treatment. It smells great, disinfects the air and refreshes the
spirit, Lory said.
And for Lory, getting into the ancient healing arts isnt just some new-age fad. She is following in the footsteps of her foremothers. Although they came from different parts of
the world, both of her grandmothers were cuppers and one was an herbalist as well. One
grandmother was from Slovakia/Hungary while the other is from India. In fact, Lory has
travelled all over the world, from her grandmothers ancestral homes to Haiti, Palestine
and beyond.
Herbalism has become a central part of her practice. Lory has trained as an apprentice
herbalist with Rosemary Gladstar and others, and she completed a clinical herbalism
training with Guido Mase in 2003-2004. She describes herbalism as the use of plants for
healing purposes and for preventative care of the body mind and spirit. They can even
be used in first aid. I feel plants can treat many ailments of the human body, she said.
I believe each person is an ecological expression. We are part of nature. We need nature,
and in this rapidly changing global climate, we need to attune to the practices of our
ancestry and the foods and medicines of the bio region where we live.
This leads to Lorys third interest, one that is interconnected with health and healing:
Food justice education. Food justice incorporates cooking, nutrition and gardening all together. It also involves politics, ecology, food access and food knowledge. Access to food
knowledge is more complexly layered than someone just going to a store or marketplace
to buy something. It is a very politicized system that has become quite industrial and corporate, she said. She has been involved with the Good Food Good Medicine program of
Foodworks, a farming cooperative that dissolved in 2013. But the education program has
carried on at the food justice system in Barre. The idea is to focus on a seasonal approach
to food through community gardening, cooking, affordable nutrition, family health, food
preservation and leadership. However, Lory said she is taking a year off from education in
order to get her farm established in Orange (a town just outside Barre), build a house and
do some writing about her international herbal and folk healing experiences. She likes to
be outside among the trees and plants.
Winter Health and Fitness Indoors and Out

by Carla Occaso
CENTRAL VERMONT Speed Tracs, Aqua Zumba, core training and more kinds
of indoor fitness are speeding up the heart rates of central Vermonters. People who prefer
the outdoors can find plenty to do as well.
Kellyne Witte, assistant manager at Snap Fitness in Berlin, reports on the latest in fitness
at her center out on the Barre-Montpelier Road. A brand new equipment system arrived
Jan. 20 called Speed Tracs. Witte said a trainer from Snap Training is working with some
of the area schools to train gym teachers on this new equipment that is meant to improve
athletic performance.
Montpelier High School has Speed Tracs now. The (Snap Fitness) trainer Ian is going
around to schools to train gym teachers how to use Speed Tracs. We got Speed Tracs
here as well, Witte said. Other programs offered at Snap Fitness includes Grit, a small
personal training program that involves total transformation.
For Grit, four instructors take in about 26-30 people into the 8-week program. The program uses diet, strength training and cardio. There is a meal plan and a Facebook forum
where everyone communicates.
As for something new and different for Witte, she is going to a training in Cambridge,
Massachusetts in early February. In February I will be a CX instructor, Witte said. CXWorx is a 30-minute core class that comes from an Australian company called Les Mills.
Over at First in Fitness in Berlin and Montpelier, exercise classes are still popular. Employee Elaine Caplis, who has worked at First in Fitness for 20 years, said she enjoys the
Pilates classes and weight training. Cross training is also a favorite among fitness buffs.
In addition, new classes formed this winter for Zumba and Aqua Zumba up at the Berlin
facility.
Yoga, though nothing new in town, has become a fitness staple in Montpelier. Those who
are interested can check out the Fusion Studio on Main Street, or check out the website at
www.fusionstudio.org. Yoga can also be found at Yoga Mountain on Main Street, Grateful Yoga on State Street and Geezum Crow Yoga on Elm.
The Montpelier Recreation Department also offers fitness and outdoor education. The
Rec Department staffs the Central Vermont Civic Center on Gallison Hill Road. Their
website is www.montpelierrec.org. Ice skating is now happening on the Montpelier pool!
And talk about skating! The B.O.R. Ice Arena in Barre has been a center of family fitness
for generations. Part of the Barre Civic Center, the arena hosts hockey, figure skating and
more. According to their website, The B.O.R. underwent renovations in 2002 and this
complex has accessible restrooms, a lift for access, an enclosed and heated concession area
and a large third floor meeting room/training space.
Other winter fitness pursuits, such as skiing (downhill and cross country), walking, running and fat tire bike riding are all plentiful and accessible in our area, which is perhaps
why Vermont is always near the top of those healthiest state rankings each year.
T H E B R I D G E
Superintendent Ricca Explains School Budget Impact

by Carla Occaso
MONTPELIER As an education professional, I know part of our job is not only to
contain costs, but also retain, if not expand, opportunities for students, said Dr. Brian
Ricca, superintendent of the Montpelier public school system, during an oral presentation to the Montpelier chapter of the Rotary Club at the Capitol Plaza Jan. 12.
The actual budget approved by the school board during the first week of January came
in at a .85 percent increase, but after the state funding formula is factored in, Montpelier
homeowners will see a less than 3 percent increase on your actual tax bill, according
to Ricca. He explained it further:
If you own a $200,000 house, your taxes are going to go up approximately $93. If you
own a $300,000 house, your taxes are going to go up $139. The average house in town
is somewhere in the vicinity of $223,550 and those taxpayers are going to see a tax increase of $104.
Montpelier schools are doing well statewide when comparing state achievement tests,
with the exception of a slight weakness in the areas of math and science. Enrollment is
going up. Montpelier High School has attracted the attention of National Public Radios show Here and Now, and the television show Edutopia, without effort on the
schools behalf.
We are putting a lot of stock into recruiting international students. There are six Chinese students enrolled this semester. That represents $42,000 in direct revenue because
students pay $7,000 per semester.
When discussing other ways of saving education costs, some Rotary members brought up
the cost of pensions, health care and reducing the amount of teacher's aides. Ricca said
he and his administration were working with the teacher's union to make some changes.
In addition, the topic of school consolidation was also raised. Ricca said he has not seen
any reports or evidence that school consolidation would help drive down education costs
because Montpelier's tax rate is lower than almost all the schools in the Washington
Central Supervisory Union. To join a larger district would cause Montpelier taxpayers to
take on higher costs and slow down decision making with added layers of bureaucracy.
Shumlins Budget Proposal

for Health Care
by Carla Occaso
MONTPELIER If we dont change our health care system, we will destroy our
economy, said Gov. Peter Shumlin during his budget address to the joint assembly of
the Vermont House and Senate on Jan. 15. How to solve the unfair, unsustainable and
unaffordable cost of health care was one of the primary topics Shumlin brought up in
his address that also took up education, the economy and employment. How to pay
for changes such as an augmented Medicaid program is one part of the solution. What
outcomes to pay for is another.
Shumlin outlined his goals as being able to deliver affordable health care, improving the
system and finding a sustainable way to finance the changes. First, he said, the payment
system needs to change. Rather than paying for individual procedures, the system should
pay for healthy outcomes. As it is, the payment structure is unfair because businesses
carrying private insurance pay more than their share to support the costs of the whole
system. Medicaid is underfunded.
Health care reform will consist of figuring out how to pay for quality outcomes rather
than paying for the number of procedures. Shumlin did say lawmakers need to contain
costs and find a rational way to pay providers. He further said he intends to strengthen
the Green Mountain Care Board by enhancing its role as the central regulator of health
care. Health care costs are expected to grow by 6 percent annually by 2019. Shumlin
said his proposed budget doubles payments to Medicaids Blueprint providers with a
new $4.5 million appropriation. Shumlin said he would implement a 0.7 percent payroll
tax hike to pay for the increased cost.
According to a statement issued by his office, Shumlins proposal would cut by half the
Medicaid cost shift and reduce private insurance premiums. It further stated, The governor outlined a five-point plan to make progress towards these goals: Pursue the Federal
All Payer waiver: Vermont must continue work to become the first state to move from the
current quantity based, fee-for-service system to one that pays providers for the quality
outcomes they produce by pursuing an all payer waiver with the federal government.
The Green Mountain Care Board is working closely with the administration to submit
a waiver application to the federal government that will allow the alignment of how
providers are paid across private insurance and public programs to ensure that providers
have the right incentives for improving quality and reducing cost. The governor wants
to secure this waiver by Jan. 1, 2017.
In addition, Shumlin vowed to strengthen the Green Mountain Care Board so it can
be more forceful in containing costs, ensure technology is integrated statewide, and
improve innovative payment and delivery models.
The governors plan would more than double payments to Medicaids Blueprint providers, reduce premiums and cut the uninsured rate. To pay for all this, Shumlin proposed
a .7 percent payroll tax hike on Vermont Businesses. This would raise $41 million in
state funds to match $45 million in federal money.
Shumlin concluded by saying it is a privilege to govern the state where everyone knows
each other and is willing to put aside partisan differences. He vowed to "make lasting
progress for jobs, our kids, our quality of life and our environment."
Dr. Brian Ricca.

Photo by Carla Occaso.
THE BRIDGE
A Message From City Hall

This page was paid for by the City of Montpelier.
Parking Ban, Annual Report and More

by William Fraser, City Manager
he City, like all of us individually,

is in the dead of winter, dealing
with the cold, snow and ice while
making plans for the year ahead and beyond. March annual meeting voting is fast
approaching and a lot is happening. Before
I get into long term issues, though, Id like
to address a couple of changes which have
immediate impact.
Winter Parking Ban:
The City is experimenting with a new
parking ban system this winter. Instead
of a blanket ban of on street parking from
Nov. 15 to April 1, we have only imposed
parking bans on nights when there are
expected storms and/or snow removal operations. The thought behind this change
was to make things easier for downtown
residents who dont have their own parking spaces.
City Meeting Voting & Running for

Election:
One of the main purposes of the Annual
Report is to inform voters about issues related to the annual City elections.
Annual meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
March 3. Polls will be open at City Hall
from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Early voting will
be available through the City Clerks office
about two weeks prior to election day.
For those interested in running for office
(City Council, School Board, City Clerk,
etc.) official filing dates begin on Thursday, Jan. 22 and run until Monday Feb. 2.
The City, School and Recreation budgets
as well as all other ballot items will be finalized on Jan. 22.
Pre-City Meeting:
The result, however, has been that more

people have been ticketed and towed than
ever before. We certainly want whatever
system is in place to be a success and to encourage people to live downtown. We will
have a discussion at the end of the winter
about whether to continue with intermittent bans or return to a full seasonal ban.
The City, School Department and Vibrant

& Affordable Montpelier (VAM) are once
again co-sponsoring a Pre-City Meeting.
This event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 17
at 7 p.m. at the Montpelier Senior Activity
Center at 58 Barre Street. As with prior
years, City and School officials will make
presentations and answer questions about
budget proposals and other issues.
In the meantime, we urge people to use

all the resources available to inform themselves whether a ban is in place on a given
evening. (Bans run from 1 a.m. to 7 a.m.).
This event is a good way to become informed before casting a vote for how your
tax dollars will be spent for the upcoming
year.
Information about the ban including

which streets always have a winter ban in
place can be found on the citys website
www.montpelier-vt.org. For phone or text
notices, please sign up with VT Alerts.
The winter parking ban phone line 802262-6200 has a recorded message which is
changed whenever the ban is instituted or
rescinded. The Citys Facebook page and
Twitter accounts provide updated information. When possible, postings are made on
Front Porch Forum as well.
District Heat:
I urge residents who are impacted by the

ban to take advantage of these resources
and neighbors to help neighbors stay informed. The City has no desire to ticket
or tow peoples cars but we also need to
perform snow plowing and snow removal
services for all. Do yourself a favor, stay
informed and move your car on snow ban
nights.
As we close out all aspects of the construction portion of this complex project, the
total cost will only be about 5% above
the originally projected budget. While we
never want to exceed budgets, we consider
this successful given the many dynamic
aspects of the work while it was occurring. Any excess expenses will be folded
into the annual operating budget costs of
the system so that they are not incurred by
the general taxpayers. In comparison, the
States side of the project ended up about
40% over their original budget estimate.
This project, despite its controversy and
temporary disruption, will benefit the city
and state for many years to come with its
use of renewable energy sources and modern technology.
Annual Report:
For many years, the Citys annual report
book has been delivered to every household
in mid February. In an effort to save costs
and also be environmentally responsible,
the City Council has chosen to discontinue
this practice.
Instead of direct delivery, the annual report
will be made available online in a searchable PDF format on the citys website. For
those that prefer the paper book, copies
will be available at City Hall, the Library,
the public schools and the post office.
This change saved the city a couple of
thousand dollars. More importantly, it
saved 2,000 annual reports from ending
up in the solid waste stream.
We welcome any feedback about this significant change from prior years.
This winter is the first full operation of the

Citys District Heat system. Were pleased
to report that the system has successfully
provided heat to all customers, even during
the recent deep freeze period. We are using
this season to fully understand the systems
capacity and technical requirements. The
interaction between the state and city at
the operational end has been excellent. So
far so good.
With the current low oil prices, I am often

asked whether the state has switched from
wood to oil for this winter. The answer is
no. The state got favorable wood pricing
for the season. Oil would need to drop
to about $1.60 per gallon for the state to
consider switching sources.
The other question I am asked is whether
the project still makes sense in light of
the low oil pricing. Obviously, District
Heat Montpelier cannot compete with oil
pricing in the $2-$3 range. The system,
however, is built for the long haul and for
pricing stability. Just as oil prices have
dropped dramatically, they can and have

also spiked dramatically over the years.
When looking at price trends over the
years, wood heat has performed well below
oil and the citys operational costs will be
very steady (bond payments, contract payments to the state, basic operating costs).
This has always been the premise for the
project and clearly understood by the customers who have signed 20-year contracts
for the service.
One Taylor Street:
Since the adoption of the general project
concept, One Taylor Street is in a technical
and administrative phase of development.
An overall Construction Manager is being
selected, the development agreement with
Redstone is being finalized, easements and
rights of way are being settled, preliminary
designs are being prepared and project details being assembled. The project should
move into permitting in the next couple
of months.
This is also a very complex project involving federal funding, private funding, several properties, a bridge, bike path, transit
facility, housing and a major facelift for
the center of the City. It has moved out of
concept phase into project planning phase.
There are many variables and contingencies and we urge patience as this moves
forward. City officials are committed to a
final project which will meet and address
many important needs.
Budget:
The Citys budget will be finalized on
the publication date of this Bridge issue.
Therefore this is still a preliminary summary. In last months issue I included a
detailed summary of my proposal to the
Council. Next month I will outline the
final proposal to be presented to voters.
This month is an update based on the
Councils budget workshops and one public hearing to date.
ing debt service and $515,000 is for

equipment. This represents an overall
increase for these combined items of
$166,300. This results in an additional
$198,408 (29.3%) in annual funding
for FY16 infrastructure improvements
such as roads. Over a three year period (including this proposed budget)
infrastructure funding has increased
$498,900.
The budget includes $43,200 for the
annual payment for the purchase of
One Taylor Street. This expense is offset by lease revenue.
The Capital/Equipment Plan anticipates additional increases of $166,300
in each of the next three budget years
FY17 through FY19 in order to
bring funding levels to the projected
steady state of maintenance and improvements.
Personnel:
Total number of Full Time Equivalent
Employees (FTE) is 107.58, which is
0.67 FTE less than FY15. Reductions
were 1.0 FTE in DPW and 0.12 FTE in
the Senior Center. Additions were 0.4
In Dispatch and 0.05 in Parks.
Key Items:
Includes funding to continue city page
in Montpelier Bridge
Funding for the Housing Trust Fund
has been eliminated. This was $41,000
in FY15.
The Montpelier Community & Arts
Fund is funded at $110,175 which is
reduced by $8,000 from FY15 funding.
$1,000 has been reduced from the Tree
Board and $2,250 has been reduced
from the Conservation Commission.
Guidelines:
The Parks and Public Works budgets

contain a new $4,563 for operation of
dog waste stations. The budget assumes
a $12 increase per dog license to fund
these waste stations.
The Council provided following guidelines

for preparing this budget proposal:
The budget includes $40,000 funding

for the GMTA circulator bus route.
Budget must reflect the City Councils

adopted goals and priorities and enable
those goals to be advanced.
Police: The Police budget includes a

new contractual relationship with Capital Fire Mutual Aid System for dispatching services. The police canine
program has been eliminated. School
Resource Officer shared 50% with
school is included.
Property tax rate increase target is between 2% and 3%

Must continue increased funding for
infrastructure and capital needs based
on the Steady State plan adopted by
the City Council.
Must deliver responsible levels of service to the residents of Montpelier.
Property Tax Impact:
Requires a 2.1 cent increase in the
property tax rate. A 2.1 cent increase
represents a 2.2% increase.
When combined with the current
school budget proposal, the overall residential tax rate is projected to increase
by 6.8 cents or 2.6%.
Infrastructure:
The Capital Projects, Equipment and
Debt Service Program is fully funded
at $2,071,304. Of this $875,978 is in
annual funding, $680,326 is in exist-
Public Works: The Street Supervisor

and Water/Sewer Supervisor have been
merged into one Supervisory position.
This has allowed for more blended work
among the two divisions. One full-time
position has been reduced from this
department.
Thank you for reading this article and
for your interest in Montpelier city government. Please feel free to contact me
at wfraser@montpelier-vt.org or 802-2239502 with any questions or comments.
T H E B R I D G E
Class Sizes at Montpelier

High School
by Ben Huffman
any classes at Montpelier High School are smaller than the school's own class size
policy guidelines.
The school offers classes in a broad range of subjects. But declining student numbers
have made compliance with the school's class size policy impossible in many of these
classes. And since teachers and other staff are the major school expense (some 75 percent), smaller class sizes are a primary driver of increased per-student costs.
The high school's class size policy sets optimal and minimum average class size guidelines within different subject categories. A few categories are exempt.
In terms of these averages, all high school classes subject to the policy during the 2014
fall term were below the optimal size guideline, and the minimum size was met in just
one category (English).
The range of actual class sizes not average sizes for all classes at the high school
last fall is illustrated in a graph with this article.
In addition, the table with this article shows that for the 103 classes to which the class
size policy applied, 60 percent had fewer students than the minimum guidelines. And
of the 92 classes to which the optimal size policy applied, 88 percent had fewer students
than the guidelines.
At city-meeting a year ago voters rejected the Montpelier school district's budget. In the
wake of this, the Montpelier School Board charged a special committee with finding
ways of maintaining educational goals while also better controlling school spending.
The special committee proposed that Montpelier seek to collaborate with U-32 in jointly
offering selected classes to ninth through twelfth graders from both schools. The result
intended would be larger class sizes while retaining a broad range of subjects offered, but
with fewer teachers required and thereby a lower per-student cost.
The Montpelier School Board considered the idea, broadening it to include middle as
well as high school classes. Three board members favored the idea; four opposed it. And
then, rather than reject the idea outright, the board voted to table the matter.
So what now?
Should Montpelier school officials lower their high school class size policy guidance?
Or should Montpelier and U-32 try to collaborate without leaders at either school
having to sacrifice their approaches to giving their students the best high school education possible?
Ben Huffman lives in Montpelier.
Got a news tip? We want to know!

Send it to us at:
editorial@montpelierbridge.com
mps
THE BRIDGE
personalization
community
sustainability
This page was paid for by the Montpelier Public Schools.
MHS Programming Prowess
STUDENT VOX POP
Since Montpelier High School first offered computer programming last fall, the semester-long class has filled to capacity each time. Many students are continuing their love of
code in Computer Programming II, and some are now working as teaching assistants to
help their peers debug and troubleshoot their work. Teaching Assistant & Programmer
Kirby Gordon explained, Of all my classes, Computer Science goes by the fastest; I get
wrapped up in helping other students with their work and the period just vanishes.
In its inaugural year at MHS, 36 students have already taken at least one programming
course, and interest continues to grow. Teacher Whitney Machnik observed that students
are incredibly motivated by the work, saying What they did to stretch themselves was
more than I could ever have realistically asked of them. They sought out peers for help.
They used the Internet to ask questions and to look up coding advice. They revised and
revised and revised.
Some Solon coders between

programs.
Computer Science is different from other classes

because you get to design your own projects and
learn different things depending on what youre
interested in. I could definitely see myself working
as a coder. I just got registered as an Android app
developer.

- Sunny Ingraldi
I used Java to create a more efficient way to keep

track of laptops in our library. I came up with this
program because I was personally irritated at having to sign out computers with a pencil & paper.

- Chris Staab
Social Justice
& the Arts at
MSMS
Part of the students high level of engagement may come from the fact that they choose
and design real-life projects. Their coding is not just an academic exercise, but used in
practical applications that serve a purpose: Chris Staab created a program that tracks
computer sign-outs in the library; George Valentine used an Arduino and sensor to monitor outdoor temperature & humidity in order to choose the right ski wax; Rachel Currier
used a Raspberry Pi and camera to film class presentations at one-minute intervals in
order to make a time-lapse film; Jon Kilian created a chi square test for data and formulas
from his AP Biology class.
In addition to working above and beyond class time to create their programs, students
also linked their work to the new MHS Learning Expectations, a set of transferable skills
all students will develop before graduation. Machnik said that Problem-solving and
Habits of Learning came up often, especially considering the perseverance and critical
thinking needed to write code that will actually run.
If the true test of a student-centered curriculum is a desire to keep learning, the MHS
coders exemplify this passion. What I find fascinating about this course and these students is that they are not done with their programs even though this was their midterm
exam, Machnik explained, They almost all said, at some point, What I want to do
next with this is
DID YOU KNOW?

MHS student coders use Java and Python to write
new programs.
An arduino is an open-source physical computing
platform based on a simple microcontroller board.
First-graders learn to code in the Baltic nation of

Estonia.
Union Elementary School was

built in 1939.
MPS educators at Champlain College to work on creativity & artsinfused curriculum.

For their spring service project, students
from Main Street Middle Schools Team
Sirius will explore how the "Invisible Presence" of hunger and income inequality
are found in Montpelier. Teaching artists from the Community Engagement
Lab will then lead the students to create original poetry, visual art and music
that reflects their findings. The students
will present their work at the project's
concluding performance, titled We Are
Montpelier, on April 11, at the High
School Auditorium.
MPS teachers and administrators joined
educators and teaching artists from across
the state at Champlain College in August, for a day-long planning intensive led
by the Community Engagement Lab to
explore how to better integrate creativity
into the core curriculum.
5 High School Drive, Unit #1, Montpelier, VT 05602

Students will be capable, motivated contributors to their local,
national and world communities.
UES Turns 75
This coming month, Union Elementary
School students, alumni, staff and community membersas well as their family and friendsare invited to celebrate
the schools 75th anniversary during the
first-ever UES Winter Carnival! Look for
special events during the school week of
February 16-20. Leading up to the Winter
Carnival, there will be residencies led by
Vermont artists, culminating in a parade
from UES to the Vermont College of Fine
Arts Green. This lantern-lit, samba parade will be made possible thanks to local
artist Gowri Savoor and the musicians
of Sambatucada who will be leading the
special evening celebration.
If your family, organization or business
is interested in helping to sponsor this
unique celebration, please contact UES
Art Teacher Kristina Kane at kristinak@
mpsvt.org or call the school.
Do you or someone you know have a story
to share about Union Elementary? We
would love to read it or invite you to share
it as a visiting storyteller. Please send us a
letter with your story or contact Sharon
Pine (2nd Grade Teacher) at sharonp@
mpsvt.org
T H E B R I D G E
City Block Demolished, Two

Lots Undergoing Clean Up
by Ed Sutherland
BARRE Since the early 1900s, two lots on Summer Street in downtown Barre have
been exposed to a range of uses including apartment housing and light industrial such as
woodworking. Because of the range of uses the two Summer Street lots have been exposed
to chemical pollution. But now as Barre completes a demolition and pollution remediation
project at lots at 8 and 20 Summer Street a new chapter is about to be written for this part
of downtown Barre.
Beginning in 1973, Central Vermont Community Land Trust (CVCLT) operated two apartment buildings with 20 units on the Summer Street lots just north of Main Street. After
demolition and pollution remediation, CVCLT along with Housing Vermont will erect two
new buildings for affordable housing and CVCLT offices.
Although demolition began Dec. 8 with removal of asbestos from the buildings' interiors,
a combination of snow, rain and holidays delayed completion until Jan. 17, Jeff Bergeron,
director of Buildings and Community Services for Barre, told The Bridge.
East Barre-based Lajeunesse Construction was general contractor while Essex Junction's
Techtron Environmental conducted the asbestos abatement, according to Bergeron.
In July, Barre was awarded $1.6 million from the state to "revitalize and clean up" the city.
According to Mayor Thomas Lauzon, $600,000 of that will be used to tackle brownfields.
According to the Vermont Department of Conservation, many years of industrial use resulted in contaminated soil. Among the contaminants found: Benzene, toluene, and xylenes
(collectively referred to as TPH) likely from the days of auto repairs and buried gas storage
tanks. Also present were arsenic from both petroleum products and wood preservation, along
with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAH.
"These compounds are present in soil and soil gas, in some areas at concentrations which
are in excess of the Vermont soil screening values," Lynda Provencher, of the Department of
Conservation's waste management division, told The Bridge.
To remediate the ground pollution, following demolition, contaminated soil will be removed
during construction and a barrier will be installed under the buildings to capture any vapors
before they enter the building, Provencher said. A deed restriction will also require future
property owners to maintain the remedial actions.
Summer Street is among many ongoing demolition projects and brownfield cleanups in Barre
City, according to City Manager Steven MacKenzie. Abutting the Summer Street lots is the
Keith Street Ormsby Building, scheduled to make way for a future parking structure. The
possibility of increased parking is a major draw to both CVCLT and businesses considering
locating to Barre.
Photos by Carla Occaso
Tell them you saw it in

The Bridge!
THE BRIDGE
Remembering the Oldest Continuously

Running Store in Vermont
by Nat Frothingham
Photo by Paul Seaton
ADAMANT I was manager of the Adamant Cooperative store for not quite two
years from sometime in March 1990 until
the end of February 1992.
In the very earliest days of my time as manager, someone drew my attention to a story
written as a special feature by Sally Johnson
and published in the New York Times on
Feb. 7, 1990.
Johnson wrote about the founding of the
Adamant Co-op during the Great Depression and how the co-op had thrived through
the 1940s and 1950s. But Adamant, like so
many other rural communities, lost many of
its farms in the 1960s and 1970s. Increasingly, people who lived in Adamant worked
someplace else.
Johnson wrote about plans to close the store
and plans to keep it open. Short of a miracle, Johnson wrote in the Feb. 7 piece,
the Adamant Co-op is likely to go out
of business this spring. But a miracle had
already happened. After the nine-member
board voted in December to close the store on Jan. 31, 15 neighbors promised to donate a
total of $450 a month through April to keep the store running. And Johnson went on to
say, The board will vote again on April 27.
I ought to remember that April 27 meeting because by then I was manager. But I dont
remember that meeting. And the store did not close. Instead, as the founders of the co-op
had done, Adamant community members pulled together. They wrote and won a grant
from the Division of Historic Preservation to put a new roof on the co-op building. And
board President Cindy Cook and others met with U.S. Postal Service officials and brought
a contract post office into the store.
Chief among my memories of working at the store from 1990 to 1992 was the sort of local
friendship and support that was offered to me. There was a local woman who brought me
a cooked lunch from her home. And there was Ina Slayton, who lived up the road. I would
phone her and she would bring down a pail of hot water so I could mop the floor. (There
was no hot water at the store at the time.)
I remember one day when a fellow came out from the Agriculture Departments Weights
and Measures and tested our scales to see if they were giving accurate weight. He sur-
prised me by saying that the Adamant store

was number one. Number one? I asked.
What do you mean by number one? He
said that the Adamant store was the oldest
continuously running grocery store in Vermont. That got my attention.
There were a number of silly things that

happened at the store too. There once was a
young man who came into the store and said
he wanted to be a volunteer. I was impressed.
I took down his contact information. Then
a few days later he came back and told me
he was getting married. He didnt have any
cash on him but could he take away some
beer for the reception and pay me back later.
I agreed. And put my own money into the
cash drawer to cover the expense. He never
came back. I was angry at myself for being
duped. I phoned and phoned the number
he had given me. Then one day a woman
phoned me. She said it was her son who took
the beer out of the store on credit and said,
Look, stop phoning us. If you continue to
phone us I will report you to the State Department of Liquor Control and you will lose your license to sell beer.
Ill end with this story. Highly improbable, but I swear it happened. One day I ran out of
pennies. You cant do business at a little country store without giving back exact change.
What was I going to do? Lock up the store and drive to Montpelier and get some bills
changed for pennies? While I was pondering my dilemma, I saw what can only be called a
jalopy parking in front of the store. A young fellow got out of the car. He was smiling. He
wanted to buy some beer. That was OK. And then he disclosed that he could only pay for
it in pennies. It was those pennies that kept us going that day.
I like the way the little hamlets of rural Vermont have hung on to community life. The
Adamant Co-op store had a great beginning during the Depression. During my time there
the store was not remarkable for what it sold milk, eggs, bread, beer, frozen meat, soda,
newspapers the store was remarkable in that it brought the community together. And
although Im aware that the store now has running water and fresh lunches and Friday
night summer dinners and fresh baked goods and an annual Black Fly Festival its
still doing what it has been doing all along bringing people together. All this is worth
honoring and saluting at its 80th anniversary.
Adamant Co-op as it is today. Photo by Larry Floersch.

Storekeeper Susan DeForge
T H E B R I D G E
Cooperative Store Stands the Test of Time

Continued from Page 1
This effort proved to be even more successful than the cooperative store in Adamant, and
today, the Washington Electric Co-op serves more than 10,000 customers in Washington,
Orange, Caledonia and Orleans counties.
Still not done, the residents of the area turned to the financial sector. Through the same
process of study groups, in 1941 the bylaws for a credit union were sketched out, and in
early 1942, the Adamant Credit Union became the first credit union to be chartered under
new legislation governing credit unions in the state of Vermont. To use the credit union,
you had to join the Adamant Cooperative.
The residents then turned their focus back to groceries. In 1945, the store in Maple Corner, four miles up the road from Adamant, was put up for sale. The members of the Adamant Co-op voted to buy it and make it into a branch. The Maple Corner Store remained
a branch of the Adamant Co-op until 1973.
To outline these successes of the residents of the Adamant area is not to say the job was
easy without risk. Charges of socialism came from some quarters, and one principal in
the group that formed the Washington Electric Co-op was threatened with the loss of his
job if he persisted in the foolishness of forming a cooperative. And the 80 years between
the creation of the Adamant Co-op and today have not always been rosy. Several times
the co-op nearly fell into the abyss. In 1973, for example, the ledger books looked so bad
that the board of directors voted to dissolve the co-op. It turned out, however, that the
board could not dissolve the co-op without the vote of two-thirds of the shareholders, and
at a larger meeting of the shareholders. The members instead voted to sell off the Maple
Corner Store.
Another blow came in the 1980s, when the Adamant Credit Union experienced problems.
The federal agency that oversees credit unions closed the offices in Adamant and moved
the credit union to East Montpelier, where it morphed into what it remains to this day,
the North Country Credit Union. But the link between the Adamant Cooperative and the
Adamant Credit Union, which provided the co-op with revenue through memberships,
was broken. Once again the board looked at the possibility of closing the store.
A fortunate side effect of the loss of the Adamant Credit Union was that the U.S. Post
Office, which had been in the credit union building, moved back into the Adamant Cooperative Store, where it remains today. That shift refocused community activity at the
store, and community members once again stepped up to save the co-op.
And so the co-op continues on today, 80 years after its founding, as the village post office,
grocery store, purveyor of crafts and gifts, art gallery, and ad hoc community center. It
still takes bulk orders and provides area residents with groceries, including locally raised
meat, eggs, and produce, a selection of cheeses, locally baked bread, milk, soft drinks,
wine and beer. Most weekdays a hot lunch is also available, along with a few chairs next
to the wood stove in which to enjoy it. As the community center, the co-op organizes the
annual springtime Adamant Black Fly Festival. And from time to time they also organize
concerts and afternoon teas. In the summer, the co-op sponsors dinner cruises on the
local ponds (bring your own dinner and flotation device). Also during the summer, Friday
night cookouts often draw large crowds, basking in the humble beauty of the village, the
good food, and the warmth of what real community feels like.
And this year, to mark the anniversary of the Adamant Co-op and to honor the hard work
and gumption of its founders, current members are putting together a book of recipes,
art and poetry.
The Adamant Cooperative store is open seven days a week: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays,
9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays. You can also visit
the co-ops website at http://www.adamantcoop.org.
Minnie Horr's store and the U.S. Post Office in Adamant circa 1930
Profile of an Adamant
Storekeeper: Susan DeForge
by Carla Occaso
Occaso: How long have you lived in Adamant?

DeForge: Thirty years.
Occaso: How did it come to be that you
worked at the Adamant Cooperative store?
DeForge: I had been raising my children
and having a registered day care. When my
children were all in school I wanted to get
out and see people and do something in the
community.
I started working at the post office on
Saturdays, which was in the store. Then I
started working in the store and the post
office on Saturdays. From there I started
working during the week. That led into
co-managing the store and post office, then
managing it by myself.
Occaso: From when to when did you work
there?
DeForge: From around 1996 to 2001.
Occaso: What changes/innovations did
you make while you were there?
DeForge: I worked on making the co-op a
place for everyone. I tried to have a variety
so everybody would want to shop there.
Occaso: What were the biggest challenges?
Why?
DeForge: Knowing what to order that people would buy so we would make enough
money to pay the bills, having enough volunteers, and keeping up with the frequent
rule changes of the U.S. Postal Service.
Occaso: What was the most fun? Why?
DeForge: It was fun to get to know my
neighbors and what was going on around
Adamant. It made me feel like a real part
of our little village.
Occaso: Any kooky/funny/interesting stories from your time there?
DeForge: It was always kooky to use the

outhouse in the barn, fun to build a fire
in the wood stove on freezing cold days to
heat the store, and interesting to meet new
customers.
Occaso: Why is the Adamant Co-op important to the community?
DeForge: It is the place where we all see our
neighbors and catch up with each other, it
is a great place to shop and not have to deal
with crowds, and we have the post office,
which makes it easy to get your mail and
mail things out.
Occaso: What other leadership positions
have you held in the community?
DeForge: I have been the vice president
of the community club and various other
positions. I had the honor of learning how
to make the famous bean hole beans and
being on (the television show) Across the
Fence. I am a member of the Adamant
church, taught Sunday school there, and
have been an auditor for the church. I work
for the Adamant Music School in the summer. I also worked in the kitchen and was a
substitute teacher at the elementary school.
Occaso: What do you do now?
DeForge: I work at the East Montpelier
Elementary School and at the Adamant
Music School in the summer.
Occaso: Anything youd like to add?
DeForge: Adamant is a unique little village
with a lot to offer, from the co-op/post office to the music school/theater, the church,
and the community club. It has beautiful
scenic views of ponds, waterfalls, and wildlife. And, of course, the people.
One of the original $5 shares in the Adamant Cooperative, October 1935
THE BRIDGE
The Higher-Ed
Vermont College
Architectural renderin
Interview with President (and Author)

Thomas Christopher Greene
by Carla Occaso and Nat Frothingham
Nat Frothingham: We are putting together a
series of profile on the six institutions of higher
education in Washington County. Vermont
College of Fine Arts is one of them. Please
describe the college.
Thomas Greene: Vermont College of Fine
Arts has quickly become one of the leading
graduate arts institutions in the country. We
are bringing artists across the disciplines here
to Montpelier from all around the country
and around the world. We have students who
come from South America and Asia. They
are writers, designers, musicians, artists, filmmakers, and, next year, we are going to start
educating teachers as well. We have something
that is allowing us not to get caught up in
some of the challenging trends other higher
education institutions are caught in.
Frothingham: Please elaborate on that.
have become a real transformative force eco- Greene: We attracted a board of trustees. We
nomically for the city of Montpelier.
raised half a million dollars in capital to buy
Frothingham: I know the impact is there in the campus and three academic programs. We
the dollars, and I see the students from time to put together a long-term business plan. We
built a plan for growth. We became the fastest
time, but it doesnt feel clamorous.
college to achieve accreditation in the history
Greene: We have a very opaque campus. It of New England, and we are the first people
is brick, and you cant see through the doors. in a long time to figure out how to make this
You often cannot hear the music that is hap- campus work.
pening in the chapel unless you are in the chapel. We are about to invest $3.5 million into Occaso: What is the key to success?
two significant architectural projects. We are Greene: We have a clear vision of where we are
going to be redoing Alumni Hall into a state- headed. We have a business model that works
of-the-art arts center. It is going to have a glass financially, and the college is financially stable
front inside the pillars so when you drive up when a lot of institutions are not.
the hill and there is an exhibition there or an Frothingham: Kids are laboring under a debt
event, youll be able to see right into it. We are load of many thousands of dollars as they try
going to be creating a new faculty center right to enter the workforce postponing family
here. The garage is going to be taken down life, postponing home ownership.
and turned into a contemporary architect-designed building where faculty will live. There Greene: The average student graduates with
around $25,000 in debt. In other words, the
will be a sculpture garden out front.
price of a Toyota. Except unlike a Toyota, it
The next iteration of what we are doing as an is not gone in four years. You carry it with
institution is building a campus that is reflec- you for life. And the average income that a
tive of our mission as a 21st-century fine arts graduate of a four-year college makes over the
college. We are going to make the first invest- course of a lifetime amounts to a million dolments in this campus since 1965.
lar difference between having the degree and
Carla Occaso: What is the most popular pro- not having it.
gram?
Frothingham: Do we really need more artists?
Greene: Adult students, who are primarily

our population of graduate students, arent
interested in living in a college campus for two
or three years. They want to have the ability to
work, to have jobs. The low-residency model
we have lets them do it. There has been a
great democratization in technology that has
changed both the way art is taught, and also
how art is made. Film is a great example of
that. Ten years ago, to have a film school you
needed a $5 million building full of expensive Greene: Our largest and oldest program is
equipment. Now people can shoot an entire writing. You get to study fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and some students work in
movie on an iPhone.
translation. There are 130 students in that
Frothingham: Tell us more.
program. I am a graduate of that program
Greene: Everything we do is built on trying myself.
to be the best. Our writing program is always Occaso: Tell me about why you were inspired
ranked one, two, or three in the country. to take this on.
Every year since we started the college weve
had finalists for the National Book Awards in Greene: I am a novelist, I am a graduate of
that field. Our graphic design program, which the program, and I had been an administrator
is only three years old, was just ranked in the here for years before leaving to write full time.
top 11 in the country by Print Magazine. Our And, I initially started with the idea that I just
film program is attracting students in some wanted to save the campus and the jobs that
ways that are more accomplished than the were here. The people were colleagues of mine,
faculty. We have a student in the program who back when it looked like the college would
wrote the screenplay for the film Joe, which close. I led the effort with my colleague Bill
Kaplan to save the campus. That turned into
is out right now starring Nicholas Cage.
a much larger mission of becoming a national
People dont realize how significant the college center for education in the arts. We are the
is to this community because our students fastest growing college in the state of Vermont.
look like they just live here. They might be 60.
They might be 25. Every time we add a new Occaso: How did you save it? That sounds
program, we infuse about $100,000 in direct like a tall order.
spending into the downtown merchants. We
VCFA President
Thomas Greene
Do we need more writers?
Greene: I think it is less about production and

what is created, although that is important. It
is the experience of what it means to be an artist. Our mission says we support emerging and
established artists to create a more humane
world. I think when you wrestle with ideas,
language, visuals, art, you get at the heart of
what it means to be human.
VCFA students Tirzah Price and Valer
Frothingham: What are you doing that is

cutting new ground? How are you transforming lives?
Greene: We are creating communities of artists that become lifetime communities. It is a
very hard thing to explain to someone who has
not been here. If you are a writer, an artist, a
designer, that is the only thing you are while
you are here. You are not a mother, father,
partner, or dentist, or whatever you do in your
life. You create art when you are here.
1834 Newbury Seminary

1841 Newbury Theological Institute
1846 Springfield Wesleyan Seminary
1865 Vermont Conference Seminary
1870 Vermont Methodist Seminary
1894 Montpelier Seminary
1941 Vermont Junior College
1958 Vermont College
1972 Vermont College of Norwich University
2001 Union Institute & University
2008 Vermont College of Fine Arts
2009 175th Anniversary of Vermont College
SCHOOL
OVERVIEW
Location: 36 College St., Montpelier, Vermont

HISTORY OF VERMONT COLLEGE
Format: Low-residency
Tuition (Varies per program. Below are two examples):
$9,683 per semester for MFA in writing plus $750 room and board per residency.
$10,750.00 per semester MFA in film plus $525 room and board and $637 equipment fee per
Financial Aid: Need-based and merit-based scholarships
Accreditation: Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. thro
of Higher Education.
Programs: Writing, Writing and Publishing, Writing for Children and Young Adults, Film
Graphic Design, Art and Design Education,
Enrollment: 375 combined programs
Faculty: 8090
T H E B R I D G E
ducation Series
of Fine Arts
ng of Alumni Hall. Courtesy of VCFA.
rie Leussler
Montpelier
Interview with Alumna Kekla Magoon

by Carla Occaso
Occaso: Tell us about yourself

Magoon: Usually I'd start the answer to this
question by talking about my work as an author, since that's most of what goes on in my
life. But that is the next question. What else
would you like to know? I'm 34. I was raised
in the Midwest, went to college in Chicago
area, lived in New York City for the past 12
years, and recently moved to Vermont, partly
because I had such a positive experience as a
VCFA student. I enjoy travel and art and good
conversations. I eat a lot of ice cream.
Occaso: What is your current profession?
Magoon: I'm an author. I write novels and
non-fiction books for teens. I have published
six novels so far, with a few more coming out
in the next few years. My latest novel, "How
It Went Down" (Henry Holt, 2014) has received significant media attention and several
starred reviews and was included on some Best
Books lists for 2014. I've also written over a
dozen non-fiction books for the school/library
market. I teach writing part-time, and I travel
around the country making appearances at
schools, libraries, writing conferences, book
fairs, and more.
Occaso: Do you think your experience at
VCFA helped you get your current job?
Magoon: Absolutely. My experience at VCFA
has been integral to helping me become the
best writer I can be and to giving me the tools
I've needed to succeed in publishing on every
possible level. My first published novel was
my creative thesis from VCFA (producing a
publication-quality manuscript is a graduation
requirement). That book, "The Rock and the
River" (Simon & Schuster, 2009), won a prestigious American Library Association award,
and my career has progressed upward from
there. I definitely feel that the education I
received at VCFA has brought me farther in
my career much faster than I could have progressed on my own. I had published nothing
10 years ago when I discovered VCFA, and
now my publications are well into the double
digits!
Occaso: How did you learn about VCFA?
Magoon: I attended a weekend writing retreat
that took place on the VCFA campus. I signed
up for the special weekend not knowing all
that the college had to offer, but I had such a
great time and learned so much in those few

days that I wanted that experience to continue.
When I learned about the MFA programs in
writing, it seemed like exactly what I needed to
take my writing to the next level.
Occaso: Tell us a bit about the program?
Magoon: I graduated from the MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults program,
which operates on a low-residency model. Students and faculty come to campus twice a year
for a 10-day intensive residency, but we live all
over the country during the rest of the year.
Each residency brings a close to the previous
semester and launches a new semester. We
participate in critique workshops, hear lectures
from faculty and graduating students, and attend readings of works by faculty and students,
all while immersed in a supportive and stimulating educational environment. The low-residency model offers students from around the
country a powerful immersion experience into
a community shared by other serious writers
and the opportunity to pursue higher education at a top-level institution without uprooting their families to move to Vermont. During
residency, each student is assigned to a faculty
advisor with whom they'll work throughout
the semester once they return home. Students
submit a packet of writing each month, and
the faculty advisor responds with comments,
critique, assignments, and other feedback on
the work. It is an independent study experience that allows students to get significant
personal attention from the faculty and challenge themselves in the areas they most need to
improve. VCFA has two low-residency MFA
in Writing programs plus a residential Master
of Professional Writing program, and the college now also offers several low-residency MFA
opportunities in other arts disciplines, including graphic design, visual art, music composition, and film.
community I found at VCFA, and I still hold

my classmates among my closest friends and
colleagues. As an alumna, that sense of community has only deepened and expanded. The
VCFA community is a support system and a
source for continued education far beyond the
degree of MFA.
Occaso: What is the average VCFA student
like?
Magoon: Oh, one of the neat things about
the low-residency model is that people come
from all walks of life, and all different parts of
the country to participate in the program. I've
known students who were attorneys by day, or
full-time parents, or a construction foreman,
or a kindergarten teacher. Retired persons
mingle with those fresh out of college, and
second-career folks who fall in between are
quite common too. We have first-generation
Americans and immigrants among us, as well
as students living abroad. The group of classmates I graduated with were a diverse bunch,
in terms of age, socioeconomic background,
family structure, sexual orientation/identity,
and race/ethnicity/national origin. The only
thing I can say VCFA students clearly have in
common is a deep passion for art and a willingness to work hard to develop their skills to
contribute more meaningful art to the world.
Occaso: What is your favorite part about the

program?
Magoon: As a student, I loved the low-residency model because it allowed me to continue
my regular life and work yet still participate in
an MFA program. I had a full-time corporate
job at the time, which I needed in order to pay
my bills, but I also had a dream of becoming
a writer. VCFA was a perfect step in the direction I wanted to go. I cherished the sense of
Lit walkways on campus during a

holiday event.
Mission Statement: Vermont College of Fine Arts is a national center for education in the arts, fostering the excellence of emerging and established
artists and advancing the arts to create a more humane world. From their website: http://vcfa.edu/about-vcfa
Housing: dormitory
r residency
History: For the last 175 years, Vermont College has served as a pillar institution in Vermont, serving thousands of students from across the country.
From its beginnings as Newbury Seminary to its illustrious history as Vermont Junior College and Vermont College, the institution has provided
opportunities for students of all disciplines to pursue their educational goals. Vermont College officially opened its doors as Newbury Seminary in
Newbury, Vermont, in 1834.
ough its Commission on Institutions
Since 1868, Vermont College has been located on a 31-acre campus in Montpelier at the intersection of East State Street and College Street. The striking campus, patterned with brick buildings and centered by a scenic college green, was previously the site of a Civil War hospital.
m, Visual Art, Music Composition,
In June 2008, Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) bought the historic Vermont College campus and three MFA programs from Union Institute &
University, which had owned the campus since 2001.
Admission contact: To speak with an admissions counselor, call toll-free 1-866-935-VCFA or 802-828-8600 or contact the Admissions office via
email. admissions@vcfa.edu.
THURSDAY, JAN. 22
Multiplici-Tea! Informal meet up and tea time for

parents experiencing the unique challenge of caring for multiple birth children (twins, triplets, etc.)
Play space for toddlers, resources provided. Free
coffee and tea. Fourth Thurs., 9:3011:30 a.m.
Good Beginnings of Central Vermont, 174 River
St., Montpelier. 595-7953. gbcv91@gmail.com.
goodbeginningscentralvt.org.
Free VSAC Workshops U-32 and Northfield
Middle High School. These workshops from Vermont Student Assistance Corps offer guidance on
filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal
Student Aid) and Vermont grant forms. Students
and parents can also ask questions and learn about
the college financial aid process, including scholarships. Internet access will be available and space is
limited. Participants should bring the following:
Social Security number; most recent federal tax
return; and most recent W-2 or year-end pay stub.
All documentation will be confidential and used
solely to fill out individual forms. 5:30 p.m. at
U-32, 930 Gallison Hill Rd., Montpelier. By appointment only noon8 p.m. at Northfield Middle
High School, 37 Cross St., Northfield. Call guidance office for appointment: 485-4500. vsac.org.
Green Mountain Care Board Public Meeting.
Presentation on the development of standardized
edits and payment rules. 14 p.m. GMCB Board
Room, City Center Building, 89 Main St., 2F,
Montpelier. gmcboard.vermont.gov.
Green Mountain Dog Club Monthly Meeting.
Learn about the club and events. All dog lovers
welcome. Fourth Thurs., 7:30 p.m. Commodores
Inn, Stowe. 479-9843 or greenmountaindogclub.
org.
FRIDAY, JAN. 23
Computer Help at MSAC. A local student will be

available in the MSAC computer lab to provide
free technology assistance to seniors. Call to
confirm times. 10:4511:45 a.m. Montpelier
Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.
223-2518.
Friday Night Group. For youth age 1322 who
are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or
questioning. Pizza, soft drinks and conversation.
Cofacilitated by two trained, adult volunteers from
Outright VT. Second and fourth Fri., 6:308 p.m.
Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
223-7035. Micah@OutrightVT.org.
Botswana: A Gift of Life. Part of Naturalist Journeys 2015 Slide Show and Lecture Series. 78:30
p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier.
$5 donation. 229-6206. info@northbranchnaturecenter.org. northbranchnaturecenter.org.
SATURDAY, JAN. 24
Cross-country Ski Bolton with Green Mountain

Club. Moderate. Approximately 4 miles. Honey
Hollow. Ski a short section of the Catamount Trail
and the Honey Hollow Road. Call Steve for meeting time and place: 479-2304.
Kids Creating Music with Bob Brookens. Sing,
dance and play instruments in this lively story
hour. Ages 18 months4 years. 10 a.m. Waterbury

Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Free.
244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com.
Conversations from the Working Landscape
in Cabot. Calley Hastings of Fat Toad Farm and
Mari Ormland of Green Mountain Girls Farm
and Floating Bridge Food and Farm Coop present
Starting Your Own Business and Organizing a
Town Wide Business Cooperative. Part of a series
of exciting, free workshops for local businesses and
entrepreneurs presented by the Cabot Agricultural
Network and the Cabot Community Association.
10:15 a.m. Cabot Town Hall (Willey Building),
3084 Main St., Cabot. Free. 563-3338. info@
rhapsodynaturalfoods.com.
Jaquith Library Volunteer Appreciation
Luncheon. All volunteers are welcome: library
trustees, Friends of the Jaquith Library, program
presenters, artists, newsletter designers, shelvers,
book processors, circulation desk people and volunteers of all kinds! Come celebrate what it takes
to keep the Jaquith Library vibrant, alive, active
and growing. We want to honor the work you do
for the library. 1 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122
School St., Marshfield. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
THE BRIDGE
ing: Social Security number; most recent federal

tax return; and most recent W-2 or year-end pay
stub. All documentation will be confidential and
used solely to fill out individual forms. 5:30 p.m.
Williamstown High School, 120 Hebert Rd., Williamstown. vsac.org.
Bereavement/Grief Support Group. Open to
anyone who has experienced the death of a loved
one. 6-7:30 p.m. Conference Center. 600 Granger
Road, Berlin. Free. 223-1878.
Monthly Book Group for Adults. Join us for the
Jaquith book group. For copies of the book, please
stop by the library. New members are always welcome. Fourth Mon., 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library,
122 School St., Marshfield. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary@gmail.com. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
NAMI Vermont Family Support Group. Support
group for families and friends of individuals living
with mental illness. Fourth Mon., 7 p.m. Central
Vermont Medical Center, room 3, Berlin. 800639-6480 or namivt.org.
TUESDAY, JAN. 27
Vermontivate! Vermontivate! is a nationally recognized community sustainability game designed

to bring a sense of hope, fun, collaboration and
infinite possibility to the hard work of addressing
the climate crisis. Join Vermontivate! Executive
Director Kathy Blume to learn more about how to
gear up for the 2015 game. 12:30 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Medicare and You Workshop. New to Medicare?
Have questions? We have answers. Second and
fourth Tues., 34:30 p.m. 59 N. Main St., Ste.
200, Barre. Free, donations gratefully accepted.
479-0531. cvcoa@cvcoa.org. cvcoa.org.
Occupy Central Vermont. Informational event
and discussion of the militarization of U.S. police
departments with a focus on Vermont. Joseph
Ganza (from WGDR) and members of Veterans
for Peace are speakers. Music, fun, information,
SUNDAY, JAN. 25
Cross-country Ski Warren with Green Mountain Club. Easy to moderate. Various distances.
Relaxed pace. Oles Cross Country Ski Center.
Mostly open terrain. Bring lunch or purchase at
touring center. Meet at Montpelier High School,
5 High School Dr., Montpelier. Fee or season
pass. Call Reidun or Andrew for meeting time:
223-3550.
The Waterbury American Legion Post 59 Bingo
Fundraiser. Doors open 11 a.m.; quickies noon;
regular games 1 p.m. Lunch available. Waterbury
American Legion, 16 Stowe St., Waterbury. 2448404.
Ice on Fire. The bigger-than-life winter festival
returns to the open fields at NBNC. Participate
in wonderful winter activities including a parade,
storytelling, winter games and outdoor theater,
and a huge closing bonfire. 25 p.m. North
Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St., Montpelier.
Suggested donation: adults $3; children $1; family
$5. 229-6206. northbranchnaturecenter.org.
Twin Valley Senior Center Take-Out or EatIn Sunday Dinner. Delicious beef stroganoff,
noodles, peas, roll and carrot cake. Benefits Meals
on Wheels Program for homebound seniors. 46
p.m. Twin Valley Senior Center, Rte. 2, Blueberry
Commons, E. Montpelier. $10. Reservations
required. Susan: 223-6954.
MONDAY, JAN. 26
Free VSAC Workshops at Williamstown High

School. These workshops from Vermont Student
Assistance Corps offer guidance on filling out
the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid) and Vermont grant forms. Students and
parents can also ask questions and learn about the
college financial aid process, including scholarships. Internet access will be available and space
is limited. Participants should bring the follow-
The Little Engine That Could Earns Her Whistle comes to Chandler
Center for the Arts in Randolph on Feb. 2.
Performing Arts
THEATER, STORYTELLING
& COMEDY
Jan. 23: The Vermont Burlesque Festival:
Granite City Showcase. An evening of campy,
beautiful, sensual and sometimes humorous burlesque. For open-minded, fun-loving folks who
want a night of over-the-top grown-up entertainment. Hosted by The Logger, Rusty DeWees,
this 3-hour event promises a total of 20 acts.
Doors open 7 p.m. for cocktails and live jazz;
show starts 8 p.m.; after-party at Cornerstone
Pub & Kitchen 11 p.m. Barre Opera House, 6 N.
Main St., Barre. $2530. barreoperahouse.org.
vermontburlesquefestival.com.
Jan. 24: M or F? Vermont Pride Theater at
Chandler presents a world-premiere benefit, the
stage adaptation of popular book M or F? in a
staged reading. A talkback with the actors and
the books authors will follow the performance.
7 p.m. Chandler Music Hall, 71-73 Main St.,
Randolph. Adults $12; students $6. 728-6464.
chandler-arts.org.
Jan. 24: CD&FS Faculty and Student Works in
Progress Showcase. Choreography by Hanna
Satterlee, Isadora Snapp, Rosemary Leach, The
New Crew and Evan Lewis. 7 p.m. Contemporary Dance and Fitness Studio, 18 Langdon St.,
3F, Montpelier. Adults $10; children $5. Benefits
floor fund. 229-4676. cdandfs.com.
Jan. 30: The Tell Off: Storytelling Tournament
of Champions. Winning raconteurs of extempo
vie for audience votes and cash prizes in the
fourth annual competition. 7 p.m. Post 59 of The
American Legion, 16 Stowe St., Waterbury. $10.
Proceeds benefit Waterbury Recreation. 2447174. storytelling@extempovt.com. extempovt.
com.
Feb. 2: The Little Engine That Could Earns

Her Whistle. Adaptation of the classic childrens story The Little Engine That Could with
a lively, Broadway-style score and bright, engaging sets and costumes. Written and produced
by ArtsPower. 10 a.m. Chandler Center for the
Arts, 71-73 Main St., Randolph. $6. 431-0204.
outreach@chandler-arts.org.
Feb. 6: Laugh Local VT Open Mic Comedy
Night. Montpelier's monthly comedy open mic.
Sign-ups 7:30 p.m.; show starts 8 p.m. American
Legion Post #3, 21 Main St., Montpelier. Free;
donations welcome. Bob: 793-3884.
AUDITIONS
Jan. 2526: General Auditions for 2015 Season

at Lost Nation Theater. Actors, singers, movers
ages 16 and up. Prepare two contrasting monologues and 16 bars of a song (optional) no longer
than two minutes total. Bring headshot and
resume. Roles open in most shows, some roles
pre-cast. By appointment: Jan. 25, 14 p.m.; Jan.
26: 69 p.m. Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier
City Hall Arts Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier.
Information and sign-ups: 229-0492. stagemanager@lostnationtheater.org.
Feb. 7: Auditions for Annual Kaleidoscope
of Talent. Amateur vocalists, instrumentalists,
comedians and dancers invited. Cash prizes
awarded in four age groups. Show to be held on
March 7. Benefit for Green Mountain United
Way. 9:30 a.m.4 p.m. Spaulding High School
auditorium, 155 Ayers St., Barre. Performer
application available at gmunitedway.org/kaleidoscope.shtml.
T H E B R I D G E
discussion. 68 p.m. Bagitos Caf, 28 Main St.,

Montpelier.
Parenting Group. Share tips you've had success
with and troubleshoot common frustrations with
other parents. Come with at least one idea of
something that's worked well for you with your
family, and bring something you'd like help with.
Parents only please. 78 p.m. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St., Marshfield. Free. 426-3581.
jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
What's Up Your Sleeve, Grandpa? A fun class
to learn simple tricks with everyday objects. Rob
Mermin presents a hands-on magic class for
grandparents to impress youngsters. Bring a notebook. 7 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main
St., Montpelier. Free. vista@kellogghubbard.org.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 28
Learn Digital Marketing Secrets to Grow Your

Business. Use online videos to market products
and services. with Steve Larose, an independent
video producer and media consultant. Part of a
series of digital marketing workshops sponsored by
Montpelier SCORE. 5:307 p.m. Aldrich Public
Library, Milne Community Room, 6 Washington
St., Barre. Free. Register: montpelier.score.org.
828-4422.
Family Play Night. Hosted by The Family Center
of Washington County. Light dinner and playgroup for children birth6. Staff on hand to help
parents apply for child care financial assistance, get
information about behavior and learning difficulties, child care openings and other Family Center
services. 5:307:30 p.m. Early Childhood Building, 383 Sherwood Dr., Montpelier. Free. Dori:
262-3292 ext. 122. dorio@fcwcvt.org.
Montpelier City Council Meeting. Second and
fourth Wed., 6:30 p.m. City Council Chambers,
Montpelier City Hall. 39 Main St., Montpelier.
montpelier-vt.org.
An African Safari: Lions, Elephants, and
Giraffes! A safari with the recently retired Director of Youth Services, Grace Greene, and Katie
Greene. 7 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135
Main St., Montpelier. Free. vista@kellogghubbard.
org.
THURSDAY, JAN. 29
Vermont Historical Society presents Liberty's

First Crisis. Commemorating Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., author Charles Slack will present the
history behind America's first challenge to free
speechthe Alien and Sedition Acts. In 1798,
Vermont Representative Matthew Lyon was jailed
for criticizing President John Adams. The story
of Lyon's imprisonment, as well as others who
suffered under the Acts, is an important milestone
for American civil rights. Two locations and times:
Noon at Vermont History Museum, 7 State St.,
Montpelier; 7 p.m. at Vermont History Center, 60
Washington St., Barre. Free. 828-2180. Vermonthistory.org/calendar.
Green Mountain Care Board Public Meeting.
Fiscal year 2015 GMCB budget overview. 14
p.m. GMCB Board Room, City Center Building,
89 Main St., 2F, Montpelier. gmcboard.vermont.
gov.
Reading and Discussion Group on Climate
Change. This Changes Everything, a book
about global climate change by Naomi Klein, is
discussed in three evening sessions (Jan. 29, Feb.
5 and Feb. 12). Discussion leaders are Jay Moore,
Rutgers history PhD; Judith Sargent, Goddard
MA in social ecology; and possible guests from
Vermonts 350.org. 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library,
122 School St., Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
Film Screening: Little Jerusalem. In the late
19th century, Jews from villages in rural Lithuania
settled in Burlington, Vermont. 7 p.m. KelloggHubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
vista@kellogghubbard.org.
FRIDAY, JAN. 30
Home Share Now. A representative from Home

Share Now will be at an information table to
discuss the program and answer questions. 10:30
a.m.noon. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58
Barre St., Montpelier. MSAC: 223-2518. Home
Share Now: 479-8549.
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through Jan. 23: Shamus McCaffrey Langlois,
Totems and Lovers, Clowns and Villains.
Sculpture, painting and drawing exploring the
transitional spaces between experience, desire
and transformation. Gallery SIX, 6 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 552-8620. gallerysixvt@gmail.com.
http://gallerysix.weebly.com/
Through Jan. 30: Tibetan Buddhist Thankgas.
Various artists. Tulsi Tea Room, 34 Elm St.,
Montpelier. 223-1431. tulsitearoom.com.
Through Jan. 31: Michael T. Jermyn, New
American Impressionism. Local photographer
Michael T. Jermyn presents some new photographic works along with a few old favorites.
Tues.Sun., noon10 p.m. Chill, 32 State St.,
Montpelier. 223-2445 or 223-1570.
Through Jan. 31: Richard Ambelang, Photographic Abstraction. Abstract inkjet (giclee)
prints of derelict boxcars: graffiti, rust, peeling
paint without larger context. Mon.Fri., 7
a.m.7 p.m.; Sat. 7 a.m.5 p.m. City Center, 89
Main St., Montpelier. richarda@sover.net.
Through Jan. 31: Amanda Amend, Vermont
Watercolors. Three Mountain Caf, Mad
River Green, off Rte. 100, Waitsfield. 652-9893;
amanda.amend@gmail.com. Three Mountain
Caf: 496-5470.
Through Jan. 31: Jo Levasseur. An exhibit of
18 drawings, mostly landscapes in chalk pastel,
colored pencil, acrylic and pencil. Reception:
Jan. 30, 68 p.m. Royalton Memorial Library,
23 Alexander Pl., S. Royalton. Free; open to the
public.
Through Feb. 21: 3 New Shows at SPA. Opening reception: Jan. 24, 3:305:30 p.m. Studio
Place Arts, 201 N. Main St., Barre. 479-7069.
studioplacearts.com. facebook.com/studioplacearts.
Main floor: Amore. More than 20 local artists explore love and passion through their
paintings, sculptures, prints and assemblages.
Second floor: Cecilia Kane, How Am I Feeling Today? Portraits on vintage hankies.
Third floor: Ann Young, Autumn Pond
Abstract. Paintings.
Through Feb. 22: David Powell and Peter
Thomashow Exhibition. Two-person exhibition of sculpture (Peter Thomashow) and
collage (W. David Powell). The work is playful,
scientific, historical and a mix of imagined and
real. Gallery hours: Wed.Sun., noon5 p.m.
Helen Day Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Donations. 253-8358. mail@helenday.com. helenday.com/exhibitions/east-gallery-upcoming
Feb. 628: Jackie Smith, Heart-Shaped
World. Viewing the world through a heartshaped lens, both literally and figuratively;
Jackie Smith finds love in unexpected places in
her fanciful photographs. Opening: Feb. 48
p.m. Cheshire Cat, 28 Elm St., Montpelier.
223-1981. cheshirecatclothing.com.
Through Mar. 1: Jen Lashua. Paintings.
Lashuas work is influenced by Intuitive Painting and Color Energetics, and she is currently
studying to become a certified color aroma
therapist. The Shoe Horn Boutique, 8 Langdon
St., Montpelier. 223-5454.
Through Mar. 2: Through Our Lens. Photography exhibit created by teens and young adults
participating in the The Big Picture Project.
Gallery hours: Mon.Thurs., 9 a.m.4 p.m.;
Fri., 9 a.m.2 p.m. The Copley Common Space
Gallery at River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St.,
Morrisville. 888-1261. riverartsvt.org.
Through Mar. 2: John Snell, This is Why I Live
Here. Photographs focusing on images made in
central Vermont throughout the four seasons
that highlight why Snell loves living here. Fri,
35 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., noon2 p.m. Chandler
Lower Gallery, 71-73 Main St., Randolph.
728-6464.
MonFri., 8 a.m.4:30 p.m. The Supreme

Court Gallery, Montpelier. Free. 828-5657.
Through Apr. 10: Green Mountain Graveyards: Photo Exhibit. Fascinating look into the
past with these photographs. Vermont History
Museum, 109 State St., Montpelier. Exhibit
included in museum fee. 828-2180. amanda.
gustin@state.vt.us. vermonthistory.org/calendar.
Through Apr. 12: Play. Exhibition on the
theme of play filled with interactive artwork
from regional and national artists. Gallery
hours: Wed.Sun., noon5 p.m. Helen Day
Art Center, 90 Pond St., Stowe. Donation.
253-8358. mail@helenday.com. helenday.com/
exhibitions/upcoming.
Through July 31: 1865, Out of the Ashes:
Assassination, Reconstruction, and Healing the Nation. Focuses on the aftermath of
the assassination of Pres. Abraham Lincoln,
the rehabilitation of the South and efforts to
unify the country. Opening: Jan. 23, 57 p.m.
Museum hours: Mon.Fri., 8 a.m.4 p.m.; Sat.
11 a.m.4 p.m. Norwich University, Sullivan
Museum and History Center, Northfield. 4852183. academics.norwich.edu/museum/
Through July 31: Kara Walker, Juxtaposition, Contemporary Specters, and Harpers
Pictorial History of the Civil War. The artist
combined her signature overlays of black
silhouettes with historic lithography to produce
Through Mar. 8: The Art of Place. Showcasing
poignant and sharp commentary on stereotypes
work from both well-established and emerging
found in the nations history of slavery, Jim
artists from around the northeast. The question
Crow and segregation that still infiltrate present
placed to these artists How do your surroundstereotypes. Mon.Fri., 8 a.m.4 p.m.; Sat.
ings inform your work drew responses from
11 a.m.4 p.m. Norwich University, Sullivan
28 photographers, fiber artists, printmakers,
Museum and History Center, Northfield. 485installation artists, clay artists and painters. Fri.,
2183. academics.norwich.edu/museum/
36 p.m.; Sat. and Sun., noon3 p.m. Chandler
Center for the Arts, 71-73 Main St., Randolph.
728-6464.
Through Mar. 21: W. Ward, Tiny Mighty.
Ink, watercolor, mixed media with a focus on
folklore with futurism. Opening: Jan. 30, 68
p.m. See Art and Author Night listing in the
main calendar. Jaquith Public Library, 122
School St., Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
Through Mar. 28: HOOKED in the Valley. 36
hooked rug pieces by the Mad River Rug Hookers with a wide range of subject matter, color
and design. Mon.Fri, 10 a.m.3 p.m.; Sat. by
appointment. The Festival Gallery, #2 Village
Square, Waitsfield. 496-6682. valleyartsfoundation.org.
Through Mar. 31: The Eyes Have It: Portraits
and Figures by August Burns. A collection of
paintings and drawings of men and women by
one of the areas most accomplished portraitists.
Art Walk Reception with acoustic guitarist
Andy Pitt: Feb. 6, 47 p.m. Gallery hours:
SPECIAL EVENTS
Feb. 6: Reflections. Photographs by John Snell,

paintings by Hope Burgoyne and cello music by
Melissa Perley. 20-minute slide shows accompanied by cello will take place at 5 p.m., 6 p.m.
and 7 p.m. North Branch Caf, 41 State St.,
Montpelier. Free. 229-1751. jrsnelljr@gmail.
com. stilllearningtosee.com.
Photo by John Snell
An Introduction to Designing Fliers in GIMP.

Learn design concepts and apply them to make
your own PR materials in GIMP. 1 p.m. Kellogghubbard library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
Final Planning Workshop. With the Funeral
Consumers Alliance of Vermont. Learn more
about rights, choices and little known alternatives
to traditional funeral arrangements. An opportunity to gather your thoughts, explore options and
prepare for that inevitable time when we all must
face our own or a friend's mortality while we are
still healthy. 1 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Free. 223-8140.
mbisbee@myfairpoint.net.
Friends of the Aldrich Library Winter Banquet/
Auction. Beef tenderloin dinner, silent and live
auctions to benefit library programs. 5:308:30
p.m. Barre Elks Lodge, 6 Jefferson St., Barre.
$25. 476-7550. aldrichlibrary@charter.net.
mkotch731@gmail.com.
Art and Author Night. Art opening of W. Wards
Tiny Mighty, an exhibit of ink, watercolor, and
mixed media with a focus on folklore with futurism. 68 p.m.; poetry reading 7 p.m. Jaquith
Public Library, 122 School St., Marshfield. Free.
426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
Full Moon Snowshoe Hikes. Under a full moon
and surrounded by sparkling snow, lets snowshoe
by lunar light! Night activities will illuminate
how wildlife survives the long nights of winter.
Snowshoes and hot chocolate provided. 78:30
p.m. North Branch Nature Center, 713 Elm St.,
Montpelier. $5 members; $10 non-members. 2296206. northbranchnaturecenter.org.
Birth Story Corps. Birth is amazing, emotional,
evoking. A common thread among us, yet experienced differently by all. Unite for an evening
of birth storytelling come share yours! 7 p.m.
Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre. $10 to
benefit Good Beginnings of Central Vermont.
595-7953. gbcv91@gmail.com. espressobueno.
com/events/
SATURDAY, JAN. 31
Friends of the Jaquith Library annual Book

Sale. All books $2 or less. Donations welcome
prior to Jan. 30. 9 a.m.1:30 p.m. Jaquith Public
Library, Old Schoolhouse Common, 122 School
St., Marshfield. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.
org.
Author Reading: Coming Full Circle. Author
Reading of Coming Full Circle: One Woman's
Journey through Spiritual Crisis by Carol L.
Noyes. Power Point and refreshments. 10:30
a.m.noon. Aldrich Public Library, 6 Washington St., Barre. Free; open to the public. 485-7444.
caroln1@tds.net. facebook.com/CarolLNoyes.
The Identity Abacus: Frame, Circle and Loop.
Three-dimensional metaphor for unified selfawareness as well as an instrument for measuring
in a holistic way a range of facets integral to an
individual's sense of identity. A good tool for
avoiding stereotyping and stigmatizing. 35 p.m.
Unitarian Church, Childrens Chapel, 130 Main
St., Montpelier.
SUNDAY, FEB. 1
Moonlight Snowshoe with Green Mountain

Club. Evening exploration of local trails by moonlight. Bring headlamp. Clear sky backup date:
Feb. 2. Meet at 7 p.m. Call leader Jill for details
and meeting place: 224-9980. happy.jillaspinall@
gmail.com.
THE BRIDGE
TUESDAY, FEB. 3
ADA Advisory Committee Meeting. First Tues.

City managers conference room, City Hall, 39
Main St., Montpelier. 223-9502.
Womens Circle. Women and mothers discuss
motherhood, family life and womens health.
Hosted by midwives Chelsea Hastings and
Hannah Allen. First Tues., 68 p.m. Emerge
Midwifery and Family Health, 174 River St.,
Montpelier.
Library Book Delivery Service. First and third
Tues., 1 p.m. See sign-up sheet near office for
more info. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58
Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 4
Foot Clinic at Twin Valley Senior Center. Call

CVHHH to set up an appointment and they will
tell you what to bring with you: 223-1878. Twin
Valley Senior Center, Rte. 2, E. Montpelier. $15
cash or check to CVHHH.
Bereavement/Grief Support Group. Open to
anyone who has experienced the death of a loved
one. 1011:30 a.m. Conference Center. 600
Granger Road, Berlin. Free. 223-1878.
Grandparents Raising Their Childrens Children. First Wed., 10 a.m.Noon. Barre Presbyterian Church, Summer St. 476-1480.
MONDAY, FEB. 2
Build a LEGO Winter Village. Even though the

library will be closed for regular business, kids
in grades 14 are welcome to come after school
on this early release day and have some fun with
LEGOs! 13 p.m. Waterbury Public Library,
28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Free. Registration
required: 244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com.
Classic Book Club. New members always welcome. Most first Mon., 68 p.m. Cutler Memorial Library, 151 High St. (Rte. 2), Plainfield. Free.
454-8504. cutlerlibrary.org/resources/bookclub.
Central VT Adult Basic Education Welcomes

Current and Prospective Volunteers. Find out
about volunteer opportunities at CVABE in the
Montpelier/Barre area. This is also a chance for
current volunteers to share their experiences and
inspire others. 4:305:30 p.m. CVABEs Barre
Learning Center, 46 Washington St., Barre. Gale:
476-4588.
Parent Meet-Up. Come meet other parents, share

information and chat over light snacks, coffee
and tea. First Mon., 1011:30 a.m. Hayes Room,
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free. mamasayszine@gmail.com.
Learn Digital Marketing Secrets to Grow Your

Business. Workshop on social media with Anahi
Costa, a marketing professional who works with
search engine optimization, search engine marketing, email, social media presence and advertising.
Part of a series of digital marketing workshops
sponsored by Montpelier SCORE. 5:307 p.m.
Aldrich Public Library, Milne Community Room,
6 Washington St., Barre. Free. Register: montpelier.score.org. 828-4422.
Business Planning Workshop Series. Learn how
to start or expand your small business with experienced business counselors. 68 p.m. Capstone
Community Action, 20 Gable Pl., Barre. Free.
Laura: 477-5176, lsudhoff@capstonevt.org. Margaret: 477-5214, mferguson@capstonevt.org.
Parent Caf Workshops. With The Family
Center of Washington County. Focused, small
group conversations with other parents facilitated
by a parent educator from the Family Center.
Participants enjoy coffee and dessert while listening to other parents share ideas and approaches
to common parenting challenges. 68 p.m.
Early Childhood Building, 383 Sherwood Dr.,
Montpelier. Free. Christopher: 262-3292 ext. 115.
christopherr@fcwcvt.org.
Cancer Support Group. First Wed., 6 p.m.
Potluck. For location, call Carole Mac-Intyre
229-5931.
U-32 School Board Meeting. Open to the public
and community members are always welcome to
attend. 6 p.m. U-32, Rm. 131, 930 Gallison Hill
Rd., Montpelier. 229-0321.
Weatherization Workshop. Explore low-cost
ways to improve the efficiency of your home.
Weatherization door prizes. 6:30 p.m. KelloggHubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
Community Cinema: American Denial. Panel
discussion after the screening. 7 p.m. KelloggHubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
Montpelier School Board Meeting. 7 p.m.
Montpelier High School library, 5 High School
Dr., Montpelier. 225-8000.
T H E B R I D G E
THURSDAY, FEB. 5
MBAC Meeting. Meeting of the Montpelier

Bicycle Advisory Committee. First Thurs., 8 a.m.
Police Station Community Room, 534 Washington St., Montpelier. 262-6273.
WinterFest Words: Fun with Acrostic Poetry
& Art. Try your hand at acrostic poetry. Acrostics
are a fun poetic form that anyone can write! Then
use a variety of art materials to illustrate your
poem. For ages 8adult. 68 p.m. Waterbury
Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. Free.
244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com.
Diabetes Support Group. First Thurs., 78 p.m.
Conference room 3, Central Vermont Medical
Center. 371-4152.
Reading and Discussion Group on Climate
Change. This Changes Everything, a book
about global climate change by Naomi Klein, is
discussed in three evening sessions (Jan. 29, Feb.
5 and Feb. 12). Discussion leaders are Jay Moore,
Rutgers history PhD; Judith Sargent, Goddard
MA in social ecology; and possible guests from
Vermonts 350.org. 7 p.m. Jaquith Public Library,
122 School St., Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Free. 2299212. bagitos.com.
Jan. 23: McBride & Lusson (folk/Americana)
68 p.m.
Jan. 24: Irish Session with Sarah Blair, Hilari
Farrington, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne,
Bob Ryan and others, 25 p.m.; Blackbird
Storm (classic country, blues, folk) 68 p.m.
Jan. 25: Eric Friedman and Gretchen Doilon
(folk ballads) 11 a.m.1 p.m.
Jan. 31: Irish Session with Sarah Blair, Hilari
Farrington, Benedict Koehler, Katrina VanTyne,
Bob Ryan and others, 25 p.m.; Rehab Aged
Cheese (jam blues) 68 p.m.
Charlie Os World Famous. 70 Main St., Montpelier. Free. Call for show times if not listed:
223-6820. Additional performances T.B.A.
Jan. 23: Abby Jenne, 7 p.m.; Donna Thunder
& the Storm, The Wards
Band (rock) 10 p.m.
Jan. 24: Sara Grace, 7 p.m.
Jan. 30: Paul Caltado, 7 p.m.; Enemy Self,
Burning Monk (hip hop) 10 p.m.
Jan. 31: Wes Hamilton, 7 p.m.; Amadis
(metal)
North Branch Caf. 41 State St., Montpelier.
7:309:30 p.m. Free. 552-8105. donia@thenorthbranch.com. thenorth-branch.com.
Jan. 23: Borealis Guitar Duo (Celtic, American, Scandinavian, Klezmer)
Jan. 24: Michelle Rodriguez (jazz/blues)
Jan 31: Cygne (electric folk)
Nutty Stephs. 961C U.S. Rte. 2, Middlesex. All
performances are from 710 p.m. unless noted
otherwise. Free unless noted otherwise. 2292090. nightlife@nuttystephs.com. nuttystephs.
com.
Jan. 22: Cooie & Friends (jazz)
Jan. 23: Blue Gumbo (blues)
Jan. 24: Jazzyaoke! 7:3010 p.m. $5.
Jan. 29: Jim Thompson
Jan. 30: Rauli Fernandez & Friends
Jan. 31: Gabriel Presents: A Stringed Affair
(electric/ acoustic violin)
Positive Pie. 22 State St., Montpelier. 229-0453.
positivepie.com.
Jan. 23: The Lynguistic Civilians, 10 p.m. 21+.
$5.
Sweet Melissas. 4 Langdon St., Montpelier.
Free unless otherwise noted. 225-6012. facebook.
com/sweetmelissasvt. Additional performances
T.B.A.
Jan. 23: Honky Tonk Happy Hour with Mark
LeGrand, 5 p.m.; Dave Keller Band, 9 p.m. $5.
Jan. 24: Penny Arcade, 5 p.m.; Crushed Out,
Lake Superior, 9 p.m.
Jan. 27: Open Mic Spotlight, 5 p.m.; Open
Mic Night, 7 p.m.
FRIDAY, FEB. 6
Death Caf. Group discussion about death with

no agenda, objectives or themes. First Fri., 11:45
a.m.1 p.m. Twin Valley Senior Center, Rte. 2,
Blueberry Commons, E. Montpelier. Bring your
own lunch or eat at the center for $4. 223-3322.
Naked in Norway: Backpacking Above the
Arctic Circle. With Bryan Pfeiffer and Ruth
Einstein. Part of Naturalist Journeys 2015 Slide
Show and Lecture Series. 78:30 p.m. Unitarian
Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. $5 donation.
229-6206. info@northbranchnaturecenter.org.
northbranchnaturecenter.org.
Coffeehouse. Enjoy live music and share your
own. Fellowship, potluck snacks and beverages.
First Fri., 79 p.m. Trinity United Methodist
Church, 137 Main St., Montpelier (park and enter
at rear). Free. 244-5191, 472-8297 or rawilburjr@
comcast.net.
SATURDAY, FEB. 7
National Federation of the Blind, Montpelier

Chapter. First Sat. Lane Shops community room,
Jan. 28: Wine Down with D. Davis, 5 p.m.;

Cookies Hot Club, 8 p.m.
Jan. 30: Honky Tonk Happy Hour with Mark
LeGrand, 5 p.m.; A Fly Allusion, 9 p.m. $5.
Jan. 31: Main Street Syndicate, 9 p.m.
The Whammy Bar. 31 County Rd., Calais. 7
p.m. Free. 229-4329. whammybar1.com. Call for
performance times if not listed.
Jan. 23: Colin McCaffrey Country Band
Jan. 24: Red Hot Juba
ARTISTS & SPECIAL

EVENTS
Jan. 25: Vermont Youth Orchestras Young

Artist Festival. Performers include Jillian Reed
who was featured in the Dec. 4, 2014 issue of
The Bridge. 3 p.m. Flynn Theater, Burlington.
$1217. flynncenter.org.
Jan. 31: Lewis Franco & The Missing Cats (with
The Brown Eyed Girls). 3:306:30 p.m. Mad
River Glen Ski Resort, Gen. Starks Pub, Waitsfield. madriverglen.com/visit/event-calendar
Jan. 31: Live Jazz Recording with Allison Mann
Septet. For My Mother and Father The Best
Songs of Their Times, Vol. 2. 79 p.m. Christ
Church, Taplin Auditorium, 64 State St., Montpelier. $15. Reservations: allisonmannvt.com.
223-4712. allisonjoymann@comcast.net.
Feb. 6: Mid-Winter Warm-Up. Dance concert
with Native Tongue to benefit the Granite City
Grocery. 7:3011 p.m. Elks Club, 10 Jefferson
St., Barre. $10; $8 for GCG owners.
Feb. 6: Bow Thayer. Bow Thayer and his band
will perform new music from his new record, as
well as some old favorites. As part of Chandlers
new First Friday series, ticket price includes free
snacks and one free drink. 7:30 p.m. Chandlers
Upper Gallery, 71-73 Main St., Randolph. $19 or
two for $35. 728-6464.
Feb 7: Jon Gailmor. Vermonts singer-songwriter
showman. Part of February Frolics Benefit
Concert Series. 7:30 p.m. Lost Nation Theater,
Montpelier City Hall Arts Center. $15 advance;
$20 at door. Kids 11 and under $10 or free per
accompanying paying adult. 229-0492. lostnationthater.org.
Feb. 8: Beethoven & Arnowitt VIII: A 26-Year
Odyssey. Presented by Capital City Concerts. 3
p.m. Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., Montpelier. $1525. More information and tickets:
capitalcityconcerts.org. Tickets may also be
purchased with cash or check only at Bear Pond
Books, Montpelier.
Submit your calendar

listing by using our
online submission form at
montpelierbridge.com/
calendar-submissions
OR send listing to
calendar@montpelierbridge.com
1 Mechanic St., Montpelier. 229-0093.

Snowshoe with Green Mountain Club. Winter
Trails Day at Green Mountain Club headquarters.
4711 Waterbury-Stowe Rd., Waterbury Center.
244-7037.
Magic: The Gathering Tournament. An informal
tournament every first and third Sat., 10 a.m.1
p.m. Aldrich Library, Teen Room, 6 Washington
St., Barre. Free. 476-7550. aldrichlibrary@gmail.
com. aldrichpubliclibrary.org.
Capital City Indoor Farmers Market. Featuring
over 30 farmers, food producers and craftspeople.
10 a.m.2 p.m. Montpelier High School cafeteria,
5 High School Dr., Montpelier. manager@
montpelierfarmersmarket.com.capitalcityfarmersmarket.com.
Conversations from the Working Landscape in
Cabot. Greg Georgakilis of Farmers To You will
present on The New Economy: Collaboration
and the Future of Sustainable AgricultureHow
Everybody Wins when Businesses and Consumers Direct and Manage the Economy Together.
Part of a series of exciting, free workshops for local
businesses and entrepreneurs presented by the
Cabot Agricultural Network and the Cabot Com-
munity Association. 10:15 a.m. Cabot Town Hall

(Willey Building), 3084 Main St., Cabot. Free.
563-3338. info@rhapsodynaturalfoods.com.
Tricks for Ticks: A guide for gardeners (and
others) to ticks and tick-related diseases.
With Lolly Cochran, D.V.M. Information on
identifying ticks, understanding tick-related diseases and safeguarding yourself, your family and
your pets from these nasty little garden visitors.
10:30 a.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main
St., Montpelier. Free. vista@kellogghubbard.org.
Osteoporosis Education and Support Group.
For those who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, have a family member
who has been diagnosed or want to learn about
osteoporosis. Learn from a variety of guest speakers and medical specialists. First Sat., 13 p.m.
Community National Bank, Community Room,
Crawford Rd., Derby. 535-2011. Mary@BetterBonesNEK.org. BetterBonesNEK.org.
Submit Your Event!

Send listings to
calendar@montpelierbridge.com
Weekly Events
ART & CRAFT
Beaders Group. All levels of beading experience
welcome. Free instruction available. Come with
a project for creativity and community. Sat., 11
a.m.2 p.m. The Bead Hive, Plainfield. 454-1615.
Noontime Knitters. All abilities welcome. Basics
taught. Crocheting, needlepoint and tatting also
welcome. Tues., noon1 p.m. Waterbury Public
Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury. 244-7036.
Women Knitting for Peace Group. Knit/crochet
items to be donated to those in need world-wide.
Bring yarn and needles. Thurs., 1011 a.m. and
67:30 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518. For basic info.
and patterns: knitting4peace.org.
BICYCLING
a.m.1 p.m.
Tues.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St., 11:30
a.m.1 p.m.
Wed.: Christ Church, 64 State St., 11 a.m.
12:30 p.m.
Thurs.: Trinity Church, 137 Main St., 11:30
a.m.1 p.m.
Fri.: St. Augustine Church, 18 Barre St., 11
a.m.12:30 p.m.
Sun.: Last Sunday only, Bethany Church, 115
Main St. (hosted by Beth Jacob Synagogue),
4:305:30 p.m.
Lunches for Seniors. Mon., Wed., Fri., Noon.
Twin Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E.
Montpelier. $4 suggested donation. 223-3322.
twinvalleyseniors.org.
Feast Together or Feast To Go. All proceeds
benefit the Feast Senior Meal program. Tues.
and Fri., noon1 p.m. Live music every Tues.,
10:3011:30 a.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Seniors 60+ free with
$7 suggested donation; under 60 $9. Reservations:
262-6288 or justbasicsinc@gmail.com.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Open Shop Nights. Volunteer-run community

bike shop: bike donations and repairs. Tues., 68
p.m.; other nights. Freeride Montpelier, 89 Barre Turning Point Center. Safe, supportive place
St., Montpelier. 552-3521. freeridemontpelier.org. for individuals and their families in or seeking
recovery. Daily, 10 a.m.5 p.m. 489 North Main
St., Barre. 479-7373.
Sun.: Alchoholics Anonymous, 8:30 a.m.
Tues.: Making Recovery Easier workshops,
67:30 p.m.
Lunch in a Foreign Language. Bring lunch and
Wed.: Wits End Parent Support Group, 6 p.m.
practice your language skills with neighbors.
Thurs.: Narcotics Anonymous, 6:30 p.m.
Noon1 p.m. Mon., Hebrew; Tues., Italian;
Wed., Spanish; Thurs., French. Kellogg-Hubbard Early Bird Bone Builders Class. With Cort
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338.
Richardson, Osteoporosis exercise and prevention
BOOKS & WORDS
English Conversation Practice Group. For

students learning English for the first time. Tues.,
45 p.m. Central Vermont Adult Basic Education, Montpelier Learning Center, 100 State St.
223-3403.
program. Wear comfortable clothing and sturdy

shoes. Light weights provided or bring your own.
All ages. Every Mon. and Wed., 78 a.m. Twin
Valley Senior Center, Rte. 2, Blueberry Commons,
E. Montpelier. Free. Cort: 223-3174 or 238-0789.
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.
Bone Building Exercises. All seniors welcome.

Every Mon., Wed. and Fri. 10:4511:45 a.m. Twin
Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E. Montpelier. Free. 223-3322. twinvalleyseniors.org.
BUSINESS, FINANCE,
COMPUTERS, EDUCATION
Computer and Online Help. One-on-one computer help. Tues. and Fri., 10 a.m.1 p.m. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury.
Free. Registration required: 244-7036.
Lunch & Learn. Every Tues., noon1 p.m. North
Branch Caf, 41 State St., Montpelier. Free.
Limited seating. Reservations: 552-8105. Detailed
info. on each topic: thenorth-branch.com/upcoming-events/
Community Meals in Montpelier. All welcome.

Free.
Mon.: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St., 11
Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.

223-2518.
KIDS & TEENS
Sex Addicts Anonymous. Mon., 6:30 p.m. Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. 552-3483.
Growing Older Group. Informal drop-in group

to share experiences, thoughts and fears about
aging. Every Fri., 10:3011:30 a.m. Montpelier
carload. 229-9383 x106. For list of accepted items,

go to cvswmd.org/arcc-additional-recyclablescollection-center.html.
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
Baby & Toddler Story Time. Every Mon., 10a.m.

Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Water- Womens Group. Women age 40 and older exbury. Free. 244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com. plore important issues and challenges in their lives
in a warm and supportive environment. Facilitated
Orchard Valley Playgroup. An early childhood
by Amy Emler-Shaffer and Julia W. Gresser. Wed.
educator will lead the group, featuring seasonal
evenings. 41 Elm St., Montpelier. 262-6110.
songs, lap games, a puppet story, free play and
conversation. For ages 4 and under and their par- How to Talk to Kids About Racism. Four-part
facilitated discussion group. Presented by the
ent/caregiver. Every Mon. through May, 12:30
Peace & Justice Center in solidarity with all who
p.m. Orchard Valley Waldorf School, 2290 VT
Rt. 14 N, E. Montpelier. Space limited to 10 fami- are concerned about the impact of racism and/or
lies; pre-registration required. morgan.i@ovws.org. white privilege on our children, including parents,
other family members, caregivers and teachers.
The Basement Teen Center. Cable TV, PlayStaSat. through Feb. 14; 3:305 p.m. Kellogg-Hubtion 3, pool table, free eats and fun events for
bard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 20 person
teenagers. Mon.Thurs., 36 p.m.; Fri., 311 p.m.
limit. Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/
Basement Teen Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier.
1usn3LBfsjUfPi9z9WAtrSW4kSOXOXBHzoVE
229-9151.
nlw66yuQ/edit. For more informaton: 863-2345,
Story Time and Playgroup. Story time with Syl- ext. 9. andi@pjcvt.org.
via Smith and playgroup with Melissa Seifert. For
ages birth6 and their grown-ups. We follow the
Twinfield Union School calendar and do not hold
programs when Twinfield is closed. Every Wed.
through June 3. 1011:30 a.m. Jaquith Public LiChristian Science Reading Room. Need a daily
brary, 122 School St., Marshfield. Free. 426-3581.
lift? Dial 617-450-3430 and listen to a brief injaquithpubliclibrary.org.
spired thought intended just for you today. Shared
Read to Coco. Share a story with Coco, the
with love from Christian Science Reading Room.
resident licensed reading therapy dog, who loves to 11 a.m.5 p.m.; Wed., 11 a.m.7:15 p.m.; Thurs.
hear kids practice reading aloud. Wed., 3:304:30 Sat., 11 a.m.1 p.m. 145 State St., Montpelier.
p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library, 135 Main St.,
223-2477.
Montpelier. Sign up ahead: 223-4665 or at the
Christian Counseling. Tues. and Thurs. Daniel
childrens desk. kellogghubbard.org.
Dr., Barre. Reasonable cost. By appt. only: 479Read with Arlo. Meet reading therapy dog Arlo
0302.
and his owner Brenda. Sign up for a 20-minute
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. For those
block. Thurs., 45 p.m. Kellogg-Hubbard Library,
interested in learning about the Catholic faith, or
135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-4665. kellogghubcurrent Catholics who want to learn more. Wed.,
bard.org.
7 p.m. St. Monica Church, 79 Summer St., Barre.
Preschool Story Time. Every Fri., 10 a.m. Water- Register: 479-3253.
bury Public Library, 28 N. Main St., Waterbury.
Deepening Our Jewish Roots. Fun, engaging text
Free. 244-7036. waterburypubliclibrary.com.
study and discussion on Jewish spirituality. Sun.,
Drop-in Kinder Arts Program. Innovative explor- 4:456:15 p.m. Yearning for Learning Center,
atory arts program with artist/instructor Kelly
Montpelier. 223-0583. info@yearning4learning.
Holt. Age 35. Fri., 10:30 a.m.noon. River Arts org.
Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. 888-1261.
RiverArtsVT.org.
SPIRITUALITY
Tai Chi for Seniors. Led by trained volunteers.

Every Mon. and Fri., 12 p.m. Twin Valley Senior
Teen Fridays. Find out about the latest teen
Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E. Montpelier. Free.
books, use the gym, make art, play games and if
223-3322. twinvalleyseniors.org.
you need to, do your homework. Fri., 35 p.m.
Living Strong Group. Volunteer-led group. Sing Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St., Marshfield.
while exercising. Open to all seniors. Every Mon., 426-3581.
2:303:30 p.m. and every Fri., 23 p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpe- Mad River Valley Youth Group. Sun., 79 p.m.
lier. Free. Register: 223-2518. msac@montpelier- Meets at various area churches. Call 497-4516 for
location and information.
vt.org.
Overeaters Anonymous. Twelve-step program for

physically, emotionally and spiritually overcoming
overeating. Two meeting days and locations. Every
Tues., 5:306:30 p.m. and second Sat., 8:309:30
Personal Financial Management Workshops.
Learn about credit/debit cards, credit building and a.m. at Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd,
39 Washington St., Barre. 249-3970. Every Fri.,
repair, budgeting and identity theft, insurance,
noon1 p.m. at Bethany Church, 115 Main St.,
investing, retirement. Tues., 68 p.m. Central
Montpelier. 223-3079.
Vermont Medical Center, Conference Room 3.
Registration: 371-4191.
HIV Testing. Vermont CARES offers fast oral
testing. Thurs., 25 p.m. 58 East State St., Ste. 3
(entrance at back), Montpelier. Free. 371-6222.
vtcares.org.
FOOD & DRINK
THE BRIDGE
MUSIC & DANCE

Barre-Tones Womens Chorus. Open rehearsal.
Find your voice with 50 other women. Mon., 7
p.m. Alumni Hall, Barre. 223-2039. BarretonesVT.com.
SPORTS & GAMES

Roller Derby Open Recruitment and Recreational Practice. Central Vermonts Wrecking
Doll Society invites quad skaters age 18 and up.
No experience necessary. Equipment provided:
first come, first served. Sat., 56:30 p.m. Montpelier Recreation Center, Barre St. First skate free.
centralvermontrollerderby.com.
YOGA & MEDITATION
Yoga and Meditation. With Katy Leadbetter.

Meditation: Mon., 1 p.m. (unlimited). Introduction to yoga: Tues., 4 p.m. (four-class limit).
Consultation: Fri., 11 a.m. (one per person). 56
Dance or Play with the Swinging over 60 Band. East State St., Montpelier. Free. 272-8923.
Danceable tunes from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Christian Meditation Group. People of all faiths
Recruiting musicians. Tues., 10:30 a.m.noon.
welcome. Mon., noon1 p.m. Christ Church,
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.,
Zen Meditation. With Zen Affiliate of Vermont.
Monteverdi Young Singers Chorus Rehearsal.
Wed., 6:307:30 p.m. 174 River St., Montpelier.
New chorus members welcome. Wed., 45 p.m.
Montpelier. Call 229-9000 for location and more Free. Call for orientation: 229-0164.
information.
Meditation Sitting Group. Facilitated by Sherry

Piano Workshop. Informal time to play, refresh Rhynard. A weekly meditation group offers ways
your skills and get feedback if desired with other to find out more about meditation and gives support to an existing or a new practice. Every Thurs.,
supportive musicians. Singers and listeners welcome. Thurs., 45:30 p.m. Montpelier Senior Ac- 5:306:30 p.m. Central Vermont Medical Center,
tivity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Free; open 130 Fisher Rd., Berlin. Free. 272-2736. sherry@
to the public. 223-2518. msac@montpelier-vt.org. easeofflow.com.
Shambhala Buddhist Meditation. Group mediUkelele Group. All levels welcome. Thurs., 68
p.m. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre tation practice. Sun., 10 a.m.noon; Tues., 78
p.m.; Wed., 67 p.m. New location: Center for
St. 223-2518.
Culture and Learning, 46 Barre Street, MontpeGamelan Rehearsals. Sun., 79 p.m. Pratt
lier. Free. 223-5137. montpeliershambala.org.
Center, Goddard College. Free. 426-3498. steven.
Sunday Sangha: Community Ashtanga Yoga.
light@jsc.edu. light.kathy@gmail.com.
Every Sun., 5:407 p.m. Grateful Yoga, 15 State
St., 3F, Montpelier. By donation.
RECYCLING
Additional Recycling. The Additional Recyclables
Collection Center accepts scores of hard-torecycle items. Tues. and Thurs., 12:30 p.m.5:30
p.m. ARCC, 540 North Main St., Barre. $1 per
Tell them
you saw it in
The Bridge!
T H E B R I D G E
Do What You Do Best.
Class listings and classifieds are 50 words for $25.

To place an ad, call Michael, 223-5112 ext. 11.
Bookkeeping Payroll Consulting
SERVICES:
FREE MOTORCYCLE:
802.262.6013 evenkeelvt.com
COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
1987 HONDA GL1200 MOTORCYCLE in

perfect condition to give to a good rider due to
sudden accident. Contact: fredmanjames1@
gmail.com
Glenn Beatty L.I.C.S.W.

Couples, individuals, adolescents and children.
30 years' experience. Most insurances accepted.
Available for Saturday appointments in Montpelier office. 802-488-0235.
Offices in Montpelier and Burlington.
WORKSHOPS:
COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS AT VERMONT
CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE HERBALISM
252 Main St., Montpelier
pre-registration required; for details and
registration, visit vtherbcenter.org
Winter Wellness
with Shona Richter MacDougall
Feb. 2, 6-8pm; $12
Make Your Own Immune-Boosting Cough
Syrup with Juliette Abigail Carr
Feb. 11, 6-8pm; $17
Luxuriously Healthy Hair: Simple Hair Care
Recipes with Joann Darling
Feb. 25, 6-8pm; $17
SEEKING LAND TO
PURCHASE:
BUYER: Land with timber, requires 25 or more
acres. Cash buyer. Quick closing. Send contact
information to: Landwithtimber@comcast.net.
HOUSING WANTED:
THE CENTRAL VERMONT COMMUNITY
LAND TRUST is seeking to rent one-bedroom
apartments now through September 2015 to
house our established long-term tenants during
a renovation project. If you have apartments
in Montpelier and are interested in guaranteed
rent and lease enforcement, please contact Liz
Genge, Director of Property Management at
477-1333 or LGenge @cvclt.org.
GREGS
PAINTING
Metal Roof Painting

Interior & Exterior
802-479-2733
gpdpainting@aol.com
FREE ESTIMATES INSURED SINCE 1990
Rocque Long
Painting
Insured
30+ years professional
experience
local references.
802-223-0389
T&T Truck for Hire
LIght movIng, L andfILL

runs, and odd jobs.
Weve got the truck.
Since 1972
Give us a call at:
224.1360
Repairs New floors and walls

Crane work Decorative concrete

Consulting ICF foundations
114 Three Mile Bridge Rd., Middlesex, VT (802) 229-0480
gendronbuilding@aol.com gendronconcrete.com
Design & Build

Custom Energy-Efficient Homes
Additions Timber Frames
Weatherization Remodeling
Kitchens Bathrooms Flooring
Tiling Cabinetry Fine Woodwork
New Construction
Renovations
Woodworking
General Contracting
223-3447
clarconstruction.com
PAG E 2 0 J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015
THE BRIDGE
The Bridge Answers to the People,

So Let the Voters Decide
by Nat Frothingham
n the several weeks since Jan. 1, friends of The Bridge have gathered close to 700 signatures in a petition drive to seek financial
help for the paper from Montpelier voters on Town Meeting Day
March 3.
Here are the chief things I have learned from this drive:
Many people in Montpelier value The Bridge and want it to continue.
Editorial
Not everyone we talked to wanted to sign our petition. Some people couldnt sign because
they werent registered to vote or were registered to vote but voted outside of Montpelier.
Some people who were registered to vote in Montpelier, when asked to sign the petition,
didnt sign. But the majority of people we talked to who vote in Montpelier did sign and
many of them said while signing, I love The Bridge. Where do I sign?
I learned that some people were concerned about the papers independence if taxpayers
voted to give The Bridge financial support.
Not every reader of The Bridge liked a recent editorial I wrote endorsing Scott Milne for
governor. I know that. I also know that some of our readers liked that editorial because
they stopped by our office, or sent an email message or phoned to tell me they supported
what I wrote.
Among the people we talked to, some said if there is a single question on their minds
about The Bridge seeking an appropriation from the voters on Town Meeting Day, its
their fear that The Bridge might give up its independence.
I dont think theres any paper anywhere that can assert its independence in a vacuum. We answer to our readers. If our readers find
us to be unthinking and irresponsible, they will stop reading the
paper. We answer to our advertisers. They want to know how many
people are reading the paper. They are critical about what goes into
the paper and what doesnt go into the paper and they care about
our fairness in dealing with controversy. On very rare occasions an
advertiser will be in touch to let us know they dont like our editorial point of view or the
way we handled a story and that theyre pulling their ads from the paper. Our independence is not unchecked. Nor should it be.
I cant believe that if voters choose to give us financial help that our independence would
be compromised. After all, voters are our readers. Lets answer to them. We answer to
them anyway. And lets not make this mistake. Lets not imagine that city government
would own or control The Bridge.
We are going to the voters. If they want The Bridge to continue, they can vote to help
us. If they dont want the paper to continue, they can vote against us. Or they can vote
against us and tell us what alternatives we should be exploring to keep the paper alive.
January is a tough time to be seeking signatures. But going out and talking to people faceto-face has given us something like 700-plus encounters with the very people we need to
be talking with and listening to and overall thats been heartening.
Stay informed in between issues:

montpelierbridge.com
Opinion
Vermont Human Rights

Council Calls for an
Equitable Budget
Organizations affiliated with the Vermont Human Rights Council, a coalition of disability rights, climate justice, and workers rights organizations, released the following
statement in response to Governor Shumlins budget address:
The purpose of our state budget is to address the fundamental needs of all residents,
and to advance dignity and equity. These are common-sense goals that reflect the shared
values of the people of Vermont. They are also stated in Vermont law (32 V.S.A. 306a).
Yet (on Jan. 15) we witnessed once again the failure of state government to fulfill this
basic obligation. Proposed budget cuts range from libraries to heating assistance, and
from wage cuts for state workers to cuts to the Reach Up program, as well as continuing
many of the additional cuts made to this years budget ($30 million in July and $12 million this month). Gutting public services and programs will harm many people in our
state, at the same time as our tax system continues to privilege the wealthy and increases
tax breaks for larger businesses.
Even though Vermonts economy is now one of the fastest growing in New England,
most people are not benefiting from this. On the contrary, the gap between the rich and
the rest of us is widening. Median household income dropped to its lowest level in 10
years, poverty and homelessness are on this rise, and 1 in 6 Vermonters are forced to rely
on food stamps to feed their families.
Workers rights are also under attack in this budget proposal: the governor seeks to outlaw educators right to strike, cut wages and benefits of state workers, and lower the wage
rate requirements for businesses that receive tax incentives.
The Human Rights Council calls on our elected representatives to recognize that growing inequity in our state is a product of failed policies, and as such is up to legislators
to change.
Keith Brunner of the Vermont Worker's Center
Advertise in The Bridge,

your local paper working for you!
Call 223-5112 ext. 11
T H E B R I D G E
Racial Tension is Not Disappearing Into the Past

by Baron Wormser
n late 2013 my novel about race in Baltimore, Maryland, circa

1962-63 was published. I worked on Teach Us That Peace for
five years. I wrote the book for a fairly simple reason: If you grow
up somewhere in this country where race is an active, day-to-day
issue and you are a serious writer, then you should try to write about
it. According to my reasoning, a lot more books about race in America should be written and published than get written and published.
Opinion
Then again, books need readers, and unless something happens like what happened in
Ferguson, Missouri, then nothing is happening. America is beyond race or indifferent
to race or consistently racist or all at the same time because America is a very big word.
Since my novel is historical, it is in a nebulous category known as the past. There is not
necessarily much interest in that past even though that past deeply determines the present
moment. The past is not very exciting. It happened. The verb tense condemns it.
But it is not the fate of my novel that Im writing about. What Im writing about is the
sheer emptiness of discussion about race in the United States. We live in a nation where
everyone could read books by Frederick Douglass and James Baldwin and Zora Neale
Hurston and Gwendolyn Brooks and not just read, but talk about, those books. We
would have to admit that this nation is founded on two tragedies the slaughter of native people and slavery and that the stain of tragedy never goes away. Adulthood is the
admission of that stain. Thats not to say we should revel in the stain or be guilt-ridden,
both pointless stances. Its to say that tragedy is what haunts this nation, and until the nation is able to face up to that in some sort of focused way such as education that makes
that tragedy palpable then there will be much talk but little to counter the despair of
many black people in this country.
Opinion
Surprised and Appalled by
Budget Request
Dear Editor, the Montpelier Bridge
Upon reading the Jan. 8 Montpelier Bridge editorial announcing that it was seeking
petition signatures to put a budget request for $27,254 on the city meeting ballot and
explaining the reasons for doing so, I found myself surprised and appalled by this particular initiative.
Not having quite formulated my thoughts enough to form an articulate opinion on the
subject, when the writer of the editorial was out braving bitter sub-zero temperatures in
order to gather signatures recently, I mentioned it was something I needed to think more
about first and declined to sign the petition at the time.
When asked again today by someone else who was seeking signatures for it, and having
thought it over, I explained some of the reasons behind my reluctance to sign the petition.
Although I am willing to sign most candidate petitions more often than not, I tend to
only lend my signature to those ballot questions or budget requests I am supportive of
and intend to vote for.
Considering that the Montpelier Bridge is both an independent newspaper serving the
community and a business, it is my opinion that using taxpayer dollars to support it
crosses a certain line, one murky at best and better if completely avoided. If this line does
get crossed, it could easily head us toward a rather slippery slope.
While the newspaper has served the community faithfully and those involved with it
have worked very hard over the past 21 years doing so, this is not enough of a justification for it to seek, nor obtain, taxpayer dollars. Neither is the fact the newspaper has been
unable to obtain sufficient revenue from ads or subscriptions and the like.
This is certainly the case when the City Council is currently considering a municipal
budget that could possibly gut, among other essential services and projects, funding for
Officer Jake the police dog as well as the housing trust fund.
If the newspaper intends to remain a truly independent member of a free press, no matter
how noble and forthright might be its cause or case, the Montpelier Bridge ought not to
be seeking direct taxpayer support in order to remain afloat and should instead continue
to seek funding elsewhere.
Therefore, if the budget request manages to acquire enough signatures to be placed on
the ballot, sadly, I shall be compelled to vote against this funding initiative.
Morgan W. Brown
Montpelier
Despair? Its not a word that makes it into the discussion on television
when something bad happens. Yet it seems to me the crucial word.
As churches have weakened, as family ties have slackened, as the
economics become more and more brutal, as the advertising machine
touts worthless wares relentlessly, as guns and drugs are glorified,
despair has grown. But, but, but . . . I hear you say, but there is no
but. The United States is built on the idea of individuals pursuing
happiness. If they are blocked then there will be hell to pay. To understand the nature
of that pursuit is probably the single most important thing an education can do for an
American, since otherwise he or she is bound to a kind of excited darkness.
There is no shortage of books that tell truths about race in this country. The police in
Ferguson could read those books and talk about them. The outraged young people could
read those books and talk about them. The police and the outraged young people could
even sit and talk with one another. Im saddened that it takes a murder to provoke a discussion. In writing Teach Us That Peace, I read and thought a great deal about Martin
Luther King Jr. There is no bringing that remarkable man back, but there is always the
opportunity to pick up a book or teach a book or stand up to the forces of business-asusual. Surely Doctor King did.
PAG E 2 2 J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015
THE BRIDGE
Letters
The Bridge Presents Both Sides

Editor:
I wanted to say that the Montpelier Bridge
paper seems to be fair and balanced in their
interviews. Both parties are covered fairly
equally at the state house.
It's refreshing to have a paper that that is
middle ground and not far left. I'm for more
balance in Montpelier people, papers,
and politics.
Tim Celley
East Calais
The Bridge Does a lot

for Montpelier
Editor:
Tell them you

saw it in
The Bridge!
In the Dec. 18 issue of this paper, the publisher, Nat Frothingham, took the (apparently) unprecedented action of writing an
editorial in support of a candidate for governor of Vermont. I would not have known
it was a departure from The Bridges tradition, if Frothingham hadnt written thus.
As one might expect, in the subsequent (Jan.
8) issue, there were responses both for and
against. There was agreement from Peter
Buknatski, and there was cogent disagreement from Vince Rossano. Cool.
Then there were some missives that sounded
just plain ridiculous. Please stop delivering
The Bridge to our residence, demanded one.
I cant support The Bridge on this one
in spirit, deed, or financial contribution,
another wrote sternly.
Really? These individuals are cutting off

their subscriptions or financial support because of their disagreement with one editorial? Wow. For sure, The Bridge is not the
New York Times or WSJ. One may choose
to not subscribe simply because they arent
interested. But shut off your subscription
because youre peeved about one editorial?
How thin-skinned is that?
In my humble opinion, The Bridge does a
hell of lot more for Montpelier, than Montpelier does for The Bridge. And it does so
on the budget of a tick on a church mouses
ass. Maybe Mr. Frothingham has some vast
treasure stashed away in the Caymans I
dont know, but when I see him putting
around town in a twenty-something-yearold car that sounds like its going to cast its
withers any moment, it seems to me that
shutting off your financial support to the
only community newspaper we have is rather
short-sighted, small-minded, and petty.
Steven Farnham
Plainfield
Health Care is a Human Right

Editor:
On Jan. 8, I participated in a nonviolent sitin in support of the human right to health
What Do You Think?
Read something that you would like to respond to? We welcome your letters and
opinion pieces. Letters must be fewer than 300 words.
Opinion pieces should not exceed 600 words.
The Bridge reserves the right to edit and cut pieces.
Send your piece to: editorial@montpelierbridge.com.
care. As we sat in the People's House, we

talked about why were there. The stories we
shared about how this broken health care
system affects people's lives were heartbreaking.
We all need health care at some points in our
lives, because illness is part of the human
condition. The human right to health care
means that it should not be a commodity
sold through the insurance market. It is a
shared need of all people and should be a
public good much as education, police,
and fire services are publicly financed and
available to all.
Currently our health care system treats
health care as a product purchased through
insurance plans or by cash payment. That
system is broken in so many ways, and the
result is that premiums, deductibles, co-pays,
and excluded services stand between people
and the care they need. People who can't
afford care can go without, accrue medical
debt, or become charity cases (we've all seen
the collection bins). None of these are acceptable or dignified options.
I have read Shumlin's financing proposal.
Though I don't agree with all of his assumptions about how to fund the system, some
of his projections look good for Vermont's
families. I believe that this proposal deserves
a public hearing, so Vermont residents can
weigh in on what we want our health care
system to look like and how it can be equitably financed. For everyone who can't access
needed care, now is the right time.
Ellen Schwartz
New
Possibilities
for Old Scars
by Irvin Eisenberg
SPINNING YARNS - Two-year-old Joseph Taylor-Marsh and his dad, Gabriel

Taylor-Marsh, of Northfield, look on intently as Christopher D. Hall of Flora/Fauna
Farm in West Topsham spins some wool from his sheep into yarn on a portable, footpowered spinning wheel. The older Taylor-Marsh and Hall were waiting for their
vehicles to be serviced at 802 Toyota in Berlin. Joseph was there mostly to color with
crayons and to inspect the 2015 models on the showroom floor when he spied Hall
and his spinning wheel.
Photo by Larry Floersch
MONTPELIER What do scars have to

do with balance, alignment and posture? It
comes down to connective tissue. Pervasive
and versatile, connective tissue is one of the
four general classes of animal tissue. This
abundant tissue functions to support, connect, and separate all of our organs,. It also
plays a crucial roll in movement. Muscles
don't act alone. It is muscle pulling on
connective tissue (fascia, and tendons) that
allows us to move around. The web of connective tissue holds us in the shape we are in.
When we are injured or stressed, our body
responds by contracting. This pulls on the
fascial fabric, requiring it to shift, thicken,
and glue itself to surrounding structures,
forming adhesions.
Like fascial adhesions, scar tissue affects ease
in movement. Adhesions, be them scar tissue
or stuck fascia, are like pins holding the fabric of connective tissue in place preventing
full expression of movement.
ScarWork is unique in that rather than treating scars as bad tissue and aiming to break
up or remove the scar, it helps integrate the
scar into a functional and fluid structure. I
dont think of scar tissue as stuff to break up
or material to get rid of, Wheeler writes on
her website. I think scars are made up of the
valuable stuff you want to liberate to become
vital tissue again.
Using light but profound techniques for reclaiming scars, ScarWork realigns the dense
connective tissue of scars integrating them
into the smooth resilient tissue of the surrounding areas. Useful on new and old scars,
ScarWork essentially removes the pins from
the fabric, allowing it to move more freely.
In some cases ScarWork will even help sensation return to the injured tissue.
Irvin Eisenberg is owner of Montpelier Structural Integration and a practitioner of ScarWork. Visit him at MontpelierSI.com.
J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015 PAG E 2 3
T H E B R I D G E
Nature Watch
by Nona Estrin
Watercolor by Nona Estrin
Here Comes the Sun
ow comes the time of the year I most love in Vermont. Since Dec. 21 the
sun, from our house, has lingered at least 25 compass degrees south of Spruce
Mountain. In the next weeks the earth starts it's tilt "south" in earnest, and
within a month will be at the flanks of Spruce, on its way north. Some years, red winged
blackbirds and a few earliest migrants may even be here. Things are about to be on the
move! And if the snow will just oblige us, now comes the best outdoor winter time with
longer days, hotter sun, and a rosy glow on lavender shadows morning and evening. A
snow picnic is in order now! All we need is a blazing day, and a sheltered spot, some time
around the Feast of Saint Brigid on Feb. 7, our halfway point between Winter Solstice
and the first day of spring. Or traditionally, a bonfire to honor the day!
Advertise in THE NEXT ISSUE:
Valentine's Day
Feb. 5 18, 2015
ALL AD MATERIALS AND AD SPACE
RESERVATIONS DUE FRIDAY, JAN. 30
For more information about advertising deadlines,
rates and the design of your ad call
223-5112 ext. 11 or email our ad sales representatives at
michael@montpelierbridge.com or rick@montpelierbridge.com
Follow us on Facebook
facebook.com/thebridgenewspapervt
P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601

Phone: 802-223-5112
Fax: 802-223-7852
Editor & Publisher: Nat Frothingham

Managing Editor: Carla Occaso
Calendar Editor, Design and Layout: Marichel Vaught
Copy Editing Consultant: Larry Floersch
Proofreader: David W. Smith
Sales Representatives: Michael Jermyn, Rick McMahan
Distribution: Tim Johnson, Kevin Fair, Diana Koliander-Hart, Daniel Renfro
Editorial: 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 $40 a year. Make out your check to The Bridge,
and mail to The Bridge, PO Box 1143, Montpelier VT 05601.
Published every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, except in July when we publish the 3rd Thursday
only.
Copyright 2014 by The Bridge
montpelierbridge.com facebook.com/thebridgenewspapervt
Keep in touch with your

community all year long!
Subscribe to The Bridge today.
For a one-year subscription, send this form and a check to
The Bridge, P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier, VT 05601.
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THE BRIDGE
The Center for Leadership Skills

BUSINESS & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Lindel James coaching & consulting

Taking You from Frustration to Enthusiasm
802 778 0626
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Adamant Co-Op Celebrates 80 Years: Cooperative Store Stands The Test of Time

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Adamant Co-Op Celebrates 80 Years: Cooperative Store Stands The Test of Time

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January 22 February 4, 2015

22: Treating Scars

Watercolor by Janet MacLeod

Cooperative Store Stands the Test of Time

Photo by Don Shall

PAG E 2 J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015

J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015 PAG E 3

HEARD ON THE STREET

Downstairs Video to Close

MONTPELIER Downstairs Video announced it is closing for good on Valentines Day,

Democracy Circle to Begin

Finding Common Ground Workshops Offered

Bear Pond Books and Rivendell to Merge

The Montpelier Pool is Now Open for Skating

PAG E 4 J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015

Healing with Nature: Lory Explores Roots of Medicine

Herbal cupping therapy at Mandala Botanicals.

Winter Health and Fitness Indoors and Out

J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015 PAG E 5

Superintendent Ricca Explains School Budget Impact

Shumlins Budget Proposal

Dr. Brian Ricca.

PAG E 6 J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015

A Message From City Hall

Parking Ban, Annual Report and More

he City, like all of us individually,

City Meeting Voting & Running for

The result, however, has been that more

The City, School Department and Vibrant

In the meantime, we urge people to use

Information about the ban including

I urge residents who are impacted by the

This winter is the first full operation of the

With the current low oil prices, I am often

dropped dramatically, they can and have

ing debt service and $515,000 is for

The Parks and Public Works budgets

The Council provided following guidelines

The budget includes $40,000 funding

Budget must reflect the City Councils

Police: The Police budget includes a

Property tax rate increase target is between 2% and 3%

Public Works: The Street Supervisor

Class Sizes at Montpelier

Got a news tip? We want to know!

J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015 PAG E 7

PAG E 8 J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015

This page was paid for by the Montpelier Public Schools.

MHS Programming Prowess

STUDENT VOX POP

Some Solon coders between

Computer Science is different from other classes

I used Java to create a more efficient way to keep

DID YOU KNOW?

First-graders learn to code in the Baltic nation of

Union Elementary School was

MPS educators at Champlain College to work on creativity & artsinfused curriculum.

5 High School Drive, Unit #1, Montpelier, VT 05602

J A N UA RY 2 2 F E B RUA RY 4 , 2 015 PAG E 9

City Block Demolished, Two

Photos by Carla Occaso

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