CBD br i ng s A roMe d New Succe s s — and New Space • Page 16
A pril 19–M ay 2, 2018
Artwork by Steve Hogan
IN THIS ISSUE: Nat Frothingham Bids Farewell to The Bridge
Pg. 4 Interview with
A
t its beginnings, The Bridge was
Anne Watson then, and in many ways is still, a
very grassroots enterprise.
Pg. 13 New Korean I have a strong memory of that very first
moment in May 1993 when Phil Dodd and
Eatery, Banchan I sat down over a cup of coffee at the old
Horn of the Moon Café on Langdon Street
Pg. 18 Gardening for and talked about founding a Montpelier
community newspaper.
Pollinators
Phil and I were quickly joined by about
20 to 30 other people, all volunteers—
U.S. Postage PAID
people who kept their involvement with the
Permit NO. 123
Montpelier, VT
PRSRT STD
ECRWSS
paper—Bernie Folta, Jake Brown, Nancy
Schulz, Greg Gerdel, Kate Mueller, Dan
Pfister, Dan Renfro, the list goes on and
on.
We met about once a week or so for six
months to lay the groundwork for the first
issue of The Bridge that was published in
December 1993.
As I remember it, the push for a community
paper had its roots in wanting to dig harder
and know more about what was happening
in Montpelier and a need for better, more
in-depth, reporting.
We started with very little. We had
ourselves. But we had no money, no office,
Montpelier, VT 05601
no track record of putting out a paper, and
nobody got paid a dime.
But we knew we wanted to create a
P.O. Box 1143
community paper that would celebrate the
The Bridge
wonderful life and diversity of Montpelier.
We wanted a paper that would tell readers
what was happening in Montpelier, at City
We're online! montpelierbridge.com or vtbridge.com
Hall, in our schools and colleges. And what
about the Montpelier Farmers Market?
What about downtown? And what about
the increasingly dynamic books and arts
and theater and night life scene?
I continue to marvel at the support we
enjoyed from the downtown business
community as business owners bought
advertising in our first paper. We had
nothing to show. We had never published a
paper before. And yet they were buying ads
in The Bridge—for me—an unforgettable
act of faith.
For that first issue, some of us reported and
wrote stories. Some of us sold ads as well.
Steve Larose designed our first issue on
his computer and it was printed by Upper
Valley Press. We simply took the money we
got from selling ads and paid the printing
bill.
We were not an overnight success—far
from it. We put out that first issue in
December 1993 and may have published
four issues in 1994. We ran the paper by
committee. We rotated editors, reported
stories, sold ads, distributed the paper
ourselves, and crawled forward. At some
point during our first 10 years of life, we
managed to publish 12 issues a year—or
once a month.
Getting our first office was a very big
deal. Paying out a small commission to a
few people who sold ads was another step
forward. Over time, we assembled a very
small, part-time staff. Eventually we began
paying freelance writers by the word and
we still pay freelance writers by the word.
The committee structure was democratic
but cumbersome. We didn’t always agree.
We didn’t agree about publishing a story
about Berlin Pond because Berlin Pond,
the source of Montpelier’s drinking water
supply, is situated in the Town of Berlin and
not everyone approved of our publishing a
story that was outside of Montpelier. We
wrangled about whether or not to accept
paid advertising inserts in The Bridge. Not
everyone liked inserts. Inserts, many felt,
were trashy. But they provided needed
revenue. We disagreed with our board of
directors about whether or not The Bridge
should publish its own editorial comment.
The board didn’t like the idea and we held
off on publishing our own clearly marked
editorials for a number of years.
After a time, Jake Brown and I proposed
to the board of directors that we buy the
paper and change it from a not-for-profit
into a private business, with the aim of
putting out a paper that was good enough
Continued on Page 3
PAG E 2 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Advertise in the NEXT ISSUE:

Montpelier Arts, Nature Watch

by Nona Estrin

Mother's Day
Fox Sparrows

In Circulation May 3–May 16
ALL AD MATERIALS AND AD SPACE
RESERVATIONS DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 27.
For more information about advertising deadlines, rates,
and the design of your ad, contact one of our representatives:
Rick McMahan • 249-8666
rick@montpelierbridge.com
Michael Jermyn • 223-5112 ext.11
michael@montpelierbridge.com
Watercolor Nona Estrin
W
e returned from 24 hours in
Putney, during which an icy
storm gripped the state, to
find fox sparrows, on their way north
to Canadian breeding grounds, here for
rest and nourishment. My favorite April
bird, a large rusty-red, chicken-scratching
sparrow with an alto song. I only hear
that song once a year—now! I wonder
how many did not find enough food to
survive this storm? Hope they stay awhile,
replenishing on seed we throw down for
them as long as snow covers the ground.

Do What You Do Best.

Bookkeeping · Payroll · Consulting

802.262.6013 evenkeelvt.com

Recycle
This Paper!
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 3

Nat Frothingham Bids Farewell to The Bridge Continued from Page 1

to make money. In a split vote, the board agreed and The Bridge became a limited liability House and three state senators who represent Washington County. Wherever there is tax
corporation (LLC). money being spent, a useful paper would insist upon accountability. Locally, we have
Jake and I had a dynamic and joyous business partnership. But running the paper as a business and corporate players and their contributions to our discussions are critical.
business didn’t produce the money we wanted. In the heyday of our partnership, each of A useful paper would be smart and probing on the local issues. It would offer timely and
us took home a paycheck of $400/month, a meager return on our efforts. informed leadership when indicated. It would affirm and draw attention to the work
Many people who experienced the moment, never forgot exactly where they were and of artists, teachers, writers, actors, and musicians in our midst. A useful paper would
what they were doing on September 11, 2001 when the terrorist planes flew into the twin honor the charitable organizations that add so much to our community: the library, our
towers of the World Trade Center in New York, and later, as the towers collapsed. churches, colleges, the nature center, meal sites and shelters, health centers, clinics and
hospitals.
After the 9/11 attacks, something changed forever. We were still running The Bridge,
selling ads, reporting the news. But both the national and the Vermont economy suffered It’s no secret that the past 25 years have been a profoundly difficult time for news
in the months and years after those attacks. As a nation, we became aware of our gathering and reporting organizations, even for the First Amendment itself.
vulnerability and in due course, America was at war overseas. Many papers have cut their newsroom staff. Many papers have seen a sharp decline
In 2004, Jake Brown left the business partnership but on genuinely friendly terms. in readers. Some papers have shut down. Some papers have backed away from their
investigative and reporting responsibilities because of a shortage of resources.
Suddenly, I was owner of The Bridge and running the paper as editor and publisher.
In many ways, regrettably, the field of play has been take over by vested interest groups,
I remember a friend, himself a very successful businessman, meeting with me and saying huge corporations, pressure groups and their politicians-for-hire—and the U.S. Congress
candidly, “Nat, you don’t have a single business bone in your body.” He was right. I was is awash with lobbyists and influence peddlars.
running a paper and trying to even out the revenues with the expenditures.
Personally, I worry. I haven’t figured everything out. But I’d like to think that our
Running the paper was a ride—sometimes a very bumpy ride. When our then business American system of government—so precious, so fragile, so imperiled—can be renewed
manager embezzled some $14,000—that hurt. Then we decided to become a weekly. But in our time. And it must be renewed. It must be renewed because democracy cannot be
when the big banks began to fail in 2008 and 2009 with the federal bailouts that followed, any stronger than the free press that informs and protects it.
we found ourselves racking up a mountain of debt—and the paper almost folded.
I’m leaving and I will miss the paper. But the paper is here and its mission continues. In
But The Bridge did not fold. It did not fold because we scaled back our publication no way do I regret stepping aside and making space for fresh— and I hope—adventurous,
schedule, we moved the paper’s office up to space at Vermont College of Fine Arts. And new leadership. It’s time.
we didn’t fold because people in Montpelier and surrounding communities wanted to
keep the paper alive and contributed their own money to make that happen.
Slowly, and over a number of years, we dug ourselves out of debt.
As we emerged from debt, I began feeling, strongly, that although I was owner of The
Bridge, the paper really belonged to the community that was there for us when we needed
help.
In 2013, as we marked the 20th anniversary of the paper’s founding, I knew, and a few
of my close personal friends knew, that at some point I would want to step aside as editor
and publisher and open the door to fresh leadership.
Over the past three to four years, and Phil Dodd has often been in a leadership role
here, The Bridge has once again become a community-owned and directed not-for-profit
organization.
It’s humbling to know that as we approach our 25th anniversary this coming fall, The
Bridge is still here and laying plans for the better and sharper and more useful paper we
want to become.
What would that more useful paper be like?
Well, as described by my friend Bill Porter, who for many years was managing editor
of the Times-Argus, a useful paper can be described as the community’s “first citizen.”
That first citizen is doing what any citizen would do if he or she had the time attending
Nat Frothingham
and reporting on meetings, digging into complex local stories. But none of us can be in
all places at once. But a paper that’s delivering on its mission is at City Hall, at the State
House, at School Board meetings, talking to business owners downtown, and telling the
stories that people need to understand if they are going to be well-informed and effective
citizens. Support The Bridge
At city meeting last March, we voted about $23 million for Montpelier schools and about
$9 million for the City of Montpelier. Montpelier has two representatives in the Vermont
Become a Community Contributor!
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Bridge Community Media, Inc. City____________________________________ State_____Zip__________
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Editor & Publisher: Nat Frothingham Editorial: 223-5112, ext. 14
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Copyright 2018 by The Bridge Donations may also be made online at montpelierbridge.com You!
PAG E 4 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
An Interview with Montpelier’s New Mayor, Anne Watson
B
ack on Town Meeting Day, Montpelier voters elected
a new mayor, Anne Watson, an award-winning physics
teacher at Montpelier High School, where she has taught
for the past 13 years. In between her classes and meetings, The
Bridge sat down with Mayor Watson to get her views on her
new job, recent controversies, and her vision for Montpelier.
The Bridge: Being mayor seems like a job that is probably
thankless in many ways and a tremendous amount of
pressure and headaches—for very little money. Why would
you want to take that on?
Anne Watson: It is also joyful. It is very satisfying to get to say,
“Here are some priorities and agendas. These are topics that are
worth looking into in our community. Let’s make change on
these fronts.” I’ve been on the city council for five years now,
almost six, and I’ve enjoyed my time on the council. It’s been
tough at times for sure, but it’s really wonderful to start with,
“There’s a problem in town. Let’s make a decision about how
we can address that problem,” and then see a change.
Somebody was asking me the same question the other day, and
I sort of related it to why people have kids. Yeah, there can be
pains, and it can be really difficult, and it takes a lot of time,
but, of course, it is also wonderful.
So being mayor is sort of like having a child?
I guess! Kind of! Photo courtesy of Anne Watson
I think it is pretty amazing that the mayor only gets $4,000
a year.
And I’m putting it all toward professional development.
Does that really seem enough? Should being mayor of Vermont’s capital city be more
than just a part-time job?
This has come up a few times. If we made it a full-time job, it would require a charter change.
It would also mean changing our style of government, which would probably mean not
having a city manager at all and switching to a “strong-mayor” form of government. We could
do that. But I have gotten some advice on this, and the thing that is guiding my thinking is
that in order for a strong-mayor system to work well, you need to have a certain population
size that can support a race for that type of job.
You want something like 10,000 people or so before you start thinking about a strong-mayor
form of government. The strong-mayor system might work for a couple of years with a smaller
population, but if you burn out the people who are available and qualified to do the work, and
then you get someone in there who really is not qualified, it could be really bad. If the strong-
mayor system works, it would work about as well as things are working now. If it doesn’t, it
could be really catastrophic. But it’s worth having that conversation.
Have you been able to effectively handle teaching and the duties of mayor?
It’s been a little tough because I’m also coaching a boys Ultimate Frisbee team. The season
goes through the beginning of June, and once I get through June, school will almost be over.
And in the summer it will be very different story. I would say it’s tough right now. I knew it
would be tough.
Teaching is the kind of profession that you can give to endlessly, and eventually you just
have to draw a line and say, “Okay, I’m going to work on the rest of this tomorrow.” I think
being mayor to some degree is the same, because if I was to do only what is asked of me from
the charter, outside of city council meetings, I could very well be just about done. But I’m
interested and involved in the city, and anyone who’s worth their salt as a mayor is going to
be interested and involved. But, again, you just have to draw a line and say, “Okay, I’ve had
enough meetings today” or “That topic is just going to have to wait.”
So far, in your experience as mayor, what have you seen that
has inspired you as mayor and what has brought you down
to earth and shown you the cold realities?
It’s all the little personal interactions that are encouraging. I
might say, “Hey! I’ve got this idea. What do you think about it?”
And you get responses like, “Let’s talk about that. That seems
like a cool idea. What if we did it like this?” I love that! I love
the collaboration. I love the brainstorming. I love the thinking
outside the box, and I love being heard.
Another thing that’s been good is the synergy of the council right
now. I feel like we’re in a really good place of listening to each
other, and it’s got a really good vibe.
And the cold reality?
It’s always tough to make decisions that you know will disappoint
people. And we had that just recently with an appointment. We
had a lot of people weighing in, and we knew that we would
be disappointing some folks, and that’s tough. There’s often no
perfect decision, and there are downsides to everything. And
people have different priorities.
It can be tough sometimes to put your intention out there and
then to be misunderstood. That’s a little more complicated,
I guess. I don’t want to throw the media under the bus or
anything. Sometimes you sort of worry about being misquoted,
about being misunderstood by the people.
Let’s talk about your agenda. You wrote on your website,
“I’m committed to having intentional dialogue about the services we can and we can’t
afford.” What can we afford and not afford?
Just for context, in the past, the way we’ve done the budget is that we’ve just said, “This is our
tolerance for a budget increase. Dear Bill [Fraser], please come back to us with a budget that does
not go over this percentage of an increase.” And then we really didn’t have a lot of dialogue about
it, or we would have dialogue, but after it had already been presented to us. My philosophy is
that it should be the council together with the staff that evaluates what we can and can’t afford.
So there are questions like, “Can we afford another police officer” or “If we don’t add another
police officer is that actually more expensive?”
So whether we can or can’t afford something has not been determined thus far?
My ideal case is theoretically if we keep performing all the services we currently have at the
current levels, that would mean our budget would come in at the inflation rate. That would
be the percentage of increase. It almost never works out that way. So then you have to look at
how much over budget we are versus the investment, with money possibly coming back to us
in the future. I’m more inclined to make investments that I know are going to give us returns
in the future.
So coming back to your question about what we can afford, we have some big projects on the
horizon that might require bonding, and that’s really where it comes into a question of what we
can we afford, because we have a very clear line that we’ve drawn. There’s a debt limit that we
have imposed on ourselves. If we are going to try to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility,
for example, the facilities need a ballpark $9 million worth of work. Are we prepared to bond
for that? And even if we spread that out over time, what does that do to our bonding capacity
as we try to upgrade roads and such?
So what is at the top of your list of things worth investing the money in?
The things that rise to the top are affordable housing and energy efforts. I spend a lot of time
thinking about how 40 percent of Montpelier’s housing units are rentals. If we have this net-zero
energy goal, how does the renting population have any agency over their energy use? If the heat
is not included in the rent, then ostensibly the landlord is not financially motivated to do any
energy conservation work on that building.
The other thing that is of concern to me is the river. We did get an initial report from the Army
Corps of Engineers about some options to help prevent flooding. Montpelier floods almost on
a yearly basis. It’s a huge problem, and we know that climate change is going to make it worse.
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 5
If we don’t do something, that’s damage we’re going to end up
paying for anyway.
Any progress on getting Montpelier more into the digital
age and upgrading technical infrastructure?
Yes and no. One of the things that I’ve been working with the
city staff about is the searchability of documents, and we have
actually made some progress on that front. It’s very frustrating
if you can’t find what you’re looking for on the city website. We
are in fact making progress on that, but what I would really like
is to have a lot of data about the city available to the public. I’m
interested in creating some kind of a dashboard for city data. It
would be interesting to know how many jobs we have here or
how many fires or how many car crashes and how long it takes
us to respond to those crashes.
Is this the best way to spend the city’s limited resources
when businesses are struggling downtown?
The data is important. I’ll tell you why. We can’t improve what
we can’t measure. I am a science teacher, and it is my job to sit
with data and think about what it all means. So let’s say we
could count the number of cars coming off the highway. We
would be able to see that after we put in “wayfinding signage”
the number of cars coming off the highway increased or it
didn’t increase, but then at least we would know. Not only does
the data tell us where to focus our attention in terms of what
the problems are, but the data also tells us how effective any
attempted remediation has been. That for me is ground zero for
everything. If we’re thinking about how to improve downtown
businesses, what are the key measures we can be trying to up
to make that work?
The recent city council statement you read to the public
about excessive “vitriol, personal attacks, and absurd
insinuations” has been interpreted by some to be targeted at
the people who spoke at the public hearing on the District
2 vacancy. The statement does say you have witnessed this
behavior “over the past several months,” but, if that is
true, why did you issue it as part of the council decision
about filling the vacancy rather than at some other council
meeting?
That’s a great question. When I commented earlier about
being misunderstood, that was actually what I was thinking
about. It has been an issue for the last few months, and we did
actually address it when it came up previously in those council
meetings, and we were just seeing a theme that we wanted to
address.
Was it really so bad?
In one of our previous council meetings we had looked at the
sprinkler ordinance, and one of our councilors got a call from
someone who said that Rosie and I were “naive young women,”
who had been bullied into the position we had taken, and that
we were ill equipped to stand up to it.
In hindsight I wish we had not used the word “vitriolic.” I think
that was stronger than what would describe that conversation.
Sure, people were disagreeing with each other, and it seemed
like some people were getting upset. But there was a comment
made at that meeting that I would call inappropriate. If I had to
do it again, I think I would’ve used the word “inappropriate.”
Is there any hindsight about that entire process?
I’ve been very grateful that there were some people came up to
me, who I knew were not supporting the person we appointed,
and said, “Thank you for your work. I know you had a really
tough decision.” And that’s the kind of response I hope for. I
know we’re going to make decisions that disappoint people, and
I don’t regret the process that we went through. I think it was
all entirely appropriate.
I think a lot of this job is adequately hearing people, because
I think if people know that you have really heard them and
weighed what they have to say, and they ultimately also disagree
with you, at least they’ve had a fair hearing. It was tough in the
appointments situation because we couldn’t comment that we
heard people.
What is your view on the Hampton Inn Hotel project? Are
you fully behind that or do you have some concerns about
it, especially traffic and parking.
I think there are some real questions that need to be to be
discussed, particularly if the city is going to help with some
upfront TIFF funding. One, is it something we can afford?
And two, is it something that is going to help get our TIFF
application approved, because we need to show that the project
wouldn’t happen but for that upfront investment. Regarding
the traffic and what that’s going to do to intersections, those are
studies that we’re going to have to look at.
I’m actually really excited about the possibility of getting the
Hampton Inn downtown. It’s a better use of space, and with the
parking garage going in, we could be looking at net increases
in spaces. One of the things that is also going to be a benefit is
that we’re going to get additional rooms-and-meals and alcohol
taxes out of the hotel. That should theoretically help with our
budgeting.
PAG E 6 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Nat Frothingham Steps Down

Statement from the Board of Directors
Dear Dedicated Readers and Supporters,
What is a bridge? A bridge is a bond that connects side to side, person to person,
and community to community. It was this on this principle, Montpelier’s hometown
newspaper, The Bridge, was founded, and we have pursued this goal with full heart and
earnest determination. Thanks to a tremendous amount of hard work and the generous
support of readers, advertisers, donors, and volunteers, The Bridge remains a free,
independent, and local newspaper—an increasingly rare thing in the Green Mountain
State.
Any success The Bridge has seen until now comes thanks to a hardworking staff of
editors, writers, graphic designers, bookkeepers, and salespeople. But the lion’s share goes
to founder, editor, and publisher, Nat Frothingham, who has been involved with The
Bridge since its first page came hot off the presses. He will be sorely missed as he steps
down after the June 7 issue. While we knew this time would eventually come, it’s with
heavy hearts that the board of directors makes this announcement.
It’s as much to Nat as the community of Montpelier that we at The Bridge dedicate
ourselves anew. With refreshed vigor, we pledge to continue Nat’s vision and purpose to
serve and support the people of Central Vermont not just as an observer, but a member
of the community.
We welcome all respectful voices in our pages to look through the lens with an inquisitive
and investigative eye at the politics, business, art, and culture of Central Vermont. We
believe it’s through this dialogue—and across this bridge—we can bring the community
together, however wide the chasm may appear at times.
The board of directors is pleased to announce that Mike Dunphy, who has served as
managing editor for five months, will assume the position of editor-in-chief as of June 8.
“Mike’s energy has been an incredibly valuable addition to The Bridge since his arrival.
He brings deep experience in print media and has a thoughtful vision for the future of
The Bridge, that we fully support,” says Donny Osman, board president.
The board is planning a public sendoff for Frothingham on May 31 at the Vermont
College of Fine Arts to thank him for his dedication. We will also be talking more about
the 25th anniversary and how we plan to mark this major milestone. We look forward to
sharing our vision for the future of The Bridge and feel lucky to know that we can count
on the great support of the Central Vermont community during this time of transition.
The community is invited to contact The Bridge with well-wishes for Nat or suggestions
and feedback about our future. We are dedicated to The Bridge remaining a true
community newspaper for a long time to come and the door is always open to anyone
who wishes to contribute.
Please also consider visiting our website to give a donation in honor of Nat. You can also
send donations and well wishes to the office of The Bridge at P.O. Box 1143, Montpelier,
Vermont 05601.
Gratefully,
The Bridge Newspaper Board of Directors
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 7

A Message From City Hall

This page was paid for by the City of Montpelier.

Looking Forward by Mayor Anne Watson

I
saw my first crocuses of the season just last week, and besides being simple and What could Montpelier be like
colorful, they’re a welcome reminder that the seasons are in fact changing, and in the near future? Let’s suppose
something new is on its way. I’ve been feeling very forward-looking with my that we’re two years in the future,
new mayorship, especially with this time of year. I’ve been thinking about what’s to looking back on what’s been done.
come. What are we, as a council and as a city, going to work toward? What do we Here are a few things I hope we
love and want to preserve about Montpelier? What can we improve? can say.
The science teacher in me wants to answer this question through the use of data. Economy
Certainly all the things that are good or bad about our community don’t lend The Transportation Center is completed. We have a new hotel downtown. New
themselves to measurement, but for those things that can be measured, meaningful agricultural businesses have opened in Montpelier. State Street is closed every
data points can serve as indicators about how we’re doing. In general, the data I Saturday in the summer for the farmer’s market. The farmers market continues
find the most interesting is data that tells a story. I hope to tell a lot of stories about to be on State Street, and Langdon Street is closed periodically to through traffic.
Montpelier through our data over the next two years. Landlords who keep storefronts perpetually vacant are encouraged to fill them.
Why is data important? If we don’t measure what we want to improve, then we can’t There are plans to develop the Grossman’s lot. The old Brown Derby site has plans
know how effective our remedies have been. If we don’t keep track of important for something awesome.
indicators, then we might not see trends happening in front of us. Data can help Recreation
us identify where we most need to focus our attention and resources, and data can
help tell us if we’re adequately solving our problems. We have multiple access points to the river. We have well-vetted plans for addressing
ice jam and fluvial flooding. We have started checking off projects on our
If we ask ourselves, “How are we doing as a City?” what indicators would help us stormwater master plan. Bicyclists can ride from Gallison Hill Road (or close to it)
best answer that question? What data might be useful for us to track? The council all the way to the train station at Montpelier Junction. You can safely bike or walk
will sit down in May to do some strategic planning. My hope is that during this to the Dog River fields.
time we will identify some key indicators about our city that we think are worth
tracking over time. Affordable Housing and Equity
I think it’s useful to divide the indicators into a couple of categories, general We’ve added ~500 new homes to Montpelier and added ~1000 more residents.
statistics and municipal performance indicators. Tracking municipal performance The percent of Montpelier’s mortgaged homeowners and renters who are housing
data would indicate how well the city operations are functioning. Tracking general burdened is trending downward. Montpelier is a place where non-citizens and new
statistics will measure the well-being of the population of Montpelier. Here are ten citizens feel welcome. Montpelier ensures that anyone it contracts with is paying
general areas of data that would be interesting to track over time, not necessarily their workers a living wage. Parents have access to affordable childcare.
performance measures for city operations. A lot of this data is being collected Energy and the Environment
already. We just need to compile and interpret it. Having it all in one place will
Montpelier tracks energy data for the whole city. We see progress toward increased
make it easier to access and understand in context.
renewable sources and a reduction in total energy use. Our bus system is easy and
1. Grandlist convenient to navigate. The average number of miles driven per year has decreased.
2. Jobs We have banned single-use plastic bags. The City invests its money in a socially
3. Population responsible way.
4. Affordability City Budgeting and Infrastructure
• Percentage of homeowners and renters who are “housing burdened” or We have finally paid off our upstream water treatment debt. We fund water main
paying more than 30% of income towards their housing. repairs so that the pipes are deep enough to withstand freeze-thaw cycles. We have
an ADA-accessible Recreation Building, or at least plans for one. Central Vermont
• Average percent of income spent on transportation and energy
Internet is up and running in Montpelier.
5. Crime rates
Safety
• Drug-related crime
Montpelier is increasingly an opiate-resistant community. Drug-related crime is
6. Happiness Index (or some other soft measure that captures quality of life) trending downward, and people know where people-at-risk can receive social
7. Vacancy Rates services. We continue to be a “fair and impartial” policing community.
• Rentals Conclusion
• Commercial (storefronts) I’m excited to be your mayor. These are
8. Carbon Profile, in terms of heat, the ideas I have right now, and they may
electricity, and transportation) evolve. I welcome your collaboration and
input on these ideas. We have made a
9. Flood-related statistics lot of progress toward big goals over the
10. School-related statistics last few years, but much has yet to be
We need to have this data in one place. done to prepare for the future. As we
There, it will tell a clear story about centralize data about our city, the task
where we are. From there, we can see how of collaborative and informed planning
effective our solutions might be. Even becomes easier. We’ll be able to make
based on the data that we have now, better decisions on how best to use our
we can recognize that Montpelier can be funds and resources.
an expensive place to live, and we have
flooding issues.
PAG E 8 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
HEARD ON THE STREET
Redstone Property to be Sold to
Highest Bidder
The historic Redstone building, located on
10 acres at 26 Terrace Street in Montpelier,
will sold by the state “as is” to the party
who submits the highest bid by May 4,
according to a bid notice issued by the
state Department of Buildings & General
Services. A 2016 appraisal estimated the
value of the 8,609-square-foot stone-and-
brick building and land at $1 million.
Redstone was built in 1890 as a private
summer residence for a Columbia University
professor and his wife, a Montpelier native.
In 1910, the City of Montpelier considered
buying Redstone and converting it into a
high school, but critics argued the location
was not central enough and the idea was
dropped.
The property changed hands in 1911 and
was eventually sold in 1949 to the state,
which used it as the headquarters for the
state police for many years. More recently,
it was used by the secretary of state’s office,
but for the last decade or so the building was
empty or used as temporary state offices.
According to the bid requirements, the
property is subject to covenants running
with the land for the benefit of the Vermont
Division for Historic Preservation, and any
proposed use and development may be
subject to local and state permitting.
The property will be open for inspection by
potential bidders on Friday, April 27, from
10 am to noon and 2 pm until 4 pm. Bids
are due at 2 pm on May 4, and the winning
bidder will be notified by May 11.
For more information, go tobgs.vermont.
gov/property-management/sale.
Party and Prizes to Mark Capital
Kitchen’s Tenth Anniversary
As part of its tenth anniversary celebration,
Capital Kitchen in downtown Montpelier
will be holding an open house and party on
Friday, May 4, from 5 to 8 pm—the same
evening as Art Walk. The open house will
feature free desserts baked by owner Jessica
Turner and a wide variety of prizes donated
by vendors.
“I love giving away prizes,” said Turner,
who has accumulated hundreds of items
to give away. She said the prizes include
lots of bakeware, a set of Wusthof knives,
a mixing bowl set, various gadgets, and a
variety of other items that have proven to be
popular with the store’s customers. Turner
said she may give away some of the prizes
in the week leading up to the party, but will
save the bulk of them for the Friday event,
which she said she is excited about. For more
information about the giveaways, see the
store’s Facebook page.
Capital Kitchen, located at 18 State Street,
sells “serious tools for everyday cooks,”
according to its website. Turner opened
the store on May 1, 2008 after another
Montpelier kitchen store where she had
worked, Mise En Place, closed its doors.
Turner, a Montpelier resident, said her store
has been well supported over the years.
“People here like to eat; they care about
food, they care about where their food comes
from, and they like to cook at home,” she
said. She sees the party, the first of its type
she has held, as a way to thank her customers
for “keeping us here and supporting brick-
and-mortar stores.”
Montpelier Alive Announces July
3rd Trophy Sculpture Contest
Montpelier Alive invites local artists to
submit proposals for a sculpture that will be
used as the Best Green Parade Entry Award.
The trophy sculpture should be made from
recyclables or from repurposed discarded
items and celebrate the patriotic and/or green
theme of the July 3rd Union Mutual Parade
Competition. The winner will receive a
$250 prize and have their artwork displayed
during the July 3rd Independence Day
Celebration and at City Hall throughout
the year. The winner will also be invited to
participate in the Independence Day Parade
as the July 3rd Trophy Sculpture Contest
Winner.
Entries will be collected through a Google
Form available at montpelieralive.org/254/
Parade. All entries will be reviewed by the
July 3rd Planning Committee, and the top
three will be selected. The local community
will be invited to vote for their favorite
trophy sculpture proposal and a winner
will be announced May 8. The completed
trophy will be unveiled on June 19.
Onion River Outdoors Kicks Off
the Season with Muddy Onion and
Bike Swap
Onion River Outdoors opens its doors
later this month and is celebrating with
the Sixth Annual Muddy Onion on April
28. Celebrate early spring in true Vermont
style and come explore New England's most
beautiful, scenic, and iconic dirt roads at
this 38-mile, fully-supported gravel ride.
Then stick around afterward for their
famous post-ride barbecue—complimentary
with registration! As for the ride itself, expect
no less than incredible views of the Green
Mountains, maple syrup shots, early season
burning legs, and a little gravel magic along
the way. Proceeds benefit the Montpelier
Area Mountain Bike Association (MAMBA)
and the North Branch Park Trails Project—
rad mountain bike trails in Montpelier!—
MAMBA's new pump track project, and the
Catamount Trail Association.
The annual Montpelier Bike Swap is also
returning, kicking off Cinco de Mayo at the
usual spot on Langdon Street. Onion River
Outdoors invites you to check out the new
store and join them for the familiar, family-
friendly fun at their one-day consignment
sale. They’ll be accepting bikes, joggers,
trikes, trailers, and tag-a-longs April 29
through May 4. Cash, credit, and trade-up
value available. Over 400 used bikes for sale
starting at 9 am, Saturday, May 5!
SHOW 25 opens at
The Front Gallery
The Front, downtown Montpelier’s
collective art gallery, presents SHOW 25.
The opening reception is on Friday, March
4, 2018, from 4 to 8 pm and in conjunction
with Montpelier Art Walk. Enjoy live music
by composer and musician Ben Cosgrove,
light refreshments, and drinks during the
May 4th opening reception.
The exhibition, running May 4 through
June 16, will showcase the latest works
of the gallery’s membership of Vermont-
based contemporary artists. In addition,
The Front will present work by guest artist
Mary Admasian, a multidisciplinary artist
who explores raw forms, layered spaces, and
abstract perception.
Learn more about The Front at
thefrontvt.com and (802) 552-0877.
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 9
Wayfinding Project Gets Boost from Grant Funds
M
ontpelier was one of seven
communities in the state to
be awarded money from the
Main Street Grants program.
Grant awards from the program are intended
to improve infrastructure, parks, buildings,
signage, and other downtown improvements.
In all, $85,000—$70,500 from the National
Life Group Foundation and $15,000 from
the Vermont Community Foundation—was
paid out to seven Vermont communities:
Barre, Bennington, Montpelier, St. Albans,
St. Johnsbury, Waterbury, and Wilmington.
Montpelier received $9,000, which will go
to “wayfinding” signage to highlight historic
and cultural sites throughout the city as well
as need-to-find spots such as parking and
municipal services.
At the helm the project is David Markow,
president of Montpelier Alive. He also
wrote the grant proposal to help make this
possible. “A couple of years ago, the business
community and the Montpelier Business
Association brought to Montpelier Alive an
idea for doing new wayfinding signage for
the city,” he said. “And it was also around
the same time that the city did rebranding
for a whole range of things around the city,
and Montpelier Alive did as well.”
He added the city council has been a key
supporter, and working together, they found
money within the budget of the downtown
investment district to advance the project.
This money is in addition to the newly
obtained grant money.
City manager Bill Fraser said his staff has
been working on this as well. “We’re very
excited,” Fraser said. “It’s been a long time
in planning, and we’re glad to see some
results. I think generally there’s a sense that
signage for parking and major attractions is
considered a best practice, to have a good-
looking sign plan that people can count on.”
They have budgeted for two phases in the
project. One is to scope out locations and
designs. This included hiring a consultant
for the past year. This stage is “nearly
complete,” Markow said.
Next is the “fabrication and installation
phase.” This includes more fundraising in
addition to the Main Street Grants money.
They will then return to the city council
with a final plan over the next month.
Surface Matter Design, which is based in
Providence, Rhode Island, was selected for
the construction of the signs after a request-
for-proposals process.
Three entry points into the city will get
special welcoming signs, one near the high
school, one near the rotary on the Barre-
Montpelier Road, and another by the rotary
near the middle school. These signs will
be more about letting people know they
are entering Montpelier, whereas the signs
within the city will be more instructional.
This plan has also been approved by the
Montpelier Transportation Committee and
other relevant state agencies. Kevin Casey
of the city’s Planning and Development
by Michael Bielawski
Department said he thinks this is grant revitalize Vermont’s downtowns and villages
money well-spent. is a team sport, so I truly appreciate the
“I think anybody who has lived here has growing number of state, local, public, and
experienced standing in front of City Hall private partners who are working to build
and having somebody come up and ask, stronger, more vibrant communities,” he
‘Is that the State House?’” he said. “If your said.
focus is on tourism and making downtown Michael Bielawski is a freelance reporter for
more accessible, it’s a great project. This will The Bridge. He can be reached at bielawski82@
point people to the important sights.” yahoo.com.
He noted there are some big changes coming
soon to the downtown area and this project Artist rendering of the wayfinding sign
will help point people to the new locations.
For instance, there’s going to be a new
transit center, new bike path connections,
and there’s currently a new hotel proposal.
“The downtown is going to change
dramatically,” he said.
He also noted this could be a good
opportunity to create some cohesiveness and
themes from one neighborhood to the next.
He said when you go to other communities
that are known tourist areas, there is often
attractive looking and consistent signage.
“You can start to see those little designs that
make a big difference,” he said.
Meanwhile, another project from the Main
Street Grants program is just down the
road in Barre. They are getting $5,500 for
a historic walking area in the downtown as
well as a bicycling connection to Graniteville.
Governor Scott has commented on the
grants, praising downtown development in
all the communities involved. “The work to
PAG E 10 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Looking Ahead to Spring at NECI on Main by Nat Frothingham

T
he calendar and the weather are at odds again. The calendar is telling us it’s
spring, but the weather is telling that an almost vengeful winter with snow, ice,
and freezing rain is still very much with us.
Despite the weather, a few days ago, in expectation of spring Chef Jean-Louis Gerin
assembled a small number of NECI chefs to think about spring and food.
Sitting together around a table at NECI on Main and talking about the coming of
spring and food were Chef-Instructor Lyndon Virkler Jr. and Chef-Instructor Martha
Franklin.
Along with fellow writer Darryl Benjamin, Chef Lyndon Virkler, Jr. wrote the seminal
(2016) book Farm to Table: The Essential Guide to Sustainable Food Systems for Students,
Professionals, and Consumers.
But as Chef Virkler observed, it’s no longer 2016. In fact, it’s 2018, and the Trump
administration has in many ways set back the idea of sustainable food systems. “We are
having to re-argue the case for sustainability,” said Virkler.
But not all is lost. Said Virkler, “People are coming to us because they want to learn
about sustainability.”
“I should be concerned about where my food is coming from,” said Chef Instructor
Martha Franklin. She insists with students that they “know who their vendors are.”
“Leave your situation in better shape than you found it,” she says. “And don’t forget to NECI's Chef Lyndon with Deondre, Horace, and Alejandro. Photo by Michael Jermyn
look for your food at the local farmers’ market.”
Turning to the NECI on Main menu, Chef Jean-Louis said that locally sources beef for
Chef Frankin said that NECI graduates are taking the sustainability message to their two was popular as was Prime Ribeye for Two (or not). And the “Fresh Catch Fish of
work assignments around the world. the Day” was also a big hit.
And NECI graduates are quickly rising in their profession. “Our experience tells that Chef Jean-Louis said that last fall’s La Brioche makeover has been very successful. And
NECI graduates will be in management positions in less than five years after they leave he noted that NECI on Main opens from 3:30 to 9 pm.
us,” said Jean-Louis.
As to NECI on Main’s commitment to fresh food, he said, “We want to be precisely in
the moment.”
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 11

French Horn Player Brad

Gemeinhardt to Perform in
the Brahms Horn Trio
by Nat Frothingham

A
t its final concert of the 2017–2018 season, Capital City Concerts will be
presenting three chamber music masterpieces. One of the masterpieces on the
program is the Horn Trio in E-flat major, Op. 40 composed by Johannes Brahms
in 1865.
Brad Gemeinhardt, who is third horn for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, will perform
on the horn in the Brahms’ Horn Trio. In a recent phone conversation with The Bridge,
Gemeinhardt expressed his admiration for the Brahms Horn Trio. He noted the huge
number of chamber music pieces written for stringed instruments. But it was Brahms who
was the first to write a chamber music piece for horn, violin, and piano.
“It inspired many later pieces,” Gemeinhardt said. “But I believe it is the first.”
Gemeinhardt was an elementary school child, when he first became attracted to the horn.
His mother was a junior high band director, he related. “In the fifth grade I would go to
the band room after school.” And he found that the horn was “the easiest instrument for
me to make a sound on.”
As early as the eighth grade, Gemeinhardt was becoming interested in the playing the
horn as a career. He remembers first hearing the Brahms’ Horn Trio at about that time,
and said, “I remember getting my parents to buy me a recording of it and listening to it
over and over again.
The Brahms Horn Trio had a special significance for Johannes Brahms. Said Gemeinhardt,
“The third movement of the Horn Trio was written just after Brahms’ mother died. And
if you listen to the third movement, it’s one of his great movements. It’s very somber and
dark. Then suddenly everything opens up and it becomes, just for a minute, joyous. But
it quickly returns to the darkness he experienced when his mother died.”
In his phone conversation with The Bridge, Gemeinhardt drew attention to the sound
produced by a trio consisting of a French horn along with the violin and piano. “The tone
qualities work well together,” he said. “Combining the horn with the piano and violin, it’s
pretty extraordinary what [Brahms] did with the piece,” he said.
That final concert will be performed on Saturday, April 21 at 7:30 pm. at the Unitarian
Church of Montpelier.

Got a news tip? We want to know!

Send it to us at: editorial@montpelierbridge.com
PAG E 12 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Changes Coming to the

Capital City Farmers’ Market
by Ashton Kirol

T
his year is the 41st season for the Capital City Farmers’ Market, and there will be
some big changes to the market. Our outdoor market will be held at a new location
on State Street in downtown Montpelier this year. We trialled this location last fall
for three market days, and it was a huge success. State Street will be shut down between
Main and Elm Street on market days, which makes for an easily walkable downtown area.
Our regular market lot will be open for parking, which will be a net gain of parking
spots compared with what we take up on the street. Last year’s trial markets had a great
community feel. There were musicians playing along the street, and shoppers could flow
between market vendors and downtown businesses along the street.
Our goal this year is to continue building on this vision of a walkable downtown
Montpelier. We are excited to work with the City of Montpelier and groups such as the
Sustainable Montpelier Coalition to grow the offering of local food and art downtown.
There is also the opportunity to increase the area of a walkable downtown by closing
Langdon Street and partnering with arts groups to hold events there during or after market
hours. We envision a downtown where people can come down Saturday morning and shop
directly from local farms, get a locally sourced breakfast or lunch, and easily walk between
market vendors and local shops or art exhibits.
The market itself will offer the same great vendor mix that makes the market such a fun
destination for locals and visitors to the area. We feature over 65 full-time and seasonal
vendors from Central Vermont that grow or make 100 percent of the products they sell.
This includes everything from seasonal produce to small-batch cheese and one-of-a-kind
crafts. The majority of our vendors this season are returning vendors, but we do have some
new craft and local food vendors that will be at the market part time.
During the trial markets in the fall of 2017 we surveyed hundreds of visitors to the market
to see how they felt about the on-street location. Seventy percent said they liked the State
Street location better than our usual space. We had a similar percentage of vendors prefer
the new location as well. A new location is something that the market has looked at for
years, but the right opportunity had not come along. Last year, the Sustainable Montpelier
Coalition helped spearhead the idea with the market board, and they helped organize the
move with the city. The three trial markets resulted in the best stretch of sales the market
has had in the last five years.
The outdoor market begins May 5th, during Montpelier’s May Day festivities. The market
is open from 9 am to 1 pm every Saturday from May through October. Our live music
series begins May 19 and runs all summer long. People can stay up to date on market
vendors, music, and events by following us on Facebook, signing up for our weekly
newsletter, or going to montpelierfarmersmarket.com
Ashton Kirol is the manager or the Capital City Farmers’ Market
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 13

Banchan Brings a Taste of

Korea to Montpelier
by Suzanne Podhaizer

A
t Banchan, a new Korean restaurant in Montpelier, the first thing visitors receive is
a pot filled with roasted corn tea. In the cup, the liquid is amber, with a sweet and
nutty flavor. The dining room walls are painted pale green and deep teal, both of
which are reminiscent of the ocean. On one wall hangs dozens of lacquered bowls—most a
rich red, accented with black and gold—and a single round mirror.
Banchan, which opened to the public on March 27, is notable for several reasons. Firstly, it
offers a cuisine that is barely represented in the Green Mountains: The restaurant—which
is named for a collection of small, shared dishes—joins Naru in Williston and Shin-La in
Brattleboro to form a trio of Korean restaurants, all located along the corridor of Vermont’s
major highways, separated by many miles.
The eatery is located in the former home of Philamena’s on Elm Street in Montpelier. The
capital city is also home to Wilaiwan’s, a much-lauded Thai restaurant that offers highly
spiced lunch dishes on weekdays; Double King, an exceptional Chinese pop-up that does
business out of Kismet; two Vietnamese restaurants; two casual Chinese spots; a Japanese
restaurant with a focus on sushi and sashimi; with a second Thai eatery to round out the
selection. In a New England City with a population of fewer than 8,000—and around 45
eateries in total—the proportion of Asian restaurants is startling.
But most importantly, the food at Banchan is simply lovely. Hewing to the ideal of purchasing
food from area farms, the owners—a pair of sisters and their mother—offer dishes that are
beautiful to look at and exciting to eat.
Order the Ssam-bap Jun-shim and receive a tray holding a bowl of bone broth garnished with
slender enoki mushrooms and scallions, a cast iron dish filled with your protein of choice—
spicy pork, in my case—purple sticky rice, a collection of sauces including sweet and spicy
gochujang, and a cup filled with crisp lettuce leaves. The diner wraps the meat and rice in a
leaf before eating.
Bi-bim-bap—white rice, vegetables and meat topped with a seaweed-laced egg—requires
less hands-on participation. For an extra dollar, the same combo can be served in a special
Korean stone bowl. Another variant of the dish, kim-bap, which is made with similar
ingredients but is rolled up in seaweed like Japanese maki, can be ordered in the restaurant,
or purchased as takeout for a neat and easy meal on the go.
How are the namesake Banchan ? On one snowy day in April, the three dishes we received
included kimchi, slices of vegetable pancake, and gamja jorim, a dish of sweet and salty
braised potatoes. The potatoes alone would merit another visit.
Banchan currently offers breakfast and lunch, and soon, will also begin serving dinner. The
evening meal will include the same dishes that are served midday, plus some enticing “dishes
for sharing,” which are printed tantalizingly on the menu. Had I been able to order the
Korean fried chicken wings, beef and kimchi sliders, seafood pancake, or braised pork belly
taco buns on my first visit, I would have done so in a heartbeat.
A liquor license, which will allow Banchan to serve cocktails made with soju—a Korean
liquor—as well as sake, beer, and wine, is forthcoming, too. In the interim, nobody should
miss the maesil ju: plum juice blended with still or sparkling water (try it sparkling).
When you dine at Banchan, where many of the dishes are meant to be shared, it’s ideal to
bring along a good friend. On this occasion, I shared my fare with William Alexander, a
winner of the National Book Award and faculty member at the Vermont College of Fine
Arts.
Will is a colleague of one of Banchan’s owners, An Na, a novelist whose most recent book,
The Place Between Breaths, was released on the same day that her family's restaurant opened.
If you find that you wish to dine there, but are alone, perhaps you can bring a copy of the
book along, to keep you company between sips of soup, and bites of spicy pork ssam.
PAG E 14 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Recollections of a Dairy Farm Wife
F
ifty years ago, my father was a career
soldier in the US Army, and when
he left for Vietnam, we moved to
Vermont. Back then there were more cows
than people living in the Fourteenth Star,
and most of those cows were black and
white. Green is the midpoint on the light
spectrum between black and white, and
one didn’t have to be a colorist to know
that the cows were a perfect adornment to
the green hills.
Before moving to Vermont, the only farms
I had ever seen up close were immense
vegetable fields in Minnesota, where
my Uncle Lloyd and his wife Beulah,
whose parents were from East Thetford,
Vermont, grew peas and green beans
for the Green Giant corporation. On
television, there was Captain Kangaroo
and Mr. Green Jeans, who showed
us charming glimpses into tiny home
operations that boasted having two of
every kind of domestic animal, much like
the mural in the Montpelier Agway store.
What wasn’t obvious to the casual
observer were the imperceptible changes
taking place in the romantic red barns
and the colonial clapboard homes that
accompanied them. After the turn of the
20th century, when the sheep and wool
industry was entirely lost to Australia,
when 90 percent of the land in Vermont
was bare of trees, small family dairies
popped up everywhere to meet the great
demand for milk in the urban areas of
New England and New York. Trains with
ice cars took fresh milk, cream, and butter
to the cities. The farms were for the most
by Mimi Clark
part single-family operations that relied
entirely on multiple-generation husband-
and-wife teams and their children to carry
on after them.
By mid-century, after the post-World
War II baby boom, the demand for dairy
products was greater than ever, and dairy
farming offered a good healthy lifestyle
for people who loved to live off the land
and work hard for not much money,
people who were willing to sacrifice
everything for the sake of passing on land
and a livelihood to their progeny in one of
the most physically beautiful but climate-
severe places on earth.
By the time Rachel Carson published
Silent Spring, the post-war prosperity had
accelerated to a dangerous point, not only
for the environment but also for the cows
and the people who husbanded them.
Television and slick salesmen pushed all
kinds of new chemical products that were
better, cleaner, easier to use, and promised
higher yields. Machinery got bigger and
bigger. The idea of increased production
with less human labor gave hope to
dairymen who were rapidly succumbing
to promises that with all the new and
improved methods, they would make
more profits and have more time to spend
relaxing with their families. Expensive
refrigerated tanker trucks hauled milk
for more and more middlemen, who were
taking more than their share of the pie, to
far-away destinations. Higher efficiency
with stricter regulations became the name
of the game. Those who wouldn’t play by
the new rules were being left behind, left
out, and most of all in danger of losing
the next generation of farmers who were
tired of working so hard for so little gain.
The youths were being lured to urban
areas farther south, where the weather
was easier and the financial opportunities
more lucrative.
In the early 1970s, when I married a
the medium-large dairy, I had a vision
of the old ways that rewarded a person
every day with the sense of a job well
done. Before our eyes, that dream was
being replaced by the fear of not keeping
up. Staying small now meant losing the
ability to support three or four families of
children and their spouses. The expansion
now demanded even larger cows that had
to produce a hundred pounds of milk
(twelve and half gallons!) per day. More
crops had to be raised to feed them, more
grain had to be bought, more silos built
for storage, more buildings built to house
more cows, all to make ends meet.
Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of
American landscape architecture, the co-
designer of Central Park, came to Vermont
in the middle of the nineteenth century
to design the landscape at Shelburne
Farms. He wrote an essay published in
an excellent volume called So Fine a
Prospect by a woman, Alan Emmet. It was
prophetic advice that has gone unnoticed
for too long. Olmsted was very critical
of Vermont soils. He found them to be
poor and stony. He felt the small hillside
fields would never be able to sustain large
animals, especially large numbers of them.
He was right.
Not only are large numbers of dairy cows
not sustainable in Vermont, but many
people are much better off, healthier, if
they seldom eat dairy products. Ironically
the list includes me, my dairy farmer
husband, and our children. It is time
for the dairy industry to wake up and
smell the coffee and change to sheep,
chicken, or goats. It is unrealistic to ask
the Vermont populace to help perpetuate
the gross overproduction of milk by giant
cows that have gone the way of the Swiss
watch, American cars, and other icons lost
to the past.
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 15
Cultivating Gardens, Family, and Community in Montpelier
by Melisa Oliva
I
was born in El Salvador, Central America. After I started to travel, I learned that I
could not go back to live in El Salvador and adapt myself again to the social paranoia,
which one has to normalize when you live amidst violence, extreme poverty, and a
macho culture that can kill women with impunity. Since 2009, I have lived in many
countries: Costa Rica, Cuba, Peru, Mexico, Switzerland, India, and the United States.
Before I even dreamt about living in Vermont, some friends from Vermont told me
“Vermont is so you! You are going to love it up there!” So in 2013, when I came to visit
the man who now is my husband, falling in love “in” Vermont and “with” Vermont
seemed quite natural. Vermont was a place with natural beauty and where people care
about and protect their resources. What a great place to raise a family, I thought.
Years later, when I was pregnant and our family needed to establish roots, we considered
Vermont as probably the best place to do it. My husband Patrick moved to Vermont
after finishing a program on organic farming at the University of California, Santa
Cruz. He came to Vermont to be part of a farming cooperative in Barnard—The Fable
Farm—which was a great group of young people trying to create a vibrant community.
He loved it, but there was something missing. He was missing us, his own family, of
course!
I met him in El Salvador. I wasn’t even living in El Salvador at the time, just visiting,
while finishing a master’s degree in expressive arts therapy in Switzerland. He was in
El Salvador on a “farmer-to-farmer” exchange with the Northeast Organic Farmers
Association of Vermont.
Before I met him, I had taken an urban gardening program, and my spiritual path as a
yoga teacher-vegetarian led me to feel the need to reconnect with nature. I thought the
best way to do it would be to learn how to grow my own food, and I wanted to do it in
the most respectful and careful way.
By the time our daughter Ananda was born in 2014, organic gardening was at the
center of our family, and that is why we ultimately came to Vermont. We were looking
for a community that would embrace organic farming and support it. We wanted to be
part of the solution and grow our family surrounded by like-minded people. We chose
Montpelier because we felt we could bring something important to the community:
fresh, organic produce that was convenient and accessible.
Ananda Gardens is the name of our farm. We started it in 2015 on rented land and
with the support of a co-housing community on Dillon Road. We started a small
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. I personally deliver produce to our
neighbors’ homes. It has been a great way to place us in the organic food market and at
the same time connect us with wonderful people.
Last year we found the perfect spot for accomplishing our mission: to serve our
community, improve the natural landscape, and promote healthy living. We bought
an organic dairy farm on Horn of the Moon Road. Since we moved we have been
constantly working to improve the infrastructure and develop a farmstead and
farm-based education facilities. We are also increasing our CSA membership for our
convenient home delivery.
We plant mostly “core vegetables” such as salad greens, carrots, tomatoes, onions, garlic,
peas, beets, radishes, greens (kale, collards, Swiss chard), zucchini, broccoli, squash,
cabbages, eggplants, sweet peppers, and herbs. We will have some specialty crops
such as turmeric and ginger this year. Also this year we will be planting asparagus,
blueberries, and strawberries. These take a while to become established, so they will
be available in a couple of years. In the future, we are considering a “pick your own”
program for these, but for now just planting them is a very exciting project.
We are currently not sure if we will be at the Capital City Farmers Market. We were
last year, but the board has not yet approved us for this year. What we know for sure is
we will continue to deliver to our CSA members and a farm stand once a week, every
Wednesday from June to October.
Of all the places in the world, I chose Vermont as my home. I honestly feel I am a
Vermonter. This is where my daughter learned to talk, both in English and Spanish,
this is where my friends are, and this is where I want to be of service to the world. This
is home.
Vermont does have an impressive landscape, but there are many other beautiful places
in the world. So it is not just Vermont`s beauty that makes us believe in a future here.
It is the community, the sense of belonging to a broader project, where we can care
for one another and appreciate organic farming as a responsible way to create wellness
for ourselves and for the planet. As part of this community, I feel the challenge to
support the local economy and organic farming to build a vibrant community. We
want Montpelier to be a diverse, welcoming, and vibrant place. Ananda Gardens is our
humble offering to all of you. We invite you to know us.
Melisa Oliva is the co-owner of Ananda Gardens
PAG E 16 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
CBD Brings AroMed New Success—and New Space
J ust as the breath of life involves contraction
and expansion, so too does Montpelier’s
downtown business community. Adding a
sweeter fragrance to that air is Lauren Andrews,
owner of AroMed, who has expanded her business
thanks to rapid growth and a loyal customer base
here and in the flatlands. While the retail space
will remain at 8 State Street, Andrews has taken
over a second space on the third floor of 73 Main
Street to serve as an office, production facility, and
workshop.
“The retail space has been very successful, and
we’ve been doing all of our production there,”
Andrews explains, “but as we have gained more
wholesale orders for our CBD line and our essential
oils, and our online presence has increased, we’ve
outgrown that space. I was feeling claustrophobic
and had no space to do any creative work. I really
got away from what my passion is, and that is
making the products.”
The popularity of CBD, or cannabidiol—a non-
pyschoactive chemical in cannabis that’s inserted in
everything from coffee and dog food to chocolates
in Montpelier nowadays—is certainly a major part
of what’s driving AroMed’s sales. But it’s not the
only one, according to Andrews. “CBD has played
a part in our success, absolutely, but people are
also fans of our body care products and essential
oils because we are very committed to having
synthetic-free products.”
Indeed, it’s not the ingredients alone that win customers but skill in the preparation
and combination of those ingredients, skill that Andrews learned starting in her years
as a psychiatric nurse. “I was working at Central Vermont Medical Center. We were
developing a sensory integration program, and we didn’t have anything for olfaction, so
I introduced essential oil use to the patients. It was extremely popular, and I realized I
needed to educate myself.”
From there she attended a five-week course at the Aromahead Institute in Ithaca, New
York. “What impressed me about aromatherapy is all the science that backs up why
essential oils are so effective. Really, aromatherapy at its essence is chemistry.” Once
CBD got into the mix, Andrews got a Professional Certificate in Cannabis Science and
Medicine from the University of Vermont. “I felt that if you are selling this, you have
a responsibility to know how to teach people to use these products safely.”
One example of how her training, knowledge, and intuition has grown the business is
by Mike Dunphy
the shop’s most popular product—an arnica and
white willow based lotion that includes organic,
analgesic essential oils of clove bud, spike lavender,
and plai, as well as CBD extract. Thanks to locals
who have shared the product with friends living
out of state, tourists who pick it up while in town,
and, according to Andrews, “cuz it’s really good,”
orders for the lotion come in from as far away as
Hawaii.
This online component is a big reason why the
larger production facility is needed, as are AroMed’s
sales to wholesalers, which grows daily despite
almost no active effort. “We have our products in
12 stores from Brattleboro to Burlington so far, and
we haven’t even put in a lot of effort. Retailers are
calling us,” she notes. “It’s really clear that there’s a
real demand for our products.”
It’s also important to Andrews that she supports
Vermont farmers whenever possible, noting that
the CBD oil she uses is extracted by Nutraceutical
Science Laboratories, just a few miles away in
Waterbury, “This is where we are ahead of the
game and why so many people are seeking out
AroMed CBD, because we support Central
Vermont farmers,” She explains. “It feels very good
knowing that our money is not spent in Colorado
or Kentucky, where most of the CBD sold in
Lauren Andrews
Vermont is coming from, We are selling Vermont
CBD.”
With the July 1 date set for marijuana legalization, Andrews is already thinking ahead.
“I have entered into a joint venture with Buzz Ferver from Perfect Circle Farm. We are
starting a consultation venture together as we approach July 1. We anticipate many
community members will want to grow their own marijuana and need help obtaining
female clones, guidance on cultivation techniques, and education on how to make
cannabis remedies.”
Nor is Andrews worried that once THC becomes commercially legal, it will eat into
the CBD sales, noting that many customers specifically ask for products that do not
produce the high. Indeed, the impact of the opioid crisis has brought in many people
seeking relief from pain but without the psychoactive effects. “One thing is becoming
more clear to me when getting feedback from customers is that CBD and essential oil
therapies are helping people decrease the number of pharmaceuticals they are currently
on, or in some cases, helping people avoid taking pharmaceuticals altogether. So when
given a choice between CBD or a potentially addictive drug for pain reduction, of
course more and more people are reaching for CBD.”
Thank You for
reading The Bridge!
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 17
Frequently Asked Questions About CBD
What is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is one of dozens of active chemical compounds (or cannabinoids) found
in the hemp plant.
Does CBD come from marijuana or hemp?
Marijuana and industrial hemp are two different varieties of cannabis that come from the
same species of plant (Cannabis sativa L). In general, CBD is found abundantly in both. It is
CBD extracted from industrial hemp that is legal, and currently being marketed in Vermont,
and must contain no more than 0.3 percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). If a hemp plant
contains more than 0.3 percent THC, it is then technically a “marijuana” plant.
Will CBD get me high?
CBD will not get you high. It is the THC molecule that binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors
in the brain that is responsible for the psychotropic effects of marijuana. CBD can, however,
decrease anxiety and facilitate a calming or sedating effect on some users.
How does CBD work?
CBD functions by binding to cannabinoid receptors in the body’s own endocannabinoid
system. “These receptors have been found in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands,
and immune cells. In each tissue, the cannabinoid system performs different tasks, but the
goal is always the same: homeostasis, the maintenance of a stable internal environment.” Go
to norml.org if you want to learn more.
How do I take CBD?
* CBD is best taken orally via drops placed under the tongue, and held for 60 seconds before
swallowing. The CBD is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream via the capillaries in the
mouth.
* Topical creams, oils, and salves are also helpful for skin conditions and addressing aches
and pains, but only about 10 percent of applied CBD is absorbed into the bloodstream via
the skin. For chronic inflammatory issues, a combination of topicals and internal use is most
effective.
* CBD, taken in capsule form, is best when addressing gastrointestinal inflammation, such
as IBS.
* Vaping or smoking CBD rich hemp is a rapid route of absorption and can be a useful
delivery method when a quick response is needed, e.g., for anxiety, pain reduction, or
insomnia.
* Edibles, such as truffles, cookies, coffee, or gummy bears are popular and delicious
introductions to CBD, the “gateway” CBD product, if you will.
How do I know what dose of CBD to take?
Dosing involves many variables, and is person specific. Finding the correct dose for you may
require attentive self-monitoring and experimentation. Many of AroMed’s customers report
dosing between 10 and 60 mg of CBD per day total, depending on the health issue being
addressed.
by Lauren Andrews
Are there side effects of using CBD? Is it safe?
The only significant known risk is vaping CBD oils
that were produced with a thinning agent, such as
propylene glycol. When vaped, propylene glycol
produces a known carcinogen, formaldehyde. CBD oils
produced by carbon dioxide extraction for vaping are
much safer with better efficacy. CBD is generally safe
with no known side effects, although some users have
reported sedation, lightheadedness, or lowered blood
pressure. Collaboration with your health care provider
related to CBD use is recommended, particularly if you
are taking pharmaceuticals.
Is CBD legal?
CBD oil from industrial hemp is legal in Vermont
(and retail sales are taxed), but legality in some other
states, and on the federal level, differ. The confusion
related to the legal status of CBD is largely related to
the Drug Enforcement Administration’s designation of
all cannabis extracts, including CBD, as a Schedule I drug (i.e., heroin, LSD, or mescaline)
with no medicinal value. Cannabis has never met the criteria of a Schedule I drug. But, there
is big news just in, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recently threw his support
behind the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, which would legalize the growing and selling hemp
under federal law.
Does CBD show up in drug tests?
THC is the “problematic” cannabinoid looked for in drug tests. CBD is not, and generally
a non-issue for those that require testing. That being said, when purchasing CBD products,
choose your source carefully and be sure batch testing is being done to ensure purity and that
THC levels are indeed below 0.3 percent.
How do I discern quality?
Reputable CBD producers, product makers, and sellers are transparent and share test results
upon request. Other markers of quality are sustainable, organic growing practices and using
locally grown and extracted Vermont CBD hemp oil. Many CBD products sold in Vermont
come from Colorado or Kentucky. That fact is not widely known by local consumers who
believe they are supporting local farmers.
Where can I find medical studies on CBD?
Project CBD is a non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the research progress
on CBD, and references hundreds of scientific/medical peer-reviewed studies. The studies
reference CBD use as it relates to ADHD, addiction, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer,
diabetes, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, migraines, neurodegeneration, chronic pain, and many
more. Visit projectcbd.org/guidance/conditions.
Lauren Andrews, RN, Clinical Aromatherapist and President of AroMed Aromatherapy is a
graduate of UVM’s Cannabis Science and Medicine Certification Program.
Cody Chevrolet Congratulates The Bridge
On Over 20 Years of Business!
PAG E 18 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Gardening for Pollinators, Birds, and Beauty
S
cience shows us that biodiversity leads to a more productive ecosystem in which more
oxygen is produced, more carbon dioxide stored, more water purified, and more energy
from the sun transformed into food and biomass. The key to maximizing biodiversity
in our gardens and landscapes is native plants.
If we focus on butterflies and birds, we can see how planting natives can pay huge dividends.
It turns out that the majority of butterfly species are plant specialists, particularly in the larval
stage. This means that the average caterpillar has the ability to eat, and not be poisoned by,
a limited number of indigenous plants with which it has coevolved. An example of this is
the monarch butterfly, whose caterpillars rely exclusively on native milkweed species such
as common milkweed and rose milkweed. In recent decades, millions of acres of milkweed
habitat have been eradicated to make way for bigger farms and for development, particularly
in the Midwest. In that time, we have seen a corresponding plummet in the numbers of
monarchs.
The story doesn’t end there, as the widespread destruction of native plant communities has
not only led to huge decreases in insect biomass but also to decreases in the numbers of all
the creatures in the food web that rely on insects for food and other services. Birds have been
especially hard hit. Over 90 percent of terrestrial birds feed their young almost exclusively on
insects. Studies have shown significant losses in bird numbers in recent decades.
The realities that our ecosystems face are indeed disturbing, and we should all be forgiven
for feeling depressed. However, there is much we can do to start repairing the damage, and
there is no better place to start than our own backyards.
As stated earlier, native plants are key because of their connection to insect numbers but also
because birds and other animals are more likely to benefit from the berries, nuts, and shelter
that native trees, shrubs, and perennials provide.
When looking to acquire plant stock, it is important to look for the “straight” species. Many
of our indigenous plants have been altered by plant breeders—these plants are known as
by Erin O’Hara
“nativars,” which is short for “native cultivar.” For instance, purple coneflower (Echinacea
purpurea) has seen its flower petals changed from pink to lime green for novelty’s sake. It has
been shown that changing plants in this way usually makes them less attractive to wildlife.
Straight-species natives can be purchased locally through nurseries such as Arcana Perennials
in Jericho and Perennial Pleasures in East Hardwick. They will often be sold alongside non-
native plants and nativars, so be sure to ask for assistance if you are not sure what is what.
Turtle Hill Native Plants is a small landscaping business and nursery that I started last year.
You can visit turtlehillnativeplants.com/sales-events/ to see the schedule of plant sales this
year.
Gardening for wildlife involves more than just replacing cultivars and non-natives with
native species, although that is an excellent place to start. Birds and pollinators need a clean,
safe water source, nesting sights, and shelter from weather and predators. There are many
simple steps we can take to achieve this when designing our landscapes.
It is popular to widely space plants in a garden bed and fill in the gaps with bark mulch.
However, a denser planting scheme will provide superior shelter for small birds and insects,
keep more water in the soil through shading, capture more carbon, and reduce weed
pressure. This will have the side benefit of cutting down on the labor and expense involved
in watering, weeding, and mulching the garden.
Shrubs and small trees can make excellent habitats for nesting and shelter, but birds are
more likely to benefit if shrubs are massed instead of grown as isolated specimens. Eight feet
or more in width is considered ideal. This can be achieved through planting two parallel
rows of shrubs instead of one to make a hedge or windbreak, or through massing shrubs
in the back corner of the garden. Important native species include highbush cranberry
(Viburnum trilobum), winterberry (Ilex verticillata), serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis), and
black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis). I mainly acquire my shrubs through Fedco Trees in
Maine and Easthill Tree Farm in Plainfield, Vermont.
As a stand-in, or in addition to shrubs, brush piles can also provide excellent shelter for
insects and birds. Start with a base of leaves and dead plant stalks. Pile branches on top of
that. Build it six feet tall and at least eight feet wide. Most people will want to put a brush
pile in a hidden part of the garden.
Providing one or more water sources for drinking and bathing will bring more birds onto
your property. Birdbaths are a cheap and easy way to achieve this. Different species of birds
prefer water of varying depths, so choose a birdbath with a bowl that is ½- to 1-inch deep at
the edge and slopes to a maximum of 3 inches at the center. Get a birdbath mounted on a
pedestal to protect against cat predation. Larger birds such as robins and blue jays will drink
and bathe in the depths, while little goldfinches, song sparrows, and chickadees will use the
shallows.
Gardening for wildlife does not and should not mean sacrificing aesthetics. The pallet of
flowers, leaf textures, and form is immense among native plants. However, you may find
your definition of beauty is expanding, along with the number and variety of new species
showing up on your property. In addition to attractive foliage and blossoms, you will have
more bird song, colorful butterflies, and all manner of buzzing, slithering, jumping, and
soaring creatures to add drama and beauty to your homestead.
Learn more about Gardening for Pollinators, Birds & Beauty with Erin O'Hara at his workshop
at Hunger Mountain Co-op on April 21, 10:30 am–12 pm Preregistration is required
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 19
Sap and Climate Change by Laura Sorkin
S
ince we started sugaring at Runamok Maple in 2009, every year has seen different
weather patterns and with it, new challenges. When the snow storms came in
March this year, the amount of snow on Mt. Mansfield doubled from 50 inches to
100 inches inside of a week. The ski community was thrilled, but for us sugarmakers it
created a difficult situation.
Many of the lines that carry the sap from the taps through the network of tubing down
to the sugarhouse were buried. When temperatures warmed and the snow compressed,
it dragged lines down with it, pulling out taps. In addition, ice jams formed in the lines
under the snow, building up pressure in the tubing, which also caused taps to pop off.
We manage 71,000 taps on the western side of Mt. Mansfield and only became aware
of the seriousness of the problem at the start of the biggest sap run of the year.
We had good sugaring weather at the end of February, but March was mostly too cold.
When the weather is stalled like that, a general anxiety sets in that April will warm
quickly and the season will finish in a few days. But when the temperatures finally rose
at the end of March, relief was replaced by panic when we realized we had to check all
71,000 taps immediately.
We sent the entire woods crew out every day. Even the employees who work in the
office and on the bottling line were deputized to head out to the forest and help; some
of them had never been on snow shoes before. This is the urgency of sugaring in action;
we only have a few weeks to make a year’s worth of product, and every good sap run
counts. It took many people hours of trekking through deep snow on steep slopes to
check every tap, but within a week the network was running smoothly again. We heard
that many other sugarmakers dealt with the same issue, even up in Quebec. Most added
that they had never experienced anything like it.
We have been producing maple syrup for ten years, which is a relatively short time
in comparison with many of our fellow sugarmakers, who have been doing it for
generations. Our understanding of the season when we first entered the business was
that the bulk of the syrup was made in March because that is the month that typically
sees the most favorable conditions; warm during the day with freezing temperatures at
night. Maple Open House is always scheduled toward the end of March in Vermont
because it was a good bet sugarmakers would be in full swing, ready to welcome visitors
into steamy sugarhouses.
Since we have been in operation, there have been no reliable patterns, and for the past
four Open House weekends the rigs have been dry and quiet because of the cold. We
begin tapping at the beginning of January in anticipation of unpredictable weather, and
this approach has served us well. When we are asked when our best sap runs generally
occur, we answer that there is no normal season anymore. We just get our taps in early
and see what the year brings us.
When scientists first noticed that average global temperatures were rising, they named
the phenomenon “global warming” for obvious reasons. But as the repercussions of
rising temperatures are playing themselves out, they have renamed it “climate change,”
since hotter temperatures in some places are shifting weather patterns in others. An
unusual blast of warm air coming off the ocean on one side of the earth may set in
motion cold winds down to our region just as we are anticipating spring.
As I am writing this in the second week of April, a week when many sugarmakers in
our area are often done for the season, we awakened to another blanket of snow, and
the trees are frozen. Politicians can argue the “ifs” and origins of climate change all they
like, but we are living it, right here, right now.
People who choose a livelihood dependent on the weather have always understood the
risk; you only have so much control over how your season will go. Epic snowfalls in
March are not unheard of, after all, even before we humans started messing with our
atmosphere. But those of us whose success can tip one direction or another due to a few
degrees of temperature change are especially vulnerable. We will do our part where we
can to mitigate climate change, but it is already here and has forced us to come up with
a strategy. The plan is to continue to expect the unexpected. We started in this business
untethered to any notion of how the season is supposed to go, and we will continue
ready for anything.
Laura Sorkin is the co-owner of Runamok Maple in Cambridge, VT
PAG E 2 0 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE

Let the Breeding Begin—

Vermont’s Amphibians Head
to Vernal Pools by Mike Dunphy

W
hile the classic video game Frogger may elicit squeals of nostalgic fun for those of a
certain age, the squeals of tires on the road make a very different impression on the
frogs themselves, as they cross in the thousands during the great spring migration
to vernal pools for the annual breeding party. On heavily trafficked Vermont roads, this can
amount to a death toll of more than 50 percent.
In the Montpelier area, particularly at high-volume crossing zones such as those at the junction
of Route 12 and Shady Rill Road, on East Hill Road, and on Center Road, deliverance doesn’t
come at the hands of a radioactive super lizard able to leap buildings in a single bound or stop
cars in their tracks, but from a cadre of volunteer crossing guards in raincoats and reflective vests
working under the auspices of the North Branch Nature Center on Elm Street. In addition their
raincoats and vests, these amphibian crossing guards are requested to bring “a hat with a brim,
a clean bucket for carrying amphibians across the road,” and a spatula “for scooping dead ones
off the road.” Because most migration takes places after sundown, a heavy-duty flashlight is also
essential. It’s also important volunteers to wash their hands clean, because amphibians breathe
through their skin, making any lotion, perfume, and soap residue potentially dangerous.
That as many critters as possible make it to the vernal breeding pools is important for the
ecosystem. Frogs, salamanders, and other amphibians not only provide food for other wildlife,
they themselves consume millions of insects, insects that you won’t have to swat away or
spray crops against. In addition, many of these species on the move are considered “High and
Medium priority Species of Greatest Conservation Need” in the Vermont Wildlife Action Plan,
particularly the blue-spotted, four-toed, and Jefferson salamanders.
Named “vernal” from the Latin vernālis, from vernus “of spring,” the pools can be easy to
miss to the untrained eye. According to the definition of the Vermont Vernal Pool Mapping
Project, conducted by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife (2009–2011), vernal pools
must satisfy four requirements: (1) occur in a forested context, (2) have an ephemeral (seasonal)
hydrology, (3) be hydrologically isolated from permanent water sources, and (4) have the presence
of at least one of six indicator species: wood frog, spotted salamander, Jefferson salamander, blue-
spotted salamander, fairy shrimp, or fingernail clams.
For John Jose, who is leading a workshop about vernal pools at Hunger Mountain Co-op on
Earth Day (April 21), the amphibian residents of vernal pools offer something the more popular
birds, bears, beavers, and other forest mammals don’t. “When you are out looking for mammals
and birds, you find droppings, tracks, and other signs here and there, but with amphibians, you
can find them under rocks and in stream beds. So you actually get to interact with the animal
versus just finding signs of it. From an environmental education perspective, especially with kids,
they can get an up-close personal encounter with herps.”
Jose’s workshop also includes carpooling to see actual vernal pools in Hubbard Park in
Montpelier. “What I’m expecting is by the time we get there, the spotted salamanders and the
frogs will have already begun to move to the pool.” If the timing is right, attendees should get the
chance to see the gelatinous egg masses themselves. “You can actually tell from the egg masses
what species has been there,” Jose explains, “One of the things I try to do in the workshop
through the use of videos is show the folks basically what they missed—the movement of the
animals to the pool, the breeding that takes place, and the egg mass deposition. So when they
look at the egg masses, they have it in context.”
Weather conditions in the Montpelier area this year, however, do raise some concern for Jose. “At
least here in Montpelier, up until a couple of storms back, the ground was virtually bare, so that
the initial pulse of water that goes into the pools when it rains and the snow melts was somewhat
lacking.” Ideally, he said, the snow needs to hang around and melt at the right time, which is the
middle to the end of April. “That brings up the whole issue of climate change,” he points out.
“As we get more warmer weather and more rain versus snow, it makes it more difficult for that
snow pack to accumulate and stick around.”
Raising awareness about vernal pools also brings an understanding of their fragility, particularly
if human activity is nearby. “If you want to have a viable vernal pool, you have to maintain the
surrounding landscape. It doesn’t mean you need a completely intact, no-go, no-activity forest,
but you do have to manage it wisely so that the forest is intact enough to support these animals.”
According to the research of Steve Faccio of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE), this “life
zone” around the pool should be about 575 feet extending out from the pool in all directions.
“What we've done,” Jose explains, “when the City of Montpelier was going through its recent
zoning rights update, we asked for and got a 500-foot buffer.” That doesn’t mean no activity can
take place around the pool, but it is more closely watched and checked if need be.
Jose isn’t the only person giving a workshop about vernal pools on Earth Day (April 21). At
North Branch Nature Center, Liza Morse, the ECO AmeriCorps Vernal Pool Monitoring
Program Coordinator at the Vermont Center for Ecostudies will be discussing vernal pools and
also welcoming participants into the Center’s new citizen science program: the Vermont Vernal
Pool Monitoring Project. Attendees will also visit nearby vernal pools and be trained to map and
monitor the pools according to project protocols. By participating in the workshop, interested
attendees will be ready to go out and monitor vernal pools as VPMon citizen scientists.
John Jose’s workshop is 3–5 pm at Hunger Mountain Co-op. Liza Morse’s workshop is 9 am–12
pm at North Branch Nature Center. For more information visit northbranchnaturecenter.org and
hungermountain.coop.
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 21
An Excerpt on the Myth of the Small Farm from
Daniel Hecht’s New Novel, “On Brassard’s Farm”
J ust as I’d had imbecilic notions of the
forest, I had childlike misconceptions
about farms, farming, and farmers. I had
an imaginary “farm” in my mind.
I knew that most of our food is grown on
factory farms run by giant corporations. I knew
that growing lots of a single crop or raising lots
of a single kind of animal was the rule. I knew
that the self-sufficient family farm was a dying
institution. I’d read about these things in the
Boston Globe and New York Times.
But as a kid, I had learned my letters by poring
over picture books that depicted cozy farms
with red and white barns, some friendly horses
and sheep at the paddock fence, the fuddy-
duddy farmer and his plump wife, the rows
of vegetables, the henhouses, all surrounded
by fields thick with grain. I loved Charlotte’s
Web. At school, we sang “Old McDonald Had
a Farm.” Every TV ad for cereal still reinforces
the myth: A hale middle-aged farmer sits
to his breakfast—whatever cereal is being
marketed—in his sunny kitchen. Behind him
are flowery curtains and a counter displaying
other totems of rural life: a colander piled
with just-collected pure-white eggs, a bowl of
blueberries, a bunch of fresh carrots, and some
greens ready for the missus to chop for dinner.
Cut to him heading out, full of vigor, to his
spotless small-farm compound, then fade to a
close-up of the nodding heads of golden grain
in his wheat field.
The myth lives on in our beguiled minds; it
resonates inside us, a template of all that is good
and honest. I have a theory that we grow much
like trees, that every period of our lifetimes
remains fully intact inside us, just covered over
with the next layer and the next. Later layers
may not accord with the early ones—we know
there’s no Santa Claus, but the five-year-old is
still in there, waking on Christmas morning
delirious with expectation.
So I came to Brassard’s farm with that blurry-
edged cameo image still underlying my
expectations.
I had begun acquiring a truer sense of things
even before my Hindenburg imitation. I
literally got an overview, because I’d sometimes
sit in a comfortable glade just above the steep
cliffs facing the farm, where, through gaps
in the trees, I could see everybody’s comings
and goings. I’d go there to write in my journal
and then get distracted and just watch, pages
unmarked.
If it were a film played fast, you’d see
humans zipping here and there, trucks and
tractors whipping about. In summer, you’d
see a mottled tide of cows funneling into
the milking parlor, then spraying out again
across the pasture. In winter, as I learned later,
the cows moved indoors and then you’d see
manure being moved, piled, and spread on the
fields, stall bedding and silage being carted here
and there. And snow being pushed and heaped.
Inside the barn, there’s no three-legged stool
and bucket: Milking is done by machines. You
usher the cows into the milking parlor—they
don’t need much coercion, because their udders
ache and they know there’s relief in there—
where you attach suction devices to the four
teats. Once all the cows have been drained,
you have to purge the whole apparatus with
near-boiling water, scrape up the fresh manure,
and then hose the whole area.
The milk in the holding tank gets picked
up every other day by a big stainless-steel
tank truck that holds thousands of gallons.
That’s the Agri-Mark truck, from the farmers’
cooperative that processes and markets the
milk. It idles for a while as it pumps the
stuff out, and the driver hands Brassard a
computer-generated receipt. The milk goes to
the processing plant; Brassard gets a check.
Brassard didn’t spend his time stroking the
velvety noses of his horses and giving them
sugar lumps, because he didn’t have any horses,
and his pockets had keys and tools and rags
in them, not sugar lumps. In fact, he spent
hours each day in his office, once a first-
floor bedroom, at his computer, working his
spreadsheets, juggling cash and debt, writing
checks for equipment loans, reviewing the price
of milk and feed on the exchanges. Farming is
a business, and he was a capable businessman.
Manure was a big part of his day. In colder
months, when the cows lived inside, the
manure flowed to a sort of pond; Brassard
periodically pumped the pond’s contents into
a special tank trailer that he towed behind the
tractor across the fields, spraying the stuff onto
the soil. The shed for the younger cows, those
not yet lactating, was set up so the manure
fell into straw on the floor, creating a more
solid form that he moved around with the
bucket on the front of his tractor. He piled it
in a big U-shaped concrete berm he called the
“stack,” and in spring he loaded it into another
specialized trailer that flung the stuff out in
lumps as he drove. Both activities trailed a
plume of odor that filled the valley.
He bought hundreds of tons of feed grain, but
he also raised a lot of his own cow food. Think
of it as a recipe for a cake or loaf of bread: To
110 acres of soil, sift in manure and chemical
fertilizers. Whisk with spades and harrows,
mix in corn seed. Let stand until it rises. Baste
as needed with insecticides or herbicides. Bake
in sun.
This wasn’t sweet corn, so it was never
harvested for human consumption. The cobs
dried on the stalk, and in autumn the golden-
brown fields were felled by a combine that
chopped both cob and stalk and hurtled the
mixed chaff into a high-sided trailer. The fields
were left with uniform rows of stubble, and the
stuff was blown into the silo to feed the cows
during the winter.
Brassard also grew ninety acres of hay, which he
cut several times a summer, left in windrows,
and then raked to fluff and flip it so it dried
uniformly. He baled some but rolled most of
it into huge wheels that he wrapped in heavy
white plastic, leaving the fields scattered with
six-foot marshmallows.
The farmyard, just to the side of this island
of order, wasn’t pretty. It was shapeless and
often muddy and marked by the braided ruts
made by tractor wheels. Tractors and tractor
attachments sat haphazardly when not in use,
along with various cars and Brassard’s truck—a
massive red double-cab Dodge Ram that he
washed often and took great pride in. Earnest’s
regular pickup was often there, and sometimes
his big old warhorse stake-side, the one he used
for his tree business, decorated the place as well.
So cows, manure, machines, and corn are the
most obvious elements of the small dairy farm.
I wasn’t exactly disillusioned by the realities of
Brassard’s operation, but for a while it did leave
a hollow in me where the ideal farm used to
glow. The six-year-old in me, you could say,
mourned the dream’s passing.
PAG E 2 2 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
C a l e n d a r o f E ve n t s
Community Events
Events happening
April 19–May 5
THURSDAY, APRIL 19
The Northern Vermont University-
Johnson Spring Career & Internship Fair.
About 50 employers and graduate school
representatives will participate from sectors
that include health care and social services,
nonprofits, state and federal government, law
enforcement, tourism and hospitality, and
other areas. 11 am–3 pm. NVU-Johnson,
SHAPE Center, Johnson.
The Hurricane of 1938. Author Stephen
Long will discuss how this major weather
event impacted New England for decades to
come. Noon. Vermont History Museum, 109
State St., Montpelier. Free. vermonthistory.org.
479-8500
The Gary Residence Open House. Door
prizes and light refreshments. 3–6 pm. 149
Main St., Montpelier. RSVP: 223-3881.
Thegaryresidence.com
Defending Our Democracy: A Conversation
about Election Cybersecurity with
Secretary of State Jim Condos. Secretary
Condos will be joined by Deputy Secretary of
State Chris Winters, Elections Director Will
Senning and Matt McCann from the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
a national partner with Vermont in election
cybersecurity efforts. 4–6 pm. Pavilion
Auditorium, 109 State St., Montpelier.
FRIDAY, APRIL 20
Young Adventurers Club (YAC) Walk.
Marshfield. Easy. 1-2 miles. Stranahan Town
Forest. Enjoy the old logging roads and trails
of this beautiful town forest. Mett at 10 am
at the parking lot on Hollister Hill. Contact
Sharon Plumb at sharon.plumb@gmail.com
for more info.
Walk-a-Mile Event April 20 at NVU-Lyndon.
Beneath the Surface: Walk a Mile in Their
Shoes raises awareness about issues people
with physical and mental challenges face.
Interactive applications and web activities will
be available to demonstrate how people with
dyslexia and those who are blind and have
other physical challenges live.
10 am–2 pm. NVU-Lyndon, Alexander
Twilight Theatre lobby.
The Gary Residence Open House. Door
prizes and light refreshments. 10 am–2 pm.
149 Main St., Montpelier. RSVP: 223-3881.
Thegaryresidence.com
New Café: Cycles of Life. Every third
Friday. Come together to listen, talk, and
share about the things in life’s cycle we are
all experiencing in our own way now for
ourselves and the earth we live on. 11:45
am–1 pm. Twin Valley Senior Center, Rt. 2,
East Montpelier. 223-3322
Aldrich Friends Spring Book Sale. April
20–21. Books, DVDs, and more. Noon–6
pm. Aldrich Public Library, Milne Room, 6
Washington St., Barre. 476-7550
SATURDAY, APRIL 21
Hunger Mountain Co-op’s Community
Earth Day Celebration. Clothing, Book
& Media Swap, cell phone & battery
recycling, solar-powered bouncy house, local
vendor demos, and 5% shopping discount
for member-owners. 8 am–8 pm. Hunger
Mountain Co-op, Montpelier. See full event
schedule: hungermountain.coop
The Gary Residence Open House. Door
prizes and light refreshments. 10 am–2 pm.
149 Main St., Montpelier. RSVP: 223-3881.
Thegaryresidence.com
Aldrich Friends Spring Book Sale. 10 am–3
pm. Books, DVDs, and more. Noon–6
pm. Aldrich Public Library, Milne Room, 6
Washington St., Barre. 476-7550
Gardening for Pollinators, Birds, & Beauty.
Learn to use attractive native trees, shrubs,
and perennials to provide high quality
food and habitat for our Vermont wildlife.
1-:30 am–noon. Hunger Mountain Co-op
community room, Montpelier. Free. RSVP:
info@hungermountain.coop
Walk Berlin Pond with Green Mountain
Club. Easy. 5 miles. Walk around Berlin
Pond. Meet at Berlin Pond parking spot at
1 pm. Leaders: Mary Garcia, 622-0585 and
Mary Smith, 505-0603
The North Branch Café's 5th Birthday
Party. Come celebrate with us! Enjoy free
wine tasting, cheesecake tasting, tea samples,
trivia and more! 1–6 pm. North Branch Café,
41 State St., Montpelier. 552-8105
Vernal Pool Exploration. Following slides,
videos and discussion on the fascinating
world of vernal pool ecology, we’ll carpool to
Hubbard Park to observe egg masses of wood
frogs and spotted salamanders, and other
vernal pool creatures. Supervised children are
welcome. 3–5 pm. Hunger Mountain Co-op
community room, Montpelier. Free. RSVP:
info@hungermountain.coop
SUNDAY, APRIL 22
22nd Annual Mutt Strut. A fun, 3-mile
race for dogs and dog lovers. All dogs must
be vaccinated and leashed. Runners without
dogs are welcome. Proceeds go to the Central
Vermont Humane Society. Prizes. 10 am.
Little River State Park, Waterbury. $10 entry
fee. Cvrunners.org. 223-5738
Six Old Poets Tea Party. Join PoemCity
for tea as we hear the voices of teachers
and students of Montpelier Senior Activity
Center: Charlie Barasch, Liz Benjamin,
Jane E. Bryant, Jeanne Weston Cook, Sarah
Franklin, and Geof Hewitt. Down Home
Kitchen will wow us with a delicious tea
featuring scratch-made goodness. 4 pm. Down
Home Kitchen, 100 Main St., Montpelier.
Charge for food and tea.
MONDAY, APRIL 23
Monthly Book Group for Adults. No is Not
Enough: Resisting Trump’s Shock Politics
and Winning the World We Need by Naomi
Klein. 7 pm. Jaquith Public Library, School
St., Marshfield.
TUESDAY, APRIL 24
Bike Montpelier to Adamant with Green
Mountain Club. Easy. 15 miles. County
Road to Bliss Pond Rd. to Adamant Rd. to
Center St. to Bliss Rd. to County Rd. Lunch
at the Adamant Coop. Leave from Morse
Farm at 10 am. Helmet required. Contact
George Plumb, 883-2313 or plumb.george@
gmail.com.
Author Anastasia Goodman. Goodman
discusses her books Loose Ends and The
Sasha Perlov Mystery Series. 2 pm. Jewish
Community of Greater Stowe, 1189 Cape
Cod Rd., Stowe. Free. 253-1800. JCOGS.org
Elena Georgiou Book Launch: "The
Immigrant's Refrigerator." Elena Georgiou,
author of the short story collection The
Immigrant’s Refrigerator, and Laurie Stavrand
of the Vermont Refugee Resettlement
Program, discuss immigration and how it
affects one’s story of oneself. With reading
& book signing. 10% of book sales will be
donated to VRRP, which helps refugees
begin new lives in Vermont. 7–8 pm. Bear
Pond Books, 77 Main St., Montpelier.
bearpondbooks.com
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25
Waterbury Historical Society Meeting.
The Annual Waterbury Historical Society’s
meeting. A Remembrance Dinner at 5:30
pm will kick off the meeting to celebrate a
look back at 60 years of Waterbury Historical
Society. Commemoration program at 7 pm.
American Legion, Stowe St., Waterbury.
$15 roast beef dinner with all the fixings by
reservation. 244-8089. bbtravelers@aol.com
What Are You Really Practicing? Deepening
practice through exploring the many different
approaches to mindfulness and the variety
of world views, experiences, and relationships
to nature, the “body” and being that they
cultivate. 6–7:30 pm. Hunger Mountain
Co-op community room, Montpelier. Free.
RSVP: info@hungermountain.coop
Mid-Week Movie: Lady Bird. 6–8 pm.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. $5. highlandartsvt.org
Movie About Dams and Rivers. This award
winning documentary explores the change
in national attitudes regarding dams and the
lives of rivers. 7 pm. Jaquith Public Library,
School St., Marshfield.
THURSDAY, APRIL 26
Early Spring Community Wild Plant Walk.
Explore herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs in
their spring glory! Learn edible and medicinal
properties. 4:30–6:30 pm. 1005 County
Rd., Woodbury. $25 to 0, sliding scale.
wisdomoftheherbsschool.com. 456-8122
Gourmet Nut/Seed Cheese. Get a very
special gourmet nut/seed cheese recipe
to become the envy of your friends and
family! Perfect as an appetizer, on salads, in
sandwiches/wraps, and in stews. 6–7 pm.
Hunger Mountain Co-op community room,
Montpelier. $8 members; $11 non-members.
RSVP: info@hungermountain.coop

T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 2 3
Branding 101 - Free Business Workshop.
We’ll go over the importance of creating a
well-rounded brand, what that includes, how
to establish all aspects of your brand, and
how to help yourself and others involved stay
consistently on-brand. 6–7:30 pm. Capstone
Community Action, 19 Gable Pl., Barre.
insightsvt.com
FRIDAY, APRIL 27
MSAC Poetry Reading & Poetry Collection
Dedication. Enjoy a reading by MSAC
members following FEAST Together lunch
(call 262-6288 for lunch reservations).
There will also be a dedication of the late
Sherry Olson’s poetry library, which her
husband has donated to MSAC. 1–2:30 pm.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St., Montpelier.
Keys to Kayaking: Flatwater
Fundamentals. This workshop covers what
to consider when buying a kayak and gear;
how to safely transport kayaks; essential items
to bring on the water; how to get into and out
of a kayak without ending up in the water;
and the best paddling spots in VT. 5:30–7:30
pm. Hunger Mountain Co-op community
room, Montpelier. Free. RSVP: info@
hungermountain.coop
SATURDAY, APRIL 28
Muddy Onion Gravel Bike Ride. Presented
by Onion River Outdoors. 21 and 38 mile
loop options. Post-ride BBQ and party.
Benefits Catamount Trail Association,
MAMBA, and the North Branch Trails
Initiative. For more info: facebook.com/
onionriveroutdoors. 225-6736.
Capital City Winter Farmers Market.
Shop from over 20 farms and producers
in downtown Montpelier. Our producer-
only market means everything is grown or
handmade in central Vermont. 10 am–2
pm. City Center, 89 State St., Montpelier.
montpelierfarmersmarket.com
Monday Evenings Starting April 30
Calendar of Events
Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Clean
out your medicine cabinets and safely
dispose of expired or unwanted prescription
medications. Proper disposal helps avoid
poisonings, misuse, addiction, and protects
the environment. Free and anonymous
disposal at the following sites:
• Washington County Sheriff's Dept, 10
Elm St., Montpelier
• Montpelier Police Dept,1 Pitkin Court,
Montpelier
• Barre City Police Dept,15 Fourth St, Barre
• Northfield Police Dept,110 Wall St,.
Northfield
• Kinney Drugs at 800 Rt 302, Berlin.
supported by Berlin PD
• Vermont State Police,1080 Rt 2, Middlesex
For more information contact Central VT
New Directions Coalition 223-4949 www.
cvndc.org
Primo Maggio. April 28–29. Honors Barre’s
historic Old Labor Hall’s founding granite
workers with a 2-day program of speakers and
a community dinner. Both days will feature
presentations about historical, labor-related
topics. April 28: social hour at 5 pm followed
by a traditional Italian dinner. Rachel
C. Donaldson’s presentation, “Solidarity
Forever: Preserving Historic Union Halls”
that explores the tradition of social spaces
begins at 7 pm. Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite
St., Barre. $25. Oldlaborhall,org
SUNDAY, APRIL 29
Primo Maggio. Dr. William Tortolano’s
illustrated presentation “The WPA: the
Depression and Great Art” will examine
the murals, sculpture, posters, and other
representations commissioned by the federal
government during the Great Depression.
4 pm. Old Labor Hall, 46 Granite St., Barre.
Free; donations accepted. Oldlaborhall,org
MONDAY, APRIL 30
Reader’s Theater Evening. “The Ladies of
the Corridor,” by Dorothy Parker and Arnaud
Performing Arts THEATER, DANCE,
STORYTELLING, COMEDY
April 19–May 6: Lost Nation Theater presents “Silent Sky.” Play by Lauren Gunderson
that has us looking to the stars with dreams, determination, desire, and humor as it shares the
incredible true story of boundary-shattering astronomer Henrietta Leavitt in the 1900s. Thurs.–
Sat., 7:30 pm; Sun., 2 pm. Lost Nation Theater, City Hall Arts Center, Main St., Montpelier.
$15–30. Student & senior discount. Lostnationtheater.org. 229-0492.
April 26–29: “Nine.” Musical presented by the student theater troupe at Northern Vermont
University-Johnson about the challenges of an Italian filmmaker. It is based on the 1963 Federico
Fellini film “8 ½.” April 26–28, 7 pm; April 29, 2 pm. NVU-Johnson, Dibden Center for the
Arts, Johnson. $10 cash only. Reservations: 635-1476, jscboxoffice@jsc.edu
April 27: Bueno Comedy Showcase. A wide range of talented standup comics, from here and
away, working longer sets. 8:30 p.m. Espresso Bueno, 248 N. Main St., Barre. Free; by donation.
479-0896. events@espressobueno.com. espressobueno.com.
May 4: Age Out Loud: Still Aging After All These Years. An evening of comedic storytelling
about aging and families. With Susanne Schmidt, Kevin Gallagher, live music from The Brevity
Thing, and special guest performance by Willem Lange. 7:30 pm. Barre Opera House, 6 N.
Main St., Barre. $30. barreoperahouse.org
For more event listings and event details
visit montpelierbridge.com
d’Usseau had its Broadway debut in 1953. the precedents, implications, and possibilities
The play features Parker’s classic wit as it of Montpelier examining whether or not to
focuses on the lives of six women who live in move towards allowing non-citizens to vote
a hotel on Manhattan’s upper east side. Parts in city elections. 7 pm. Montpelier City Hall,
will be chosen at random. All are welcome to City Council Chambers.
read or to simply relax and enjoy listening.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2
6:30–8:30 pm. Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. Nancy Walk-Through Wednesday at Orchard
Valley. Visit to the OVWS grades school
Schulz: SaddleShoes2@gmail.com
(8:30–9:30 am) and our mixed-age
TUESDAY, MAY 1 kindergarten and Farm & Forest classes
Community Discussion: Should Montpelier (9:30–10:30 am) on our East Montpelier
Residents Who Aren't US Citizens be campus. Campus tour and Q&A time during
Allowed to Vote in City Elections? each. Orchard Valley Waldorf School, 2290
Montpelier Attorney Dan Daniel Richardson VT Rt. 14N, East Montpelier. Register: 456-
and University of Minnesota Professor 7400, enrollment@ovws.org
Doug Chapin, Director of the Program for
Excellence in Election Administration at the
Bike Ride with Green Mountain Club. East
Montpelier. Easy. 20 miles. East Montpelier
University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School to Calais on back roads. Leave from the
of Public Affairs will be on hand to discuss

PAG E 24 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Visual Arts
EXHIBITS
Through April 27: Nourishment. A juried show
of Vermont artists’ work, and an exhibit from
the members of the Central Vermont Hub of
the Vermont Watercolor Society. T.W. Wood
Art Gallery, 46 Barre St., Montpelier. 262-6035.
twwoodgallery.org
Through April 27: Vermont Abenaki Artists
Association Exhibit. Although many mediums
are represented in the exhibit, the unifying
theme is all of the art is inspired by Abenaki
culture. T.W. Wood Gallery, 46 Barre St.,
Montpelier. twwoodgallery.org
Through April 28: The Front presents SHOW
24. The latest works of the gallery’s membership
of Vermont-based contemporary artists. In
addition, the Front will present work by guest
artist Athena Petra Tasiopoulos. The Front
Gallery, 6 Barre St., Montpelier. thefrontvt.com.
info@thefrontvt.com.
Through April 28: Toni Gildone, Depth of
Perception. Photographer. Portraits of children.
Chelsea Public Library. 685-2188
Through April 28: Valley Arts Members’
Exhibit: Spring Mix Valley Arts Multi-Media
Exhibition of Talented Members. Thurs.–Sat.,
1–4 pm. Valley Arts Gallery, 5031 Main St.,
Waitsfield. info@valleyartsvt.com. 246-6682,
valleyartsvt.com
Through April 29: Artist to Watch Part 1.
Presented by the Vermont Arts Council, in
partnership with Kasini House. A survey of
contemporary Vermont art. Part 2 opens May
5. The Vermont Arts Council Spotlight Gallery,
136 State St., Montpelier.
parking area at #10 Pond in Calais at 10 am.
Bring a lunch as there is no place to buy lunch.
Helmet required. Contact George Plumb, 883-
2313 or plumb.george@gmail.com.
Early Spring Community Wild Plant Walk.
Explore herbaceous plants, trees and shrubs in
their spring glory! Learn edible and medicinal
properties. 4:30–6:30 pm. 1005 County
Rd., Woodbury. $25 to 0, sliding scale.
wisdomoftheherbsschool.com. 456-8122
Mid-Week Movie: Zootopia. 6–8 pm.
Highland Center for the Arts, 2875 Hardwick
St., Greensboro. $5 donation. highlandartsvt.
org
Calendar of Events
Through April 30: MSAC Photography and
Poetry Exhibit. MSAC members –- most are
students of Jeanne Cook and Linda Hogan
— display their poems and photographs in
celebration of PoemCity. Montpelier Senior
Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier
Through May 12: Hannah Morris, The Feast
of Fools. Painted collages and soft sculpture
installations exploring the intersection of the
sublime, the absurd, and the mundane in
recognizable moments and places. Studio Place
Arts, Barre.
Through May 19: Sande French-Stockwell,
Portraits of a Different Kind. Ms. Stockwell
has fallen in love with the creative freedom
newly found in plaster. Axel’s Gallery, 5 Stowe
St., Waterbury.
Through May 28: Post-Apocalypse for 3/4
Empire. Peter Schumann’s woodcuts, Come
by for a special event on Sunday, May 20 to
celebrate the work, including an artist’s talk,
music, and performances by Peter Schumann
and Company. Per Bread & Puppet tradition,
bread and aioli will be served; cheap art, Bread
and Puppet Press publications, and exhibit
banners will be for sale. Highland Center for the
Arts, 2875 Hardwick Street, Greensboro.
Through May 28: Muse. Three Vermont artists
reflect on spirit guides, journeying, introspection
and winter’s quiet. Where inspiration and magic
live side by side and a deep appreciation for the
natural world permeates everything. Artists are
Amanda Weisenfeld (hand felter), Jess Polanshek
(illustrator), and Kristin Richland (painter/
illustrator). Highland Center for the Arts, 2875
Hardwick St., Greensboro.
Through May 29: Anecdotes: Paintings by
Philip Hagopian. Rural landscapes. Furchgott
Sourdiffe Gallery, 86 Falls Rd., Shelburne.
w.fsgallery.com
Through May 31: Kumari Patricia. In Patricia’s
THURSDAY, MAY 3
Self-organization, Co-evolution, Resiliency
and Stability with Tom Wessels. How
ecosystems develop resilience and stability and
what we can learn from natural models. Tom
Wessels is a terrestrial ecologist and a professor
at Antioch University New England in the
Department of Environmental Studies, where
he founded a master’s program in conservation
biology. 7 pm. Plainfield Town Hall Opera
House, Rt. 2, Plainfield. Donations acception.
426-8504
acrylic paintings, she releases all boundaries and
definition of the landscape, reflecting the story of
her life’s journey and relationships along the way.
The HiVE (next to the Red Hen Baking Co.),
961 Route 2, Middlesex. thehivevt.com
April 20–June 7: Material Flows: Rhythm in
Collage and Sculpture, by Rob Hitzig, Louise
LaPlante, and Brian Walters. Group show
of collage works and sculptures that visually
explores material space as rhythm, disruption,
and disorder. Goddard Art Gallery in the Eliot
Pratt Library, Plainfield. 322-1604.
April 22–June 8: Resa Blatman, Trouble in
Paradise. Exhibition of 17 elegantly crafted
and exuberant paintings, the artist offers up a
visual commentary on climate change and its
increasing threat to migratory birds and other
animal species. Special related programming
such as free gallery talks and filmscreenings will
be scheduled throughout the course of the show.
Catamount Arts Main Gallery, St., Johnsbury.
748-2600. catamountarts.org.
Through June 10: Vermont Landscapes. 38
paintings by 19 artists, all of whom paint in
Vermont. The Lamoille County Courthouse,
154 Main St, Hyde Park. bryangallery.org
Through June 28: Tom Merwin, The Effects
of Bird Song on Shifting Strata.Paintings.
Montpelier Art Walk, May 4, 4–7 pm.
Vermont Supreme Court Gallery, 111 State St.,
Montpelier.
Through June 28: Carolyn Egeli, For the Love
of Vermont. Paintings. Montpelier Art Walk,
May 4, 4–7 pm. Governor’s Gallery, 109 State
St., Montpelier. Photo ID required for entry.
May 1–June 29: Ronald Slayton, Master of
Watercolor. Highlights two watercolor murals
“The Last Supper” (1985) and “The Hunger
Dream” (1985). Art Talk panel discussion:
May 4, 5–8 pm. with Nancy Price Graff,
Bobby Gosh, and Tom Slayton. T.W. Wood
FRIDAY, MAY 4
Young Adventurers Club Outing.
Marshfield. Easy. 1-2 miles. Martin Bridge
Park is on Rte. 2, just a few miles outside of
Plainfield Village on the right hand side. Join
us at 10 am to explore this picturesque covered
bridge, recently restored. Sweet trails perfect
for kiddos and their caretakers! Contact
Sharon Plumb, sharon.plumb@gmail.com.
Turkey Take Out Dinner. Turkey & gravy,
stuffing, mashed potato, vegetable, rolls,
cranberry sauce, and dessert. Pick up 4–6
pm. Waterbury Center Community Church,
Rt. 100 (next to Cold Hollow Cider Mill),
Waterbury Center. $11. Reservations: 244-
8089. Deliveries, in the local area, for people
in need.
Bethel First Friday Flicks - Free Family
Movie. Free family movie at the Bethel Town
Hall on the first Friday of every month. All
Gallery, Barre St., Montpelier.
Through Sept. 30: James Peterson,
Dreamcatcher. Large-scale interactive
installation that was inspired by the magical
ice caves of Kamchatka in Siberia. The grounds
of Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, 122
Hourglass Dr., Stowe. helenday.com
SPECIAL EVENTS
April 20: Big Arty SPA Happening (BASH)
at Studio Place Arts. Enjoy great art, music
& eats – and help raise funds for SPA art
programs. Musical performance by Old
Rocket, a Southern Old-Time String band
including Dana and Susan Robinson, and
special guest Tom MacKenzie. Cash bar.
7–9 pm. SPA, 201 N. Main St., Barre. $15
advance; $25 day-of.
April 28: Grand Opening: "Anything for
Speed: Automobile Racing in Vermont."
Exhibit explores over a century of the history
and evolution of racing in Vermont through
the objects, photographs and recollections that
comprise this unique story. Vermont History
Center, 60 Washington St., Barre. Free
admission 9 am–noon; $5-7/person after that.
Vermonthistory.org.
May 4: Montpelier Art Walk. Central
Vermont artists are featured at participating
downtown Montpelier businesses and
organizations. 4–7 pm. montpelieralive.org
May 4: Ronald Slayton: Master of
Watercolor Opening Reception and Art
Talk. Panel with Nancy Price Graff, Bobby
Gosh and Tom Slayton and moderated by
gallery curator Phillip Robertson. 5–8 pm.
T.W. Wood Gallery, 46 Barre St., Montpelier.
May 5: Art Open House at Twin Valley Senior
Center. Featuring Art work by Jan Danziger
and the Art class students. 9 am–2 pm. TVSC,
Rt. 2, East Montpelier. 223-3322.
are welcome. 6:30–8:30 pm. 134 S. Main St.,
Bethel. Free; donations accepted. bri-vt.org/
events
SATURDAY, MAY 5
Green Up Day. Over 22,000 volunteers come
together to remove litter from Vermont’s
roadsides and public spaces. In Montpelier,
bags are picked up at our registration table at
the Farmer's Market and full bags can be left
curbside for the Dept. of Public Works to pick
up. To find our where to pick up bags in your
area visit greenupvermont.org and click on
“Get Involved.”
Hike Peacham Bog with Green Mountain
Club. Groton State forest. Easy. 5.4 miles.
We’ll check out beautiful spring wildflowers
along the way. Contact Phyllis Rubenstein,
793-6313 or Phyllis@PhyllisRubensteinLaw.
comcastbiz.net for meeting time and place.

T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 2 5
Live Music
VENUES
Bagitos. 28 Main St., Montpelier. Other
shows T.B.A. bagitos.com.
Charlie O’s World Famous. 70 Main St.
Montpelier. Free. 223-6820.
Every Tues.: Karaoke with DJ Vociferous,
9 pm–1 am
April 20: Clever Girls/ Kate Lorenz & the
Constellations (rock) 9 pm
April 21: Scott Graves & Chris Martin
(rock) 6 pm; FlpSide (rock) 9 pm
April 27: Yestrogen (indie pop) 6 pm;
Megan Jean & the KFB (folk punk) 9 pm
April 28: Alex Culbreth/Wild Leek River
(outlaw country) 9 pm
Espresso Bueno. 248 N. Main St., Barre.
479-0896. Free/by donation unless
otherwise noted. events@espressobueno.
com. espressobueno.com.
April 27: Alex Smith (trad folk) 7:30 pm
Positive Pie. 22 State St., Montpelier.
229-0453. positivepie.com.
April 27: DJ Gagu with Harder They
Come (electronic) 10 pm. $5.
May 4: Soule Monde (funk) 10 pm. $5.
Sweet Melissa's. 4 Langdon St.,
Montpelier.
facebook.com/sweetmelissasvt
April 18: John Lackard Blues Jam, 7:30
pm.
Whammy Bar. 7 pm; Fri. and Sat.,
7:30 pm. 31 County Rd., Calais. Thurs.,
Free. whammybar1.com.
Every Wed.: Open Mic
April 20: Marc Delgado (singer-
songwriter)
April 21: Birch Hill Trio
April 27: Big Hat No Cattle (Texas swing)
April 28: Broken String Band (bluegrass)
CVSWMD Hazardous Waste Special
Collection. 9 am–1 pm. Barre Town Garage,
129 Websterville Rd., Barre. $20 per car in-
district; $100 per car out-of-district. See website
for details: cvswmd.org. 229-9383 ext. 105
Monthly Day-Long Retreats. Provides
an opportunity to deepen through a more
sustained period of practice. The schedule
includes periods of sitting and walking
meditation and dharma talks. Come for the
morning only for the whole day. Light lunch
is offered. 9 am–4 pm. Wellspring Center,
39 Church St., Hardwick. Free; donations
welcome. wellspringinsight@gmail.com; 917-
4364 ext. 1
Montpelier Bike Swap Presented by Onion
River Outdoors. Spring bike swap is back!
Hundreds of bikes of all types and sizes.
Consignments accepted April 29–May 4. 9
am–noon. Onion River Outdoors, 20 Langdon
St., Montpelier. onionriveroutdoors@gmail.com
Capital City Farmers Market. Shop from 50
local farms and producers all season long, rain
or shine. All products are grown or hand made
by vendors from central Vermont. Featuring
live music. 9 am–1 pm. State St., Montpelier.
montpelierfarmersmarket.com
Vermont Old Cemetery Association Spring
Meeting. Lunch then a presentation by Linda
DeNeergaard on the Richardson Cemetery
Restoration Project. Tour of the ongoing
restoration projects at the Roxbury Cemeteries.
Coffee hour: 9–10 am; meeting: 10 am–
noon; lunch: noon–1 pm; presentation: 1–2
pm. Brown Public Library, 93 S. Main St.,
Calendar of Events
SPECIAL EVENTS
April 19: Noontime Concerts at Christ
Church. Sweet Prospect: Music for
Women’s Voices. Bring a bag lunch!
Noon. 64 State St., Montpelier. Donations
welcome. christchurchvt.org. 223-3631.
April 21: Studio Stomp: The Craftsbury
Vibrations with Natalie Allen. Blend
of up-tempo country, rock, and pop.
7:30 pm. Hardwick Center for the Arts,
2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. $10.
highlandartsvt.org
April 22: Resurrection: Green Mountain
Mahler Festival. Concert under the
direction of conductor Daniel Bruce
features vocal soloists Melissa Dickerson
and Wendy Hoffman Farrell and the
combined forces of the Green Mountain
Mahler Festival, the Burlington Civic
Symphony, the Champlain Philharmonic
Orchestra, and the South Burlington
Community Chorus with chorus master
Matthew LaRocca. 3 pm. Spruce Peak
Performing Arts Center, 122 Hourglass Dr.,
Stowe. $20 advance; $25 day of concert.
sprucepeakarts.org
April 22: The Many Faces of Mozart: A
Life Told Through Music and Letters.
This fascinating program pairs keyboard
works from throughout Mozart’s career
with letters written by the composer to his
family and friends. From K. 1, a minuet
that Mozart composed at age 8, to the
transcendent Adagio for glass harmonica
written in his final year, all will be
complemented by readings from Mozart’s
incredibly colorful letters. 4 pm. Plainfield
Town Hall Opera House, Rt. 2, Plainfield.
$15; seniors $10; students and special rate
$5.
April 22: “Simon & Garfunkel Through
the Years” – Tribute by Bookends.
Acclaimed tribute duo sing the songs of
Simon & Garfunkel. 7 pm. Barre Opera
House, 6 N. Main St., Barre. $24–28.
barreoperahouse.org. 476-8188.
Northfield. Lunch $13.
Dog Mountain Hosts 6th Annual Labor of
Love Volunteer Event. May 5–6. All who
love Dog Mountain and The Dog Chapel are
invited to come volunteer their time, talents,
and expertise to throw Dog Mountain a party
of repairs, maintenance, and general sprucing
up. It’s a chance for everyone who enjoys Dog
Mountain to honor the legacy of Stephen
and Gwen Huneck and to give back to the
community. Lunch provided. 10 am–4 pm.
Dog Mountain, Parks Rd., St. Johnsbury. www.
dogmt.com. 800-449-2580
People’s Health & Wellness Clinic’s 12th
annual Bowl-A-Thon. Form your team and
reserve your lane today! 1–3 pm. Twin City
Family Fun Center, Rt. 302, Berlin. Teams are
asked to raise a minimum of $250 (or $50/
bowler on a team of 5) 479-1229.
April 26: Noontime Concerts at Christ
Church. Golden Oldies: Baroque Music
from the Living Woods Ensemble. Bring a
bag lunch! Noon. 64 State St., Montpelier.
Donations welcome. christchurchvt.org.
223-3631.
April 27: Carlin Tripp at Fresh Tracks
Farm. Laid back folk rocker drawing from a
life spent roaming this great country, seeking
out rare experiences and making new friends
along the way. 7–9 pm. Fresh Tracks Farm
Vineyard & Winery, Rt. 12, Berlin.
April 27: Jazzyaoke. Sing the standards
backed by a live six-piece jazz band; all lyrics
provided. 7:30–10:30 pm. deMena’s, 44
Main St., Montpelier. $5. 613-3172. wooo.tv
April 28: Spruce Peak Chamber Music
Society. An intimate concert with Sean Lee,
violin, Jia Kim, cello, and Euntaek Kim,
piano. Includes Mozart’s Piano Trio in E
Major K. 542, Johannes Brahms’ C Major
Trio and Schubert’s second Piano Trio in
E-flat. 7 pm. Spruce Peak Performing Arts
Center, 122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe. $34.
SprucePeakArts.org
April 28–29: Mainly Maurice. The final
Vermont Virtuosi concert series of the season
will feature music mostly of Maurice Ravel,
including a four-part arrangement of his
Mother Goose Suite and his Introduction
and Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet, and
string quartet. Flutist and artistic director
Laurel Ann Maurer, harpist Rebecca
Kauffman, clarinetist Karen Luttik, violinists
Letitia Quante and Brooke Quiggins, violist
Stefanie Taylor, and cellist John Dunlop
will also play music by Vincent Persichetti,
Rebecca Clarke, and the world premiere of
Cesta domov, a clarinet quintet by Vermont
composer David Gunn. $10 suggested
donation. LAMaurerFlute.com. 881-9153.
April 28: 7:30 pm. Unitarian Church, 130
Main St., Montpelier.
April 29: 3 pm. First Baptist Church, 81
St. Paul St., Burlington.
Share Your Event!
Send your calendar listings to calendar@montpelierbridge.com.
Due date for print in the next issue is April 26
April 29: An Evening with Bruce Cockburn.
Cockburn has enjoyed an illustrious career
shaped by politics, spirituality, and musical
diversity. Jazz, rock, and worldbeat styles.
7:30 pm. Spruce Peak Performing Arts
Center, 122 Hourglass Dr., Stowe. $20–65.
sprucepeakarts.org
May 3: Noontime Concerts at Christ
Church. Umlaut, a new ensemble led by
John Harrison. Bring a bag lunch! Noon.
64 State St., Montpelier. Donations welcome.
christchurchvt.org. 223-3631.
May 3: First Thursdays Music: Jacob
Schiller. Multi-instrumentalist, producer,
and songwriter brings his blend of
psychedelic folk-funk-groove to the Café.
6–8 pm. Highland Center for the Arts,
2875 Hardwick St., Greensboro. Free.
highlandartsvt.org
May 4: The Steph Pappas Experience
at Lamp Club Light Shop. American
underground. 7 pm. 12 Winooski Ave.,
Burlington. No cover; tip jar. stephpappas.
com
May 5: Swing Dance and Big Band Concert.
Swing dance benefit for Green Mountain
Youth Symphony. Music by Green Mountain
swing. Dance lessons. 6:45–10 pm. Old
Labor Hall, 46 Granite St., Barre. Adults $15;
children $10.
AUDITIONS
GMYS Auditions. Auditions for summer and
fall placement in all three orchestras and
CAMP: May 5, 19 & June 20. Open seats for
musicians novice through advanced next fall.
9 am. Center for Arts & Learning, 46 Barre
St., Montpelier. leah@gmys-vt.org; 888-
4470 $25 audition fee; the GMYS programs
charge tuition, but need-based assistance is
available!
PAG E 26 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Weekly
ARTS & CRAFTS
Beaders’ Group. All levels of beading experience
welcome. Free instruction available. Come with a
project for creativity and community. Sat., 11 am–2 pm
The Bead Hive, Plainfield. 454-1615.
Tuesday Night Knitters. Every week except for the
first Tuesday of each month. All levels encouraged!
A small but dedicated group of knitters invite you to
share your projects, questions, and enthusiasm for
the fiber arts! Cutler Memorial Library,
151 High Street (US Route 2), Plainfield. 454-8504,
cutlerlibrary.org.
Crafters Group. Bring your own projects, or work
together on projects to sell to benefit the Senior
Activity Center. We can all learn from each other!
Every Wed., noon–2 pm. Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Photography Club. Every Thurs., noon–1 pm. Led
by professional photographer Linda Hogan. Great
chance to get and give some feedback on your work
and see what others are doing. Montpelier Senior
Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Drop-in River Arts Elder Art Group. Work on art,
share techniques, and get creative with others. Bring
your own art supplies. For elders 60+. Every Fri.,
10 am–noon. River Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St.,
Morrisville. Free. 888-1261. riverartsvt.org.
BICYCLING
Open Shop Nights. Volunteer-run community bike
shop: bike donations and repairs. Wed., 4–6 pm;
other nights. Freeride Montpelier, 89 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 552-3521. freeridemontpelier.org.
BOOKS & WORDS
Lunch in a Foreign Language. Bring lunch and
practice your language skills with neighbors. Noon–
1 pm Mon., American Sign Language; Tues., Italian;
Wed., Spanish; Thurs., French. Kellogg-Hubbard
Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. 223-3338.
Club de Français Intermédiaire. Lecture (reading).
Conversation. Grammaire. Every Mon.,
12:45–2 pm. Montpelier Senior Activity Center,
58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.
Italian Group. A fun-loving group meets to converse
in Italian. Every Tues., 1:15–2:45 pm. Montpelier
Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.
223-2518.    Lego Club. Use our large Lego collection to create
BUSINESS, FINANCE, COMPUTERS,
EDUCATION
One-on-One Technology Help Sessions. Free
assistance to patrons needing help with their
computers and other personal electronic devices.
30 min. one-on-one sessions every Tues., 10 am–
noon. Waterbury Public Library, 28 N. Main St.,
Waterbury. Free. Registration required: 244-7036.
FOOD & DRINK
Community Meals in Montpelier. All welcome.
Free.
Mon.: Unitarian Church, 130 Main St.,
11 am–12:30 pm
Tues.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St.,
11:30 am–1 pm
Wed.: Christ Church, 64 State St.,
11 am–12:30 pm
Thurs.: Trinity Church, 137 Main St.,
11:30 am–1 pm
Fri.: St. Augustine Church, 18 Barre St.,
11 am–12:30 pm
Sun.: Last Sunday only, Bethany Church, 115
Main St. (hosted by Beth Jacob Synagogue),
4:30–5:30 pm
Lunches for Seniors. Mon., Wed., Fri., Noon.
Twin Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rt. 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.,
Calendar of Events
noon–1 p.m. Live music every Tues., 10:30–11:45
am. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre
St., Montpelier. Seniors 60+ free with $5 suggested
donation; under 60 $7. Reservations: 262-6288
or FEAST@montpelier-vt.org.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Bone Building Exercises. Open to all ages.
Every Mon., Wed. and Fri. 7:30 am and 9:15 am.
Twin Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E.
Montpelier. Free. 223-3322. twinvalleyseniors.org.
Tai Chi for Seniors. Led by trained volunteers.
Advanced class: every Mon. and Fri., 1–2 p.m.
Beginners class: Tues. and Thurs. 10–11 am.
Twin Valley Senior Center, 4583 U.S. Rte. 2, E.
Montpelier. Free. 223-3322. twinvalleyseniors.org.
Living Strong Group. Volunteer-led group. Sing
while exercising. Open to all seniors. Every Mon.,
2:30–3:30 p.m. and every Fri., 2–3 pm. Montpelier
Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.
Free. Register: 223-2518. msac@montpelier-vt.org.
Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Program.
Education and support to help adults at high risk
of developing type 2 diabetes adopt healthier
eating and exercise habits that can lead to weight
loss and reduced risk. Every Tues., 10:30–11:30
am. Kingwood Health Center Conference Room
(lower level), 1422 Rt. 66, Randolph. Free. Register:
728-7714.
Tai Chi for Falls Prevention. With Diane Des Bois.
Beginners and mixed levels welcome. 2:15 pm. Barre
Area Senior Center, 131 S., Main St., #4, Barre. Free.
Register: 479-9512.
Tai Chi Classes for All Ages. Every Tues. and
Thurs., 10–11 am. Twin Valley Senior Center,
Rte. 2, Blueberry Commons, E. Montpelier. Free.
223-3322. twinvalleyseniors@myfairpoint.net
HIV Testing. Vermont CARES offers fast oral
testing. Wed., 2–5 pm. 29 State St., Ste. 14 (above
Rite Aid), Montpelier. Free and anonymous.
371-6224. vtcares.org.
KIDS & TEENS
The Basement Teen Center. Safe drop-in space
to hang out, make music, play pool, ping-pong
and board games and eat free food. All activities
are free. Mon.–Thurs., 2–6 pm., Fridays 3–10 pm.
Basement Teen Center, 39 Main St., Montpelier.
BasementTeenCenter.org
Story Time and Playgroup. With Sylvia Smith for
story time and Cassie Bickford for playgroup. For
ages birth–6 and their grown-ups. We follow the
Twinfield Union School calendar and do not hold
the program the days Twinfield is closed. Wed.,
10–11:30 am. Jaquith Public Library, 122 School St.,
Marshfield. Free. 426-3581. jaquithpubliclibrary.org.
and play. All ages. Thurs., 3–4:30 pm. Kellogg-
Hubbard Library, 135 Main St., Montpelier. Free.
223-3338. kellogghubbard.org.
Dads & Kids Playgroup. Playtime and free dinner.
Every Thurs., 5–7 pm. For dads and their children
ages birth–5. Family Center of Washington County,
383 Sherwood Dr., Montpelier. fcwcvt.org
Drop-in Kinder Arts Program. Innovative
exploratory arts program with artist/instructor
Kelly Holt. Age 3–5. Fri., 10:30 am–noon. River
Arts Center, 74 Pleasant St., Morrisville. 888-1261.
RiverArtsVT.org.
Teen Fridays. Find out about the latest teen books,
use the gym, make art, play games and if you need
to, do your homework. Fri., 3–5 pm Jaquith Public
Library, 122 School St., Marshfield. 426-3581.
Mad River Valley Youth Group. Sun., 7–9 pm.
Meets at various area churches. Call 497-4516 for
location and information.
MUSIC & DANCE
Barre-Tones Women’s Chorus. Open rehearsal. Find
your voice with 50 other women. Mon., 7 pm. Capital
City Grange, Rt. 12, Berlin. BarretonesVT.com.
552-3489.
Dance or Play with the Swinging Over 60 Band.
Danceable tunes from the 1930s to the 1960s.
Recruiting musicians. Tues., 10:30–11:45 am.
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.,
Montpelier. 223-2518.
Monteverdi Young Singers Chorus Rehearsal.
New chorus members welcome. Wed., 4–5 pm.
Montpelier. Call 229-9000 for location and more
information.
Ukelele Group. All levels welcome. Thurs., 6–8
pm. Montpelier Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St.
223-2518.
Barre Rock City Chorus. We sing songs from the
‘60s to ‘80s and beyond. All songs are taught by rote
using word sheets, so ability to read music is not
required. All ages welcome; children under 13 should
come with a parent. Every Thurs., 6:30–8:30 pm.
Church of the Good Shepherd, 39 Washington St.,
Barre.
Gamelan Rehearsals. Sun., 7–9 pm. Pratt Center,
Goddard College. Free. 426-3498. steven.light@jsc.
edu. light.kathy@gmail.com.
OUTDOORS
Walks with Joan. Easy to moderate walks around
Montpelier for healthy exercise and conversation.
Every Tues., 10–11 am. Montpelier Senior Activity
Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier. 223-2518.  Center, 489 N. Main St., Barre. Louise: 279-6378.
Trash Tramps. Walk around Montpelier collecting
trash to help beautify our city. Bring gloves, other
supplies provided. Every Tues., 2–3 pm. Montpelier
Senior Activity Center, 58 Barre St., Montpelier.
223-2518.
RECYCLING
Additional Recycling. The Additional Recyclables
Collection Center accepts scores of hard-to-recycle
items. Mon., Wed., Fri., noon–6 pm; Third Sat.,
9 am–1 pm ARCC, 540 North Main St., Barre.
$5 per carload. 229-9383 x106. For list of accepted
items, go to cvswmd.org
RESOURCES
Onion River Exchange Tool Library. More than
100 tools both power and manual. Onion River
Exchange is located at 46 Barre Street in Montpelier.
Hours are Wed. and Thurs., 10 am–2 pm. For more
info. or to donate tools: 661-8959 or
info@orexchange.com.
SOLIDARITY/IDENTITY
Rainbow Umbrella of Central VT. Adult LGBTQ
group, meets the third Tuesday evening of the month
at 5:45 pm. for a casual dinner at a local restaurant.
The gathering place is 58 Barre St. in Montpelier.
Info: RUCVTAdmin@PrideCenterVT.org
Friday Night Group. Social gathering of LGBTQ
youth, ages 13–22. 2nd and 4th Fridays of the
month, 6:30–8 pm. Free pizza and soft drinks.
Supervised by LGBT adults trained by Outright
Vermont. Unitarian Church, Montpelier. For more
info, email Nancy: SaddleShoes2@gmail.com
Bowling. Rainbow Umbrella of Central Vermont,
an adult LGBTQ group, bowls at Twin City Lanes
on Sunday afternoons twice a month. For dates and
times, write to RUCVTAdmin@PrideCenterVT.org
SUPPORT
Turning Point Center. Safe, supportive place for
individuals and their families in or seeking recovery.
Daily, 10 am–5 pm. 489 North Main St., Barre.
479-7373.
Sun.: Alchoholics Anonymous, 8:30 am.
Tues.: Making Recovery Easier workshops,
6–7:30 pm.
Wed.: Wit’s End Parent Support Group, 6 pm.
Thurs.: Narcotics Anonymous, 6:30 pm.
Al-Anon. Help for friends and families of Alcoholics.
Sun.: Trinity Church, 137 Main St., Montpelier
(back door) 6:15–7:30 pm.
Tues.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier
(basement) noon–1 pm.
Wed.: Bethany Church,115 Main St., Montpelier
(basement) 7–8 pm.
Thurs.: Bethany Church, 115 Main St.,
Montpelier (basement) noon–1 pm
Sat.: Turning Point, N. Main St., Barre, 5 pm.
(child friendly meeting)
Sex Addicts Anonymous. Mon., 6:30 pm. Bethany
Church, 115 Main St., Montpelier. 552-3483.
Share Your Event!
Send your calendar listings to calendar@montpelierbridge.com.
Due date for print in the next issue is April 26
Overeaters Anonymous. Twelve-step program for
physically, emotionally and spiritually overcoming
overeating. Sat., 8:30–9:30 am at Episcopal Church
of the Good Shepherd, 39 Washington St., Barre.
249-3970.
Mooditude Support Group. A professional and
peer-led support group, not a therapy group. For
people with depression, bipolar disorder, seasonal
affective disorder, dysthymia etc.). Every Wed.,
4–5 pm. Bethany Church,115 Main St., Montpelier.
(downstairs at end of hallway). Free. 223-4111 or
522-0775.
Weight Loss Support Group. Get help and support
on your weight loss journey every Wed., 6–7
pm. Giffords Conference Center, 44 S. Main St.,
Randolph. Free. No registration required. Open to
all regardless of where you are in your weight loss.
Wit’s End. Support group for parents, siblings,
children, spouses and/or relationship partners of
someone suffering with addiction, whether it is
to alcohol, opiates, cocaine, heroin, marijuana or
something else. Every Wed., 6–8 pm. Turning Point
National Alliance on Mental Illness VT Peer
Support Group. For anyone with any type of
mental health condition looking for confidential
peer-led support among others living with mental
health issues. Every 2nd Thurs., 4–5:30 pm in
the Boardroom (basement level near cafeteria) at
Central VT Medical Center on Fisher Rd in Berlin.
Questions: Call Nick Martin at 876-7949 ext. 102 or
info@namivt.org.
SPIRITUALITY
Christian Science Reading Room. You're invited
to visit the Reading Room and see what we have for
your spiritual growth. You can borrow, purchase or
simply enjoy material in a quiet study room. Hours:
Wed.–Sat., 11 am–2 pm; Wed., 5–7:15 pm. 145 State
St., Montpelier. 223-2477.
A Course in Miracles. A study in spiritual
transformation. Group meets each Tues., 7–8 pm
Christ Episcopal Church, 64 State St., Montpelier.
279-1495.
Christian Counseling. Tues. and Thurs. Daniel Dr.,
Barre. Reasonable cost. By appt. only: 479-0302.
Prayer Meeting. Ecumenical and charismatic prayer
meeting. Every 1st and 3rd Thurs., 6:30–8 pm.
8 Daniel Dr., Barre. 479-0302
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. For those
interested in learning about the Catholic faith, or
current Catholics who want to learn more. Wed.,
7 pm. St. Monica Church, 79 Summer St., Barre.
Register: 479-3253.
Deepening Our Jewish Roots. Fun, engaging text
study and discussion on Jewish spirituality. Sun.,
4:45–6:15 pm. Yearning for Learning Center,
Montpelier. 223-0583. info@yearning4learning.org.
SPORTS & GAMES
Roller Derby Open Recruitment and Recreational
Practice. Central Vermont’s Wrecking Doll
Society invites quad skaters age 18 and up. No
experience necessary. Equipment provided: first
come, first served. Sat., 5–6:30 pm. Montpelier
Recreation Center, Barre St. First skate free.
centralvermontrollerderby.com.
YOGA & MEDITATION
Christian Meditation Group. People of all faiths
welcome. Mon., noon–1 pm. Christ Church,
Montpelier. 223-6043.
Zen Meditation. With Zen Affiliate of Vermont.
Wed., 6:30–7:30 pm. 174 River St., Montpelier.
Free. Call for orientation: 229-0164.
Montpelier Shambhala Meditation. Group
meditation practice. Sun., 10 am–noon; Wed.,
6–7 pm; learn to meditate — free instruction the 1st
Wed. of the month. New location: 5 State Street, 2nd
floor, Montpelier. info@montpeliershambhala.org,
montpelier.shambhala.org
Sunday Sangha: Community Ashtanga Yoga.
Sunday, 7:15–8:15 pm Mantra and Pranayama.
Saturday, 10–11:30 am. Funk N Flow Yoga. Grateful
Yoga, 15 State St., 3F, Montpelier. By donation.
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 27
Spotlight
on Jobs
THE BRIDGE SEEKS A SALES REPRESENTATIVE
DO YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR FREE, LOCAL AND INDEPENDENT
JOURNALISM IN VERMONT?
The Bridge is seeking the assistance of a sales representative to help cover the Central Vermont
region, including Montpelier, Barre, Plainfield, Calais, Middlesex, Berlin, and Waterbury.
Candidates with sales experience and contacts in the region are preferred, but we are also
open to training someone with enthusiasm, charm, creativity, and old-fashioned moxie.
We offer generous commissions on each sale and opportunity for advancement. Furthermore,
the job is part-time and flexible regarding hours.
For more information, contact Mike Dunphy at mdunphy@montpelierbridge.com
LEAD CARPENTER
NEW FRAMEWORKS, a worker-owned,
high performance natural building
company based in Burlington, VT is
looking for a Lead Carpenter to join our
team. Our ideal candidate has 10+ years
of construction experience, with at least 2
years experience leading and supervising
a crew. They are savvy in carpentry,
renovation, building science and high
performance construction techniques,
and are always eager to learn more. This
position requires strong communication
skills and interacts frequently with clients,
subcontractors, vendors, and the whole New
Frameworks team. A full job description
is available at www.newframeworks.com.
To apply, please email a cover letter and
resume to kate@buildhelm.com. New
Frameworks is committed to creating and
nurturing a culture which welcomes and
supports women, transgender and gender
nonconforming people, and those of diverse
racial, ethnic, religious, sexuality or other
marginalized groups, and urges them to
apply.
BARRE SUPERVISORY
UNION
CURRENTLY HAS MULTIPLE POSITIONS
OPEN FOR IMMEDIATE PLACEMENTS:
• Middle School Math Interventionist,
BCEMS
• Library/Media Para Educator (2),
BCEMS
• Office Manager, BCEMS
• Special Educator Long Term Substitute,
BT
• Para educators for SHS, BCEMS, BT
• VT Certified Librarian, Library Media
Specialist long term sub, BT
• Clerical Substitute, BSU Central Office
• Music Teacher Long Term Substitute -
April to June, BT
• The following positions for FY18/19 at
BCEMS:
• 3 Grade Teacher
• 2 Grade Teacher Anticipated
• Special Educator
• Intensive Needs Special Educator
Please apply through bsuvt.org -
employment opportunities. Submit resume
and three reference letters and all applicable
information requested.
For more information: Contact Carol
Marold 476-5011 ext. 1001
DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER
SALES ASSOCIATES
AND BIKE MECHANICS
CENTER FOR AN AGRICULTURAL
ECONOMY is seeking to hire a Development
Manager to join our team in Hardwick.
This role would be a critical support person
EXPERIENCED BIKE MECHANICS AND
ENTHUSIASTIC OUTDOORS PEOPLE
sought for a new gear shop (carrying on
the spirit of the former, well-loved shop
for our Executive Director and Board of
Directors, who set the fundraising goals and
in the same location). Full-time and part-
time, year-round and seasonal positions
strategies for the organization each year. available for both mechanics and sales
Primary duties include: associates. Passion for outdoor pursuits,
managing the donor database, working with great communication skills, and personal
Development Committee to implement experience with outdoor gear required.
specific fundraising activities, supporting the Bonus points for applicants who have
organization and implementation of Annual experience teaching outdoor activities, and
Appeal mailings and summer fundraiser, for mechanics who can morph into nordic/
BC ski techs for the winter. Both positions
and supporting grant research and writing.
assist with events and group rides. Some
• O.5 FTE: Halftime position with the weekend and holiday hours are a given,
potential to grow but so is a fun workplace in an active
• Compensation: Commensurate with community. Bring your big energy and
experience, range begins at $22,000 good ideas about how to create a successful
business and workplace. Paid vacation,
To advertise • Reports to: Executive Director
competitive wages, and other benefits
employment Please send your resume and cover letter to
Sarah Waring, sarah@hardwickagriculture.
available. Reply with resume and cover
email to onionriveroutdoors@gmail.com
opportunities at org.
your business call Please include 3 references, and please ensure
that your cover letter addresses why you’d
249-8666 or like to work with the CAE, and what your Tell them you saw
best fundraising activity or event has been in
223-5112 ext.11 a past work experience. it in The Bridge!
LABORER AT GROW
COMPOST
GROW COMPOST IS HIRING
LABORERS. We are seeking at least 1
part-time laborer. Must be willing to work
outside in all conditions, lift 50 pounds
repeatedly, and have a positive attitude. A
full time position is an option for the right
person. We pay $12/hour to start, which
may increase based on performance. Email
Jobs@growcompost.com to apply.
DIRECTOR FOR
COMMUNICATIONS
AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
THE VERMONT SUPERINTENDENTS
ASSOCIATION (VSA), a nonprofit
organization of school superintendents,
seeks a Director for Communications and
Professional Development.
This position develops and implements
VSA’s communications and professional
development activities and supports the
overall work of the Association. The work
is accomplished with other VSA staff,
Association members, the media and
education partners. Other work in support
of the Association’s overall mission will also
be performed. The position reports to the
VSA Executive Director.
The ideal candidate possesses exemplary
communications expertise, the ability
to develop and execute professional
development programs, analytical skills,
strong initiative and success in working in a
team environment. Experience within, and/
or a strong familiarity with Vermont’s public
education system is desirable. Anticipated
starting date is July 1, 2018. EOE
Please submit resume and cover letter to:
VSA Executive Director, 2 Prospect Street,
Suite 2, Montpelier, Vermont 05602 OR
email ktate@vtvsa.org
PAG E 2 8 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Letters
Complete Streets Committee
Working to Make City Safer
Editor,
Readers of The Bridge might like to
know:
* Citizen volunteers are working to make
Montpelier a friendlier, safer city for
pedestrians and bicyclists.
* Some of these volunteers serve on
the Complete Streets Committee,
which meets in City Hall on the third
Wednesday of the month from 5:30 to
6:30 pm.
* All are welcome to the meetings.
* The Committee has six members and
room for three more. If you’re interested
in joining, please contact me for more
information.
*Many Montpelier businesses are offering
discounts to pedestrians and bicyclists
who are spotted using reflectors and
lights at night. Be seen and you could
win!
Nancy Schulz, SaddleShoes2@gmail.com
McCullough Fits Our Needs
Editor,
I had intended to let sleeping dogs lie, so
to speak. However, I have now listened to
the full recording of the City Council's
Special Meeting on April 5–6, held to
appoint a District 2 representative for Mayor
Watson's vacant seat. I did not find the
public participation as vitriolic as others
have described, although the tension and
attitudes in the room were concerning. I
apologize to all three candidates for my
comments on Front Porch Forum without
having been present and before having
listened to the testimony.
I am a District 2 registered voter. There
are 2,518 residents in the district who
were eligible to vote at this year’s Town
Meeting. Our district spoke loudly, but not
overwhelmingly, in supporting Conor Casey
to win the March election. Alex Geller did
not win, nor did he or Casey come close to
a majority of the district’s voters. I disagree
that Geller was entitled to be appointed
because he came in second in the polls. Even
the total votes cast for both Casey and Geller
do not add up to the voice of our district
when barely a third of our voters cast ballots.
What we need to work on is “getting out the
vote” so that our district is truly heard.
I agree with the City Council that the
appointment merited an independent look
at the credentials of the applicants and what
each brought in skill and experience in order
to match the appointee with the needs of
the Council. Jack McCullough’s expertise
and experience fills the gap. The fact that he
did not run in the March election is a non-
issue. Perhaps he supported Casey or Geller
or Lalitha Mailwaganam, perhaps Casey
supporters would not have supported Geller
or vice versa, perhaps Geller stacked the
March vote just as it appeared the Special
Meeting of the City Council was stacked. As
one candidate said, we will never know how
the election would have gone if Watson had
not become mayor, or if Casey had not run,
or had all of our District 2 registered voters
cast a ballot.
In my view the City Council did not
substitute their judgment for that of the
District 2 voters, they looked at the merits.
Not all District 2 voters were heard. No one
looked at the political bent of the applicants
in deciding that each one of them would
have been qualified. It turns out that the
best fit for the needs of this city right now
is Jack McCullough, who has dedicated a
lifetime to the work of housing and what
is good for this community. So what if he
did not launch a masterful campaign, sit in
peoples’ living rooms, and spend significant
time and money meeting us one on one?
Jack is a known entity. We should embrace
his willingness to take on this assignment
and not expect him to wait two years to run
in an election when he can do so much for
us now. The means in this case, our City
Charter, did justify the end.
Dot Helling, Montpelier
Protect Moose, Don’t Hunt Them
Editor,
The population of moose has drastically
declined in Vermont as a result of winter
ticks, brainworms, lungworms, loss of
habitat, and hunting. Yet the Vermont
Department of Fish and Wildlife still
supports a 2018 moose hunt. For too
long the Department of Fish and Wildlife
and its board (solely made up of hunters
and trappers with vested self-interests)
have catered to hunters and trappers at
the expense of wildlife, homeowners, and
non-hunting Vermonters.
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board’s
rationale (and that of many moose hunters
and hunting guides) is that if the moose
hunt is suspended, it will be hard to
reinstate it. This is how wildlife policy is
made—by pandering to “sport” hunters
and irrational, self-serving thinking.
In the 1800s, the moose population was
nearly wiped out because of hunting. Now
the moose again are suffering. Moose that
are injured and not recovered do not even
count toward a hunter’s “bag limit.” Why
is it that the Department of Fish and
Wildlife and the Board cater to a few
when the majority of Vermonters want to
Continued on next page
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 29

Letters
see ethical and responsible management?
Letters to the paper are not fact-
checked and do not necessarily
The fact that the non-hunting public and represent the views of The Bridge.
homeowners have so little say in the way
wildlife is managed by the Department
of Fish and Wildlife is undemocratic and
irresponsible. Animals can be trapped What Do You Think?
without having to be reported. Traps can
be set nearly anywhere, including on public
Read something that you
land near walking and hiking trails. Vermont would like to respond to? We
allows killing “contests” and “open” seasons welcome your letters and
on a number of animals. The way wildlife is
managed—or mismanaged—by Vermont’s
opinion pieces. Letters must
Department of Fish and Wildlife needs to be fewer than 300 words.
change. Opinion pieces should not
There are many Vermonters who enjoy exceed 600 words. The Bridge
viewing wildlife. Viewing wildlife provides
peace, beauty, and tranquility to hectic
reserves the right to edit and
lives. Wildlife watching, including viewing cut pieces.
moose, contributes to the economy. In
many states, it contributes far more than
Send your piece to:
hunting does. Those who like to view or editorial@
photograph wildlife, hike, and participate in montpelierbridge.com.
non-consumptive outdoor recreation need to
have a say in how policy is made and how Deadline for the next
wildlife is managed in Vermont. issue is April 27.
Alana Stevenson, Charlotte
PAG E 3 0 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
Remembering Daniel A. Neary (1940–2018)
Remembering Dan Neary as a
Friend of The Bridge
by Nat Frothingham
In the past few weeks, I have been working closely with
Carla Occaso to assemble a spread to remember and honor
her father Dan Neary.
Neary; who had a career as a writer, journalist and
photographer; died on March 9.
We remember and honor Dan Neary for a number of
compelling reasons.
In the earliest days of The Bridge, even before our first issue
was published, Carla remembers her father’s excitement
about the idea of a new Montpelier paper. He attended some
of the early planning meetings and said Carla, “He would
talk about The Bridge around the kitchen table at home.”
Over the past few years, Dan expressed his friendship to
The Bridge by contributing his writing and photography. As
an experienced journalist, he read the paper carefully and
critically and was keenly interested in its success.
Until just a few months ago, Dan’s daughter Carla Occaso
was managing editor of The Bridge and from time to
time Dan would join us at the paper for birthday parties
and other special events. He quickly became part of our
extended family.
Neary was born in New York City. When he was a boy, his
family bought a summer house in Mount Holly, and he
found himself drawn to Vermont.
As a young man in his 20s, Neary graduated from Yale University with a bachelor’s degree
in English. Subsequently, he earned a master’s degree in writing from Vermont College (now
Vermont College of Fine Arts). After he met and married the former Emily Virginia Chew,
the young couple moved to Vermont and finally settled in East Montpelier.
Neary’s first job in Vermont was as a reporter for the Rutland Herald. From 1968 to 1973,
Neary served as Bureau Chief for the Associated Press in Montpelier. He also worked for
the Vermont Department of Employment and Training. In local press circles, Neary is
still remembered for publishing several newspaper articles about the Vermont Legislature’s
enactment of a law that required dairy farmers to install “bulk tanks.” This bulk tank
requirement caused a flood of dairy farm foreclosures.
The spread that follow includes a remembrance of Dan Neary by his daughter Jessica Neary.
It also includes Dan Neary's essay about the coming of spring in Vermont, entitled "The
Coming of Green. And the spread includes a small selection of Dan Neary's photographs.
Since 1972
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Crane work • Decorative concrete
Consulting • ICF foundations
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gendronbuilding@aol.com •  gendronconcrete.com
Remembering My Father: A Writer’s Life
by Jessica Neary
Today, April 17, 2018, my father would have been 78.
Instead he died peacefully a month ago at Woodridge
Nursing Home.
My earliest memory of the importance of language in
our family was in 1969. We were watching the moon
landing at my grandparents’ house in Mount Holly. My
grandfather exclaimed, “Look at all the detritus!” We
laughed at the fancy word for moon rocks, and it struck
me that precision in language could be delightful.
My father was precise, not just in words but what he
didn't say. He was not a talker, but a listener. His first
Vermont memory was a farmer calling his cows, “Ca-
Boss! Ca-Boss!” That simple call informed his writing
for the rest of his life. His career was dedicated to
voicing the concerns of Vermont farmers.
My father was funny. When serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer
was in the news my father declared,
“I would never associate with Jeffrey Dahmer!”
“Why not, Daddy?”
“Because of his odious behavior!” He smiled as he spoke
the understatement, at which I laughed out loud. No
word would have fit the subject, but “odious” was the
closest word he had.
He read biographies of writers, and those written by
great writers. His journalism background lent a plainness to his style. He was resolutely
prosaic, yet his prose could rise to poetry.
A source of literary pride to him was an early headline he crafted in the 1960s, as a
reporter for the Portland Press-Herald in Portland, Maine. Describing a story about
the Kennebunkport Dump Society, he wrote, “A Refuge for Those who are Interested
in Refuse.”
That was Daniel A. Neary, Jr. in a nutshell: clever, concise, words for their own sake.
I miss him terribly. Every day I hear his voice and always will.
Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney wrote about the Latin plaques in arboreta that they
weren’t needed, “And yet I like the names.”
So did my father, and in there his greatness lay.
T H E B R I D G E A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 • PAG E 31

The Coming of the Green

by Daniel A. Neary Jr. Rocque Long
Between the whites of the melting
snows and the whites of blooming
Painting
apple blossoms, the green comes to • Insured
Vermont. Usually in early May, it rolls • 30+ years professional
northward and upward saturating the experience
fields, bushes and trees with verdure. • local references.
Naturalist Way Teale says spring green
creeps northward at the average rate
of about 15 miles a day and climbs
802-223-0389
mountains at about a hundred feet a
day.
It is an annual event of unsurpassed
visual beauty in Vermont (a state which
many believe owes half of its name to
the color green). In the springtime, the
color green takes on many shades. At
first, the shoots of grass penetrate the
matted browns in the fields. In the
woods, wild plants and weeds push
through the wrinkled leaves pressed
together by the weight of the thick
snow. Ferns yo-yo upward. Patches of
skunk cabbage unwind slowly, showing
large, corrugated leaves, even before
the buds appear on the trees.
For a short period in the early spring,
the green changes from a yellow, lighter shade to a bluer, darker color. Face into the sunlight
in the morning or evening, and the spots of the leaves from the poplar trees will shimmer
and glow in a delicate effulgence. At about the same time, the strands of leaves of the willows
will pick up color before the leaves appear on other trees. Patches of poplars and willows will
stand out as swatches of light green on an otherwise leafless hillside, long before it is drenched
in foliage. Buds of the maples, first tinted red and yellow will coruscate. Look across a green
meadow in the afternoon, and it will make you envy the grass-eating animals of this world …
luxuriant, yellow-green blades of grass are everywhere.
Grey planes of mountainsides are now a hodge-podge of colors of the lighter greens of the
meadows, next to the still darker blue green of the strands of spruce. It is all quite a contrast
from the white, dark green and grey of winter and the flat browns of early spring.
In some years, when there is a sunny spell coincident with the arrival of the green, a
phenomenon of incredible beauty takes place. It is impossible to photograph because the total
effect occurs over several days. Only the elements comprising this natural, impressionistic Design & Build • New Construction
sight can be pictured. The rest takes a little imagination and the ability to sustain visual
experience over a couple of days. Custom Energy-Efficient Homes • Renovations
With the sun at your back, face a ridge of mountains. Imagine the mountains are rocks on the
seacoast. Look at them: cold and grey, like rocks on the shore. When the wind blows, think
Additions • Timber Frames • Woodworking
Weatherization • Remodeling
of it as water rushing, filling the valley; the wind becomes the water turning the branches, • General Contracting
making them sparkle in the light. This sense of filling and crashing of water onto rocks also Kitchens • Bathrooms • Flooring
occurs when the green arrives. Foliage pours northward and upward over the craggy, worn
forms … a wave of green takes not seconds but days to roll, crest, splash and tumble. Tiling • Cabinetry • Fine Woodwork
The mountain ridge fills with the
green of spring like a wave of differing
shades, patterns, swirls and froth of
dotted green—first the buds bursting
in the valleys on the southern side, 223-3447
and then, the gentler greens of the leaf clarconstruction.com
sprigs in the foothills—buds at the
higher elevation—now in aggregate
looking almost white—in any event—
lighter than the greens below. Think
of the wave, the sea water rolling
forward, taking on colors of the rocks
and sky. At the top is the foam and
then the spray. Droplets form a mist
against the grey rocks. Finally, a halo
of mist and spray sparkles in the light.
That’s the way green looks on the sides
of the mountains in Vermont in the
spring—the movement, the rolling—a
time lapse sequence of spring—ocean
style. Spring greens go higher up the
mountains each day. Green climbs the
mountain—all that it takes to get the
name Vermont.
PAG E 32 • A P R I L 19 – M AY 2 , 2 018 THE BRIDGE
North Branch Nature Center Expands Programs
T
he warm spring winds mark the
return of eastern bluebirds, the
emergence of spring wildflowers,
and exciting new growth at the North
Branch Nature Center. Since the unveiling
of our new community room in October,
the Nature Center has already become
a regional hub for dozens of partner
organizations and a place in which
thousands of guests can convene, learn,
and conserve. But the new community-
oriented facilities also came with new
“software:” a new full-time staff naturalist
funded by a generous grant from the
Canaday Family Charitable Trust. This
new position greatly expands the reach and
diversity of the public programming that
the Nature Center can offer.
I am that new full-time naturalist, and my
primary goal over the next three years is
to engage a much wider cross-section of
humanity with our natural world. Birding
or botany walks, while bulwarks of every
nature center, are but a small slice of the
possible entry points that entice and inspire
Vermonters. There will always be a place
for birding and botany at North Branch,
but we are now developing offerings for
new audiences at the “edges” of traditional
nature programming. Keep an eye out for
our “New to Nature” events this spring and
summer: an exploration of 19th-century
ghost farmsteads hidden in our forests, a
“Bike and Bird” event to shatter the barrier
between birdwatchers and mountain
bikers, a “Feral Apple” outing to pick and
press cider from long lost wild orchards, a
community storytelling potluck to gather
around common experiences and shared
food.
To launch such a truly diverse program
series, we’re cultivating a network of
partner organizations with which to co-
host collaborative programs. Rising tides
lift all boats, and our collective impact
by Sean Beckett
sings when passionate partners work toward
common goals from multiple angles. Our
upcoming Montpelier BioBlitz (July 21–
22) is a unique example of this sort of
cross-pollination. The Nature Center, the
Montpelier Conservation Commission,
and the Montpelier Community Services
Department will together be presenting
the largest nature festival that Vermont
has ever seen. This 24-hour event is heavily
flavored by each of its three hosts and
is packed with family activities, music,
games, nature walks, live animals,
camping, food, and more. Meanwhile,
biologists from across the northeast will
be conducting conservation-driven species
inventories of all of Montpelier’s natural
spaces. Designed to offer something for
everyone, we expect this BioBlitz to be a
partnership model that will inspire similar
collaborations in future seasons.
My role is also to helm and expand the
Nature Center’s citizen science initiatives.
There are few better ways to build a lasting
environmental ethic than by playing an
active role in the research and conservation
of our wildlife and wild places. This spring
we expanded our amphibian conservation
work with the launch of our Amphibian
Road Crossing Project. We are now
welcoming scores of volunteer “Crossing
Guards.” These dedicated volunteers are
stewarding over 130 migratory corridors
across central Vermont by rescuing
salamanders and frogs from busy roadways
while collecting data to assist state and
local transportation planners in advocating
for amphibian-friendly road design. As fall
approaches, we’ll also be expanding our
opportunities for volunteers to get involved
in our bird and owl banding research.
Longtime nature lovers can also expect
plenty of new opportunities to enrich their
knowledge of natural history. Although
we are working hard to connect nature
neophytes to the Vermont wilds, we are
simultaneously growing North Branch
as a center for immersive natural history
study. We’ve kicked off this initiative with
a spring series of mini-courses in field
ornithology, digital nature photography,
and forest forensics, and will offer a similar
menu of offerings this fall. The Nature
Center will soon be launching a Montpelier
chapter of the Vermont Master Naturalist
Program for residents seeking a deeper
understanding of their local landscape.
I join North Branch Nature Center
from the University of Vermont’s Field
Naturalist and Ecological Planning
Program, where my work centered on
place-based community engagement
around Burlington urban wilds. Before
that, I worked several years as a field
biologist and wildlife safari guide in the
heart of the northern Rockies. Working
around the country with critters and
citizens of all stripes, I learned that living
well, and living sustainably, ultimately
comes down to building relationships:
with our neighbors, with our community,
and with the creatures flying, swimming,
or growing around it. I see my role as
staff naturalist as that of a community
builder with an extra-large definition of
community.